Abstract: The present invention entails a relatively simple foot actuated screen printing apparatus for printing designs, insignias or the like on apparel and which is particularly adapted for the printing of caps. The printing apparatus of the present invention includes an article holder that in the design disclosed herein includes an arcuate shaped plate for receiving the article to be printed and a screen frame assembly movably mounted thereover. Screen frame assembly is supported by a pair of upright stationary members and is movable upwardly and downwardly relative thereto. A foot actuated pedal is operatively interconnected to said screen frame assembly for moving the same from an upper in operative position to a lower operative printing position where a screen carried by said screen frame assembly directly overlies and engages the article to be printed.

Abstract: Mechanism for automatically adjusting the feed increment according to the type of ribbon in a ribbon cassette is characterized by a pawl and feed ratchet and to means operative by coded features on a cassette, when the cassette is mounted, to control the interval of engagement of the pawl and feed ratchet.

Abstract: An anti-backlash tractor assembly for the accurate registration of bi-directionally transported endless paper to the printing mechanism of a printer. When mounted upon the printer in an operative position, a resilient biasing device will urge the printer driving gear and the tractor assembly driven gear together for dynamically eliminating backlash therebetween and for dynamically compensating for gear eccentricities and other drive train variations. Also, in the operative position, a manual adjustment lever is provided for establishing nominal paper tension.

Abstract: A color printer for effecting impression of images on a paper bidirectionally along a print line, using plural bi-color ribbons or a single multi-color ribbon, so as to provide plural color portions of different colors. The printer comprises plural print head units corresponding to the plural color portions of the ribbon or ribbons, and support and feed devices for supporting the paper, ribbon or ribbons and the print head units, such that the color portions of the ribbon or ribbons in opposed relation with the print head units are spaced from each other along the print line and arranged in order of brightness of the colors thereof in selected one of the opposite printing directions along the print line. An assembly of the ribbon or ribbons and the print head units is moved along the print line relative to the paper.

Abstract: In a layout display device of an electronic printer, a per character display segment number is calculated by a CPU in accordance with a total display segment number of the layout display section and possible printing range data, and an input character number is multiplied with the calculated value to thereby turn on the display segments of the section corresponding to the input character number.

Abstract: A color printing machine having a plurality of printing units includes a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder. A web length adjusting unit is arranged between each pair of adjacent printing units so as to adjust the length of web existing between the printing units to be equal to the printing length multiplied by an integer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal printer which comprises a thermal head mounted on a carriage and movable relative to a platen having recording paper wound partially therearound, and a carriage guide plate carrying the carriage, and pivoted so as to separate the thermal head from the platen. A cam mechanism is provided for pivoting the carriage guide plate, and a cam operation mechanism driven by the motor is provided for operating the cam mechanism.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette for winding an ink ribbon from a feed spool to a winding spool is provided. The cassette includes a base with a guide path for receiving a guide projection formed on a support member having a feed spool sleeve. A drive roller and controlling roller are rotatably mounted on the cassette base. A winding spool is rotatably mounted on the feed spool sleeve and biased towards the drive roller, and a feed spool is rotatably mounted on the feed spool sleeve and biased towards the controlling roller. The spool sleeves are positioned so that when the guide projection of the support moves within the guide path the winding spool operatively engages the drive roller and the support member pivots about the guide projection so that when the ribbon is wound from the feed spool to the winding spool, the feed spool maintains engagement with the controlling roller.

Abstract: A printing device having a plurality of indicating units for indicating information on the ink ribbon and having a detecting unit for ink ribbon information, with the indicating units and the detecting unit being arranged opposite to each other.

Abstract: A keyboard for a typewriter or a computer comprises two groups of keys for operation by the digits of the two hands of an operator. Each group has five home keys, and also some non-home keys, arranged in continuous rows. A decoder is provided for decoding the operation of the keys so that operation of each individual home key of the first group signals a respective vowel and simultaneous operation of a home key of the first group and a home key of the second group signals a consonant. Additional rows provide for output of a character and a space.

