Abstract: An ink liquid supply system for an ink jet system printer includes an ink intake needle formed in a body of the ink liquid supply system, and an ink cartridge removably mounted on the body of the ink liquid supply system. The ink cartridge includes an opening covered by a rubber seal through which the ink intake needle is inserted when the ink cartridge is mounted on the body of the ink liquid supply system. An ink liquid absorbing pad is attached to the rubber seal so as to cover the seal rubber. The ink liquid absorbing pad functions to prevent the ink liquid from dripping onto the body of the ink liquid supply system when the ink cartridge containing ink is denounted from the body of the ink liquid supply system.

Abstract: In a printer including a platen rotatably provided around a first axis and a plurality of recording member pressing rollers rotatably provided around a second axis parallel with the first axis in which a recording member is forwarded to a printing position around the platen faced with a printing head and is pressed on the platen by the recording member pressing rollers, a recording member pressing device comprises a memory for storing positioning information of at least one of the pressing rollers depending on the size of the recording member, a recording member size detector for detecting the size of the inputted recording member, read-out means responsive to the recording member size detector for reading out the positioning information stored in the memory, and positioning means responsive to the read-out means for slidably moving the at least one of the pressing rollers along the second axis and setting the pressing position of the at least one of the pressing rollers.

Abstract: An ink liquid supply system for an ink jet system printer includes an atmospheric pressure chamber interposed between an ink tank and a pressurizing pump. An air buffer is immersed in an ink liquid contained in the atmospheric pressure chamber. The air buffer is surrounded by a resilient wall and the inside of the air buffer is communicated with the atmosphere through an air inlet. When the ink liquid contained in the atmospheric pressure chamber freezes, the expansion of the ink liquid is absorbed by the air buffer, thereby preventing the explosion of the atmospheric pressure chamber.

Abstract: A piezo activated liquid supply pump system includes a cylinder shaped vibration pipe made of a piezo element, and a cone shaped pressure chamber surrounded by a rubber wall. The cone shaped pressure chamber is disposed in the cylinder shaped vibration pipe in a manner that a cavity is formed therebetween. Polyethylene glycol is filled in the cavity for transferring the vibration of the piezo element to the rubber wall of the cone shaped pressure chamber. The volume of the pressure chamber varies in response to the vibration of the piezo element to achieve the liquid supply. The cone configuration of the pressure chamber ensures an effective removal of air bubbles from the pressure chamber. The cavity is communicated with a buffer chamber so as to introduce the polyethylene glycol into the buffer chamber when the liquid contained in the pressure chamber freezes, whereby the expansion of the pressure chamber caused by the freezing of the liquid is absorbed.

Abstract: A card reading assembly includes a drive for driving a card carrying recordings on one or more entry regions thereon along the course of travel typically due to the force of gravity on the card. A plurality of stops force the card to a temporary stop during the course of its travel and a pickup head disposed in the course of travel of said card scans said entry regions of the card arrested by the stops for reading the recordings on the entry regions.