Abstract: A moving body support apparatus including a main shaft, a sub-shaft that is arranged to be spaced from the main shaft, and a carriage that moves along the main shaft while causing a contact surface to be in contact with the sub-shaft is provided. A distance between the main shaft and the sub-shaft changes along a moving direction of the moving body. A printing apparatus including the moving body support apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one recording head, at least one head holder, a carriage, a reference member, a sub-reference member, and an adjuster. The at least one recording head includes a plurality of nozzles to discharge droplets. The at least one head holder holds the at least one recording head. The carriage holds the at least one head holder and movable in a main scanning direction. The reference member is provided at the carriage and arranged along the main scanning direction. The sub-reference member is provided at the carriage in separation from the reference member. The adjuster adjusts parallelism of the sub-reference member to the reference member. The at least one head holder is supported by and detachable from the reference member, positioned in contact with the sub-reference member, and held in the carriage.

Abstract: A media processing device and control method for a media processing device enable accurately setting and detecting the home position of a carriage without using a dedicated sensor. Scales 56, 62 having a plurality of wide slits 65 formed at equal intervals and a narrow slit 66 at one end 56A, 62A are disposed parallel to carriage shafts 53, 60. Carriage sensors 55, 61 scan the scales 56, 62 while the carriages 52, 58 move bidirectionally, and detect the wide slits 65 and the narrow slits 66. To initialize the carriages 52, 58, the carriages 52, 58 are moved specific distance L away from the one end 56A, 62A, and the carriages 52, 58 are then reversed and moved until the carriage sensors 55, 61 detect the narrow slits 66. The home position HP is set based on where the narrow slit 66 is detected.

Abstract: An adjusting apparatus includes a shaft, a rack, and a gear. The shaft includes a cam portion contacting a bracket and a securing portion. The cam portion includes a first outer edge and a second outer edge connected to the first outer edge. The cam portion defines a pivoting axis. The distance between the first outer edge and the pivoting axis is less than the distance between the second outer edge and the pivoting axis. The gear is toothed and secured to the shaft and the rack defines a plurality of slots engaged by the toothed gear. The rack is used to drive the gear and the shaft to be rotated.

Abstract: In a case where temperature of a print head mounted on a head carrier becomes a specified temperature or higher during use, a head carrier is retracted to a retracting section in a housing of a printer, so that it is hardly touched by a user's hand. The retracting to the retracting section can also be linked to opening of a printer cover.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein provide an apparatus and method for adjusting a gap in a printer. The apparatus includes the printer that has a print head transport shaft. The print head is slidably coupled to the transport shaft. The apparatus includes an adjusting plate comprising a groove. The adjusting plate is located at a first side of the printer. The adjusting plate is slidably coupled to the transport shaft via the groove. Moving the adjusting plate along a first axis changes a first position of the print head on the first side of the printer to form the gap. The first axis is perpendicular to the transport shaft. The apparatus also includes a spring. The spring biases the adjusting plate such that the groove is biased toward the transport shaft.

Abstract: A printing medium feeding cassette usable with an image forming apparatus includes a first casing including a guide member which extends along a sliding direction, and a plurality of coupling parts arranged in a central area of the guide member to be spaced from each other along the sliding direction, a second casing which forms a printing medium containing space in cooperation with the first casing to slide along the guide member, a stopper to reciprocate in a direction transverse to the sliding direction between a coupling position in which the stopper is coupled with any one of the plurality of coupling parts and a releasing position in which the stopper is released from the coupling part, and a releasing member which is coupled with the second casing to move in the sliding direction in connection with the second casing and is moved by an external force applied thereto in the sliding direction to allow the stopper to move to the releasing position from the coupling position.

Abstract: A carriage device includes a head unit, a printing head and a carriage. The head unit has a sub-plate attached to a head plate via an adjustment mechanism. The printing head is attached to the head plate via the sub-plate. The carriage retains the head unit. The adjustment mechanism includes a first-direction adjustment plate, a rotation position adjustment plate, and a pitch angle adjustment plate. The first-direction adjustment plate adjusts a position of the sub-plate with respect to the head plate in a first direction. The rotation position adjustment plate adjusts, in a predetermined plane, a rotation position of the sub-plate with respect to the head plate about a rotational axis that is normal to the predetermined plane. The pitch angle adjustment plate adjusts a pitch angle of the sub-plate with respect to the head plate, the pitch angle being in relation to the predetermined plane.

