Abstract: A printer device has a print body on one end of which a print head is mounted, the print body being longitudinally movable along an inking stroke and a printing stroke, with the printing stroke being angularly offset by approximately 90.degree. from the inking stroke, and with the print body being pivotally movable through an intermediate pivot stroke between the inking stroke and the printing stroke. A piston and cylinder assembly is connected to the print body for operatively causing advance movement of the print body along the inking stroke, the pivot stroke and the printing stroke, and return movement of the print body along the printing stroke, the pivot stroke and the inking stroke. The print body has a longitudinally elongated slot, and a fixed pivot pin is disposed in the elongated slot in the print body for guiding the print body, a first freely rotatable roller restraining the print body against pivotal movement during advance movement of the print body along the inking stroke.

Abstract: A frame plate is movably mounted on a guide shaft erected from a base for movement upward and downward, a space formed between the base and the frame plate being served as the insertion passage for the typing sheet. The frame plate is provided thereon with a printer adapted to print such data as time and serial numbers on the inserted typing sheet, a cam shaft adapted to move the printer forward and backward, and a motor for rotating the cam shaft. A spring is disposed between the frame plate and the base in order to normally pull the frame plate toward the base side, a rubber stopper being disposed to a bottom surface of the frame plate in order to normally maintain the distance between a printer head and the surface of the typing sheet constant.

Abstract: A pad printer device includes a base member (2), a table member mounted on the base member, a slide member (3) slidably mounted on the table member for movement between at least two positions, and a printing pad (17) supported on printing arm (16) mounted on a support block (15) slidably mounted in a box-like column (9) extending upwardly from base (1). Printing pad (17) is reciprocated vertically by lever-type arm (25) pivotally engaged (27, 28) with support block (15) so that operation of the arm reciprocates the printing pad vertically. An adjustable limit gauge device is mounted on slide block (15) and includes two separately operable set screws (30, 31) which separately engage with rotatable stop member (47) rotatably mounted on base member (1) for positioning thereof for engagement with the lower ends of the set screws.

Abstract: A thin film supplier for supplying ink, paste etc., used in relief-plate printing devices, die bonders etc., including an original printing plate placed on a table. The printing plate is provided with a through hole, and a bridge piece is placed in this hole. A recess is formed in the through hole by the bridge piece which has a thickness less than that of the printing plate, and ink, paste, etc. is poured into the recess so that a relief printing plate attached to a plate holder is immersed in such ink, paste, etc.

Abstract: A fabric printing implement has a U-shaped, flexible support which carries at the ends of the "U" a printing head and an anvil. The printing head is formed of a recessed printing surface, and the anvil is formed of a tapered surface. The combination of the tapered surface of the anvil and the recess of the printing head operates such that the cloth or fabric being imprinted is stretched to remove wrinkles and present a flat surface so that the printing can be clear and legible. The arms of the "U" are formed of such size that cloth can be gathered between the arms to present almost any desired location on the cloth for imprinting between the anvil and the printing head.

Abstract: This invention relates to a time clock device, which contains a hinged time card shelf, which is adapted to be pressed down by the user of the time clock when he inserts his time card into the time clock. Upon pressing down on the time card and time card shelf, which the operator can do with one hand, the time, date, and other desired information, is printed onto the time card by a thermal printer which is actuated by a switch activated by the movement of the time card shelf to its lower or pushed down position.

Abstract: A die protection mechanism that prevents the taking of fraudulent, non-metered impressions from the value printing die surface of a postage meter machine. A linkage assembly is pivotally supported adjacent the print wheels of the postage meter machine such that a projecting portion will extend beyond the diameter of the print wheels when the postage meter machine is inoperative, but the linkage assembly will be pivoted during operation for the purpose of allowing the printing of postage on a mail piece. The mechanism is particularly useful in a postage meter having a reciprocating platen.

Abstract: Automatic printing apparatus wherein a single turnaround item-document is utilized as an initial source of intelligible information-data and thereafter by comparing certain of the data on the document with additional data inputted thereto by means of operably associated external hardware and subsequently summarizing the total data on the item effective to provide a final document including both the initially inputted information-data as well as the data resulting from the comparison and summarization.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand-alone electronic mailing machine that includes a postage metering device. The invention has particular utility when utilized in a mailing machine of the reciprocating platen type. The entire drive mechanism, setting mechanism, and control devices as well as the postage metering mechanisms are all contained in one housing so that there is no need for a separate base. In the mailing machine of this invention, a single central processing unit is utilized along with memory for the purpose of accounting for the postage value that has been charged into the mailing machine as well as the amount that has been used. Non-volatile memory is provided for permanent storage in case of power failure. A pair of stepper motors is used for the purpose of adjusting the print dies with the amounts that are to be imprinted. One of the stepper motors is also used to trip a single revolution clutch which is utilized to affect the printing operation.

