Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises an input device for entering a plurality of sets of data, each set including title information and character information associated with the title information. A memory stores a plurality of the sets of data entered by the input device and a printer is responsive to sets of data read from the memory to print any one of those sets of data either fully or partially. A selection device selectively causes the printer to print any one of the sets of data either fully or partially. The printing apparatus may also include a selector for selecting one of a first printing mode and a second printing mode. In the first printing mode, when selected, the printer is caused to print both the title information and the character information which may comprise text information. In the second mode, the text information is printed without the title information.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly for selecting characters to be recorded includes a substrate carrying an array of characters arranged on one face thereof. A character selection device moves between advanced and retracted positions along each of two axes of the array and, by means of an optical viewfinder, registers a given character with respect to the position of the selecting device. Registration openings distributed along each of the two axes cooperate with an associated detent carried by the selecting device so as to retain the selecting device in a fixed position relative to the locus of the character which has been selected. Movement of the character selection device to the locus of a given character serves to control the recording of the character selected.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism comprises first and second support plates for supporting a paper feed roller and a rotary shaft for bringing a pinch roller into contact with and away from the paper feed roller. The rotary shaft extends through the first support plate and one end thereof abuts against the second support plate and the other end thereof engages with a lever mounted on the first support plate to define movement in a thrust direction. The rotary shaft is rotated with the rotation of the lever.

Abstract: A print ribbon cassette includes a supply roll and a take-up roll so that the print ribbon unwound from the supply roll is presented for use in printing and thereafter wound around the take-up roll. The cassette also includs an endless belt extended around a driving roller and a pair of belt rollers. The driving roller is provided fixed in position and coupled to a driving motor of a printer when the cassette is mounted on the printer. On the other hand, the belt rollers are rotatably mounted on separate support arms which are pivotally mounted on the cassette. When the support arms are located at an operative position as extending substantially in a line and opposite in direction, the belt is brought into driving engagement with both of the supply and take-up rollers.

Abstract: A printer comprises a paper feed roller, an intermediate gear coupled with the paper feed roller and having a spur gear section on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a paper feed cam having an axis extending perpendicularly to an axis of the intermediate gear and having on its outer circumferential surface a helical tooth for meshing engagement with the spur gear section of the intermediate gear. The paper feed roller is angularly movable for a predetermined angular interval through the intermediate gear in response to angular movement of the paper feed cam. The paper feed cam has in the outer circumferential surface thereof a gap for disengagement with the intermediate gear. The helical tooth has an inclined end edge for guiding meshing engagement with the intermediate gear.

Abstract: A paper setting mechanism of a printer for setting a sheet of paper in position around a platen roller for printing desired information includes a paper bail assembly having at least one bail roller, which is pivotally supported and normally biased so as to cause the bail roller to be pressed against the platen roller. The paper bail assembly may be set in a set position in which the bail roller is pressed against the platen roller and it may also be set in a retracted position in which the bail roller is separated away from the platen roller. After insertion of paper, the platen roller is driven to rotate first in the normal direction over a first predetermined amount and then in the reversed direction over a second predetermined amount, which is smaller than the first predetermined amount, whereby the reversed rotation of the platen roller is utilized to cause the paper bail assembly to return to its set position automatically.

Abstract: A color printer includes a carriage slidably movable on a printer frame. A print head is mounted on the carriage. A multiple-color ink ribbon having bands of color is stored in a cartridge which guides the multiple-color ink ribbon to the print head. A color selecting mechanism moves the cartridge and the multiple-color ink ribbon relative to the print head to select a color band for printing. An advancing mechanism winds the multiple-color ink ribbon in the storage member to tension the multiple-color ink ribbon after a color band has been selected and prior to printing.

Abstract: When a ribbon cassette containing a print ribbon and having a looped portion exposed to the outside is mounted on a printer frame, a ribbon guide member movable along a print line of a platen, while in its initial position, is located within a region surrounded by the looped ribbon portion. The ribbon guide member is moved as a carriage mounted with a print head travels. While in engagement with the looped ribbon portion, the ribbon guide member moves to a position beyond one end of a printing range, where it is releasably latched. Thus, the ribbon is automatically stretched to cover the whole printing range.