Abstract: At a predetermined position during the lateral movement of a carriage 10, a gap switching mechanism 30 for switching a gap between a recording head 15 and a recording medium is provided. The recording head 15 is mounted facing downward on the carriage 10. A part close to one side on a lower end of the carriage is slidably and pivotably supported by a guide shaft 11 of a round shaft shape. A switching block member 13 provided with several abutment portions 52 and 53 with different heights, which are positioned so as to be opposed to a slide portion 12a at an upper end of a frame 12 extending in a vertical direction along a back of the carriage. The A switching block member 13 is pivotably supported by the carriage. A first pushing portion 56 is located at a left end of the frame so as to abut against the switching block member 13.

Abstract: A platen gap adjustment assembly for a printing apparatus including a printer using the platen gap adjustment assembly to adjust the platen gap between a platen and a print head when printing on a print medium transported between the platen and the print head. The platen gap adjustment assembly includes a guide shaft, which slidably supports a carriage carrying the print head and a pair of mounting members each supporting the guide shaft. The mounting members have positioning engagement parts for holding or maintaining the position of an eccentric shaft in a given position which controls the position of the positioning engagement parts relative to the mounting members. An urging member urges one of the mounting members with the guide shaft fit therein in the direction for causing the positioning engagement parts into one of a given set of positions.

Abstract: A paper insertion limiting device of a paper feeding unit which prevents papers from being inserted to a drive roller when the papers are loaded. The paper insertion limiting device of a paper feeding unit is provided with a sheet regulating member mounted on the front end of the paper feeding unit to rotate by a certain angle, and regulate an insertion depth of papers loaded in the paper feeding unit, and a regulating member activator to actuate the sheet regulating member to block the front ends of papers when the carrier reaches a certain position, and to feed papers when the carrier moves out of the certain position. The sheet regulating member forms a right angle to the face of papers when the carrier reaches the certain position, and the paper regulation member forms an obtuse angle to the papers when the carrier moves out of the certain position.

Abstract: A method and device for locking and unlocking a print head assembly along a shaft in an addressing machine. The print head assembly is fixedly mounted on a locking mechanism, which comprises a cylindrical body slideably mounted on the shaft and a cam ring rotatably mounted over the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has a slot for seating an elongated spline. When the locking mechanism is operated in a locking position, the inner circumference of the cam ring presses the spline against the shaft, preventing the cylindrical body from moving along the shaft. The cam ring has a relief on its inner circumference such that, when the cam ring is rotated to the unlocked position, the spline is partially seated in the relief, thereby reducing the pressure exerted by the spline against the shaft. As such, the position of the print head assembly can be adjusted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gap adjusting device that allows gap adjustment with a small torque and also allows more gap positions to be set. The gap adjusting device rotates bushing members so as to change level (PG) of carriage guide shafts for guiding a carriage. An intermediate gear that engages with the bushing members has a boss to be inserted into a cam groove formed in a slidable member that can slide. In accordance with a sliding operation of the slidable member 51, PG is changed. The weights of the carriage and the carriage guide shafts are transmitted to the boss via the bushing members and the intermediate gear and therefore the boss is pushed against a sidewall of the cam groove to be in contact with the sidewall, thereby PG is maintained. Therefore, the slidable member 51 can be caused to slide with a small torque.

Abstract: A method and device for locking and unlocking a print head assembly along a shaft in an addressing machine. The print head assembly is fixedly mounted on a locking mechanism, which comprises a flange and a collet, wherein the collet has an inner circumference for slideably mounting on the shaft, and a tapered outer circumference having a first threaded section and a second threaded section. The flange has a threaded opening larger than the first threaded section but smaller than the second threaded section. When adjusting the position of the print head assembly, an operator turns the collet so that flange is engaged with the first threaded section. When locking the position of the print head assembly, the operator turns the collet so that the flange is engaged with the second threaded section, causing the collet to exert a frictional force on the shaft.

Abstract: A printhead gap adjustment mechanism for use in an imaging apparatus includes a worm gear coupled to a carrier shaft to transmit a rotational motion to the carrier shaft. A worm screw is positioned in rotational cooperation with the worm gear, the worm screw having an axis of rotation. A first cam is coupled to the carrier shaft. A first cam follower surface is disposed in proximity to the first cam. A guide device guides the carrier shaft in a translational direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the worm screw. A rotation of the worm screw transmits rotational motion to drive the first cam via the worm gear and the carrier shaft, the first cam engaging the first cam follower surface to effect a translational motion of the worm gear in the translational direction, thereby effecting a movement of the printhead in the translational direction.

Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, particularly, a franking machine, with a movable printing-head guide includes a base, a guide connected to the base, a printing head, and an offsetting device. The guide moves the head, during printing, between first and second longitudinal positions in a given direction with respect to the base to effect a relative movement between the head and a print medium. The offsetting device prints images offset to one another transverse to the given direction and overlapping one another at most in an edge region of the images. The offsetting device is connected to the head and offsets the head relative to the base from a first transverse position into at least one second transverse position spaced from the first transverse position in a direction transverse to the given direction. The offsetting device is connected to the guide. A corresponding printing method, particularly, a franking impression is also provided.

Abstract: A printing device is described that has a print head held displaceably on a print-head holder. To achieve a relative movement between the print head and a medium to be printed, the print-head holder is configured such that during printing it can be moved in a first line with respect to a base element, between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. An offsetting device is provided which permits a printing of images offset from one another transversely with respect to an imaginary line and which is configured to offset the print head relative to the print-head holder from a first transverse position into at least a second transverse position spaced apart from the first transverse position, transversely with respect to the imaginary line.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head for forming an image on a recording medium, a carriage for holding the recording head, capable of scanning in a main scanning direction, and a carrying mechanism for carrying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, wherein even with shift of the position of the carriage before scanning, scanning of the carriage is carried out after the carriage is located at a start position, or wherein a difference of the start position of the carriage upon each scanning is arranged to be a distance equal to an integral multiple of one period of phase of motor.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method of detecting a home position of a carriage, achieving a less manufacturing cost.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, if a main sheet feed roller is displaced during rotation thereof, a carrier contacted with an outer peripheral surface of the main sheet feed roller via a pressure plate is rotated around a guide shaft upwardly or downwardly. As a result, a position of a nozzle of a recording head held by the carrier is changed. Further, a platen is rotated around support shafts upwardly or downwardly in response to rotation of the carrier around the guide shaft. As a result, a position of a recording surface of the platen is changed. In this way, even if the main sheet feed roller is displaced during rotation thereof, a distance between the nozzle surface of the recording head and a recording medium on the recording surface of the platen is always kept constant.

Abstract: A thermal head, rotatably supported by a supporting shaft parallel to the shaft of a platen, is resiliently pressed by an elastic member, such as a sheet spring, and comes into contact with the platen. A pair of arm members are provided on either side of the platen, the arms having through holes which allow for rotatably fitting and supporting therein the platen shaft. A bar member for receiving a resilient force of the elastic member is linked to other ends of the arm members, passing across the space between the arm members. The bar member is relieved from contact with the elastic member by rotating at least one of the arm members around the platen shaft or by moving at least one end of the bar member in a direction away from the platen. In the latter case, a crank mechanism is used for changing the effective length of one of the arm members. The thermal printer is compact and light, has high printing reliability, and facilitates ease in maintenance and replacement of the thermal head.

Abstract: Improvement are described in the sliding assembly of a plotter and for a method for the adjustment of the spacing between a printing head and the printing media. The improvements consist in that the sliding assembly which comprises the movable carriage and the printing head is mounted on a main sliding guide parallel to the printing media with simultaneous lengthwise sliding capacity on said main sliding guide as well as being pivotable thereabout, until an adjustment value of the spacing between the printing head and the printing media is obtained. An abutment limits the pivot distance of the sliding assembly. The abutment is comprised of a second guide that is parallel to the main sliding guide The sliding assembly comprises two units connected by means of an articulated joint, the mutual position of both units being adjustable as to the angle or rotation.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is usable with a recording head having an ejection outlet. The recording head is carried on a carriage. The apparatus includes a cap for capping the ejection outlet of the recording head and a suction device for suctioning ink through the ejection outlet of the recording head and through the cap. The cap is unified with a cylinder of the suction device and the ejection outlet is capped in accordance with movement of the cylinder together with movement of the carriage.

Abstract: In a label printer having a printhead mounted above a path for printing on labels carried by a backing strip along the path, this invention is apparatus for adjusting the lateral position of the printhead over the labels. A first member is fixedly carried by the printer over the path. A second member carries the printhead while third member connects the second member to the first member for lateral movement relative to the first member. Finally, there is adjusting apparatus for selectively setting a lateral position of the second member relative to the first member.

