Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which detects the residual quantity of bobbin thread on a sewing machine bobbin when the shuttle containing the bobbin is located at a specific phase position. The apparatus includes a detection rod driven by a solenoid so that one end contacts the outer periphery of the residual bobbin thread. A sensor signals when the amount of residual thread is less than a predetermined quantity.

Abstract: This application discloses an inked ribbon operation device in a printer in which a carriage having printing means is moved in parallel to the platen to perform printing, a reversible motor is supported on the carriage, a pair of spaced ribbon shafts are rotatably supported on the carriage for re-winding the ribbon from one ribbon shaft to the other ribbon shaft, a guide member is supported for holding the inked ribbon between the pair of ribbon shafts for moving the ribbon between the printing position and printed area viewing position, ribbon feed means is disposed between the motor and the ribbon shafts for rotating the ribbon shafts in response to the rotation of the motor in the forward direction, first connection means is disposed between the motor and guide member for moving the guide member to the raised position in response to the rotation of the motor in the forward direction, second connection means is disposed between the motor and guide member for moving the guide member to the lowered position i

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for controlling the rotation of the stepping motor in a printer. The device comprises a U-shaped frame member fixedly secured to the carriage of the printer and having opposing light emitting and receiving elements formed by the opposing legs of the frame member and a detector fitted on the drive shaft of the stepping motor for rotation with the drive shaft so as to intervene between the light emitting and receiving elements to interrupt the passage of the light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element to thereby turn the light receiving element OFF and also clear the light emitting and receiving elements to allow the light to pass from the light emitting element to the light receiving element so as to turn the light receiving element ON as the detector rotates.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for mounting a printing type array on a printer. The mounting device comprises a pin supported on the casing of a printing type array for moving into and out of a hole in the printing type array under and against resilient force, respectively, a pressure member secured to the machine framework for urging the pin into the hole in the printing type array, a motor movably supported on a carriage and having a rotary shaft including a flange and a latch pin normally subjected to resilient force to protrude from one face of the flange and retract from the one face of the flange against resilient force and resilient retainer means on the motor rotary shaft and printing type array for preventing the printing type array from moving in the axial direction of the shaft as the motor moves to the operative position and for allowing the printing type array to rotate together with the shaft as the shaft rotates.

Abstract: A printer in which a platen is secured to a machine frame, a carriage is movably supported on the machine frame for movement along the platen, a motor is movably supported on the carriage for reciprocal movement in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage towards and away from the platen, a pedal type wheel is fixedly secured to the carriage and has a plurality of types, mating coupling means is formed on each of the motor and type wheel, detection means is provided to generate a detection signal upon detection of a particular rotational angle of the motor during one complete rotation of the motor, a drive circuit is provided to drive the motor and a control circuit is provided to determine presence of a detection signal and arrests the rotation of the motor when no detection signal is generated within a predetermined time period required for the motor to rotate one complete rotation.