Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing sound using a semiconductor memory as a recording medium, the apparatus including index recording means for storing an index having retrieval information for retrieving an arbitrary position of recorded sound and positional information for indicating a memory address to be retrieved by the retrieval information; and retrieving and reproducing means for retrieving the index containing a specified retrieval information to reproduce the sound from the memory address indicated by the positional information of the index.

Abstract: In a recording and reproducing apparatus, a plurality of data groups having arbitrary data capacities are recorded in and reproduced from a memory card formed of a plurality of batch erasable semiconductor memories having equal capacities. At least one of the plurality of semiconductor memories is set to be a spare memory which does not contain recorded data. To erase only one data group, those data groups (other than the data group to be erased) stored in the same semiconductor memory containing the data group to be erased are recorded in the spare memory. Individual index data and card index data including updated reproduction order data and rewrite number data are also recorded in the spare memory. Thereafter, the semiconductor memory containing the data group to be erased is batch-erased and becomes a new spare memory.

Abstract: A sound recording and reproducing apparatus includes a semiconductor memory, an acoustic signal writing unit for writing a digital acoustic signal to the semiconductor memory, and a read out unit for reading out digital acoustic signals addressed in the semiconductor memory during sound reproduction (replay). An address memory stores these addresses as the acoustic signals are read out. A silence detector detects recorded silent or nearly silent portions during sound reproduction. The address(es) of these silent portions is (are) sequentially stored. In response to a recall or replay instruction, a controller reads out from the semiconductor memory digital acoustic signals at memory addresses that follow those sequentially stored in the address memory. As a result, recorded sound information (as opposed to recorded silence) may be quickly accessed and replayed upon recall at the beginning of recorded acoustic signals.

Abstract: An ink liquid supply system for an ink jet system printer includes a sub tank for introducing a new ink liquid from an ink liquid cartridge and an old ink liquid from a beam gutter included in the ink jet system printer. A float element is disposed in the sub tank, the float element having a specific gravity of, for example, 1.062 which is slightly greater than the specific gravity of a preferred ink liquid suited for the ink jet system printer. In the normal operation mode, the float element is positioned at the bottom of the sub tank. When the ink liquid viscosity increases, the float element moves upward. A detection unit is associated with the float element to develop a control signal when the float element moves upward. In response to the control signal, a dilution is added to the ink liquid contained in the sub tank in order to reduce the viscosity of the ink liquid.

Abstract: In an ink jet system printer of the charge amplitude controlling type, it is required to ensure stable printing that viscosity and surface tension of ink liquid supplied to a nozzle is maintained at a constant value. To this end, there is provided a heat generating pipe in an ink supply system and a control circuit for controlling power supply to the heat generating pipe. The viscosity and surface tension of the ink liquid is maintained at a constant value by holding the ink liquid at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A detection means is provided for generating an analog signal in response to a rotation angle of a servomotor which drives a carriage in a printer. A servomotor drive circuit is responsive to a print command from an input means and the analog signal from the detection means, whereby the carriage is driven to travel forward upon receipt of the print command and to stop upon receipt of a print termination signal. The carriage is then held stationary at a predetermined position suitable for the next character to be printed as determined by the rotation angle of the servomotor which is fed back to the servomotor drive circuit.

Abstract: A pair of deflection electrodes at least one of which is grooved are provided to confront with each other in an ink jet system printer in order to deflect charged ink droplets emitted from a nozzle as they pass through a high voltage electric field established therebetween. Objectionable ink mist, which is unavoidably formed and diffused in various directions after the ink droplets impinge upon a recording paper or a beam gutter, attached to the grooved deflection electrode gathers and forms an ink drop, which is collected in an indent formed in the grooved deflection electrode. This precludes erroneous breaking down of the system and ensures stability of the high voltage electric field established between the pair of deflection electrodes.

Abstract: In an ink jet system printer of the charge amplitude controlling type, when it is desired to charge a specific ink drop being formed, the amplitude of charge for the specific ink drops is increased in accordance with the total field strength of the electric fields due to the charge amplitude of the preceding ink drops, the charge of the thus increased amplitude being supplied to the specific ink drop to thereby alleviate any charge distortion.

