Abstract: A handheld inkjet printing mechanism is provided for printing a selected image on a print surface of a solid hard body or a semi-flexible body, such as on human skin for face-painting at carnivals, for temporary tattoos, body decorations and the like, on walls and furniture for printing designs, on packages and building materials for labeling purposes, etc. The printing mechanism has a chassis which supports a controller that stores the selected image. An inkjet printhead supported by the chassis selectively ejects inkjet ink onto the print surface in response to the controller as an operator moves the printing mechanism over the print surface to record the selected image thereon. A printhead-to-print surface spacing device controls the spacing between the printhead and the print surface while printing.

Abstract: An ink jet marker includes a writing instrument body with a cartridge disposed therein. A printing nozzle is coupled with said reservoir and receives control signals from an electrical control circuit to dispense ink droplets according to user input.

Abstract: Using a thermal writing device, an image is drawn on an image-forming sheet that includes a base and a layer of microcapsules, coated over the base, containing microcapsules filled with a dye. The microcapsules are squashed under a predetermined pressure at a temperature falling in a predetermined temperature range. The device includes an elongated body, having a tip-end, designed to be grasped by a user's hand, a heater movably provided on the tip-end of the body, and a spring provided in the tip-end of the body. The spring is associated with the heater to be elastically biased such that, when the tip-end of the body is pressed against the sheet, the heater is depressed against an elastic-force of the spring, thereby exerting the predetermined pressure on the sheet. An electrical driver that electrically energizes the heater to heat to a temperature falling in the predetermined temperature range is also provided.

Abstract: A portable battery powered printer for printing images from an image source is disclosed. The image source can be a computer for storing a digital image and defining an opening. The printer is sized so as to be insertable into the image source opening and having a rechargeable battery. When the printer is connected to the image source it can be recharged and receives image data from the image source. The printer includes a device for printing an image from the received image data.

Abstract: In a camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing and storing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally to the camera system; a first button and second button each interconnected to the processing means; a method is disclosed of operation of the camera system comprising utilizing the first button to activate the image sensor device to sense an image; and utilizing the second button to activate the print head to print out a copy of the image on the print head. Preferably, the utilization of the first button also results in the printing out of the sensed image on the print media using the print head.

Abstract: An insertable cartridge for insertion into a device such as digital camera with such device having an ink jet printer including a housing for receiving a plurality of receivers each of which is adapted to receive ink from the ink jet printer; a plurality of reservoirs mounted in the housing and each being adapted to receive a different colored ink and sealing means adapted to be pierced to permit a connection between the reservoirs of an inserted cartridge and the ink jet printer of the device; the housing including identifying contacts for identifying features of an inserted cartridge for the ink jet printer of the device; and the housing defining a cavity for mounting at least one battery which is adapted to provide power for the ink jet printer of the device.

Abstract: A robotic plotting system 10 is provided, in which a robotic plotter 18 having a printhead 18 is placed on a substantially flat horizontal surface 23, upon a recording medium 22, and is directed across the medium 22 by ranging signals 16 transmitted to the printhead 18 from the periphery of the recording medium 22. In one embodiment, the robotic printhead 18 includes a motorized drive mechanism 26, 28 that propels it across the surface of the recording medium 22 in a controlled manner, for example using microwave control signals 16. Thus, a user can place a piece of paper 22 of any size on a flat surface 23 such as a table or floor, and the printhead 18 is propelled across the surface 23 and is directed by signals 16 beamed between the printhead 18 and a control mechanism 14. In this manner, a large-surface-area plotting system 10 is provided in the form of a small hand-held device.

Abstract: A manual printing device for printing on a recording medium when scanned over the recording medium in a print direction, the manual printing device comprising: an ink tank filled with ink; a recording unit in formed with an ink ejection aperture in fluid connection with the ink tank, the recording unit ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank through the ink ejection aperture onto the recording medium; and a recovery unit for applying pressure to the ink in the ink tank to eject ink from the ink ejection aperture.

Abstract: A manual printing device for printing on a surface of a recording medium when manually scanned in a scanning direction over the recording medium, the manual printing device including: an elongated body to be manually grasped by a user and having an upper tip and a lower tip opposite the upper tip, the lower tip confronting the recording medium when the body is oriented with respect to the recording medium to print on the recording medium; an ink jet print head disposed at the lower tip and capable of printing at a maximum printing width on the surface of the printing medium; a frame disposed at the lower tip and, with respect to the scanning direction, in front of the ink jet print head; a roller rotatably supported on the frame to rotate across the surface of the recording medium when the manual printing device is scanned in the scanning direction over the recording medium; and a protrusion extending from the frame and, when the body is oriented to print on the recording medium, into contact with the recordi

Abstract: A portable printing device including: a case; a print unit having a print head with a print surface, the print head being switchable between a raised position and a lowered position with respect to the case; and a shutter member that covers the print surface of the print head when the print head is in its raised position. A link mechanism including crossed arms is provided for freely pivotably supporting the print unit with respect to the case.

