Abstract: An apparatus includes a first drive unit configured to rotate a roll sheet supported by a roll support unit in a predetermined rotation direction to feed the sheet into a conveyance path, an abutment portion provided so as to be capable of abutting against an outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet at a first position, and a rotation member provided so as to be capable of abutting against the outer peripheral surface at a second position. The first drive unit rotates the roll sheet in the direction to introduce, into the conveyance path, a leading edge of the sheet having passed between the first and second positions. The apparatus further includes a second drive unit configured to rotate the rotation member in a direction in which a slack of the sheet is formed between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A stamping strip reel replacing system includes an autonomous mobile robot and an automatic guide vehicle. The autonomous mobile robot is adapted to autonomously move to a position where a reel driving shaft for mounting the reel is located, and includes a grabbing tool for grabbing the reel. The automatic guide vehicle moves together with the autonomous mobile robot, and carries an empty reel wound with no stamping strip. The autonomous mobile robot is further adapted to unload a full reel wound with the stamping strip from the reel driving shaft and place the unloaded full reel onto the automatic guide vehicle by operating the grabbing tool. The autonomous mobile robot is further adapted to grab the empty reel from the automatic guide vehicle and mount the grabbed empty reel onto the reel driving shaft by operating the grabbing tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to remove an adhesive label (22) from a bobbin (28), the bobbin including an end portion (24) and an outer surface (25), the method including: providing a bobbin of a coiled sheet closed by an adhesive label positioned on top of the end portion of the coiled sheet (26) to attach the same to the outer surface of the bobbin; locating the adhesive label; applying a sucking force to the location of the adhesive label so as to detach the adhesive label and the end portion of the coiled sheet from the bobbin; and cutting a part of the detached end portion including the adhesive label from the bobbin. The present invention also relates to an apparatus to detach an adhesive label from an end portion of a coiled sheet in a bobbin, the adhesive label being located between the end portion and an outer surface of the bobbin.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a gas cushion substrate support; a print assembly comprising a dispenser with an ejection surface facing the gas cushion substrate support; and a proximity sensor disposed in a surface of the gas cushion substrate support facing the ejection surface. A method is described that includes disposing a workpiece on a gas cushion support of an inkjet printer; supporting the workpiece on a gas cushion above a surface of the gas cushion support; detecting a distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support; determining a difference between the distance and a target distance; comparing the difference to a tolerance; and adjusting the distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.

Abstract: A medium transport device is provided. The medium transport device includes a transporting portion that transports a medium in a transport direction, a winding portion that winds the medium, and a friction member that suppresses displacement of the medium in a cross direction with the transport direction. The displacement in the cross direction is suppressed by causing the friction member to contact the medium. A contact state of the medium with the friction member is changed in accordance with a winding mode in which the medium transported by the transporting portion is wound around the winding portion, and a non-winding mode in which the medium transported by the transporting portion is not wound around the winding portion.

Abstract: A wire reel is detachably provided in a housing chamber of a binding machine body which binds a reinforcing bar. The wire reel includes a cylindrical hub portion which winds a wire, and a pair of parallel flanges overhanging outward from both external peripheral ends of the hub portions. A side wall inside the hub portion is formed of light-transmitting portions which allow the light from a transmissive photosensor provided in the binding machine body to be transmitted therethrough.

Abstract: A roll material dispenser comprises a central roll holding portion defining a feed slot and one or more support/cutting leg portions to provide a cutting edge for cutting dispensed material from said roll. The legs and central portion can define an omega shape in cross section, and the support/cutting legs can have equal or different angles defined.

Abstract: Sheet product dispensers and methods are provided. A sheet product dispenser includes a loading station for sheet material, a sheet feeding mechanism configured to feed the sheet material, a presentation station for presenting one or more discrete sheet products to an end user, a sensor downstream of the feeding mechanism and upstream of the presentation station configured to detect a presence of the discrete sheet products, and a controller configured to facilitate dispensing of the one or more discrete sheet products in response to a signal, and to determine and store data associated with the dispensing of the sheet products.

