Abstract: To provide a curing accelerator for an oxidatively polymerizable unsaturated resin which can decrease the amount of cobalt metal soap used and has curing performance equal to or higher than excellent curing performance of the cobalt metal soap, and a printing ink and a coating material using the same. A curing accelerator for an oxidatively polymerizable unsaturated resin including a manganese or cobalt complex (?) containing quinolinol compound ions represented by Structural Formula (1) as a ligand, and a printing ink and a coating material including the curing accelerator. In the formula, R1 is any of a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a nitro group, a nitroso group, a sulfo group, and a halogen atom, and n is an integer of 1 to 6.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which configures a printing system includes an application server which has a function of editing and storing document data, and provides the document data in response to a request; the image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including a printing function; a data generation apparatus which generates, from the document data, print data printable by the image forming apparatus; and a storage apparatus which stores data having undergone processing by the image forming apparatus, the apparatuses being communicable with each other via a network, comprising: recording unit configured to record, as difference data, a setting difference upon setting change of print data; and transmission unit configured to execute processing for the print data, and transmitting a completion notification of the processing together with the difference data.

Abstract: A method for axis correction in a processing machine, in particular a shaftless printing machine, has at least one axis for processing and/or transporting a material, at least one detection device for detecting a processing parameter and at least one controller device for calculating a controller output variable for axis correction of the at least one axis using the detected processing parameter. The method is implemented iteratively, with the result that feedforward control output values for the feedforward control of the axis correction are determined during an (n+1)-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis using observation of the controller output variable and/or the processing parameter during an n-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis.

Abstract: A planar sheet comprising, on a first surface of the sheet, at least one printed mark, and on a second surface of the sheet, opposite the first surface, at least one invisible printed mark vertically adjacent to the mark printed on the first surface. In at least one pair of vertically adjacent marks formed on the opposite surfaces, at least one of the marks of the pair has unique content. At least one invisible mark can be a two-dimensional barcode and/or at least one invisible mark can be a copy-protection mark. The content of at least one mark can be representative of the position of an invisible mark on the sheet.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a pair of pulleys between which a belt is stretched, and a pin that rotatably supports a driving pulley, of the pair of pulleys; a mount for fixing the pin; a housing; at least two first fastening parts, respectively including first bosses that extend vertically from a bottom portion of the housing and first fastening members that are inserted into the first bosses via the mount to fix the mount to the housing; and a second fastening part disposed on an opposite side to, the first fastening parts with respect to the pin in the scanning direction, including a second boss that extends vertically from the bottom portion of the housing and has a different height from the first bosses and a second fastening member that is inserted into the second boss via the mount to fix the mount to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for labeling products may be applied to vehicle labeling, where complying with legal requirements of one jurisdiction may otherwise violate legal requirements within a second jurisdiction. Label content, format, and placement on vehicles, as imposed by federal law, creates a visual obstruction in violation of state law when a prospective customer is driving the vehicle. A new product label configured as a panel, which may be the Monroney sticker for a vehicle, or which may contain the Monroney sticker information and extend beyond that label itself, acts as a one-way panel. The panel permits transmission of light inward toward the driver, thus appearing sufficiently transparent not to create a visual obstruction. The panel may be sized from the size of a conventional Monroney sticker, up to the size of the entire window, acting as a window shade and a window sticker.

Abstract: A scoring and weighting system and method for providing print device selection on the basis of product characteristics that are specified for a print product is provided. The system determines the properties of one or more printing devices in relation to the product characteristics. The printing devices have one or more print mediums for providing the print product. A score is derived by determining a status respecting the conformity of the one or more print mediums to the product characteristics and evaluating the one or more printing devices' properties. Associating that score with each of the one or more printing device. Also, associating the print product with a print job and utilizing the score to route the print job to one of the one or more printing devices to produce the print product on one of the one or more print mediums.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium in a color mode or a monochrome mode based on a first job; a switching unit that performs a switching operation to switch between the color mode upon printing a color page and the monochrome mode upon printing a monochrome page; a first computing unit that computes, based on a switching time required for the switching operation, the maximum number of switching actions at which a printing turnaround time from a printing start time to a printing stop time is not more than a first time limit from the printing start time to a predetermined time limit; and a first limiting unit that restricts the switching operation based on a number of switching actions determined by the first computing unit.