Abstract: A hand-held and self-contained electronic printing apparatus (10) for printing indicia on a medium (M) which includes a housing (12) that can be manually positioned adjacent a surface of the medium (M) and manually swept across a printing area on the medium (M) during a printing sequence. A print head is disposed in the housing (12) which contains a plurality of print elements such as ink jet nozzles for printing indicia in a selectable pattern of dots on the medium (M) within the printing area. The printing apparatus (10) also contains an electronic control circuit disposed in the housing (12) for controlling the print head to print indicia on the medium (M) during a printing sequence wherein the control circuit comprises compensation means for reducing image distortion based on detecting the position of the nozzles during the printing sequence. In one embodiment, the control circuit compensates for image distortion that is the result of sweeping the housing (12) across a non-linear path.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a recording unit which prints an image on a recording medium; a memory unit which stores image information for pixels forming the image; a speed detection unit which detects movement speed of the recording unit; a speed comparison unit which compares the movement speed detected by the speed detection unit with a preset reference speed to determine whether the movement speed is faster or slower than the reference speed; and a control unit which controls drive of the recording unit in synchronization with the movement speed detected by the speed detection unit to print the image based on the image information stored in the memory unit and which performs processes so that the recording unit prints the image in a density dependent on whether the speed comparison unit determines that the movement speed is faster or slower than the reference speed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes traveling means for traveling in the recording directions by holding it for recording on a recording medium, guiding means for guiding the traveling means, and reading means detachably held by the guiding means. This printing apparatus further includes electrical connectors provided for the reading means and printing apparatus, respectively, for electrically connecting them, which are arranged to be installed or removed simultaneously by the operation of mounting the reading means on or demounting it from the guiding means, and also, detecting means for detecting a state of the reading means being mounted on the printing apparatus, controlling means for holding the power-supply to the traveling means and recovery means for recovering the performance of the recording means in a state of being cut off in accordance with the detection of the detecting means when the reading means is mounted on the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A compact printing device for printing inputted image data at a desired position on a print medium by scanning, in a scanning direction, the printer over the desired position of the print medium and including a body having a lower end confronting the print medium during printing, the lower end having a first region and a second region opposite each other with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the scanning direction; a print head for printing images on the print medium surface based on the inputted print image data and provided to the lower end of the body in the first region; and distance maintenance member for maintaining a set distance between the print head and the desired position on the print medium and provided to the lower end of the body in the second region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing postal indicia and similar images. The apparatus includes two print stations and an ink jet printhead transportable between the stations. The printhead forms images on a transfer roller located at each of the stations and the image is then transferred from the roller to a substrate. At the second station the transfer roller is incorporated in a detachable roller and is used to print remotely located substrates.

Abstract: A manual printing device manually scanned across a recording medium to record images in ink on the recording medium, the device including: a recording unit for recording images in ink on the recording medium; an ink supply unit including an ink tank filled with ink and an ink tube for supplying ink from the ink tank to the recording unit; an ink tube valve disposed along the ink tube and for controlling supply of ink from the ink tank to the recording unit; and an ink tube valve drive unit for opening the ink tube valve when the recording unit is in confrontation with the recording medium and closing the ink tube valve when no recording medium is in confrontation with the recording unit.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus such as an ink jet type recording apparatus, there are provided a recording unit for performing a recording operation on a recording material in response to a recording signal, the recording unit having a power supply for supplying power to drive the same, and a feeding unit for automatically feeding the recording material to the recording unit. This feeding unit is detachably connected to the recording unit. The recording apparatus further comprises a power supply apparatus installed on the feeding unit, capable of supplying power to the recording unit under such a condition that the feeding unit is connected to the recording unit. The recording unit can be made compact and lightweight. The recording unit is solely operable as a portable recording unit.

Abstract: A manual printer includes a head unit. The head unit includes a recording head, a running roller and a projection coupled to a housing via a universal joint. The head unit can be tilted relative to the housing. The position of the head unit relative to a recording medium P is maintained even if the housing is tilted in any direction. A gap and an angle between the recording head and the recording medium P can be fixed which enables a stable printing operation.

Abstract: A printing device includes a casing housing a sheet-feed mechanism for transporting a print medium and a carriage transporting mechanism for reciprocally moving a carriage in a main scanning direction. A print unit having a print head is detachably attached to the carriage. The print unit is capable of printing whether attached or detached from the carriage. A detection unit is provided for determining whether the print unit is attached to the carriage. The casing can be formed with a hollow space in which the print unit can be stored when the print device is not being used.

Abstract: A printing device includes a portable body having support means within which is defined a print face. The support means is capable of abutment against a surface on which an image is to be printed so that the print face is exposed to the surface and defines a region over which print is to be distributable without relative movement of the print face and said surface. The support means is arranged to support spaced from the surface to be printed an ink jet print head for distributing said print, and the ink jet print head is selectively operable at a plurality of locations within the print face to print an image onto the surface to be printed. The device has an electronic control device including a buffer for holding data defining at least part of the image and print actuating means controlled by the control device for operating the ink jet print head to print an image.

Abstract: A hand-held marking device comprises an electrically actuated writing head for making marks on a writing surface and a sensor for detecting when the writing head is moving in any direction in a plane parallel to the surface. The device includes a mechanism for causing the head to be actuated when the sensor detects relative movement of the writing head and the surface. The writing head can be arranged to be able to make a plurality of different types or sizes of marks on a writing surface, in which case a mechanism is provided for selecting which of the different mark types or sizes is to be made.

Abstract: An electronic checkbook (10) is provided for printing checks. electronic checkbook (10) is of a hand-held size and operates on two AAA batteries. An on/off switch (30) which includes a needle valve (410) controls ink flow. A print cap switch (26) is also provided for rugged applications. Checks are advanced under a printhead (38). The printhead (38) and a roller shaft (46) for advancing the checks are both driven by a single motor (56). A transmission (54) translates power from the motor (56) to the printhead (38) and the roller shaft (46). The position of both the motor (56) and the printhead (38) are sensed by use of a single LED (124) and photodetector (128). Ink is supplied to the printhead (38) from an ink cartridge (12). Data is stored in a non-volatile check register (16). Reconciliation of transactional information can be made by reference to information stored on a statement strip (20).