Abstract: An apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium comprises a platen, a recording head arranged to oppose said platen for recording the image on the recording medium, first conveying member arranged upstream of the platen along a conveying direction of the recording medium for conveying the recording medium, second conveying member arranged downstream of the platen along the conveying direction of the recording medium for conveying the recording medium; guide member for guiding the recording medium when the recording medium is fed from the first conveying member to the second conveying member, and driving motor for causing the guide member to set at an operative position where the member guides the recording medium and a retracted position where the guiding member is retracted from the operative position.

Abstract: A mechanism for obtaining a strip record of an environmental measurement. The mechanism is used in conjunction with a clock drive which advances a recording strip and with a stylus which marks an indication of the environmental status on the recording strip. The mechanism includes a housing having an exterior and interior portion which encloses the marking stylus. The recording strip is supported by a holder to permit marking by the stylus. An element is connected to the recording strip and fixed relative to the housing for permitting marking of the recording strip by the stylus. The element is removed from the housing by movement away from the marking stylus.

Abstract: A continuous-tone thermal printer includes a transport mechanism for advancing a print medium past a thermal print head while continuous-tone image information is being printed, line-by-line, on the medium. To increase the rate at which thermal prints are produced, the printer includes asynchronous motor-control apparatus for selectively accelerating the movement of the print medium relative to the print head to quickly locate the print head at the start of a new image line immediately following the printing of that pixel(s) having the highest image density in the preceding image line. Preferably, such motor-control apparatus includes a digital signal processor which determines the maximum pixel density on each line. Upon printing such maximum pixel density, the digital signal processor causes a motor controller to temporarily increase the print medium velocity past the thermal print head to the start of the next image line.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image formation apparatus having a convey system for a recording medium in a continuous paper form such as fan fold paper, a recording means for forming images along the entire width of the recording medium, and the like, of which the operability is improved.

Abstract: Image frame length control apparatus and methods are disclosed which have particular utility in a printing or reproduction apparatus that writes one or more images on a transported photosensitive media such as a photoconducting drum or continuous-loop web. When an electronic writing system or optical exposure system is used to expose a driven media on a line-by-line basis, a variation in media thickness causes the latent image frame to be written with an inaccurate frame length. Consequently, a degraded print is produced.The latent image frame length is corrected during exposure, by adding or omitting one or more lines in the image frame. Alternatively, the exposure of an image is offet by an interval corresponding to one-half of the total length discrepancy between the uncorrected image frame length and the image frame length that would be written if the media surface speed was at a median level.

Abstract: A recording sheet conveyor apparatus is incorporated in an image recording apparatus having a recording sheet housing to house recording sheets, an information recording device to record image information on the moving recording sheet that has been drawn out of the recording sheet housing, and a sheet receiving device to receive the discharged recording sheet after image information has been recorded to them.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus includes first and second write-width determining circuits. The first write-width determining circuit determines a first write-width in a first direction of the paper by using paper size information for the paper and a first counted value obtained by counting the write clock signal. The second write-width determining circuit determines a second write-width in a second direction of the paper by using the paper size information and a second counted value obtained by counting a number of the recording performed for every scanning line, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction and corresponding to a direction of a paper transportation. The image signal supplied to a light source is recorded on an area of a recording medium corresponding to an area on the paper defined by the first and second write widths.

Abstract: A facsimile device in which plural sets of recording medium can be provided. While images are recorded on one set of recording medium, the first set is changed over to another set of recording medium by a change-over signal transmitted from a control section of the facsimile device, after finishing recording the images being received on the first set. Thereafter, the images can be recorded on the other set. An image memory is provided for storing image data transmitted during the time period for changing over the recording medium. The image data received are accumulated in the image memory during the change-over and when finished, the accumulated image data are read out in order from the image memory and recorded on the other set of recording medium.

