Abstract: A latent image ink composition including an organic fluorescent substance which responds to an excitation wavelength range of 600-850 nm and emits fluorescence in a wavelength range of 651-900 nm, a quencher, and a curing resin composition, prints which comprise a substrate and a latent image formed from the ink composition on the substrate, and a latent image data deciphering apparatus and latent image data deciphering method, provided with an emitting element for irradiating the prints with the excitation wavelength, a receiving element for detecting the emission of fluorescence in the wavelength range emitted from the cured ink of the print, and a computer processor for deciphering the detected emission of fluorescence against a standard value. Discrimination of the genuineness of articles can be accomplished reliably without the knowledge of third parties.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus adapted for use with a recording apparatus such as a printer. The sheet supply apparatus comprises a frame having a sheet conveying surface, a shaft rotatably arranged above the sheet conveying surface, and a plurality of protrusions arranged on the shaft in the axially spaced relationship and at circumferentially different angles. The sheet is conveyed toward a horizontal member (such as conveying rollers in a printer) extending in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction along the sheet conveying surface by the protrusions so as to cause the sheet to abut against the transverse member. Oblique feeding of a sheet is thus corrected.

Abstract: A device has a pivoted lever for detecting a near end state of a roll of paper, and the lever is held at a first position by the weight of a roll of paper, but is resiliently biased toward a second position by a spring. When the roll of paper does not have a core, and when the weight thereof falls to a predetermined value, the lever is moved from the first position to the second position due to a resilient force of the spring. When the roll of paper has a core, and when a diameter thereof is reduced to a predetermined value, the lever receives the roll of paper in a recess formed therein, and is moved from the first position to the second position due to a resilient force of the spring. When the lever is moved to the second position, this is detected by a suitable detecting element. Thus, the detector can detect the near end state of the roll of paper without regard to whether the roll of paper has a core or not.

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: According to a first aspect of this invention, it is assumed that the recording is carried out on the recording medium by a non-catalyst-containing recording agent and a liquid-state catalyst is coated on the recording medium at the time of erasing processing and subsequently the heating and irradiation of near infrared rays are carried out as the erasing processing. Also, according to a second aspect of this invention, it is assumed that the recording is carried out on the recording medium by a catalyst-containing recording agent and, at the erasing processing time, the heating and irradiation of the recording agent are simultaneously carried out using a thermal emission and near IR irradiation source such as a halogen lamp.

Abstract: A water-based pigment-type ink containing at least water, a pigment and a dispersant, the pigment particles having an average particle diameter of not larger than 0.1 .mu.m, the weight ratio of the pigment to the dispersant being from 1.2 to 5. The water-based pigment-type ink exhibits more excellent color tone and chroma, by adding the fluorescent pigment in an amount of from 0.1% by weight to 3% by weight with respect to the amount of the ink. Furthermore, the water-based pigment-type ink comprises at least a pigment, a high-molecular dispersant, a surfactant and water, the pigment particles having an average particle diameter of not larger than 80 nm, a maximum particle diameter not being larger than 0.1 .mu.m, the high-molecular dispersant being added in an amount of from 3% by weight to 20% by weight with respect to the amount of the ink, and the surfactant being added in an amount of from 2% by weight to 4% by weight with respect to the amount of the ink.

Abstract: A piezoelectric type ink-jet printing head including a pressure chamber plate having a plurality of pressure chambers and a plurality of ink supply ports for supplying ink into the respective pressure chambers, a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles and a piezoelectric element having a surface, at least parts thereof defining a plurality of displacement portion. The nozzle plate is attached to one of the surfaces of the pressure chamber plate, in such a manner that the respective nozzles are connected to the respective pressure chambers. The other surface of the pressure chamber plate is attached to the piezoelectric element, in such a manner that each of the displacement portions of the piezoelectric element defines at least one of walls of each of the pressure chambers.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is pivotably mounted to a printer. Ink ribbon is accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette and is caused to travel by a ribbon feed roller driven by a drive shaft provided in the printer. Printing operation is carried out at the cassette end arm portion by a printing head, while the cassette end arm portion is reciprocatingly moved in the widthwise direction of the ink ribbon relative to the fixed printing head by an actuating mechanism so that a printing region of the ink ribbon is diffused and becomes wider than a printing width of the printing head. The actuating mechanism includes a small gear integral with the ribbon feed roller, a cam driven by the small gear, and a lever engaging with the cam.