Abstract: The label issuing device, which reels out linerless paper having an adhesive face on one side and cuts the reeled-out linerless paper to issue individual labels, has a cutter part for cutting the reeled-out linerless paper and a detachable container that is detachable from an enclosure of the label issuing device. The detachable container has a reservoir part for reserving a lubricant, and an application part that extends from the reservoir part, receives the lubricant reserved in the reservoir part, and applies the lubricant to a blade body of the cutter part. The reservoir part is filled with an impregnation material that is impregnated with the lubricant to hold (reserve) the lubricant, wherein the impregnation material is coupled to an impregnation material of the application part.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a guide portion guiding a label and having a first and a second guide portion. The first guide portion is arranged on a first end portion side with respect to a central line in a width direction of a feed path such that the portion does not include the central line in the width direction. The second guide portion is arranged on a second end portion side in the width direction such that the portion includes the central line. When a connecting portion connecting the first and the second guide portion is taken as a reference, the first guide portion is formed such that a height of the first guide portion substantially increases toward the first end portion side in the width direction. The second guide portion is formed such that a height of the second guide portion is substantially uniform in the width direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for transporting and positioning of balancing weights connected together to form a chain of balancing weights is disclosed. A drive means comprises at least a transport wheel and/or a transport belt. The drive means has at least one cam to interface with a gap between two adjacent balancing weights of the chain of balancing weights. Furthermore a cutter may be provided for cutting of balancing weights from the chain.

Abstract: A printer 1 has a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by an automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media, and controls processing the media by a processing unit when a communication unit receives control data while in a standby mode waiting for detection of media displacement by the media orientation detection means 65.

Abstract: A material dispenser includes a support, an arm that extends from the support and a spool that is rotatably coupled to the arm. The spool is oriented such that an axis of rotation of the spool does not intersect with the support. The improved material dispenser may be worn on a forward-facing portion of a user's waist, a right-facing portion of a user's waist, a left-facing portion of a user's waist, or any other angular location on a user's waist. Material is dispensed by pulling the material away from the user's body in the corresponding direction (i.e., forward-facing, left-facing, right-facing, etc.).

Abstract: A tape dispenser having a housing, a cavity within the housing and within which a roll of tape is rotatably retained, and pairs of front and rear legs. The housing is able to stand on a flat surface in two different orientations. In a first orientation, the housing is supported on curved tips of the front legs and a region of the tape roll. In a second orientation, the housing is supported by curved, rearwardly extending projections on the rear legs and a second region of the tape roll. The housing rotates on the tips or projections as tape is withdrawn from the roll. A blade angles downwardly from the front end of the housing and is retained a distance from the surface when the housing is in each of the first and second orientations. The housing is rotated through about ninety degrees between the first and second orientations.

Abstract: A paper sheet material dispenser selectively operable to dispense paper toweling or other paper sheet material from a roll of paper sheet material employing a plurality of alternative operational modes.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a paper dispenser comprising a housing holding at least one paper supply and a dispensing mechanism within said housing, the dispensing mechanism having a rotatable dispensing drum. The dispenser further comprises a turn knob coupled with the dispensing drum, the turn knob having an inner hub, and a wrap-spring clutch wrapped around the inner hub. The wrap-spring clutch has a first arias extending from it and being attached to a stationary point for causing the wrap-spring clutch to slightly unwind when the turn knob is rotated in the first direction. Characteristically of the invention, the wrap-spring clutch comprises a second arm extending from it, while a stopper is located in the second arm's rotational travel path in a second rotation direction for enabling the turn knob to be rotated in the second direction against a limited braking force.

