Abstract: The invention relates to an additive manufacturing apparatus which includes a platform guiding arrangement 10 having a build platform 12 and a mounting arrangement 14 comprising guiding elements 16, 18 mounted to the build platform 12. The mounting arrangement 14 is configured to permit displacement of the build platform 12 in a vertical or Z direction whilst permitting unconstrained thermal expansion and contraction of the build platform in the horizontal or X-Y plane. The guide elements 16, 18 abut against adjacent sides of the build platform 12 to inhibit angular displacement about a vertical axis and permit unconstrained thermal expansion and contraction in the X-Y plane.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a particular tray, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the particular tray to a first conveying path in a feed direction, a recording unit positioned along the first conveying path, and a driving roller positioned along a second conveying path and configured to convey the sheet, after the sheet passes the recording unit, along the second conveying path and back to the first conveying path. The particular tray includes a side guide configured to position the sheets in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The side guide includes a guide member that defines at least a portion of the second conveying path and is configured to guide the sheet along the second conveying path, and a driven roller rotatably supported on the guide member and configured to pinch the sheet against the driving roller as the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path.

Abstract: An image reader includes a cabinet and an optical system. The cabinet has four plate members fixed to each other by laser welding from a side direction of the image reader and has a bottom wall fixed to the four plate members by laser welding from a side direction or a lower direction of the image reader. The cabinet has a first opening for a document read window opening toward an upper direction of the image reader. Each of the plate members is bended in letter L shape to form an upper end part and a side wall. The optical system is housed in the cabinet for reading an image of a document through the opening.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a plural image-holding members, each image-holding member holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that at least partially defines a space for accommodating the plural image-holding members therein; a cover provided to the frame member to open and close the space with respect to an outside, an inner side of the cover being formed with rotation shaft insertion holes each for receiving an end portion of the rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the image-holding members accommodated in the space; a supporting shaft that supports the cover such that the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member, the supporting shaft being inserted into a supporting shaft insertion hole provided to the frame member or to the cover, the supporting shaft insertion hole being elongated in a direction having a vertical component when the cover closes the space; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover with respect to the frame member whe

Abstract: A flatbed printing machine is provided with a printing table and a pressing device for a medium to be printed. The pressing device features parallel guide rails on both sides of the printing table, through which a pressing rail that is moveable above the printing table is guided. The pressing device is particularly applicable to a digital ink-jet flatbed printing machines.

Abstract: A digital printer (1) is disclosed comprising a digital printing unit (4,5) for digital printing an image onto a printing substrate (3) during relative movement between a print head and the printing substrate (3), and a printing table (2,12) for holding the printing substrate (3) during the digital printing. The printing table (2,12) is firmly fixing to the digital printing unit (4,5) during the digital printing of the image onto the printing substrate (3) and is released from the digital printing unit (4,5) prior to and after the digital printing of the image onto the printing substrate (3). The printing table (2,12) may be moved between a printing position, in which it is firmly fixed to the digital printing unit (4,5), and a printing substrate feeding position, in which it supports feeding and removing of the printing substrate (3) from the printing table (2,12).

Abstract: Automatic loading/unloading device for printing supports in a printer including a track (2) able to slide on a suitable resting plane of the printer by way of a thrust arrangement, a board or blade (3) able to receive a printing support, substantially of rectangular shape, positioned in correspondence with an opening (21) substantially rectangular, created on the track, where the blade (3) has a portion of its edge (31) able to be bonded in an articulated way to a portion of the rim (221) of the opening (21) of the track and where the blade (3) has guides (34) able to allow a stable attachment between the board and the rear systems of attachment of the printing supports.

Abstract: An original document tray for a scanning and printing apparatus includes original document guides for guiding an original document in the original document tray into a scanning unit by determining or regulating a widthwise position of the original document, and manual-feed sheet guides provided with the original document tray for guiding a manual-feed sheet to be supplied to a printing unit by determining a widthwise position of the manual-feed sheet. The manual-feed sheet guides can be adjusted manually in the widthwise direction. The original document guides are disposed on an original document supporting surface of the original document tray on which the original document is placed, and the manual-feed sheet guides are disposed on a side opposite the original document supporting surface. The original document guides can also be moved manually in the widthwise direction and move in conjunction with the manual-feed sheet guides.

