Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented herein for uniformly sealing and peeling a cover tape to/from a carrier tape. The carrier tapes of the present invention include surface transitions that minimizes/eliminates surface irregularities and distortions such that the cover tapes can be uniformly sealed and peeled from the carrier tapes. The surface transitions act as physical barriers to prevent propagation of surface irregularities and distortions from the thermoformed pocket area into the heat bonding zones. The surface transitions also act as stiffening members to keep the heat bonding zones as flat as possible during subsequent handling of the carrier tape. The surface transitions may be in the form of continuous ribs and/or step portions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented herein for uniformly sealing and peeling a cover tape to/from a carrier tape. The carrier tapes of the present invention include surface transitions that minimize/eliminates surface irregularities and distortions such that the cover tapes can be uniformly sealed and peeled from the carrier tapes. The surface transitions act as physical barriers to prevent propagation of surface irregularities and distortions from the thermoformed pocket area into the heat bonding zones. The surface transitions also act as stiffening members to keep the heat bonding zones as flat as possible during subsequent handling of the carrier tape. The surface transitions may be in the form of continuous ribs and/or step portions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented herein for uniformly sealing and peeling a cover tape to/from a carrier tape. The carrier tapes of the present invention include surface transitions that minimizes/eliminates surface irregularities and distortions such that the cover tapes can be uniformly sealed and peeled from the carrier tapes. The surface transitions act as physical barriers to prevent propagation of surface irregularities and distortions from the thermoformed pocket area into the heat bonding zones. The surface transitions also act as stiffening members to keep the heat bonding zones as flat as possible during subsequent handling of the carrier tape. The surface transitions may be in the form of continuous or intermittent ribs, step portions, or single or double sided grooves. Depressed portions in between the pockets can also be used to minimize the presence of surface distortions on the bonding zones.

Abstract: High speed, on-the-fly line printer apparatus including an inked ribbon advancing mechanism, a print sheet advancing mechanism, and drive structure coupled with both the advancing mechanisms to interruptedly advance them. Also, the inked ribbon advancing mechanism may be bodily shiftable between different positions associated with different color printing modes, the drive structure accommodating such shifting. Furthermore, a drum having multiple columns of type font segments is provided.

Abstract: A printer comprising a supporting structure and a print disc having a curved peripheral surface with characters formed thereon. The print disc is mounted on the supporting structure for rotation about a rotational axis. Paper is moved over the peripheral surface in a direction generally parallel to the rotational axis, and one or more hammers cooperate with the paper and the characters for effecting printing on the paper. A guide generally conforms the paper to at least a portion of the curved peripheral surface as the paper is moved over the peripheral surface. This permits an entire line of characters to be printed and provides the paper with some rigidity against bending and an ability to extend generally vertically to permit the user to visually observe what has been printed. To eliminate noise during standby, the print disc is rotated through only one revolution in response to each print command.