Abstract: A method for tracking components of equipment. The method includes generating a first record in a component tracking data store of a component tracking system for storing original constituent component identification information that specifies original constituent components of the equipment, and a second record in the component tracking data store of the component tracking system for storing replacement component identification information that specifies a replacement component that replaces a component of the original constituent components of the equipment. The method further includes receiving a request for a current listing of components in the equipment and locating records in the component tracking data store of the component tracking system associated with the equipment.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present technique may include a method including monitoring a number of drops of ink released by a print head of a printing device. The method may also include associating the number of drops of ink with a quanta of charge. The method may also include storing the associated quanta of charge in a memory cell of a programmable read-only memory (PROM) device.

Abstract: There is provided a roll paper storage cassette and a recording apparatus which do not need a roll paper storage cassette according to the size of roll papers, and prevent a roll paper, a roll-paper shaft, and a roll paper storage cassette from being erroneously loaded. A roll paper storage cassette for housing a roll paper wound around the core portion of a roll paper shaft includes a pair of openable and closable cases, an attachment which can be attached and detached to and from the inside of both ends of the case according to the size of the roll paper, and a regulation member configured to prevent the roll paper shaft of a specific type from entering and allow the roll paper shaft of another specific type to enter in a state where the attachment is detached and configured to be moved from a position where the roll paper shaft of the specific type is prevented from entering in a state where the attachment is attached.

Abstract: There is provided a roll paper storage cassette and a recording apparatus which do not need a roll paper storage cassette according to the size of roll papers, and prevent a roll paper, a roll-paper shaft, and a roll paper storage cassette from being erroneously loaded. A roll paper storage cassette for housing a roll paper wound around the core portion of a roll paper shaft includes a pair of openable and closable cases, an attachment which can be attached and detached to and from the inside of both ends of the case according to the size of the roll paper, and a regulation member configured to prevent the roll paper shaft of a specific type from entering and allow the roll paper shaft of another specific type to enter in a state where the attachment is detached and configured to be moved from a position where the roll paper shaft of the specific type is prevented from entering in a state where the attachment is attached.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette and a printer are provided for preventing an ink ribbon from being wound or drawn to a printing-portion paper transport unit of the printer so as to satisfactorily wind and transport the ink ribbon. A convex portion is formed on a wall-portion contact surface of a first connecting member opposed to a space portion, thereby securing a gap between a wall portion of the ribbon cassette and a printing-portion paper transport unit of the printer. A top portion of the convex portion comes in contact with a driven-roller mounting plate disposed in the space portion when a ribbon cassette is mounted in a ribbon cassette mounting portion of a printer.

Abstract: Described is a triarylmethane dye of the formula I where R1 and R2 are independently methyl, ethyl or hydroxyethyl, Q is substituted or unsubstituited phenyl or naphthyl and A? is the equivalent of an anion. It does not detach carcinogenic Michler's ketone.

Abstract: An ink supplying device for tape dispenser is disclosed to include a housing detachably mounted in the tape dispenser for receiving ink therein, a porous ink soaking layer mounted inside the housing and adapted to soak ink, and a fabric ink applying layer covered on the porous ink soaking layer and adapted to be contacted with the printing surface of a printing wheel of the tape dispenser for applying ink from the porous ink soaking layer to the printing surface of the printing wheel evenly.

Abstract: A printing device for printing on wrapping paper according to the present invention comprises a cartridge holder (40) having an ink nozzle (18) on the outside thereof and adapted to house an ink cartridge (50); an ink supply passage (79) connecting the ink cartridge (50) and the ink nozzle (18); and a linear actuator (80) supported at the cartridge holder (40) and adapted to push a plunger (52) in the ink cartridge (50) more into the ink cartridge (50).