Abstract: A state of a print head is checked by printing a plurality of images in order on a sheet fed from a sheet feeding unit, and reading the printed images. A region that is inappropriate for performing printing on the fed sheet is detected. When the inappropriate region has been detected, printing the images is stopped and the sheet is cut. Of the cut sheets, the sheet at an upstream is sent back to the sheet feeding unit. Subsequently, the sheet is again fed to perform printing and conduct a test.

Abstract: A set of symbols is encoded using a continuous mapping function to produce corresponding encoded functions, wherein the mapping function is continuous and values of the encoded functions are real and vary continuously. The encoded functions are summed in a spatial domain to generate a summed function, which is biased so that values of a biased function are all positive and real. Then, a physical property of the object is altered according the biased function to arrange a mark on the object.

Abstract: A method of providing a printed date on a product includes providing an avoidance date, providing a current date, and providing an algorithm for calculating a printed date. The algorithm is used to determine the printed date based on the avoidance date and the current date. The printed date is not the same as the avoidance date. The printed date is printed on the product with a printer.

Abstract: Some embodiments concern an apparatus configured to label one or more boxes supported by a pallet. In various examples, the pallet can have a pallet label. The apparatus can include: (a) a reading mechanism configured to read first information from the pallet label; (b) a computing system configured to determine one or more markings to apply at one or more predetermined locations to the one or more boxes at least partially based on the first information; (c) a marking mechanism configured to apply the one or more markings to the one or more boxes at the one or more predetermined locations; and (d) a first movement mechanism configured to at least partially position the marking mechanism to apply the one or more markings at the one or more predetermined locations. The marking mechanism is configured to mark each of the one or more boxes without removing the one or more boxes from the pallet. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A printing system is provided that dynamically adjusts the method of printing an image based on the lightness or darkness of the medium upon which the image will be printed. The reflectivity of the medium upon which an image is to be printed is determined, and the way in which the image will be printed is adjusted based on the determined reflectivity of the medium. For lighter colored mediums, on which sufficient contrast will be provided, the image can be printed directly onto the medium. For darker colored mediums, on which the ink used to print the image will not provide enough contrast with respect to the medium to produce a reliably readable image, the method of printing the image is modified to ensure that sufficient contrast is always provided to produce a reliably readable image.

Abstract: Some described embodiments relate to a method of producing a cover for a device. The method comprises receiving selection input at a computerised interface, the selection input comprising a device selection of the device and a cover selection of a decorative cover to be applied to the device; generating a product order based on the selection input; providing a sheet to a cutting apparatus, wherein a decorative appearance of the sheet corresponds to the cover selection and the sheet comprises a flexible adhesive-backed substrate on which the decorative appearance is printed and a backing layer; and causing the cutting apparatus to cut the substrate based on the product order so that at least one portion of the substrate is separable from a remainder of the substrate and the backing layer to form the decorative cover for adhesive application to the device.

Abstract: Document obfuscation devices and systems are disclosed for obfuscating paper documents so as to prevent dissemination of sensitive information without shredding in order to increase recycling potential. Certain obfuscation devices include a pair of rollers, at least one of which is imprinted with an obfuscation pattern, and a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper through the pair of rollers. Certain obfuscation systems include an obfuscation device and a recycle bin coupled together.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing, scanning engraving or cutting a flat horizontal surface, particularly when the surface is of non-standard dimensions or is supplied in an non-standard manner. The apparatus is suitable for following outside electromechanically commanded instruction and contains an instrument for printing, scanning, engraving or cutting in a stepwise manner by being accurately raised and lowered to the surface and a component for treating the surface.

