Abstract: A cutter for a printer is provided, together with corresponding methods. The cutter has a fixed blade and a movable blade. The fixed blade is arranged on a cover bracket. The cover bracket is movable between an open and a closed position. The movable blade is arranged on a printer frame. The movable blade is adapted to move from a home position into engagement with the fixed blade for cutting paper media during a cutting action. In the open position of the cover bracket, the fixed blade and movable blade are separated, enabling paper jams to be cleared and paper to be loaded.

Abstract: A configurable cutter mechanism for a printer and corresponding methods are provided. The cutter mechanism may comprise a rotary cutter mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and for translation across at least a portion of a width of a paper path perpendicular to the rotation axis. A fixed blade assembly may be provided that is adapted to cooperate with the rotary cutter. The fixed blade assembly may extend across the width of the paper path. A controller may be provided for controlling a variable length of travel of the rotary cutter across the width of the paper path. The paper path runs between the rotary cutter and the fixed blade assembly.

Abstract: A configurable cutter mechanism for a printer and corresponding methods are provided. The cutter mechanism may comprise a rotary cutter mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and for translation across at least a portion of a width of a paper path perpendicular to the rotation axis. A fixed blade assembly may be provided that is adapted to cooperate with the rotary cutter. The fixed blade assembly may extend across the width of the paper path. A controller may be provided for controlling a variable length of travel of the rotary cutter across the width of the paper path. The paper path runs between the rotary cutter and the fixed blade assembly.

Abstract: A cutter for a printer is provided, together with corresponding methods. The cutter comprises a fixed blade and a movable blade. The fixed blade is arranged on a cover bracket. The cover bracket is movable between an open and a closed position. The movable blade is arranged on a printer frame. Means are also provided for moving the movable blade from a home position into engagement with the fixed blade for cutting paper media during a cutting action. In the open position of the cover bracket the fixed blade and movable blade are separated, enabling paper jams to be cleared and paper to be loaded.

Abstract: A dual-purpose printer for printing receipts and validating forms is provided. The printer comprises a receipt drive roller for driving paper through a receipt path, a dual-purpose roller capable of contacting the drive roller, and a validation idler roller adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with the dual-purpose roller. The receipt path is formed between the receipt drive roller and the dual-purpose roller. A validation path is formed between the validation idler roller and the dual-purpose roller. Rotation of the receipt drive roller in a first direction enables driving of paper through the receipt path. When the validation idler roller is in engagement with the dual-purpose roller, rotation of the dual-purpose roller in the first direction enables discharging of a form from the validation path.

Abstract: A dual-purpose printer for printing receipts and validating forms is provided. The printer comprises a receipt drive roller for driving paper through a receipt path, a dual-purpose roller capable of contacting the drive roller, and a validation idler roller adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with the dual-purpose roller. The receipt path is formed between the receipt drive roller and the dual-purpose roller. A validation path is formed between the validation idler roller and the dual-purpose roller. Rotation of the receipt drive roller in a first direction enables driving of paper through the receipt path. When the validation idler roller is in engagement with the dual-purpose roller, rotation of the dual-purpose roller in the first direction enables discharging of a form from the validation path.

Abstract: A system for precisely centering a workpiece within a cylindrical bore such that the center of the workpiece is coaxial with the central axis of the bore. An arbor is used within the cylindrical bore to sense and calculate the location of the central axis. The position of the workpiece is also sensed so that it can be aligned with the central axis. A computer system is used to perform the calculations and provide an indication of alignment of the workpiece and the central axis. The position of the central axis and the workpiece are found via a location determining system that may incorporate electromechanical and optical position sensing systems. For instance, a plurality of light transmitters and light receivers may be used to generate and transmit beams of light used in determining positions. The apparatus has particular application to free piston machines, and particularly free piston coolers.

Abstract: Methods are provided for driving sheets through a transaction-based printer. A sheet drive forwards a sheet through a printing station to a cutting station where the sheet is severed from a spool by a cutter. Movement of a kicker element is coordinated with that of the cutter so that the severed sheet is kicked into a bin located in the top cover of the printer. The printer can be, for example, an ink-jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation or thermal printer used to print tickets, vouchers, coupons or the like.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bursting perforated paper stock are provided. A feed mechanism is provided for feeding perforated paper stock in a feed direction along a paper path in a printer. The perforated paper stock has sections separated by perforations. A loop area is provided in the printer for accumulating one of the sections of the perforated paper stock. A burst element is provided for bursting a perforation of the accumulated section. In order to burst the perforation of the accumulated section, the feed direction is reversed to draw the perforation of the accumulated section against the burst element, thereby separating the section from the perforated paper stock. A paper dispensing mechanism is provided for advancing the separated section out of the loop area and dispensing the section from the printer.