Abstract: A dual station hot debossing stamper for a report or book cover includes a print engine having a character finger daisy wheel forcer and a logo die forcer which are actuatable independently by a common servo motor through respective gear trains. The print engine moves line-by-line and a platen moves character-by-character. A print wheel is inserted and locked into the engine in a character debossment operation with a motor driving the print wheel. When using a logo die, the print wheel and casing is removed and using a loader-unloader tool the die is articulated under the logo die forcer. Insertion of a logo transfer tape cartridge shifts the gears in the print engine. A second character tape cartridge is used with the print wheel. A dedicated personal computer and associated software and firmware programs control the stamping apparatus.

Abstract: Reservoirs (11, 12) for printing equipment whether they are ink reservoirs, inked ribbon cassettes or toner reservoirs comprise an electronic memory means (14) in the form of a chip in which information about the current fill status of the reservoir and/or other status data, for example expiration date of the printing medium, that are relevant for the printer operation are stored. The used status of printing medium is acquired via the central controller (16) of the printing equipment and is communicated to the chip (14). The chip at the reservoir counts consumption until the supply of printing medium (ink fluid, inked ribbon, toner) exhausted to such an extent that the reservoir must be replaced. A reprogramming of the chip and, thus refilling of the reservoir is not possible.

Abstract: A cylinder press converted to printing foil embossed images onto a printing stock. A supply roll of foil bearing ribbon is mounted forward on the reciprocating chase and the ribbon is extended over the chase through a pair of adjusting guide rollers to a stationary take-up mechanism. In the take-up mechanism, the ribbon is wrapped around a puller roller and onto a rewind roller. One of the guide rollers is stationary and the other reciprocates in a parallel path in at least half the speed of the reciprocating chase. The ribbon is wound in a serpentine configuration around the reciprocating guide roller forward to the stationary guide roller and back to the take-up mechanism to thereby retain a fixed pathway length regardless of the position of the chase. The ribbon is wrapped around the puller roller having a friction gripping surface for non-slip pulling of the ribbon.

Abstract: An automatic stamping machine, comprising an electronic control system to control a driving mechanism to carry an automatic ribbon take-up mechanism and a noise deadening device to perform automatic stamping operation with operational noise simultaneously deadened.

Abstract: An imprinting apparatus for imprinting checks, money orders and like negotiable instruments includes adjustable type segment members having type characters thereon for printing the dollar and cents amount of the money order in conventional Arabic characters and in characters which are readable by an optical character recognition device, the apparatus including two platen assemblies operated by a common operating lever to simutaneously imprint the money order with both conventional Arabic and optical character readable information, one of the platen assemblies being operable to effect impact movement of an associated platen in imprinting the form. The apparatus employs a replaceable inked ribbon cartridge including a ribbon bearing a dye-based ink which permeates the money order from front to back as a deterrent to alteration of a dollar amount imprinted thereon.

Abstract: An inked ribbon cartridge having a cassette housing, a printing roller in a roller bracket, and a carrier member. The carrier member has an inked ribbon stored on two winding reels that lie parallel to the printing roller, and is separately removable from the cartridge. The cartridge has at least one locking mechanism with an actuation element to both unlock and remove the carrier member from the cassette housing. The carrier member also has a guard member preventing unintentional contact with the ribbon, and through which the printing roller extends.

Abstract: An imprinting apparatus for imprinting checks, money orders and like negotiable instruments includes adjustable type segment members having type characters thereon for printing the dollar and cents amount of the money order in conventional arabic characters and in characters which are readable by an optical character recognition device, the apparatus including two platen assemblies operated by a common operating lever to simultaneously imprint the money order with both conventional arabic and optical character readable information, one of the platen assemblies being operable to effect impact movement of an associated platen in imprinting the form. The apparatus employs a replaceable inked ribbon cartridge including a ribbon bearing a dye-based ink which permeates the money order from front to back as a deterrent to alteration of a dollar amount imprinted thereon.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printing apparatus, in which two reels for the supply and take-up of a ink ribbon are rotatably mounted, incorporates a cartridge body and cover in which support sections for retaining the ends of the reels are provided. At an end of the cartridge, leaf springs are included which apply a constant frictional force to the reel hubs to prevent unwanted rotation of the reels. Therefore unwanted slackening of the ribbon is prevented, whether or not the printing apparatus is engaged in a printing operation.

