Abstract: A ribbon cartridge and drive system for use in printers, typewriters, copiers or the like in which a supply spool and a take-up spool are enclosed in a housing with each spool extending from the housing for selective alternate engagement with a drive member connected to a brake member, both being coordinated with the movement of a printing head. A stripper bar peels the ribbon from a copy sheet downstream of printing head movement. The drive system cooperates with the printing head whereby a method of ribbon conservation is realized.

Abstract: A device for actuating lateral sheet guides in accordance with respective sheet format widths to be processed includes an actuator disposed on an operating side of a rotary printing press for displacing a side stop transversely to the longitudinal direction of a sheet, the actuator being disposed so as to be visible and freely accessible on an operating side of a sheet pile, adjustable lateral sheet guides disposed in a feed region and a delivery region of the printing press, mutually cooperating tensioning devices form-lockingly connected to the actuator and to the lateral sheet guides and being simultaneously adjustable by the actuator in the feed region and in the delivery region symmetrically to a center of a printing unit of the printing press.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling an automated printing plate change process in a sheet-fed offset printing machine, in which a used printing plate is removed from the gripping portion of a clamping rail allocated to the leading edge of the plate cylinder and thereupon a new printing plate is guided into the opened gripping portion. Position sensors are used to determine, first, whether the front end of the used printing plate, and subsequently, whether the front end of the new printing plate, is in register in the leading edge clamping rail. Such information is used to control the plate change process. During the plate change process, the sensors are interrogated to determine whether the used plate has been removed from the plate cylinder, and whether the new printing plate is properly loaded.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus comprises a sheet supporting plate for supporting sheets, a separation claw for regulating one end of a leading edge of the sheets supported by the sheet supporting plate, sheet supply rollers for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporting plate, a regulator for regulating leading ends of the sheets supported by the sheet supporting plate, and a guide for guiding side edges of the sheets on which the separation rollers act. One sheet supply roller is positioned between the separation claw and the regulator in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A gaming device is shown having a controller that controls the operation of the gaming device and a printer that records events on paper in response to the controller. A first magazine is provided for holding fan folded paper to be input to the feed mechanism of the printer and a second magazine is positioned relative to the paper output of the printer to receive a printed record on at least a portion of the paper output from the printer. A third magazine is provided for holding a third supply of fan folded paper wherein an end of the paper in the first magazine is attached to an end of the paper held in the second magazine so that when paper in one magazine is depleted, paper in the other magazine is automatically input to the printer's input feed mechanism.

Abstract: A printer main body is provided having a print section therein for printing and a sheet feed inlet through which paper is supplied to the print section. An automatic sheet feeder is releasably mountable substantially at position for releasably mounting a manual sheet insertion guide so that each can feed paper through the sheet feed inlet. The manual sheet insertion guide is also releasably mountable on the automatic sheet feeder, preferable at an angle at which sheets can be fed through said sheet feed inlet.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for printing on polymer film while electrically polarizing the film or, in the case where the film has been polarized prior to printing, maintaining the film's electrostatic charge. The apparatus is incorporated into a printer and includes an ink applicator which applies the ink according to selected designs and colors and a heater for drying the ink. The improvement in the apparatus comprises a charging station which forms an electrostatic charge on the printed polymer film, immediately after the polymer film passes through the ink curing station. The method of printing on polymer film comprises applying a selected pattern of ink to the polymer film, heating the polymer film to a sufficient temperature to dry the ink of said pattern and to render the film electrically polarizable, and generating a net surface charge on the film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a liquid medium to a printing carrier in offset printing machines. It is suitable for processing media of different viscosity, such as low-viscosity dispersion lacquers or higher-viscosity bronze and effect printing inks. In order to guarantee precise metering, two function modules are assigned in an exchangeable manner to a forme cylinder in two bearings. If processing of low-viscosity media is required, the first function module, consisting at least of a metering roller and an applicator roller, is used. For processing higher-viscosity media, the second function module, consisting at least of a screened applicator roller and a chamber-type doctor, is used.

Abstract: The occurrence of offsetting and strike-through in a stencil printing device is prevented without creating any new problems, and the printing paper is allowed to be conveyed with a pair of rollers interposing the printing paper for a reliable paper ejection process. Printing paper P is passed through a nip between a contact roller 37 and a counter roller 39 opposing the contact roller 37, the outer circumferential surface of the contact roller being coated with a layer of excess ink removing liquid which does not dissolve with the printing ink forming the printed image and has smaller surface tension than the printing ink, and the contact between the excess ink removing liquid layer a of the contact roller 37 and the printed surface of the printing paper P causes the excess portion of the printing ink b deposited on the printed image of the printing paper to be transferred onto the excess ink removing liquid layer a so as to remove the excess ink from the printing paper P.

Abstract: A remote-driven encoder which includes a feed tray assembly (12) and an autofeed roller assembly (14) which moves checks one at a time into a check guide path. The check is moved along the check guide path by first and second drive assemblies (16, 20). Intermediate of the two drive assemblies (16, 20) is an encoder assembly (18) and a ribbon cartridge (22). The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors which provide information for control of the movement of the check, including a preload sensor (70), a detect sensor (88), and a leading edge sensor (90), among others. The check moves through a substantial angle from the feed tray past the encoder assembly. The encoded check is moved around an eject roller and then into a catch tray at the rear of the apparatus.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the displacement of bearing blocks mounted on carriages which support shafts, a first carriage is carried for displacement in a carriage guideway fixed to the frame, and the other carriage is carried in a carriage guideway of the first carriage, these two carriage guideways being mutually parallel. To allow the carriages to be displaced with sufficient accuracy without expensive control devices, two spindle screw nuts designed as toothed belt pulleys are mounted in the first carriage parallel to each other and freely rotatable, and the screw spindles screwed into them are mounted selectively for free rotation and for being fixed, on the one hand in the machine frame and, on the other hand, in the second carriage. In the first carriage there is mounted a further drive belt pulley that is drivable by a motor and securable by a securing device, this further drive belt pulley driving an endless toothed belt that drives said spindle screw nuts designed as toothed belt pulleys.

