Abstract: A thermal printer is provided with an integrated sensor that detects the printhead position without requiring a custom cable assembly or other sensing components. The thermal printer comprises a rotatable platen and a printhead disposed relative to each other to define a print region therebetween through which a print media is transported. The printhead may be selectively pivoted between a closed position abutting the platen and an open position substantially separated from the platen. The printhead is operable to print information onto the print media as the print media is transported by rotation of the platen when the printhead is pivoted to the closed position. The printhead further comprises a circuit board coupled thereto that is pivotable in cooperation with the printhead. The circuit board is operably coupled to a central controller to receive control signals and provide the control signals to the printhead.

Abstract: A printer with a reciprocally moving hammerbank with a plurality of hammers thereon is disclosed including a magnet for retaining hammers on the hammerbank of the printer from a firing position. A coil overcomes the magnetism of the magnet by a circuit for reversing the magnetic field. At least a portion of the circuit comprises transistor drivers located directly on the hammerbank of the printer.

Abstract: Thermal printer adapted to detect end of dye donor web by use of light beams. The printer includes a dye donor web supply spindle having a light-reflecting surface thereon. A dye donor web is wound about the spindle, the dye donor web having a predetermined number of substantially transparent color patches therein. A light source disposed near the dye donor web emits an incident light beam containing a predetermined first color penetrating the dye donor web. A portion of the incident light beam that is unabsorbed by the color patches passes through the patches of the dye donor web and is intercepted by the light reflecting surface which reflects the incident light beam. The reflected light defines a reflected light beam that passes through the dye donor web on its way to a detector disposed near the dye donor web. The detector detects the reflected light beam.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus with a sorter, prints which carry original images printed are delivered to bins of the sorter in two sorting steps. In a first sorting step, the prints are delivered to the bins in the grouped state. They are then collected and arranged in proper sequence in a second step using the image forming apparatus. Prior to the second step, the prints are relocated to a sheet tray from the bins. Thereafter, the prints are conveyed by the printing operation of the image forming apparatus, and are delivered to the bins of the sorter. At the end of the second step, the prints on the bins are collected and arranged in proper sequence in accordance with an original document.

Abstract: This invention relates to controllers for printing presses. Such structures of this type, generally, utilize information gathered at earlier production stages, such as, the crease register to improve the through put of later stages, such as, printing.

Abstract: A first pulse signal A of a first drive waveform used when an ambient temperature is 25.degree. C. or less has a peak value of 22 (V). The pulse width WA of the first pulse signal A matches with time T during which a pressure wave uni-directionally travels along the inside of an ink flow passage. A second drive waveform used when the ambient temperature is in excess of 25.degree. C. includes a second pulse signal B used for ejecting ink and a third pulse signal C used for compensating for variations in a residual pressure within the ink flow passage occurs after the ink has been ejected. Both the second pulse signal B and the third pulse signal C have a peak value of 22 (V). The pulse width WB of the second pulse signal B is 0.7 times the uni-directional propagation time T, whereas the pulse width WC of the third pulse signal C is half the uni-directional propagation time T. A delay time D between center time T1M of the second pulse signal B and center time T2M of the third pulse signal C is 3.

Abstract: A printing press programmable logic conversion apparatus and method involves the replacement of a series of OEM relay logic printed circuit boards with a single programmable logic controller or PLC. The PLC is connected into a rack which includes a plurality of male edge connectors attached together and spaced apart to replace the OEM PC boards. The PLC is preprogrammed to emulate the replaced OEM PC boards such that, by removing the OEM PC boards and simply plugging in the PLC rack in their place, an older press can be converted to PLC control within a matter of minutes.

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 method and device for scanning, in connection with the production of a three-dimensional body, an outer contour of a rotating model with a scanning device operating at a scanning angle relative to the rotational axis of the model includes rotatably supporting the model such that the contour to be scanned on the model has a preparation line exposed to the angled scanning device; applying the scanning device towards a surface situated on the model below the preparation line; scanning the contour with the scanning device while simultaneously rotating the model and vertically moving at least one of the scanning device and the model with respect to each other during the contour scanning.

Abstract: A method and a system for signal transmission between two computers is described, wherein one of the computers is fixedly mounted and the other computer is mounted in a rotational element, such as a plate cylinder of a printing machine. The transmission channel includes a rotational transformer. The rotational transformer utilized to transmit the signals is of single channel design. Data collisions resulting from the simultaneous transmission of messages are avoided through detection by the computers. Accordingly, both computers simultaneously transmit the signals present on the transmission channel during the transmission of a message and compare them with the transmitted signals. If an inequality is determined, the transmission procedure is aborted and restarted after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A bus system for a printing machine, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing machine, which includes a plurality of stations designed as computers, which are connected to one another via a bus. In the bus, it is intended that potential errors which occur at unforeseeable times can be detected, without it being necessary to intervene in the line system of the bus. According to the invention, this is achieved in that at least one of the stations has a bus coupler whose transmitting portion is designed for the purpose of outputting bus signals for the purpose of establishing a connection to the other stations, the value of at least one physical variable differing from the value of this variable provided in the line protocol. In the case of a bus designed as an optical waveguide, this is advantageously achieved by one station carrying out the attempt to establish a connection initially at a low transmitted power.

