Abstract: The invention relates to a method for contacting a flexible sheet to a first element with improved lateral alignment. The method includes a step of measuring a first lateral misalignment after establishing a first contact between the flexible sheet and either of the first element and a sheet parking surface called anchor in the first stage. If the 5 misalignment exceeds a predetermined threshold the flexible sheet is parked at the anchor such that it is not in contact with the first element, and the relative position of the first element and the anchor is altered during the second stage for correcting the mismatch during a contact between the flexible sheet and the first element to be established within the next step of the method. During the steps of shifting the contact point to obtain the second stage 10 the contacting process is more accurate and reproducible than the process for establishing the initial contact.

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 transfer device for transferring an object to be transferred in a predetermined direction has a drive mechanism unit, a transfer direction displacement information acquiring unit, a skew direction displacement information acquiring unit, and a transfer processing unit. The drive mechanism unit also has roll parts which cause the object to be transferred to move in the direction with a rotational force. The transfer direction displacement information acquiring unit and the skew direction displacement information acquiring unit radiate a predetermined measuring wave toward the object, so that the units acquire the displacement information in each of the directions. Based on the displacement information, the transfer processing unit performs a predetermined processing.

Abstract: A register cam and a printing press incorporating the register cam are disclosed. The register cam permits the selection of alternative configurations that permit the alteration of parameters of the registration without the removal of the register cam from the printing press. The register cam can have one or more arms movably connected to and extending from the body. The one or more arms include at least two faces with each face having a distinct profile such that when an arm is in a first orientation a first face is presented to contact a gripper arm of the printing press and in a second orientation a second face is presented to contact the gripper arm of the printing press.

Abstract: To stably transport an elongated web-like print paper so as not to move in the widthwise direction of the print paper, a first sensor is disposed at a first position in a paper conveying path and a second sensor at a second position downstream of the first position with respect to the paper conveying direction. Both the first and second sensors detect a position of a side edge or the print paper. A difference between the outputs from the first and second sensors is computed while taking a travel time of the edge detected by the first sensor to reach the second sensor into account. A main controller generates a drive signal based on the difference computed and controls a mechanism for moving the print paper in the widthwise direction in accordance with the drive signal.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus which can make a correction such that paper will not be fed in a tilted state without a need for any special mechanism. A moving mechanism C1 is driven to move a printing head 41 toward a platen and to urge the printing head against paper, and gap adjusting means C2 is driven using said position as a reference to space the printing head from the platen a predetermined amount, thereby adjusting a gap between the printing head and the platen. The direction and amount of a tilt of the paper are detected based on signals output by paper detecting sensors E when the paper is fed. When said amount of the tilt exceeds a predetermined range, head driving means A and the moving mechanism C1 are driven to sandwich an edge of the paper in the direction of the width thereof between the printing head and the platen, and the sandwiched state is adjusted by the gap adjusting means C2.

Abstract: Before stopper members (25) of a skew correcting mechanism (10) are evacuated from a sheet conveyor path, sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) rotate a set angle in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction such that a sheet is separated from the stopper members (25). The sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) are arranged so that at least one of the rollers of each pair is independently pressed against the other with a force corresponding to the type of the sheet.

