Abstract: A franking machine has an ink jet printing device with exchangeable ink cartridges. The lower housing shell of a security housing of the franking machine has a sealable, shaft-shaped opening in the base and is designed to accommodate assemblies that can be contaminated with ink. These assemblies are situated in a non-secure region of the franking machine and are accessible via the aforementioned opening when a cover of the shaft-shaped opening is opened. A servicing procedure allows the franking machine to be retrofitted to print with a different ink color. After moving the print carriage in one direction and opening a cartridge flap, the ink cartridges can be removed. A displacement of the print carriage takes place after closing the cartridge flap, wherein the print carriage is moved in the opposite direction so that the print carriage arrives in the sealing position for ink cartridges. A box-shaped mod can now be removed from the franking machine.

Abstract: An image recording device comprises a housing, a sheet cassette, a recording unit, and a convey path defining member. The housing has an opening. The sheet cassette is configured to hold therein sheets and configured to be inserted into and removed from the housing through the opening. The recording unit is configured to record an image on a sheet conveyed from the sheet cassette along a convey path. The convey path defining member is configured to pivot, about a pivot shaft supported by the housing, between a guiding position for forming a guide surface that defines a part of the convey path, and an exposing position for exposing the part of the convey path to the opening. The convey path defining member is configured to pivot in response to insertion and removal of the sheet cassette.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising a pivotable cleanout member attached to the housing using a hinge having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base. A latch holds the pivotable cleanout member in a closed position relative to the wall of the printing apparatus. On an opposite end of the cleanout member is a hinge mechanism that includes a pin member. The other part of the hinge is in the printer housing and includes a support member portion of the hinge mechanism.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a cover that is capable of being opened and closed and that covers the transport path when the cover is in a closed state; and a blowing unit, provided in the cover, that is capable of blowing air toward the recording medium that is on the transport path when the cover is in a closed state and that retracts from the transport path when the cover is in an open state.

Abstract: An image forming device, including: a housing having an opening; an opening and closing member rotatably supported by the housing between an opened state and a closed state, a pair of shaft parts respectively provided at lower portions of side walls of the opening and closing member; space formed under a lower edge of the opening and closing member; and a pair of shaft support members respectively provided on the housing, and wherein the pair of shaft support members respectively have shaft holes into which the pair of shaft parts are respectively inserted; each shaft support member has a fixed part and a deformable part having the shaft hole; and the deformable part is formed such that the lower edge part of the deformable part is positioned on a center side of the opening and closing member with respect to a position of the fixed part.

Abstract: An optical reading device includes a housing, a document platen member, a scanning unit, a cable and an insulating sheet. The cable includes a first end which is fixed to the scanning unit, a second end which is fixed to the bottom plate and an intermediate portion which is held in surface contact with the bottom plate and curved and deformed according to a reciprocal movement of the scanning unit. The insulating sheet is interposed between the bottom plate and the intermediate portion of the cable. The housing includes a recess formed in the bottom plate. The insulating sheet covers an opening of the recess, the upper surface thereof is in contact with the intermediate portion of the cable and a space is formed between the lower surface of the insulating sheet and the bottom surface of the recess.

Abstract: A system for transporting media in a printer is provided having a media roller rotatably mounted to the printer housing, a motor, a drive belt looped about the motor drive shaft and the roller so as to impart the motor rotational driving force to the roller, a tensioning member pivotally mounted to the housing for contacting and thereby tensioning the drive belt about the motor drive shaft and roller, a brace member mounted to the housing about a slotted arm of the tensioning member, and a locking screw fixed to the housing through the brace member and slotted arm. The pivoted position of the tensioning member relative determines the tension imparted on the drive belt. The locking screw locks the pivoted position and the brace member is fixedly mounted so that rotation of the locking screw is not imparted to the slotted arm during fixing of the locking screw.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ink container support includes a support tray adapted to support an ink container, and a front panel associated with the support tray, the front panel being adapted to facilitate user interfacing with the ink container when supported by the support tray.

