Abstract: An impact mechanism for use in an impact printer, to deliver a printing force to drive a character element against a platen by means of a print tip movable toward and away from the platen. A rockable bail bar having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the platen is constrained to limited angular movement toward and away from the platen by a prime mover connected to the bail bar. A push rod interconnects the print tip and the bail bar for delivering impact forces to the platen as the bail bar is moved toward the platen. The push rod is normally coupled to the bail bar for delivering impact forces to the platen and may be decoupled from the bail bar for drawing the pring tip away from the platen so as to allow the character element to be removed. A decoupling mechanism is provided to lift the push rod off of the bail bar and to recouple it to the bail bar as required.

Abstract: Disclosed is a typewriter wherein a ribbon holder mounted on a carriage movable along a platen holds both a print ribbon and a correction ribbon thereon and is displaceable between its first lift position for facing the print ribbon to a print point on the platen and its second lift position for facing the correction ribbon to said print point.The disclosed typewriter is provided with lift means for displacing the ribbon holder between its first and second lift position, detecting means for detecting the lift position of the ribbon holder, and control means for controlling the lift means to displace the ribbon holder in response to the result of detection of the detecting means, thereby the possibility of errorneous initial printing is eliminated, which may occur when a power supply is once turned off during a correcting action with a correction ribbon and then is turned on again to perform a normal print operation.

Abstract: A device for wiping ink from a cylindrical printing surface, said device being formed from a single piece of flexible material and folded to form a pair of spaced apart legs joined by a deformable folded portion, and a stiffener disposed between said legs for maintaining said legs in said spaced apart relationship, said folded portion adapted to press against and conform to a segment of said cylindrical printing surface so as to wipe ink from said printing surface as said folded portion moves over said printing surface.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for use in an impact printer, to deliver a printing force to drive a character element against a platen by means of a print tip movable toward and away from the platen. A rockable bail bar having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the platen is constrained to limited angular movement toward and away from the platen by a prime mover connected to the bail bar. A push rod interconnects the print tip and the bail bar for delivering impact forces to the platen as the bail bar is moved toward the platen. The push rod is normally of a first length and rigid delivering impact forces to the platen and is collapsible to a second length, shorter than the first length, for drawing the print tip away from the platen so as to allow the character element to be removed. A collapsing mechanism is provided to convert the push rod from the first length to the second length.

Abstract: A multihead thermal printer comprises a plurality of thermal heads arranged around a platen roller. An ink film associated with each thermal head includes an end mark leaving a length to an end of the ink film at least equal to that of one sheet of recording paper. A device for detecting the end mark is disposed adjacent to each thermal head. When the detecting device detects the end mark, the printer completes the printing of a sheet of recording paper in the process of printing, but stops the feed of a succeeding sheet.

Abstract: A reloadable ribbon cassette system for typewriters or office machines of similar construction employs a bottom housing in which an exchangeable supply spool core for the ribbon and an exchangeable take-up spool core can be rotatably mounted. To facilitate the reloading process a cover plate is placed onto the top face of the ribbon coiled on the supply spool core, the cover plate inserted into the bottom housing member along with the supply spool core and ribbon when they are loaded. The cover plate has a contact surface for helping to steady a fastening element disposed at the free end of the ribbon during reloading. The cover plate projects beyond the ribbon coil at least in the region of the contact shelf to prevent accidental removal of the first few turns of the coiled ribbon in axial direction.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for use in an impact printer, to deliver a printing force to drive a character element against a platen by means of a print tip movable toward and away from the platen. A rockable bail bar having having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the platen is constrained to limited angular movement toward and away from the platen by a prime mover connected to the bail bar. A push rod interconnects the print tip and the bail bar so as to close the throat distance for delivering an impact force to the platen as the bail bar is moved toward the platen. A repositioning element, having a portion thereof in alignment with the bail bar, allows the push rod to be drawn away from the platen while being interconnected thereto so as to allow access to and removal of the character element.

Abstract: A pen printer for converting data into printed form on a print sheet placed on a platen. The pen printer comprises a plurality of ink pens and a pen carriage mounted for reciprocating movement above the platen. The pen carriage has a device for removably attaching each of the ink pens juxtaposed in the direction of movement of the carriage. Pen actuators are mounted on the pen carriage apart from the ink pens with each pen actuator being responsive to an electrical signal for bringing a corresponding one of the ink pens toward the platen into contact with the print sheet. The pen printer also comprises a carriage actuator responsive to an electrical signal for moving the pen carriage and a sheet feed mechanism responsive to arrival of the pen carriage to at least one of first and second predetermined positions separated from each other for feeding the print sheet a predetermined length on the platen.

Abstract: The printer is mounted on a desk-top computer and can print both numeric characters and graphic and calculation symbols in two different colors. The characters and the symbols are provided in a relief configuration in accordance with a matrix of rows and columns on a rubber sheet wrapped around a rotatable drum. The characters in adjacent columns are inked by an inking roller formed by adjacent porous discs which are alternately impregnated with red and black ink. The drum can perform a translatory movement in the axial direction selectively to present to the printing hammers the columns of characters which are linked with black and the columns of characters which are linked with red. The drum is translated fixedly with respect to the inking roller by means of a cam which rotates at a speed half the speed of the drum and engaged with one or other of two cam follower pins which can be selected by means of a solenoid.

