Abstract: A waste ink tank including: a first storing section that stores waste ink and has an evaporation opening for the waste ink; a second storing section that stores the waste ink and is deeper than the first storing section, the second storing section having an evaporation opening which is smaller than that of the first storing section; and a waste ink receiving section which connects the first storing section and the second storing section and into which the waste ink is made to flow, the waste ink receiving section connecting the first storing section and the second storing section at a bottom surface thereof that is horizontal when the waste ink tank is used.

Abstract: A waste ink tank including: a first storing section that stores waste ink and has an evaporation opening for the waste ink; a second storing section that stores the waste ink and is deeper than the first storing section, the second storing section having an evaporation opening which is smaller than that of the first storing section; and a waste ink receiving section which connects the first storing section and the second storing section and into which the waste ink is made to flow, the waste ink receiving section connecting the first storing section and the second storing section at a bottom surface thereof that is horizontal when the waste ink tank is used.

Abstract: In a printer of which the installation area is significantly reduced, a paper roller, a pressure roller, an eject roller, and a spur roller carry printing paper at an angle of T to a horizontal plane. A stacker for storing the printed paper horizontally therein includes a fixed stacker base formed by part of a housing bottom wall and an auxiliary stacker that can be pushed in and pulled out from under the stacker base. This design shortens a horizontal distance between the paper feed roller and the eject roller, forms the stacker base under a printing mechanism sufficiently long, and shortens the auxiliary stacker in the stacker. Consequently, the total length of the printer with the auxiliary stacker fully extended can be reduced, and the entire auxiliary stacker can be accommodated under the printer.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprises an ink jet print head with detachable ink cartridges, a carriage holding the print head, a controller for controlling their actions, and an outer case having an opening formed for detachment of the ink cartridge and mounting of a new ink cartridge. To the outer case, a manual operation key and an opening/closing cover for closing the opening are attached. The opening and closing of the opening/closing cover are detected by a sensor. The manual operation key has two action modes. When the opening/closing cover is opened, the controller switches the action modes from a sheet feed mode to a mode for moving the carriage to a region opposed to the opening for detachment of the ink cartridge and mounting of a new ink cartridge. The number of operation keys is decreased, and key operation becomes easy. A display of an action is made on the outer case and the opening/closing cover so that each action can be known whether the opening/closing cover is open or closed.

Abstract: The sheet feeder of a recorder includes a sheet support, a shaft extending over the support, a feed roller rotatable on the axis of the shaft, and collars mounted rotatably around the shaft. Disks may be formed on the shaft. Each of the collars is supported rotatably on one of the disks. The inner periphery of at least one of the collars in the widthwise middle area of the support is spaced from the periphery of the associated disk. Even if the support is curved in such a manner that it is convex toward the roller, the distance between the shaft axis and the point or line where the at least one of the collars is in compressive contact with the top one of the sheets stacked on the support is shorter than the distances between the axis and the points or lines where the collars near the lateral ends of the support are in compressive contact with the top sheet. All of the collars can keep the roller and the sheet spaced at a predetermined distance from each other. Consequently, the sheets can be fed properly.

Abstract: When performing printing by the ink jet head 13, the control unit 78 controls the step motor 75 to rotate counterclockwise by the first number of steps corresponding to the paper feeding quantity of one-line and, after the paper feeding of one-line, to rotate clockwise by the second number of steps smaller than the first number of steps to thereby rotate the paper supply roller 70 clockwise through the middle gear 74 and the driven gear 73, during which the back-tension generated in the paper sheet S is removed. Accordingly, a constant paper feeding quantity can be maintained without regard to the back-tension, providing a stable paper feeding accuracy. Since the back-tension has been removed from the paper sheet S whenever characters and the like are printed on the paper sheet S, in combination of the stable paper feeding accuracy, high printing quality can be obtained without the occurrence of white lines in the printed characters.

Abstract: In a printer of the type in which printing is carried out on a recording medium with a print element through an ink ribbon interposed between the print element and a sheet or paper, a ribbon cassette accommodating therein the ink ribbon has a ribbon stopper removably provided for limiting the movement of the ink ribbon within the ribbon cassette. A switch is provided for detecting the presence of the ribbon stopper in the ribbon cassette when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the printer. If the ribbon stopper is detected by the switch, then a ribbon feed motor is not energized so that the ink ribbon is not withdrawn from the ribbon cassette. Thus, the ink ribbon will not be cut off, which may otherwise be caused if the ribbon is forcibly withdrawn without removing the ribbon stopper.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print head for a printer which performs a printing operation with dots on a printing medium. The print head is provided with an armature and a wire holder fixed to the armature. A print wire is rigidly joined to the free end of the wire holder. The forward end portion of the print wire extends toward the printing medium through a guide slot formed in a guide member. The side surface of the forward end portion of the print wire on the side opposite to the side on which the armature is disposed slides along the wall defining the guide slot at least during the printing operation.

Abstract: A print head for dot printers comprising a plurality of actuators each including an armature supported on a holder through a torsion spring and having at its end a printing wire. The torsion spring is inserted in and bonded to the inner wall of through-holes of the bifurcated end portion of one of the armature and holder and to the inner wall of through-hole of the other of them, and has larger diameter portions fitted in the through-holes and smaller diameter portions interposed between the larger diameter portions. The smaller diameter portions of the torsion spring are formed in the concave section to avoid the concentration of torsional stress in the stepped boundary portions.

Abstract: A print head for impact type dot matrix printer having means for air-cooling the interior of the print head elevated in temperature due to the generation of heat of solenoid coils, the air cooling means is constituted in such a manner that the outer face of the print head along the direction of movement thereof is formed so as to cause the faster flow of air along said outer face when the print head is moved, and said outer face is provided with ventilating hole means which communicates the interior of the print head and the outside. When the print head is moved, it causes the faster flow along said outer face to thereby draw the air from the interior of the print head through the ventilating hole means due to the difference in pressure.