Abstract: A typewriter carriage escapement mechanism comprises a rack (10) movable with the typewriter carriage (2) and having two sets of teeth (16 and 18) projecting in opposite directions. An escapement dog (30) has two separate teeth or sets of teeth (44 and 54) arranged to engage the two sets of rack teeth (16 and 18) alternately as the dog (30) moves at right angles to the rack (10), on operation of the keys (90) or space bar (92) of the typewriter. One of the sets of teeth (54) is mounted on a pawl (50) movable relative to the other tooth (44) or set of teeth, to enable both sets of teeth to be disengaged from the rack (10) to release the carriage (2). The pawl (50) is movable against a return spring (70) by means of an actuating rod (80) engaging a lug (62) on the pawl (50). The mechanism of the invention enables a single escapement member (30) to effect both the stepwise movement of the carriage (2) and also the carriage release.

Abstract: A system for positioning correction ribbons having a layer of opaque dry correction material over a letter or image on a surface such as paper for subsequent covering of the image. The system includes a supply spool rotatably mounted in a supply spool holder and a take-up spool rotatably mounted in a take-up spool holder. A hold-down member is adapted to pass the ribbon between the spool holders under the hold-down member in contact with the image. A window is formed by the hold-down member to allow placement of the ribbon and access to the ribbon by a stylus which is rubbed against the ribbon by the user in order to adhere the opaque material to the image.

Abstract: A combination printer stand and paper refolding apparatus for use with an associated printer and associated fanfold paper which includes, in one form, a printer receiving shelf dimensioned and configured for holding a printer, and a paper receiving shelf dimensioned and configured for receiving paper on which printing has been completed. The paper receiving shelf is disposed substantially beneath the printer receiving shelf and the second paper receiving shelf is formed from a plurality of wire members. The printer stand includes other apparatus for directing the path of the associated fanfold paper leaving the associated printer to the paper receiving shelf and to cause refolding of the associated paper on the paper receiving shelf. The paper receiving shelf has an elongated peak intermediate the boundaries of the shelf. The apparatus for directing the path of the associated fanfold paper may include a pivotable mounted member. An anti-sag shelf may be included to direct the paper.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a newly re-coated continuous ribbon to a moving printhead carrier in a printer. The present invention is particularly adaptable for use in thermal printers having multicolored ribbons. The apparatus comprises a cartridge housing which is mounted on the printer frame, and which contains the ribbons. The newly re-coated ribbons exit the cartridge housing, become coupled to the moving printhead carrier, and then reenter the cartridge housing as used ribbon. The used ribbon passes a re-coating station where it is re-inked through contact with a donor ribbon and heated pressure rollers to become newly re-coated ribbon. A lift arm on the printhead carrier selects the desired colored ribbon which has been newly re-coated for printing.

Abstract: A printer for performing recording successively while a recording head moves backwards and forwards in a predetermined direction with respect to a recording medium such as paper. A paper hold roller for pressing the recording medium against a platen in the vicinity of a recording area opposite to a print head is detachable from the platen in relation to the movement of a carriage for carrying the recording head. The presence and absence of paper is detected to control the paper feed. An ink ribbon is provided which has color zones and an ink absorption zone in the direction of the ribbon width for multi-color printing by shifting the ribbon in the width direction by means of the carriage movement so that a selected color zone faces the recording head. The printer further includes a ribbon cassette, means for controlling paper insertion and feeding and means for cleaning the recording head. Also included are a paper bail control, color zone selector and paper detector.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed which comprises a platen roller for feeding a cut paper sheet set on a hopper, a paper bail bar having paper bail rollers used in conjunction with the platen roller to secure the cut paper sheet against the platen roller, and a paper loading mechanism for loading the cut paper sheet by causing rotation of the platen roller at a predetermined angle. The paper loading mechanism includes a paper bail switch for checking whether the paper bail roller is in contact with the platen roller. When it is detected by the paper bail switch that the paper bail roller is released from the platen roller, the platen roller is rotated in the normal direction at a first predetermined angle. When, it is detected by the paper bail switch that the paper bail rollers are in contact with the platen roller, the platen roller is rotated in the reverse direction at a second predetermined angle.