Abstract: A feed mechanism and method for feeding zigzag paper from either side of a zigzag paper pack. Zigzag paper is inserted into a paper retention pocket in a door pivoted to a housing. The door is then closed, causing the paper pack to stand upright vertically and an end of the paper to become positioned between a drive roller and a print head and between a drag spring and guide element. The drag spring biases against the guide element and is arranged above a base of the paper retention pocket over the zigzag paper pack. The drive roller pulls the paper between the drag spring and guide element and out of the pocket.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a recording head and a platen for contacting and holding a rear surface of a recording medium. The platen is elastically pressed against the recording head, thus preventing a blurred recording even if the apparatus is subjected to vibrations during a recording operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a recording unit for performing the image recording on a recording medium by jetting liquid, a fan for generating a suction airflow in an recording surface forming portion which abuts against the recording medium in said recording unit by utilizing the force of the fan, a member arranged near a suction port of the airflow for collecting fine liquid droplets and an absorbing member arranged in the suction port for absorbing the collected fine droplets.

Abstract: A film supply roll adapter includes a main support through which a rod having a flange on one end for receiving a film roll and another end attached to a cylindrical connector, an open section on the cylindrical connector is adapted to fit on a film roll holder in a laser plotter. The rod is configured within the main support to permit free axial rotation in order to transmit the drag force of the film roll holder directly to the flange with essentially no increase or decrease. The main support is arranged and may be fitted with O-rings to nest within a film roll housing and block all light from being incident on the film.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling a duplex page printer, which performs a printing operation in such a manner that printing data is converting into dot patterns, and dot patterns for a plurality of pages are stored in a full-dot memory and then read out from the memory to be printed on the pages, are disclosed. According to the method and apparatus, in order to storing dot patterns in the memory while performing a printing operation, when printing data for both surface of the first sheet of paper is converted into dot patterns and the dot patterns are stored in the memory, a printing operation is stored, and printing data for the following sheets of paper is converted into dot patterns at the same time as the printing operation is performed. Further, each time two storage areas of the memory, each of which corresponds to one page, become empty, dot patterns for one of the remaining sheets of paper are stored in two empty storage areas.

Abstract: A recorder having a record unit for recording data on a web recording sheet, a detection unit for detecting an amount of the remaining recording sheet, and an output unit for outputting information on the number of pages permitted for further recording based on the amount of the remaining recording sheet detected by the detection unit and a size of information image to be recorded.

Abstract: A vacuum transport belt for use in a multipass, multicolor raster printer has a vacuum attach means for providing a strong hold down vacuum force in the direction of paper travel for complete registration of a recording material with respect to a writing head and toner system. The vacuum attach means comprises a thin metal strip bonded to a transport belt such that the surface of the strip is substantially flush with the surface of the belt. A strong hold down vacuum is conducted through channels underneath the bonded strip to a series of closely clustered apertures which form a vacuum contact region on the strip. The force of the vacuum applied at the contact region and the substantially flush contact between the surface of the strip and the transport belt tightly seals the entire surface of the recording material to the transport belt, thereby registering the recording material precisely to the transport belt in an invariant desired alignment with a writing head and toner system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus employing a D.C. drive motor and digital printhead for recording electrocardiographic data or other digital data on a chart at a constant time scale, regardless of temporary variations in the D.C. motor speed. A buffer memory stores sensed digital ECG data, and a data count register provides a count indicative of the amount of data stored. A pulse width register controls the width of long and short pulses generated by a motor driver for the selected paper speed. An experience count register has a count indicative of the relative number of long and short pulses generated. The original or current width of the pulses may be adjusted by the pulse width register, subject to the count of the experience count register, for controlling the speed of the D.C. drive motor. The motor speed is increased if the buffer memory is storing more than a preselected amount of data, and the motor speed is decreased if the buffer memory is storing less than a preselected amount of data.

Abstract: A paper transport mechanism for grasping paper between a pressure roller and a drive shaft. The pressure roller moves from a retracted position to a force applying position and is supported by a housing which includes a depending underlying support carriage cantilevered from the housing and oriented to oppose the downwardly extending force of the pressure roller. Damping within the housing offsets vibrations generated between the drive shaft and the pressure roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing information on a web of material utilizing a roller platen located on the opposite side of a web feed path from a printhead. The roller platen has an outer arcuate surface which presses the printing material against the head and draws the material and a printing ribbon past the printhead in a printing operation. The roller platen has flattened surfaces on its circumference that facilitate feeding of the web of material between printing operations.

