Abstract: Apparatus to support an inked ribbon cartridge and/or daisywheel motor and assembly. The cartridge has a paper shield integral therewith that is notched to expose the ribbon to the paper, whereby a daisywheel petal carrying a type font may be struck by a print hammer to type a character. The cartridge has a detent to lock the daisywheel motor support in a fixed position. The motor support may be adjusted in position relative to the platen.

Abstract: An apparatus for imprinting details contained in embossed script on a credit card onto a purchase document comprises a base member of .hoarfrost.-profile in which a movable member including a pressure roller moves on castors. Lateral slots in the two walls of the base member permit the introduction--at one side of the base member--of a credit card, and of papers at the opposite side of the base member. The said movable member can be actuated by a handle pivotally attached to the base and connected by a connecting rod with the said movable member.

Abstract: In the dot matrix printer disclosed herein, a multicolor ribbon is shifted to bring different colored stripes in alignment with the nosepiece of a dot matrix printhead by means of cup-like ribbon guide members journaled on either side of the nosepiece. Each guide member provides, in its periphery, an arcuate slot through which the ribbon can freely slide as the printhead traverses. A stepping motor is coupled to the guide members for rotating them so as to selectively bring a stripe of desired color into operative position.

Abstract: In a printer, a printing clutch and a hammer impact changeover mechanism are controlled through a control member by one electromagnet, in such a manner that in response to a printing signal the clutch is engaged through the control member by the electromagnet to start one printing cycle and, in the second half of the printing cycle, the electromagnet is operated to enable a hammer impact change-over mechanism with the aid of the control member. The energizing forces of two weak spring members are applied to a cam follower member operatively coupled to the printing hammer so that when a printing type element having a large printing surface is selected, the energizing forces of the two spring members are utilized to allow the printing hammer to strike the type element strongly, and when a type element having a small printing surface is selected, the energizing force of only one of the two spring member is utilized to allow the printing hammer to strike the type element less strongly.

Abstract: A rotary wheel printer such as a daisy wheel printer includes a rotatable platen for receiving a paper sheet partially therearound, a carriage movable along the platen, and a type wheel mounted on the carriage in confronting relation to the platen and having a plurality of type fonts. The type wheel is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and first drive means are mounted on the carriage and inclined with respect to the horizontal plane for driving the type wheel to rotate about is own axis. Hammer means are also mounted on the carriage for pressing the type fonts and second drive means are mounted on the carriage for driving the hammer means. A ribbon cassette is mounted on the carriage and accommodates an ink ribbon, the ribbon cassette having slanted surfaces at a front portion thereof in which the ink ribbon is exposed adjacent to the print wheel.

Abstract: There is disclosed printing apparatus composed essentially of molded plastics material which has relatively few parts, is easy to manufacture and maintain, and is lightweight and portable. The apparatus is illustrated as being of the table top type which can print both standard type tags and labels, string tags and pin tickets. The apparatus has a print head operable in conjunction with an impression control device, a feed finger assembly with a registration adjustment, a simple drive arrangement operated by a cam with a single cam path, and a reel positionable at different attitudes, and the construction of the apparatus is readily adaptable to both manually operated and motorized versions.

Abstract: Ribbon (22) in thermal printing has an outer layer which adheres to printed characters at intermediate temperatures, lower than printing temperatures. The printhead (7) has a column of electrodes (9) which sweep across the character area. Lift-off is accomplished by the pattern control (40) controlling the current source (38) to provide rapid, square wave pulses displaced in phase 180 degrees at adjoining electrodes (9). The high level of the pulses is about that of the level at printing, and the pulses are sufficiently rapid so that their net effect is to raise the outer layer ribbon (22) to the intermediate temperature. At areas corresponding to underlines of characters, duration of the up period is longer. Good, long term reliability is achieved by the significant erase level being very close to the print level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shuttle type line printer which is characterized in that among members constituting printing elements of the shuttle type line printer, such as a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, a yoke and a printing hammer, the permanent magnet occupying a considerable proportion of the total weight of the printing elements is separated from the shuttle to reduce the weight loaded on the shuttle, and the permanent magnet separated from the shuttle is used as a part or all of a balancer indispensable for removing lateral vibrations having fatal influences on the shuttle type line printer. In a conventional shuttle type line printer, all of printing elements such as a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, a yoke and a printing hammer are loaded on one shuttle and a balancer having a weight corresponding to a heavy total weight of the shuttle should be disposed to remove undesirable lateral vibrations.

Abstract: An automatic sheet transport mechanism for precisely positioning a sheet relative to an automatic signature writing machine or the like is disclosed. A writing instrument is located vertically above a flat writing surface upon which the sheet rests and is movable into and out of engagement with the writing surface in a defined writing area. A sheet positioning device accurately positions the sheet laterally on the writing surface. A sheet feeding device is also provided for moving a single sheet from a stack of sheets and for advancing the single sheet to the sheet positioning device. A control device cyclically operates the transport mechanism so that the single sheet is moved by the sheet feeding device and sheet positioning device to the writing area of the writing surface where the writing takes place and thereafter the sheet positioning device is actuated to move the single sheet off of the writing surface so that the cycle can be repeated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for dispensing viscous materials, in which an air tight container is provided with a first pipe connecting the inside thereof to a nozzle for supplying the material to a consumption area, and with a second pipe for connecting the inside thereof to a line connected, with the interposition of an air flow regulator, to a source of compressed air.Means are provided for fixing, inside the container, a pre-prepared cartridge of viscous material, placed with a low aperture in communication with the first pipe and communicating via an upper aperture with the second pipe.

