Abstract: A hot-melt type ink composition for use in an ink jetting printing apparatus, which is in a solid phase at room temperature, and is to be liquefied by heating at an elevated temperature above the room temperature so as to effect printing. The ink composition of the invention contains a wax having a melting point in a range of 50.degree. C. to 150.degree. C., a resin, a dye and at least one amide.

Abstract: A shuttle printer has a flexible arm made of a resilient member, to which tip guides are fixed. Print wires driven by a plurality of piezoelectric actuators are supported by the flexible arm. Midway guides are provided to support and guide the intermediate portions of the print wires. The tip guides guide and support the tip ends of the print wires. The tip guides and the midway guides are rotatably supported by the flexible arm. When the tip guides are reciprocated in the lateral direction thereof by a reciprocating mechanism, the resilient arm is also driven to swing. Therefore, printing is carried out while a pair of resilient members of the flexible arm are elastically deformed in the lateral direction.

Abstract: In an embroidery data preparing device for preparing embroidery seam data on the basis of an original picture pattern for embroidery, a plurality of desired different sizes are selected for the same pattern to be embroidered and stitch and the sizes are stored in a memory device. An original picture pattern is read out by an image scanner to obtain the original picture data and then outline data are extracted from the original picture data. The outline data are divided into a plurality of blocks, for closed areas, to obtain intermediate embroidery data. The intermediate embroidery data are enlarged or reduced at a magnifying power corresponding to each desired pattern size and embroidery seam data are obtained for each desired pattern size on the basis of the enlarged or reduced intermediate embroidery data to thereby collectively prepare the embroidery seam data for the plurality of different pattern sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data for forming an embroidery on a workpiece by a sewing machine, including an image reader for reading an original embroidery image to generate original embroidery image data, an outline generator for generating an outline of the original embroidery image from the original embroidery image data, a device for determining whether the outline should be changed so as to enlarge at least one area partially defined by the changed outline, a device for changing the outline according to the determination of the determining device, and a stitch data generator for generating stitch-position data representative of stitch positions defining the embroidery to be formed within the changed outline.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an aperture electrode member, a toner supply device, a fixing device, a main power source and a main base plate are mounted to a main body case while a back electrode roller is disposed on a lid member. When the lid member is closed, the aperture electrode member and the back electrode roller are kept at a 1 mm gap interval. On the other hand, when the lid member is opened, the aperture electrode member and the back electrode roller are completely separated from each other, so that the aperture electrode member can be easily cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus including a determining device for determining, based on outline data representing an outline of an embroidery region, an area of the embroidery region bounded by the outline thereof and a length of the outline of the embroidery region, and determining a degree of roundness of the embroidery region based on the determined area and length, and a selecting device for selecting, based on the determined degree of roundness of the embroidery region, one of a plurality of different stitching manners in which the embroidery is to be formed in the embroidery region by the sewing machine according to the embroidery data.

Abstract: A perforating device used by a stamp unit for perforating a desired character string pattern on a print face portion of the stamp unit which incorporates an ink impregnation member covered with heat sensitive stencil paper including a thermoplastic film. The perforating device includes: a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements selectively powered and heated to reach a first temperature to melt the thermoplastic film and perforate the heat sensitive stencil paper based on the character string pattern. A moving mechanism moves the thermal head and the print face portion relative to each other after the thermal head has performed the perforation. A head driving circuit powers the heating elements to reach a second temperature lower than the first temperature while the thermal head and the print face portion are being moved by the moving mechanism relative to each other.

Abstract: In image figure processing method and apparatus, an original picture, in which inner spaces of readable outlines are painted with desired colors, is read out by an image scanner to extract boundary lines defining closed areas in the original picture. Subsequently, the average value of brightness values in each closed area is calculated for each of R, G and B components, and the average value is compared with a data table value stored in a memory to identify the attribute of each closed area. Thereafter, embroidery data are prepared to embroider the respective closed areas in the original picture so that the colors and shapes thereof match those of the original picture.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording images on a heat-sensitive sheet, including an image-erasing device which thermally erases images recorded on a first heat-sensitive sheet which is a recyclable heat-sensitive sheet, thereby recycling the first sheet; an image-recording device which thermally records images on each of (a) the first sheet which has been recycled by the image-erasing device and (b) (b1) a second heat-sensitive sheet which is a recyclable heat-sensitive sheet and which has not been recycled by the image-erasing device and/or (b2) a third heat-sensitive sheet which is an unrecyclable heat-sensitive sheet; and a control device which controls the image-recording device according to a first recording condition when the image-recording device records images on the first sheet recycled by the image-erasing device, controls the image-recording device according to a second recording condition different from the first recording condition when the image-recording device records images on the second shee

Abstract: A toner level detecting device on a toner supply box includes first and second light transmissive toner detecting portions connected by a connecting portion. An aperture between the first and second toner detecting portions is filled with toner when the toner level in the toner supply box is high. Light may be projected onto the first toner detecting portion so that it is aimed through the aperture and the second toner detecting portion. When the toner level in the toner supply box becomes low, toner will no longer fill the aperture, thus allowing light to pass through the aperture and the second toner detecting portion where it can be sensed by a light detector. Light may be attenuated as it passes through the connecting portion by an irregular surface portion on the connecting portion, by a light absorbative coating applied to a surface of the connecting portion, or by forming the connecting portion of a light absorbative material.

