Abstract: A method of forming a high-quality image on an elongated recording medium, such as a roll of paper sheet. When an image includes a character which stretches between two print regions, a blank line portion of the image is detected. When image forming operation is performed for forming a portion of the image up to the blank line, sheet feed operations are performed. Then, image forming operation for a remaining portion of the image is performed. Because the sheet feed operation will not be performed in the middle of printing of such image, undesirable broken line or gap will not be formed on the printed image.

Abstract: A printing system having a mechanism for fixing a large scale recording medium in a vertical orientation on an electrostatically adsorption plate provided on a base. The fixing mechanism includes a main holding unit provided on the base, a supplementary holding unit detachably fixed on the main holding unit, and a fixing unit for fixing the supplementary holding unit to the main fixing unit. The supplementary holding unit is first detached from the main fixing unit, and is placed on a tabletop. With this posture, a recording medium is fixed to the supplementary holding unit. Then, the supplementary holding unit holding the recording unit is fixed to the main holding unit. In the fixing operation, the fixing unit automatically changes a held fashion of the recording medium from by the supplementary holding unit to by the main holding unit.

Abstract: A suction purging unit for removing dusts solidified ink etc. from nozzles of a print head of an ink jet printer, the nozzles being arrayed in a moving direction of the print head. A contact portion is provided at one side of a body portion in which a fluid passage is formed. The contact portion is contactable with at least one of the nozzles for suction purging, and is separated from the nozzle between-suction purging mode. The body portion is pivotally movable toward and away from the print head, and is vertically movable. The body portion is movable along a top surface of the print head when the latter is moved in the moving direction.

Abstract: A beam position control apparatus in which a light beam is led into a light detector from a light generating source through a movable reflector and positioning of the light beam is performed by a servo control circuit for feeding a signal from the light detector back to the movable reflector, comprises: an oscillator for oscillating in response to an initializing signal and moving the movable reflector to move the beam onto the light detector; and a control switch for separating the oscillator and the movable reflector from each other in response to the signal from the light detector, the oscillator and the control switch being arranged in the servo control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a feeding of paper has a reflector which is mounted on a bottom of a switch lever. The switch lever, in turn, is slidably mounted on black paper retainer plate which has poor reflecting properties, and a light emitting element emits light which is reflected by the paper towards a light receiving element. When paper which has good reflecting properties is being fed, the reflector is slid so that it is no longer located opposite the light emitting element, and any light passing through holes in the paper is thus poorly reflected by the black paper retainer plate, thereby enabling the light receiving element to readily detect the presence or absence of a hole in the paper. However, when the paper being fed has poor reflecting properties, the reflector is slid so that it is located opposite the light emitting element, and any light passing through one of the holes in the paper is strongly reflected by the reflector.