Abstract: A bidirectional imprinter having a print roll carriage with sidewalls and two pairs of inclined slots disposed in the sidewalls where the first pair is oppositely inclined with respect to the second pair. First and second print rolls are respectively associated with the first and second pairs of slots so that movement of the carriage over the print bed causes the first print roll to move down its associated slot pair to effect imprinting while the second print roll is moved up its associated slot pair in a non-imprinting relation with respect to the print bed. The functions of the print rolls are interchanged during the reverse stroke. The imprinter may comprise a unitary, extruded base with an elongated receptacle extending along the upper length thereof and a molded plastic print bed inserted within the receptacle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for printing, keeping in readiness and applying labels of a label strip, having a transport device for the stepwise advancement of the label strip, and associated therewith an inking device, a hand lever held in a braced position by a return spring and having a printer handle, which is pivotally supported and co-operates with the hand lever and with which the printer, the inking device and the transport device are coupled and which has an abutment face which is maintained contiguous to an abutment of the hand lever and the printer lever. The pivot axis of the printer lever is arranged between the pivot axis and the abutment of the hand lever in the vicinity of the pivot axis of the hand lever.

Abstract: A hand-held label marking device prints selected bar code character information on labels by scribing selected code bars upon one area of a moving label juxtaposed with a printing medium and prints corresponding alpha-numeric character information upon another area of the label by impacting the label and printing medium against selected print elements, thereby establishing a standard symbol, such as that currently prescribed in the United States by the Universal Product Code. Further alpha-numeric information is printed upon a further area of the label by a reciprocating printing mechanism in the same device to provide consumer-readable price information. A compact arrangement of component parts enables the printing of a full range of bar code character information in accordance with a compact symbol standard such as the zero-suppression symbol standard of the Universal Product Code, together with the corresponding alpha-numeric character information.

Abstract: Type characters are formed on a photo-sensitive surface by projecting a laser beam directly onto the photo-sensitive surface while moving the beam rapidly upwardly and downwardly, moving the beam steadily in a horizontal direction, and blanking the beam at selected times during the vertical movements. The horizontal movement gives horizontal dimensions to the characters and proportionally spaces them from one another to form composed lines of characters. The blanking of the beam is accomplished by providing a barrier near the optical path of the beam, and using an acousto-optic modulator to rapidly deflect the beam out of its path and against the barrier. A programmed computer is used to store information regarding the start and the stop of each blanking interval for each vertical stroke forming each of the characters of a substantial number of fonts of characters. An optical-electric feedback system is used to indicate the precise position of the laser beam relative to the photo-sensitive surface.

Abstract: A variable amount imprinter and a portable transaction-log recorder usable therewith, the imprinter having a pivotally mounted head assembly, upon which is mounted a roller platen assembly for effecting imprinting. Two interlocks are provided to prevent closing of the head assembly until (a) a tray for a printing plate such as a credit card has been latched in place in the recorder and (b) at least one preselected item of the variable amount data has been set to a non-zero value. Releasable latching means lock the head in its closed position until the imprinting stroke of the roller platen assembly has been completed, at which time the head is automatically returned to its open position.Means responsive to movement of the roller platen assembly during the imprinting stroke reset the variable amount data to zero after it has been imprinted. Means are also provided for centralizing the digit wheels of the variable amount assembly prior to the imprinting thereof.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the recording of credit card transactions at point of sale, and for reporting said transactions to a central accounting and processing activity. The instant invention includes a self contained, compact, portable and lightweight cassette-like transaction log recorder which is adapted to be releasably and operatively engageable with an imprinter mechanism. The recorder contains both an external duplicate sales ticket and an internal continuous form log sheet for the sequential recording of individual transactions at the time various data is applied to successive sales tickets. The recorder is also provided with external receiving means for receiving the customer's credit card at a receiving station, means for translating the card from the receiving station to an imprinting station, means for latching the card immovably at the imprinting station to an external removing station.