Abstract: A recording apparatus according to the present invention records data on a member to be recorded by filling recording ink in a film having numerous minute orifices and by heating the ink rapidly with heating elements to spout ink from the orifices on the member to be recorded by means of the pressure of bubbles generated. The present recording apparatus further comprises a printing data control circuit for controlling the drive of the heating elements according to a recorded data. The printing data control circuit includes a plural printing control circuit for controlling the same heating elements to be driven for a plural number of times in accordance with a plural number printing control signal.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus is disclosed for transferring a web from a press section to a dryer section. The apparatus includes a plurality of rotatable rolls which are disposed between the press section and the dryer section. A transfer felt is movably supported by the plurality of rolls for transporting the web from the press section towards the dryer section. The plurality of rolls includes a rotatable guide roll which is disposed adjacent to the press section for guiding the web from the press section towards the dryer section. A rotatable turning roll cooperates with the dryer section such that the transfer felt disposed between the guide roll and the turning roll defines a transfer section. The transfer section supports the web along the entire length of the transfer section from the guide roll to the turning roll.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed for marking packages or objects having a printing drum, which is carried by a return mechanism, with an ink supply for applying ink to the printing drum. The return mechanism includes a base plate which is rotatable about a central axis and an eccentric member which is constrained to move in a circular path on rotation of the base plate. A spring acts on the eccentric member so as to bias the member to a predetermined position in order to bias the base plate and the printing drum to a corresponding initial position.

Abstract: A printing plate fastening and tensioning assembly for use with a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine uses springs and magnets to provide holding forces. The springs bias fastening or tensioning bars away from walls of a groove formed in the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder. Magnetic forces provided by magnetic carried either by the plate cylinder or by these movable bars attract a portion of the bar to the groove wall. This alternative use of spring or magnetic forces effects either a fastening or tensioning of a selected end portion of a printing plate carried by the plate cylinder.

Abstract: The printer paper feed mechanism disclosed herein operates to transfer a sheet of paper being printed from the printing platen to an output tray above the platen by means of a plurality of resiliently surfaced rolls carried on a shaft which is journaled in arcuate slots in end plates at either end of the platen roll. When the rollers are driven in one direction, the shaft walks along the arcuate slots toward a guide which is overlaid by a sheet of paper being fed from the platen. The rollers drive that piece of paper upwardly away from the platen and into the output tray.

Abstract: A typewriter having an operation mode selector key so as to easily select either of two print mode settings; a first print mode setting in which print data are printed between left and right margins set by a margin set key; and a second print mode setting in which print data are printed from a left margin set by the margin set key and the carriage is returned in accordance with format data stored in a memory.

Abstract: A system for controlling and displaying the printing format of dot matrix printers includes a microprocessor, a memory which is loaded with programs from replaceable software cards, and a control panel having a plurality of control buttons, an aligned display, and a rotary control coupled to the microprocessor. In a first mode, depression of a selected control button accesses the corresponding one of the parameters of the most commonly used print parameters and repeated actuation of the selected control button cycles through the options contained within the parameter, the parameter and current option being sequentially presented on the display. In a second mode under microprocessor control, each one of the parameters in a printing parameter menu is sequentially accessed and rotation of the rotary dial provides scrolling through each option contained within the parameter. Sets of selected parameter options can be saved under specified designations for later retrieval and use.

Abstract: A sheet-turning drum in a sheet-fed rotary printing press for optionally first printing or perfecting printing is provided that is simple to assemble and adapted to be changed over for differing printing requirements. To this end, the sheet-turning drum is subdivided into a unitary main member and a cylindrical drum envelope. The latter having a sheet support surface and flanges disposed on its end faces for securing the envelope between mounting flanges on the main member. The sheet support surfaces of the drum envelope can be in the form of a smooth metal surface, an ink-repellent fabric or support rollers retained on carrying rods.

Abstract: A type carrier set (10) for a stamp printing mechanism is described which comprises a plurality of type carriers (12) which carry print types (22) at their outer surface in consecutive fields (16). The type carriers (12) are disposed parallel adjacent each other in the order necessary for use in the stamp printing mechanism. The adjacently disposed type carriers (12) are connected together by connecting webs (28) adapted to be sheared off. In the method according to the invention for assembly the stamp printing mechanism using a type carrier set according to the invention in which the type carriers are endless bands, the type bands connected together are separated from each other consecutively in each case on turning for the first time of the setting shaft by shearing off the connecting webs (28).

Abstract: A unitary tape-ribbon cartridge having an improved ribbon rewind feature for use in a lettering system. The cartridge includes both a tape supply and a ribbon supply provided from tape and ribbon supply housing portions, a guide member for guiding the ribbon toward a lettering station and reversing its direction of movement from a supply path to a rewind path into a ribbon rewind housing portion which is laterally spaced from, but generally parallel to, the tape and ribbon supply housing portions. The ribbon rewind mechanism includes a ribbon rewind spool having a rewind portion and peripheral gear teeth for rotating the same.

Abstract: A printer includes a main body having an upper opening. A platen is arranged in the main body such that it opposes the opening. A cover is mounted on the main body such that it is pivotable between a closing position, for covering the opening except for a portion above the platen, and an opening position, for exposing the opening. A cutter having a blade is supported on the inner surface of the cover such that it opposes the main body. The cutter is pivotable between a stand-by position, where the blade is located above the platen, a cutting position, where the blade abuts against the peripheral surface of the platen, and a housing position, where the blade is located at a side opposite to the platen, about the pivotal center of the cutter. The cutter is selectively urged by springs toward the stand-by position or the housing position.