Abstract: According to a discharged sheet stacking apparatus and an image forming apparatus, in which sheet collecting ability can be improved by preventing scattering of discharged sheets, in order to prevent the scattered stacking when sheets having B5 size longitudinal or A5 size longitudinal are discharged and stacked, a discharged sheet stacking portion is provided with two supporting members (high rib and low rib) constituting a scattering preventing means extending in a direction parallel to a sheet discharging direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for checking the operation of a unit comprising an ink reservoir (112) connected to at least an ink transfer means (113, 204), for an image transfer device (10), characterized in that it includes a means (205, 31, 230) for transmitting energy to ink contained in the ink transfer means, and a means (115, 100) for analyzing the energy transmitted to the ink, with a view to checking the operation of said unit.

Abstract: In a print head of a postage meter of the type having a rotary drum, said print head being provided with a set of engraved printing surfaces, which set has at least first print wheels for printing a postage value and second print wheels for printing a current date, and said postage meter including an inking support on which an inking roller is mounted for the purpose of inking the print head, firstly the inking roller is replaced with the cleaning roller, then the motor of the print head is actuated for a determined duration, and, at the end of said determined duration, the inking roller is put back into place after the cleaning roller has been removed. The invention also relates to a a corresponding cleaning system, and to a postage meter incorporating such a system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a web-fed rotary printing press having a plurality of double printing units in which each of the printing units of the double printing units work together in the blanket--blanket method and each has its own drive. Transfer cylinders of each printing unit are driven independently. To permit a rapid change in production, both upon recto and verso printing, the transfer cylinders of the disconnectable double printing units are separable by eccentric bushings or swingable levers such that a web which passes through the printing press is conducted between them without being printed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a tape printing apparatus having a cassette receiving bay adapted to receive a cassette which contains an image receiving tape, with a print head and a platen roll being relatively movable into an operative position ready for printing. At least one of the print head and the platen roll is operatively connected to a lid capable of closing the cassette receiving bay such that the print head and the platen roll are in their inoperative positions when the lid is open. In order to prevent the undesired effect of deformation of the platen roll when no cassette is inserted, it is proposed providing means for detecting the presence of a cassette in the cassette receiving bay, said means preventing the print head and the platen roll from being moved into their operative positions in the absence of a cassette in the cassette receiving bay.

Abstract: A mobile printing shop (300,301,302) is disclosed including a turret style printing machine (10) having a plurality of folding radial arms (30,70,170) and a vehicle (300, 301, 302) for transporting the machine (10).

Abstract: A laser printer having two sheet feed trays mounted in the top of its case, enabling two different sizes of sheet to be loaded in the printer or increasing the sheet capacity of the printing device by providing the same type of sheet in both trays. The first tray nearest to the back end of the printer extends only a short distance over the end of the printer case so that the printer occupies little space, and the overall height of the case need not be increased. The second tray can be removed to reveal a sheet conveying path from the first tray, facilitating the removal of jammed sheet.

Abstract: A printer system includes an ink ribbon end detector for detecting that the ink ribbon cassette has been used to the end; an used ink ribbon cassette holding position memory device for storing therein information indicative of holding position of a used ink ribbon cassette held on a stocker when the ink ribbon cassette end detection means detects that an ink ribbon has been used to the end, and a cassette holding determining device for determining whether or not an ink ribbon cassette whose ink ribbon has not been used is set in the stocker based on holding information. In the printer system having the described arrangement, an optimal available ink ribbon cassette is selected, and in the case of storing plural ink ribbon cassettes in the same color, a continuous printing operation of a large capacity may be performed without using user's hands.

Abstract: An impact printer and method of printing having a plurality of hammers in side-by-side relationship with pairs of pole pieces in associated relationship with each hammer with a hammer contact end and a distal end removed from the hammer contact. A pair of elongated magnets span the pole pieces at their distal ends and a magnet connection connects the magnets for creating a magnetic circuit through the pole pieces. The pole pieces have reduced adjacent facing areas at their distal ends, and are reduced in cross-section intermediately between their ends. The reduction in area between pole pieces directly reduces the permeance and mutual induction thereby creating greater accuracy of printing by the hammers.

Abstract: A method for regulating web tension in a web-fed rotary offset printing press includes increasing web tension over a predetermined speed range, substantially linearly with web speed, as the printing press runs up to operating speed, and an apparatus for performing the foregoing method.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, or a printer incorporating the sheet feeder, has separation pads for separating a sheet to be fed by sheet feed rollers from the next sheet and a roller spring which produce urging force smaller than that produced by a spring of the separation pad. Idle rollers are brought into contact with the separation pads by means of the roller spring, thereby preventing the lowering of the next sheet. A sheet reset lever is pivoted so as to return the next sheet to a hopper. As a result, the sheet sheets stacked on the hopper in an inclined state is fed one by one through use of a separation pad method without increasing force for driving rollers and a back tension.