Abstract: A thermal head printer with image-invariant printing speeds for printing a substantially light-insensitive thermographic material having a print density-driving power level characteristic, the thermal head printer comprising a transport means, one or more thermal heads each having an array of heating elements, a thermal print head drive system capable of supplying power to each of the printing elements, and a calibration means based on the print density-driving power level characteristic of the thermographic material; a process for calibrating a thermal head printer with image-invariant printing speeds, the thermal head printer comprising one or more thermal heads each having an array of heating elements connected to a power supply capable of supplying a given number of heating element driving power levels from 0 to a maximum driving power level number, corresponding to Pmax, to each heating element for printing a substantially light-insensitive thermographic material by image-wise heating the thermographic m

Abstract: A method and system for position-aware freeform printing in which a source image space in a source medium and a target image space in a target medium are specified. A selected image in the source image space is copied and/or optionally processed and transferred to the target image space. A controller captures the selected source image and stores the image in a memory. The image is optionally processed and the processed and optionally formatted image is output. The controller may format the processed image to fit into the target image space by controlling the rendering of the processed image onto the target medium as the printing device is moved over the target image space in a freeform direction. The controller predicts the freeform direction that the print head will travel by detecting the motion previously traveled and adjusting the image to compensate for the predicted freeform direction.

Abstract: A manual imprinter for transferring the image of a relief formation to a writing surface, preferably to imprint a document with the number of a security seal personalized by a relief numbering. The manual imprinter, in the presently preferred embodiment, comprises a support art adapted to support the numbered portion of the security seal, and an arm carrying a graphite block, hinged to the arm. The arm has a guide for a manual actuator, to which the graphite block is fixed. When the arm is closed against the arm, the block is pressed against the numbered portion of the security seal, the document to be imprinted being interposed therebetween. The operation of the actuator forces the graphite block across the region of the relief number of the seal, resulting in the transfer of the image of the number to the document.

Abstract: To improve the security in data carriers, such as papers of value, bank notes, ID cards, etc., a numbering apparatus is proposed for individualizing the data carrier whereby the characters are engraved in the engraved blocks present on the numbering apparatus such that the serial number extends along a line having a curvature.

Abstract: An optimum printing mode, which makes total printing through-put maximum, is selected by providing control programs comprising monitoring means 4 for monitoring printing condition of the printer, comparative means 5 for determining the printing mode which makes the printing time minimum by comparing the printing mode at the moment of the printer 30 obtained by the monitoring means 4 with the printing mode of the subsequent data to be printed based on information relating to a necessary time for switching the printing mode, difference of printing time necessary for one page with respective of the printing modes each other, and the number of pages to be printed, and others, switching means 6 for switching whether the optimization of the printing mode determined by the monitoring means 4 and the comparative means 45 is performed or not and selective means 7 for selecting the printing mode based on the result determined by the comparative means 5 or setting by the switching means 6, to printing controlling portio

Abstract: An improved label stamper which is capable of stamping prices on labels attached on a tape so as to attach the stamped labels on commodities is disclosed. A tape loading mechanism of the label stamper is constituted such that a loading case goes in and out of the machine by functions of a pair of folding and extending legs, so that the label tape can be loaded in a convenient manner. A guide is constituted such that a front plate and a rear plate are fastened across a narrow gap, and this gap forms a guide channel. In a holding mechanism, a push plate is disposed facing toward a base plate, and the push plate interlocks a movable lever to the loading case. Thus, if the tape is inserted into the guide channel, the tape is automatically press-held to the base plate. In a stamping mechanism, a selecting hole of a selecting wheel for driving a stamping belt is provided with a recess and a triangular protuberance.

Abstract: Provided in a printing press having a printing-press housing and an impression cylinder are a numbering box having a numbering-box shaft for holding numbering devices, an inking device with an ink form roller, and a switching or control device, including telescopic rails mounted in the printing-press housing, the numbering box being disposed on the telescopic rails and being displaceable thereon into and out of engagement with the impression cylinder, and a mechanism for simultaneously effecting mutual engagement and disengagement of the inking device and the numbering-box shaft.