Abstract: A media clearance mechanism for a printer, the media clearance mechanism having a door hingedly mounted to a body of the printer which can be opened to expose a media width of a media path to a media width printhead of the printer; a media diverter mounted to the door such that when the door is in a closed position the door and the diverter define guiding portions of the path, the diverter being pivotally mounted to the door so that the diverter pivots out of the way upon opening of the door; and a displacement mechanism configured to retract the diverter with the opening movement of the door and to reposition the diverter for media guiding with the closing movement of the door.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a recording portion; a tray on which a first recording medium is placed; a convey path for conveying a second recording medium and the tray; a tray guide changeable among (a) a first posture in which the tray guide supports the tray, (b) a second posture whose position is different from that of the first posture in a direction intersecting the convey path, and (c) a third posture in which an upstream portion of the tray guide in the tray-enter direction is nearer to the convey path than that in the second posture; a first posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the second to the third posture; and a second posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the third to the first posture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to postal evidencing modules that can be recycled in a non-destructive fashion for reuse and remanufacturing. The modules comprise a cartridge-receiving portion and a lid, which can be manually disengaged from one another by the user in order to assist in reuse and remanufacturing. The modules further comprise flex circuits with one or more microprocessors to electrically engage the ink cartridges and a postage evidencing system. The present invention is designed to use commercially available ink cartridges and microprocessors.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a component supporting device includes a cover having a through-hole, a support covered with the cover, a component arranged between the cover and the support, and a fixing tool which is inserted into the through-hole of the cover from an outside of the cover and sandwiches the component between the support and the fixing tool. The fixing tool includes an elastically deformable main body having an apical surface to butt to the component, a hook provided on the main body to engage with an edge of the through-hole inside the cover, and an operating portion provided on the main body to protrude from the through-hole outside the cover which is configured to release the engagement of the hook with the edge of the through-hole through elastic deformation of the main body.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer, a feeding side tension applying means is provided with a feeding side tension adjustment mechanism, which is structured of a feeding side ballast arm that is extended toward a winding side tension applying means and vertically swingable around a rotation shaft perpendicular to a feeding direction of a printing medium and a feeding side ballast member that is attached to a tip end of the feeding side ballast arm, and a winding side tension applying means is provided with a winding side tension adjustment mechanism which is structured of a winding side ballast arm that is extended toward the feeding side tension applying means and vertically swingable around a rotation shaft perpendicular to the feeding direction of the printing medium “M” and a winding side ballast member that is attached to a tip end of the winding side ballast arm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet conveyance device installed in an image forming apparatus having an image forming part that forms an image on a sheet member. The sheet conveyance device includes an ejecting/inverting path functioning not only as an ejecting path through which the sheet member having the image formed thereon by the image forming section is ejected outside the image forming apparatus but also as an inverting path through which the sheet member having the image formed thereon is conveyed with front and rear sides thereof inverted in a direction opposite to an ejecting direction; and an inverted-sheet directly ejecting path through which the sheet member with the front and rear sides thereof inverted in the ejecting/inverting path is ejected outside the image forming apparatus without passing through the image forming part.

Abstract: A portable printer includes an outer housing, a circuit board, a battery, an inner housing, at least one inkjet head, and a motor, all of which are housed in the outer housing. The outer housing defines a longitudinal receiving space and an opening communicating with the receiving space. The battery is electrically connected to the circuit board to provide power to the portable printer. The inner housing can rotate around an axis of the outer housing. The inkjet head can rotate with the inner housing, and emits ink when it rotates. The motor is electrically connected to the circuit board, and is controlled by the circuit board to drive the inner housing to rotate. The rotation of the inner housing drives the inkjet head to rotate. Ink from the inkjet head goes out of the outer housing through the opening.