Abstract: An image-retransferable sheet for dry image-transferring materials produced by heat-sensitive transfer is disclosed, which comprises a substrate having on one surface thereof a layer of surface treating agent, the layer having a tensile strength of from 1 to 100 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A feed roller control device includes a feed roller having a first electrode layer with a plurality of connecting portions formed on a surface thereof, a resilient insulation layer having holes therethrough corresponding to the connecting portions and a second electrode layer. In a nip portion where a pressure roller abuts the feed roller, the insulation layer is resiliently compressed so that several ones of the plurality of electrode connecting portions of the first layer are in electrical contact with the second layer. A detecting unit detects the change in the amount of electrical current flowing between the electrode layers due to the increased number of contacts when a plate-shaped or sheet medium is in the nip portion.

Abstract: To provide a highly reliable contact type charge unit capable of a creating a uniform charge on a photosensitive layer, a charging member of the charge unit which contacts the photosensitive layer is made from a material having a perpendicular resistivity in a range of between 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.8 .OMEGA.. The perpendicular resistivity is defined by a product of a surface resistivity of the charging member and square of the thickness of the charging member in the current flowing direction.

Abstract: A passivation film is formed by plasma CVD process in which organic oxysilane is used as a raw gas. When an SiO.sub.2 film as the passivation film is formed on a surface of a substrate, Ar, He or NH.sub.3 gas is used as a reactive gas which serves as an auxiliary for decomposing the raw gas. Ashing of the substrate by oxygen or hydrogen radicals is thus prevented. Fluorine group gas of CF.sub.4 or NF.sub.3 may be added to the reactive gas. The SiO.sub.2 film as a passivation film as described above may be formed first as an initial passivation film and then another passivation film may be formed on top of the initial passivation film by using a reactive gas having an ashing effect such as O.sub.2, N.sub.2 O, O.sub.3 and H.sub.2.

Abstract: Stitching data including reference point data specifying a reference point in an embroidery pattern is used when embroidering the pattern included in one or more patterns which are formed on a workpiece. A mark indicating the reference point is stitched on the workpiece or the location of the reference point is stored in a storage memory. The mark indicating the reference point or the storage of the location of the reference point enables the efficient, accurate determination of the positions of the one or more patterns on the workpiece being embroidered.

Abstract: For a printing operation, it is judged whether a print-direction indicated sheet is stored in a longitudinal sheet cartridge or lateral sheet cartridge. If the indicated sheet is judged to be a sheet stored in the longitudinal sheet cartridge, the presence of a sheet in the longitudinal sheet cartridge is judged. If a sheet is judged to remain in the longitudinal sheet cartridge, the longitudinal sheet cartridge is selected and a second feeding control unit feeds a sheet to perform the printing operation in a print engine. On the other hand, if a sheet is judged not to remain, the sheet cartridge is switched to a lateral sheet cartridge and a sheet is fed by a first feeding control unit. In this switching operation, the print data is developed to meet the switched print direction in a data developing unit so that the same print-out result as obtained before the cartridge switching operation takes place is obtained after the cartridge switching operation.

Abstract: By selecting a desired code table on an operation panel and depressing a print key, a series of code numbers each of which is divided into a first-digit code and a second-digit code and characters and symbols of the selected code table are printed after being edited so as to be in association with each other.

Abstract: A plurality of circular figures, each having the same diameter, are formed on a thermal expansile layer, made of a material which is foamed upon heating as a result of absorption of light, in such way that they are spaced at intervals more than 0.3 times as large as a diameter of each circular figure. Upon exposure of the figures to light, each circular figure absorbs light to produce heat. At this time, since the circular figures are formed with appropriate constant intervals between them, the circular figures are raised so as to have uniform size and shape without being affected by the light absorption and heat generation of other circular figures.

Abstract: An optical data recording medium of the present invention includes: a substrate; a reflective material layer formed of light-reflective material, the reflective material layer being provided over the substrate; and an optical data recording layer for optically recording data therein and for optically reproducing the data therefrom, the optical data recording layer being formed over the reflective material layer. The reflective material layer is patterned so that the light-reflective material may be partly removed therefrom for selectively allowing a light beam irradiated on the substrate to pass therethrough to reach the optical data recording layer.