Abstract: In a printer for printing on individual printing media such as receipts, savings books and the like, a control shaft activated by the printer control system has a plurality of control cams for activation of a transport device, a printing medium alignment means, and a printing medium stop, the cams being designed such that the activation zone of the alignment means and of the printing medium stop are located substantially in the deactivation zone of the transport device.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a path size switching plate (10) between a recording paper roll and an aligning device (15) for aligning a recording paper with a paper transport path. The path size switching plate limits the paper transport path in a direction of thickness of the recording paper while the recording paper is being conveyed in a paper supply direction, preventing the recording paper from getting jammed. While the recording paper stops and the aligning device pushes opposite side edges of the recording paper for alignment, the path size switching plate widen the paper transport path in the direction of thickness of the recording paper, so as to make a loop for absorbing torsion applied to the recording paper between the recording paper roll and the aligning device as a result of alignment.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus can be releasably attached to a printer. The sheet supply apparatus includes a frame having a sheet conveyance surface, and a shaft arranged above the sheet conveyance surface and having protrusions for correcting inclined feeding of a sheet while conveying the sheet. A plurality of supply sensors are disposed above the sheet conveyance surface at positions beyond the shaft, and in a line parallel to the shaft, for detecting presence or absence of a sheet. The sensors can also detect the size of the sheet to control the carrier of the printer to realize a random set of the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically feeding sheets to an image forming device such as a copying machine is provided with a sheet register means formed of one or more outside rollers movable into and out of contact with one or more feed rollers in rotation and one or more inside rollers located side by side with the feed rollers, so that the outside rollers rotate when being in touch with the feed rollers to forward the sheet. The outside and inside rollers are rockingly moved by shifting means, so that, when the sheet is given from a sheet supply unit, the outside rollers is separated from the feed rollers to rest the outside and inside rollers so as to bring the sheet into collision with the resting outside and inside rollers to slightly bend the leading portion of the sheet, consequently fulfilling a registering function of correcting the orientation of the sheet with relation to a feeding direction.

Abstract: The present invention employs a pneumatically driven front stopper which maintains multiple contact points with a sheet combined with a pneumatically driven push guide to position a sheet beneath an engraving press. An electrically driven sheet supply and plurality of drive belts bring sheets to the front stopper. A plurality of fans cause the imprinted portion of an engraved sheet to raise upwards, preventing smearing of wet ink, and encourage drying of the ink. The sheet feeder is driven by pneumatic actuators which are triggered by a cam assembly connected to the main drive shaft of the engraving press.

Abstract: A scanner has a frame assembly containing a carriage movably mounted in the frame assembly for scanning movement in a scanning path in a first direction along the length of the frame assembly from a home position to an end of scan position, the frame assembly including at least one sheet transport path including at least one index roll on a rotatable shaft to index a sheet through the path, the scanner further including a toggle frame supporting at one end at least one idler roll for forming a sheet transporting nip with at least one index roll and at the opposite end at least one sheet registration gate, the toggle frame being pivotally mounted to alternately provide a copy sheet transporting nip and a sheet registration gate in said sheet transport path, the frame being activated to provide a registration gate in the sheet transport path by the scanning carriage when it is adjacent to or at the home position.

Abstract: The sheet feeder can be mounted on a typewriter or on a printer in a system for processing data. The sheets which are accommodated in a feed magazine are passed to the platen roller by friction stripper rollers. After the printing operation, the sheets are passed on to a collection table positioned in front of the feed magazine. The stripper rollers are permanently connected to the platen roller by way of a mechanical transmission and rotate in the same direction as the platen roller. The stripper rollers are mounted on an oscillating arm to be selectively moved towards or away from the first sheet to be fed, by means of a first cam. Before a fresh sheet is fed, a second cam, also coupled to the platen roller, has to be brought to a reference position by rotating the platen roller enough to expel the current sheet. The platen roller is then rotated in the reverse direction, whereby the second cam actuates a lever, thereby to close a clutch.

Abstract: A sheet setting device for a printer and the like including pressure rollers adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with a platen, and resist claws adapted to brought into and out of engagement with the platen in a position downstream of the position in which the pressure rollers are brought into and out of engagement with the platen. The device includes an operation lever and a linkage for linking the operation lever with the pressure rollers and the resist claws, the linkage being constructed such that as the operation lever is actuated, the resist claws are first brought into engagement with the platen and then the pressure rollers are moved away from the platen. By the aforesaid actuation of the operation lever, a lever having at its forward end paper ball rollers adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with the platen is moved through a cam in a manner to release the paper bail rollers from engagement with the platen.

Abstract: An automatic paper loading apparatus for a typewriter provided with a platen, feed rolls, and a paper bail. The paper loading apparatus essentially includes a paper alignment member pivotally mounted on a frame, a paper guide carried by a movable carriage, and three controllers, from first to third. The paper alignment member is engaged with the leading edge of an inserted printing paper while the feed rolls are spaced from the platen. The feed rolls are urged on the aligned paper and the paper alignment member is spaced from the platen for being disengaged from the leading edge of the printing paper owing to a manual operation of a lever.