Abstract: A printer includes a main body, a guiding plate secured within the main body, a cover rotatably connected to the main body and including at least one resisting block, and a shielding assembly arranged between the cover and the guiding plate. The printer includes a shielding plate rotatably connected to the main body and at least one elastic element secured to the shielding plate. The shielding plate is in an upright state when no external force is exerted on the shielding plate. When the cover is rotated to cover the main body, the resisting block resists the elastic element, causing the shielding plate to rotate from the upright state to a horizontal state, and causing a portion of the shielding plate to contact the guiding plate.

Abstract: A recording device includes a cassette having a protruding portion; a lever as a transmission member in which the distance from a shaft portion to an abutting portion is shorter than the distance from the shaft portion to a connection portion, the lever transmitting a force that the abutting portion receives from the cassette to the connection portion as an acting force by rotating on shaft portion as the axis when the protruding portion of the cassette abuts on the abutting portion; a damper mechanism portion; a separation slope separating the papers; and a stopper as a restriction member restricting the movement of the papers at an upstream side position in the installation direction of the separation slope, and releasing the restriction on the movement of papers by retreating from the position where the stopper restricts the papers when receiving the acting force from the damper mechanism portion.

Abstract: A multifunctional peripheral includes a main body, an upper unit arranged on the main body, and an opening and closing mechanism connected to the upper unit and the main body. The multifunctional peripheral further includes a damping unit including an engaging member configured to move in a predetermined direction and a spring configured to resiliently urge the engaging member in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. During sliding of a slider from the first position to the second position, the slider engages the engaging member at an engaging position on a sliding path, moves the engaging member in the predetermined direction as the slider slides toward the second position, and disengages the engaging member at a disengaging position between the engaging position and the second position such that the slider is released from receiving the force of the spring via the engaging member when in the second position.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes an openable/closable scanner unit which is provided in an upper portion of a recording unit configured to execute recording on a sheet. A shaft is formed on a main frame which constitutes a base of the recording unit. The scanner unit is enabled to tilt in relation to the recording unit when the bearing provided to the scanner unit engages the shaft. A restricting portion is provided at a location opposing the outer periphery of the bearing. The restricting portion restricts the deformation of the bearing in a direction of expansion of an opening of the bearing within the range of tilt of the scanner unit.

Abstract: A printer has a pair of a right side member (8) and a left side member (9) placed on opposite side portions of a base (53), rollers including a transport roller (3), a carriage chassis (12), a platen (2) and a feed unit. The right side member and the left side member are formed by molding a resin material. The roller, the carriage chassis, the platen and the feed unit are positioned and held with the pair of the right side member and the left side member.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus which jets an ink onto a recording medium to record an image, includes: a housing which has an opening at an upper portion thereof; a carriage which reciprocates in the housing and carries an ink cartridge containing the ink and a recording head for jetting the ink; a tray, at least a portion of which is provided in the housing and on which the recording medium recorded by the ink jetted from the recording head is discharged; a cover which is provided on the upper portion of the housing and opens/closes the opening; and a light source which is provided so that both a carriage area in which the carriage is positioned when the ink cartridge is replaced and a discharge area, of the tray, in which the recording medium is discharged are irradiated with a light from the light source.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first housing at least a sheet feeding unit is provided therein and a second housing at least a printing unit is provided therein. The first housing and the second housing are individually supported on a floor. The first housing and the second housing are separable for the purpose of maintenance.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a compact arrangement of an inkjet printer; and a flat bed scanner unit. The scanner has a scanner head, a glass panel for receiving media to be scanned and a lid having an inner surface for flat engagement with the glass panel. The lid also has an outer surface presenting a flat surface for receiving media printed by the printer and awaiting collection.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that receives a supply of an image receiving medium and includes a platen arranged to feed the image receiving medium selectively in one of a forward and reverse direction. A print head arranged to print an image on the image receiving medium while the medium is fed in the forward direction and an arcuate guide portion partially encasing the platen and movable relative to the surface of the platen. The guide portion having an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the print head to permit a supply of image receiving medium to be received and an operative position wherein the guide portion is moved to be proximate to the print head whereby the guide portion in the operative position restricts movement of the image receiving medium in a direction perpendicular to the forward and reverse direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a recording unit configured to form an image on a recording medium conveying in a conveying direction; a main body portion configured to support the recording unit in an openable and closable manner; a conveying unit configured to convey, in the conveying direction, the recording medium on which an image is to be formed by the recording unit, the conveying unit being disposed below the recording unit; a holder configured to contain the recording medium on which an image is to be formed by the recording unit, the holder being disposed upstream of the conveying unit in the conveying direction; and a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the holder between a first position for feeding the recording medium to the recording unit and a second position placed above the first position.