Abstract: A strip chart recorder has a chart dispenser, a platen, a writing table, and a chart advancing mechanism mounted in its base and a temperature-sensitive transducer having a bimetal coil mounted in its cover. The transducer is attached to a stylus that is mounted in the cover and marks the chart when the cover is closed as the chart that is being advanced across the platen. The cover includes a window and a lid for closing the window. The window is disposed over the writing table for enabling that portion of the chart that has been advanced over the writing table to be written upon after the cover has been closed. The cover is shaped for preventing access to the transducer and the marking means when the cover is closed with the window open. A detachable form is attached to the cover over the writing table and disposed in position for preventing closure of the lid prior to detachment of the form from the cover.

Abstract: A controller of an image recording apparatus controls an initializing process for adjusting and appropriately positioning tip ends of the set recording sheets by transporting the recording sheets in a reverse direction until tip ends thereof are detected. After the tip end of one recording sheet is detected this recording sheet is transported in a forward direction until the tip end thereof reaches a position on the downstream side of a cutter, and a tip portion of this first recording sheet is cut by the cutter. This recording sheet is then transported in a reverse direction until a cut end of this recording sheet reaches a first predetermined position. After the tip end of the other recording sheet is detected this recording sheet is transported in the forward direction until the tip end thereof reaches a position on the downstream side of the cutter, and a tip portion of this recording sheet is cut by the cutter.

Abstract: A recorder comprises a recording device housing for housing a device for forming a record on record medium at a record position and a relatively movable stacker for stacking record media recorded by the recording device and having an open side for removing the stacked media. A convex ara on the bottom of the stacker extends othogonally to the length of the stacker at a position spaced from the lengthwise center of the stacker toward the open side.

Abstract: A paper drive system for a fiber optic cathode ray tube based recorder in which a rotating compliant foam pressure pad maintains the paper in intimate contact with the fiber optic faceplate. The paper web from a paper supply is gripped between a tire on the rotating pressure pad and a drive roller before passing the faceplate, and thereafter is gripped between the tire on the pressure pad and an idler roller.

Abstract: A friction brake used in association with a supply roll in a device advancing sheet material from a supply roll onto a take-up roll. The brake comprises a shaft supported by a plate and having a head at one end and a threaded portion at the other. A journalling part, a reverse bias arm, and a friction washer interposed between the arm and journalling part are each rotatably supported on the shaft and are biased together by axial adjustment means positioned adjacent the shaft threaded end portion. The axial adjustment means cooperates against one side of the plate to clamp the rotatably supported members against the plate other side. The reverse bias arm creates on the supply roll a drag when sheet material is pulled and subsequently delivers to the supply roll a reverse bias force after the pulling of material stops.

Abstract: A paper sheet (10) is supported by a platen (30) having a horizontal central portion (31, 41, 51) including the write path and having front and rear portions (40, 50) for supporting the sheet in front of and behind the central portion. Each of the front and rear portions comprises a plurality of plane faces (42, 43, 44; 52, 53, 54) interconnected by horizontal edges (46, 57; 56, 57) and forming increased angles (a, b), relative to the horizontal. The selected shape of the edges and the faces is such that when the sheet (10) is resting against the second and third edges (46, 47, 56, 57) it is constrained to keep off the first and second faces (42, 43, 52, 53) and to lift above the level of the central portion (31) prior to coming into contact therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus which records an image, such as text, onto printable media, such as paper, has a removably closable lid, a paper cutting blade mounted on an pivoting arm having an equilibrium position in which the blade is withdrawn in a safe position, and a rod actuator cooperative with the lid for rotating the pivoting arm whenever the lid is closed so as to move the blade from the safe position to an operative position adjacent a cutting block suitable for severing the media. The pivoting arm is rotatable about a pivot pin, the blade being attached at one end of the arm and the other end of the arm being lighter, so that the blade tends to fall toward the safe position under a front cover of the apparatus whenever the lid is opened.

Abstract: An X-Y plotter is of the type which moves a non-perforated recording paper by drive rollers and pinch rollers. The outer surface of each of the drive rollers is formed with a cylindrical reference surface and with a plurality of minute projections of sharp quadrangular pyramidal shape distributed over the whole outer surface of the roller. These reference surface and minute projections are formed by machining in the entire circumferential or outer surface of the drive roller a plurality of trapezoidal grooves extending parallel and orthogonally to the axis of the drive roller.