Abstract: A hand-held label printer has an integrated label applicator mechanism pivotably and exchangably disposed in opposing side walls of a printer housing and across a front wall opening in the housing. The label applicator mechanism is pivoted into a label applying position in which the applicator mechanism receives and guides a printed label peeled from a web stock by a peeler rod along a label path extending from the peeler rod over a label shelf of the applicator mechanism to a position from which a label applicator roller of the applicator mechanism can engage a leading portion of the label for application to a surface to be labeled. The label applicator mechanism is pivoted into a web stock threading position to provide ready access by a user of the printer to facilitate threading of a leading portion of web stock along a web stock path from a roll past a printing mechanism and over the peeler rod to a web stock transport mechanism and to facilitate clearing of web stock jams or of label jams.

Abstract: An automatic stamping device includes a document reading device 10 which reads a document and supplies the result of reading on an image memory 22, and a stamp memory control circuit 21 which produces various stamp image data on the basis of the number of documents or the number of sheets of paper already printed, etc. These image data are synthesized by an image synthesizing circuit 27 and outputted through an image printing device 40, thereby automatically making stamping on printed matters.

Abstract: An imprinter (10) for imprinting a formset (12) with embossed data from a card (14) and a plate (16) in accordance with the invention includes a flatbed (20) having a top surface (22) on which the card and the plate are held below the formset during imprinting; a movable carriage (24) having at least one rolling platen (48 and 50) with the at least one rolling platen imprinting the embossed data during movement along the flatbed; and a single piece skirt (26) having a periphery (28) which extends peripherally outside the flatbed and which is attached to the flatbed to from a unitary structure of the flatbed and the skirt with the skirt having a plurality of projections (30 and 32) extending inward onto the top surface of the flatbed with the projections defining a card receiving surface area (34) on the top surface of the flatbed for holding the card during imprinting and a formset receiving area (36) on the top surface of the flatbed for holding the formset during imprinting.

Abstract: A manually set bar code generating device is easily attachable to a mail container such as an envelope. A housing rotatably mounts a series of concentric circular rings which are imprinted with bar code characters on one side and with alphanumeric characters on a diametrically opposite side. The housing includes diametrically opposed windows that expose a bar code character on one side while exposing its alphanumeric counterpart on the other side. Each single ring thus sets up a single character of a bar code sequence. The series of rings sets up the desired sequence of bar code characters in one window as the desired sequence of alphanumeric characters is dialed into place in the opposite window. The side-by-side rings are independently rotatable about a central axis of the housing. Rotation of the individual rings is accomplished by inserting a pointed instrument into one of a series of depressions in the ring.

Abstract: A vehicle for a radiation curable ink composition and methods of making and using such vehicle and ink composition. The vehicle and ink composition are substantially water insoluble and include a water reducible resin which is present in the vehicle and ink composition is its water insoluble form and which is present in an amount sufficient to render the vehicle and ink composition water washable using an alkaline wash.

Abstract: A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a printing drum and a drive gear therefor, and wherein the meter includes a shutter bar mounted for movement into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear to respectively prevent and permit driving the drive gear and thus the printing drum, the mailing machine base comprising, framework, structure for moving the shutter bar out of locking engagement with the drive gear and then moving the shutter bar into locking engagement with the drive gear, the moving structure including a lever arm pivotally attached to the framework and adapted to be disposed in bearing engagement with the shutter bar when the meter is mounted on the base, the lever arm including a yoke portion depending therefrom, the moving structure including a cam shaft journaled for rotation to the framework, the moving structure including a cam connected to the cam shaft for rotation therewith and having an end portion thereof disposed withi

Abstract: A system for printing a document (1) comprises a first motor (5) for driving the document with respect to the frame along a first horizontal direction, the document being vertically arranged; a printer (7) coupled to a vertical linear displacement system (9, 11, 12), and designed to print information on the document; a post-marking roller (17) bearing symbols liable to be selectively pressed on the document with interposition of an ink ribbon (19) associated with running means; a second motor (15) coupled to driving means (13, 14) of the printer and roller; and a clutch (24, 28, 30) for coupling the running means to the first motor (5) only when the printer is in a predetermined range of displacement.

