Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for driving and controlling a thermal head used in a printing device, such as a tape printer, in response to the temperature variations of the printing device environment and the thermal head. According to the present invention, in the printing operation of the tape printer, measurements are made of the initial temperature T1 immediately after the power is switched on, the temperature prior to printing T2, and the ambient temperature of the thermal head each time the thermal head prints T3 (i). If the temperature difference between the initial temperature T1 and the temperature prior to printing T2 is small, the duration of the current signals provided to the thermal head is controlled in accordance with the temperature prior to printing T2, which is the most recently measured thermal head ambient temperature best reflecting the printing device environmental temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of printing ink upon a continuous substrate using a printing apparatus. First, the substrate is fed around a central impression cylinder which rotates so that the substrate successively passes through at least one face roll and a plurality of inking stations. When passing through each ink station, ink is heated to a predetermined temperature which is higher than the temperature of the central impression cylinder wherein the viscosity of the ink is dropped low enough so that the ink may be transferred to the substrate. Next, the ink at each inking station is applied to the substrate causing the temperature of the ink to drop and the viscosity to climb. This allows previous down inks to appear to be several times more viscous than the ink applied at the current inking station and to pull the ink off a printing plate in the direction of the substrate. Last, the inked substrate, which has passed through all inking stations, is cured at a curing station.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer in which when a printing head is soiled, the debris on the printing head can be removed automatically. The printing head movable to and from a platen is mounted on a carriage capable of being reciprocated along the platen, and a cleaning pad is disposed on an extension line of the platen downsteam or upstream in the printing column direction of the platen.

Abstract: A device for fastening a rubber blanket unit to a blanket cylinder utilizes a rubber blanket secured to the surface of a support plate which is provided with beveled ends. These ends are insertable into a narrow slit in the cylinder and are held in the slit by pressure elements. The beveled support plate end lateral surfaces are in contact with each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing stencils, which permits the substantial reduction of time involved for producing stencils, facilitating the producing of stencils and improving the precision with which stencils can be produced. The method comprises the steps of fixing silk stretched over a frame, the silk having a heat sensitive film attached thereof; putting the frame on a flat table at a predetermined position, allowing the silk to cover the whole area of a platen, which is laid on the flat table; and sweeping the screen with a movable heating head to make pores in the heat-sensitive film of the screen, thereby producing a framed stencil.

Abstract: A rotary milking platform with a means of entrance and egress of animals in which each milking bail (4) is defined by two restraining rails (5). The angle of the bails (.alpha.) and the direction of rotation of the platform (arrow A) are both either clockwise or counter-clockwise so that a milked animal leaving via the exit means (7) can be seen by the next animal on the platform (2) to finish milking. The exit path (7) incorporates a curved restraining rail (8) against which an animal leaving the platform (2) is backed such that only the animal's front feet remain on the platform (2). The movement of the platform (2) turns the animal (Arrow E) and the shape and placement of the curved restraining rail (8) guides the animal to the exit means (7). The entrance pathway (6) is radially aligned so that an animal entering the platform (arrow B) is oriented to step onto the annulus (3) into a bail (4).

Abstract: A simulated Jacquard fabric and method of fabrication. A flocked fabric is screen printed with specially engraved screens for each color of the design. Thereafter a blotch screen is used to overprint with dyes at a certain pressure that causes the formation of simulated binding or fine lines to simulate a Jacquard fabric.

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: A coloring device for transferring coloring materials from a writing or drawing instrument to a surface is disclosed. The coloring device includes a housing having a holder to hold a writing instrument, and, a roller connected to the housing for rotation about an axis. The roller is position to contact a writing instrument disposed in the holder to obtain coloring material therefrom and is further positioned to contact a surface to transfer the coloring material obtained from the writing instrument thereto as the roller rotates about the axis. In accordance with one optional aspect of the invention, the coloring device can be further provided with means for rotating the roller. These means may comprise a motor, a hand crank, or any other equivalent structure that can impart rotational motion to the roller. If the means for rotating is excluded, the roller is rotated by moving the coloring device such that the roller rolls against the surface to be marked.

Abstract: An apparatus for registering substrates while they are partially in a turn baffle assembly. The apparatus includes a registration transport assembly and a turn baffle assembly having a pinch roller assembly. The pinch roller assembly includes a set of pinch rollers which feed the substrate through the turn baffle assembly and into the registration transport assembly. The pinch roller assembly also includes a motion inducing device for selectively moving one pinch roller away from the other and a low friction roller which is somewhat larger than one of the pinch rollers. The low friction roller is located near a pinch roller such that when the pinch rollers are moved apart, the low friction roller biases the substrate way from a pinch roller so as to reduce or eliminate friction between the substrate and that pinch roller.

