Abstract: A label printing device is disclosed in which font data for a plurality of characters is stored. Characters are derived from the font data for displaying and printing in sizes determined by appropriate scaling factors. In this way, characters derived for printing have the same proportion and appearance as characters derived for displaying. Moreover, a large variety of character sizes can be produced both for printing and displaying.

Abstract: A hand-held and self contained electronic printing apparatus for printing indicia on a medium disposed outside the apparatus includes a housing that can be manually positioned adjacent a surface of the medium and manually swept across a printing area on the medium during a printing sequence; a printer disposed in the housing and having a print head with a plurality of print elements such as ink jet nozzles for printing indicia in a selectable pattern of dots on the medium within the printing area; and an electronic control circuit disposed in the housing for controlling the printer to print indicia on the medium during a printing sequence, the control circuit comprising compensation for reducing image distortion based on detecting position of the nozzles during a printing sequence.

Abstract: A dental ceramic restoration having a multi-layered structure on a core, obtainable by applying an opaque layer composed of from 50 to 60 wt.-% of SiO.sub.2, 4 to 10 wt.-% of Na.sub.2 O, 0 to 2.5 wt.-% of CaO, 8 to 14 wt.-% of K.sub.2 O, 10 to 20 wt.-% of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 6 wt.-% of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 5 to 12 wt.-% of TiO.sub.2, and pigments, preferably on oxide basis, onto a core, followed by sintering this assembly, and thereafter applying dentin and enamel layers composed of from 50 to 60 wt.-% of SiO.sub.2, 4 to 10 wt.-% of Na.sub.2 O, 0 to 2.5 wt.-% of CaO, 8 to 14 wt.-% of K.sub.2 O, 10 to 20 wt.-% of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 2 to 10 wt.-% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, preferably 4 to 8 wt.-% of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and pigments, preferably on oxide basis, onto a core, followed by firing this assembly.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording uses a carriage mounted with a recording head moving along a guide shaft. The recording apparatus includes a magnetic linear encoder consisting of a scale element magnetized and a detection unit for detecting magnetized information magnetized to the scale element. Provided also are clicks formed on any one of the detection unit and the carriage and click engaging portions formed in the other one of the detection unit and the carriage. The clicks engage with the click engaging portions, whereby the detection unit is snap-locked to the carriage. This enables the detection unit of the magnetic linear encoder to be readily attached to the carriage and besides, when attached, prevents disorder of the information magnetized to the scale element. Further, even when a position of the carriage shifts corresponding to sheets having different thicknesses, a sliding load of the carriage does not change.

Abstract: When format information is changed, print area check data is generated as per the changed format information (S25). If the check data is found not to be printable within the print area of the tape defined by the printable width and set tape length ("YES" in S27), the changed format information is invalidated (S28), and a message indicating what has taken place appears on the display (S29). Whenever a character or the like is input, the corresponding print check data is generated (S33). If the data is found to be printable within the print area ("NO" in S35), a print-like image of that character is displayed; if the data is found not printable ("YES" in S35), a message indicating the unavailability of printing is displayed (S38), and the corresponding text appears on the display unit (S40).

Abstract: A printer which includes a paper selector for setting return amount and return amount memories for storing return amounts for at least two kinds of recording paper. The type of recording paper is selected by a printer control command so that a return amount for continuing a printing operation specific to the selected type of recording paper can be set. As a result, printing can be executed once a return amount has been set for each type of recording paper if the user wishes to print on different types of recording paper having different return amounts, thereby reducing the burden on the part of the host computer in controlling the printer and increasing the printing speed of the printer.

Abstract: A network includes plural client processors, a file server and plural printers. Each client processor has memory that stores a printer driver procedure which enables the client processor to interface with at least one printer type. The file server includes memory for storing a most updated printer driver procedure for each printer type coupled to the file server. The file server is responsive to a print request from a client processor to assign a printer to the requesting client processor. The file server then in combination with the client processor determines if a printer driver procedure for the assigned printer in the client processor is identical to a most updated printer driver procedure stored in memory in the file server. If not, the file server enables alteration of the printer driver procedure in the client processor to bring it into coincidence with the most updated print driver procedure.

Abstract: A keyboard where no finger pressure is needed to input data, that uses rows of emitters opposed by rows of detectors to detect a finger position, that is environmentally sealed, and inherently intrinsic safe. The keyboard has a mouse function so an operators finger can be tracked to position a cursor on a host display, and input normal keyboard functions. The keyboard has a field changeable coded overlay with indicia thereon so a scan pattern, ambient reference level or other application specific variables can be changed without breaking the environmental seal or powering down the keyboard. Further, the different scan patterns can include scanning the finger position by multiple emitter detector pairs at angles other than ninety degrees to give a cross check of detection. These said scan patterns can be further optimized to scan angled sets of keys and to adjust to different ambient light conditions so errors can be detected by the emitter detector pair closest to detection of a finger.

Abstract: A cordless printer head, for example of a bubble-jet or ink-jet printer, is provided with memory to allow it to store data to be printed and a control device for driving the printer head. This avoids the need for a continous data transmission to the printer head requiring a costly cable and associated space and other problems. Instead data to be printed can be downloaded to the printer head at intervals by a data transfer device provided at the end of the movement of the printer head.

