Abstract: An improved ink ribbon cassette for a serial printing apparatus comprises a body, first and second substantially coextensive spaced ink ribbon guide arms projecting from the body, each having a free end, and an ink ribbon mounted in the body for advancement during printing and having a portion extending between the free ends of the guide arms so as to be available for printing. One of the guide arms has a window therein through which the ribbon is visible. A first optically detectable indicator is carried on the ribbon at a position to be visible through the window when the ribbon is substantially exhausted. A second optically detectable structure is mounted on the guide arm adjacent the window and laterally spaced therefrom in the direction of movement of the ribbon. This second optically detectable structure indicates the type of ribbon in the cassette.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing mechanism having a printing head mounted on a carriage frame so as to linearly move the printing head toward a platen.

Abstract: A printing apparatus system includes a plurality of type units each having a plurality of type elements and each being different from the others. Each type unit may be mounted in the apparatus. A detector detects which of the type units is so mounted and produces a detection signal representative thereof. The printing pressure with which each type element is imprinted on a print medium is determined in accordance with the particular type wheel mounted in the apparatus as indicated by the detection signal. Additionally, the amount of advance of an ink ribbon for imprinting a type element on a type unit is determined in accordance with the particular type unit mounted in the apparatus, again as indicated by the detection signal.

Abstract: Impact type printer of a construction having a carriage including a character type wheel, a light source disposed outside the carriage, device for introducing light beam from the light source into the carriage such as a flexible photoconductor, a mirror, etc., and a detector to detect rotation of the character type wheel by application of the light beam introduced by the light beam introducing device to an encoder.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having two character generators, one which generates characters common to a plurality of countries, comprises a keyboard for entering character codes, a first character generator for producing certain character patterns representing certain character codes common to a plurality of countries, and a second character generator for producing other character patterns representing other character codes. A buffer stores the character codes entered by a keyboard and a selection signal generator generates a selection signal in dependence on each character code stored in the buffer. The selection signal indicates that the second character generator is to be utilized to produce the other character patterns represented by the other character codes. A processor controls the operation sequence ofthe apparatus.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises an input device for entering a plurality of sets of data, each set including title information and character information associated with the title information. A memory stores a plurality of the sets of data entered by the input device and a printer is responsive to sets of data read from the memory to print any one of those sets of data either fully or partially. A selection device selectively causes the printer to print any one of the sets of data either fully or partially. The printing apparatus may also include a selector for selecting one of a first printing mode and a second printing mode. In the first printing mode, when selected, the printer is caused to print both the title information and the character information which may comprise text information. In the second mode, the text information is printed without the title information.

Abstract: A printing device having a plurality of indicating units for indicating information on the ink ribbon and having a detecting unit for ink ribbon information, with the indicating units and the detecting unit being arranged opposite to each other.

Abstract: A printer in which selection of a character wheel is effected under servo-control of a motor has a carriage movable parallel to a platen, a character wheel rotatable by being supported on the carriage by means of a bearing, and a motor installed outside the carriage for rotating the character wheel.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a power supply for supplying power thereto and a battery supply for supplying back-up battery power. A printing mechanism effects printing on a printing paper in accordance with one of a plurality of printing pitches, and a processor controls the printer and produces data signals. A selector selects one of a plurality of printing pitches and applies a signal indicating the selected printing pitch to the processor. A plurality of indicators each indicates a respective one of the plurality of printing pitches and one of the indicators is energized by a data signal produced by the processor. A memory is supplied with back-up battery power by the battery power supply and stores a selected one of the plurality of printing pitches. The memory is accessed by the processor.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism having a platen is driven by power from a drive source and clamps a recording paper sheet with paper holding rollers and pinch rollers so as to feed the recording paper sheet along the paper guide. When the recording paper sheet is loaded, a lever serves to separate the paper holding rollers from the platen. When a microswitch detects the operation of the lever, the platen is automatically rotated by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a type wheel carrying a plurality of type elements and a platen for mounting and advancing a printing paper. A hammer can strike any one of the type elements against the printing paper and an ink ribbon is positionable between the type elements and the paper to imprint a character on the paper when any one of the type elements is struck. The ink ribbon is advanced by a driving mechanism. First, second, and third selecting systems respectively select one of a plurality of degrees of advancement of the printing paper, one of a plurality of time intervals of actuation of the hammer, and one of a plurality of amounts of advancement of the ink ribbon. First, second, and third counters each count pulses from respectively associated first, second, and third pulse generators to, respectively, first, second, and third set values determined by the selected degree of paper advancement, time interval of hammer actuation, and amount of ribbon advancement.

Abstract: A frequency-voltage converting system has a first sampler for sampling the input signal at a predetermined time interval, a second sampler for sampling the input signal after elapse of a predetermined time period from said predetermined sampling time, and comparator for comparing the sampled values obtained respectively from said first and second samplers and providing the difference of said sampled values as a value proportional to the frequency of said input signal.

Abstract: A printing device having a plurality of indicating units for indicating information on the ink ribbon and having a detecting unit for ink ribbon information, with the indicating units and the detecting unit being arranged opposite to each other.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing apparatus having control equipment for controlling the printing position. The control equipment is detachably mounted on the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A display device is capable of showing an entire sentence stored in a memory with a limited number of key operations and without interruption of the spelling of each word. The display device is provided with a memory for storing a sentence composed of plural word groups, readout means for reading the sentence from the memory, a display unit for displaying the sentence read from the memory, and an identifying unit for identifying the spaces in the sentence, wherein the sentence after a space identified by the identifying unit is supplied to the display unit.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is provided with a stain preventing element provided between a print drum and a hammer and adapted to shield alternate digits to be printed, said stain preventing element being shiftable in the transverse or advancing direction of print sheet. Said hammer is an intermediate hammer which is set to a predetermined initial position from an unsteady position upon the turning on of the power supply, and simultaneously necessary preparations such as paper feeding and ink application onto the print drum prior to the printing are performed. Also there is provided a stain preventing mechanism for multi-color printing, and the above-mentioned stain preventing member is provided with a means for preventing ink diffusion. Also the paper feed plunger etc. is structured similar to the said hammer thereby rendering the entire apparatus smaller and more compact.

Abstract: A printer provided with an electrically operable printing hammer and an ink ribbon feeding mechanism. The number of components necessary for such type of printer is substantially reduced by using a single and common driving source to operate both of the printing hammer and ribbon feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A printing hammer as a movable member holds a magnet integrally therewith, yokes having coils wound thereon are disposed substantially at right angles with the direction of movement of the movable member and in opposed relationship with the magnet, and a printing member is disposed in the direction of movement of the printing hammer.

Abstract: The electronic apparatus is provided with a device for informing the operator of information on the service life of the battery employed for driving the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: A printer having a mechanism for moving a carriage along a platen and a mechanism for rotating a type wheel to select types is disclosed. The printer has switch for selectively transmitting the driving force from a driving source to either carriage or type wheel.