Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print roller, a platen roller and an ink roller mounted between a pair of upright supports secured to a support surface. The platen roller is resiliently biased against the print roller, and is preferably supported independently of the upright supports by a spring-biased lever and cam assembly. The printing apparatus is especially constructed for printing accordian arrays of cards, having delicate masking material thereon, and includes a feed tray with a feed stop and a take-up tray with a take-up stop each located at a position within a defined ratio with respect to the length of a single card in the array. The platen roller is preferably biased within a selected range to prevent damage to the masking material. A drive mechanism rotates the print roller which, in turn, drives the platen roller either by direct pressure or through gears.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by the positions of gears. The mechanism for selecting a postage value is controlled by the same drive system that operates the print drum for printing the postage on a mailpiece.

Abstract: A shoe in the form of a cylindrical screw is rotatably threaded through a carriage supporting a print head and has one end held slidably against a guide rail parallel to a main guide shaft on which the carriage is movable parallel to the platen of an impact printer. The shoe is rotated about its own axis to tilt the carriage and hence the print head to adjust the spacing between the print head and the platen. The shoe is rotated by a gap change lever angularly movably supported on the carriage and having teeth for mesh with a gear mounted on the shoe. For initializing the spacing between the print head and the platen, the gear on the shoe is displaced out of mesh with the teeth of the gap change lever and rotated to turn the shoe. To achieve a desired spacing between the print head and the platen, the gear on the shoe is moved into mesh with the teeth of the gap change lever, and the gap change lever is turned to rotate the gear and the shoe for angular movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A paper feeder for use in dispensing paper into a printer with sensors for leading and trailing edges of paper and with a platen which rotates in a forward imprinting direction in response to a leading edge and in a backward, paper-ejecting direction in response to a trailing edge, the paper feeder comprising a paper holder, at least one rotatable drive roller to operably contact paper in the holder, and a drive train connecting the platen to the roller and controlled exclusively by such connection to cause no roller rotation in response to forward platen rotation, and to cause roller rotation in a paper-dispensing direction in response to backward platen rotation; the drive train is arranged so that the roller delivers paper to a paper-loading position on the printer not before the platen completes paper ejection; whereby backwards platen rotation provides simultaneous paper ejection and dispensing.

Abstract: A print timing circuit for a printer has a reciprocating carriage and at least one printing element mounted on the carriage. The print timing circuit includes a carriage controller for reciprocating the carriage and an encoder for detecting the speed of movement of the carriage and generating an encoder signal representative of the speed of movement of the carriage. An oscillator produces a print timing signal to control operation of the printing element. A frequency divider and comparator divides the encoder signal by N, where N is an integer. It also divides the print timing signal by M, where M is an integer. Then, it compares the phase relationship of the divided signals and provides an adjustment signal representative of the phase relationship of the divided signals to the oscillator.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by the positions of axially displaceable racks which in turn are controlled by a helical nut and pinion system which is driven by motor.

Abstract: Readable Braille dot matrix formations are easily formed and utilized to print Braille books and the like. A belt forms an endless loop and has a number of small holes each for receiving a ball. An upper horizontal or slightly inclined path of the belt is supported by and drawn in contact with an underlying support. The belt has a smaller thickness than the diameter of the balls, and the uppermost parts of the balls extend above the upper face of the belt so that they may be tactilly perceived. Empty belt holes are filled with balls at a first area of the belt along its path, and some of the balls are selectively removed from the belt holes at another, second area along the looped path. Selective removal of the balls may be provided by disposing slots in the underlying support with piezoelectric bars providing movable obstacles in the slots. Alternatively electromagnets disposed above the balls may be provided.

Abstract: A feeder for a printer serves for guiding and/or advancing the record carrier. Tractors (1a and 1b) placed in a pair are provided. The tractors (1a and 1b) have hinged parts which can be adjusted in different hinged positions by pivoting bearings (11). To provide hinged part on printers, particularly dot matrix printers, with simple pivoting bearings that can be produced economically and to eliminate a special fastener for the pivoted positions, a spring steel wire piece (18) cut to length serves as a pivot pin (17) and for fixing of the closed and open end positions of the hinged part (10). The spring steel wire piece (18) is put under tension by bending.

Abstract: A multiple registration position screen mounting apparatus or printing head assembly particularly well-suited for screen printing of jersey numerals of like indicia on garments. The printing head assembly of the present invention includes a screen receiving socket portion slideably mounted for horizontal movement between a plurality of releasably fixed registration positions related to the desired placement of one and two digit numerals on athletic jerseys or the like. The printing head assembly is fixed to a conventional vertically pivoted arm mounted on a main frame adjacent to a pallet and includes a pair of horizontal guide bars upon which a carriage forming a screen receiving socket portion is slideably mounted. A registration plate is fixed to the main frame and is provided with spaced positioning slots adapted to mate with a locking pin depending from the socket portion to releasably fit the socket portion in one of the predetermined positions of travel along the guide bars.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal printer comprising a thermal head, and means for inhibiting an energization signal for heat generation of said thermal head. The inhibition means prevents the thermal head from being energized when it is in a non-operational position thereby preventing damage to the thermal head.

Abstract: In printing apparatus including structure for changing a value to be printed and structure for selecting a value to be printed, wherein the former includes a plurality of banks, each of which includes a print wheel having a plurality of print elements, and the latter includes structure for selecting each bank and structure for selecting each print element of a selected bank, and structure for driving the bank and print element selection structure, wherein the driving structure includes an output shaft, and structure for selectively coupling the shaft to the bank and print element selection structure, the improvement for controlling the value selection structure, the improvement comprising: the driving structure including a d.c.