Abstract: A thermal printer comprising first and second supply means for supplying first and second recording mediums, an image processing portion having a memory means for storing black-and-white image and color image informations, an inked sheet having color portions, a recording means for recording images on the first and second recording mediums, and a control means for controlling movements of the first or second supply means and of the inked sheet, in accordance with conditions whether a black-and-white image or a color image is to be recorded.

Abstract: A recorder comprises a recording device housing for housing recording device for making a record on a continuous record medium at a record position, and a device for supporting the weight of the record medium over its entire width upstream of a pinch position thereof formed by pinch and press rollers.

Abstract: A chart recorder is described, which is especially useful in recording the temperature of a cargo being shipped, which can be constructed at low cost and which provides a tamper-resistant and accurate record. The recorder includes a strip of pressure-markable paper having an inner portion wound into a roll and an outer portion forming a leader. The leader extends past a marking station, a transport that pulls the leader, a storage space within a housing that encloses the rest of the mechanism, and through an opening in the housing with the outer end of the strip attached to the outside of the housing. During recording, the chart is pushed by the transport station into multiple folds lying in the storage space of the housing. The strip can be removed by pulling on its outer end to pull it out of the housing. Pulling of the outer end releases the strip from the marking and transport stations.

Abstract: A recorder has a recording device for recording on a record medium and a feed unit for feeding the medium to the recording position. Feed and press rollers are provided with apparatus for urging the press roller to and from the feed roller and a locking device can lock the press roller at a pressing position.

Abstract: A laser recorder applicable to computer output microfilm recording apparatus, which comprises; a housing, a film feeding unit having a film cassette containing a rolled heat development film and disposed in the lower section of the housing, a film take-up unit taking up the heat developement film on a reel or on a tray in sheet films, a main driving unit and driving the heat development film for running at a fixed speed for auxiliary scanning for recording image information on the heat development film, an image information recording unit for main scanning, having a laser optical system for scanning the heat development film across the width thereof to record image information thereon, and a heat developement unit for heat-developing the image information recorded on the heat development film.

Abstract: A recording apparatus adapted to accommodate first and second recording sheets rolled into rolls, selectively convey one of the first and second recording sheets to a recording section having a recording head, and record an image in accordance with image information on the selected recording sheet. The apparatus is capable of initializing the positions of the leading ends of the recording sheets in such a manner that they are positioned at a predetermined stand-by position. The apparatus may be adapted to display a message requesting the initialization after a cover over the recording sheets has been closed. Alternatively, the apparatus may have sensors for detecting the recording sheets and may be adapted to perform the initialization on the basis of the outputs of the sensors by cutting portions of the recording sheets at the leading ends thereof alternately.

Abstract: A transport device for a register tape of an electric register mechanism having a housing containing a supply load unit into which a supply roller serving for unwinding the register tape is insertable, and a transport roller which, together with a contact pressure roller, grips a register tape running between both the transport roller and the contact pressure roller and passes it from the supply roller unit to and beyond a register element of the register mechanism for performing a recording on the register tape, the supply load unit being at least partly removable from the housing for inserting the supply roller therein, the supply roller and the contact pressure roller being spatially separated from one another during the removal of the supply load unit includes means defining a contact pressure surface, the register element being at the contact pressure surface, the transport roller, in operating position thereof, being located between the contact pressure roller and the contact pressure surface, the trans

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a paper guide, a feed roller and a pinch roller for feeding and guiding a recording medium. The pinch roller is biased to normally be pressed agaisnt the feed roller and can be separated from the feed roller so that the recording medium can be introduced between them. The paper guide comprises two guide members that contact respective side edges of the recording medium when the pinch roller is separated from the feed roller.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording device for recording an image corresponding to image information on a recording sheet, a first housing, a second housing openable relative to the first housing, a first loading portion provided in the first housing and enabling a first rolled recording sheet to be loaded thereinto, a second loading portion provided in the first housing and enabling a second rolled recording sheet to be loaded thereinto, a first conveying device provided in the first housing for conveying the recording sheet loaded into the first loading portion, and a second conveying device provided in the second housing for conveying the recording sheet loaded into the second loading portion.

