Abstract: A feeding device comprises a suction feeding unit having a belt for feeding a sheet in a suction state and a belt driving unit, a sheet detection sensor, and a control unit. The control unit controls the belt drive unit so as to feed the sheet in a feeding direction at a first speed. If the sheet does not arrive at the sheet detection sensor, the control unit controls the belt drive unit so as to execute a low-speed feeding of moving the belt in the feeding direction at a second speed lower than the first speed or so as to execute a reverse feeding of moving the belt in a reverse feeding direction opposite to the feeding direction.

Abstract: A swing diagnosis method includes a procedure of calculating levels of a plurality of items including a first item regarding at least one of a backswing and a downswing, and a second item regarding impact on the basis of data regarding a swing, and a procedure of outputting information regarding the levels of the plurality of items.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure a method of vibration control for a wellbore logging tool is disclosed. The method may include estimating one or more of an estimated position, an estimated velocity, and an estimated acceleration of the wellbore logging tool after the drive signal has been sent to the wellbore logging tool. The method may include generating an active dampening braking signal based, at least in part, on one or more of the estimated position, the estimated velocity, and the estimated acceleration of the wellbore logging tool.

Abstract: A swing diagnosis method includes a procedure of performing diagnosis of a plurality of items including a first item regarding at least one of a backswing and a downswing, and a second item regarding impact on the basis of data regarding a swing, and a procedure of outputting diagnosis information on the basis of the plurality of items.

Abstract: A shoe platen to securely hold a shoe so that graphics, including custom graphics, can be printed on the shoe automatically. The platen comprises a shoe plate 102 configured to receive shoes such as high-top shoes or low top shoes. Adjusters 104, 106 can also be used to accommodate shoes of various styles and sizes.

Abstract: A label peeling unit having an installation body: a movable body movable while engaging with the installation body and stopping in a closed state or an open state in which the movable body is closed or open relative to the installation body; a label peeling body installed on the movable body and allowing backing paper of a continuous label body, which is conveyed by the paper sheet conveyance device, to be in contact with the label peeling body to bend the backing paper for peeling a part of a label off the backing paper; and a backing paper conveyance roller rotatably installed on the movable body and rotating while being in contact with a platen roller of the paper sheet conveyance device with the backing paper in between to thereby convey the backing paper and discharge it to the outside. The label peeling unit facilitates loading of paper sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed in which printing material is printed upon a tray surface and transferred to a sheet supported by the tray surface. A cleaning device removes residual printing material from the tray surface.

Abstract: In order to obtain joining force endurable for high-speed printing and realize an enhancement in magnetic characteristic, a plate-like arm for supporting a printing wire is laminated with a magnetic circuit forming member that is composed by laminating plural plates for forming a magnetic circuit, wherein a weld zone is formed on the laminated surface of the arm and plates with laser beam irradiation for fixing the arm and the magnetic circuit forming member with the weld zone.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head for printing on a print medium and a platen which supports the print medium, and is located opposite to the print head. The print head is linearly moved along the print medium. The platen includes first and second end portions and an intermediate portion, and is formed of material having stiffness. The first and second end portions are located at respective ends of the platen in the moving direction of the print head, and the intermediate portion is located between the first and second end portions. The first and second end portions are supported by respective spring members, such that they can be elastically displaced in a direction toward or away from the print head. The intermediate portion is formed to be more easily warped than the first and second end portions.

Abstract: A wire dot printer head of the present invention has an armature that has an arm supporting a printing wire and pivotably provided at the position opposite to the core, and a coil spring that one end comes in contact with the arm for urging the armature in the direction away from the core, wherein the one end of the coil spring supported by the supporting member is brought into contact with the armature to apply return force to the armature. In order to prevent the breakdown of the armature due to a contact of the coil spring and to realize a stabilized urging operation of the coil spring, a winding end of the coil spring at the one end is located at the position inside of the coil spring and nearer to the supporting member from the contact position where the coil spring comes in contact with the armature.

