Patents Examined by Joseph R. Keating
  • Patent number: 5184904
    Abstract: A paper width of a sheet of paper is input into a paper width setting section. In case of defining a non-print area at a fore end of the paper, a paper bail roller is manually separated from a platen to output a detection signal A from a paper bail switch. In this case, a paper feeding motor is controlled to be driven by a control device, thereby feeding the paper until the fore end of the paper reaches the paper bail roller. On the other hand, in case of starting printing from the fore end of the paper, an operating section is operated to output a command signal B therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Hara, Tsuyoshi Sanada, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Kiyotaka Nihashi
  • Patent number: 5183333
    Abstract: A printing system, according to the present invention, is comprised of a carriage having a thermal print head and associated ink ribbon cartridge, a platen, a label tape cassette, and a suitable housing and control electronics. The thermal print head can be alternatively positioned over the platen for printing on ordinary paper, or positioned to be in contact with the label tape cassette for making adhesive labels. An optical sensor detects when the printing carriage swings beyond the normal plain paper printing range. The thermal print head has sufficient dot forming capability and the control electronics is designed to support the printing of many fonts, including Japanese Kanji (Chinese characters), Hiragana, Katakana, and Romaji (e.g., English alphabet).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Minowa
  • Patent number: 5181466
    Abstract: An offset printing machine having a blanket sheet wrapped around an outer circumferential surface of a blanket cylinder 3 so as to come in contact with a master and having clamps 29 and 30 for releasably retaining opposite ends of the blanket sheet to the blanket cylinder 3. After ending a printing operation, the blanket sheet is removed from the clamps 29 and 30 and dumped. Accordingly, the cleaning of the blanket cylinder 3 can be omitted to prevent hands and clothes from being stained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Ono
  • Patent number: 5169248
    Abstract: A feed arrangement for a typing ribbon and/or a correction ribbon comprises a linear motor having a coil-carrying slide which is movable with an alternating rectilinear movement, a toothed wheel for the feed movement of the ribbon, and a connecting mechanism interposed between the coil-carrying slide and the wheel for converting the movement of the slide into a unidirectional rotary movement of the wheel for advancing the ribbon. The connecting mechanism comprises a first lever which is moved by the slide and two mutually independent ratchet assemblies and which are capable of alternately engaging with two diametrally oppositely disposed teeth on the toothed wheel. The ribbon is carried by a cassette and the wheel rotates a blade capable of engaging into a seat in a feed roller of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gillio Claudio, Bonmassari Gianpaolo
  • Patent number: 5163766
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printer device including a printer body and a battery section. The printer body is provided with a paper accommodating portion for replaceably accommodating printing paper. A driving circuit section is located on one side of the paper accommodating portion for controlling an operation of the printer body. The driving circuit section has at least an operating portion. The battery section has a substantially L-shaped configuration formed by a rectangular body located below the paper accommodating portion and a projecting portion located below the driving circuit section so as to project from one end of the rectangular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fushimi, Takeshi Tashiro, Tsugio Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 5161464
    Abstract: In an assembly device for replacing the block sleeve on the roller core of a printing roller unit a support device with a gripper is provided, which so secures the unit immediately adjacent to one end of the roller core in the vicinity of two adjacent tilting moment support points, that from said single holding zone both ends of the unit project freely without any further support and are therefore readily accessible. On a printing press it is possible to provide for each printing mechanism an assembly device of this type, in which the particular printing roller unit can be directly inserted by an inserting device from the press or machine mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Albrecht
  • Patent number: 5161460
    Abstract: A multiple screen printing apparatus is disclosed which can be manufactured to loose manufacturing tolerances but yet can print "all screens-down" with accurate and repeatable registration. The registration is a result of having two complementary components for both distance and angular registration which are located near the printing end of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a spring biased loose carrying connection that causes the registration components to seat accurately with one another as the screen is brought into engagement with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Inventors: Edward A. Andersen, Eric T. Andersen
  • Patent number: 5156464
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus capable of manually adjusting a gap between a print head and a platen so as to prevent a print operation from being executed when the gap is outside of an appropriate range for a paper being used. The position of the print head can be manually adjusted by use of an adjusting lever. Further, the print head can be moved by a step motor under the control of a CPU to adjust the gap. After the gap adjustment is accomplished by the adjusting lever, the CPU causes the print head to shift toward a rear standard position and stores the count N1 of driving pulses required for the shift movement. The set printing gap is detected on the basis of this value N1. The print head is then moved until it contacts the printing sheet and a count N2 of driving pulses required for the contact movement is stored in the memory of the CPU. The paper thickness is measured on the basis of this value N2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoharu Sakai
  • Patent number: 5145271
    Abstract: A serial printer includes: a carrier mounted with a printing head; a display means movable with the carrier; a stationary panel having indicating windows arranged so that the display means is recognizable through the specific indicating window when the carrier comes to a predetermined position; a carrying means for carrying the carrier; a printing mode storage means for storing printing modes; an operating switch for selecting the printing modes; and a printing mode setting means for permitting the carrying means to move the carrier and changing the printing mode of the printing mode storage means according to the position of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Sugino
  • Patent number: 5142983
    Abstract: A suction transfer actuation system for a transfer drum of a multi-color sheet-fed rotary printing press for turning successive sheets, by rear-edge turning, during the sheet transfer from one printing unit to another to facilitate printing on the back side of the sheets. A plurality of suction arms are rigidly connected to a hollow suction rocker shaft connected to actuating levers carrying a pair of guide rollers engaging a curved outer guide cam surface on a guide bar mounted on the transfer drum. The suction actuation system is driven by way of a cam rigidly mounted on the press frame engaged by a cam follower roller to oscillate a drive lever coupled by a link to a drive arm on the rocker shaft to rock the suction arms toward and away from the one printing unit under the guiding influence of the guide cam and guide rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Man Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Ingo Kobler, Josef Mathes, Robert Ortner