Abstract: A print media handling system for a compact printer having a housing, a cut-sheet supply station, a rotatable print platen constructed and located to feed top sheets from the supply station, through a print path ingress and out a print path egress. The sheet supply station of the print media handling system is mounted for movement to and from a sheet engaging relation with respect to the print platen. A continuous print-media inlet passage extends from a location, that is spaced from the sheet supply station, to the print path ingress and an actuator is provided synchronously enable the supply station and block the continuous media inlet passage, or vice versa. A first program control effects a predetermined start-print sequence for sheet print media, a second program control effects a predetermined start-print sequence for continuous print media; and the first or second program control is selected in response to the condition of the actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting snaking of rollfilm comprises a driving roller for feeding the rollfilm to the exposure position with the film being maintained flat, pinch rollers provided such that they can approach or be separated from the driving roller, switching means for switching between the abutment and separation of the pinch rollers and the driving roller, and cutting means for cutting the rollfilm.

Abstract: A feed system for large copy sheets to feed such sheets through a copying machine, such as a white print, blue print or other copying machine, a computer printing machine, a pen plotter of other vector plotter, or raster plotter, or a printing machine. A supply roll is provided with copy sheets wound on the supply roll in an interleaved or overlapping array. A pair of support rollers form a cradle for freely supporting the supply roll, with at least one of the support rollers being driven. A printing roller grasps a copy sheet as the sheet is fed from the supply roll. A sensor stops the driven support roller and, in turn, the supply roll at a given time in a predetermined cycle whereby the printing roller can pull the fed sheet away from the supply roll and away from a succeeding overlapped sheet interleaved with the fed sheet.

Abstract: Several problems of alignment associated with ink-jet printers are alleviated by four aspects. In the first, a reverse bow (B) in the paper (12) is created for printing on single sheets of paper. The reverse bow, which in the transverse axis of the paper, forces the paper flat against the platen (14) by using the paper's own stiffness.In the second aspect, the paper and the carriage (30) are referenced to the same part (the carriage guide (10)). In this configuration, the paper is urged against the underside of the carriage guide off of drive rollers (18), through the reverse bow, and onto the platen, where it is printed. The carriage is referenced to the carriage guide through a slider bump by means of a carriage shaft and gravity.The carraige guide comprises stiff thin sheet metal, which is closely-toleranced and has well-controlled dimensions. Thus, this part is good to reference to, rather than molded-in parts, which are not stiff enough at the required thickness.

Abstract: In a recorder, at least one set of marks spaced by a predetermined distance in a feed direction of a record paper are recorded on the record paper, the marks are detected by a detector while the record paper is fed, a time interval between detections of the marks is compared with a reference number of pulses applied to paper feed motors to detect a deviation, and rotations of the left and right paper feed motors are controlled to control the feed of record medium.

Abstract: An image is recorded on an elongate image recording medium by feeding the image recording medium in an auxiliary scanning direction from a loading unit and applying a light beam to the image recording medium in a main scanning direction transverse to the auxiliary scanning direction. A loose loop is formed out of the image recording medium between the loading unit and an image scanning recording unit. Guide plates are angularly displaced to allow the image recording medium to hang by gravity with the image recording medium with the image recorded thereon having a free distal end. The hanging image recording medium is moved back toward the image scanning recording unit after the image has been recorded. The guide plates are displaced back to deliver the image recording medium to a next process.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer employs a relatively small diameter platen roller 20 flanked by a pair of sprockets 3c which support endless timing belts 2. A clamp 7' for gripping the leading edge of a sheet 6 to be printed is mounted laterally across and between the belts. The attendantly small radius of curvature of the roller at the printing station prevents any contact by components and structure mounted to the reciprocable printing head 1.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus in which an image optically formed on a photosensitive material is transferred as a visible image onto an image receiving material by pressurization, a back-up roller is employed to press a free nip roller against a fixed nip roller so that the pressure at the nip region of the two nip rollers is made uniform over the entire length thereof. The back-up roller has a width smaller than the width of the free nip roller against which it presses, and the back-up roller presses only against a central portion of the free nip roller.