Abstract: A lock apparatus for securing a hand-stamping device to prevent an unauthorized stamping operation includes two locking heads constructed to establish a ridged interconnection with the base frame and the upper actuator frame of the hand-stamping device. The locking heads are releasable interconnected by parallel spaced apart struts for connecting the locking heads in a space apart relation for receiving the hand-stamping device between the struts whereby the locking heads and the struts encircle the outer periphery of the hand-stamping device. A lock is used to interlocking the locking heads in a spaced apart relation between the struts.

Abstract: A lock apparatus for securing a hand stamping device to prevent an unauthorized stamping operation includes two locking heads constructed to established a ridged interconnection with the base frame and the upper actuator frame of the hand stamping device. The locking heads are releasably interconnected by parallel spaced apart struts for connecting the locking heads in a space apart relation for receiving the hand stamping device between the struts whereby the locking heads and the struts encircle the outer periphery of the hand stamping device. A lock is used to interlocking the locking heads in a spaced apart relation between the struts.

Abstract: A method for printing an image onto an object including applying printing ink to a carrier element constructed of a flexible layer-shaped material and in communication with a pressing device having an internal region which can be pressurized with a fluid, positioning the carrier element and the object in contact with one another without substantially increasing the internal pressure of the pressing device and then causing a substantial increase of pressure in the internal region of the pressing device whereby a portion of the carrier element is urged to further extend around the object. The carrier element is stretched at least during the step of applying the printing ink.

Abstract: A printing labeler having a label restraining and guiding system with a deflection member for turning back only the backing sheet of a continuous label strip composed of a backing sheet having a label peel-off layer and a plurality of labels provisionally attached to the backing sheet to thereby peel the labels from the backing sheet, a platen that supports lateral end portions of the deflection member, a pair of left and right side plates that support the platen and a label guide piece that faces the platen and guides the continuous label strip toward the deflection member and the label guide piece integrally has a pair of left and right engagement flange portions engageable with a pair of left and right engagement grooves formed in the pair of left and right side plates, a stop portion that connects upstream ends of the engagement flange portions and a deflection guide portion that connects downstream ends of the engagement flange portions and that a surface of the platen faces a vacant space enclosed by th

Abstract: A core holding device and a cover for roll-shaped label of a label sticking machine capable of assuredly holding a roll-shaped label or a core thereof, simplifying an operation for installation and removal thereof and forming it simple and compact, characterized in that core holding members for holding the roll-shaped label are of a rotating type. Each of the core holding members is energized by a spring, a pair of spring plates and the pair of core holding knob members comprises a rotating shaft part, a core holding part and a knob part which is located on the opposite side of the core holding part and projected outward from the sides of the plates and the spring plates can energize the core holding part of each of the core holding knob members in the core holding positional direction thereof.

Abstract: A core holding device of a label sticking machine capable of assuredly holding a roll-shaped label or a core thereof, simplifying an operation for installing and removal thereof, and forming it simple and compact. Characterized in that core holding members for holding the roll-shaped label are of a rotating type, each of the core holding members is energized by a spring, a pair of spring plates and the pair of core holding knob members are installed between right and left side plates.

Abstract: A rotary marking device for use in a multi-spindle screw machine to mark a rotating work piece. The marking device has a rotating marking wheel with marking indicia on a portion of its circumfrence. When the marking device is in marking position adjacent the rotating work piece a rack and pinion operates to initiate the rotation of the marking wheel in its rotating marking direction.

Abstract: In a printer device and method for printing on a print medium with a print head and with a transport device for the print medium, wherein the print head is not moved during printing, a controller is connected to sensors and actuators of a displacement device and the transport device. The transport device and the displacement device are mechanically coupled to a displaceable transport device in the printer device that is controllable by the controller for at least one alternative printing position. The transport device transports the print medium downstream in the alternative printing position during printing. The print medium is transported downstream in the X-direction and orthogonally thereto in the Y-direction, the displaceable transport device is returned into a first printing position with reference to the Y-coordinate of a Cartesian coordinate system when all printing jobs have been processed.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and for printing print media has an inclined guide plate and a transport mechanism orthogonal to this guide plate and an auxiliary device. An ink jet print head controlled by a control unit is rigidly arranged in a recess of the guide plate during printing. The recess is fashioned such that the print medium has a printed region lying free downstream. The print medium transported with the transport mechanism lies without any mechanical clamping against the auxiliary device, that has an ascending guide and allows a defined slippage perpendicular to the transport mechanism surface. Independently of the slope of the floor area of the machine, a non-contacting printing with the ink print head ensues with high print quality for print media transported standing or lying. A placement device precedes the guide plate for the adaptation of the inclination angle .alpha..