Abstract: A method and system for precisely centering a workpiece within a cylindrical bore such that the center of the workpiece is coaxial with the central axis of the bore. An arbor is used within the cylindrical bore to sense and calculate the location of the central axis. The position of the workpiece is also sensed so that it can be aligned with the central axis. A computer system is used to perform the calculations and provide an indication of alignment of the workpiece and the central axis. The position of the central axis and the workpiece are found via a location determining system that may incorporate electromechanical and optical position sensing systems. For instance, a plurality of light transmitters and light receivers may be used to generate and transmit beams of light used in determining positions. The method has particular application to free piston machines, and particularly free piston coolers.

Abstract: A transaction-based printer has a sheet drive for forwarding a sheet through a printing station to a cutting station where the sheet is severed from a spool by a rotary cutter. A kicker element is mounted in the cutting station. Movement of the kicker element is coordinated through the cutter drive with that of the rotary cutter so that the severed sheet is kicked into a bin located in the top cover of the printer. The printer can be, for example, an ink-jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation or thermal printer used to print tickets, vouchers, coupons or the like.

Abstract: A transaction-based printer has a sheet drive for forwarding a sheet through a printing station to a cutting station where the sheet is severed from a spool by a rotary cutter. A kicker element is mounted in the cutting station. Movement of the kicker element is coordinated through the cutter drive with that of the rotary cutter so that the severed sheet is kicked into a bin located in the top cover of the printer. The printer can be, for example, an ink-jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation or thermal printer used to print tickets, vouchers, coupons or the like.

Abstract: A transaction-based printer has a sheet drive for forwarding a sheet through a printing station to a cutting station where the sheet is severed from a spool by a rotary cutter. A kicker element is mounted in the cutting station. Movement of the kicker element is coordinated through the cutter drive with that of the rotary cutter so that the severed sheet is kicked into a bin located in the top cover of the printer. The printer can be, for example, an ink-jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation or thermal printer used to print tickets, vouchers, coupons or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the nozzles of an ink jet cartridge that is mounted upon the carriage of a small point of sale printer. The carriage is arranged to carry one or more ink cartridges over a reciprocal path of travel through a printing station. The printer contains a drive roller mounted upon a shaft for advancing a substrate through the printing station. A rotor is journalled for free rotation on the shaft adjacent to one end of the drive roller. A rocker arm connects the rotor to a solenoid which when energized moves the rotor from an inoperative position into an operative position. A wiper blade is mounted upon the rotor which is adapted to wipe the nozzles on the ink cartridge when the rotor is in the operative position and to retract the blade out of contact with the nozzles when the rotor is moved into the inoperative position.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having a drive roller assembly for conducting forms into and out of a printing station that is located beneath the drive roller assembly. A pair of sensor units are mounted above the axis of the drive roller for detecting the alignment and registrations of the leading edge of a form as it enters the nip between the drive roller and a biasing plate prior to initiating a validation sequence. A sensor unit is mounted below the axis of the drive roller for detecting the leading edge of a form as it starts to move out of the nip. The validation sequence is terminated when the trailing edge of the form is detected by the two upper sensors. The printer is arranged to process forms in a lengthwise orientation or a widthwise orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus for reciprocally moving one or more ink cartridges through the printing station of an ink jet printer. A carriage having at least one open top compartment equipped with a latching mechanism which is arranged to urge the front face of the ink cartridge into contact with the front wall of the compartment. The latching mechanism includes a frame that is pivotally supported in the rear wall of the compartment so that it can move between a rearwardly canted position into an upright vertical position. A biasing member is pivotally supported in the frame and contains a pair of spaced apart ramps. A spring rotates the biasing member within the frame so that the ramp rides in biasing contact with the back of an ink cartridge being inserted into the compartment as the frame is rotated from the canted position into the upright position.

Abstract: A self-threading and feeding arrangement for a printer including a drop-in supply station, a printing station and a take-up station. A pay-out roller is journaled across the bottom arcuate wall of the supply station for supporting a web of print receiving media placed therein. A take-up spool includes a retainer for interengaging with a lead of the media web to positively draw the web around the rotated spool. The take-up station also includes a slot-like exit guide chute that has a contoured tip for cooperating with the retainer on the take-up spool, during loading of a new roll, to place the web lead into engagement with the retainer. A drive roller, and preferably the pay-out roller, are driven by a first stepping motor, and the take-up spool is driven by a separately actuable second stepping motor.

Abstract: A laser diode alignment apparatus and method for an optical scanner which independently minimizes lateral and angular deviation of a laser beam from the scanner axis. The alignment apparatus includes a socket member and a plug member. The socket member includes a cylindrical wall portion, including a circular inner ridge having an inwardly facing spherical surface, and a base portion coupled to the cylindrical wall portion having a rearwardly facing spherical surface and a circular aperture therethrough. The plug member contains the laser diode and includes a cylindrical front end portion including a spherical front edge section, having the same curvature as the rearwardly facing spherical surface, and a spherical center portion coupled to the cylindrical front end portion having the same curvature as the inwardly facing spherical surface. The plug member has a beam origin point coinciding with the diode's combined center of rotation and pivot point.

Abstract: An impact printing apparatus includes an armature and print wire assembly in which a plastic arm is injection molded to interact with recesses in an armature and to surround a portion of a print wire to provide a rigid interconnection between the armature and the print wire.