Abstract: A font generation apparatus comprises a memory in which font data, which represents a matrix of dots or the outline of a font, is stored. The logic states of the stored bits are converted so that a bit pattern created by the converted bits represents a reflection of the bit pattern of the originally stored font data with respect to a line which equally divides the matrix, and the logic states of the bits stored in the memory are further converted so that a bit pattern created by the further conversion represents a rotation of the reflected bit pattern by 90 degrees.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for removing particulate matter from one or more surfaces of a workpiece, such as a credit card blank, prior to printing a graphic design thereon. The apparatus includes a pair of cleaning rollers which engage both sides of the card, the cleaning rollers having an adhesive coating for removing loose particulate matter from the surfaces of the card. The apparatus also includes a stripper system for stripping collected particulate matter away from the cleaning rollers after a predetermined number of cards have been cleaned.

Abstract: A print head for a wire dot-matrix printer includes an element base, and a plurality of print elements engaged with and supported by the element base. Each of the print elements includes a print wire, an actuator moving the print wire, and a base supporting the actuator, the base of each of the print elements having an engagement hole. An engagement member is inserted into the engagement hole of the base of each of the print elements and is engaged with the base of each of the print elements.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. To accommodate placement of both input and output media trays on the same side of the printer housing for operator convenience, a paper path with a direction reversal is employed. A low cost radiant print heater with a reflector cavity heats the medium at the print area to increase the ink carrier evaporation rate. The printer provides improved medium control at the print area through an arrangement of small diameter drive and tension shafts and shortened handoff distance between the rollers. The heater is disposed between the drive and tension rollers. To minimize the handoff distance, portions of the drive rollers extend into the reflector cavity. The resulting media advancement mechanism has low inertia, with improved media positioning accuracy.

Abstract: A color thermal printer loads a dye receiver for printing by moving the dye receiver in a first direction through a gap between a print head and a platen. A dye donor, also positioned in the gap, moves in the first direction during receiver loading. The moving dye donor engages the dye receiver, assisting the dye receiver through the gap. When the dye receiver is detected downstream of the gap, the dye receiver is positioned in a beginning receiver print position and the position of the dye donor with respect to the print head is determined. If the print head position is downstream of a beginning donor print position, the dye donor is rewound in a second direction opposite the first direction until the print head is upstream of the beginning donor print position, whereupon the dye donor is moved to the beginning donor print position. If the print head position is upstream of the beginning donor print position when the dye receiver is detected, the dye donor is moved to the beginning donor print position.

Abstract: A printing system for a shuttle-type printer includes a platen and a carriage configured to move bidirectionally across the platen. An optically responsive demarcation is provided on the platen outside of the media feed path. A printhead and an optical sensor are disposed on the carriage. During operation, the carriage is operable to position the optical sensor over the platen demarcation, whereby the optical sensor generates a position signal when it detects the platen demarcation. A control subsystem is operably coupled to the optical sensor to determine absolute position of the carriage relative to the platen in response to optical identification of the platen demarcation by the optical sensor. Several methods for operating such a printing system are also described.

Abstract: A bar code printer capable of printing bar codes simultaneously with character strings made of, for example, alphanumeric characters. Operating a bar code key causes a bar code input display to appear on a display and the bar code start code to be stored in a bar code buffer. Then operating a number key causes a number code representing the number to be stored in the bar code buffer and a dot pattern representing the number code to be output to a video RAM. Operating an execution key while a 13 digit number code is stored in the bar code buffer will additionally cause an end code to be stored in the bar code buffer and the resultant code string to be stored in a text memory.

Abstract: An operator inputs characters from a keyboard. The characters are stored in the form of character codes. The operator sets an overall frame and a partial frame to decide characters to be enclosed in the frames by editing character codes symbolically displayed on the liquid crystal display. In this process, both ends of the frames are also encoded into character codes. After the operator enters an execution key, the character codes are converted into bit image data by means of a character generator. The image data for characters, the overall frame and the partial frame are combined on the image buffer. When the image data is ready, the image data is transferred to the thermal head via a driving circuit, and the printing process is executed on a printing medium. An array of printing mechanisms substantially extending across the width of the tape printing medium allow the printing device to execute the whole printing process while sending the medium in one direction.

Abstract: The carriage mounting the print head, for a printer, is supported at an upper guide bar with an upper bearing and at a lower guide bar with a lower-right bearing and a lower-left bearing. The printing device prints characters while driving the print head in reciprocal movement along the guide bars. The lower-left bearing has an eccentric center relative to the axis of the lower-guide bar. A lever fitted on the lower-left bearing allows the operator to rotate the lower-left bearing relative to the axis of the lower guide bar to adjust the height of print.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for performing image recording on a recording medium by using an ink sheet having a plurality of colors of ink includes a recording head acting on the ink sheet to perform image recording on the recording medium, a first feeding unit for feeding the ink sheet through a clutch, a second feeding unit for feeding the ink sheet without going through the clutch, and a unit for selectively switching between the first feeding unit and the second feeding unit.

Abstract: A compression device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb through means of a flexible, pressurizable sleeve which encloses a limb. The compression device has a pressure control apparatus which includes a microprocessor, a driver circuit and a flow control valve having a stepper motor attached thereto. The microprocessor is programmed to control pressure to the sleeve in conjunction with the driver circuit and the flow control valve by actuating the stepper motor. The microprocessor compares a signal generated by a pressure transducer to a preselected pressure value, it then generates an electrical signal to a driver circuit which in turn sends pulses to the stepper motor to automatically adjust the flow control valve, thus, controlling the flow of fluid therethrough so as to maintain a preselected pressure applied to the limb by the pressure chamber of the sleeve.

