Abstract: A holding mechanism 10 for holding an ink ribbon 20 includes a transparent shell 11 and a board 12. The transparent shell 11 of the ink ribbon 20 is provided with wind slack preventive portions 11a to 11d which prevent rotations of a feed bobbin 21 and reel bobbin 22, and wind meandering preventive portions 11e, 11f which bears down an axial end 23a of a film 23. The ink ribbon 20 can be stably held by the holding mechanism 10 during a transportation and a loading thereof. The transparent shell 11 is provided with support portions 11g, 11f which improve a stability when loading.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer having a print head and a media support platform in the form of a removable tray that is displaced relative to the print head, the media support platform having a rigid support surface for a media item having a non-rectangular configuration such as a compact disk, the support platform having a mask with a cutout substantially in the shape of the non-rectangular disk, the mask and media item combining to form a contact surface for the print head to uniformly distribute a constant force of the print head in a uniform pressure across the mask and media item during printing, the mask providing, in addition, a holding apparatus for the media item which is contacted by a displaceable retainer urging the media item against the edge of the mask with the print head avoiding contact with the retainer on the printing area, the printer having a mechanism to displace the retainer and sense whether a media item is properly placed in the cutout and retained by the retaining apparatus, and the prin

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a head gap of an inkjet printer includes: a main frame; an eccentric shaft rotatably disposed on the main frame, and including an eccentric supporting shaft; a head assembly movably disposed on the eccentric shaft, and including a print head for supplying ink onto a printing medium for printing on the printing medium; a head gap detecting sensor for detecting the head gap defined between the printing medium and the print head; an eccentric shaft turning means for automatically adjusting the head gap by turning the eccentric shaft by a predetermined angle; and a controller for controlling the driving of the eccentric shaft turning means so as to compensate for the head gap detected by the head gap detecting sensor to provide a predetermined head gap corresponding to the printing medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an apparatus body and an open/close cover mounted on the apparatus body so that the open/close cover can pivot between an open position and a close position on a pivot. A roll of recording paper is rotatably supported by the open/close cover, recording paper therefrom being conveyed through a conveying path. A recording device records information on recording paper from the roll of recording paper. The open/close cover is provided with braking force applying structure for applying braking force to the roll of recording paper. The roll of recording paper is pivoted in unison with the open/close cover by an effect of the braking force applying structure when the open/close cover is pivoted toward the close position, whereby the roll of recording paper is moved in a direction for rewinding the recording paper which is pulled from the roll of recording paper.

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: The present invention is embodied in an ink well assembly for use with a transfer pad or tampon printing machine having a image plate. The ink well assembly of the present invention includes an ink reservoir for holding ink, a receiving area for securing the image plate in a sealed relationship with the ink, a plurality of adjusters for securely urging the image plate within the receiving area, and a plurality of fasteners unexposed to the ink. The unexposed fasteners secure component parts without exposing the fasteners to the ink to allow easy set up, cleaning, disassembly and reassembly, elimination of ink leaks, and incorporation with the pad printing machine without significant machine downtime.

Abstract: There is described herein a method and apparatus for capturing the heat from the web in a web printing system, storing this heat, and then using it to warm the chill rolls to prevent condensation. Particularly, a heat storage tank is used in conjunction with a chill roll cooling system. During startup, the heat from the web is stored in this tank until the reservoir in the tank reaches a pre-set temperature, at which time the chilled water from the chill system is directed to the chill rolls. At each web stoppage, the water from this heat storage tank is flushed to the chill rolls to keep the chill roll temperature above the condensation temperature.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing on a continuous print medium by ink transfer from a thermal print ribbon has a print head which is pivotally mounted and which is driven in an oscillatory pivotable motion by a stepper motor so as to repeatedly bring a linear array of energizable printing elements to bear against a platen roller. The print medium is fed through the printer between the platen roller and the print head. The instantaneous rate of travel of the print medium past the print head is substantially the same as the rate of feed of the print medium to the printer. The ribbon also travels between the print head and the platen roller, overlying the print medium, and is driven in such a manner that it travels at the same rate as the print medium during each printing operation up to a speed equivalent to the maximum printing speed of the print head.

Abstract: A sheet is fed to a printing zone of a printhead by a feed roller and a pressure roller. An elastic sheet guide plate is joined to a lever supporting the pressure roller. The guide plate comes into contact with the feed roller upstream from a nip defined by the feed roller and the pressure roller. A nip between the conveying roller and the guide plate allows to register the sheet. The sheet, after having passed through the nip formed between the conveying roller and the guide plate, is directed to the printing zone of the printhead by the guide plate. As the guide plate extends from the printhead side end portion of the lever to a position just before the printhead, the sheet trailing edge is prevented from interfering with the printhead. Ink will not soil the sheet trailing edge, and, it is possible to achieve a high quality printing to a position extremely nearby the sheet trailing edge by using the guide plate.