  • Patent number: 5143461
    Abstract: A thermal head of a printer is provided to contact a platen through an elongated print paper and an elongated ink ribbon. One end of the ink ribbon is wound and retained on a ribbon core, and the other end is taken up by a take up spool. The print paper and the ink ribbon can be fed back at the same speed by reversely rotating the platen. At the same time, rotation resistance to be applied from the take-up spool to the ink ribbon is removed by a resistance removing device. Further, the ribbon core is reversely rotated by a ribbon core reverse driving device to rewind the ink ribbon, thereby preventing slacking of the ink ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhisa Inoue, Toshiharu Shimosato
  • Patent number: 5137385
    Abstract: A printer for use with an electronic cash register in which both a printer mechanism and an openable/closable unit are housed in a cabinet. A cover member is openably and closeably mounted on the cabinet for lying over the unit. A rib is provided in the rear surface of the cover member, and an abutment block is provided in the openable/closable unit. The rib is brought to abutment with the block when the cover member is closed, while the abutment block is brought to abutment with the rib when the openable/closable unit is moved from the closed position to the open position. The cover is openable in accordance with the opening movement of the openable/closable unit through abutment of the rib and block whereas it is closable in accordance with the closing movement of the cover member through the abutment thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kyogo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kamimura, Akehiro Ono
  • Patent number: 5127321
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-registering a set of multi-color print screens prior to installation into a registration apparatus of a screen printing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Silk Screen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Proffer
  • Patent number: 5123352
    Abstract: A flexible bar code printing plate formed with an ink density gauge rib for concurrently printing a tint gauge whereby the code and tint gauge are printed concurrently enabling the printed gauge to be inspected for a tint pattern deemed indicative of a well-printed bar code image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Ravon D. Luttrell
  • Patent number: 5120145
    Abstract: In a printing device having at least a pair of sheet discharge rollers for discharging a printing sheet on which a printing operation has been executed, provided are means for judging whether the printing sheet exists or not at a contact position of the pair of sheet discharge rollers, and control means for controlling the pair of rollers so as to be brought out of contact in case that the sheet does not exist at the contact position. Thus, even if the sheet is skewed or bent, it is securely nipped between the pair of sheet discharge rollers, thereby reducing occurrence of a sheet jamming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuji Kawahara
  • Patent number: 5120147
    Abstract: In a printing device utilizing a printing tape on which a printing operation is executed and including a printing member for executing the desired printing operations on the printing tape and a case member arranged to be attachably and detachably mounted on the printing device for housing the printing tape on which the printing operation is not executed in a wounded state, provided are a member for supporting a platen member on which the printing tape is located when the printing operation is to be executed, the printing tape being arranged to be fed between the platen member and the printing member; and means for the supporting member so as to be moved between a first position in which the printing tape is nipped by the printing member and the platen member and a second position in which the nipping operation of the printing tape is released. Thus, it becomes easy to replace the printing tape with preventing an occurrence of damages of the printing tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 5118211
    Abstract: The color transfer density of a thermocarbon ribbon can be improved by forming the wax phase of a melt color layer of such a ribbon so that it contains a paraffin with a hardening temperature of about 50 to 110.degree. C. and at least one ethylene-vinylacetate wax forming a eutectic with a paraffin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Pelikan Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Mecke, Heinrich Krauter
  • Patent number: 5114253
    Abstract: In a dot matrix type printer, a method of printing wherein successive lines are printed using a first and second plurality of print wires to print a first line in left to right and a second in right to left printing that is done in two passes over each line. When high-quality printing is required, all print wires are used in both passes with the print head being repositioned, at the start point of the first line by a feed direction adjustment to center the print wires between the previously printed dots, prior to the second pass over the two lines. The result is high-quality printed characters. In normal print, the odd print wires comprise the first plurality of print wires used in the first pass and the even print wire comprise the second plurality used in the second pass over the two lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 5113759
    Abstract: A latch mechanism for a small-size printer capable of performing a printing operation with a desired type on a rotatable type drum being held at a print position by impacting a hammer towards the type drum across a recording paper loaded therebetween. The latch mechanism comprises a group of type drums composed of type drums of three digits each comprising a lock groove wheel for fixing one type drum selected among three drums at a print position by one type selection operation; a group of lock levers movable between its initial non-print position and its print position, which is disposed so as to correspond to each of the type drums, and constantly biased by a lock lever spring toward the lock groove wheel to lock the type drum in a print position; and a group of lock lever holding means capable of actuating the lock lever by being attracted by an electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignees: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Astec Inc.
    Inventor: Shohachi Nihira
  • Patent number: RE34134
    Abstract: A flexible type segment formed of elastomeric material and in an initially flat condition, and adapted for mounting on the cylindrical surface of a printing roll that engages the surface of an object to be marked, and prints indicia thereon. The segment has an elongated base with generally flat, parallel top and bottom surfaces and a raised panel print face formed on the top surface. The print face defines indicia to be inked and thereafter to apply an ink imprint to the respective surface to be marked. A plurality of recesses are formed in the bottom surface of the base, the recesses extending into the material a major portion of the depth of the base. The recesses reduce the section of the base so that flexing of the segment when it is mounted on the roll and force variations between the print face and the surface to be marked produce a minimum of distortion of the print face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Porelon, Inc.
    Inventors: Lester R. Medlen, James J. Nichols