Abstract: An ink jet printer including an optical detector attached to a carriage on which a head chip is mounted, and one or more detected parts that can be detected by the detector formed on sides of ink cartridges placed in an ink cartridge holder. Each of the detected parts may be implemented as a right-angle prism. The one or more detected parts are operable to detect the presence or absence of ink and the corresponding ink cartridge being placed, among other features. Since the common optical detector and the one or more detected parts can detect a plurality of pieces of information, the ink jet printer is extremely advantageous for cost reduction and miniaturization as compared with the case where dedicated detection mechanisms are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with pieces of information to be detected as in a related art.

Abstract: A printer positions the platen and print head in separate frames, and a stationary blade and movable blade in the separate frames, and aligns the two pair of elements independently from inaccuracy in alignment of the two separate frames to maintain the print quality of the printing mechanism and the cutting performance of the paper cutting mechanism. A support mechanism 50 has an installation frame 51 fixed to the cover 3, a support frame 52 for supporting a platen roller 12 and stationary blade 41, and a compression spring 53 attached to the installation frame 51 and support frame 52. The support frame 52 can move relative to the installation frame 51 pivotally around engaging pin 52c of the support frame 52, and slidably relative to the pivot of the cover 3.

Abstract: A control unit controls a lifter to raise at least part of each of a group of substrates above the liquid level of a treating liquid in a treating bath. Thereafter, a valve is opened to drain the treating liquid from the treating bath at a high speed. As a result, a physical force to tilt and adhere an upper portion of the adjacent substrates accompanied by lowering of the liquid level of the treating liquid due to the high speed drainage acts upon a lower portion of the substrates near the lowered liquid level of the treating liquid, thereby reducing the physical force exerted on the substrates. This arrangement, even if a holding interval between the substrates is narrowed at a half of a normal pitch, eliminates a contact of the adjacent substrates and prevents damage of the substrates due to the contact without providing an additional member such as a substrate support guide in the treating bath.

Abstract: A winding shaft, for use in a printer allows a wound recording paper to be easily removed therefrom. The winding shaft includes a shaft main body, a winding portion and a support-removing member. The winding portion, which sandwiches the shaft main body, winds the recording paper therearound. The shaft main body includes a pair of support-removing members, which respectively project from the shaft main body. The two support-removing members are respectively supported on the two side portions of the shaft main body in such a manner that they can be freely rotated about their respective support shafts. A tension-coiled spring is bridgingly disposed between the two support-removing members, so that the two support-removing members remain in standing positions when no external force is applied to them.

Abstract: A treating tank includes injection pipes for injecting a treating liquid. Each injection pipe has a closed distal end, and a plurality of jet bores arranged along a side wall thereof for jetting, into the treating tank, the treating liquid introduced through a proximal end. Each injection pipe includes a liquid jetting pipe portion defining the jet bores and having an inside diameter larger than a bore diameter of a liquid inlet formed at the proximal end for introducing the treating liquid into the liquid jetting pipe portion. This construction provides a uniform head length of the treating liquid jetting from the jet bores into the treating tank to effect uniform treatment of substrates in the treating tank. Where each injection pipe includes a sloping pipe portion having an inside diameter gradually increasing from the liquid inlet to the liquid jetting pipe portion, a higher degree of uniformity is achieved for the head length of the treating liquid jetting from the jet bores into the treating tank.

Abstract: A winding shaft, for use in a printer, which allows a wound recording paper to be easily removed therefrom. The winding shaft includes a shaft main body, a winding portion and a support-removing member. The winding portion, which sandwiches the shaft main body, winds the recording paper therearound. The shaft main body includes a pair of support-removing members, which respectively project from the shaft main body. The two support-removing members are respectively supported on the two side portions of the shaft main body in such a manner that they can be freely rotated about their respective support shafts. A tension-coiled spring is bridgingly disposed between the two support-removing members, so that the two support-removing members remain in standing positions when no external force is applied to them.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the transmission of power from a motor to a number of devices at selected times utilizes a single trigger mechanism which is operated at predetermined times in an operating cycle. The trigger mechanism controls a plurality of clutch mechanisms which transmit the power to the devices. The clutch mechanisms are locked against operation at times when they are not selected for operation.

Abstract: A printer and in particular a printer adapted for use with a thermal print head is provided. The printer includes a power transmission which controls two clutches with a single electromagnetic driving unit. A clutch of a power transmission is initialized without the use of a detector by dividing the perimeter of the clutch into N equal rotating angles each equal rotating angle being further subdivided into a large rotating angle and a small rotating angle in combination with a preselected energization period for an electromagnetic control member which assures the initialization of the clutch in a desired position. The clutch is advanced one position by a second energization period of the electromagnetic control member. The carriage mover of the printer allows the carriage to reciprocate in response to forward and backward rotation of a shifting shaft and at at least one end of the range of motion of the carriage the shifting shaft can continue to freely rotate even though the carriage cannot.