Abstract: A miniature keyboard assembly for generating code signals representative of selected characters and functions. The assembly including at least one but preferably, two glide keys, each coupled to a depressible keybutton for controlling the movement of its respective keybutton. In one embodiment, each keybutton base carries an electrically conductive layer and is slidable on a membrane panel having thereon a plurality of signal code generating switches. The keybutton being movable along orthogonal axes in response to movement of the glide key. Each keybutton extends upwardly through a longitudinal slot opening in a lateral slide support member and then through a fitted opening in an indicator panel. The indicator panel also include an indicia marker which underlies a transparent keyboard panel and is visible therethrough.

Abstract: A wordprocessing device which comprises a keyboard for inputting a plurality of characters; a character size key for selecting the size of the characters, a justification key to justify the characters input from the keyboard. When a character string that comprises characters having different character sizes, is to be justified, the determination of tile justify space to be Inserted between adjacent characters depends on the size of the respective adjacent characters.

Abstract: A printer driving apparatus for a line printer comprises: a measuring circuit to measure the number of print dots; and a driving circuit which can change drive timings of dots of a print head in correspondence to a print ratio in each print cycle. When the number of print dots is small, an interval between strobes is narrowed. When it is large, an interval between strobes is widened. Thus, a high-speed printing can be performed in the case of using the power source of the same capacity. When a high-speed printing is not required, the capacity of the power source can be reduced.

Abstract: A thermal printer accepting an ink ribbon cartridge includes a chassis, a thermal head secured to the chassis and a platen roller which is rotatably supported in the chassis and swingably movable relative to the thermal head. The platen roller is rotated by a first platen driving mechanism and is moved toward and away from the thermal head by a second platen driving mechanism. When the platen roller is moved to contact the thermal head via an ink ribbon intervened therebetween, an image is printed on a printing medium fed between the platen roller and the ink ribbon. The printer accomplished aligned overprinting on the printing medium via a paper supply mode, a printing mode, a paper retract mode and a paper discharge mode effected by the first and second platen driving mechanisms.

Abstract: A mailing machine comprising, structure for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, a fence for defining a direction of the path of travel and against which an edge of a sheet is normally registered for alignment thereof in the path of travel, structure for printing postage indicia on a sheet in the path of travel, the printing structure including a rotary postage indicia printing drum, the printing structure including structure for driving the drum, structure for controlling the sheet feeding and drum driving structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure for sensing a sheet in the path of travel and providing a signal to the microprocessor when a sheet is fed into and out of blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a first magnitude when a sheet is not disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a second magnitude when a sheet is disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing struc

Abstract: A document processing apparatus includes a first determining unit including a CPU for verifying the spelling of a word while referring to the first correct spelling information stored in a first spelling dictionary; a second determining unit including its own CPU for verifying the spelling of a word different from those stored in the first spelling dictionary while referring to the second correct spelling information stored in a second spelling dictionary; a connection unit for detachably connecting the second determining unit to the apparatus main body; and a switch for switching the spelling verification determining process between the first and second determining units in accordance with the connection state of the second determining unit relative to the connection unit.

Abstract: In a hand stamp mount device especially suitable for a preinked stamp impression member that can give great numbers of imprints, the downstroke distance of a substantially rigid, non-rotatable assembly of a handle, a stem and a platen for carrying the impression member is adjustable precisely by turning with one's fingers an adjuster that correspondingly turns a stroke limiting stop member and causes it upon turning to be displaced proportionately lengthwise of the stem. Several ways of effecting the adjustments are disclosed, including some which eliminate all need for screw-threaded parts by making use of a molded ramp member presenting helical ramp surfaces. The platen and a case enclosing it are stiffened to resist stamping forces by an array of integral radiating ribs protruding upwardly from the platen and another array of such ribs protruding downward from the top of the case; and the ribs of the two sets intercalate to occupy vertical space in common when the platen is in normal upward position.

Abstract: A tape positioning apparatus is disclosed which is used in a mailing machine having means for printing a postage indicia on a discrete portion of a strip of tape of indefinite length which is fed intermittently through the mailing machine. The apparatus includes a tape feed chute which moves the tape from a normal position out of alignment with the printing die of a postage meter in the mailing machine to a printing position in which the tape is aligned with the printing die. In order to assure proper feeding of the tape from the chute to a cutting device, the apparatus is provided with a latching device for latching the free end of the chute in a home position so that the leading edge of the tape cannot snag on any portion of the tape path as it is pushed from the chute to the cutting device after printing has taken place.

Abstract: A video printer is disclosed in which a duplicated driving force is not applied to a sheet of paper 2 in a printing mode. Pressing rollers 101 are pressed against and separated away from paper-ejecting rollers 100 by a pressing mechanism 18 of a paper-ejecting device. The pressing rollers 101 are separated away from the paper-ejecting rollers 100 at least in a printing mode and the pressing rollers 101 are pressed against the paper-ejecting roller 100 at least in a paper-ejecting mode, thereby ejecting the sheet of paper 2, which has been printed, from an outer circumference of a platen 80.