Abstract: A linerless label media cutting apparatus adapted for receiving linerless label media from a printer is provided. The apparatus includes a cutting assembly and a cutter mount. The cutting assembly has a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade that cooperate to sever at least one label. The cutter mount supports the cutting assembly and is mountable to the printer. A drive actuator assembly may be included. The cutter mount may include mounting structure to facilitate mounting and alignment to the printer. The cutter mount may also include a blade carrier and base plate for supporting the cutting blades. The base plate may define a cavity for receipt of linerless label media. The apparatus may also include a blade lubricator. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus includes an input guide for guiding linerless label media travel. The input guide may be plasma coated. A method for preparing labels is disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet transport for a printer moves the leading edge of a sheet along a short and substantially straight path while inverting the sheet side-to-side. An output path feeds back to the printer input so a second side is printed in the correct orientation. Preferably a non-inverting sheet transport feeds directly into the output path, so that a once-printed sheet is transported to another printer, or is returned to the printer for a second pass either inverted, or on the same side. A deflector curls the sheet over a bar onto a transport at a different level, and as the paper advances, its trailing edge is drawn over the bar, flipping the sheet over.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making an ionographic cartridge for use with a dielectric coated drum to lay electrostatic images on the drum for subsequent toning. The method includes the steps of making a printed circuit board carrying on one of its faces a plurality of driver electrodes; attaching to the face of the board a dielectric layer sufficient to cover the driver electrodes; providing finger electrodes supported individually between parallel strips of dielectric tapes; and adhering the finger electrodes to the dielectric layer with the finger electrodes straddling the driver electrodes and the tapes spaced to either side of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An ion generator for use with an electrostatic printer or the like to modify the electrostatic charge on a dielectric receptor surface is described. The generator includes a plurality of corona wires supported on a rod attached and to the rod. The wires are spaced angularly about the rod and a protector extends longitudinally around the rod and spaced radially from the wires. The protector has an axially extending window and an end piece is fixed to an outer end of the rod and journalled with an end of the protector to allow relative angular movement so that selected ones of the wires can be aligned with the window near the receptor surface. The window has an annular extent less than the spacing between adjacent wires so that for transportation the rod can be turned in the protector to place the wires to the sides of the window to minimize the risk of damage.The ion generator can be combined with a housing mounted on the printer and the generator is designed for rotational engagement in the housing.

Abstract: In one of its aspects the invention provides an ionographic print cartridge for use in placing discrete dots of electrostatic charge on a drum to build a latent image for subsequent toning. The print cartridge includes a substrate of a dielectric material having sufficient rigidity to resist deformation during assembly; driver electrodes printed on the substrate and consisting of parallel conductors extending longitudinally and having lead portions terminating at the conductors and extending generally transversely from ends of the conductors for making electrical connections to the driver electrodes. A dielectric layer covers at least the conductors with the conductors at a first side of the layer, and finger electrodes are positioned at the opposite side of the dielectric layer. The finger electrodes define edge structures straddling the driver electrodes and having individual contacts at the sides of the driver electrodes for making electrical connections to the finger electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a support member which carries at least one axially aligned corona electrode, and a conductive biasing member wrapped around both the support member and the electrode. The biasing member is preferably a wire wrapped about the support and electrode to form a coil and preferably there are four electrodes. A conductor extends the length of the coil to ensure continuity should the biasing member fail locally.