Abstract: In an electronically controlled typewriter, a printer or the like with an exchangeable ribbon cassette, which is provided with identifying codings and where the ribbon cassette is pivotable between a lowered position of rest and an elevated printing or operating position around the cassette base facing away from the printing area, it is provided in order to attain a simple and dependably readable coding which can discriminate between a plurality of different types of ribbon cassettes, that at a defined radial distance from the base of the ribbon cassette, which is to be inserted, a sensor is disposed at the side of the pivot path of the same, which gives off an electrical output signal in reference to a changing magnetic field. It is provided in a ribbon cassette for such a typewriter or such a printer to dispose at least one bistable magnetic element on a lateral surface of the ribbon cassette.

Abstract: A peripheral or stand-alone computerized stamp printer is provided particularly for office use in which a print assembly including a pressure cam and leaf spring arrangement is associated with a heated print head which contacts and impresses a daisy wheel character against an imprinting tape in a confined cartridge to serially print computer-selected letters or characters on a binder, binder spine, or other workpiece. The printer assembly may move on an X or Y axis along a fixed or movable gantry upper arm. If the gantry is fixed, means are provided for moving paper stock, binders or other workpieces into proper position for clamping on a work surface on the top surfaces of the printer chassis. A spine-holding drawer may be provided in the chassis for supporting the spine of a binder for printing letters, logos, or the like, on the binder spine. The print assembly is a discrete unit and includes a replaceable tape cartridge fitted into drive mechanisms within the printer assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for printing labels on labeling machines. To carry out the printing procedure, a longitudinally translating ink coated ribbon runs through ink in a container and is advanced by a rotating inking roller. The inking ribbon contacts the outer circumference of the inking roller. In order to achieve interruption-free and low maintenance but uniformly good application of ink onto the stamping or printing head, the invention provides that the inking ribbon, at the point of contact between the ink ribbon and the ink roller, has its longitudinal extension arranged substantially transversely of the rotational direction of the inking roller.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing indicia upon a continuous paper web, and including an ink retaining robbon, supply and take-up reels for the ribbon, and with a web path for the paper web and ink ribbon being defined, and with a printing station situated in the web paths. The printing station includes a numbering machine with indicia to be printed, with the printing station further including a skate assembly which carries a rotatable pressure ring. The skate assembly is mounted upon an endless belt, and is arranged to run in a direction transverse to the paper web path. A single motor means is provided, and includes a first drive for providing intermittent draw-dwell motion to the paper web, while providing continuous motion of the endless belt carrying the skate assembly. The skate assembly is timed to move across the paper during paper dwell periods.

Abstract: Apparatus attached to the reciprocating chase of a cylinder press for carrying one or more supply spools of a web of foil-carrying material, together with an adjustable computerized controller and web-pulling rollers associated with the cylinder press and responsive to the controller, for holding a portion of the foil-carrying web suspended above the chase and moving the foil-carrying web a predetermined distance after each impression from the foil onto print stock. An articulated support rack extends from the chase to a structure supporting the web-pulling rollers, to maintain tension in the web as the chase moves. The controller is adjustable to pull a preselectable incremental length of the web a preselectable number of times and to pull a different preselectable length of the web automatically after each group of such selectable number of pulls each having that incremental length.

Abstract: A user-friendly ribbon cartridge to house and to facilitate handling a wide thermal transfer ribbon for a thermal color printer is composed of first and second casing sections which define a slotted let-off tube and a slotted take-up tube and turnbar. A pair of casing end pieces connect the corresponding ends of the casing sections so that they are juxtaposed with their axes parallel to one another so as to define a plane and the turnbar is spaced parallel to that plane so that a stretch of ribbon wound about cores rotatively mounted in the tubes can extend out through the tube slots and over the turnbar creating a large unobstructed planar ribbon area that is accessible from both sides for printing. A handle and latch member integral to one of the end pieces facilitate positioning the cartridge properly in the associated printing apparatus and locking it in place during printing.

