Abstract: A printing system includes a replaceable cartridge for housing a supply of consumable marking media. The cartridge includes a cartridge memory for recording printing system-related parameters, including marking media parameters. A replaceable printing device, such as an ink jet head, includes a printhead memory for recording printing device-related parameters. A processor is coupled to the cartridge memory, the printhead memory and is responsive to parameters read from both memories to derive printing system function control values that are dependent upon one or more marking media parameters from the cartridge memory and one or more parameters from the printhead memory. The processor is thus able (in the case of an ink jet printing system) to determine a current ink supply value from a cumulative usage value stored on the cartridge memory and a drop volume parameter stored on the printhead memory.

Abstract: A donor ribbon and method capable of detecting donor ribbon type and aligning color patches relative to a print head. A dye donor ribbon having a predetermined width includes a plurality of donor color patches thereon. Separating adjacent ones of the patches is a space in which is formed a first stripe extending the entire width of the ribbon. The first stripe defines borders between the adjacent color patches. A second stripe of a predetermined width together with the first stripe are disposed in the space before a beginning one of the color patches to define a beginning sequence of color patches. The second stripe is adjacent to and spaced-apart from the first mark by a predetermined distance and also extends the width of the ribbon parallel to the first stripe. A ratio of the width of the second stripe to the distance between the second stripe and its adjacent first stripe is unique to each donor type and is used to inform the printer of the specific donor type loaded into the printer.

Abstract: A clamp for gripping an edge of a plate that is mounted on the surface of a rotatable drum. The clamp includes a hinge, attached to the drum and including a pivot axis, and a gripper, formed to have a tip, operative to press the edge of the plate against the drum. The gripper is attached to the hinge so that the center of mass of the gripper is in a direction from the pivot axis that is generally opposite the direction of the tip from the pivot axis.

Abstract: A printer and receiver supply tray adapted to sense amount of receiver therein, and method thereof. The printer comprises a print head for printing an image on the receiver and a supply tray associated with the print head for holding a plurality of cut sheets of the receiver, the cut sheets defining a stack of sheets having a predetermined height. A sheet feeder engages the stack of sheets for sequentially feeding sheets from the tray and to the print head, such that height of the stack of sheets decreases as the sheets are fed therefrom. A platen is movably connected to the tray for continuously supporting the stack of sheets in the tray as height of the stack of sheets decreases. An indicator is connected to the platen and movable therewith for indicating height of the stack of sheets as the height of the stack of sheets decreases. The indicator has a surface area thereon of a predetermined light reflectance associated with the amount of sheets in the tray.

Abstract: A printer including, from an upstream side to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet feed mechanism, a carriage, a curl straightening device, and a sheet discharge mechanism. A curl straightening head of the curl straightening device is resilient. The carriage and the curl straightening device are driven by a same drive source. The printer is a cheap printer which can allow reliable straightening of curled recorded sheet, even when sheets of different thicknesses are used, and which can reliably discharge the sheet out the printer.

Abstract: A stamp unit has a transparent film which protects a stamp surface of the stamp material at the time of transportation of the stamp unit, during storage until a user starts to produce a stamp after purchasing the stamp unit, and during production of the stamp plate. The transparent film is thermally adhered on the lower edge of the holder member and is capable of protecting the surface of the stamp material until the start of the stamp printing. The transparent film is capable of easily and economically adhering to the stamp material without adhering to a thermal adhesion jig.

Abstract: A turn bar apparatus is incorporated in a rotary press for reversing a web position during running thereof. The turn bar apparatus includes an upstream side turn bar, and a downstream side turn bar disposed along a web running direction. Pull rollers are disposed on an upstream side and a downstream side of the upstream side and downstream side turn bars, respectively. The puller rollers are controlled in such a manner that the peripheral speeds of the pull rollers are faster than a running speed of the web.

Abstract: A point-of-sale printer including a facility for encoding MICR indicia at a precise location called the amount field. A single stepper motor in combination with a unique bi-direction clutch mechanism is used to engage the print head with a platen, and to engage a read head with the check, so that indicia can be sequentially imprinted and read within the transaction printer.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting at least one printing plate edge in at least one clamping device of a plate cylinder of a printing press includes detecting at least one of a position of a printing plate edge and a respective presence and absence of a printing plate edge in the at least one clamping device by at least one sensor, the printing plate edge being detected being the printing plate trailing edge, and the clamping device by which it is detected being the trailing edge clamping device, and a device for performing the detecting method, including at least one sensor disposed in a trailing edge clamping device of the plate cylinder for detecting at least one of a position of the printing plate trailing edge and a respective presence and absence of the printing plate trailing edge in the trailing edge clamping device, and at least one transmitter for transmitting the signals from the plate cylinder to stationary parts of the printing press.

Abstract: A computer system includes a touchpad with one or more overlays providing the computer system with various input control functions. The overlay preferably includes tactile response elements to provide tactile feedback to the operator as an indication that a portion of the overlay has been pressed. The touchpad includes a capacitive sensor. Electronics coupled to the touchpad determine which portion of the touchpad sensor surface area has been touched or pressed. The amount of tactile feedback to the computer operator can be varied through the design and construction of the overlay and the overlay may be provided with no tactile feedback, if desired. As such, numerous overlays can be placed on the touchpad of the computer system, thereby providing the computer system with multiple different input control functions. The computer operator may manually input the type of overlay being used into the computer.

Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing press having at least one printing unit with an impression cylinder includes a transfer cylinder assigned to the impression cylinder for onwardly transporting sheets printed thereby, the transfer cylinder having at least one gripper system and being formed with a cylinder-jacket surface assigned thereto, the surface being rigid and a full surface, and at least one unit of a varnishing, a numbering and an imprinting unit assigned to the transfer cylinder.

Abstract: An improved end-seal carrier assembly for supporting a seal in a seal-type continuous dampener. The seal is supported by a backing plate and pressed against the ends of the dampener's rollers. A carrier shaft is fixedly mounted to the backing plate. A shaft housing is mounted to the sideframe and has a hole extending longitudinally there through into which the shaft is mounted so to rotationally and longitudinally translate with respect to the sideframe. A coil spring is wound about a portion of the carrier shaft and has a first spring end operatively engaging the backing plate and a second spring end operatively engaging the shaft housing. The coil spring is configured to induce both a compressive and torsional bias between the backing plate and the sideframe. The shaft housing is rotatable for winding the coil spring and thereby establishing the torsional bias.

Abstract: A method for smear-free guidance of a printed sheet on a given sheet-guiding cylinder of a printing press includes taking over a leading edge of the sheet by a gripper device of the given sheet-guiding cylinder from a preceding or up-line sheet-guiding cylinder and, after the take-over of the leading edge of the sheet by the gripper device, fixing a first section of the underside of the sheet to the circumferential surface of the preceding or up-line sheet-guiding cylinder in a manner that the sheet, which has been pushed onwardly by the preceding or up-line sheet-guiding cylinder, is kept spaced from the circumferential surface of the given sheet-guiding cylinder, and the circumferential surface of the given sheet-guiding cylinder is located, as viewed in radial direction, within a circular path described by the gripper device during the rotation of the given cylinder.

Abstract: In order to supply a multiple number of inks at a desired geometry, a filling frame has filling ports of substantially vertical passage holes. A stamp piece has a continuous porous structure and is placed on a base plate with the filling framed laid thereover. Each ink is supplied from a corresponding filling port to a separated area and is impregnated into a stamp piece in substantially the same geometry as that of separated area so that each will not mix with the other. Thus, inks are filled keeping the separation, into the stamp piece having a continuous porous structure laid below the filling frame.

Abstract: A stamp unit capable of opening an ink pack position between a grip member and a holder member for supplying ink to the stamp material easily in one step. To supply ink to the stamp material, the grip member is pressed downwardly with the ink pack located in the holder member. The ink pack in the holder member is pressed between a thick paper plate and a cutting rib to be opened. Ink from an ink pack flows downwardly through ink holes to be supplied to the stamp material. When the ink runs low, it can be replenished by the simple process of replacing the ink pack.

Abstract: Thermal printer and method for detecting donor ribbon type and for precise alignment of color patches relative to a thermal resistive print head. The printer includes a thermal resistive print head for thermally activating each donor color patch in a series of donor patches belonging to a dye donor ribbon having a predetermined width. Separating adjacent ones of the patches is a space in which is formed a first stripe extending the entire width of the ribbon. The first stripe defines borders between the adjacent color patches. A second stripe of a predetermined width together with the first stripe are disposed in the space before a beginning one of the color patches to define a beginning sequence of color patches. The second stripe is adjacent to and spaced-apart from the first mark by a predetermined distance and also extends the width of the ribbon parallel to the first stripe.

Abstract: A system for registering a work support pallet on a carousel machine arm with a screen frame of the machine has pivot components on a pallet tool and on the arm for detachable pivotable mounting of the pallet tool relative to the arm for accurate pivotal movement of the pallet tool into proximity with the screen frame.

Abstract: An applicator system roll for direct or indirect application of a coating medium onto a traveling fiber material web includes a core substantially comprised of a fiber composite material and a cover substantially surrounding the core.

Abstract: A media guidance system for substantially reducing media jamming as the leading (head) end of a web of recording media is directed over the drum surface of an internal drum type laser imagesetter during a media loading procedure. The media guidance system includes a hollow shield, at least one outrigger extending laterally away from the hollow shield, and at least one retractable plate assembly for selectively applying a pressure load against the leading end of the recording media as it approaches the exit aperture of the internal drum.

Abstract: A carriage drive system includes a timing belt pivotally anchored to a carriage. A drive motor rotates the timing belt, moving the carriage along a carriage path. The drive belt moves along a pair of pulleys. A first pulley is coupled to the motor's drive shaft. A second pulley is coupled to an idler spring. The idler spring determines the belt tension when the belt is stationary. Acceleration of the carriage alters the belt tension. A pivot connection occurs between the drive belt and the carriage. During acceleration, the pivotal connection rotates shortening the effective length of the belt, which in turn stretches the idler spring, and increases belt tension. While the carriage is at rest or moving at constant velocity, the pivot connection serves to reduce side load impact on the drive motor's shaft and windings. The pivot connection also isolates the carriage from high frequency vibrations.