Abstract: A serial printer for recording with a recording head while synchronizing with a movement of a carriage reciprocated on an apparatus body and on which the recording head is mounted. A position of a linear encoder is detected by a detecting portion. A detecting signal from this detecting portion is compared with a reference voltage, and a pulse output as a synchronous signal is generated. A duty of this pulse output is adjusted to obtain a well-recorded result.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printer for making a printout in accordance with printing data containing a control command sent from a high rank apparatus. The printer comprises control means for changing and controlling a printing mode according to the control command sent from the high rank apparatus; memory means for storing predetermined set data; inhibiting means for inhibiting a control operation of the control means associated with a specific control command sent from the high rank apparatus in accordance with set contents of the set data; and indicating means for indicating the set contents of the set data in a mode in which the printer is ready to receive a control command from the high rank apparatus. Accordingly, the set status of a special mode for inhibiting the operation in response to a specific control command is indicated in a state where the printer is ready to receive printing data containing a control command from the high rank apparatus.

Abstract: A pivoting platen for use with a printhead of a printing device includes a rigid portion and a compressible portion. The compressible portion contacts a sheet, which is pressed against the compressible portion by the printhead. The platen pivots about a rotational axis as the printhead scans across the sheet, creating uniform pressing forces between the printhead and the platen. These uniform pressing forces ensure uniform density of the image bands printed by the printhead.

Abstract: A printer for reducing the consumption of a ribbon at a printing completion section. A ribbon feeder feeds an ink ribbon so as to carry out printing during a period in which heat transfer is being effected on recording paper. Further, the ribbon is continuously fed to a blank area or portion existing in the printing to determine the printing. When a final portion detector detects a final area or portion to be printed during the continuation of feeding of the ribbon toward the blank portion or during a period in which the feeding of the ribbon to the blank portion is stopped to wait for recommencement of the printing, a difference calculator calculates a difference between a feed length of a ribbon required to determine the printing and a length of a ribbon fed toward a blank portion calculated by a blank feed length calculator. Further, the ribbon feeder continues to feed the ribbon by the calculated difference, to thereby fix printing characters subjected to the heat transfer onto the recording paper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a print head control device for a wire dot printer, capable of preventing the occurrence of ghost dots to enable the wire dot printer to print characters and the like with a high print quality. The print head control device comprises a print head driving circuit for charging and discharging piezoelectric elements to advance and retract a printing wire, and a print head control circuit for controlling the print head driving circuit.

Abstract: Device for detecting a position of an actuator on a printing press includes two potentiometers having respective wipers connected to the actuator and driven with mutually different transmission ratios, the two potentiometers being serially connected in a measuring circuit, and an evaluation device connected to the measuring circuit for receiving signals therefrom corresponding to measuring-circuit voltages of the potentiometers and for determining therefrom the position of the actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing apparatus comprising a printing track defining a print receiving surface and a printing carriage arranged to travel along the printing track. The carriage includes printing heads arranged to receive data from a central database for printing on the printing surface at predetermined positions along the printing track, and a roller arrangement for driving the carriage along the printing track. An optical position encoder is provided for monitoring the movement of the carriage as it travels along the printing track. A data transmission link is provided for interfacing the central database to the carriage. The central database includes both positional data for controlling the position of the printing heads and pricing data. The printing track has mounting clips for mounting it on a shelf edge, and the printing heads are arranged to label items of stock on the shelf.

Abstract: An output mechanism printer which prints characters and images on recording paper includes an input path along which a sheet of paper is conveyed towards the printing unit, a cylindrical platen roller having a longitudinal axis of rotation which is orthogonal to the input direction, and an output device which moves the sheet in the same direction as the input direction, and then automatically moves the paper directly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platen until it is outside the printer.

Abstract: An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a body having a number of depressions formed in the upper portion for collecting water, a-number of channels extend upward from the depression for slidably receiving buttons. A base is secured to bottom of the body and a casing is secured to bottom of the base. A number of conduits extend downward from the depression for communicating the depressions with the casing for allowing water collected in the depressions to flow into the casing so as to prevent water from flowing into the circuit board received between the body and the base.

Abstract: A printer for printing characters and images on recording paper comprising: a paper cassette for storing the recording paper; a platen roller around which the recording paper is wound at the time of the transfer of images for printing; a clamping mechanism for clamping the recording paper between the clamping mechanism and the platen roller; a motor for driving the platen roller through a gear unit; a thermal printing head for transferring images onto the recording paper; a paper feeding rollers for feeding the recording paper for the paper cassette to the clamper; a paper discharging rollers for discharging the recording paper upon the completion of the transfer of the images thereto; an ink cassette storing an ink sheet inside thereof; in which the clamping mechanism comprises a clamper which is mounted on the platen roller in such a manner as to permit the free movement of the clamper, holds the recording paper by pushing the recording paper onto the platen roller in a first position and also releases the

Abstract: A traveling amount calculating unit calculates a minimum traveling amount of a printing transfer material required for a plurality of shapes printed previously not overlying a shape to be printed next on the printing transfer material. Based on the traveling amount, a traveling unit travels the printing transfer material. Then, a transfer unit transfers a shape to be printed next.