Abstract: The carriage mounting the print head, for a printer, is supported at an upper guide bar with an upper bearing and at a lower guide bar with a lower-right bearing and a lower-left bearing. The printing device prints characters while driving the print head in reciprocal movement along the guide bars. The lower-left bearing has an eccentric center relative to the axis of the lower-guide bar. A lever fitted on the lower-left bearing allows the operator to rotate the lower-left bearing relative to the axis of the lower guide bar to adjust the height of print.

Abstract: A printing machine wherein printing onto a substrate is effected by a first movement of a print head (1) downwardly into contact with the substrate and then by a second movement over the surface of the substrate while thermal printing elements within the print head (1) are selectively energized. The first movement is controlled by downward movement of a pair of rollers (6,7) operated by synchronized angular movement of a pair of eccentric shafts (8,9) one of which is freely mounted within each roller (6,7). The first and second movements are driven by a first and second stepper motor respectively. The rollers may be coupled by drive belts (4,5).

Abstract: A printer of the kind having a printing head for printing on a sheet being held against a platen roll by a sheet presser, with both printing head and sheet presser mounted fast to a head carriage which is movable not only in a direction parallel to the axis of the platen roll but also in a direction normal thereto. For adjusting the spacing between the printing head and the platen roll to the thickness of the sheet to be printed upon, a drive motor is coupled to the head carriage via a yieldable clutch.

Abstract: A dot matrix printhead is adjusted automatically or manually with respect to a platen in accordance with the thickness of a recording medium on which printing is to occur. When a host data processor sends a control signal to a printer microprocessor to indicate that a recording medium of a different thickness is to be printed, a carrier, which has a first portion supporting the printhead and pivotally and slidably mounted on a front guide rail, is moved so that a shift arm on the carrier engages a right side plate of the frame. This disconnects a ribbon drive motor gear from a ribbon drive gear and moves the ribbon drive motor gear into engagement with a gear train. Rotation of the gear train rotates a gear, which has a threaded shaft and is rotatably supported by a second portion of the carrier slidably mounted on a rear guide rail, to cause pivoting of the first portion of the carrier about the front guide rail to change the gap of the printhead from the platen.

Abstract: An adjustable shaft mechanism for adjusting the gap between a print head and a platen in a dot matrix printer has a printer frame with two end frame members and a fixed guide member. An adjustable shaft runs substantially parallel to the guide member between the end frame members. A print head carriage runs along the guide and shaft members. A substantially vertical slot in each of the end frame members is employed to adjust the adjustable shaft for movement up and down with respect to the end frame members. Spring loading means biases the shaft toward the guide member. A cam on each end member is mounted for rotation for adjusting the shaft in the slots to raise and lower the print head carriage and the associated print head with respect to the platen.

Abstract: In a parallel setting device for a print head carriage guide relative to a print medium support (6) in printers, in particular in matrix printers, the print head carriage guide includes a parallel disposable and position adjustable carriage guide axle (5) relative to the print medium support (1) and disposed rearwards relative to the print medium support at the printer frame 1 and a front carriage guide axle (4) adjustable to a minimum distance and disposed opposite to the print medium support (6). The rear and the front carriage guide axle (4,5) in each case are supported in the side plate (2,3) of the printer frame (1). The print medium support (6) is disposed at a level different to that of the front carriage guide axle (4).

Abstract: A serial printer adapted to print on a recording medium consisting of a plurality of paper sheets stacked on each other and temporarily bound with temporary binding or fastening portions provided along opposite side edges of the medium. The printer has a first memory for storing the rightmost character position of a current line, and a second memory for storing the position of the rightmost character of all the characters of previous lines printed in a rightward direction, or the position of the rightmost character of all the characters of all previously printed lines. When the rightmost character of the current line is located to the left of the rightmost character whose position is stored in the second memory, the medium is advanced to the next line.

