Abstract: An image recording device includes a conveying mechanism disposed in a predetermined conveying path including a plurality of rollers for conveying a recording medium by a predetermined conveying distance while nipping the recording medium. The device also includes an upstream-side trailing edge detector for detecting a trailing edge of the recording medium, a downstream-side trailing edge detector for detecting the trailing edge of the recording medium, and a skip warning region determination unit for determining whether the trailing edge is located in a skip warning region. Moreover, the device includes a storage unit for storing a correction value table including a predetermined correction value, and a correction unit for correcting the predetermined conveying distance when the trailing edge is in the skip warning region.

Abstract: A method for feeding a recording medium includes the steps of: feeding the recording medium along a sheet-feeding path by a unit feeding amount, detecting an entrance of a rear end of the recording medium into a jumping alarm area, dividing the unit feeding amount into minute divisional feeding amounts such that the recording medium is fed by each minute divisional feeding amount when the rear end of the recording medium enters the jumping alarm area, detecting a jumping amount of the recording medium corresponding to a rotation of a driving roller when a jumping phenomenon occurs in the recording medium, and adjusting the minute divisional feeding amount to cancel the jumping amount.

Abstract: Various edge detection arrangements are disclosed, including an edge detection method and arrangement that utilizes outputs of commonly illuminated reference and edge sensors as the inputs for a comparator. The reference sensor is configured to have a wide field of view and the edge sensor is configured to have a narrow, high gain, field of view. Therefore, the reference sensor has a broad signal response to an edge passage and the edge sensor a steep and narrow signal response. When the two signals are biased to cross each other, the comparator output changes state, indicating passage of an edge. Because the reference sensor provides a base signal level directly related to the real time illumination level that the edge sensor also receives, the reference sensor provides a switch point along the transition ramp of the edge sensor that integrates a majority of the random error sources.

Abstract: After a numbering character string is input, the start position of the numbering character string to be serially incremented and the end position of the numbering character string to be repeatedly incremented and printed on a print tape are set, and the number of print tapes on which the input numbering character string is serially implemented and printed is set. In this case, a numbering character string to be printed on a first print tape and a numbering character string to be printed on a last print tape are displayed on a liquid crystal display before the start of printing.

Abstract: A printer and printer media are provided. The printer comprises a media support for receiving a print media. The media support includes a bar code reader. The media comprises a printable media and a bar code disposed on the media.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a main body frame and a platen roller rotatably and removably mounted in a preselected position on the main body frame. A thermal head is mounted on the main body frame for movement into and out of pressure contact with the platen roller during a printing operation and while the platen roller is in the preselected position for recording printing data on a recording medium disposed between the thermal head and the platen roller. A detecting device detects a preselected state of the thermal printer in which the platen roller is in the preselected position and in which the recording medium is disposed between the platen roller and the thermal head.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for sensing a paper low condition for fan-folded tickets in a ticket printer. An aperture is provided in a bottom portion of a paper tray which supports a stack of fan-folded tickets. The aperture may be positioned underneath an end of the ticket stack. A reflective sensor is positioned underneath the aperture. Light from the reflective sensor is reflected off a bottom ticket of the ticket stack and back to the sensor when the bottom ticket covers the aperture, indicating the presence of the tickets in the paper tray. A paper low condition may be sensed when enough tickets are printed such that the end of the ticket stack is lifted off the bottom portion of the paper tray and away from the aperture such that light is not reflected back to the sensor.

Abstract: An implementation of a technology for providing a physical offset between print jobs on a printing device is described herein.

Abstract: A roll-paper printing system comprises carry-amount detecting means, recording means, and updating means. The carry-amount detecting means detects a carried amount of the roll paper; the recording means records amount information regarding an amount of the roll paper; and the updating means makes the amount information be recorded on the recording means based on the carried amount detected by the carry-amount detecting means. The updating means makes the amount information be recorded on the recording means when a physical process for indicating a break in roll-paper usage is conducted to the roll paper.

Abstract: An embodiment of a media movement apparatus is used to detect an edge of a unit of media in a media path in an inkjet printer using an optical sensor. When the inkjet printer is operating in a mode in which units of media are continuously moved into the media path, a mechanical sensor will not reliably allow detection of the leading edge of a unit of media. Determining the location of the leading edge of the unit of media is done to correctly place an image on the unit of the media. After ejecting the previous unit of the media into an output tray, the current unit of the media is moved backward in the media path while measuring the output of an optical sensor. If the edge is detected while moving backward, the current unit of the media is moved to the input side of a print zone. If the edge is not detected and the optical sensor indicates the presence of media, a media jam is indicated.