Abstract: In a printer which selects a character by moving a type wheel by a stepping motor, phases other than a stable phase of windings of the stepping motor are shorted when a rotor of the stepping motor comes to a vicinity of a stable point of a target phase, and an exciting time of the stable phase is gradually extended. The primary drive signal is turned off during energization of a retaining signal and during hammer energization.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes an arrangement for continuously and automatically varying the rate of advance of the thermal transfer ribbon during printing, the rate of advance being correlated with the nature of the image being printed, and the variable advance rate being provided by a driven friction feed roller and a pair of ribbon guides which cooperate with the friction feed roller and are so positioned that the transfer ribbon is held tightly against the friction feed roller, contacting the circumference of the friction feed roller over more than 90.degree. its circumference and preferably at least 180.degree. of its circumference.

Abstract: A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a postage printing drum having a home position, the base comprising, structure for moving the drum, a d.c. motor for driving the drum moving structure, a microprocessor, a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor, a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage of the d.c. motor and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for, providing a reference voltage signal for the comparator corresponding to a desired back e.m.f. voltage for causing the d.c. motor to drive the postage printing drum at a desired constant velocity, energizing the power switch with a first signal for causing the d.c.

Abstract: First and second tubes (16, 18) extend between first and second housings (12, 14). A magnet assembly (52) is slidably received in the first tube (16) which is formed of non-magnetic material. A timing belt (38) is attached to one side of the magnet assembly (52) and extends through tube (16) to the first housing (12) around timing pulleys (24, 26) through second tube (18) into second housing (14), around pulleys (28, 30) back into the first tube (16) and is attached to the other end of magnet assembly (52). A carriage (20) is slidably received on the first tube (16) and mounts thereon a second magnet (70) magnetically coupled to the magnet assembly (52). A wheel (74) or a block (92) having a bore therethrough rides on the second tube (18) to maintain the selected orientation of the carriage. First and second proximity switches (76, 78) are mounted in the housings adjacent the ends of the second tube (18) which respond to a sensor element (80, 81) attached to the timing belt (38).

Abstract: A dot matrix printer having a print head having a plurality of print solenoids. The print head is carried on a print head carriage driven by a carriage drive arrangement. A print timing means supplies a sequence of print timing pulses as said print head traverses a print medium. A power supply supplies a print voltage to the print solenoids in the print head. A drive pulse circuit responds to each of said print timing pulses for producing a solenoid enable pulse of a duration which varies inversely with the magnitude of said print voltage. The drive pulse circuit utilizes a dual slope integration with a first period integrating a fixed voltage for a fixed time and a second period integrating the varying print voltage for a time which varies with the magnitude of the voltage and provides automatic adjustment of the total print timing signal.

Abstract: A wordprocessing device having a keyboard which can input characters having a plurality of attributes. The character string can be modified when output such that all the characters have a common attribute, while the original character string data remains unmodified, stored in a memory, for further use. The modified character string can then be output by a printer onto a recording medium such as a tape.

Abstract: A printer which comprises a buffer memory for temporarily storing therein new print data, a full dot memory for holding therein a dot-developed print data in a dot pattern on a page basis, a buffer memory management table for managing the state of the print data of the buffer memory on the page basis, and a control means. The control means, when it is desired to store the new print data in the buffer memory, judges whether or not a page of the new print data is the same as a page of print data whose printing is not completed or being discharged. When the control means determines that the page of the new print data is the same as that of the print data being discharged, the control means stores the new print data in the buffer memory immediately after the dot development of the print data of the buffer memory on the full dot memory is completed.

Abstract: A printing head device according to the present invention includes a plurality of printing pins corresponding to respective dots, a plurality of first pin drive plates having the printing pins fixed thereon and having surfaces on which first electrodes are formed, a plurality of second pin drive plates having second electrodes opposing to the first electrodes with predetermined gaps therebetween, a first drive plate support member for supporting the first pin drive plates through elastic members, respectively, and a second drive plate support member for supporting the second pin drive plates. Further, the second drive plate support member is vibrated repeatedly in a direction toward a top end of the printing pin by a drive unit. A drive circuit applies a voltage based on a printing signal between the first and second electrodes of the first and second pin drive plates with the vibration timing of the drive unit to generate Coulomb force between the first and second electrodes.