Abstract: A system designed to enable persons incapable of manipulating a writing implement to sign papers and/or documents comprising a holder for the document to be signed, a holder for a transfer sheet for holding the transfer sheet adjacent that portion of the document to be signed and an implement defining the signature to be applied to the document for pressing the transfer sheet into transferring engagement with the document.

Abstract: An electronically controlled mailing machine is provided which includes a housing having a slot into which an envelope may be inserted, a platen movably connected to said housing, a print head overhanging said platen, and structure for moving the platen into engagement with an envelope inserted into the slot for urging the envelope into imprinting engagement with the print head. In addition there is provided a computer, for controlling the platen moving means, and switching apparatus including a member movably connected to the housing and extending into said slot for movement by an envelope inserted into the slot. The switching apparatus includes an optical sensing device mounted within the housing and electrically connected to the computer. The sensing device is responsive to movement of the member for signalling the computer. And the computer is responsive to the signalling for causing the platen moving structure to move the platen.

Abstract: In a postage meter, an auxiliary printing device is included for printing additional information on a mail piece relating to the type of mail being processed. The postage meter is of the flat printing type and a multi-faced printing member containing the additional information to be printed is mounted adjacent the standard postal printing mechanism. Each of the faces of the printing member may contain postal information to be printed and the appropriate information may be selected by rotating a handle attached to the member. A detent means aligns the selected printing face with the rest of the postage meter printing die. The detent means may be manually released from the printing member to remove the member from the postage meter.

Abstract: A self-supported, free standing, demountable, printing/endorsing apparatus including a demountably removable, replaceable, adjustable printing module having ribbon transporting and re-inking means integral therewith. Solenoid actuated means operably, drivingly connected to an impact member for impact engagement with the demountable printing member enabling the device to print on an item. Secondary impression producing means is demountably carried by the printing means and is adjustable relative to the impact member and together with the impact member forms an item receiving pathway normal to the impact member through which the item is transported. The impact member is Gimbal mounted relative to the pathway effectively enabling printing without regard to the flatness of the subject matter of the item, and without the prior art high impact forces generally employed.

Abstract: To print on each of a number of sheets, the sheets are advanced, preferably in underlapped form, up to registering stops. When a sheet has been registered at the stops, suction is applied to an underlying conveyor, the stops are withdrawn and the sheet is advanced in steps to a printing station, the sheet being held in register by suction during this advancement. Printing takes place while the sheet is stationary and still held in register, between steps of movement. Suction may be switched on and off at the registering station by means of a movable perforated switch plate, the perforations of which are aligned, in a first position of the switch plate, with suction-conveying perforations in another plate or belt; in a second position of the switch plate its perforations are misaligned with the perforations in the other plate or belt, preventing the application of suction to an overlying sheet.

Abstract: A printing device is provided for printing bar code or other indicia on record media such as bank checks and similar documents. The bar code indicia consists of a series of symbols which may be "01" or "10", in which "1" is represented by the presence of a bar and "0" is represented by the absence of a bar in a possible bar position on the record media. The printing device includes a platen having two angled printing surfaces, each of which may be in the configuration of a bar, on one end and being rockable between two positions in each of which one of the printing surfaces is parallel to the path of movement of the record media, and the other of said surfaces is not. A hammer driven by a constant-speed cam coacts with the printing surfaces on the platen to print on the record media during each cycle of cam rotation, and suitable controls position the platen by means of a solenoid during each cycle to determine whether a first symbol or a second symbol will be printed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing device having a flat printing pad and a printing anvil that serves as a support for a data carrier having raised characters. The device makes printing impressions upon printing assemblies which include at least one sheet of paper and an ink transferring ribbon or carbon paper interspaced between the data carrier and the sheet of paper. After a printing operation on one printing assembly, the printing pad and printing anvil are separated for removal of the assembly. Mechanical means then brings the pad close to the anvil following insertion of the next assembly. An electromagnetic driving mechanism is provided by means of which the printing pad and the printing anvil printingly engage one another for attaining an impression on the printing assembly.

Abstract: A sheet feeding, registering and printing apparatus has one or more printing units for printing desired characters on a sheet, and means for feeding such a sheet positively to and from a printing position with respect to each printing unit. The feeding means includes a feed band having gripping devices for gripping engagement with each sheet to hold the sheet in a predetermined position on the band, with no longitudinal slippage. The band is driven intermittently in equal incremental movements to and beyond the printing position. The apparatus includes initial sheet supply mechanism for feeding successive sheets to the band, and registration means for sequentially positioning a leading edge of each sheet in accurate registration with the band and for engaging the gripping devices with the sheet before the sheet is moved intermittently to the printing position.