Abstract: The cup printing assembly (10) including ink transfer rollers (20,22,24) for forming an ink image from an ink reservoir (14) and transferring the ink image to a cup (16). An ink reservoir (14) stores the ink to be transferred. The assembly (10) is characterized by the ink reservoir (14) being an absorbent continuous belt member (18) for retaining ink thereon.

Abstract: An auxiliary ribbon separator for use on a dot-line printer is positioned to prevent vertical ribbon displacement in the presence of upward forces such as caused by perforations on continuous feed paper. The auxiliary separator is located so that the ribbon is guided past an end of a front yoke. The front yoke serves as a course ribbon guide and is a component of the electro-magnetic assembly of the print head associated with the printer. The auxiliary separator may be shaped so as to facilitate loading of the ribbon in the printer.

Abstract: A system designed to enable persons incapable of manipulating a writing implement to sign papers and/or documents comprising a holder for the document to be signed, a holder for a transfer sheet for holding the transfer sheet adjacent that portion of the document to be signed and an implement defining the signature to be applied to the document for pressing the transfer sheet into transferring engagement with the document.

Abstract: A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece having a cyclically operating drum for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter. The periphery of the drum has an aperture therein. Structure is provided to maintain the mailpiece against the drum as the mailpiece is fed by the drum and to cycle the drum. A matrix print head located internal to the drum has a printing position and non-printing position. The print head is automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum to its printing position, when the aperture is between the print head and the mailpiece. The print head is a matrix print head of impact or other type and includes a cooperating ribbon either inked or other to print on the mailpiece. The inked ribbon is contained in a replaceable cartridge. Structure is provided to activate the print head when it is in its printing position.

Abstract: A separator plate for a type band printer is located between the print paper and a ribbon so as to prevent the ribbon from contacting the paper. The upper edge of the separator plate is located adjacent to the print line and pushes the paper away from the ribbon against the hammer plate. The separator plate is affixed to the printer.

Abstract: A brake mechanism for controlling a ribbon spool wherein a brake member is disposed in braking relationship with the spool for retarding rotation thereof. The brake member has a brake actuator projecting therefrom. An elongated follower pivotally bears against the spool to follow any decrease in the diameter thereof. The follower has an adjustment member which creates a cammed relationship with the brake actuator for progressively moving same and decreasing the brake torque as the follower pivotally moves in response to a decrease in spool diameter. This adjustment member is positioned to impose either a zero or a minimum torque on the brake member when the spool is empty. When in this empty-spool position, the adjustment member can be initially adjusted in a direction substantially parallel to the radial direction of the brake actuator so as to not affect this zero or minimum brake torque.

Abstract: A ribbon dater which has, improved structure: (a) to quickly reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon so that the same can be re-run thru the printer; (b) to quickly reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon and at the same time provide for a different half of the ribbon to effect the printing; (c) to initiate the printing operation; and (d) to increase printing efficiency but that the type, the ribbon and the part to be printed are all held fixed and printing effected by a movable striker.

Abstract: An intermittent motion imprinter particularly adapted for use with quick change cassette carried transfer tape to imprint spaced indicia by means of a reciprocating print head, the indicia being printed on a film strip, strip of labels, or product container passing the print head. Movement of the print head and advancement of the transfer tape is by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder driving a reciprocating shuttle. The print head has a centrally aligned axially extending shaft with a diametical slot therethrough. The shuttle passes through the slot and engages a cam roller affixed to the shaft within the slot, the cam contacting walls of a camming surface of the shuttle. The print head shaft is radially restrained in a bearing member and the shuttle is restrained against movement transverse to the reciprocal movement direction. The shuttle terminates in a projecting portion which engages a one-way drive for advancing the transfer tape.

