Abstract: An original document reading apparatus includes a plurality of point light source elements (e.g. a LED array) in a main scanning direction beneath an original document table, a moving device that moves the point light source elements in a sub scanning direction, and a photo acceptance unit that accepts light reflected from the original document and determines a size of the original document based upon a reaction of a pixel to the light. The plurality of point light source elements are divided into a plurality of blocks to be turned on and off in successive turns per a block starting from a block corresponding to an original document minimum size to a block corresponding to an original document maximum size.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and program produce small print including character string information in a plurality of languages together with a logo. A language converting function converts an input character string into another language. A multi-language printing function converts the input character string into a specified number and types of languages. A layout function allows specifying one piece of information of the logo, specifying one record, specifying one type of character string information and printing the specified layout as the small print inclusive of the logo and character string.

Abstract: A printing device for printing labels comprises a memory for storing one or more character sets, each character set including at least a principle character and an additional character which is associated with the principle character; user input means having character selection keys for selecting a character set to define an image to be printed by the printing device; and a controller for accessing characters from the memory to be displayed and printed which correspond to characters selected at the user input means. The first actuation of a character selection key selects the principle character in the selected character set and a subsequent activation of the character selection key in a predetermined time frame selects the associated additional character.

Abstract: A keyboard for computers and data entry devices is disclosed, which increases typing speed, but at the same time eases the transition from the Standard Qwerty keyboard for experienced typists. Two letter sequences called digraphs are typed rapidly when struck by opposite hands. The proposed keyboard places frequently used digraphs on opposite hands and avoids the use of small fingers to increase typing speed. The home row is not emphasized and only three high frequency letters are moved relative to Qwerty positions, making the keyboard easy to learn. The constraints of maximal speed and minimal modification are satisfied concurrently. A second key is dedicated to the letter “E”, the most frequently used letter in the English language, to further enhance typing speed and ease of transition from Qwerty. The result is a faster and highly practical electronic keyboard.

Abstract: A printer for printing between a print roller and a print head having a print head alignment system is provided. The print head alignment system includes a print roller assembly, a print head support assembly and an actuating assembly. The print roller assembly includes at least one stop and a print roller mounted thereto. The print head support assembly includes a print head mounted thereto and at least one detent, a surface of the detent engaging a surface of the stop to maintain alignment of the print head with the print roller. The actuating assembly is associated with one of the print head support assembly and the print roller assembly to separate the detent and the stop before moving one the print head and print roller to provide an access space between the print head and the print roller for allowing print media to be removed and inserted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt stretched over a plurality of rollers. The apparatus also includes a potential detecting device for detecting a potential of the endless belt. The detecting device is positioned downstream, along a sheet transport path, of a transfer position where the belt has direct contact with the image bearing member. The apparatus further includes a transferring member for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member to a sheet. An image forming process is halted when the potential detecting device does not detect a change in potential caused by presence of a sheet on the endless belt.

Abstract: A printer including a cutting portion including a plate-shaped fixed blade, a plate-shaped movable blade and a driving unit, which drives the movable blade back and forth with respect to the fixed blade; and a paper stacking portion for stacking a cut-off paper thereon, which is provided on a downstream side of a paper transfer direction with respect to the cutting portion on the fixed blade side, wherein the movable blade is disposed on the downstream side with respect to the fixed blade and configured to move toward the fixed blade to cut a paper, and a tip end portion of the movable blade is configured to have a surface almost perpendicular with respect to a direction of pushing the paper toward the paper stacking portion.

Abstract: A tray and a method thereof that uses the tray including a surface with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end a projection extending away from the surface and from the second end of the surface and a recess formed below the surface and from the projection toward the first end.

Abstract: A printing device is provided that includes a housing having a media path therethrough. The printing device includes at least one sensor for detecting when a media jam occurs in the media path. At least one indicator is operatively associated with a processor to provide a series of indications that can be used to locate the media jam. The indicators can comprise lights, audible indicators or graphical indicators.

Abstract: There is described a roller assembly which may be utilized in a linear or serial printer. The roller assembly includes a platen roller including a central axle being exposed at opposing ends of the roller and a frame for mounting the platen at both exposed axle ends.

Abstract: A physical keyboard includes a plurality of multi-functional keys with a reduced column QWERTY key arrangement overlaid with a numeric phone key arrangement for use in both text entry and telephony. Another physical keyboard includes a plurality of multi-functional keys having an array of alphabetic characters and an overlaid numeric array of numbers. A handheld mobile station has a first user interface having a standard alphabetic key arrangement and a second user interface having a numeric phone key arrangement.