Abstract: An output apparatus to which a plurality of detachable character pattern generators (font cartridges) can be attached comprises: a first character generator which is provided in the output apparatus main body and includes character pattern information constructed by a storing method other than an unprocessed dot matrix; a second character generator which is detachable from the output apparatus main body and includes character pattern information constructed by a storing method other than the unprocessed dot matrix; a socket to attach the second character generator to the apparatus main body; a discriminating circuit to decide whether the second character generator has keen attached to the socket or not; a controller for preferentially converting the characters included in the second character generator into the character patterns in the unprocessed dot matrix form that the characters included in the first character generator when the second character generator has been set to the socket and for storing the co

Abstract: A media handling subsystem picks a media sheet from a stack, then moves the picked sheet along a media path. Any skewing of the media sheet existing in the media stack or occurring during the pick cycle is removed before the sheet reaches a position to receive print markings. In particular, the alignment of the skewed media sheet is altered (i.e., the sheet is moved) to square the media sheet to the media path. An electro-optic sensor detects when the top of a media sheet enters between a drive roller and pinch roller. Upon entering, the media sheet moves a mechanical flag into the light circuit of the optical sensor. After the media sheet trips the flag, the drive roller moves the top edge of the media sheet backward along the media path out of the grasp of the pinch roller and drive roller. As the sheet moves out of the grasp, the top edge of the sheet falls into squared alignment with the drive roller and pinch roller. The squared media sheet then is moved forward tripping the flag again.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting operating parameters of a printer using bar code images to achieve optimal print quality. A reader operates in conjunction with a bar code printer and scans the output images printed by the printer. A verifier analyzes the scanned image to determine the quality of the output image. The system adjusts printer operating parameters, such as print speed, print head pressure, and burn duration to optimize the quality of the output image for a selected quality grade of output image. Adjustments are made in a closed-loop fashion without the need for user intervention.

Abstract: A character output apparatus outputs characters of arbitrary size with vector character fonts, in which the vector character font is associated with data indicating the effective size range and alternative font to be used outside the effective size range, in order to obtain clear character output in any size.

Abstract: A plurality of types of format data items are stored in a format storage section according to the width of a label tape and the number of lines of print data. A tape width sensing section senses the width of the label tape. A control section senses the number of lines of print data. The control section reads from the format storage section a plurality of formats corresponding to the sensed label tape width and the number of lines of print data sensed, and displays them on a display section. The user selects a suitable one from the plurality of formats displayed. The control section causes a printing section to print the entered data on the label tape according to the selected format.

Abstract: A mechanism for preventing rattling between a display cover that is pivotable about a chassis includes a first engagement surface associated with a display cover, and a second engagement surface associated with a chassis, the first and second engagement surfaces being slidably rotatable to allow the display cover to pivot about the chassis in a rotational range defined between open and closed positions. The mechanism includes a device for substantially preventing relative axial movement between the first and second engagement surfaces in the rotatable range. An elongated arcuate segment mounted on the first engagement surface mates with a corresponding elongated slot formed on the second engagement surface. The slot may be sized and dimensioned so as to constitute a stop for the positioning projection so that damage can be prevented that would otherwise occur between the liquid crystal display panel and the keyboard.

Abstract: A label printer includes a communication interface for sequentially inputting issue label data; a frame memory for storing print pattern data; a printing unit for printing print pattern data stored in the frame memory; and a processing circuit for creating print pattern data corresponding to input issue label data in the frame memory. With the above label printer, the processing circuit determines an empty area of the frame memory which is different from an area occupied by the to-be-printed print pattern data when issue label data is input from the communication interface and creates print pattern data corresponding to input issue label data in the empty area.

Abstract: An interactive dye thermal transfer printing apparatus and process uses a dye donor layer and a dye receiver layer, passing the dye donor layer and the opposed receiver layer between a thermal print head and a platen heated to raise the temperature of the dye receiver layer to its glass transition temperature. The thermal print head is image-wise energized to diffuse dye from the dye donor layer to the dye receiver layer. At the same time, thermal energy is transferred from the platen to the dye receiver layer to provide energy to react the dye with the receiver layer.

Abstract: A continuous form electrophotographic printer includes a paper feeding apparatus and control system to control a level of tension between two paper feeding elements. A detector is responsive to changes in tension between the two elements, and the speed of one of the elements is adjusted in response to a change in tension if a change is recorded. The detector takes the form of a rotatable lever pressing on the continuous paper and responsive to paper tension.

Abstract: Method and tool for fracturing the interface between dental structure that have been cemented together. The method is accomplished by positioning a rapid impacting tool at about 90.degree. against the one side of the lower portion of a cap covering a tooth. The opposite side of the cap is abutted with a kinetic energy absorber. The flexing against the cap is small while the frequency is high.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transportation velocity of a printhead carriage of a serial printer is disclosed. The printhead carriage is driven by a motor via a timing belt. First, a characteristic equation, which includes a motor speed, a current applied to said motor, an equivalent disturbance indicating environmental variations affecting said motor speed, is discreted. Thereafter, the equivalent disturbance is estimated using the characteristic equation which has been discreted. A value of the equivalent disturbance is determined and subsequently, a value of the equivalent disturbance compensating level is calculated using a discrete low pass filter. Finally, a current to be applied to said motor is obtained by adding a compensating level of the controller to the level of the equivalent disturbance.