Abstract: A scalable edit window and position indicators displayable on a display of an electronic typewriter are provided. The width of the scalable edit window adjusts in accordance with the paper size or size of the recording medium selected for printing the keyed-in characters, or in accordance with a value provided by the operator. The height of the scalable edit window adjusts in accordance with the font size of keyed-in characters. The keyed-in characters are displayed in the scalable edit window in a font size and appearance as characters which will be printed on a recording medium. The displayable position indicators include a horizontal ruler and a vertical ruler. The horizontal ruler is adjusted in accordance with the maximum printing capability of the system printer or the width of a recording medium used for printing the keyed-in characters. The vertical ruler is adjusted in accordance with the font size of the keyed-in characters or the length of the recording medium.

Abstract: A media sensor system includes a light source directing light towards media stock, a photo-detector positioned to detect light reflected from the media stock and a photo-detector positioned to detect light passing through the media stock. The light source and photo-detectors may be positioned in a media stock guide. The energization level of the light source and the photo-detector monitored may be set according to a media type being used.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, transmissive paper sensor includes a light beam projector and light detector having an analog output signal. Changes in the output signal from an open loop condition indicate the presences of at least one print medium being in the field-of-view of the sensor. Output signals indicative of print media leading edge, trailing edge, and number of sheets interrupting the light beam provide improved print media transport control for hard copy apparatus.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, having a recording head and a pair of transport rollers in front of the recording head and another pair of transport rollers behind the recording head, with a larger transport speed for a recording sheet in the latter pair for applying a suitable tension on the recording sheet, is capable of detecting the remaining amount of the sheet in front of the first pair and varying the transport speed and/or the recording area of the recording head after the rear end of the sheet leaves the first paired roller. Consequently, a potential error in record position, resulting from sheet advancement by the second paired rollers only, can be compensated. In this manner the area of precise image recording on the sheet can be expanded.

Abstract: A printer and receiver supply tray adapted to sense amount of receiver therein, and method thereof. The printer comprises a print head for printing an image on the receiver and a supply tray associated with the print head for holding a plurality of cut sheets of the receiver, the cut sheets defining a stack of sheets having a predetermined height. A sheet feeder engages the stack of sheets for sequentially feeding sheets from the tray and to the print head, such that height of the stack of sheets decreases as the sheets are fed therefrom. A platen is movably connected to the tray for continuously supporting the stack of sheets in the tray as height of the stack of sheets decreases. An indicator is connected to the platen and movable therewith for indicating height of the stack of sheets as the height of the stack of sheets decreases. The indicator has a surface area thereon of a predetermined light reflectance associated with the amount of sheets in the tray.

Abstract: A method of printing on a printing medium is provided, including providing a printing head for printing on a recording medium and conveying the recording medium in a first direction with a conveyer. A detector is positioned on the upstream side of the print head, the detector then detecting a trailing edge of the recording medium. The amount of recording medium conveyance by the conveyer upon the detection of said trailing edge is computed and it is determined whether the recording medium is of a standard size. Thereafter, a printing region on the recording medium is defined in accordance with the size of the recording medium if the recording medium is a standard size. A printer for printing on a printing medium which employs the above method is also provided wherein a detector is positioned upstream of the print head for detecting a trailing edge of the recording medium which is being conveyed.

Abstract: A graphics printer apparatus and method using sensors to detect the position of a work piece relative to a print head. A single drive motor driving the feed rollers and a print roller.

Abstract: A heat transfer recording method and apparatus for recording images onto a recording medium is realized by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet onto said recording medium. The apparatus comprises means for conveying the ink sheet in both the positive direction and the direction opposite to the positive direction, means for conveying the recording medium, and means for recording images onto the recording medium by acting on the ink sheet. The method is characterized in that a determination is made whether or not the length of images recorded onto the recording medium is less than or equal to that of the recording medium, and if so, the ink sheet is stopped and the recording medium is conveyed so that an end portion of said recording medium may be positioned at a recording position with the recording means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear paper-grasping guide for entering data. Such guide includes a generally planar guide body having a paper contact surface and a retention tongue displaced from the body and also having a retention surface. The surfaces are substantially coplanar so that the guide securely grasps and is positionally retained on a paper sheet interposed between the body and the tongue. The new guide may have any of several other features including a bevelled edge for permitting angled viewing of text, an edge with a computer function template therealong, a colored edge directing the eye of the user to the line of text to be entered, a translucent strip to help discern the next line of text to be entered and/or indicia for setting up vertical columns.

Abstract: A control device for a printer for printing on a paper having a print head supported on a movable carriage and a paper feeding device. The printer includes a detector for detecting the presence or absence of paper in the printer wherein a predetermined region remains on the paper when the detector detects the absence of paper. The control device calculates the length of the printable region remaining on the paper and determines whether a sufficient remaining printable region is available at the trailing end of the paper. A paper feeder device feeds the paper in a predetermined amount. A carriage control device controls driving of the carriage. Driving of the carriage starts at a time before the paper feeding has ceased such that the speed of the carriage reaches a printing level when paper feeding has ended.