Abstract: A mailing machine includes structure for transporting a mailpiece at a constant speed through the mailing machine in a processing direction; structure for continuously determining a position of the mailpiece in the mailing machine; a first printhead having first nozzles aligned transverse to the processing direction; a second printhead having second nozzles aligned adjacent to the first nozzles and transverse to the processing direction; structure for coordinating the selective energizing of the first and second nozzles in synchronism with each other and the position of the mailpiece so that the first printhead only prints first predetermined columns of ink dots of an indicia image on the mailpiece and the second printhead only prints second predetermined columns of ink dots of the indicia image on the mailpiece, the second predetermined columns of ink dots being in interlaced relationship in the processing direction with the first predetermined columns of ink dots whereby the first and second columns of ink

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a comparator in which a travelling time relating to the printing state on a unit medium by a printer is compared with a preset time when a facsimile data receiver receives a facsimile reception request on a way where the printer is printing or preparing for printing data received by a computer data receiver so that the comparator outputs a reception mode change request; and a controller for shifting a reception mode into a facsimile data reception mode in accordance with the reception mode change request.

Abstract: A line printer having a hammerbank with hammers that are held by a permanent magnet and released by electrically driven coils. The temperature of the coils is determined by the relative resistance of the coils to provide an output equivalent to the temperature of said coils. The resistance is determined as a function of the current through the coils or voltage of the coils which is converted from an analog to a digital value. The attendant method of determining temperature of the coils in the hammerbank is by comparing a pre-established current or voltage value based upon a pre-established temperature of the coil with the current passing through the coil during operation of the hammerbank. The comparison of the current passing through the coil during operation with the pre-established current is provided to a controller for controlling the printer in response to the current differential between the currents which is in turn a function of the operating temperature.

Abstract: A safety device on a printing press, including at least one switch, a mechanical protective device changeable in position for operating the switch, the switch being fastened to a frame of the printing press so as to be adjustable in position and releasable from the frame, and connecting elements by the aid of which the switch is firmly seated on a base plate and held immovably on the frame, includes an intermediate plate formed of a relatively soft material disposed between respective fastening surfaces of the base plate and the frame, the intermediate plate being secured in position against movement in a direction parallel to the fastening surfaces, the fastening surface of the base plate having at least one projection formed of a material relatively harder than the relatively soft material of the intermediate plate, the projection being pressable into the relatively soft material of the intermediate plate by holding forces exerted by the connecting elements perpendicularly to the respective fastening surfac

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a CPU 1, an image formation part 9, an interface 7 for communicating with an external host apparatus 19, an operation panel 8 which includes an operation switch and the like, etc., and a power cutoff circuit 12 which operates in response to an instruction which is expressed by a power save signal 17. The printing apparatus also comprises a voltage monitoring circuit 15 for monitoring a signal level change of a host side signal, such as a strobe signal, which is supplied from the external host apparatus 19. When the voltage level of the host signal is intermediate between a first reference voltage V1 and a second reference voltage V2, the voltage monitoring circuit 18 judges that power supply to the external host apparatus 19 is cut off.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically modifying a print job ticket having a plurality of page tickets is provided. Each page ticket is programmed with one or more print job attributes and each print job attribute is associated with one or more print job characteristics. In practice, one or more values are assigned respectively to the one or print job characteristics. The print job attributes and print job characteristics are stored in memory as a set, and a portion of the set is scanned with a processor to determine each page ticket upon which a print job characteristic first value is located. A set of page tickets is selected from the page ticket(s) determined with the processor and, for at least a portion of the set of page tickets, one or more print job characteristic first values are changed to print job characteristic second values so that the need on the part of a printing system user to manually change print job characteristic first values to print job characteristic second values is minimized.

Abstract: A data printing and outputting apparatus has a host device, and a digital copying machine connected with the host device through a communication line for printing and outputting data. The control section of the digital copying machine, monitoring the printing operation by the digital copying machine, maintains the communication between the host device and the digital copying machine when the trouble with the digital copying machine is a minor one which does not take time to solve, and stop the communication between the host device and the digital copying machine when the trouble is a major one which takes time to solve. The data printing and outputting apparatus, thus, can increase host device's job efficiency by reducing its workload in the communicating operation between the host device and the digital copying machine.

Abstract: A single-pass ink ribbon and a multi-pass ink ribbon are incorporated in a single recording apparatus. An identification mark is attached to one end of the single-pass ribbon (or the multi-pass ink ribbon) so that a ribbon sensor can discriminate two kinds of ribbon from each other to find out which one is used for the printing. With the result of the discrimination, a controller selects an appropriate program to set up a printing condition for the ribbon being used for the printing. A thermal head temperature, a degree of wear of the ribbon and a black ratio of the ribbon may also be taken in account in determining the printing condition. If the thermal head temperature is used, one temperature table is selected from a number of temperature tables which are prepared in advance for respective temperature. The printing condition is determined such that the printing density is maintained as long as the same ink ribbon is used.

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. A sleep mode for a display or keyboard that slows down the scan rate and emitter intensity to increase emitter life. A split keyboard for each hand with an arm rest with an arm strap to attach the keyboard to an operators arm and a strap to attach the keyboard to the arm of a chair. A learning keyboard with a mode for QWERTY or other key pattern keyboards that the position of the operators fingers are tracked and supper imposed on a display, so the operator can see when their finger is over the correct keyboard indicia so correct data entry can be made without looking at the keyboard.