Abstract: A strip-shaped wire storing and transferring device is provided. The device includes a driving mechanism covered by a case, a wire cutting mechanism, and a bobbin winder. Wherein, the case includes an upper case and a lower case. The upper case and the lower case are matched and capable of buckling together. The case includes a rectangle portion, a bulge portion, a position portion, a position pole, and an incoming line groove and an outgoing line groove connected by a recess groove. The driving mechanism includes a pressure pole, a main gear strung by a main axle and resisted by a second elastic element, a rotating wheel engaging with the main gear, and a rolling wheel clamped by the rotating wheel and a anti-reverse-rotation device. The wire cutting mechanism includes a cutter shelf and a cutter. The bobbin winder includes a center hole and a bobbin slot.

Abstract: Toweling or other paper sheet material dispenser apparatus includes a sheet material support roller carrying a movable cutter blade. A user pulls on a sheet material tail to rotate the sheet material support roller and transport the sheet material. After the sheet material is substantially or completely severed by a cutter blade on the roller, an electric switch is closed and an electric motor energized to drive the roller and present a new tail to be pulled by a user.

Abstract: A dispenser for perforated web of absorbent paper, tissue, or nonwoven material in the form of a roll or a stack includes a housing forming a compartment, a passage arrangement defining a web passage, and an oblong dispensing opening. Inside the compartment, a web path is defined from a position of the roll or the stack to the oblong dispensing opening including the web passage. An edge portion at each of two lateral short sides of the oblong dispensing opening arranged at a distance from each other narrower than a width of the web separates a sheet from the web along a perforation. The web path changes direction as it passes over a straight edge arranged alongside, and perpendicularly to, the web path. The straight edge, the web passage, and the oblong dispensing opening are arranged directly adjacent to each other in that order seen in a direction of dispensing.

Abstract: A lead wire pull-out apparatus includes: a lead reel configured to have a lead wire wound thereon; two fixed lead bearings fixed at predetermined positions, on which the lead wire pulled out from the lead reel is slidable; a movable lead bearing arranged between the two fixed lead bearings, the movable lead bearing being movable in a vertical direction and configured such that a lower portion thereof is able to be in contact with the lead wire; and a press-down part configured to press down the movable lead bearing.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing absorbent sheet products includes a store with an absorbent web which is to be dispensed, a conveying mechanism with at least one conveying element for feeding the absorbent web and a mechanism for severing the web so as to form absorbent sheet products. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for collecting electrical charges caused by static electricity, a mechanism for directing electrical charges to another element within the apparatus for dispensing, and a mechanism for neutralising or consuming the electrical charges.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable and detachable dispenser. The dispenser of the present invention comprise a base portion which is lodged in the inner circumference part of the roll and provides an anchoring support to the dispenser, and a top portion that essentially lies over and above the outer circumference of the roll to allow the free end of the reeled product to pass through it and rest on a raised area which comprises of a cutting means. Further, the dispenser of the present invention, in its construction and placement on the roll, provides a unique locking mechanism that keeps it securely placed even with a diminishing diameter of the roll. Lastly, the dispenser of the present invention is easier to lodge and dislodge from the roll and is much lighter and convenient to use.

Abstract: A hybrid towel dispenser is provided that can be operated in an automatic dispensing mode and a manual dispensing mode. The dispenser includes a drum having a retractable knife that extends out of the drum when the drum rotates past a selected position and severs a towel segment from a towel sheet. The dispenser also includes a motor, a manual advance assembly, and a one-way rotational coupling that couples the motor to the drum such that the motor rotates the drum in the automatic dispensing mode and a user can rotate the drum in the manual dispensing mode separately from the motor, using the manual advance assembly.

Abstract: A printer includes a mainframe including a front face part that has an opening through which a recording medium passes; a guide unit connected to the mainframe on a first side of the front face part; a printer mechanism unit configured to perform printing on the recording medium, and connected to the mainframe on a second side of the front face part opposite to the first side thereof; an arm unit having a first end connected to the mainframe; and a shaft unit configured to hold a roll of the recording medium, and connected to a second end of the arm unit, wherein the guide unit is configured to guide the recording medium so as to feed the recording medium to the printer mechanism unit through the opening of the front face part of the mainframe.

Abstract: A printing press control device and a cut-off register control device forcibly move a compensator roller by a set moving amount each time a set time elapses during a period from the start of speed acceleration to the end of speed acceleration.