Abstract: A printing system is provided which includes a printing head for applying at least one ink to a printing substrate and at least one radio frequency (RF) drying unit for discharging RF energy, thereby drying the ink on the printing substrate. A printing system is also provided which includes a printing and drying head for applying at least one ink to a printing substrate and for subsequently drying it. The printing system further includes means for moving the printing head with respect to the printing substrate.

Abstract: An embossing apparatus and method which provides a better embossed appearance and eliminates undesired roughness on the backside of the web material. Two plies are multilevel embossed between rigid engraved rolls and backup rolls, which may be either engraved or smooth. One rigid roll has embossing elements of varying heights and perforation elements, which run in a side-by-side relationship with the corresponding perforation elements on the opposing rigid roll in a nip region of the apparatus. The multiple plies are perforation bonded between the perforation elements, which are preferably the two highest elements, thus reinforcing the other multi-level embossed pattern formed in between the perforation bonds. The embossed patterns impart a quilt-like contoured appearance to the finished product.

Abstract: A cushion for supporting humans and animals, particularly domestic pets, includes a plurality of layers including a layer of absorbent and anti-static material providing a cover, a first intermediate layer formed from an absorbent material, a second intermediate layer formed from polyester fill material, and a fluid impermeable inner layer having a plurality of cushioning elements formed therein. The pet bed of the present invention is stain-resistant, washable, hypoallergenic and non-toxic.

Abstract: According to the present invention there are provided method and apparatus for producing a simple printing plate having open cells, which method and apparatus area simple in construction and permit accurate and continuous production of the printing plate. More specifically, as the method there is provided a method of producing a simple printing plate having open cells by pressing both an embossing member having a relief image and a to-be-embossed member which is a sheet having open cells, in a heated state of the embossing member, allowing the relief image to be transferred to the to-be-embossed member, characterized in that the embossing member is attached to an embossing cylinder, the to-be-embossed member is attached to a to-be-embossed cylinder, one or both of the embossing cylinder and the to-be-embossed cylinder being in an arcuate form, and both cylinders are rotated in synchronism with each other, thereby pressing the embossing member and the to-be-embossed member in a rolling fashion.

Abstract: A printing method of playing out piled sheets of paper one by one, feeding the played-out sheet of paper to the position of a platen, and printing the sheet of paper, the printing method includes the steps of: (a) feeding the sheet of paper played out from the piled position thereof at a first speed until the sheet of paper approaches a platen which is stopping; (b) feeding the sheet of paper at a second speed lower than the first speed until a required short time passes from a time when the sheet of paper is engaged with the stopping platen, for performing a sheet flexing and a sheet skew removing; and (c) driving the platen at the second speed to feed the sheet of paper to a printing position. And the printing apparatus performs the printing method.

Abstract: A device for tensioning a printing plate on plate cylinders of rotary printing presses, the device including a tensioning arrangement disposed in a gap of the plate cylinder for accommodating the plate rear end. The tensioning arrangement also includes a shaft with tensioning elements mounted thereon, and clamping elements for clamping angular and non-angular plate ends, with spring-loaded upper grippers being fastened on the clamping elements for the clamping of non-angular plate ends of printing plates and printing foils.

Abstract: An embossing method for marking braille numbers on currency notes wherein the embossing device used by the present invention has a universal female die permanently affixed to its upper platen and interchangeable lower counters for use in marking labels to affix to currency notes or for embossing braille markings directly on currency notes. The universal female die would collectively incorporate indentations for the braille markings of all of the currency denominations commonly used, such as one dollar bills, five dollar bills, ten dollar bills, twenty dollar bills, fifty dollar bills, and one hundred dollar bills. The interchangeable lower counters could comprise braille images placed on a rotating disk or individual counter units. Applications could include, but are not limited to, marking United States currency notes, the currency notes of other nations, and currency note substitutes such as checks, coupons, travelers checks, and money orders for the benefit of visually challenged people.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette repeatedly usable for an extended period of time by replenishment of ink to an ink ribbon after each printing operation. The cassette includes a cassette casing, an ink-storing member disposed within the cassette casing and storing ink liquid as absorbed therein, an ink-absorbing member disposed within the cassette casing for absorbing the ink liquid from the ink-storing member through contact thereof with the ink-storing member. A wall member is disposed within the cassette casing and encasing the ink-storing member and the ink-absorbing member, the wall member defining an opening for allowing a portion of the ink-absorbing member to be exposed therethrough to the outside. A replenishing roll is provided to be rotatable while elastically contacting the ink-absorbing member through the opening so as to replenish the ink liquid to an ink ribbon being moved.