Abstract: An axial securing device (19) for an end of a pivot axle (6) of a hand stamp (1) comprising a self-inking device, wherein the pivot axle (6) extends through a character unit (3) accommodated in a stamp housing (2) as well as through guiding slots (12) in side walls (7, 8) of the stamp housing (2), the ends of the pivot axle being held in openings (15) in legs (13, 14) of an actuating bow (5), which actuating bow is movable relative to the stamp housing (2), the axial securing device (19) comprising an annular member (17) capable of being snapped onto the end of the pivot axle (6), which annular member comprises at least one radially inward snap projection (20) for snapping engagementin a peripheral groove (21) adjacent the outer end of the pivot axle (6); to facilitate its manufacture, the annular member (17) is formed to be integral with a bearing sleeve (16) which, with the axial securing device (19) mounted, extends through the actuating bow leg (13) as well as through the longitudinal slot (12) in the sid

Abstract: An output roller for propelling a media sheet, for example in a printer, is disclosed. A plurality of protrusions is selectively positioned on the output roller. As the media sheet exists a media path, the rear edge of the media sheet is caught by the protrusions and the rear edge is further pushed forward into an output stack. Preferably, the protrusions are flexible.

Abstract: In high speed reproduction apparatus in which closely spaced printed sheets are sequentially fed downstream in a sheet path at a process velocity, a dual inverter system of two independent but cooperative sheet inverters is sheet control gated to receive alternate sheets from the sheet path for inversion in the alternate independent sheet inverters. These dual alternate sheet inverters may advantageously operate at substantially the same sheet velocity as the connecting sheet path, instead of the much higher speed and acceleration/deceleration typical of conventional single inverter systems. Yet the original collated sequential sheet order is maintained. The two independent but cooperative alternate sheet inverters may be operatively connected in series spaced along the sheet path to be alternatingly fed alternate sheets from the sheet path by separate gates and to return sheets to the same sheet path at different locations, or, connected in parallel with the sheet path by a single decision gate.

Abstract: A space for housing an optical sensor is formed between a detection gear of a drive transfer gear and a frame for supporting the detection gear. A detected part shaped like comb teeth is formed integrally on inner walls of the detection gear. The optical sensor is placed so that the detected part passes through a space between a photo emitter and a photo receptor of the optical sensor. Since the detection gear and the frame protect the optical sensor from stray light and interfering substances such as paper powder, or the like, a high-reliability, small-sized detection mechanism can be provided.

Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.

Abstract: A paddle-wheel deliverer for a web-fed rotary printing machine is driven by its own, position-controlled motor so that the deliverer can be set up cost-effectively and the products are transferred reliably into the paddle wheel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming device such as a printing head, a conveyor device for conveying a paper sheet past the image forming device in the conveying direction, a exit tray, and an auxiliary tray disposed above the exit tray and movable in the direction parallel to the conveying direction. The auxiliary tray is moved by the drive mechanism of the conveyor device, so that the auxiliary tray moves outward when the sheet is conveyed, and is returned when the next sheet is picked up. The printed sheet is temporarily supported by the auxiliary tray and then falls onto the exit tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for impact marking comprises a marking unit (2) able to be gripped manually, an electronic control unit (3) mounted directly on the marking unit (2) and a power supply unit (4) situated in a transportable auxiliary containment structure (4a) and connected to the marking unit by means of an extensible cable (25) and an extensible hose (26). The marking unit (2) presents elements (7) for bearing onto a piece to be marked, and a punch (15) movable on two axes by means of motors (10, 13) controlled by the electronic control unit (3). The punch (15) can be actuated with vibratory motion by means of a solenoid valve (21) controlled by the electronic control unit (3), mounted directly on the punch head (14).

Abstract: A compact keyboard characterized by a novel key arrangement allowing for an overall reduction in the width of the keyboard while retaining a full set of keys standard to a computer and including a numeric keypad. In the compact keyboard of the present invention, the Home and End keys are located on the row of function keys, while the Down, Left and Right arrow keys are nested under the lowermost row of the text entry and numeric keypad sections of the keyboard. This allows the Insert, Delete, Page Up and Page Down keys to be disposed in a single column as opposed to three columns in the keyboard of the prior art.

Abstract: A printer device for interconnection with a computer system comprising a printer head unit including an ink jet print head for printing images on print media and further having a cavity therein for insertion of a consumable print roll unit; and a print roll unit containing a consumable print media and ink for insertion into said cavity, said ink being utilised by said ink jet print head for printing images on said print media.

Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus wherein a movable guide plate (23) is closed to guide a sheet of paper (P) when discharging paper (P), and is tilted downward to open a portion below a first conveyor passage (R1) when keeping or collecting paper (P) within the apparatus. The movable guide plate (23) is tilted downward to force paper fall for collection. This apparatus can stably issue and collect sheets of paper by reliably preventing jamming and stagnation of the sheets even when they have wrinkles and strong curls or when they are weakened.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a stencil making system which makes a stencil by imagewise perforating a stencil material in a controlled position on the basis of an image signal, a printing system which makes prints by the use of the stencil made by the stencil making system and a control system which controls the stencil making system and the printing system. The control system is provided with a first stencil making position controller adapted to control of the stencil making position when a stencil is to be made on the basis of an internal image signal optically read out from an original, a second stencil making position controller adapted to control of the stencil making position when a stencil is to be made on the basis of an external image signal input through a path different from the path along which the internal image signal is input, and a selector which selectively makes active one of the first and second stencil making position controllers.