Abstract: A paper feeding and guiding system for a printer with a flat platen has twin mating feed rollers fitted with "O" ring type friction elements cooperating with specially curved entrance and exit paper directing and guiding members which keep the paper or other record material flat against the platen face without the use of a bail or vacuum system. The axis of one feed roller is adjustable to alter the rolling radius of the "O" rings from one end of the feed rollers to the other to provide correction for skew feeding of the record material. The exit paper guide is vibration isolated from the platen bar and fitted with a noise control flap to close off the paper entrance cavity. The mechanism for disengaging the feed rollers for paper insertion is combined with a paper alignment guide which is projected into the path of the inserted paper to align the top edge for correct feeding and coincidence with the steps of a stepping motor drive which incrementally drives the feed rollers.

Abstract: A method and system for semiautomatically setting a sheet of paper in a typewriter, printer and the like is provided. In accordance with the present invention, when a manually operable auto-set lever is moved from a first setting position to a second setting position, pressure and bail rollers are moved away from a platen roller around which a sheet of paper is to be set. At the same time, a carriage is moved to a first predetermined position of its travelling path. After inserting the leading edge of the sheet, when the auto-set lever is returned to the first setting position from the second setting position, the platen roller is driven to rotate with the pressure rollers in pressure contact therewith to advance the sheet over a predetermined distance along its line-feed direction and thereafter the carriage is moved to a second predetermined position during which the bail rollers are moved to press the sheet against the platen roller thereby setting the sheet ready for typing or printing.

Abstract: A paper loading apparatus includes a paper retaining roller and a stop claw, both arranged for movement toward or away from a platen in opposite directions from each other. When the stop claw bears against the platen, paper is inserted into the apparatus and is properly held by the claw. Subsequently, the paper retaining roller is brought into abutment against the platen, whereupon the stop claw is moved away from the platen. The movement of the roller and the stop claw toward or away from the platen occurs automatically in response to a detection signal which indicates the insertion of the paper into the apparatus. In one embodiment, the platen is peripherally formed with a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves which extend in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, and receive protuberances formed on the free end of the stop claw.

Abstract: An envelope feeder which can be mounted on a printer having a rotatable platen and a printing head for automatically feeding, printing and stacking envelopes is disclosed. It has a blank envelope feeding hopper from which blank envelopes are extracted one at a time and fed by a transporting roll and belt mechanism to the printer platen for printing. The position of the envelope is sensed when it reaches the printer platen and the transporting mechanism stopped for printing of the envelope by the printing head. After printing is completed, the transporting mechanism is reactivated to deliver the printed envelope to an envelope receiving hopper for stacking in sequence with other printed envelopes.

Abstract: A printing paper feeding mechanism for a printer having a pin tractor for feeding a web with holes perforated at periodic locations along both edges and a pair of rollers for drawing out the web fed by the pin tractor through a printing position while pinching the web under pressure. The pin tractor and one of the rollers are driven by a motor through a transmitting device such that the rollers are imparted a slightly faster feeding action than the pin tractor for preventing the web from being slackened. The rollers are adapted to be used independently of the pin tractor for feeding a cut sheet paper at the same speed as the web fed by the pin tractor by driving the motor at a reduced amount of rotation for a unit line spacing amount than usual.

Abstract: A perforated form band is introduced into a form printer through an input passage or shaft. The passage is formed by spaced walls and is pivotally mounted on the printer for movement between an input position and a working position. In the input position, a form band is introduced into and aligned within the input passage. In one embodiment, the leading end of the form band contacts transversely extending stop surfaces, while in another the leading end of the form band is aligned with an indicating mark and the perforations on the form band engage with projections in the input passage. With the form band aligned, the input passage is moved into the working position engaging the perforations in the form band on pins projecting outwardly from sprocket wheels which drive the form band through the printer. In the working position of the input passage, the form band no longer contacts the stop surfaces or engages the projections used in the aligning operation.