Abstract: In the determination of the length of a sheet that has been inserted in a printer, an optical sensor scans the length of the sheet as it is fed into the printer, and a counter is controlled to provide a count corresponding to the length of the sheet. When the sensor encounters a mark on the sheet, such as a line, it provides an output indicating that the sheet is not present. This erroneous output is corrected by moving the sensor laterally of the sheet to a position displaced from the mark to enable further sensing of the presence of the sheet in a region that does not include the mark.

Abstract: A control device for a printer includes a detector for detecting the presence and absence of paper within that portion of the printer immediately preceding a platen. When the detector detects the first absence of paper the control device determines how much longer to continue driving the printer to record printable matter on the page. The control device makes this determination based on other than the detected presence of the next piece of paper within the printer.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feed control system for a printer having an automatic sheet feeder for sequentially feeding a plurality of sheets set on a tray of the feeder to a printing position to print and output the sheets which comprises the steps of discharging the sheet upon detecting of the end of the sheet when receiving a page feed command or a sheet discharge command from an external controller and during the sheet feeding or after feeding the sheet, storing the sheet discharged, and then feeding next sheet to print from a predetermined position when the sheet is discharged at printing time, thereby preventing in advance a sheet from being wound on a platen for a long period by eliminating to allow the sheet wound on the platen to stand for a long period.

Abstract: In a printing device, it is possible to automatically place a print head on the peripheral positions of the print area without actual printing operation.By employing the above arrangement, an operator can exactly determine a proper size of print sheet for the text to be printed, with no waste of sheet and printing time.

Abstract: A printer comprising a frame, a platen for supporting printing paper, a carriage reciprocally movable along said platen and having a print head mounted thereon defining a print point, paper feed rollers for feeding said printing paper through said printing point, at least one back-up roller disposed at an upstream side of said printing point and rotationally abutted against one of said paper feed rollers, at least one discharge roller disposed at a downstream side of said printing point and movable toward and away from another of said paper feed rollers, and a discharge roller driver for moving said discharge roller toward and away from said roller, said discharge roller driver moving said at least one discharge roller toward said roller for nipping said printing paper therebetween prior to the release of a tail edge of said printing paper from between said at least one back-up roller and said paper feeder, a link disposed in parallel with said platen and having a first end portion and a second end portion, e

Abstract: A printer having a bi-directional shortcut printing function, in which a printing pause line or a last line of previously stored text is identified and character data of the printing pause line or last print line is always printed in the normal direction. Since a carriage stops at the position where the last character of the printing pause line or last line is printed, it is effective to subsequently continue printing characters input by manual typing from that position in real time.

Abstract: The invention automatically divides the text at the end of the page in such a way that widow lines and orphan lines of text do not exist. The typewriter shifts the effective page end point to shift the orphan line of text to the next page of text or delays the page ending to accommodate the widow line on the present page rather than forcing the line to the top of the next page. The text is not altered in the memory of the typewriter and no stop codes or page end codes are inserted in the text memory, thereby eliminating revision problems with the paginated text.

Abstract: A retractable pin sprocket drive for feeding paper employs free floating, radially moving, cam actuated sprocket pins in axially spaced sprocket hubs forming sprocket wheels. The pins are slidably fitted in equally angularly spaced radial slots in each sprocket hub. The sprocket wheels are each journalled in a sprocket wheel housing and the sprocket pins are moved radially only by a stationary cam track in each sprocket housing as the sprocket wheels rotate. Insertion of paper having perforated edges is facilitated by means providing for the precise axial spacing of the sprocket wheels and angular positioning of the sprocket wheels and pins in relation to the perforations or holes along the edges of the paper, together with transparent sprocket wheel housings and openings therethrough permitting viewing of the sprocket pins and the holes in the paper as they come together, to permit precise sprocket pin insertion into the holes in the paper.

Abstract: A carriage drive control device to enable printing on a printing sheet from the leading edge thereof. A carriage drive control device repositions a carriage supporting a print head and a paper guide member at the midpoint of a printing line prior to each advance of the printing sheet as long as the leading edge of the printing sheet has been advanced beyond the printing line by a distance less than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A flexible elongated transparent computer page place marker having a longitudinal marking surface for locating specific printed lines of information on a standard printed computer page and raised projections extending from the underside thereof for engagement of the tractor drive holes on the computer page. The marker includes a longitudinal slit having a plurality of column locators positioned within the slit and slidably moveable therein for locating column information on said computer page. In one embodiment, the marker includes a tab at one end thereof adapted to be placed under a computer printed page when the marker is supported on top of the page to secure the marker to the paper and aid in positioning thereon.