Abstract: An electric motor driven imprinter (60) in accordance with the invention includes a base (70) for receiving a print bearing element (62) having printing to be imprinted on a print receiving element (64) with the electric motor being mounted in the base; a head (61) pivotally connected to the base for imprinting; a movable carriage (116) mounted on the head having mounted therein a rolling platen (128) driven by the electric motor (82) to move the carriage in a first direction and a second opposite direction along a longitudinal axis with movement in each direction to one of a pair of ends of travel (110, 112) imprinting print from the print bearing element on the print receiving element; a capstan (84) which is driven by the motor; and a cable (86) attached to the capstan, forming a loop between the capstan and an idler wheel (142) attached to the head at a point along a longitudinal axis of the head adjacent an end of travel spaced farthest from the capstan and attached to the movable carriage.

Abstract: The postage meter has a removable head on a base and includes a sheath carrying a print drum in the head. The sheath is rotatably mounted in the head. The bore in the sheath is accessible from a far side of the head. The meter further includes a spindle which is rotatably mounted in the base and which is coupled to an internal drive mechanism for driving the platen in the base, and whose "near" end portion receives the sheath when the head is installed on the base, for the purpose of driving the sheath and thus the drum from the base.

Abstract: Device for adjusting print wheels of a franking machine print head where said print head is removable from a base unit and comprises a print drum incorporating said print wheels and carried at a forward end of a sleeve having its rear end projecting from the rear of the print head. The base unit has a location at the front for the print head and comprises a drive mechanism, control circuits connected to the drive mechanism and a rotating shaft coupled to the drive mechanism and partially projecting into the location for the print head to receive the sleeve on it and to drive the print drum. The device comprises a drive system comprising at least one drive motor and at least one driving gear coupled to the control circuit. Driven gears are each coupled to a different print wheel mounted with it in the print head. Sliding rods with front and rear racks thereon are mounted in the print head with the front rack of each rod meshing with one of the driven gears to impart thereto movement from the drive system.

Abstract: A credit card imprinter has a flat imprinter base on which a merchant plate, a credit card and a form set are positioned. A hand operated carriage is pulled back-and-forth over the form set and imprints the merchant plate, in one direction, and the credit card, in the opposite direction, on the form set. The carriage contains two independent platen rollers each rotatably mounted on a separate axle. The axles and their rollers are urged upwards by springs and are automatically shifted from an upward idle position to a downward print position by a unitary one-piece plastic slider. The slider has four outwardly extending arm portions which act on the axles to shift their heights.

Abstract: A card and form positioning device for easy and accurate alignment of the embossed area of a plastic card with the appropriate area of a form that is to be imprinted. The device has an L-shaped piece and pegs protruding upward from a flat guide base and through the platen of a card imprinting machine. A spring means beneath the guide base pushes the pegs through holes in the platen. During imprinting, the roller mechanism strikes the L-shaped piece prior to moving across the pegs and causes the base and pegs to move downward so that the roller can imprint the form.

Abstract: A variable field imprinter is provided including a platen carriage adapted to be reciprocated over an imprinting surface and then locked in a position to one side of the imprinting surface by a releasable blocking system. The blocking system consists of (i) a platen carriage blocking mechanism and (ii) a digit wheel sensing mechanism these two mechanisms must be interconnected by a credit card. Resetting of at least one of the digit wheels provides a force from the digit wheel sensing mechanism which is transmitted by the credit card to the platen carriage blocking mechanism to disarm the blocking system so that the platen carriage can be moved for imprinting.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing any line of characters comprises printing wheels on a common shaft, the wheels on the shaft together defining a printing line over a hammer. Each printing wheel is rotated by a respective stepping motor through a respective setting wheel. An aligner bar is inserted into notches in the wheels, prior to printing, to verify the alignment of the characters in printing position. The stepping motors are bi-directional and take the shortest path from a preceding printing position to the next printing position. The pulsing frequency may be ramped to give a higher stepping rate in the intermediate portion of each printing wheel movement.