Abstract: In a liquid ejection apparatus, a second casing is connected to a first casing so as to be rotatable relative to the first casing about a prescribed axis. The second casing holds a liquid ejection head and a cartridge holding portion. A lower wall of the cartridge holding portion extends in an insertion direction, along which the cartridge holding portion enables a liquid cartridge to move when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the cartridge holding portion, the insertion direction being directed from a central point in an insertion opening in a direction perpendicular to an ejection surface toward a point that is on a reference imaginary plane, on which the axis extends and which is perpendicular to the ejection surface, and that is closer to the axis than upper and lower reference points.

Abstract: A roll paper printer enables opening the cover and platen using a 4-part parallel linkage mechanism without interfering with the inkjet head. The cover unit for the roll paper compartment of the roll paper printer opens and closes by means of the parallel linkage mechanism. The back end part of the platen frame part of this linkage mechanism is connected to the top end part of the rear parallel links and so that the platen frame can move down.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing device includes a top bracket, a side bracket, and a pivoting member. The top bracket includes a pair of sidewalls cooperatively defining a receiving space to receive an inkjet head. The side bracket includes a pair of sidewalls cooperatively defining a receiving space to receive the top bracket. The pivoting member includes a pair of sidewalls cooperatively defining a receiving space to receive an inkjet head. The pivoting member is rotatably mounted in the receiving space of the side bracket.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a support portion including a support surface that supports a target; a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid onto the target supported by the support surface, from a position opposed to the support surface; a housing portion that includes the support portion in a wall portion opposed to the liquid ejecting head and that is formed in a location so that an air suction port that takes in air from the exterior is further from the liquid ejecting head than the support surface in a direction that is orthogonal to the support surface; and an air exhaust unit that exhausts air from the interior of the housing portion.

Abstract: A method for reducing stress between a silicon chip and a bonded mounting structure having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially different from a coefficient of thermal expansion of the silicon chip includes the step of bonding a thermal stress-attenuating layer between the silicon chip and the mounting structure. The thermal stress-attenuating layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially similar to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the silicon chip.

Abstract: A toy mailbox for children includes a storage unit and a media processing mechanism. The storage unit includes a door member for closeably opening the storage unit and an ejection slot configured on a portion of the storage unit. The media processing mechanism is coupled to the storage unit, such that the media processing mechanism is capable of dispensing a media sheet having data content printed thereon, into the storage unit through the ejection slot. Opening the storage unit enables children to access the media sheet from within the storage unit. The media processing mechanism is also capable of printing the data content on the media sheet prior to dispensing the media sheet into the storage unit.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including an apparatus main body provided with a recording unit which performs recording on a recording medium, an extension unit provided with a containing unit of the recording medium, which is detachably attached to a lower portion of the apparatus main body on a side of a weight direction of the apparatus main body, main body legs which are provided on the lower portion of the apparatus main body and are in contact with a placement surface when the apparatus main body is placed on the placement surface, and gap forming members which are provided in the extension unit, have higher rigidity exhibiting less compressional deformation as compared with the main body legs, and form a gap between the lower portion of the apparatus main body and the extension unit while being in contact with the lower portion of the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus is provided. The liquid ejection apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, covers and a moving mechanism. The first housing is rotatable relative to the second housing about a rotational shaft between a close position and a separate position. The covers are movable relative to heads provided to the first housing between a protection position of covering the heads and a retraction position. When the first housing is moved from the close position toward the separate position, the moving mechanism moves the covers such that an angle formed between the first housing and the second housing when a cover corresponding to the head away from the rotational shaft reaches the protection position is smaller than an angle formed between the first housing and the second housing when a cover corresponding to the head close to the rotational shaft reaches the protection position.