Abstract: This invention achieves accurate registration of a web of forms such as preprinted checks in a printer controlled by a computer, without requiring skill on the part of the operator or extra equipment for the printer. The method and apparatus of this invention uses specially marked forms in conjunction with a computer program. The computer program puts indicator information onto the marked form which has been inserted into the printer, receives input from an operator about the location of the indicator information, and moves the form in the printer to the proper location to receive printed information. The method of this invention is for the operator to insert forms into the printer, and then operate a set-up computer program. This program instructs the printer to put a mark on the form on the line to which it is currently set. The computer then instructs the operator to type into the computer the line number on which the mark was just printed.

Abstract: A printing medium detecting mechanism of a printer having a plurality of printing medium traveling paths includes a detecting groove provided in a circumferential portion of a platen other than a printing region thereof, a first printing medium detecting lever disposed on one of the plurality of the traveling paths to freely fit in the detecting lever, and a medium detecting sensor provided on a printer control circuit board. The printing medium detecting mechanism further includes a second printing medium detecting lever provided on any other medium traveling path of the plurality of the medium traveling paths. The first printing medium detecting lever is adapted to be interlocked with the second printing medium detecting lever, thereby enabling to provide a simplified printing medium detecting mechanism.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing system in which a print scanning head is provided with a series of thermal heating elements. The elements are aligned in a column perpendicular to the line of printing. A sensor is provided to determine where the scanning head is aligned perpendicularly relative to the line of printing. More heating elements are provided on the head than are required for printing. Only those heating elements properly aligned with the line of printing are activated.

Abstract: The keyboard of an electronic typewriter with a daisywheel print unit on a carriage includes a CENTER key and REPEAT key. With the print unit positioned where an insertion is to be made in a line being set up blind, these keys are actuated and the character to be inserted are typed in. The usable area for typing is continually shown on a two-digit display device. When a service key is then depressed, the line is printed with the inserted character entered by appropriate compression or expansion of empty spaces adjacent the characters to be inserted. The typewriter further comprises a line space memory and a control circuit which signals the number of line spacing commands which can still be carried into effect before the last line to be typed on the sheet.

Abstract: A marking device for a shorthand machine selectively marks the margins of the paper tape output of the shorthand machine to denote a portion of the shorthand notes for ready reference. The activating keys for the device are located in close proximity with the machine keyboard, whereby the operator may activate the device with minimal interruption of the recording process. Disposable marking instruments may be employed in the device. Incorporation of the device in the machine cover preserves the first planar surface of the cover and further, facilitates storage of the device when not in use.

Abstract: A length of light piping is formed to fit in a position in a typewriter with a pickup end viewing the contrast between the black paper roller and a light end of a paper sheet as it nears an exit position from the roller, and with a viewing end visible to the typist for sensing the end of the paper visually.

Abstract: A tape marking attachment for a stenotype machine. The marking attachment has a mounting base to be fixed tothe machine frame and at least one marking pad resiliently mounted on the base, as by a hinged spring arm, for depressing into marking engagement with the machine tape to mark selected portions of the tape for subsequent reference. The described marking attachment has a pair of independently depressable marking pads disposed for marking engagement with opposite edges of the machine tape.

Abstract: An apparatus for standardizing typewriting margins comprising a front sheet having lateral and longitudinal edges which has a window, and a back sheet attached along a seam adjacent three edges to the front sheet which leaves an opening along one edge. A leaf of paper is placed between the front and back sheets along the seam for holding the leaf in place. The window is of a certain given size such that the portion of the leaf showing through the window is the portion to be typed upon. The predetermined margins on the leaf of paper, both lateral and longitudinal, are covered by the front sheet. A scale is disposed adjacent a lateral edge to indicate the number of typewriting spaces remaining before a predetermined margin is reached. Graduations are disposed adjacent both longitudinal edges for indicating the number of lines remaining before a predetermined margin is reached.

Abstract: This invention achieves accurate registration of a web of forms such as preprinted checks in a printer controlled by a computer, wihtout requiring skill on the part of the operator or extra equipment for the printer. The method and apparatus of this invention uses specially marked forms in conjunction with a computer program. The computer program puts indicator information onto the marked form which has been inserted into the printer, receives input from an operator about the location of the indicator information, and moves the form in the printer to the proper location to receive printed information. The method of this invention is for the operator to insert forms into the printer, and then operate a set-up computer program. This program instructs the printer to put a mark on the form on the line to which it is currently set. The computer then instructs the operator to type into the computer the line number on which the mark was just printed.