Abstract: A paper eject apparatus for preventing a paper jam caused by a curled paper, by ejecting the curled paper outside passing between an eject roller and an idler roller. The paper eject apparatus of the ink-jet printer for preventing the paper from being jammed differentiates positions to be contacted between each idler roller and eject roller, and moves a carriage from the position of a protrusive idler roller to the position of the other idler rollers. Accordingly, the deflector placed at the lower part of the carriage presses the paper and enables the paper to easily be passed, thereby preventing the paper jam caused by the supply of the curled paper.

Abstract: A clamshell style printing apparatus for printing on print media, including linerless media, and a method for controlling a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a main circuit board assembly located within a printer housing member that mounts relatively low speed electronic components, and which includes a dual-sided circuit board. A control board assembly is electronically coupled to the main board assembly via a SIMM connector and mounts relatively high speed electronic components, such as a microprocessor, RAM, ROM, system clock and Ethernet controller. The printer apparatus defines a print media path that extends from a print media supply to a cutting mechanism and includes a subassembly for mounting the printhead and a rotary cutter element that is movable between opened and closed positions. An alignment mechanism maintains alignment of stationary and rotary cutter members when the subassembly is moved to the closed position.

Abstract: In a stencil printer, when a print drum reaches a stand-by position where a new master produced by a master making operation should have its leading edge clamped on the drum, a master discharging operation under way for discharging a used master is interrupted. After the leading edge of the new master has been clamped on the print drum, the master discharging operation is resumed while a master feeding operation for wrapping the new master around the print drum is under way. A printing operation for printing a document image on a sheet is effected simultaneously with the resumption of the master discharging operation. Such a procedure is implemented as a high speed 1 control mode and executed by a main control unit.

Abstract: A transport roller device of a color thermal printer is constituted of a capstan roller and a main press roller for nipping recording paper therebetween and transporting the recording paper selectively in opposite directions. The transport roller device further has a supplemental guide member for keeping the recording paper in contact with a peripheral surface of the capstan roller through a constant angle in either transporting direction, thereby to maintain paper transporting amount per a rotational angle of the capstan roller unchanged.

Abstract: A printing device wherein top frontal positioning of motor and drive train is avoided so that the size of the top portion can be reduced thereby improving the ability of the operator to view the alignment of a printable article in relation to the printer. The device includes a printer rack having a vertical support member and a base; a moving clamping piece movably mounted on the printer rack permitting the clamping piece to move towards and away from the base; a printer movably mounted on the clamping piece; a cam shaft rotatably mounted on the printer rack and provided thereon with a cylindrical cam for moving the printer towards and away from the vertical support member and further provided thereon with means for raising and lowering the clamping piece so that the clamping piece clamps the article during printing and releases the article upon completion of printing; and a motor mounted on the printer rack for turning the cam shaft.

Abstract: A printing machine comprising a conveyance path for conveying printing paper, and a position sensor for detecting the end of the printing paper passing through the conveyance path. Printing is carried out at a prescribed position on the printing paper, in accordance with this position sensor. The position sensor is located movably in a transverse direction to the conveyance path. It can be withdrawn to a position where it poses no obstacle when setting printing paper in the conveyance path.

Abstract: A disconnect module 10 includes printed circuit board subassemblies 12 mounted on a mounting member 70 for connecting shielded twisted pair cables 2A and 2B, and for disconnecting the cables for testing the integrity of the circuits. Each module 10 also includes a ground bus 74 on the mounting member 70 for connecting drain wires 6 in multiple cables 2A and 2B through traces on printed circuit board subassemblies 12 to a ground reference. Each printed circuit board subassembly 12 includes an input electrical connector 30 and an output electrical connector 40, each of which can connect corresponding wire pairs 4 in four single pair shielded or screened cables, such as T1 cables. The connectors 30, 40 are mounted on the front of a printed circuit board 14 for easy access, and each connector includes a pivoting stuffer 36, 46.

Abstract: A doctor blade apparatus is attached to a doctor whose doctor blade is pressed against a metering roller provided in an inking train of a printing apparatus and scrapes off an excess portion of ink transferred onto the circumferential surface of the metering roller. The doctor blade apparatus comprises a blade holder attached to a base which moves toward and away from the metering roller, a doctor blade held by the blade holder and extending along substantially the entire axial length of the metering roller, and an elasticity-modifying member which abuts, along the longitudinal direction of the doctor blade, a deflection-side surface of the doctor blade whose edge is pressed against the circumferential surface of the metering roller and deflects accordingly. The elasticity-modifying member is movable toward and away from the edge of the doctor blade. A reciprocal movement mechanism reciprocally moves the elasticity-modifying member toward and away from the edge of the doctor blade.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing band and method of making same. The printing band has printing characters and human readable characters. The human readable characters and the portion of the band adjacent thereto are coated with a first coating while masking off the printing characters. Thereafter, the outer surfaces of the human readable character are coated with a second coating which is darker than the first coating. The human readable characters are easy to read and are not easily degraded during use.