Abstract: A layered structure is provided with a recording unit, a reading unit whose back edge is connected to the recording unit via a pivot member, a support member having (i) a connecting portion that is connected pivotally to the reading unit, (ii) a contact portion that contacts a counterface surface of the recording unit facing the reading unit, and (iii) a support column that positions the contact portion at a position a certain distance from the connecting portion, a biased member that is biased against the support member in a forward direction, and a stopping portion formed on the counterface surface to stop the contact portion contacting the counterface surface from being displaced along the counterface surface.

Abstract: A multi-function printer including a body, a door, a carriage, and a pushing lever is provided. The door assembled to the body being opened or closed relative to the body. The carriage and the pushing lever are movably disposed in the body, wherein the pushing lever moves between a first and a second positions relative to the body. The pushing lever located at the first position has an end on a moving path of the carriage, and the door is on a moving path of the other end of the pushing lever. When the carriage moves to a pushing segment, the carriage drives the pushing lever to move from the first position to the second position, such that the pushing lever pushes open the door relative to the body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an access cover, a paper feed tray, and a paper discharge tray provided on a side thereof in a rotatable manner. A rotation pivot of the paper feed tray and a rotation pivot of the access cover are arranged on the same axis, and a rotation pivot of the paper discharge tray is arranged with a shift from the rotation pivot of the access cover.

Abstract: A printer includes a set cover pivotally movably provided on a carriage. The cover can be set in a closed state in which the cover presses a head of the cartridge housed in the housing portion and an open state in which the cover opens the housing portion when the cartridge is replaced. A release lever is subjected to a bias force so as to protrude from an inner wall surface of the housing portion. The release lever is movable against the bias force. The release lever comes into contact with an end of the cartridge which faces the bottom surface when the cartridge is inserted into the housing portion. The release lever contacts the rear surface of the cartridge housed in the housing portion. The bias force is stronger when the cover is in the open state than when the cover is in the closed state.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an adaptive filter scheme in handheld positioning device are described herein. The adaptive filter scheme may determine a direction that the positioning device is traveling and adjust one or more parameters of the filter scheme based at least in part on the determined direction. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A portable printer includes an outer housing, a circuit board, a battery, an inner housing, at least one inkjet head, and a motor, all of which are housed in the outer housing. The outer housing defines a longitudinal receiving space and an opening communicating with the receiving space. The battery is electrically connected to the circuit board to provide power to the portable printer. The inner housing can rotate around an axis of the outer housing. The inkjet head can rotate with the inner housing, and emits ink when it rotates. The motor is electrically connected to the circuit board, and is controlled by the circuit board to drive the inner housing to rotate. The rotation of the inner housing drives the inkjet head to rotate. Ink from the inkjet head goes out of the outer housing through the opening.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising a pivotable cleanout member attached to the housing a hinge having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base. A latch holds the pivotable cleanout member in a closed position relative to the wall of the printing apparatus. On an opposite end of the cleanout member is a hinge mechanism that includes a pin member. The other part of the hinge is in the printer housing and includes a support member portion of the hinge mechanism.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is presented. The ink jet recording apparatus includes an apparatus casing comprising a discharge port which opens in a forward direction, a support member disposed within the apparatus casing in the rear of the discharge port and configured to support a recording medium, an ink head disposed within the apparatus casing and configured to eject ink which is curable with irradiation of ultraviolet light to the recording medium, an ultraviolet light irradiation device disposed within the apparatus casing and configured to irradiate ultraviolet light to the recording medium, and a first cover body configured to cover the discharge port in a freely openable and closeable manner, wherein the first cover body is opened upon discharging the recording medium via the discharge port.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body casing, a cover configured to be openable and closable with respect to the main body casing, a sensing unit configured to sense an opening-closing operation of the cover, a forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a detecting unit configured to perform a detecting operation to detect a deviation of an image forming position of the image to be formed by the forming unit, an accepting unit configured to accept a print request, and a control unit configured to control the detecting unit to perform the detecting operation in response to the print request being accepted when the sensing unit senses an opening-closing operation of the cover after execution of a previous detecting operation, and thereafter to control the forming unit to form the image in the image forming position corrected to cancel the deviation detected in the detecting operation.