Abstract: A primary matrix pattern such as 5 .times. 7 matrix structure and an auxiliary matrix pattern such as 4 .times. 6 matrix structure are combined with each other in an ink jet system printer in such a manner that auxiliary dots contributing to the auxiliary matrix pattern are shifted in both column and row directions by a half dot position with respect to the primary matrix pattern. These auxiliary dots function to increase dot density along oblique lines in the dot matrix pattern.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus which prints desired symbols on a record receiving member with heat ray absorbing colored material, a heat ray source is provided for heating a printed surface. A roller assembly including a roller impregnated with luster is disposed in such a manner that the printed and heated surface is brought into contact with the impregnated roller. The printed symbols are glossed by the luster since the printed symbols are pre-heated.

Abstract: A vertical tabulation control for a high speed printer comprises a presettable memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), for storing vertical tabulation addresses, a counter for counting the number of line feed operations, a comparator for developing a continuous line feed termination command when the contents of the counter reach the preset vertical tabulation address, and a rechargeable battery means which is charged when the printer is activated through a power switch. The rechargeable battery supplies the presettable memory and the counter with a necessary voltage for maintaining their contents when the power supply through the power switch is terminated.

Abstract: In an ink liquid supply system for an ink jet system printer, an ink liquid reservoir, an air trap, a pump, an air chamber and an electromagnetic cross valve are made of resin blocks. Conduit means associated with the above-mentioned elements are formed in said resin blocks, whereby the elements are communicated with each other when the resin blocks are fixed to each other.

Abstract: A plate shaped slim electrode is mounted on a carriage which supports an ink issuing unit and a charging tunnel, and is driven to travel in the lateral direction. A cylinder shaped rotary deflection electrode is rotatably mounted on the body of an ink jet system printer in a direction parallel to the travelling direction of the carriage. In a preferred form, a slit opening is formed in the center of the plate shaped slim electrode. The plate shaped slim electrode is maintained at the ground potential, whereas the rotary deflection electrode is connected to a high voltage source to establish a high voltage electric field between the plate shaped slim electrode and the rotary deflection electrode.

Abstract: In an ink jet system printer of the charge amplitude controlling type, when it is desired to charge a specific ink drop being formed, the amplitude of charge for the specific ink drops is increased in accordance with a total of field strength of electric fields due to the charge amplitude of the preceding ink drops, the charge of the thus increased amplitude being supplied to the specific ink drop to thereby alleviate any charge distortion.

Abstract: A pair of rotary deflection electrodes are provided to confront with each other in an ink jet system printer in order to deflect charged ink droplets emitted from a nozzle as they pass through a high voltage electric field established therebetween. Cleaners are installed close to the rotary deflection electrodes at the position where the electric field established between the rotary deflection electrodes will not be disturbed by the cleaners in order to sweep the rotary deflection electrodes as they rotate.

Abstract: In an ink jet system printer of the charge amplitude controlling type, it is required to ensure stable printing that viscosity and surface tension of ink liquid supplied to a nozzle is maintained at a constant value. To this end, there is provided an ink liquid warmer in an ink supply system. The viscosity and surface tension of the ink liquid is maintained at a constant value by holding the ink liquid at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: In an ink jet system printer wherein ink droplets are emitted from a nozzle toward a recording paper, objectionable ink dust is formed and diffused in various directions after the ink droplets impinge upon the recording paper. When the diffused ink dust attaches to a unit such as deflection means, the system may operate erroneously. An electrode is arranged in a position suited for minimizing the deleterious effects of diffused ink dust from the ink jet system printer by the use of an electrostatic attraction force or an electrostatic repulsion force.

Abstract: The size of patterns printed by an ink jet system printer including an ink liquid issuing nozzle, a charging electrode and deflection electrodes is temperature dependent. When the ink liquid temperature increases, viscosity of the ink liquid reduces and hence a flow rate of the ink liquid increases. This causes both mass and a flying rate of an ink droplet emitted from the nozzle to increase. Therefore, a deflection amount becomes smaller and hence the printed pattern size becomes smaller than that of ordinary desired. A temperature senser is provided on an ink conduit adjacent to the nozzle, for detecting the ink liquid temperature and generating detecting signals. A voltage level of video signals applied to the charging electrode or a voltage level applied to the deflection electrodes is varied in accordance with the detecting signals in order to stabilize the size of the printed pattern.