Abstract: A portable label printing and applying machine: a platen to support the label to be printed is attached to the machine frame; a printing head is placed above the platen; a spring pushes the printing head down toward the platen with a constant pressure and for a constant time period, regardless of the strength and the duration of the squeezing of the operating hand lever of the machine; the printing head is restrained from descending until the spring has been adequately charged by squeezing of the hand lever, and then the printing head is released to descend. The printing head is separated from the platen immediately after its descent to and contact against the platen. In addition, there is a second spring acting on the printing head in opposition to the first mentioned spring to raise the printing head off the platen. In one embodiment, the first spring is apart from the printing head but acts on it.

Abstract: A price labelling apparatus comprises a lever brake centrally and pivotally mounted to a pivot pin rigid with a fixed unit and having a first end adapted to exert pressure on the label web, and a second end at a position opposing an adjustable projection element extending from a movable unit and biassing the second end of the lever brake such as to cause the first end to adhere to the label carrying web.

Abstract: Disclosed is a document printer of the type suitable for imprinting messages upon individual documents fed into the apparatus (e.g., bank checks). The apparatus includes an internal printing station disposed along a document feed path. The path includes a feed slot in an exterior wall of the apparatus. The printing station includes both impact printer means and document drive means, the latter operative to move the document along the document path positioning different parts of the document adjacent the impact printer means for the printing of multiple lines of information, where necessary. Both the impact printer means and the document drive means comprise first and second subunits which are positioned, respectively, on opposite sides of a document at the printing station. In particular, the drive means comprise upper and lower rollers, at least one of which is driven, which are engagable with opposite surfaces of the document.

Abstract: There is disclosed a labeler having a frame and a subframe, with a print head movably mounted on the subframe for cooperation with a platen. A label hold-down member is disposed in overlying relation to the platen. The subframe carries a label roll composed of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, and the subframe defines a path for the web. The label roll is mounted on improved mounting structure. A manually operable actuator drives a gear which in turn effects movement of the print head. The gear carries a pivotal pawl which drives a ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel and a toothed feed wheel mounted in the subframe are adjustable with respect to each other. A die roller cooperable with the toothed wheel is spring-urged against the toothed wheel. The frame includes a movable frame section mounted on a pivot to facilitate easy replacement of an ink roller. The pivot also mounts an applicator roll and a leaf spring of the inking mechanism.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to item or document signing apparatus for imprinting a legally acceptable signature and/or date, etc., upon individual items or documents fed on demand thereto at high speed from an input to an output hopper in a stop-start operation. An adjustably positionable item stop mechanism permits the printing of the data at selectable locations along the longer dimension of the item. Both date and signature imprinting means are simply efficiently and easily demountably removable and replaceable permitting alteration and/or rapid change of the imprinted data. Novel to be automatically maintained regardless of document thickness.

Abstract: Printing apparatus particularly suited to a cash register includes a hammer arranged to move printing paper into engagement with type wheels located on the other side of the paper. A cam and linkage move the hammer into and out of contact with the paper. Strong springs are provided to rapidly accelerate the hammer toward the paper through an engaging plate. The engaging plate is stopped before the hammer contacts the paper, and the hammer strikes the paper due to its inertia. The hammer rebounds off the paper and is caught and held by the linkage in the rebound position between the paper and the engaging plate to prevent double printing.

Abstract: A dot matrix impact printer includes a retractable platen which positions an elongated sheet of paper in a location where a print head prints a line of data on the paper. In a second mode of operation, the insertion of a form, shorter than the elongated sheet of paper, is detected by photodetecting means. The form is inserted in overlying relation to the elongated sheet, where it is juxtaposed against the retractable platen. The photodetecting means in turn activate a solenoid. Activation of the solenoid displaces relatively small rollers against the inserted form in a manner pressing the form against the elongated sheet of paper. An intermediate length of the sheet is supported by a relatively large roller which undergoes indexed movement. As the sheet undergoes indexed movement during a printing operation, so does the form. At the end of a printing operation, the solenoid automatically retracts the relatively small rollers thereby permitting the withdrawal of the form.

Abstract: There is disclosed label printing and applying apparatus by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise. The apparatus feeds pressure sensitive labels mounted on a web of supporting material to a printing zone and to a delaminating zone. An applicator disposed downstream of the delaminating zone is used to apply the labels to merchandise.