Abstract: A system includes a work table having a flat surface which supports a first and a second sheet material during a work operation and has a carriage carrying an instrument to enable it to perform work operations on the first and second sheet materials. The first material is advanced by a first material advancing means that moves the first sheet material in a first flow direction which is coincident with the direction of movement of the carriage. A second material advancing means moves the second sheet material over the support surface and underneath the first sheet material. Guide means are oriented at each opposite end of the table to permit indexing of the sheet materials across the table. The guide means which position the second material on the surface of the work table are skewed at an angle relative to a coordinate direction which is orthogonal to the direction of movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A graphic machine or plotter comprising a feed roll (30) for continuously supplying a print medium such as paper (20), driving means (24) for driving the paper supplied by the feed roll to produce a drawing on the paper, and a take-up roll (40) for receiving the paper after the drawing is produced. The feed roll (30) and the take-up roll (40) are linked together in such a way that the rotation of the feed roll (30) in a forward direction for which the paper is payed out from the feed roll drives the take-up roll (40) to wind up the paper but the rotation of the take-up roll (40) in the reverse direction does not drive the feed roll (30).

Abstract: A laser recorder applicable to computer output microfilm recording apparatus comprises: a housing, a film feed unit having a film cassette loaded with a rolled heat development film; a film take-up unit for taking up the heat development film on a reel or on a tray, including a film storing mechanism for storing cut films sequentially; a main driving unit for driving the heat development film for advancing at a fixed speed for auxiliary scanning for recording image information on the heat development film, including a slackened film relief mechanism for eliminating slackened film around the main driving unit and a stepping motor driving current control circuit for driving the main driving unit at a low and fixed speed; loop detectors for preventing film feed force and film delivery force from working on the main driving unit, an image information recording unit for main scanning, having a laser optical system for scanning the heat development film across the width thereof to record image information recorded

Abstract: Acoustic noises are suppressed in a large format drafting plotter (10) utilizing a paper drive motor (22) mechanically coupled to a paper drive shaft (20) by a geared timing belt (26) from the motor to a pulley (24) on the drive shaft by suitably modifying the pulley. The pulley is modified by enlarging the drive shaft hole (38) in the center thereof so as to provide slip-mounting of the pulley on the drive shaft. A winged clamp (30) is provided, mounted on the pulley, and having a central portion (34) having an opening (36) therethrough for engaging a portion of the drive shaft and a tightening screw (40) for securing the winged clamp to the drive shaft. The winged clamp also has two opposed extensions (42), which are each maintained between a pair of bosses (44) on the outside surface (24a) of the pulley, and isolated therefrom by a pair of isolator pads (32) comprising a compliant material.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus comprises a recording sheet conveying passageway of a chuckless type which does not require a chuck mechanism for affixing a recording sheet to a platen roller. The recording sheet conveying passageway is constituted in loop form by at least one guide member and at least one roller for conveying the recording sheet and has at one end a recording sheet ejector for ejecting the recording sheet to outside from the conveying passageway. The recording sheet is moved through the conveying passageway repeatedly for a number of times required to perform superimposing printing by means of a thermal head. Upon completion of printing, the recording sheet is ejected from the apparatus to outside via the recording sheet ejector.

Abstract: In a line scan fiber optic cathode ray graphic recorder a continuous sheet of light sensitive paper is drawn perpendicularly before a regularly timed intensity modulated beam from the cathode ray tube. Due to gearing inaccuracies and anomalies, the velocity at which the paper is drawn past the beam varies cyclically resulting in a variation in the spacing between each recorded data line on the paper. For higher paper velocities, the recorded lines are closer together, and for lower paper velocities, the recorded lines are farther apart. The closer lines create a darker image band on the paper and the more distant lines create a lighter image band on the paper. The present invention includes paper velocity monitoring means which provides an input signal to a compensation circuit for inversely varying the intensity information of each pixel dot as a function of the paper velocity.

Abstract: In a thermal printer for printing color images which uses a carrier having a repeating series of spaced frames of yellow, magenta and cyan colored heat transferable dyes, apparatus for identifying the different color frames of each series uses a source of red light and a source of yellow light. The apparatus responds to the intensity of red and yellow source light which passes through a dye frame to identify that dye frame.