Abstract: A Toilet Paper Box that allow use 1 hand to pulling toilet paper and detached desire length without need to touch the whole paper roll that could prevent spread on infection dieses. The device has 2 major components. The toilet paper handler has built or attach on with trigger method by ball-head hammer and partial-gear-wheel styles. The second key component is the contain box that has unique cutting holes and paper arrangement to produce the result from the operating of the handler trigger the swing “L” shape leg to lifting that making the mouth frame biting action. After user tear out toilet paper by cutting teeth, the pulling force is disappear, then the handler's weight will rotate back to its start position, and the mouth frame is open. The extend paper end will stay outside the box as tong for the next pulling.

Abstract: A web tensioner, a web slitter, a method of tensioning a web, and a method of slitting a web are provided. A corrugated edge nip is used in the tensioner, the slitter, and the methods of tensioning and slitting. The corrugated edge nip can provide a crossweb tension to a suspended web or film in a web line. The corrugated edge nip can be used in conjunction with, for example, a rotary shear slitter to improve slit edge quality.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a spindle assembly for a ticket printer which permits the paper roll to be changed without removing the spindle assembly from the ticket printer. The spindle assembly consists of two arms mounted on the printer, on the upper portion of each respective arm is mounted a backing plate from which a spindle protrudes. The spindle may be retracted for loading paper by rotating a spindle actuator which is elevated by two ramps mounted thereon. The elevation of the actuator, which is connected to the spindle, retracts the spindle from the backing plate. An anti-theft ticket bezel is also disclosed, which has teeth incorporated into the ceiling within the opening of the bezel, so that if a ticket is pulled from outside the teeth tear the ticket or cuts it into strips, rendering the ticket useless.

Abstract: An automatic fast rewinder for shaftless packing film includes a body, a feeding box for containing inflated shafts, a guide passage formed in the feeding box, a pair of rotary discs, four pairs of pinching heads, a support frame for holding a large roll of packing film, plural guide wheels and a pressing wheel for pressing and move packing film of the large roll, a saw-teeth cutting unit, and a collect unit and plural inflatable shafts. In operation, the four pairs of pinching pins rotating with the rotary discs are moved orderly to pinch or release the inflatable shaft to rewound with packing film of the large roll, cut by the cutting unit, then dropped down on the collect unit. So the finished small rolls with the inflated shafts have inflated shaft deflated and pulled out so the finished small roll becomes a small roll without a winding shaft.

Abstract: A paper roll feeder device including a pushing movable shelf with a placing space, which for the movement of the paper roll. It also set a cutting device on the paper export. The paper roll would rotate in the opposite direction to the coiling one and pull out the paper tape by pushing the shelf and then cutting the paper tape by the cutting device of the shelf. The paper head would automatic stretch while the shelf gets back to its position in order to next taking paper. In addition, it is a paper tape pushing supported device in the shelf which is suitable for cutting paper device so that it could support or fix the paper tape when it is pulled out to the regular length. In this way, through passing the shelf, it could automatically pull out and cut the paper tape which is in the shelf.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying one or more strands of a relatively wide tape to a high-speed graphite tape laminating machine may include a tape supply reel and a backing paper take-up reel rotatably mounted on the machine, a dancer roller mounted on the machine for lateral movement thereon, and a mechanism for actively controlling the rotation of the tape supply and backing paper take-up reels and the lateral movement of the dancer roller relative to the support frame such that the respective tensions in the tapes are maintained substantially constant during both an on-the-fly tape add operation and an on-the-fly tape cut operation of the laminating machine.

Abstract: In a system and method for controlling the length of a discrete segment of an elastic web, a wound off tension of the web is determined during unwinding from a wound roll. The unwound web is delivered to a processing station while being maintained in tension. A discrete segment of the web is transported away from the processing station for at least a time t wherein the discrete segment decreases in length to a recovered length. The recovered length is predicted based at least in part on the wound off tension and in response to the predicted recovered length, at least one of the following is controlled: 1) the speed at which the web is delivered to the processing station, 2) the tension in the continuous web as it is delivered to the processing station, and 3) the length of the discrete segment at the processing station.