Abstract: The invention relates to an address printing machine having a flat printing pad, a printing anvil, and two driving systems. The printing anvil serves as a support for a data carrier with raised characters and for a printing assembly having at least one sheet of paper and an interspaced ink transferring ribbon (carbon paper). One of the driving systems serves to move the printing pad or printing anvil into the operating position, with a minimum of power and the other driving system subsequently causes an electromagnetic impulse printing device to exert a very short impression impulse to achieve the ink transfer with a minimum of movement.

Abstract: A printer/plotter system for producing a multiple color hard copy output in response to digital input data. The system includes one or more impact hammers, each capable of printing a single dot with the hammers being arranged to selectively print dots along a defined print line. The system further includes an ink ribbon having multiple zones of different colors carrying encoded identifying indicia. In response to input data defining a dot pattern and the color in which it is to be printed, the ribbon is searched to position the first identified ribbon color zone in front of the impact hammers. After the pattern for that color is printed, the ribbon is again searched and the next identified color zone is moved into print station, i.e. in front of the impact hammers, and the pattern associated therewith is printed. A paper control system is provided to move the paper to be printed upon in a forward direction as information is printed in each color.

Abstract: An imprinter having a single driving device for controlling both the movement of the heated printing head and the intermittent advancing movement of the pigmented ribbon. The single driving device, which preferably comprises a reciprocal fluid pressure cylinder, causes the advancing and retracting movement of the printing head. A motion-transfer mechanism drivingly joins the printing head to the take-up reel for the pigmented ribbon. This mechanism is of the one-way type so as to effect rotation of the take-up reel, and advancement of the pigmented ribbon, only when the printing head is being retracted. This mechanism also employs a lost-motion connection therein so that the rotation of the take-up reel is delayed relative to the initial retraction of the printing head, whereby the printing head is initially moved out of engagement with the ribbon prior to the intermittent advancing thereof.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus having a platen, a plurality of print hammers arranged in a horizontal row and a horizontally movable type carrier on which print carriers are arranged, a restraining member limits upward movement of a horizontally movable ink ribbon and thereby eliminates character omission. Between the print hammers and the type carriers are disposed the horizontally movable ink ribbon and a vertically movable print sheet on which a character impression is made upon impact of a selectively energized hammer. The print sheet is folded along transverse cut lines to define forms which are stacked together below the apparatus. When the print sheet is pulled upwardly, the folded portion tends to drag the ink ribbon upwardly displacing the ribbon from its print position. The restraining member is mounted above the ink ribbon to limit this upward movement of the ribbon.

Abstract: A printer having an ink ribbon with a bidirectional ribbon drive in which a pair of stepper motors have their windings cross-coupled so that a drag current flows through one stepper motor to apply drag torque to the ribbon when the other stepper motor is operated for driving.

Abstract: A flying printer of reduced size and weight comprises a continuously-rotating ratchet wheel for driving a printing hammer through an interposed trigger lever and a print drum rotating continuously at a speed in a fixed ratio to that of said wheel. A striking face of a tooth on the ratchet-wheel lies in the same plane as the stroke-receiving face of the trigger lever, and said plane passes through the axis of rotation of said ratchet wheel. Further, the trigger lever is pivotally supported on the arm of the printing hammer, and the region of the arm in which the support of said lever is to be disposed is narrowly prescribed for the most effective transfer of energy from said ratchet wheel to said printing hammer.A paper-feed mechanism is operatively connected with said printing mechanism, the feed of said paper being intermittent while the drum is designed to rotate continuously.

Abstract: A multiple imprint transfer tape marking device, which will imprint a multiplicity of imprint surfaces, substantially simultaneously.The imprint marking device includes a plurality of laterally aligned, individually powered marker heads which are adjustably positioned for cyclically imprinting a packaging film movable along an imprint path, normal to the laterally aligned marking heads. The imprint marking device further provides a transfer tape assembly pivotally adjustable to a suitable angle relative to the aligned marker heads to provide a proportioned width of the tape for individual use by each of the marker heads. The tape assembly is provided with an automatic tape advance mechanism and is arranged to accept various width transfer tapes selected in accordance with the number of marker heads utilized and the size of the imprint indicia.