Abstract: A roll paper loading mechanism 2 for a printer 1 has a slide frame 25 attached to a cover frame 23, which opens and closes a top opening 22b. This cover frame 23 pivots open and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of a cover frame 28. A platen roller 26 is held on an end of the slide frame 25 in a manner enabling the platen roller 26 to turn. After the top opening 22b to the roll paper holding unit is closed by the cover frame 23, the other cover frame 28 can pivot independently. This independent pivoting motion of the cover frame 28 causes the slide frame 25 to slide forward to a position at which the platen roller 26 is positioned to an opposed position with a constant gap to the print head 8. This arrangement increases the sliding distance of the slide frame 25, and thereby reduces the pivot radius needed to fully open the top opening 22b. As a result, the area above the top opening 22b can be efficiently used to position some other component.

Abstract: A printing device wherein top frontal positioning of motor and drive train is avoided so that the size of the top portion can be reduced thereby improving the ability of the operator to view the alignment of a printable article in relation to the printer. The device includes a printer rack having a vertical support member and a base; a moving clamping piece movably mounted on the printer rack permitting the clamping piece to move towards and away from the base; a printer movably mounted on the clamping piece; a cam shaft rotatably mounted on the printer rack and provided thereon with a cylindrical cam for moving the printer towards and away from the vertical support member and further provided thereon with means for raising and lowering the clamping piece so that the clamping piece clamps the article during printing and releases the article upon completion of printing; and a motor mounted on the printer rack for turning the cam shaft.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler which is easy to load, clean and service. The labeler has a gear driven print head wherein the print head is situated on an upper housing section and the print head is actuated from a lower housing section. The upper housing section can be moved to an open position without interfering with the maintenance of the drive connection with the print head or the advance of a label carrying web through the labeler.

Abstract: A mailing machine is disclosed in which a digital printing device, preferably of the ink jet type, is mounted for movement between one of two printing positions, in one of which the printing device will print a postage indicia direction on envelopes being fed through the mailing machine, and in the other of which the printing device prints the postage indicia on a strip of tape which is extracted from the mailing machine and affixed to an envelope which is incapable of being fed through the mailing machine. There is also a third position for the printing device which is a maintenance position to which the printing device is moved after each or some other predetermined number of printing cycles for the purpose of cleaning the ink ejecting portion of the printing device and/or maintaining a suitable high ink solvent vapor atmosphere adjacent to the ink ejecting portion of the printing device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting a mailpiece. The apparatus comprises an assembly for feeding the mailpieces in a path of travel; a sensor assembly for determining the length of the mailpieces; and a controller in operative communication with the sensor assembly and the feeding assembly, the controller for adjusting the gap between a first mailpiece having a measured length and a second mailpiece to: (i) establish a fixed pitch between the first mailpiece and the second mailpiece if the measure length is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or (ii) establish a fixed gap between the first mailpiece and the second mailpiece if the measure length is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for printing a postal indicia on a mailpiece includes moving a printing mechanism and the mailpiece relative to each other during a plurality of passes; and printing with the printing mechanism at least a corresponding portion of the postal indicia during each of the plurality of passes, each of the corresponding portions being in overlapped relationship to the other corresponding portions so that the combined effect of the corresponding overlapped portions is a postal indicia which is detectable by a facer/canceler machine as a valid postal indicia. Furthermore, during no more than one of the plurality of passes is its corresponding portion of the postal indicia detectable by the facer/canceler machine as the valid postal indicia. An apparatus incorporates the above method.

Abstract: In a pivoting time recorder, an inner frame is erected from a base. A printer assembly interfaces with the inner frame at a pivot. The pivot and printer assembly are suspended over the base, forming a slot for insertion of a document therebetween. The printer assembly includes a barrel cam having a protrusion adapted to interface with a cam follower integrated on the inner frame for raising and lowering the printer relative to the base about the pivot. The barrel cam induces axial movement in a programmable printer adapted to be driven by the barrel cam. A motor rotates the barrel cam for moving the printer axially and for raising and lowering the printer assembly relative to the base. The present invention operates with very little movement--only 2.degree. of rotation about the pivot point, resulting in a more reliable design having a lower manufacturing cost in comparison to time recorders of the prior art.