Abstract: A magnet strip extends along a line on the peripheral surface of a printing drum of a rotary stencil printing device and parallel to the rotational axis thereof. A clamp strip, made of a material which is magnetically attractable, can be selectively positioned as lying against and along the magnet strip with a leading edge of a stencil master for stencil printing interposed therebetween so as to clamp the leading edge of the stencil master to the printing drum, or removed away from the magnet strip so as to release the stencil master. Thereby the stencil master can be conveniently retained to the printing drum in a manner which is suitable for automation, and does not require any reinforced lug portion along the leading edge of the stencil master.

Abstract: An intermittent motion imprinter of the type having a reciprocal marker head suspended from a shaft, an opposed anvil, tape supply and take-up reels, a tape advance mechanism and a reciprocal shuttle driving the head and tape advance mechanism, has a common holder for the head shaft and shuttle with intersecting closed periphery slots respectively receiving and guiding the shuttle and the head shaft. The holder is a two-piece split block defining, when assembled, a transverse slot for the shuttle and an upright slot for the head shaft. A cam follower on the head shaft projects into an inclined slot of the shuttle so that, as the shuttle is reciprocated, the shaft is raised and lowered. A second cam follower is also driven by the shuttle to actuate the tape advance mechanism. In one form, the second cam follower is directly attached to the shuttle. In another form, the second cam follower rides in a second shuttle slot.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a plate-clamping mechanism is provided for clamping and locking flexible printing plates on a printing cylinder wherein a clamping jaw fitted into a cylinder cavity has a leading edge for clamping one end of printing plate which is (1) non-parallel to the cylinder's axis of rotation and (2) coincident with the periphery of the cylinder when the clamping jaw is in its opened or closed position. In addition, the clamping jaw's axis of rotation is parallel to the jaw's leading edge. Such a clamping jaw eliminates any void between the printing plate and the cylinder surface which might otherwise exist after the plate is tensioned and clamped: such a void is common in printing cylinders with clamping jaws having leading edges non-parallel to the cylinder's axis of rotation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a print head and method of making same, in which the print head has spaced first and second side plates connected by guide members. The side plates support mounting blocks which mount drive wheels for printing bands. The mounting blocks are strongly connected to the first side plate but are weakly connected to the second side plate and the guide members are strongly connected to the second side plate and weakly connected to the second side plate for ease of assembly and disassembly. Selectors pass through openings in the second side plate. An indicator coupled to each selector is guided by a pair of the guide members. The selector is selectively engageable with any drive wheel.

Abstract: A print mechanism is described which has a constant current driven solenoid acting against an arch-shaped hammer to power the hammer through an arc of powered flight followed by an arc of free flight. The solenoid/hammer engagement point removes the solenoid to a position which does not obstruct print line visibility and the hammer rest position is withdrawn to improve print line visibility.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is disclosed which may be used as an auxiliary unit with a computer controlled printer. The feeder features a mechanical timing mechanism which effects a start-to-feed function in synchronism with printer platen motion and which is driven by a mechanical interface with a printer platen drive gear to sequentially and precisely position individual paper sheets in start-to-print position in the computer controlled printer with no requirements for electrical power, software or electronic logic.

Abstract: An impact hammer assembly, suitable for high speed MICR printing, is disclosed. The impact hammer assembly comprises an impact hammer having first and second flanged portions respectively positioned at first and second ends along a first longitudinal surface of the impact hammer and a hammer face positioned at the second end of the hammer on a second longitudinal surface opposite from the first longitudinal surface. The hammer is pivotally mounted at a pivot between the first and second flanged portions for movement between a rest position and a print position. A first electromagnetic coil positioned adjacent to the first flanged portion is energized by a first pulse from a control circuit to impel the hammer face toward the print position. A second electromagnetic coil positioned adjacent to the second flanged portion is energized by a second pulse from the control circuit to cause a fast return of the hammer to the rest position.

Abstract: The basic module comprises a frame, a support which is mounted to reciprocate vertically on the frame adjacent the rear thereof, and a printing screen, which projects horizontally forwardly from the support in cantilever fashion. A cable, which is attached at one end to the support and at its opposite end to the frame, passes intermediate its ends over a plurality of pulleys, certain of which are mounted on the frame, and one of which is attached to a counterweight located beneath the frame. The weight is carried on one end of a pivotal treadle, the opposite end of which is adapted to be manipulated by the foot of an operator standing in front of the frame. Normally the weight is in a lowered position in which it causes the cable to retain the screen in an elevated position, but when the foot treadle is depressed, the weight is lifted and the screen and its support drop by gravity to their lowered positions.

Abstract: A printing machine such as a postage meter has the capability of printing value indicia on material by means of a printing device having a plurality of selectably positioned printing wheels with a plurality of spaced apart numerical printing members arranged about the periphery of each wheel. The printing wheels are mounted for rotation on a common axis and each wheel has a concentrically located gear mounted on one side. The number of gear teeth in each printing wheel gear corresponds to the number of printing members and tooth spaces located in drivem members which mesh with the printing wheel gears in a predetermined synchronous relationship associated with the drive members. The printing wheel gears further have non-disfigured gear teeth as well as at least one disfigured gear tooth which meshes with correspondingly shaped spaces on each drive member so that any forced change in the synchronous relationship will render the postage meter inoperative.

Abstract: A gravure pressure roller with an axis of variable shape, in which the outer jacket (2), rotated coaxially to and inside the jacket (2) of the roller by the shaft (3), is supported at its ends by bearings (10) and at the mid-part by levers (21) coupled in an articulated manner to the mid-part of the shaft (3), so as to be in contact with the inner surface (7) of the jacket (2), contacting the same with the intercalation of bearings (22) and actuators (15) inserted between the shaft (3) and each lever (21).