Abstract: A shoe in the form of a cylindrical screw is rotatably threaded through a carriage supporting a print head and has one end held slidably against a guide rail parallel to a main guide shaft on which the carriage is movable parallel to the platen of an impact printer. The shoe is rotated about its own axis to tilt the carriage and hence the print head to adjust the spacing between the print head and the platen. The shoe is rotated by a gap change lever angularly movably supported on the carriage and having teeth for mesh with a gear mounted on the shoe. For initializing the spacing between the print head and the platen, the gear on the shoe is displaced out of mesh with the teeth of the gap change lever and rotated to turn the shoe. To achieve a desired spacing between the print head and the platen, the gear on the shoe is moved into mesh with the teeth of the gap change lever, and the gap change lever is turned to rotate the gear and the shoe for angular movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A printer having a daisy type-wheel or the like comprises a carrier longitudinally movable along a platen and a carriage detachably and pivotally mounted on the carrier. Mounted on the carriage are a ribbon cartridge, the type-wheel, a hammer assembly and a magnet assembly for actuating the hammer assembly. The design of the printer permits easy and accurate positioning and adjustment of constituents of the carriage, easy and accurate attachment of the carriage to the carrier, and easy tilting of the carriage for replacement of the type-wheel. Shifting of the type-wheel is achieved rapidly and with the low vibration. The ribbon cartridge may be moved from a non-printing to a printing position easily, with low vibration and with little generation of noise. The U-shaped ribbon cartridge includes an engaging member extending from a front leg of the cartridge toward the inside of the U-shape.

Abstract: A locking assembly is disclosed for mounting a print wheel of the daisy type to a rotary drive mechanism. The locking assembly is constructed of a print wheel stop rotatable with the shaft of the drive mechanism, a print wheel retainer slidable along the shaft between a print wheel connecting and attaching position and biasing means for biasing the print wheel retainer into the connecting and attaching positions. The print wheel is provided with attaching members for engaging a portion of the print wheel retainer while being supported by the print wheel stop for detachably connecting the print wheel thereto and for permitting detachment of the print wheel therefrom when the print wheel retainer is arranged by the biasing means into the detaching position. Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided a carriage assembly adapted for tilting the print wheel to facilitate replacement and/or removal thereof wherein the carriage assembly is provided with a bias plate.

Abstract: A printer having a type wheel of the daisy wheel type or the like, which is improved to permit an easy position adjustment of constituents of the type wheel driving mechanism, as well as an easy tilting motion of the carriage in relation to the carrier and an easy attaching of the carriage. Also, the shift of the type wheel can be achieved rapidly and with a light force and the ribbon cartridge can be moved with a light force while suppressing generation of noise.

Abstract: The print head of a serial printer includes a protruding plug which is seated and locked into a receptacle on a translating carriage. An endless belt has teeth engaged in a correspondingly contoured groove of the carriage for positive connection between carriage and belt, whereby the head traverses the printing medium for printing thereon. The platen is positively and simply held and includes a resin surface for impact of print wires. The gap between the head and platen is readily adjusted in steps by motion of a lever.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge engageable with an upper stopper member of a cartridge receiving apparatus which includes a cartridge body of substantially U-shaped form having at least one front leg member and an engaging member extending from the at least one front leg member of the cartridge body for engagement with the upper stopper member so as to secure the cartridge body in a predetermined position with respect to the cartridge receiving apparatus. The engaging member extends from a bottom portion of the cartridge body and further includes a reinforcement portion cooperably connected to the engaging member. The cartridge body is engageable with at least one holding member of the cartridge receiving apparatus and the cartridge body includes at least one retaining lug engageable with the at least one holding member for positioning the cartridge with respect to the cartridge receiving apparatus.

Abstract: A typewriter printing assembly is disclosed in which a typing assembly and type actuator are mounted for movement along a shaft and are connected to a follower. The connection of the typing assembly and follower is a detachable one, and the support for the shaft is removable for facile assembly and disassembly of the typing assembly on the shaft. The type actuator comprises a light interfitting assembly of the type hammer and support formed to accommodate the shaft and for straight line movement of the hammer when activated.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the relative position of a carriage assembly to a platen on a printer frame comprising first and second parallel supports mounted to a printer frame in spaced apart relationship parallel to said platen, a pulley support assembly mounted on one of the supports for movement parallel to said one support, a bearing assembly slidably mounted on the other of the supports, a carriage assembly detachably mounted to said pulley support assembly and slidably attached to the bearing assembly to allow movement of the carriage assembly towards or away from the bearing assembly while maintaining contact with the bearing, and means for adjusting the one support in a horizontal plane towards or away from the platen whereby the carriage assembly is moved toward or away from the platen.