Abstract: A paper loading system for use in a printer has a platen and a paper bail mounted with two rollers. A carriage having a projection is provided to move parallelly to the platen. At the free end of the projection, a photodetector is provided to detect an edge of a loaded paper so as to memorize the opposite ends of the loaded paper. When the paper bail is in a pressing position at which rollers are holding the paper on a path of advance of the paper, no engagement is accomplished between the projection and the rollers. But when the paper bail is in a releasing position at which rollers are separated from the path to release the paper, the projection may come into contact with rollers to change the position of rollers. Using the memorized data, the movements of the carriage and the paper bail are controlled to locate the rollers at the opposite side rims of the loaded paper.

Abstract: A paper feed system in a printer includes a platen for supporting a recording paper sheet, a paper feed drive motor, and a transmission gear mechanism for transferring the rotation of the paper feed drive motor to the platen so as to conduct an automatic paper feed operation. The paper feed system further allows a manual paper feed operation wherein the platen is manually rotated. A detection system is provided which detects the manual paper feed operation. If the manual paper feed operation has been conducted before the automatic paper feed operation, a compensating paper drive is first conducted when an automatic paper feed instruction is developed. In the compensating paper drive, the platen is first driven to rotate in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount and, then to rotate in the forward direction by the same amount, thereby compensating for the displacement of the paper sheet location caused by the backlash of the transmission gear mechanism during the manual paper feed operation.

Abstract: A fan-folded type ink ribbon cartridge in which an ink ribbon is regularly folded to have a constant width and is enclosed in an enclosing space of a cartridge casing. This cartridge is provided with a plurality of projections which are arranged to face one another on the mutually facing inner surfaces of the cartridge casing near the outlet of the enclosing space of the cartridge casing. Each gap which is formed by the projections facing each other is set to be more narrow than the folding width of the ink ribbon. These gaps may be set to be constant or they may be set so as to gradually become more narrow towards the outlet of the enclosing space. The ink ribbon is hooked by the projections and the folding width is gradually reduced, so that the ink ribbon can be stably pulled out with minimal load variation. In addition, the ink ribbon is prevented from falling down due to the pressure of the inlet side of the enclosing space or due to the weight of the ribbon itself.

Abstract: A feeder for an edge-punched record carrier (3) which can be installed on existing printers with only slight structural changes on the printer. To be able to process continuous record carriers trouble-free even in an unfavorable position of the paper supply, with a method of construction that is suitable for mass production and in which the parts can be economically produced and mounted, the feeder (6) forms a self-supporting frame including side supports (7a, 7b) which can be connected to the printer frame (1a) by means of a pair of suspension hooks (13, 14) provided on each side support (7a, 7b). The suspension hooks (13, 14) are mounted on corresponding fastening bolts (15, 16). A cover (18) for the drive elements is mounted on one of the side supports (7a, 7b). A catch (17) is provided on the cover (18) which serves to maintain the feeder (6) in operating position.

Abstract: In combination with apparatus for printing indicia on a sheet, and a microcomputer for controlling the indicia printing apparatus to cause the indicia to be printed a predetermined marginal distance from an edge of the sheet, there is provided an improvement for changing the marginal distance. The improvement comprises: operator-controlled apparatus for providing at least one signal representative of at least one increment of distance; and programming the microcomputer for processing the at least one signal to provide a changed marginal distance, wherein the changed marginal distance includes the predetermined distance changed by the at least one increment of distance.

Abstract: A method for first day of issue authentication of sheets of original stamps containing a selvage edge integrally formed with the sheet of stamps during printing wherein the method comprises affixing an extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated in-line with an exposed portion of the selvage edge, a First Day of Issue cancellation seal then is applied to the exposed portion of the selvage edge in a manner such that the bulls eye and a portion of the killer bar segments containing the first day of issue notice is applied directly to the selvage edge and only the terminal ends of the killer bar extend to and cancel the extra original stamp.

Abstract: A dual station printer mechanism (10) including a first feed roller (22), a second feed roller (24), drive means (16) having an output shaft (20) for driving the first and second feed rollers (22, 24) and coupling means in the form of one-way clutches (34, 36) for selectively coupling and decoupling the first and second feed rollers (22, 24) from the output shaft of the drive means. Mechanism (10) further preferably includes a first pressure roller (68) normally biased against first feed roller (22) and a second pressure roller (80) normally biased against second feed roller (24) for enabling effective movement of first and second data carriers respectively therebetween to a position between a printhead 70 and a print bar 72 at which printing occurs.

Abstract: Sheet handling apparatus is provided which includes structure for feeding a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, for sensing the sheet in the path of travel and providing at least one sensing signal indicative thereof, for printing postage indicia on the sheet, and for controlling the printing structure. The sensing structure is coupled to the controlling structure, which includes a microcomputer adapted to be energized from a local source of supply of power. The microcomputer is responsive to the at least one sensing signal for providing a time delay before commencement of operation of the printing structure to cause the postage indicia to be printed on the sheet a predetermined marginal distance from a reference edge of the sheet. The controlling structure includes a keyboard coupled to the microcomputer. The keyboard includes at least one key selectively operable for generating at least one key signal representative of a desired change in the marginal distance.

Abstract: A printer according to the present invention having a vertical type body, so as to remarkably reduce a bottom surface area of the printer. A paper feed mechanism, a platen and a carrier are arranged on a front side of the body, so as to readily set a paper and exchange a printing ribbon. A power source block which forms the heaviest part including a transformer, etc. is arranged at a lower portion on a rear side of the body by utilizing a dead space on the rear side, so as to enhance stability. Further, a handle is provided at an upper portion of the vertical body, so as to allow for easy transport of the body.