Abstract: A lead edge strip for securing one edge of a flexographic carrier sheet provides improved strength and mounting stability and thus printing accuracy. The edge strip comprises a base portion, a pair of parallel walls extending from said base portion and a short lip for engaging a complementary overhanging edge of a flexographic printing plate cylinder. The carrier sheet is received between the parallel walls and secured there by suitable fastening means. Preferably, the lead edge strip is transparent as this facilitates mounting of the lead edge strip and carrier sheet upon the printing cylinder. The lead edge strip in combination with a carrier sheet is also taught.

Abstract: An inking device for postage meter in a high speed mailing machine is disclosed, the inking device functioning to apply ink to a printing die in the postage meter between each printing operation performed by the postage meter. The inking device includes an ink pad disposed in a reservoir and held therein by a cover member having an aperture through which an upper portion of the ink pad projects so as to contact the lower printing surface of the printing die. The configuration of the ink pad is such that there is a small channel or space between the outer edges of the ink pad and the inner edges of the aperture of the cover member so that ink which is squeeze out of the ink pad during compression thereof with the printing die will not ooze onto the upper surface of the cover member and eventually spread onto other parts of the mailing machine.

Abstract: This invention is a cylinder impurity remover apparatus mountable on a printing press assembly and having a wiper blade assembly to contact a rotating printing plate cylinder member to remove dust and impurities therefrom. The cylinder impurity remover apparatus includes 1) a main support assembly secured to the printing press assembly; 2) a remover actuator assembly mounted on the main support assembly; 3) a wiper blade assembly connected to an outer end of the remover actuator assembly; and 4) an actuator control assembly connected to the remover actuator assembly for operation thereof. The remover actuator assembly includes a spaced pair of main actuator assemblies, each having the wiper blade assembly connected to an outer end of the main shaft member.

Abstract: A printer of the kind having a printing head for printing on a sheet being held against a platen roll by a sheet presser, with both printing head and sheet presser mounted fast to a head carriage which is movable not only in a direction parallel to the axis of the platen roll but also in a direction normal thereto. For adjusting the spacing between the printing head and the platen roll to the thickness of the sheet to be printed upon, a drive motor is coupled to the head carriage via a yieldable clutch.

Abstract: A wire-dot print head has an armature having a tip to which a print wire is secured, a core provided in confrontation with the armature, a plate spring which is supported in a cantilever fashion and to which the armature is fixed, a permanent magnet assembly generating a magnetic flux to cause the armature to be attracted toward the core overcoming the resilient force of the plate spring, and a coil wound on the core to generate a magnetic flux upon energization to cancel the magnetic flux from the permanent magnet assembly, thereby to release the armature. The permanent magnet assembly includes a first permanent magnet of the samarium-cobalt type, and a second permanent magnet of the neodyminum-iron-boron type or the lanthanoid-iron-boron type.

Abstract: A paper guide and stacking apparatus for fan fold or Z-fold paper and useful with a printer of the type having an output paper collection tray or bin positioned a predetermined vertical distance from an exit port and sound shroud connected to the printer. This novel apparatus is characterized by the use of a pair of flexible front straps which are positioned on one side of a vertical paper path extending from the printer exit port and sound shroud to the paper collection tray, and also by the use of a single flexible back strap which is positioned on the other side of the paper path and centered between the two front straps. These straps make physical contact with each side of the moving paper in such a manner as to force each successive sheet of fan fold paper alternately toward opposite sides of the output paper tray.

Abstract: A dot printer head including a housing that contains electromagnets toward its back end, the electromagnets having cores positioned opposite to armatures which are supported detachably against the core. The housing slidingly supports needles connected to the armatures and pushed in retracting direction thereof. An armature stopper made of an elastic substance is fixedly attahced to the inside of a cover which closes the opening at the back end of the housing, the armature stopper being in contact with the vicinities of the free ends of the armatures. A spacer is made of a substance with a linear expansion coefficient such as to ensure the same expansion as that of the armature stopper in thickness, the spacer connecting the inside of the cover to the opening edge of the housing. In this setup, when the armature stopper extends in thickness in keeping with the temperature rise inside the housing during printing, the spacer expands by exactly the same thickness to retract the cover.