Abstract: The check writer for imprinting checks is comprised of a frame having a printing line, a plurality of type segment members supported by the frame, with each segment member having a set of offset printing characters thereon on the segment member facing and being moveable to locate the desired printing characters on the printing line, and a prefix holder assembly supported by the frame and structurally arranged to receive and position a sliding prefix plate adjacent to the printing characters on the printing line. The width and length dimensions of each printing face on each type segment is substantially identical. Additionally, the check writer includes an inked ribbon and ribbon support member supporting the ribbon adjacent to the printing characters disposed on the printing line, a platen supported by the frame, and an actuating mechanism supported by the frame and movable from a normal non-printing position to an activated printing position for effecting the printing operation.

Abstract: A mailing machine comprising a control system, a print head having individual print elements which are selectively energizable for printing on an envelope and a transport system for feeding the envelope past the print head. The transport system including a first pulley, a second pulley in proximate location to the print head, an endless belt extending between the first and second pulley, the endless belt engaging the envelope and feeding the envelope past the print head, a drive system for causing the endless belt to rotate and an encoder system operatively coupled to the second pulley for providing signals indicative of the position of the second pulley. The control system in operative communication with the print head, the encoder system and the drive system for synchronizing the feeding of the envelope with energizing of the elements of the print head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape cutter and self-adhesive label peeler which associates a tape cutter stand with an engaging arm assembly so that it may not only cut an ordinary adhesive tape but also peel self-adhesive labels off from an under layer thereof. To use the device as a self-adhesive label peeler, put a roll of such tape into the cutter stand with a length of the tape from a front end thereof pulled beyond a front stop member, push the engaging arm assembly backward to attach to the cutter stand so that the front stop member is shifted upward to be between a front shaft and a leading member. At this position, an under layer of the tape is bent down to pass beneath the leading member while the harder self-adhesive labels on the under layer are not bent and are conveniently and quickly separated from the under layer.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention utilizes a cam-driven mechanism to convert a single rotary input driven by a single motor to two or more output motions each having its distinct cycle and profile of motion. This multiplicity of outputs often times requires a separate motor for each output motion. Each distinct cycle of motion is capable of driving its end effector a complete revolution, a fraction of a revolution, multiple revolutions, or a non-integer number of revolutions. Thus, the apparatus of this invention utilizes, a single motor to provide motion to activate the shutter bar mechanism and at the same time, rotate the printing drum of a postage meter one revolution.

Abstract: A mailing machine is disclosed in which a digital printing device, preferably of the ink jet type, is mounted for movement between one of two printing positions, in one of which the printing device will print a postage indicia direction on envelopes being fed through the mailing machine, and in the other of which the printing device prints the postage indicia on a strip of tape which is extracted from the mailing machine and affixed to an envelope which is incapable of being fed through the mailing machine. There is also a third position for the printing device which is a maintenance position to which the printing device is moved after each or some other predetermined number of printing cycles for the purpose of cleaning the ink ejecting portion of the printing device and/or maintaining a suitable high ink solvent vapor atmosphere adjacent to the ink ejecting portion of the printing device.

Abstract: Value selection and printing apparatus comprising, structure for printing a value, the printing structure including a rotatable device and a drive shaft therefor, structure for selecting the value, the value selecting structure including a rack gear slidably movably connected to the device, the rack gear including a plurality of gear teeth formed therein, the value selecting structure including a drive gear and a first gear, the drive gear including gear teeth disposed in meshing engagement with the rack gear teeth, the first gear coaxially fixedly attached to the drive gear for rotation therewith and including first gear teeth, the value selecting structure including a value printing wheel, the printing wheel including a circumferentially-extending periphery and a plurality of printing fonts located at spaced intervals thereabout, the value selecting structure including a second gear coaxially fixedly attached to the printing wheel for rotation thereof, the second gear including gear teeth and disposed in me

Abstract: A disposable postage stamp marker is provided which consists of a frame and a device carried within the frame, for making a predetermined amount of visible impressions of small official government seals on mail to show that postage has been paid for the mail. An apparatus is carried within the frame and is coupled to the visible impressions making a device for enumerating the predetermined amount of visible impressions that can be made.