Abstract: A printer including a lower frame on which roll paper is loaded, a cutter section mounted above the lower frame for cutting the roll paper on which printing is made, and a cover that allows a front of the lower frame to be opened and closed is provided. A slope portion for causing paper dust or a slip of paper, which falls from the cutter section, to slip down toward the front of the lower frame is provided at a portion of the lower frame below the cutter section. The cover is provided with a pocket portion for receiving the paper dust or the slip of paper slipping down on the slope, and the pocket portion is adjacent to the lowest portion of the slope portion when the cover is closed.

Abstract: In a film extraction apparatus, a flexible stripper blade tongue is held in a relaxed condition with the tongue extending downwardly of the blade by a natural curvature in the tongue near the tongue's juncture with the remainder of the blade. Inducing stress in the blade to create a slight degree of curvature of the tongue forces the tongue into a longitudinally straight and stiffened condition allowing the tongue to be driven through the cartridge mouth. Relaxation of the stress on the blade returns the tongue into its normal, downwardly-extending condition with the end of the tongue resting on the outer layer of the film irrespective of the roll diameter. Presence of the stripper blade upper surface across the gap between the cartridge mouth and a following film channel serves to guide the film into the film channel during the film extraction procedure.

Abstract: A recording material roll is constituted by winding thermosensitive recording material of paper. A recording material magazine for the recording material roll includes a containing chamber, which contains the recording material roll. A supply roller is secured to the containing chamber in a rotatable manner, and advances the recording material from the recording material roll to an outside of the containing chamber. A pressing roller is disposed away from the supply roller in a winding direction of the recording material roll, and presses an outermost turn of the recording material roll.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying a flying splicing tape to a roll of sheet material. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides methods and apparatus for lifting a portion of the outer-most layer of sheet material away from a roll of sheet material to form a lifted portion of the outer-most layer, applying a splicing tape to a wound portion of the roll, and applying pressure to the lifted portion of the outer-most layer to progressively place the lifted portion of the outer-most layer in contact with the remainder of the roll and the splicing tape.

Abstract: The invention relates to band-like doctor blade assembly, a doctor blade and a method in the use of the doctor blade. The doctor blade assembly includes continuous and substantially infinite doctor blade that is placed in a reel, the doctor blade is then fed into a blade holder. The blade holder includes locking devices in its connection for locking the doctor blade in the blade holder. The continuous and substantially infinite doctor blade has a plurality of edge notches formed along an edge thereof and the doctor blade is fed over a length substantially equal to the distance between the edge notches, while the notches are placed, during the operation of the doctor blade, at both ends of the blade holder and permit bending of the continuous band-like doctor blade.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.

Abstract: A paper roll dispensing apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means for restraining inner windings of the paper roll from unrolling while simultaneously separating an outer winding of said paper roll from its inwardly-adjacent winding, and tension-supplying means for pressing a restraining edge of the outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means against an outside layer of the paper roll, both when the paper roll is substantially full and as the paper roll becomes depleted. Preferably, the paper roll also comprises tack adhesive means for adhering successive windings of the paper roll to one another when the outer winding is not pulled away from its inwardly-adjacent winding and simultaneously enabling the adhesion to be broken without substantial tearing of the paper when the outer winding is pulled away from its inwardly-adjacent winding.

Abstract: A cutting device and a wedge shaped separating member are used to cut a packaging material wrapped around an outer perimeter surface of a web roll. The separating member is inserted under the packaging material. A cutting blade is fixed above the separating member to provide for the cutting of the packaging material when the cutting device and separating member are moved along a lateral axis of the web roll. The cut packaging material is completely separated by a second cutting device. The separated packaging material is then rolled and compacted. The result is an automated device which saves time and labor when removing packaging material from a web roll. Furthermore, the removed packaging material is compact, providing for reduced storage and disposal space.