Abstract: A mobile device having printhead for printing onto a media substrate, a media feed path along which the media substrate is fed past the printhead, and a capper assembly. The capper assembly is movable between a capped position covering the array of nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the array of nozzles. The capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that the capper assembly moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media substrate.

Abstract: An ink umbilical provides different colors of heated ink to multiple print heads in an integrated structure. The ink umbilical includes a first plurality of ink carrying conduits mounted on one side of a heater and a second plurality of conduits mounted on a second side of the heater opposite the first side of the heater. The heater is operated to keep the ink in the conduits on each of the heater in a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises a transfer unit having a transfer surface for holding a recording medium and transferring the recording medium held on the transfer surface, a recording head opposed to the transfer unit and recording images on the recording medium transferred by the transfer unit, a suction-force changing unit drawing the recording medium, a support member providing at substantially the same height as the transfer surface of the transfer unit and supporting the suction-force changing unit, and a suction unit drawing the recording medium to a surface of the support member, via the suction-force changing unit.

Abstract: A printer unit is provided comprising a print engine for printing on print media, a print media supply for supplying print media to the print engine and a body arranged to house the print engine and to be mountable to a substantially vertical surface so as to suspend the printer unit. The print engine and print media supply are contained in the body so as to be substantially hidden. Such a wall mountable printer is capable of blending into the design of a home or a work space within office environment whilst providing high-speed, e.g., more than 30 pages per minute, and high-quality, e.g., images of about 1200 dots per inch or more, printing capabilities and ease of use.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which unintentional operation of the operation unit does not occur when sheets on which images have been formed or sheets prior to image forming or the like are placed on the top surface of the main body of the apparatus. The operation unit and a bearing are connected by a linking member. The operation unit can be disposed further forward than the carriage, so the distance between the operator and the operation unit is small, the operation is thereby made easier. The operation unit can be disposed closer to the center of the apparatus than the position of the carriage when it has moved as far as possible to the operation unit side, so the width of the whole recording apparatus can be made narrower. The operation unit rotates about a rotation shaft, so no matter what specific position the operation unit is located in, the operation unit is lower than the top surface of the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A terminal module includes a housing having slits and a plurality of contact terminals mounted in the slits. The housing includes a trap portion having protective walls formed at a wall surface on a circuit board side of the housing on the further forward side of the slit than a contact piece in a bending direction.

Abstract: A display unit includes a slide mechanism slidable in a lateral or vertical direction to a housing. A maintenance opening formed in the housing can be covered and uncovered. When the opening is uncovered, a user can access at least apart of a print section in the housing from the opening and perform maintenance.

Abstract: A printing unit includes a support structure having a body portion with a tray positioned at one end of the body portion and a power and data connector positioned at an opposite end of the body portion; a media supply cartridge located between the connector and the tray, the media supply cartridge storing a stack of print media; a feed arrangement including a primary feed roller on an in-feed side of the tray for feeding a sheet of print media from the stack of print media towards the tray, and a secondary feed roller on an out-feed side of the tray for feeding the sheet of print media out of the tray; and a print head assembly mounted on the tray, the print head assembly for printing on the sheet of print media fed by the feed arrangement.