Abstract: A printing process including applying a composition to a substrate using a digital or stencil duplicator, the composition including a dispersion of particles of a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer dispersed in an involatile organic liquid, where the size of the particles in the composition is less than 35 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention enables the efficient use of desktop space and the efficient input operation of a keyboard by realizing space-savings for the keyboard by a simple and economical means that does not involve reducing the size of the keyboard. The keyboard occupies the keyboard space on the desktop when it is being used in an input operation and thereby maintains the efficiency of its input operation, and the keyboard is placed in a standing position when additional space on the desktop is required by utilizing the stand gear of the present invention. In addition to the above, the present invention facilitates entry of data from reference materials during the input operation, as well as proofreading the input result against the reference material after the input operation, by positioning the reference material on a paper stand mechanism which is positioned on the stand gear further utilizing “dead” desktop space efficiently.

Abstract: A container having a first end and a second end, an internal cavity located within the container which provides an opening in the first end and extends towards the second end; a portion of the container, having an attached end and a free end, may be detached from a remaining portion so as to expose the internal cavity; and the free end is configured so that it may be seal the internal cavity once the portion of the container is detached.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for decorating cylindrical articles using direct rotary screen printing of a UV radiation curable composition in various predetermined patterns and registrations. A rotary screen printing assembly is arranged in either a horizontal or vertical orientation to achieve production rates of about at least 250 articles per minute, and up to 1000 articles per minute. The UV radiation curable compositions are at least partially cured between a plurality of screen printing workstations using a UV radiation source.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an embossing roll used in an embossing process. The method includes steps of passing a paper web between a pair of embossing rolls and preventing or cleaning deposits from the surface of at least one embossing roll. Pressurized air is forced through an air nozzle having an elongated narrow outlet that directs the pressurized air as an air knife against the patterned surface of the embossing roll after the patterned surface rotates out of contact with the web. The air knife extends an embossing width of the embossing roll. A lubricant or solvent may be mixed with the pressurized air.

Abstract: A pad printing system for applying high quality multicolor images to curved objects is provided. The pad printing system includes a substantially flat release substrate having an ink receiving surface and a digital printer having a plurality of print heads. The print heads of the digital printer are arranged to discharge ink in a plurality of colors onto the ink receiving surface of the release media substrate. The print heads and release substrate are movable relative to each other such that the discharge of ink from the print heads prints a multicolor ink image on the ink receiving surface of the release substrate. The pad printing system further includes a deformable ink transfer pad which is movable into pressure contact with the release substrate for receiving a multicolor ink image therefrom and movable into pressure contact with a curved object to be printed for transferring a multicolor ink image from the transfer pad to the curved object.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer including a chassis having opposing side frame members. A pair of cones are each rotatably mounted to one of the opposing side frame members. At least one of the cones has a convex surface with one or more teeth formed thereon. A spool is supported between the pair of cones, wherein the cone teeth engage an end of the spool for rotatably driving the spool. The spool has an elongated body with outwardly extending crush ribs which hold labeling media or ink ribbon thereon.

Abstract: A thermal printer for a portable electronic device such as a receipt issuing machine is capable of increasing an angle at which thermal recording paper is wound on a platen roller while decreasing running load and without generating static electricity. The thermal printer includes a body frame formed from metal, a thermal head disposed on a bottom part of the body frame for printing paper and a platen roller for urging the paper against the thermal head. A paper guide for guiding the paper to a direction in which the paper is wound on the platen roller is integrally formed with the body frame. A bend-raise portion extending in a paper-width direction of the paper and contacting linearly to the paper while feeding is integrally formed at a part of the paper guide where the paper is inserted. The paper guide is formed in such a manner that it comes close to the platen roller with respect to the bottom of the body frame.

Abstract: A printer including a portable information processing portion located on the face of the printer, a paper accomodating portion located on the back of the information processing portion and capable of accomodating thermosensible printing sheets of standardized size, and a printing mechanism portion located adjacent to a side of the information processing portion is provided. With such a structure, a printer which allows for a large printing area while being as almost the same size of PDA and is suitable for portable use can be provided. Moreover, by employing a thermal head for printing on the thermosensible sheets, a space required for consumables such as ink is eliminated. As a result, a practically portable printer can be provided.

Abstract: A device for filling with printing ink a respective ink duct of various printing units of a printing press, provided with an ink cartridge reciprocatingly movable on a crossbar above the respective ink duct, includes a container system provided with a plurality of ink cartridges, the container system being mounted so as to be movable along the printing press, a control unit for controlling the container system, and a gripper system disposed in the container system for changing the ink cartridges.