Abstract: An impact printer ribbon drive of the reel-to-reel type, in which a length of ink ribbon extending between and wound around opposite reels is disposed between a reciprocating hammer bank and print paper on a platen, drives the ribbon at substantially constant speed and tension independent of varying ribbon pack diameter on the two reels. Each one of the reels is driven by a different one of a pair of DC permanent magnet motors. The motors are energized by a circuit which maintains the sum of the currents through the two motors substantially constant and which also maintains the voltage at the leading or take-up motor substantially constant. The sum of the currents and the voltage are maintained substantially constant by a pair of servo circuits associated with different ones of the motors and coupled to be alternately actuated in response to external direction commands.

Abstract: An anti-fold apparatus for high speed printers to prevent the folding or creasing of a printer ribbon riding over rollers. The rollers each have spiral angular serrations thereon, and are mounted in two pairs with each roller in a pair having one end abutting the end of the other, and each being mounted at an angle to the elongated center axis of the other, so that a printer ribbon rolling thereon is directed away from the abutting ends of each pair of rollers to prevent creasing therein. A linkage connects the two pairs of rollers at their abutting ends for shifting the angular position of each pair simultaneously between first slanted positions, when the ribbon is moving in one direction, and second slanted positions, when the ribbon is moving in the reverse direction. The linkage is actuated by solenoids, actuated by the reversing of the ribbon.

Abstract: An imprint marking device utilizing transfer tape moved from a tape supply reel to a take-up reel across an imprint station with a moving marker head having raised indicia movable against the tape to press the tape against an article to be marked. A tape drive system includes a drive roller and an opposed idler roller. Both the tape drive system and the marker head are actuated by a single power cylinder which has power rods extending from opposite ends connected to a single common internal piston, one of the rods operating the marker head and the other of the rods operating the tape drive system.

Abstract: A pressure applying element, a sheet to be printed, and an ink ribbon, an interchangeable form carrying printing indicia, and a pressure absorption plate are arranged in vertical sequence to be pressed together by the pressure applying element in the printing process whereby the pressure absorption plate absorbs the applied pressure, the ink ribbon being wound on a delivery spool and a wind-up spool mounted for rotation in a cassette housing, the cassette housing forming a guide delivering ribbon from the delivery spool about one free edge of the pressure absorption plate, transversely across the pressure absorption plate in spaced relation thereto, about the opposite free edge of the pressure absorption plate and to the wind-up spool, the cassette being removeable from and insertable in the press in a direction parallel to the spool rotational axes and the free longitudinal edges of the pressure absorption plate.

Abstract: A novel inking method and apparatus particularly well suited for the re-inking of used fabric ribbons such as of the chain-printer type. The apparatus preferably contains means for moving a fabric ribbon through an inking station onto a take-up roll, means in advance of the inking station for adjusting the edge-alignment of the ribbon, embossed or gravure inking means for supplying ink directly to the ribbon without compression of the ribbon, illumination means to facilitate the inspection of the ribbon for flaws and for uniformity of ink, and shut-off means for stopping the movement of the ribbon at any desired position.

Abstract: An ink feed system for an electrophoretic printer wherein a ribbon is used to carry ink from an ink supply to the paper upon which it is applied by means of an electric field. A magnetic constituent is added to the ink and a magnetic field is impressed alongside the ribbon and parallel to the surface thereof. A Hall probe positioned in the magnetic field senses perturbations thereof perpendicular to the ribbon induced by the presence of ink on the ribbon. A signal produced by the Hall probe signals the density of the ink upon the ribbon and is utilized for regulating a flow of ink onto the ribbon.