Abstract: An ink fountain for printing presses is disclosed in which a plurality of metering segments extend along the surface of the fountain roll to control the thickness of the ink film applied to the roll. The metering segments are individually adjustable toward and away from the fountain roll surface by screw and nut actuators in combination with springs which bias the segments toward the fountain roll. Precise positioning of the segments with respect to the roll is provided because the spring takes up all backlash within the actuator threads and any play in the connection between the actuator and the segments and trough. The actuator is structured to prevent actuator-produced forces on the segment in the direction of the roll so that the maximum force of engagement is provided by the spring. The ink trough and segment assembly is pivoted for movement to a service position in which the segments can be removed and replaced without disassembly of the trough assembly.

Abstract: A conventional serial computer printer is modified by removing the roller platen, solenoid plunger and daisy wheel. A punch guide in the form of an elongated plate having openings corresponding to at least some of the embossment positions in a line of Braille together with a back-up die in the form of an elongated plate having indentations each defining the shape of a Braille character embossment in alignment with the openings in the punch guide are substituted for the platen roller in the printer. A Braille medium upon which a line of Braille is to be printed is receivable between the punch guide and back-up die. A flexible punch is substituted for the normal plunger in the solenoid so that the Braille characters can be successively punched by the punch passing through selected ones of the openings to thereby provide a line of Braille.

Abstract: A transporting device for marginal punched single-layered or multiple-layered webs of material, in particular for record carriers in a printer, is provided.

Abstract: A support including cuff components for engaging body parts articulated to each other about a joint, arms attached to and extending from the cuff components and pivotably attached to each other remote from the cuff components and in substantial alignment with the joint, and tightening cables attached to the cuff components and arms for temporarily increasing the tightness with which the cuff components engage the body parts in response to movement of one body part relative to the other body part.

Abstract: Bi-level cartridge for an endless printer ribbon has superposed upper and lower compartments with a ribbon stuffing feed means located in each compartment. The ribbon is guided so that it travels once through each of the compartments for each pass that it makes past a printing station. The feed means for each compartment are coaxial and keyed together so they can be driven by the printer's drive member. To facilitate threading and stuffing of the cartridge, an idler roller portion for one of the feed means is selectively movable into or out of biased engagement with its driven roller portion.

Abstract: An armature group for mosaic printing head has a plurality of armatures wherein each armature which is part of an actuation electromagnet associated with one of a plurality of printing needles, is fixed to an elastic arm of a spring steel spider having as many arms as there are armatures. The spider, besides performing an armature positioning function allows the armature group to be handled as a unitary element which is easy to assemble. The thrust arm of each armature further has a double bend so that the plane between such arm and the corresponding needle head is perpendicular to the axis of the needle and passes through the fulcrum of the armature. This minimizes the buckling force which the needle has to undergo during the actuation phase. The construction of the armature group can be accomplished by a completely automated manufacturing process.

Abstract: A correction member driving system for a printer in which an error such as a mistyped character on a recording member is erased by an error correction member in a sequence comprising the steps of positioning a correction member at a position operatively aligned with the printing error, typing a type character corresponding to the error through the error correction member on the recording member to thereby erase the error, and separating the error correction member from the recording member by automatically forwarding the error correction member by a predetermined distance. The preferred embodiment further comprises the steps of automatically backspacing the error correction member to the erase position, and returning the error correction member to a storage position.

Abstract: A printer housing cover particularly adapted for use with printers capable of operating either with endless tractor fed perforated margin paper or single sheet paper. The housing cover has a portion thereof overlying the paper roller or platen defining a slot through the housing cover for paper egress. The portion overlying the platen is pivotable to provide a wide opening above the platen with the pivoted portion forming a paper support surface for insertion of single sheets.

Abstract: To provide for an easily replaceable attachment of a printing cylinder (11) on a shaft (12), the shaft is formed as a stub shaft with a flange (13) projecting therefrom, and a disk-shaped groove or recess or bore is formed in the end face (14) of the milling roller, into which the flange is fitted by an interference fit. In order to provide for ease of engagement of the interference fit, the flange and/or the end face of the roller is undercut by a groove spaced somewhat from the fitting engagement surfaces to form a resilient lip (16) which is subjected to the interference fit. The flange and the milling roller are connected by one or more clamping screws or bolts (18).

Abstract: There is disclosed a replaceable inking cartridge for a printer. The inking cartridge includes an arrangement for indicating when the inking medium of the cartridge has been spent. The indicating arrangement is non-resettable so that the user is prevented from using a spent cartridge for additional printing. The indicating means is useful for signalling the user or the printer about the spent condition of the cartridge.