Abstract: A device (e.g., scanner) for handling a paper holder (binder) having an upper cover, a lower cover, and at least one paper held therein is made available, the device including a control circuit, a lifting mechanism comprising an adhesive member, and an image capturing device. The adhesive member is configured to removably attach to the upper cover of the paper holder. The lifting mechanism is configured to flip the upper cover of the binder open when the adhesive member is attached to the upper cover. The lifting mechanism is configured to detach from the binder and return to its original position after the upper cover is flipped open. The image capturing device is configured to take one or more images of the open binder after the lifting mechanism is detached from the binder and returned to its original position away from the binder after the upper cover is flipped open.

Abstract: A mailing machine including a postage meter for printing evidence of postage payment on a media includes a registration surface, a print head, an envelope transport having at least two nips for keeping the media from skewing and contacting the print head, a media ski ending upstream of the registration surface for pushing the media into contact with the registration surface, and at least one star wheel disposed in an opening of the registration surface for holding the media down as it is fed through the mailing machine.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises a rotary drum for attracting a recording medium to the surface thereof on which a plurality of through holes are formed, the rotary drum for attracting the recording medium via the plural holes by reducing pressure therein, a laser head for emitting a laser beam toward the recording medium on the rotary drum to record an image thereon; and a dummy sheet having an attracting area in which a plurality of through holes are formed, the area having a size substantially equal to the recording medium, the dummy sheet placed between the recording medium and the surface of the rotary drum such that the recording medium is placed on the attracting area and such that the plural through holes of the attracting area and the plural through holes of the rotary drum are superposed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, which records a image on a recording medium using a recording head provided with a plurality of ink discharge ports, includes a rotative platen having a plurality of supporting pieces arranged at predetermined intervals; a rotation unit for rotating the platen; a conveyance units for conveying the recording medium; a control unit for controlling the rotation unit to rotate the platen in the conveying direction of the recording medium in synchronism with the conveyance of the recording medium when recording is performed near the edge of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. With the structure thus arranged, this ink jet recording apparatus is capable of performing the entire area recording (no margin recording) on a recording medium without staining the platen that supports the recording medium at the time of recording.

Abstract: A type printer in which deterioration of a platen is prevented by distributing positions of impacts on the platen by a printing head over the whole region of peripheral surface of a cylindrical platen. The drive shafts of a paper feed roller, platen, and tractor are operatively connected to each other by a gear train, and driven by a motor. The gear ratio of gears in the gear train is selected so that the peripheral velocities of the paper feed roller, platen, and tractor agree with each other. The platen rotates in synchronism with the feed velocity of paper fed by the paper feed roller and the tractor, by which the positions of impacts, which are effected by the printing head, are distributed over the whole region on the peripheral surface of the platen.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus adapted for use with a recording apparatus such as a printer. The sheet supply apparatus comprises a frame having a sheet conveying surface, a shaft rotatably arranged above the sheet conveying surface, and a plurality of protrusions arranged on the shaft in the axially spaced relationship and at circumferentially different angles. The sheet is conveyed toward a horizontal member (such as conveying rollers in a printer) extending in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction along the sheet conveying surface by the protrusions so as to cause the sheet to abut against the transverse member. Oblique feeding of a sheet is thus corrected.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing data on any specified page of a book includes a book-transporting mechanism for transporting the book to a predetermined position, while keeping a selected page of the book opened and located substantially parallel to the other pages including a specified page on which to print data. A platen roller is arranged near the other pages of the book transported to the predetermined position. The specified page is turned from the other pages of the book by a page-turning mechanism and the fore-edge portion of the specified page is guided onto the platen roller. The apparatus includes a chucking mechanism for chucking the fore-edge portion of the specified page on the platen roller, and a tension-applying mechanism for pulling the selected page away from the specified page to apply a tension on the specified page through the seam of the book. Data is printed on the specified page applied with the tension, by a printing mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing data on any specified page of a book includes a book-transporting mechanism for transporting the book to a predetermined position, while keeping a selected page of the book opened and located substantially parallel to the other pages including a specified page on which to print data. A platen roller is arranged near the other pages of the book transported to the predetermined position. The specified page is turned from the other pages of the book by a page-turning mechanism and the fore-edge portion of the specified page is guided onto the platen roller. The apparatus includes a chucking mechanism for chucking the fore-edge portion of the specified page on the platen roller, and a tension-applying mechanism for pulling the selected page away from the specified page to apply a tension on the specified page through the seam of the book. Data is printed on the specified page applied with the tension, by a printing mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing images on a booklet comprises, first and second paired pinch rollers for conveying pages of the opened booklet to a printing head, located between these paired pinch rollers, a rotatable platen opposed to the printing head and located between the paired pinch rollers, guide plate for guiding one page of the opened booklet to the platen, and a press member for fixing the free end of the one page to the platen. The second paired rollers hold the other page of the booklet but may slipe the page when the free end of the one page is fixed onto the platen thereby adding tension to the other page of the booklet as the platen is rotated. The layout of the recorded images are changed and then printed on the page.

Abstract: Two print heads each having a plurality of print elements arranged over a print width to allow printing of a predetermined area by a print scan operation are arranged one for each one of adjacent pages bordered by a seam line of a booklet along which a plurality of sheets of the booklet are bound. The print elements are non-impact type print elements such as thermal print elements.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printing machine of the type which includes a carriage moving in a direction parallel to the line of typing and a needle printing head, which can move on the carriage perpendicular to its direction of movement to advance and retract the head with respect to that on which printing is effected. The cartridge is supported by the carriage and includes a container having a cover, a base and a series of inner walls which bound an opening to house the needle printing head. The cartridge comprises two arms to guide out a portion of an inked ribbon near the head. The container arranges the ribbon in loose folds and supports a pair of rollers for the single directional feed of the ribbon. A tensioning unit in the cartridge includes a roller borne by a coupling having two ends housed and guided in corresponding slots of the base and of the cover, substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the head in relation of the carriage.