Abstract: A thermal printer drive control apparatus of the type having a thermal print head comprising a plurality of heating elements provides for reliable cost effective thermal head temperature detection by means of producing multiple, different current flow intervals that are applied to binary data to produce data drive signals for the heating elements. The current flow intervals are based upon historical drive data derived from linear temperature conditions sensed at the thermal print head. This information is converted to a digitized representation for use in conjunction with a table placed in memory that provides predetermined current flow intervals based upon the digitized representation. Further, circuitry is provided to produce heating element drive signals having pulse widths based upon the determined current flow intervals.

Abstract: A printer including a mechanism part which permits selective printing on cut sheets of record paper and rolled sheet of record paper, in which the designation of the record paper can be set from a host computer and, if two or more kinds of record paper are designated at the same time, the respective kinds of record paper are can be transferred simultaneously to thereby be able to print the printed contents of the cut sheet paper on the continuous paper as well. Whereby, the printer which can accommodate various kinds of record paper, is simple in structure and highly reliable, includes an inexpensive printing mechanism which provides a good space efficiency, can selectively print cut sheets and continuous paper with a high efficiency, and can print the printed contents of the cut sheet paper on the roll paper at the same time, and a method for controlling the printer.

Abstract: A printing system, according to the present invention, is comprised of a carriage having a thermal print head and associated ink ribbon cartridge, a platen, a label tape cassette, and a suitable housing and control electronics. The thermal print head can be alternatively positioned over the platen for printing on ordinary paper, or positioned to be in contact with the label tape cassette for making adhesive labels. An optical sensor detects when the printing carriage swings beyond the normal plain paper printing range. The thermal print head has sufficient dot forming capability and the control electronics is designed to support the printing of many fonts, including Japanese Kanji (Chinese characters), Hiragana, Katakana, and Romaji (e.g., English alphabet).

Abstract: A printer for printing on at least two types of recording sheet using a single print head arranged at a single printing section. The printer includes a first recording sheet forwarding path, a second sheet forwarding path, a first recording sheet forwarding mechanism, a second recording sheet forwarding mechanism, a printing section opening/closing mechanism, a first recording sheet path opening/closing mechanism, a second recording sheet path opening/closing mechanism, a single recording sheet detector, and a recording sheet blocking mechanism.

Abstract: A portable printing system is provided for printing an image, such as alphanumeric or symbol information on a moveable recording medium, such as a tape, a sheet or the like, by means of manual scanning of the recording medium relative to the printing system. The printing system comprises a hand-held printer unit including a print head having an array of printing elements in combination with an adjacently disposed drive roller both disposed in cooperative arrangement along one edge of the printer unit. The drive roller is coupled to an encoder inside the unit that generates timing pulses upon rotational movement of the drive roller which control the rate of printing at the printing head of the printer to synchronize printing with the rate of movement of the recording medium relative to the printer unit.

Abstract: A crankshaft support structure comprises a crankshaft, a crankcase for supporting the crankshaft, a lubricant-sealed bearing interposed between the crankshaft and the crankcase. This structure enables the amount of a lubricant in combustion gas to be reduced and the structure of an engine to be simplified by avoiding the provision of a oil passage for suppling the bearing with a lubricant.

Abstract: An IC chip socket for receiving an IC bare chip carrier includes a guide member for guiding the periphery of the IC chip carrier. The guide member supports a plurality of connector pins having one end projecting within the guide member and another end projecting without the guide member. The connector pins electrically connect the electrodes of the chip carrier to the electronic circuit substrate. The respective ends of the connector pins projecting within the guide member are brought into contact with the electrodes of the IC chip carrier. The ends of the connector pins which project without the guide member are connectable with the electrodes mounted on the surface of the electronic circuit substrate.

Abstract: A print controlling apparatus for a thermal printer which is adapted to print with a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements on thermal paper or on non-thermal paper or thermal ink ribbon, is provided. The print controlling apparatus includes a processor for processing data to be printed and then outputting the data. A head control circuit devices coupled between the processor and thermal head for converting the data to be printed output from the processor to energizing signals for selectively heating the heat generating elements. The heat control circuit device includes a timing mechanism for providing at least two predetermined energizing intervals. A storage mechanism stores the present print data and at least one previous print data. A gating circuit coupled to the timing mechanism and storage mechanism produces energizing signals for each of the heat generating elements by logically combining the predetermined energizing intervals and present print data and previous print data.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing on a printing sheet. A print head with print elements opposes a platen and the printing sheet is located between the print head and platen. A head up-down mechanism for moving the print head toward and away from the platen has a biasing mechanism, a head release mechanism, and a change mechanism. The biasing mechanism includes an elastic member for urging the print head against the platen at least two levels of biasing force in the head down position. The head release mechanism selectively relieves the biasing force on the print head. The change mechanism effects selection between at least two levels of the biasing force produced from the force generated by the elastic member. The biasing force is related to the head movement speed or sheet movement speed. The energy applied to the print elements is based on the biasing force. A detection of the smoothness of the paper results in a variation in the biasing force on the print head.

Abstract: A carriage mechanism for a printer comprises an ink ribbon take-up mechanism for taking up an ink ribbon, a head moving mechanism for moving a printing head which is provided on a carriage between a printing position where the printing head can carry out a printing operation by transferring ink coated on the ink ribbon on a recording paper and a non-printing position where the printing head does not carry out the printing operation, and a single driving source for selectively driving the ink ribbon take-up mechanism and the head moving mechanism.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer having an ink ribbon winding mechanism and a heating element biasing mechanism driven by a single motor source is provided. A carriage is slideably mounted on a guide for reciprocating along a platen. A print head including a heating element is mounted on the carriage. An ink ribbon winding means for moving the ink ribbon across the heating element and a head displacing means for displacing the heating element towards the platen during printing and away from the platen when not printing are both mounted on the carriage. The motor is operatively coupled to the ink ribbon winding means and the print head displacing means.

Abstract: A print control device for use with a portable battery powered dot matrix printer has a DC motor which moves a carriage with a dot generating mechanism and is provided with a shaft position signal generator. A control circuit responds to the anglular position of the drive motor to establish a print cycle in which the DC motor and the dot generating mechanism are driven in alternation so as to minimize the rate of power consumption.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a thermal printer having plural heat generating elements which are selectively energized comprising a current device controlling application of current to the heat generating means. The drive circuit also includes a current application time control circuit for varying the period of time during which current flows to the heat generating elements. Dot printing is produced with constant power and constant temperature over a wide range of power supply voltage variations. The time control circuit includes a charging circuit having a capacitor, and a discharging circuit connected in parallel. The charging circuit is inserted between the power supply terminals and includes a constant voltage component. A switching circuit operates in response to the level of charge on the capacitor to control the application of current to the heat generating means.

Abstract: A printer having a print command circuit adapted to provide a print command signal, to thereby begin each print cycle is provided. The printer further includes a character ring having print characters circumferentially positioned therearound, each print character being selectively positioned by rotating the character ring from a rest position to a print position in response to the print command signal. The improvement comprises a single position detection circuit for generating character selection timing pulses representative of each rotational position of the character ring and being further adapted to produce return timing pulses in response to the opposite rotation of the character ring when same is returned to its rest position. Improved circuitry is provided for sensing the last pulse of said return timing pulses, utilizing same to supply a print-off pulse to the print command circuit to indicate the completion of the print cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the period or pulse width of pulses applied to exothermic printing elements of a thermal printer to effect printing. Control of the period or pulse width is in response to variations in applied voltage and ambient temperature. A pulse generator for this purpose may include such elements as a varistor, a constant voltage element and a thermistor.