Abstract: A print medium exit system in a printer includes a kicker device ejecting a sheet of print medium out of the printer. A clutch mechanism prevents actuation of the kicker device when the clutch mechanism is engaged by the sheet of print medium.

Abstract: A loader (1) for a printer for printing flat articles (2), this loader (1) which delimits a storage magazine (9) for the articles in the stacked condition being provided internally with a pivoting member (4) arranged to hold the articles (2) in bearing contact with a drive element (5) for discharging the articles (2) to be printed through an opening (7) provided in a wall of the magazine (1). This loader (1) is characterized in that the pivoting member (4) is provided with a counterweight (6) to form an assembly exerting a substantially constant bearing force on the article or articles (2) to be printed, this forced being self-positioning in the course of emptying the loader by moving along one of the articles to be printed in a direction generally opposite to the direction of expulsion of the articles from the loader.

Abstract: A method for printing on a smart card using the printer of a postage meter is disclosed. The postage meter has a feed mechanism for feeding mail items past a print head and the construction of the feed mechanism is such that the spacing of adjacent feed rollers is greater than the length of the smart card. As a result the feed mechanism is incapable of feeding smart cards. Therefore in the method a carrier is provided for the smart card, the carrier being of sufficient length as to be engaged by the feed rollers during feeding thereof. Preferably the carrier comprises a sheet having a recess therein to receive the smart card so that the print receiving surface of the smart card is approximately co-planar with the surface of the carrier sheet.

Abstract: An improved reusable media carrier having positive alignment capability and improved carrying characteristics for advancing one or more pieces of printable card stock media or the like through a computer printer, word processing printer, or copy machine. Such means is in the form of a flexible rectangularly configured carrier, particularly suited for use with printers or copy machines having friction, sheet-feed mechanisms. The carrier is comprised of an essentially rectangular sheet of paper or other flexible material folded in such a way as to provide retainers for positively engaging at least two adjacent side edges of a piece of media to be printed. In addition, the retainer means may include hard stops for effecting positive media alignment and location. Furthermore, the carrier may include embedded strips of stiffener material for minimizing curl of the media carrier.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a conventional envelope in a predetermined position to enable printing near an edge of the envelope with a conventional printer is disclosed. The carrier includes a sheet-like substrate having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a closure flap receiving slot between the leading and trailing edges, and means for holding at least a portion of a bottom edge of the envelope to the substrate. A method according to the present invention includes the steps of providing an envelope, providing a carrier for holding the envelope in a predetermined position, and providing a conventional printer. A closure flap of the envelope is inserted through a closure flap receiving slot in the carrier. Next, a bottom edge of the envelope is held against the carrier. Then, the carrier and the envelope are passed through the conventional printer, which prints on the envelope.

Abstract: A device for transporting a sheet (18) to be printed in a printer is described, with a carriage (14) which is designed for receiving the sheet and which can be displaced on a fixed stand (12) perpendicularly to the line direction between a starting position for inserting and removing the sheet and an end position moved into the printer. Mounted on the carriage (14) is a releasable clamping device (26) which comprises a bearing surface (22) for the sheet (18) and a clamping lever (35) spring-loaded in the clamping direction. The latter is provided with an actuating cam (48) which co-operates with a control bar (40) provided on the stand (12), in such a way that the clamping device (26) is opened in the starting position, closes after this starting position has been passed in the direction opposite to the end position and opens again when the carriage (14), coming from the end position, reaches the starting position.

Abstract: An insert for preventing a gummed flap from adhering to an envelope while being printed upon in a laser printer is substantially nonadherent to moister-activated and/or heat-activated gums and adhesives. The nonadherent insert is made from sheet material which is configured to correspond to flaps of commonly used envelopes. The insert is positioned between the gummed flap and a body portion of an envelope to be printed upon prior to feeding the envelope into a laser printer. The insert prevents the gum of the flap, which may be activated by the heat inside a laser printer, from adhering to the body of the envelope. The insert is removed from the envelope after printing and may be repeatedly used.