Abstract: A printing machine that prints on forms or documents from cards having embossed characters thereon takes into account different thicknesses of cards and forms. The machine provides an even pressure downwards.

Abstract: A mailing system including a postage meter adaptable to either a high-speed mailing machine capable of parallel postal value selection or a low-speed mailing machine capable of serial value selection is disclosed. The postage meter includes a print drum with printing value members. A rod extends outwardly from the drum. The rod contains linear racks that are axially located above the horizontal centerline of the rod. The linear racks interact with the value members to provide the proper value setting. Attached to the postage meter are a plurality of cross-over shafts with pinion gears. The gears engage the racks to facilitate value selection. In the high-speed mailing machine, a series of drive members engage the shafts. Apparatus within the high-speed mailing machine causes the shafts to rotate in a parallel fashion to allow for postal value selection to facilitate postal printing. In the low-speed mailing machine, one drive member engages on e shaft of the postage meter.

Abstract: A portable label maker adapted for in-field use by electricians and the like the apparatus is self contained and permits printing, in standard wire label format, of single wiring labels. The apparatus also allows the printing of multiple copies of a single label, and the printing of sequences of labels. The label to be printed or first member of a sequence, is entered through a keyboard to be displayed on a display and stored in a memory. Subsequent commands entered through the keyboard control the printing operation including the specifications of the last member of a sequence. The printer and display may be of the dot-matrix type.

Abstract: A mailing system including a postage meter adaptable to either a high-speed mailing machine capable of parallel postal value selection or a low-speed mailing machine capable of serial value selection is disclosed. The postage meter includes a print drum with printing value members, a rod extends outwardly from the drum, the rod contains linear racks that are axially located above the horizontal center line of the rod, the linear racks interact with the value members to provide the proper value setting. Attached to the postage meter are a plurality of cross-over shafts with pinion gears, the pinion gears engage the racks to facilitate value selection. The postage meter also includes a rotary shutter device, the shutter device prevents unauthorized movement of the rack members and unintended rotation of the drum member. A cam bar arrangement within the postage meter interacts with the mailing machine to produce the above-mentioned actions.

Abstract: There is disclosed printing apparatus composed essentially of molded plastics material which has relatively few parts, is easy to manufacture and maintain, and is lightweight and portable. The apparatus is illustrated as being of the table top type which can print both standard type tags and labels, string tags and pin tickets. The apparatus has a print head operable in conjunction with an impression control device, a feed finger assembly with a registration adjustment, a simple drive arrangement operated by a cam with a single cam path, and a reel positionable at different attitudes, and the construction of the apparatus is readily adaptable to both manually operated and motorized versions.

Abstract: The type wheels provided on a postage or franking head of a postage meter or franking machine are adjusted in stepwise manner from outside the franking head by means of adjusting push rods, which in each case engage a pinion associated with a type wheel. The engagement and adjusting movement of the adjusting push rod is performed by electromagnets. The engagement movement takes place by pivoting a guide plate carrying the adjusting push rods, on which the rods are displaceable by means of the electromagnet counter to the tension of a tension spring. The electromagnets can be energized on the basis of an electrical pulse, which is simultaneously used for adjusting an electronic display, provided on the franking machine casing.

