Abstract: A negotiable instrument such as a check includes a unique microprint identifier that allows for authentication while preventing unauthorized reproduction and alternation. A printing system generates the identifier after receiving a customer order for printing a plurality of negotiable instruments, to allow inclusion of information that is specific to the customer order and/or the printing process. In various embodiments, the identifier is unique to each or each subset of the plurality of negotiable instruments and facilitates authentication of each of the negotiable instruments when needed.

Abstract: A select lever and a permanent magnet of a type selection mechanism of a type-printer are arranged with a gap between the magnet and the distal end of the lower part of the lever. The select lever is located untouched in a stable position that is settled by the respective magnetic polarities of the permanent magnet and the distal end of the lower part of the lever imparted by a magnetization coil.

Abstract: In a stamp apparatus, a paper-sheet object is conveyed in the arrow direction between a presser roller and an impress hub having a predetermined character/symbol string. Since a cam is rotated in the arrow direction by a rotary solenoid, it makes the presser roller approach the impress hub via a roller and an arm. A separating lever is rotated in the arrow direction by a rotary solenoid from an initial position (position shown in the drawing) to a siding position. When the paper-sheet object is conveyed to between the presser roller and the impress hub, a stamp bonded on the bottom surface of the paper-sheet object is canceled with a postmark. A presser mechanism suppresses a rebound produced when the presser roller starts to urge the paper-sheet object, and also maintains a predetermined urging pressure of the presser roller relative to the paper-sheet object having a predetermined thickness or less.

Abstract: The check writer, for imprinting checks or negotiable instruments 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 centered printing characters on the segment member facing. The segment members are movable to locate the desired printing characters on the printing line and cooperate with 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 which assists in the cooperation between the exposed printing characters and the imprinted check to prevent criminal alteration.

Abstract: A print wheel printer includes a trigger unit casing and a main housing frame, a plurality of print wheels rotatably mounted on a print wheel shaft and having a corresponding ratchet wheel secured to one side of each print wheel. A plurality of rotatably mounted selective pawls are supported on the trigger unit casing for stopping the rotation of the print wheels at selected print wheel engagement positions wherein a corresponding pawl is rotated into position to engage a corresponding print wheel ratchet wheel. A rotatable reset lever is also mounted on the trigger unit casing for the purpose of returning the selective pawls to a print wheel disengagement position. The selective pawls and the reset lever are both supported on the trigger unit casing in a prealigned relationship and support means are provided on the main housing frame for supporting the set of print wheels.

Abstract: A printing apparatus of the type in which character wheels of respective columns are independently rotatably juxtaposed and the character wheel of each column is individually rotation-controlled to select a desired one of characters on the outer periphery of the character wheel at a print position, characterized in that the apparatus is compact and light in weight.

Abstract: A marking head rotatably supports a plurality of marking wheels that are supported for rotation by a shaft positioned in the marking head. The marking wheels each include a periphery with a plurality of marking characters positioned thereon for marking plates, name plates, identification plates and the like with a preselected marking character. A preselected marking character for each wheel is positioned in marking position by rotating the respective marking wheel through a preselected angle which is preferably the angle for advancing the next adjacent character into marking position. A plurality of fingers are rotatably positioned on a shaft for engaging a ratchet portion of a respective wheel. Each finger is rotatably supported to selectively move into and out of engagement with the respective ratchet portion by operation of an air actuated plunger abutting the end of the finger.

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 miniaturized printer wherein the duration of each print cycle, the sequence of printing operations performed in each print cycle and the time between each print cycle is controlled by a detecting arrangement. The detecting arrangement is adapted to detect the rotary position of a plurality of print rings having print characters circumferentially disposed therearound and for generating a character selection timing pulse for each of the available rotational positions of each print ring during a print cycle. The rotational position of each print ring corresponds to a print character circumferentially disposed about the print ring and, to this end, a print selection mechanism associated with each of the print rings selectively positions each of the print rings at respective predetermined print positions during each print cycle in response to the character selection timing pulses produced by the detection arrangement so that printing can be performed thereby.