Abstract: An improved resistive ribbon for thermal transfer priting in which a coating is located on the resistive layer in order to reduce contact resistance between the ribbon and printhead, thereby reducing undesirable heating at the contact region between the ribbon and printhead. The coating is comprised of compositions selected from the group consisting of Cr-N, Sn-SnO, ITO, AlN and Al-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, where the resistivity of the coating is significantly less than the resistivity of the resistive layer of the ribbon. Further, the sheet resistivity of the coating is greater than the sheet resistivity of the resistive layer. The rest of the resistive ribbon can be comprised of any combination of the usually employed layers, such as a current return layer, a release layer for facilitating the transfer of ink from the ribbon to a carrier, and the ink layer itself.

Abstract: A print control system in a banking machine performs a validation printing, wherein the printing operation of the same printing data is repeatedly conducted by shifting the record receiving paper sheet in the direction along the printing line after the completion of the one line data printing. The print control system includes a paper feeding mechanism which tightly holds the record receiving paper sheet while the actual printing operation is conducted, and shifts the record receiving paper sheet along the printing line by a predetermined distance after the completion of the actual printing operation.

Abstract: A printer (1) having a guide (13,15,16) for an insertable cassette (17), which is provided with a data strip (175) displaceable along a printing head (19). In certain arrangements the cassette may also include a transfer strip (177), which could include colored portions. The cassette (17) has an entrance window (167) for a transport roller (65) pivotable in the printer (1) by translation of the cassette (17). During printing, the data strip (175) and the transfer strip (177), if any, are clamped between the printing head (19) on a first cassette side and the transport roller (65) pivoted from a second cassette side located opposite the first cassette side into the entrance window (167). Separate gear wheel trains both driven by the same motor transport the two strips when both are provided.

Abstract: A color printer inludes an ink ribbon supporting frame mounted on a base unit swingingly about an axis parallel to a platen. A ribbon cassette comprises a cassette case for accommodating a color ink ribbon which has a plurality of different color longitudinal stripes so that at least a part of the ink ribbon forms a loop exposed from and extending to the cassette case. The ribbon loop is positioned along the platen and between a printing head and the platen, when the ribbon cassette is set on the ribbon frame. A ribbon guide is slidably mounted on a carrier for supporting the ink ribbon at a position adjacent to the printing head. The ribbon frame and ribbon guide are simultaneously shifted so that a desired one of color stripes of the ink ribbon is positioned on a predetermined printing line.

Abstract: A printer according to the invention includes a keyboard provided with a cursor key and a mode selection key for selecting a double-width mode, a display for displaying inputted data, a cursor displayed on the display and shifted by operating said cursor key for indicating a position of the data to be processed, a double-width mark displayed on a digit adjacent to a double-width character on the display in the double-width mode, and a controlling means for controlling the double-width mark to be displayed in conjunction with the double-width character and for controlling the cursor when shifted by operating the cursor key to indicate only a double-width character while avoiding a double-width mark.

Abstract: A paper feeder for a printer having a platen and a printing member disposed in confronting relation to the platen includes a pair of slide blocks which can be moved to vary the spacing therebetween dependent on the width of recording paper placed on the platen, each of the slide blocks supporting a track rotating body having a plurality of pins mounted on a peripheral surface thereof and spaced at prescribed intervals, a paper holder member confronting the track rotating body, and a drive roller. A drive shaft is disposed in each of the slide blocks for driving the track rotating body and the drive roller. A roller shaft supports thereon a pair of pinch rollers for contacting the drive rollers, respectively, and is movable away from the slide blocks, the pinch rollers being held by the paper holder members for slidable movement along the roller shaft in response to movement of the slide blocks.