Abstract: To ensure stable feed of transfer material when a paper back vacuuming feed mechanism is employed in the path from a transfer section to a fixing section in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is such that the transfer section is arranged on the upper surface of the intermediate transfer unit; a transfer material feed apparatus is provided for vacuum feeding transfer material from the transfer section to the fixing apparatus; a guide tilted by a predetermined angle downward of the transfer material feed surface is provided at the outlet of the fixing apparatus of the transfer material feed apparatus; the nip portion of a fixing roller pair of the fixing apparatus is positioned downward of the extension line of the guide; and the tangent with respect to the nip portion of the fixing roller is tilted by a predetermined angle downward of the transfer material feed surface.

Abstract: Recording medium feeding means includes a recording medium determination device, in which an arm biased by a spring toward recording medium loading means is rotatably attached to a lever rotated by a rotatably driven cam member, two holder segments are rockingly attached to the arm, and a recording medium detector held by one of the holder segments reads information, such as the type and properties, on the recording media. A cam element is provided between the cam member and the lever for gradually rotating the lever.

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus uses a tape cassette having two guide holes, the tape printing apparatus has a tape cassette holder including at least first and second guide members; the first guide member having a height that is shorter than a height of the second guide member; such that the second guide member is inserted into a second guide hole on the tape cassette before the first guide member is inserted into a first guide hole of the tape cassette.

Abstract: A system is provided for movably supporting an ink film in a printer. The system has cylindrical supply and take-up cores for supporting and taking up the film during printing operations. The cores may be made of molded plastic resin. The ends of the cores are sized to selectively fit within a frame in such a way as to provide stable operation, including where applicable, while a frame cover is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the diameters of the first and second ends of the supply and take-up cores are essentially the same, and the diameters of the second and first ends of the respective cores are essentially the same. A molded cylindrical brake portion frictionally contacts the teeth of a brake gear to provide the desired film tension with improved handling and with reduced likelihood of jamming.

Abstract: A keypad assembly, the keypad assembly including a keycap layer 110 having multiple user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier portion, a luminescent layer 120 disposed toward a backside of the plurality of key caps, the luminescent layer carrying a plurality of switch domes each aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of key caps of the key cap layer. In some embodiments, a backing material is applied to a backside of the user interface key caps.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a roll sheet holder storage part of which a bottom is formed with a positioning recess which is rectangular in plan view and long sideways and has a predetermined depth. A discrimination recess rectangular in plan view is provided between the positioning recess and an inner base end of a holder support member). The discrimination recess fittingly receives a sheet discrimination part extending in a predetermined length from a lower end of the positioning holding member inward at substantially right angle thereto. The sheet discrimination part is formed with sensor holes arranged in an L-shaped pattern. In the discrimination recess, there are provided sheet discrimination sensors arranged in an L-shaped pattern.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a medium storage cartridge mounted in the image formation apparatus and a medium size detection device attached to the image formation apparatus. The medium storage cartridge has a medium back end stopper and a protrusion part. In a state in which the medium storage cartridge is mounted in the image formation apparatus, protruding protrusions of the protrusion part press a medium size detector and the medium size detector makes contact with through holes provided in a substrate and a medium size is detected by voltage states of the through holes.

Abstract: Image forming methods and apparatuses capable of performing stable and fast sheet transfer operations are provided. In a continuous feed mode, a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet are successively fed from a sheet tray through first and second transfer rollers to an image forming position. When it is determined that a trailing edge of the preceding sheet has passed the first transfer roller, the driving of the first transfer roller is stopped for a predetermined time period. As a result, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are transferred with a desired sheet interval while suppressing sheet interval variations.

Abstract: A sheet skew correcting apparatus, incorporated in a printer or the like to correct a phenomenon of obliquely feeding a sheet called skewing. The apparatus includes a transporting path in which the sheet is transported, a pair of registration rollers, a pair of timing rollers disposed upstream from the registration rollers, and a paper guide having a first and a second curved portion and constituting the transporting path. When a sheet fed into the transporting path abuts against a contact point of a registration roller pair, the sheet is further transported by an arbitrary distance in the sheet transporting direction. First and second curves are then formed in the sheet in the first and second curved portions. Then the registration roller pair is rotated in the direction opposite to the sheet transporting direction, the front end of the sheet uniformly abuts against the contact point of the registration roller pair to correct skew.