Abstract: A printer device for performing printing by a thermal head using a color ink ribbon cassette 60, in which the device may be reduced in size. A sheet guide plate 2 is mounted on a lid 1 that can be opened and closed. When a printing sheet P is moved back and forth for multi-color printing, the sheet P is moved within the range of the lid 1 below the sheet guide plate 2. During non-use time, the lid 1 is closed, whereby the device becomes smaller in size than the range of movement of the printing sheet P.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a printer of a low cost capable of correcting a minute recording dislocation in one step, as well as a recording start control method for the printer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a card transport mechanism for printing on a card-like medium. A slider is provided having a card stop against which one edge of the card stops and a holding mechanism holds the card to the slider. A guide frame is further provided having at least one guide portion engaged with the slider for moving the slider parallel to the guide frame. A motor and transmission mechanism moves the slider, whereon a card-like medium is held by the holding mechanism, along the guide member for printing.

Abstract: A paper holding apparatus suitable for holding undersized paper products in a typewriter mechanism. The paper holder includes two flexible plastic strips mounted on a backing. The strips have opposed recesses in which the undersized paper product may be positioned. The holder is of sufficient size to operate normally in a typewriter mechanism. It may be reusable or disposable depending upon the application.

Abstract: An envelope holder is described for feeding envelopes through a printer. It comprises a pocket formed from an upper and lower sheet joined together, a window portion of which is removed to allow printing of an envelope held in the pocket. The holder is improved in that the upper sheet has longitudinal edges that extend only a fraction of the length of the lower sheet portion that forms the pocket. That fraction is between about 30% and about 85% of the lower sheet length.

Abstract: An electronic printer using edge-perforated continuous-form paper is adapted to print and sequentially stack cards that are initially carried by a paper carrier sheet corresponding to continuous-form paper. The printer includes paper tractor means above the printing means for feeding the paper upwardly past the printing means. A card separating attachment includes another paper driving device above the tractor means for drawing the paper carrier rearwardly over a separator bar. This separates the carrier paper from the cards, which are guided by guide means so that they fall face downwardly into a receptacle, thereby providing a stack of cards arranged in the order in which they were printed.

Abstract: A carrier is disclosed for advancing one or more relatively small items such as envelopes, address cards, checks, and the like through a computer printer or word processor printer having a feed mechanism controlled remotely by the computer or word processor. The carrier includes a carrier sheet of a size that the feed mechanism of the printer can handle and at least one strip of non-setting, non-drying, pressure sensitive tacky adhesive attached to the carrier sheet to which the items can be attached and carried through the printer. Vertical and horizontal grid lines and horizontal and vertical location index numbers are printed on the top surface of the carrier sheet. Parallel retaining strips are also provided to hold the items flat against the carrier sheet.

Abstract: A sheet securing mechanism which has upper and lower members. Pins are formed on the upper members. A magnetic actuator when excited in one condition provides a magnetic force that causes the upper member to move to a closed sheet securing state where the pins are pressed into a sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-transfer type thermal recording device capable of recording/printing color pictures by heating an ink tape using a thermal line head and transferring ink from the ink film tape to a continuous sheet of recording paper where the ink film tape and recording paper are conveyed simultaneously, consisting of a vertical cassette unit with an ink-tape supply reel and a take-up reel which allows both to freely rotate by suspending them between two side panels of the cassette unit, with such a configuration in which the ink tape from the supply reel is continuously retrieved by the take-up reel through an inferior aperture in the cassette unit after the ink tape is drawn through a superior aperture in the cassette unit. The cassette unit is installed in a designated position inside the thermal recording device to enable easy loading and unloading and to simplify positioning of the ink film tape between the thermal line head of the recording device and the recording paper platen reel.

Abstract: A carrier for work to be printed comprises a web made up of a series of panels, connected edge-to-edge, and providing means, such as slits, tabs and flaps for coupling the work to the web. The slits, tabs and flaps are preferably arranged to accommodate standard sizes of stationery, so that cut sheets of stationery, coupled to the web, may be printed automatically.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a fixed planar thermal head composed of heating elements disposed in an area corresponding to one page, a detachable unitary ink donor ribbon assembly including a frame and an ink donor ribbon movably disposed in the frame and having a plurality of color zones, the ink donor ribbon being positioned in confronting relation to the planar thermal head, and a detachable unitary print paper storage assembly composed of a paper cartridge and print paper stored therein, and including a presser for holding the print paper in contact with the ink donor ribbon in a printing mode and for keeping the print paper out of contact with the ink donor ribbon in a non-printing mode. The planar thermal head and the print paper are prevented from relative movement in the printing mode until one-page printing is effected on the print paper. The print paper may comprise a stack of separate sheets or a roll of continuous print paper.