Abstract: A poster meter is insertable into and removable from a mail machine base receptacle. The postage meter includes a shutter bar which is slidably mounted to the meter. The shutter bar is positionable between a first position where the shutter bar is located opposite and blocking external access to the indicia plate of the meter and in a second position, the shutter bar is laterally positioned from said indicia plate. The receptacle is pivotally mounted to mailing machine base and includes a shutter bar locking mechanism for engaging the shutter bar in the shutter bar's first position and for slidably positioning the shutter bar between the first and second position. A brush assembly is mounted to the shutter bar for brushing or sweeping the indicia plate upon reciprocal displacement of the shutter bar between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A postage meter of the flat-bed type is provided with detachable indicia plate. The indicia plate includes a plurality of tabs which are secured in receiving aperture in a formed recess in the base of the postage meter. The indicia plate also includes a locking pin which in a first orientation permits the pin to pass through an aperture in the meter base. The locking pin then, upon reorientation, prevents removal of the locking pin.

Abstract: A printing mechanism sub-module for postage meters of the flat-bed type includes a meter housing with a print meter slogan aperture. A first and second print element each includes a plurality of radially locatable print faces around the center of the respective print elements. A first and second brackets is mounted to the internal of the meter housing and a shaft is rotatively mounted between the first and second brackets having a first and second shaft section. The first printing element is mounted radially around the first shaft section such rotation of the shaft causing corresponding rotation of the first printing element. The second printing element is rotatively mounted around the second shaft section such that the second printing element may be rotatively positioned independently of the shaft position. A first gear fixably mounted around the shaft. A second print element has a second gear formed at one end and aligned opposite the first gear.

Abstract: A postage meter module includes die protector blades to prevent fraudulent taking of postage meter imprints. A first plurality of die protectors are retracted to expose the adjacent printwheels when the meter makes a check on its internal condition. The remainder of the die protectors are retracted under different conditions while the first are still retracted in order to enable an imprint to be taken. Preferably the remainder of the die protectors are retracted only for a predetermined interval after a print signal has been received. The die protectors also serve to align the printwheels when the protectors are retracted.

Abstract: The trajectory of an electromagnetic actuator is adjusted by pulse-width-modulating feedback control of the waveform which energizes the coil. As applied to actuators for impact printing, the objectives of the control scheme are to regulate the armature's time of flight and its velocity at impact, in spite of disturbances, thereby to provide higher-quality printing at increased speed. Each actuation is produced by energizing the coil with a series of pulses. Regulation is accomplished under microprocessor control by measuring the state variables of the system--armature position, armature velocity, and coil current--at the beginning of each pulse, comparing these measurements to ideal values, and modulating the width of the pulse as a function of the errors. In general, the appropriate functional relationship between the measured errors and the pulse-width modulation is nonlinear, and is different for each pulse in the series. Systematic means for determining these relationships are given.

Abstract: A microprocessor provides to a main instruction source, A FIFO memory, various instructions (paper feed, hammer settings, . . . ) for a printer represented by instruction register thereof. For each instruction of the (A,C) type representing an operation code (C) for instance, a set command) for the hammer with address (A), address (A) is inputted into a secondary instruction source, a FIFO memory, simultaneously with a time information (Y) issued from a cyclic type binary counter. A so called mask bit (Z) which changes of value on every cycle, is also inputted, after complementation with time information (Y). When the contents (Y,Z) of counter and the contents (Y',Z) available from the output of source, are identical, comparator indicates to control unit that address (A') available from the output of source corresponds to the address of an hammer to be reset. Control unit adds code (C=RESET) and provides instruction (A', RESET) to register.