Abstract: A print character selection mechanism for use with printers of the type wein print characters are circumferentially disposed about the character ring and are selectively positioned in a print position by deenergizing an electromagnetic coil is provided. Each of the character rings includes a ratchet gear having a plurality of circumferentially disposed teeth, which teeth correspond to print characters circumferentially disposed about the print character ring. The instant invention is particularly characterized by a comb-shaped yoke member having a plurality of selection yokes, associated with each of the character rings, and a common yoke supporting each of the selection yokes. An electromagnetic coil is disposed about each selection yoke and is normally energized to induce a flux field in the selection yoke. A plurality of selection members are normally disposed in a rest position in abutting engagement with a selection yoke when the electromagnetic coil is energized.

Abstract: A mechanism for actuating a platen of a printer in which a cooperating pin and lever are provided to permit a plurality of printing rings with the desired characters thereon to be printed to be placed into a printing position, to move a platen into abutting engagement with the printing rings and hold them engaged for printing, all during a first period of time, and to remove the platen from the printing rings during a second period of time, and in which the first time period is about two to three times longer than the second time period so that the speed of the printer for each printing operation is increased.

Abstract: Line printer having a plurality of rotatable printing rings coaxially arranged adjacent each other and carrying on the peripheries thereof a plurality of characters for the printing and a movable roller pad adapted to abut against the printing rings at the predetermined printing position so that the selected characters of the printing rings held at the printing position are simultaneously printed on a paper held between the printing rings and the roller pad so as to form simultaneously a line of printing thereon in each printing cycle. The printing rings are rotated in the same direction in each printing cycle in order to eliminate a complicated mechanism for reciprocally driving the printing rings.

Abstract: Printer having swingable printing rings which are selectively swung against a platen to print a line of selected characters on a paper by selecting a desired character from a plurality of characters provided on the periphery of each printing ring during the rotation thereof about its axis. Each printing ring is rotatably supported on a swingable printing ring supporting lever which is in turn swingably supported on a driving shaft. A plurality of driving gears are secured to the driving shaft and each of the driving gears meshes with a gear integral with the respective printing ring so as to rotate the same about its axis for selection of a desired character during the rotation thereof. Each printing ring supporting lever is urged by a spring so as to move the printing ring thereon apart from the platen. A plurality of driving levers are swingably supported on the driving shaft and each driving lever is engaged with the respective printing ring supporting lever.

Abstract: An improved printer comprising a plurality of character rings provided with a plurality of characters on the respective peripheries thereof and corresponding pluralities of ratchet wheels and pawls. Each ratchet wheel is radially mounted on a character ring and a corresponding pawl is oscillatably mounted for engaging its corresponding ratchet at a preselected interval for stopping its associated character ring when a selected character is located at a predetermined position. Guides are provided for determining the constancy of oscillation of the pawls. Each pawl is spring driven into engagement with a corresponding ratchet wheel and a normal bias toward a corresponding ratchet wheel is provided. A releasable restraint acts oppositely to the bias on the pawl for normally preventing the pawl from engaging with its corresponding ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A printer for printing characters on a printable medium. The printer contains a plurality of printing actuators which are selectively energized from a power supply to print the characters. Control circuitry in the printer receives character codes and energizes the printing actuators individually in sequence thereby to reduce the loading on the power supply.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying bar - half bar code to letter mail so as to permit electronically controlled mail sorting. The apparatus comprises a plurality of code wheels each having code printing elements on one surface and the corresponding numerals on the opposite surface, an inking source and a hinge mounted frame. Each wheel is manually controlled by an operator to code a desired numeral and in a preferred embodiment the surface of each wheel containing the number to be coded is enlarged to facilitate manipulation. Two flanges provided on a base permit ready alignment of a letter under the printing elements.

Abstract: A parallel printer including an improved reset mechanism for resetting a ratchet and pawl mechanism after printing, is provided. An axially rotatable shaft having notched portions associated with each pawl effects a pivoting of each pawl out of engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel and returns each pawl to a rest position to complete a printing cycle.

Abstract: A miniaturized printer wherein the duration of each print cycle, the sequence of printing operations performed in each print cycle and the time between each print cycle is controlled by a detecting arrangement. The detecting arrangement is adapted to detect the rotary position of a plurality of print rings having print characters circumferentially disposed therearound and for generating a character selection timing pulse for each of the available rotational positions of each print ring during a print cycle. The rotational position of each print ring corresponds to a print character circumferentially disposed about the print ring and, to this end, a print selection mechanism associated with each of the print rings selectively positions each of the print rings at respective predetermined print positions during each print cycle in response to the character selection timing pulses produced by the detection arrangement so that printing can be performed thereby.