Abstract: A key base side pivot point on one side of a pantograph is supported on a key base and a key top height adjusting mechanism that has a holder that supports the other key base side pivot point and a reciprocating link that links swingably to this holder is also supported thereon, the holder of this key top height adjusting mechanism being caused to swing by a reciprocating movement of the reciprocating link.

Abstract: A gripper for a cylinder or a drum of a sheet-fed rotary printing press, includes a gripper element adjustable relative to a gripper shaft carrying the gripper, the gripper element being disposed so as to be swivellable about a swivel point thereon for effecting an adjustment, the gripper element being formed with a concavely curved seating surface having a radius adapted to and smaller than the radius of the gripper shaft.

Abstract: A pulley tensioner for applying torque or tension to a pulley includes a spring system configured to encircle the periphery of the pulley. The spring system is anchored to the pulley housing or some other fixed location. The spring system is made up of one or more coil springs which are wrapped around the periphery of the pulley. Where multiple springs are used, preferably each spring has a different spring constant and length. This allows the operator to select the desired tension depending upon the operating parameters of the printer. The applied tension may be further modified/tuned by using an additional spring member to anchor the spring system to the pulley housing or some other fixed location.

Abstract: A system for loading and clamping one or more plates onto the cylindrical surface of a rotatable drum, such as used in a platesetter for printing, and for unloading the plates from the drum. The system is characterized by clamps that are movable over the surface, preferably along circumferential tracks, enabling the attachment of multiple plates, end-to-end and/or side-by-side, each plate having any of a wide range of sizes. The clamps are preferably of the dynamic type, whereby the clamping force increases with rotational speed. Also disclosed is a method for mounting and unmounting plates, using the movable clamps, such that allows flexible and convenient arrangement of loading- and unloading stations.

Abstract: A method of metering dampening solution when printing with a printing form for offset printing, including, with a control device, setting an amount of dampening solution on the surface of the printing form to a predetermined value before starting to print, further includes, following one interruption in the printing, determining the number of interruptions which have occurred previously in a predefined time interval, and varying in accordance with the number of interruptions the amount of dampening solution supplied to the surface of the printing form during the one interruption.

Abstract: An ink ribbon is formed form a belt shaped sheet body, and is wound around a pair of tubes. Spools are detachably mounted at each end of the tube bodies. An ink ribbon cartridge includes side plates formed with supporting openings for supporting corresponding spools. Each supporting opening is formed with a cutout portion defined by edges. When the ink ribbon cartridge is mounted in a facsimile machine, the spools are freely rotatable within the supporting openings. On the other hand, when the ink ribbon cartridge is dismounted from the facsimile machine, engagement protrusions formed to the spools catch on the edges defining the cutout portions, thereby preventing the spools form rotating. As a result, the ink ribbon will not unintentionally greatly loosen.

Abstract: A printing-plate mounting-position instruction system instructs a worker where to mount a plurality of printing plates in a rotary printing press. The system includes a controller, a reader, a judging device, and a display device. The controller creates assignment information for assigning printing plates to mounting positions on each of plate cylinders used in each of printing units on the basis of production instruction information. The reader reads a mark on a printing plate for printing-surface information. The judging device is connected to the controller and the reader and collates the assignment information received from the controller and the printing-surface information received from the reader, thereby judging the location where the printing plate is to be mounted. The display device displays the result of the judgment.

Abstract: A vacuum printing apparatus and process method whereby the application of a decorative imprint in either a single or multi-color rendition to the felt cover playing surface of a pool or billiard table is accomplished without there being any resultant dimensional or thickness irregularity in the playing surface which would otherwise interfere with the course of a ball during play.

Abstract: A powder sprayer unit which provides improved spraying of powder onto printed sheets of material produced in printing presses. The powder sprayer includes a source of pressurized fluid, a source of powder, a mixer and a distributor. The mixer includes at least one fluid inlet positioned to receive fluid from the fluid source, and at least one powder inlet positioned to receive powder from the source of powder to mix the fluid and the powder forming a fluid/powder mixture. The distributor-includes a disperser positioned to disperse the mixture as it flows to a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles are positioned to spray the dispersed mixture onto specified areas of printed sheets of material having passed through the printing press.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extruded external drum for an imaging system. The external drum is extruded from a light-weight and strong material such as an aluminum alloy. The external drum includes a thin outer wall, a hollow cylindrical hub, and a plurality of thin radial spokes extending between the cylindrical hub and the outer wall. The present invention provides a stiff external drum having low rotational inertia.