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 mechanism for encoding continuously moving documents. Documents are transported between a plurality of fixed dies and a plurality of electronically controlled hammers. An ink bearing ribbon is interposed between the documents and the fixed dies and is momentarily transported at the same velocity as the documents. As the documents traverse the plurality of fixed dies, the electronically controlled hammers are cycled, in a selected sequence and at selected positions, to provide the desired encoding. In those applications wherein the cycle time of the electronically controlled hammers is too slow to allow identical encoding in adjacent positions, a second plurality of fixed dies and electronically controlled hammers may be located adjacent to the first plurality or interspersed among the first plurality of fixed dies.

Abstract: Mechanism for selectively inhibiting automatic advancement of the print wheels of a value printing mechanism, such as a postage register printing system having a rotatable printing head, whereby a previously printed value may be repeated on the next, or succeeding, printing cycle. Mechanism for cancelling the inhibiting mode, including an electro-mechanical latch, are provided.

Abstract: A printer control system for a belt printer has an arrangement for checking print hammer operating circuits by comparing a real time actual parity of the circuits with a precalculated expected parity. Prior to printing, a microprocessor calculates expected parity bytes for each subscan for storage in a storage device along with the print position fire data used for selecting the operating circuits to be activated in the related subscans. An actual parity byte is generated on a real time basis by ODD/EVEN parity circuits associated with groups of operating circuits for comparison with a composite parity byte generated each subscan by the microprocessor. The composite parity byte is generated by combining the expected parity bytes from the storage device for several successive subscans. The composite parity byte is updated each subscan by a process of subtracting the initial expected parity byte and adding a new subscan expected parity byte.

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: A single pass multicolor thermal transfer printer for recording color images on plain paper by transferring spots of different colored materials from a carrier sheet as it and a sheet of paper are moved across a printhead in contiguous relation. The printhead includes a plurality of individual thermal elements that are selectively energized in timed relation to transfer colored materials from discrete areas of the carrier to the paper as the sheets pass over the printhead. The carrier includes separate, repeating patterns of four different color materials--three primary colors plus black--permitting the formation of multicolor images by energizing the appropriate elements as areas of the desired color materials are moved into registration with them.

Abstract: The printer has a plurality of printing rings each rotatably supported by a swingable layer pivoted about a pivot axis so as to be swung in an arcuate path around the pivot axis while it is rotated by a driving source about its own axis so that the printing rings are selectively swung toward and against a platen upon receipt of printing character selection command from the control circuit of the printer so as to print onto a paper held therebetween when the selected one of the characters on the respective printing ring is brought to a position for the printing during the rotation thereof.

Abstract: A label printer is described herein for printing on a tape information indicative of the cost of an item. The tape has a top print-receptive layer and a supporting layer and is disposed to be advanced between a printing head and a platen. The printing head is disposed near the tape egress end of the platen, which platen is pivotable at its tape ingress end about an axis perpendicular to the path of tape feed. Platen adjusting means are included at the tape egress end for adjusting the print head working distance. A delaminating bar and a tape advancement wheel are disposed in spaced apart sequence in the path of tape feed and downstream of the tape egress end of said platen so that, as the tape is advanced through the printer, the tape is pulled over the delaminating edge and separates the print-receptive layer from the supporting layer of tape.

Abstract: To obtain a substantially uniform print density while printing at high speed with a hammer-type impact printer, the hammer is electromagnetically driven in response to an energizing current which decays with a predetermined time constant from a high initial level toward a set point level which is automatically adjusted for different classes of characters so that the impact energy imparted to the hammer is regulated as a function of the character being printed. To adaptively absorb the shock forces generated by the rebounding hammer, the energizing current for the electromagnetic driver is reduced to a predetermined fraction of the set point level.

Abstract: A mechanism for encoding continuously moving documents. Documents are transported between a plurality of fixed dies and a plurality of electronically controlled hammers. An ink bearing ribbon is interposed between the documents and the fixed dies and is momentarily transported at the same velocity as the documents. As the documents traverse the plurality of fixed dies, the electronically controlled hammers are cycled, in a selected sequence and at selected positions, to provide the desired encoding. In those applications wherein the cycle time of the electronically controlled hammers is too slow to allow identical encoding in adjacent position, a second plurality of fixed dies and electronically controlled hammers may be located adjacent to the first plurality or interspersed among the first plurality of fixed dies.