Abstract: A curved-surface printing method applicable to a member exposed to a high-temperature closed atmosphere and a lamp unit to which such a method is applied. A transfer film formed by printing a transfer ink on a water-soluble film is floated on water in a water tank and then an object in the form of an extension, adapted to be arranged in a lamp unit, is downwardly pressed against the transfer film, resulting in the transfer ink being, by water pressure, transferred to the object by curved-surface printing. An activator coated on the transfer film prior to the transfer printing contains a plasticizer selected from dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). A volatilization promoting drying treatment for volatilizing the platicizer is carried out after the transfer printing.

Abstract: A sheet supply control apparatus for a printing press includes a sucker, a memory, a sheet detector, a counter, and a CPU. The sucker supplies sheets to a printing unit one by one with a predetermined supply interval. A count of sheets to be supplied to the printing unit is set in the memory. The sheet detector detects the sheets supplied from the sucker. The counter counts sheets supplied from the sucker after the sheet detector detects a first sheet. The CPU controls supply operation of the sucker, on the basis of the count preset in the memory and the count of the counter, such that the count of sheets supplied from the sucker coincides with the count preset in the memory. A sheet supply control method for a printing press is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention offers an improved method of reversibly absorbing aqueous solution penetrations into electronic equipment. The method comprises providing an absorbent structure having a certain thickness, the thickness defined by the desired or expected use of the electronic equipment such as a computer keyboard, cellular phone, ATM machine keyboard, radios, PDAs, remote controls, and other electronic devices that might be compromised by liquids and aqueous solutions, rain and the like. The absorbent structure comprises at least a water-permeable top sheet, a hydrogel-forming core, and a water-impermeable back sheet. Several layers and combinations of layers may also be provided, depending upon the desired usage.

Abstract: A thermal printing station includes a split rotary platen, which is driven in rotation to move a paper web across a thermal print head held against the split rotary platen. The split rotary platen includes a motor-driven shaft, a main platen roll driven by the shaft, and a platen roll extension, which is slidable along the shaft between a first position, in which the platen roll extension is engaged with to turn with the main platen roll, and a second position, in which the platen roll extension is disengaged from the main platen roll, being allowed to remain stationary due to friction forces arising from contact with the thermal print head. The first position is used for printing on a wide paper web, while the second position is used for printing on a narrow paper web, which extends only along the main platen roll. A clip is attached to the shaft to hold the platen roll extension in the first or second position.

Abstract: A media sensor system includes a light source directing light towards media stock, a photo-detector positioned to detect light reflected from the media stock and a photo-detector positioned to detect light passing through the media stock. The light source and photo-detectors may be positioned in a media stock guide. The energization level of the light source and the photo-detector monitored may be set according to a media type being used.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a print engine chassis for supporting an imaging drum (14), an imaging drum motor (16), and a printhead translation assembly (40), and translation motor (18), comprises a sheet metal frame (12) comprised of a plurality of interlocking rigid members. The interlocking rigid members form a first and a second sidewall (23, 25) disposed on opposite ends of the imaging drum (14). A thickness of the first sidewall (23) is adjustable and a thickness of the second sidewall (25) is adjustable to allow the thickness of each sidewall to be varied to accommodate either a right-to-left or a left-to-right imaging direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing and transferring mail includes a franking and/or addressing machine and a downstream depositing apparatus for depositing items of mail stackwise one above the other. The mail is transported continuously in the machine by a transporting belt and is printed by a contactless printing device, such as an ink-jet printing head being immobile during printing. A transporting roller over which the mail is guided is disposed in the machine immediately downstream of the belt at a sufficient distance from the printing head and is driven at a circumferential speed greater than that of the belt. An orthogonal distance between the roller and the printing head causes a course of the mail to be determined by the belt alone during printing.

Abstract: A printer includes a flat case having a flat top surface in which a printing mechanism and a sheet storage portion capable of accommodating a plurality of printing sheets are housed to be arranged along the top surface such that the printed sheet is fed out through an exit slot formed in the top surface. With such an arrangement, a thin printer can be achieved. In addition, the printed sheet fed out through the exit slot onto the flat top surface can be used just like a scratch pad or a notebook while being placed thereon. Moreover, the printer is of a thermal-type using thermal sheets, leading to reduced number of components. Therefore a compact printer can be achieved. Furthermore the printer uses thermal sheets of standard size such as A6 or B7. Accordingly, the printer can be formed to have a size substantially the same as that of a small notebook. A printer that can be handled like stationery, thus, can be obtained.