Abstract: In a postage meter, an auxiliary printing device is included for printing additional information on a mail piece relating to the type of mail being processed. The postage meter is of the flat printing type and a multi-faced printing member containing the additional information to be printed is mounted adjacent the standard postal printing mechanism. Each of the faces of the printing member may contain postal information to be printed and the appropriate information may be selected by rotating a handle attached to the member. A detent means aligns the selected printing face with the rest of the postage meter printing die. The detent means may be manually released from the printing member to remove the member from the postage meter.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for imprinting characters embossed on cards comprising a substantially flat imprinting base having on its upper surface a plurality of printing elements including a card having embossed characters thereon; a platen carriage mounted on said base for reciprocal movement thereon; a first roller platen rotatably mounted on a first roller platen axle mounted in the platen carriage perpendicular to its direction of travel and a second roller platen rotatably mounted on a second roller platen axle mounted in parallel relation to the first axle; means for holding one of the roller platens in a lowered position capable of imprinting characters during travel over the base in one direction and simultaneously holding the other roller platen in a raised, idle position; automatic shifting means for shifting the raised idle roller platen into a lowered position at the limit of platen carriage movement and simultaneously raising the other roller platen; means for separately adjusting the vertical elevat

Abstract: A digit wheel assembly for use in connection with a variable imprinting device comprises a plurality of digit wheels rotatably mounted on a common fixed digit wheel shaft, each of said digit wheels having raised printing indicia spaced along the circumference thereof; a plurality of thumbwheels rotatably mounted on a common fixed thumbwheel shaft, said thumbwheels being equal in number to said plurality of digit wheels; a first plurality of sprockets equal in number to said plurality of digit wheels, each of said first plurality of sprockets being operatively associated with one of said digit wheels so as to rotate therewith; a second plurality of sprockets equal in number to said plurality of digit wheels, each of said second plurality of sprockets being operatively associated with one of said thumbwheels so as to rotate therewith; and endless flexible drive means connecting each of said first plurality of sprockets to one of said second plurality of sprockets, whereby the rotational position of a given one

Abstract: In an electronic postage meter, the setting motors for setting the print wheels in the printing drum are directly controllable externally of the secure portion of the meter. The meter includes a shutter bar arranged to block rotation of the printing drum under determined conditions, the printing drum being rotatable in response to drive from a postage meter base. The postage meter includes first and second interposers controlled by a microprocessor for redundantly inhibiting movement of the shutter bar from a position blocking printing of postage. One of the microprocessor controlled interposers is also mechanically coupled to the print wheel setting mechanism to inhibit release of the interposer at determined positions of the stepping mechanism, and to inhibit operation of the setting mechanism when the interposer is released.

Abstract: Imprinting apparatus is provided which includes framework, a printing device, and a roller platen movably attached to the framework for movement from a print ready position to a home position. The roller platen is disposed for urging a pressure sensitive medium into imprinting engagement with the printing device in the course of such movement. In addition, the apparatus includes structure for supporting the printing device. The structure includes an anvil constructed and arranged for carrying the printing device in either of two different locations relative to the print-ready position of the roller platen.

Abstract: A data recorder for imprinting credit card data on to paper sales forms for credit card transactions. The recorder includes a printing bed and a platen mounted for movement across the bed, whereby, when the card and form are in position on the bed, a roller on the platen moves over indicia on the card so transferring the data to the form. A lever is pivotally mounted and has two fingers projecting through apertures in the bed. When a card is correctly positioned the lever is pivoted so that the fingers are retracted whereby a form can be correctly positioned without disturbance upon movement of the platen. When the card is not correctly positioned, the lever is biased so that the fingers stand proud of the bed whereby movement of the platen displaces the form.

Abstract: A varible data imprinting machine having an elongated flat printing bed section providing a document supporting surface and having a print wheel pack formed of closely adjacent peripherally notched print wheels, an imprinting carriage moveable through advance and return strokes longitudinally along the document support surface and an elongated rack section perpendicular to the printing bed section subadjacent the wheel pack having a number-indicating rack control panel projecting therefrom and including a plurality of toothed racks coarse manually adjusted longitudinally in the rack case to rotatably index the print wheels to number-printing positions. The rack case includes a pivoted centering blade activated by carriage movement to fine adjust the racks as the carriage leaves parked position and interlock means provided to latch the carriage at parked position following an imprinting cycle until one of the racks is readjusted.