Abstract: A multicolor serial printer has a color switching means interposed between an end of a carriage and type wheels having a group of first-color printing types and a group of second-color printing types. The color switching means has first-color and second color printing stepped surfaces selectively movable into confronting relationship with a member of the carriage. When the member of the carriage abuts on and engages in a first-color printing stepped surface or a second-color printing stepped surface during carriage shifting movement, a presser of a hammer means, mounted on the carriage and positioned within the type wheels, is brought into confronting relation to the group of first-color printing types or the group of second-color printing types for printing a desired character in the group in a first or second color.

Abstract: A printing device comprises a motor, a conversion mechanism for converting rotation of the motor into first and second outputs, a selection mechanism for alternately supplying the first and second outputs, a type member for being supplied with the first output from the conversion mechanism, and a printing mechanism for being supplied with the second output. The printing mechanism is engageable with the type member to effect printing on a sheet of printing paper.

Abstract: A serial printer for use in portable electronic calculators and the like. The printer includes a single printing head having a plurality of characters divided into two groups circumferentially disposed therearound in a predetermined pattern. A selecting mechanism includes two ratchet wheels. The teeth on one ratchet wheel correspond to the positioning of the characters in the first group of characters and the teeth on the other ratchet wheel correspond to the positioning of the characters in the second group of characters. The ratchet wheels are moveable between a first position in which the first set of teeth are operative and a second position where the second set of teeth are operative.

Abstract: A serial printer for use in portable electronic calculators and the like. The printer includes a single printing head having a plurality of characters divided into two groups circumferentially disposed therearound in a predetermined pattern. A first selecting mechanism selects one of the two groups of characters. A second selecting mechanism selects the particular character in the group selected by the first selecting mechanism which is to be printed on a printing tape. The first selecting mechanism may include a helical gear mechanism which selects between the two groups of characters.

Abstract: A rounded end on a pivoted arm impacts a print medium through an ink ribbon to form a printed dot on the print medium. For printing, a wire drawn by an electromagnet acts on the arm between the pivot axis and the rounded end. A plurality of arms and electromagnets are spaced apart along a lateral row and mounted on a carriage for reciprocal lateral translation over a distance approximating the space between arms to print an entire horizontal row of dots forming a portion of a character line. Arms are driven separately or in combinations. The gap in the electromagnet is simply fixed to reduce power requirements.

Abstract: An improved thermally sensitive printer for recording characters on a thermally sensitive medium is provided. An exothermic printing head includes a substrate and a plurality of selectively energized resistance elements supported on the substrate, the resistance elements being energized during a printing operation to print characters on a thermally sensitive medium in contact therewith. A rotary platen is provided for bringing the thermally sensitive medium into printing contact with the resistance printing elements to thereby effect printing on the thermally sensitive medium during a printing operation. The rotary platen is also adapted to incrementally advance the thermally sensitive printing medium after each printing operation.

Abstract: An improved thermally sensitive printer for recording characters on a thermally sensitive medium is provided. An exothermic printing head includes a substrate and a plurality of selectively energized resistance elements supported on the substrate, the resistance elements being energized during a printing operation to print characters on a thermally sensitive medium in contact therewith. A rotary platen is provided for bringing the thermally sensitive medium into printing contact with the resistance printing elements to thereby effect printing on the thermally sensitive medium during a printing operation. The rotary platen is also adapted to incrementally advance the thermally sensitive printing medium after each printing operation.

Abstract: An exothermic type printing head is provided including a substrate, and electric conductors and exothermic elements mounted on the substrate. At least one common electric conductor is mounted on the substrate. Each common conductor has a plurality of branches extending therefrom. A corresponding plurality of discrete electrically conductive elements are also mounted on the substrate. Each of the electrically conductive elements is longitudinally arranged between a pair of branches extending from the common conductor. At least one integral exothermic element of predetermined width is mounted on the substrate overlying the discrete electrically conductive elements and branches of each common conductor. Signals are supplied to the common conductors from a common source.

Abstract: A compact motor having a rotor positioned in the magnetic field of a stator, the stator being formed with at least two magnetic pole members in registration with the rotor and having yoke portions extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor about which windings are mounted. A yoke member mechanically and magnetically couples said pole members.