Abstract: A tooth shade whitening guide formed from a flat, thin body member and having a patient portion and a separable dentist portion. The patient portion and the dentist portion each having a front face with a plurality of distinct tooth color samples positioned thereon. Indicia is positioned adjacent to each of the distinct tooth color samples identifying the corresponding tooth color shade. The indicia includes a first set of indicia and a second set of indicia. The first set of indicia is positioned in a forward configuration so as to be readable in a standard fashion. The second set of indicia is printed in a backward configuration so as to be readable in a conventional forward orientation when viewed in a mirror. The patient portion further has a plurality of display tabs projecting therefrom. The distinct tooth color samples are disposed over top of the display tabs for comparison with the patient's teeth.

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: An apparatus for automatically washing printing units of printing machines with finely perforated rollers, which includes: a hollow body that constitutes the washing water chamber and is anchored laterally and parallel to the color feed tube and has, at its base, a series of nozzles, which are directed towards the inside of the wedge-shaped suction chamber, and a series of similar nozzles which are directed towards the rear part of the suction chamber. A series of nozzles is associated with the color feed tube to direct the color towards the secondary rotating roller and to feed the washing water into the finely perforated roller when printing ends. The apparatus is also provided with wear-preventing pads between the rotating secondary roller and the suction chamber, with pads for axially retaining the secondary roller, and with a device for washing under pressure the opposite ends of the color feed tube, the tubular ends of the washing chamber, and the rings of the finely perforated roller.

Abstract: There is provided a printer comprises a first type group having a first font; a second type group having a second font; a first read only memory in which a space traveling amount corresponding to each type of the first type group has been stored; a second read only memory in which a space traveling amount corresponding to each type of the second type group has been stored; and a microprocessor which selects the 1st read only memory when the 1st type group is used, thereby allowing the propotional spacing operation corresponding to each type of the 1st type group to be performed, and which selects the 2nd read only memory when the 2nd type group is used, thereby allowing the proportional spacing operation corresponding to each type of the 2nd type group to be performed. Since the invention can be constituted by a simple hardware, by merely adding this hardware to a conventional printer such as an electronic typewriter, the fine proportional spacing can be executed for each type of various kinds of fonts.

Abstract: A fluid isolation and dispersion system which includes one or more sealing devices to minimize the chance of fluid damage to electronic components. The system includes seals between keys of a keypad and aperture walls in a cover member through which the keys protrude, and a number of chambers around the keys for trapping fluid that has passed through any one of the seals. The chambers are defined by chamber walls linking the aperture walls, and a gasket below the chamber walls. The system may additionally include a channel formed between a periphery wall around the aperture walls and a flexible periphery wall around the gasket for diverting fluid that has passed by any one of the chamber walls, and a spout on one side of the gasket for discharging the fluid from the channel.

Abstract: A method of printing a pre-defined symbology character set as a series of bars separated by spaces in which the bars are formed of horizontal rows of close adjacent dots while preventing ambiguous decoding of similar character pairs in which one character employs wide bars and one character employs narrow bars. The method comprises the steps of, subtracting at least a portion of one dot or more per horizontal row from bars of similar characters employing narrow bars; and, adding at least a portion of one dot or more per horizontal row to bars of similar characters employing wide bars. It is particularly useful in printing U.P.C./EAN symbology with a low-cost demand printer employing thermal printing techniques.

Abstract: A printing-plate dust removing apparatus includes a guide rail 12 provided in parallel with a plate cylinder 1; a slider 13 moving along the guide rail 12; a holder 18 supported by the slider 13; a moving member 19 supported by the holder 18, the moving member 19 having a plurality of dust removing blades 28; and a driving gear for shifting the moving member 19 intermittently. A driving shaft 38 of the driving gear is connected with a driven shaft 27 through coupling members 41 and 42. Interlocking claws 41A and 42A of the coupling members are set so that the coupling members are engaged with each other at a standby position of the dust removing blades. Also, the holder 119 and the slider 113 are connected with each other by wedge members 138 and 144 so that the wedge members are firmly engaged with each other by a clamping bolt 147 and a holder plate 140.

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: The invention pertains to a doctor device for intaglio printing machines with a doctor blade displaceable relative to the printing cylinder, the working stroke of which is adjustable. In keeping with the invention, a motor-driven swash plate rigidly affixed to the frame actuates the doctor blade along with a displaceable doctor beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that can be used to print the U.P.C./EAN symbology in a way that does not suffer poor print quality over a range of ink spread conditions by applying appropriately more or less thermal energy to at least one row of dots on the internal edges of the ambiguous characters. The resultant characters have identical edge-to-edge measurements to those without the compensation; but, the sum of the widths of the bars are beneficially adjusted. The resulting print quality grades and scanning performance are enhanced on thermal printer platforms of moderate to high resolution.