Abstract: A piezoelectric fluid pump includes a stationary pump base and a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in parallel on the stationary pump base, each of the piezoelectric elements having, in a polarizing direction thereof or in a direction perpendicular to the polarizing direction, a first end fixed to the stationary pump base and a free, second end. The free, second ends of respective pairs of adjacent the piezoelectric elements are connected to each other, for respective units of the fluid pump. Between the pair of piezoelectric elements and between the stationary pump base and the connecting means, pressure chambers are defined. There are gaps are between walls of the piezoelectric elements and walls of piezoelectric elements of adjacent units.

Abstract: Font packing device and font unpacking device aims at storing a bit map font at a high packing ratio, and processing and unpacking the packed data with a simple hardware configuration at a high speed. Bit map data of each character is equally divided into a plurality of blocks. If the plural blocks share the same bit map data, then the bit map data is stored for only one block collectively. At this time, addresses indicating the storage area of the shared bit map data for the other blocks are stored. If a bit map data is used for one block only and not shared with any other blocks, then the data is stored with an address indicating the storage area.

Abstract: A paper feeder is arranged so that a hand-carry type portable printer per se is mounted thereon, and a magnetic repulsion and/or a mechanical engagement are utilized to properly orientate and position the printer with respect to the base frame, when mounting the printer on the base frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum with a one-component toner, consisting of an endless latent image carrier; an image forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a developing unit, for causing the developing roller to contact the image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a mechanism for driving the developing unit; a toner sensor for detecting the presence/absence of the toner in the developing unit; and an abutting/detaching mechanism for abutting or detaching the developing roller of the developing unit on or from the image carrier.

Abstract: One of a ribbon feed roller (32) and a pressure roller (34) for making an endless ink ribbon (30) run is displaceable relative to the other roller thereof for facilitation of replacement of the ink ribbon, and can be locked at a withdrawn position thereof. In a state where one roller is locked at the withdrawn position, mounting of the ink ribbon cassette on a printer is obstructed. Also, a running direction and an orientation of the endless ink ribbon are defined so that damage to the bonded portion of the endless ink ribbon is delayed as much as possible.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus which facilitates exchange of a process cartridge for forming an image and which can allow a large exchangeable process cartridge to be used.

Abstract: A paper feeder is arranged so that a hand-carry type portable printer per se is mounted thereon, and a magnetic repulsion and/or a mechanical engagement are utilized to properly orientate and position the printer with respect to the base frame, when mounting the printer on the base frame.

Abstract: A retaining device for an electronic apparatus comprising a plurality of cases respectively containing individual component mechanisms of a small electronic apparatus, a magnet disposed in a recess formed in a surface of a first case among the plurality of cases; and a magnetic member provided on a second case among the plurality of cases. In this device, the magnet attracts the magnetic member to fix the respective positions of the first case and the second case relative to each other when the first case and the second case are set contiguously with the magnet and the magnetic member disposed opposite to each other.

Abstract: A light emitting element array in an electronic photographing apparatus, in which a photoconductor drum is exposed to a light from a light emitting array having a plurality of light emitting diodes to form a latent image on the drum, and a high quality, stable light image can be deposited on the photoconductor drum from a light emitting array, even after extended use. The constitution is such that a fixed bracket 31 is fixedly mounted on the electronic photographing apparatus, a rotatable bracket 33 is rotatably mounted on the fixed bracket and fixedly secured to the light emitting element array 2, a bias means 37 urges the light emitting element array 2 against the outer surface of the photoconductor drum 1, a space keeping means 38 is pushed by the bias means against the outer surface of the photoconductor drum so as to maintain a constant distance between the light emitting element array and the outer surface of the photoconductor drum 1.

Abstract: An ink ribbon for a printer, particularly an impact type printer such as a wire dot printer or daisy wheel printer, as well as a black ink to be used for an ink ribbon for a printer.

Abstract: At least one grounding through hole filled with solder is provided in a printed wiring board near by a fixing hole through which a screw fixes the board to a frame, penetrating a ground layer provided on an upper surface of the board and a substrate, made of insulating material, of the board. A metal layer made of electrically conductive and solderable material is plated on an inner surface of the grounding through hole so that melted solder is raised to an upper surface of the board. An upper end of the metal layer is formed to a flange electrically connected with the ground pattern so that the melted solder is raised from the upper surface of the board, forming a spherical end of the solder.