Abstract: A reusable document holder for use in a computer printer or electronic memory typewriter, including a strong, flexible plastic support material or sheet, preferably formed of the polyester Mylar, having a plurality of spaced document attachment areas for attachment thereon of documents, e.g. checks, to be printed in a computer printer, each of such areas having bands or straps at the corners, for insertion of such document beneath the bands, and a flap along the top edge for insertion of the top edge of such document beneath the flap. These elements support such documents and protect the top edges thereof when the document holder is fed through a printing device for printing on the documents or checks. Such bands and flap are formed by slitting or cutting the support material.

Abstract: A board for feeding a single sheet of paper including holes for paper-feeding which are to be engaged by the sprocket for a paper-feeder of a printer formed at specified intervals on both sides thereof and a part for gripping the rear end of the single sheet of paper and a part for gripping the front end of the single sheet of paper respectively formed on the surface of the board at a specified distance between them in the paper-feeding direction.

Abstract: A continuous business form assembly provides for printing internal and external information on a single web in one, single-sided printing operation. Label portions cut in the forms are foldable for the printing. Attachment sheets and adhesive return the label portions to sealed, label positions where label information is external to the forms.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus for line printer means for the transport of single-ply and multi-ply paper contains a paper levelling gap in the ingress region of the paper guidance channel. The paper levelling gap consists of a stationary part and of a slide capable of excursion relative to said stationary part, with said slide communicating with a sensing means. Given transgression of a prescribed slot width due to buckling of the multi-ply paper, the paper feed is interrupted via the sensing means and a warning light is actuated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for printing on receipt forms or the like with a one-line printing mechanism. In order also to be able to print the form with a number of lines, this is gripped firmly on a sliding carriage and the carriage is moved along into different line positions on the printing mechanism. A mechanical control mechanism with a cam plate serves for driving the sliding carriage. The closed cam plate makes possible a control in the retraction and extension direction with a corresponding rotation of the cam plate. The exact positioning of the sliding carriage is done by a ratchet in the control mechanism. An electronic control takes care of an automatic running of one printing operation.

Abstract: Means for supporting papers, forms and the like on the pin type feed mechanism of a computer printer or the like is provided which comprises a pair of flexible strips each having near one edge thereof a plurality of regularly spaced holes for engaging the sprockets of the pin type feed mechanism of a computer printer or the like, and near the other edge thereof a strip of non-setting, non-permanent adhesive for firmly, but removably, securing the said papers for advancement into the printer.

Abstract: A typing guide formed of a single backing sheet having footnote indicating indicia printed on the front surface of the backing sheet and footnote samples printed on the back surface of the backing sheet. The footnote indicating indicia provide a dual method of determining footnote spacing. The indicia include a column of numerals printed adjacent one side of the backing sheet and progressively increasing down the column. The numerals are spaced apart from each other a distance equal to the line spacing of a typewriter platen. These numerals are used for accurate determination of footnote spacing. Additionally, several marks are printed in vertical sequence adjacent to the bottom portion of the column of numerals with the marks corresponding to preselected ones of the numerals. The marks are numerically identified by a progressively increasing sequence of numbers commencing from the lowermost mark. These marks are used for a second and more simplified method of footnote spacing.

Abstract: Paper is carried on an apertured platen and is rotated past a slowly moving printing head so as to scan in a raster fashion from top to bottom and from left to right over the surface of the paper. The paper is held to the platen drum by a vacuum that is applied to the inside of the platen. A valve is located at the entrance of the vacuum system of the platen in order to rapidly dissipate the vacuum so as to release or remove the paper from the still rapidly rotating platen. To facilitate inserting and releasing paper, a shroud system is placed very close to the periphery of the drum and guides the paper during insertion to close proximity with the vacuum. An exit door is provided in the shroud at a convenient location to permit the paper to exit from the drum once the vacuum has been dissipated. The size of the drum is made such that its circumference is slightly less than the length of the paper so as to provide overlap of the top and bottom edges of the paper.