Abstract: For imprinting characters on a continuous strip of plastics or other material by pressing heated type against a printing ribbon thereon, the strip is fed at constant speed over a platen in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the printing ribbon from payoff reel to takeup reel. The type is mounted on a rotary type carrier over the platen, for revolution in a direction in conformity with the traveling direction of the strip. While the heated type is being pressed against the superposed ribbon and strip over the platen, the ribbon is thereby transported a predetermined distance toward the payoff reel with the strip relative to the platen and, when subsequently released by the type, is pulled back the same distance toward the takeup reel by a spring-energized pullback lever. The ribbon is then wound up onto the takeup reel via a pair of drawoff rollers just by a length corresponding to the width of the character or characters on the typeface.

Abstract: A compliant structure formed of resilient tape of the self-straightening type is used to guide a web of thin material which is transferred between two machine elements that have relative motion to each other. The structure is applied to a ribbon supply and take-up system for typewriters and teleprinters of the type having a carriage-transported printing device. The resilient tape, with one surface being used to guide the ribbon, is connected and constrained between a frame-supported ribbon supply and take-up assembly and the printing device carriage to form a loop-like structure for guiding and generally supporting the ribbon along a path of constant length regardless of carriage position. The compliant ribbon-guiding structure is also incorporated into an easily installable ribbon carriage.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus includes a main frame, a drum housing pivotably mounted in the main frame, and a printing drum, mounted in the drum housing, which comprises a plurality of discs each having a series of die groupings about its periphery as well as a groove associated with each die grouping. An assembly for setting each disc to place a selected die grouping in printing position and for simultaneously shifting all of the discs to shift each set die grouping from a first to a second character printing position comprises a spur gear mounted for reciprocation in the direction of the printing drum axis and for rotation to selectively engage each disc and to disengage from all discs. A locking bar, having a notch, is linked to the spur gear to reciprocate with it and position the notch in alignment with the disc engaged by the spur gear. The remainder of the bar projects into a groove in each of all other discs to hold them against rotation during the setting operation.

Abstract: A device for inking the type-carrier element of a calculating machine or similar office machine. The type-carrier element includes a wheel from the edge of which protrudes corresponding characters. These are selected by a recording support for the rotation of the wheel and define the various writing positions for the movement of the wheel along a line of writing. The device includes a container with an ink-deposit element inside it and which has a long window substantially the same length as the line of writing and covered with a permeable, wear-resistant layer which is in contact with the deposit element in order to permit the outflow of the ink. A spring element keeps the said permeable layer tight against the type-carrier element during the rotation and movement of the wheel.

Abstract: A hammer is movable to strike paper against a rotatable type member through a ribbon for printing. The hammer is moved for printing by a rotary shaft formed with a projection which engages with the hammer upon rotation of the shaft. A rockable ribbon guide holds the ribbon which has upper and lower portions provided with different colors of ink. A setting lever is pivotally connected to the ribbon guide in such a manner that rocking movement of the setting lever produces rocking movement of the ribbon guide. The setting lever is formed with two engaging portions with which latch members of two solenoids are respectively engagable. A spring urges the setting lever toward a reset position. A first one of the solenoid latch members is arranged to hold the setting lever in a first set position at which one of the colors on the ribbon is in a printing position.

Abstract: A high speed multicolor printing apparatus having an ink ribbon with colored stripes or bands of different colors to allow printing of a certain line with a different color from the other lines. The apparatus is provided with means to control the selected color for printing.

Abstract: A check printer and including a base having an upwardly facing check print surface thereon and a chassis disposed thereover, such chassis cooperating with the base to form a pathway leading from one side to the other of the check print surface. A plurality of printing wheels are mounted in side-by-side relationship from said chassis for disposition over the check print surface. An ink ribbon cartridge is mounted from the chassis and includes a flat frame overlying the print surface with ink ribbon rollers carried therefrom and disposed on opposite sides of such print surface. An actuating handle engages the chassis and is operable upon depression thereof to shift the chassis downwardly to engage the wheels with a check resting on the print surface to print the numbers selected on such individual wheels on such check.