Abstract: An input/output device including a reading and a printing head of reciprocating shuttle type for reading and printing of images on respective first and second media. The reading head has reading portions spaced apart along the width of the first medium at a pitch greater than a desired reading pitch, while the printing head has printing portions spaced apart along the width of the second medium at a pitch greater than a desired printing pitch. The printing and reading heads are reciprocated as a unit along the width of the media to effect reading and printing with desired reading resolution and printing density, with the reading head pressed on the first medium, and with the printing portions pressed on the second medium. The input/output device comprises an actuator for selectively effecting either separation of the reading and printing heads from the first and second media, respectively, or pressed contact of the reading and printing heads with the media, respectively.

Abstract: An optical reading head is an optical reader for photoelectric reading of images on a medium, comprising a plural light-emitting optical fibers for transmitting beams of light from light emitting elements to the surface of the medium, and plural light-receiving optical fibers for transmitting beams of reflected light from the medium surface to light-sensitive elements. The ends of the light-emitting and light-receiving optical fibers opposite to the medium surface are positioned in first and second rows, respectively, at a predetermined pitch. The ends of the light-receiving optical fibers are displaced relative to the ends of the light-emitting optical fibers along the first and second rows by a distance equal to a half of the predetermined pitch. Also disclosed is an optical reader comprising the above-described optical reading head, and a control device for controlling the operations of the light emitting elements, so that the resolution of the reading head is variable in two steps.

Abstract: A printing apparatus with an image reading device, having a platen extending along a line of printing, a guide rod extending parallel to the platen, a carriage movable on the guide rod, and a printing head which is mounted on the carriage to effect a printing operation a recording medium on the platen. The image reading device comprises: a pair of support portions which slidably engage the guide rod so as to sandwich the carriage in a direction parallel to the line of printing; a bridging portion connecting the support portions such that the support portions are immovable relative to each other; an image-reading portion supported immovably relative to the support portions and the bridging portion, and having an operative position adjacent to the surface of the recording medium, for reading images on the surface; and a control circuit fixed to the bridging portion, for controlling an image-reading operation of the image-reading portion.

Abstract: A facsimile-printer combination of a dot-matrix type, including: a first and a second printing device operable in a fascimile mode and a printer mode according to first and second printing information, respectively, for selectively producing dots on a recording medium, at a first printing pitch in metric and a second printing pitch in inch unit, respectively, in a direction of width of the recording medium; a first and a second feeding device in association with the first and second printing devices, for feeding the recording medium at a first feeding pitch the metric unit and a second feeding pitch in the inch unit, respectively, in a direction of length of the recording medium; an input device for receiving the first and second printing information output devices; and a selector device for rendering the first printing and feeding devices operative when the first printing information is received by the input device, and rendering the second printing and feeding devices operative when the second printing info

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising: an elongate platen; a guide member extending parallel to the platen; a carriage slidably movable on the guide member; a printing head mounted on the carriage; an image reading device including an image-reading portion for reading images on a recording medium on the platen, the image-reading portion being movable between a reading position adjacent to the recording medium, and a retracted position spaced from the reading position in a direction away from the recording medium; and a device for engagement of the image reading device with the carriage, to permit the image reading device to move together with the carriage. The image reading device may be supported pivotally by the guide member in the form of a rod. The carriage may have a stopper abutable on the image reading device to determine the reading position of the image-reading portion. The apparatus may further comprise a member for checking optical sensitivity of the image reading device.

Abstract: An image reader for reading images on a surface of a medium, having a feeding device for feeding the medium, carriage movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of feed of the medium, a driving device for moving the carriage, and a reading head mounted on the carriage for reading the images on the medium surface. The image reader comprises an area setter for setting a reading area on the medium surface within which the images are read by the reading head. The reading area is set while the reading head is moved relative to the medium by the feeding and driving devices. The image reader further comprises a controller for controlling the feeding and driving devices and the reading head, to cause the reading head to read the images within the set reading area while the reading area is scanned by the reading head.

Abstract: An optical reader with a reading head including first optical fibers for transmitting light beams from an emitter to emit light beams from their first ends to irradiate corresponding illumination spots on a medium, and further including second optical fibers having first ends which are located adjacent to the first ends of the respective first optical fibers and which receive the beams reflected from corresponding reflection spots on the medium, for transmitting the reflected beams to a light-sensitive device. The first and second optical fibers constitute plural reading units, and their first ends constitute their image-reading portions. The light-sensitive device produces a signal indicating a light reflectance in an overlapping spot where the illumination spot overlaps the reflection spot. The image-reading portions are spaced apart at a pitch sufficient to prevent the illumination spot of one of the reading units from overlapping the reflection spot of the adjacent reading unit.

Abstract: An image sensing head of an image reading device and a method of producing same are disclosed. The image sensing head includes a plurality of optical fibers and light emitting and light receiving elements supported in a manner to provide a unitary structure. The optical fibers of the light emitting side and the optical fibers of the light receiving side are each formed as a sheet and arranged such that the read-out ends of the optical fibers of the light emitting side are located in positions in which they supply read-out light beams to an image surface of a document and the light emitting ends thereof are located in positions corresponding to those of the light emitting elements while the read-out ends of the optical fibers of the light receiving side are located in positions in which they receive light beams reflected by the image surface of the document and the light receiving ends thereof are located in positions corresponding to those of the light receiving elements.

Abstract: An image sensing head including a block, a multiplicity of light emitting optical fibers, a multiplicity of light receiving optical fibers, a multiplicity of light emitting elements connected to the light emitting optical fibers and a multiplicity of light receiving elements connected to the light receiving optical fibers. A thin sheet formed with an opening in a portion thereof which faces the sensing end portions of the light emitting and light receiving optical fibers is attached to one side of the image sensing head, so that a predetermined clearance can be maintained between the sensing side end portions of the light emitting and light receiving optical fibers and a document surface to be sensed by the image sensing head.

Abstract: A process for consecutively coating both sides of a continuously travelling web, which comprises coating a first coating solution onto a first side of a continuously travelling web to form a coated layer thereon, supplying a second coating solution while the coated layer on the first side of the travelling web is still in a non-dry state, using a bar which is supported by a supporting member and which rotates in contact with the web in the same direction as the travelling direction of the web in such a manner that a liquid pool of the second coating solution is formed immediately before the position where the bar comes into contact with the web while supporting the first coated side of the web with a pressurized gas, and applying the second coating solution to the second side of the web opposite to the first coated side using the bar.