Abstract: Arthroscopic cervical discectomy instruments include a push knob for a guide wire, a pair of telescopically mounted dilator tubes, one of which includes a water port so that the tube provides the additional function of an irrigation tube, a ligament cutter, a continuous suction punch, a cervical osteotone, a cervical cureet, a nucleus extractor and a cureet nucleus extractor. The dilator tubes, the ligament cutter, and the continuous suction punch are all centrally bored to receive the guide wire. All of the instruments are of arthroscopic proportions and each instrument, exclusive of its handle, is slideably insertable through the bore of the largest in diameter dilator tube. The largest in diameter dilator tube serves as a dilator, an irrigation tube, and as the main sheath through which the other tools are inserted. In a second embodiment, the pair of dilator tubes are replaced with a plurality of telescoping dilator tubes of progressively larger diameters and shorter lengths.

Abstract: A printing press (10) is disclosed which incorporates a cooling system for the lubricating oil. The lubricating oil comes into contact with the major heat generating components of the printing press and control of the temperature of the lubricating oil provides an efficient technique for maintaining the printing press temperature at optimal temperature. A printing press (100) is also disclosed which includes water fluid flow through ink rollers (108). A source of cold water (114) can be tapped to supply water to the rollers to cool the rollers and a source of hot water (126) can be tapped to provide heated water to heat the rollers. Fuzzy logic is utilized with heating or cooling about a set point temperature within a given range being performed with the majority of the fluid being bypassed while heating and cooling outside of the predetermined range is achieved by flow of solely heated or cooled water.

Abstract: A check printing method and apparatus are disclosed. To reduce proofing obligations, the present disclosure sets out a check printing apparatus. The apparatus is enhanced to print the payee name, date and check sum. The check sum is printed in accordance with this disclosure at a specified location in Arabic numerals of the modified MICR format and which numerals are readable by an MICR apparatus. A method of preparation of a check is likewise set forth.

Abstract: A mailing machine is disclosed in which a digital printing device, preferably of the ink jet type, is mounted for movement between one of two printing positions, in one of which the printing device will print a postage indicia direction on envelopes being fed through the mailing machine, and in the other of which the printing device prints the postage indicia on a strip of tape which is extracted from the mailing machine and affixed to an envelope which is incapable of being fed through the mailing machine. There is also a third position for the printing device which is a maintenance position to which the printing device is moved after each or some other predetermined number of printing cycles for the purpose of cleaning the ink ejecting portion of the printing device and/or maintaining a suitable high ink solvent vapor atmosphere adjacent to the ink ejecting portion of the printing device.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the temperature of a printing press component includes a pump for circulating a fluid to the printing press component at one of a plurality of non-zero, steady-state flow rates, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the fluid, and a controller responsive to the temperature sensor for controlling the pump.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided. A vibrator comprising an elastic member and an electric/mechanical energy converting device jointed to the elastic member is attached to a carriage on which a printing head is mounted. The vibrator generates a progressive vibrating wave. The vibrator is partially come into frictional contact with a rail-shaped stator and moves along the rail-shaped stator by the progressive vibrating wave. An object to be driven is frictionally come into contact with a portion of the vibrator which is not in contact with the rail-shaped stator. The object to be driven is driven by the progressive vibrating wave. By providing a motion converting mechanism for the carriage, driving operations other than the carriage feeding operation are also executed by the vibrator.

Abstract: A curved item printing apparatus has a screen tensioning and printing frame. The frame has a plurality of tensioning devices coupled together by corner members which support the tensioning devices for rotation about their longitudinal axis. Each tensioning device has a screen retainer for retaining an edge portion of a screen fabric. At least one of the tensioning means is a thin edge retainer having a screen engagement edge, a screen engaging surface for directing the screen and a thin edge surface. The screen engaging surface and the thin edge surface converge at the screen engaging end. The perpendicular distance between the longitudinal axis of the thin edge retainer and the thin edge surface is less than the distance between the longitudinal axis and the screen engaging edge.

Abstract: A printer having a printer body and a print unit is disclosed. The printer body has an upper surface that supports a sheet in a horizontal plane and a drive roller below the horizontal plane. The print unit has a print head and a driven roller and rotates about the drive roller. The print unit is rotatable to printing and non-printing positions in which the printing unit is above and below the horizontal plane, respectively. A data processing apparatus having a printing unit with a print head, a display unit with a cover and display, and an input body with an upper surface that defines a horizontal plane is also disclosed. The display unit is rotatable to open and closed positions. The printing unit is above the horizontal plane in a printing position when the display unit is in the open position and below the horizontal plane in a non-printing position when the display unit is in the closed position.

Abstract: A printing press includes two opposite mounting walls formed with aligned horizontally extending openings in which two sliding seats are mounted slidably and respectively, a printing roller extending horizontally between the mounting walls and having a longitudinal axis and two opposite ends mounted rotatably and respectively to the sliding seats, a printing plate unit mounted securely on the printing roller, a first retaining assembly provided on one of the mounting walls for retaining releasably a first one of the sliding seats in a desired position in the respective opening, and a second retaining assembly provided on the other one of the mounting walls for retaining releasably a second one of the sliding seats in a desired position in the respective opening.