Abstract: An apparatus for the opening of paper bobbins and other rolls of material is provided. A flat blade is advanced from the side of a wound roll of material such that it intersects the roll over substantially its entire width. A cutting blade or other cutting mechanism then severs the layers of the roll which are outside the flat blade, and the flat blade protects the inside layers from being damaged. In preferred embodiments, a jet of air or other gas may be used to ease the insertion of the flat blade, or a gripping device which pinches the surface of the roll between opposed friction pads creates an arch in the surface of the roll through which the blade is inserted. The device is particularly suitable for use in cigarette making machines which require undamaged paper feeds.

Abstract: Device and method for changing film rolls, with apparatus for holding a first film roll in a working position in which film can be pulled off and separated from the film roll as desired, and holding a second film roll in a standby position. The second film roll can be moved from the standby position into the working position, with the first film roll being removable from the working position by moving the second film roll.

Abstract: A device for preparing and opening a roll of a strip of supple material. A flat blade is provided and is inserted from one side of the roll to separate the top layer, which is to be cut, from the lower layers. When the top layer is cut, the cutting portion of the cutting blade comes to rest against the flat. A clamp holds the cut layer and a transferring device handle the cut top layer.

Abstract: A recording device operable with continuous paper in the form of a roll includes a pair of drive rollers for selectively rotating the roll in the forward direction for paying out the paper or in the reverse direction. A controller causes the drive rollers to rotate in the reverse direction in response to a preselected signal. Bar codes representative of serial numbers are printed on one side edge of the paper. While the roll is rotated in the reverse direction, a number identification circuit reads the bar codes 41 and detects the leading edge of the paper on the basis of one bar code positioned at the leading edge and another bar code adjoining a roll position which the leading edge overlies. When the number identification circuit detects the leading edge, the controller switches the direction of rotation of the roll from reverse to forward.

Abstract: An apparatus for detaching the terminal spiral winding of yarn from the surface of a spinning cop, utilizes a hook-like yarn catcher element movable vertically along the cop by a pulling device and movable into and out of engagement with the yarn surface of the cop by a spring-loaded guide linkage to which the catcher element is mounted. The guide linkage has two levers pivoted at two respective pivot locations on a base plate and pivotably connected at two spaced pivot locations with the catcher element for coordinated movement to control extension and retraction of the catcher element, the distance between the pivot locations on the base plate being greater than the distance between the pivot locations connected with the catcher element for pivoting the catcher element with an increasing angle of inclination relative to the lengthwise extent of the cop during extension of the catcher element.

Abstract: A master making device for a stencil printer and a device included in the master making device for automatically peeling the leading edge of a stencil from a stencil roll are disclosed. Even when the leading edge of the stencil has a noticeable curl, it can be surely peeled off from the roll and paid out automatically. A peeler has its peeling end prevented from being curled.

Abstract: A supply wire cassette is removably mounted on the face plate of a wire stitching machine head. The cassette carries a rotatable reel of wire from which wire is unreeled over a flexible, resilient brake lever through a check pawl and a guide tube, which guides the unreeled wire along an arcuate, wire-straightening path to an outlet at a cutter on the head. A wire holder is removably mounted on the cassette housing and holds the free end thereof in position at the outlet until the cassette is mounted on the face plate to ensure that the wire passes through the feed mechanism of the head. Actuation of the feed mechanism withdraws wire from the cassette, pivoting the brake lever to unbrake the supply reel. When a predetermined length of unreeled wire accumulates in the cassette housing, the brake lever is biased back into braking engagement with the reel. A sensor including a switch removably mounted in the cassette housing indicates when the supply reel is nearly empty.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a movable separator to separate a recording medium from a feeding belt includes feeding structure for feeding an attached recording medium in a predetermined feeding direction. Image forming structure receives the recording medium from the feeding structure and forms images on the received recording medium. The separator is located on a downstream side of the image forming structure, and separates the attached recording medium from the feeding structure in a direction which is angled from the predetermined feeding direction. The separator moves to push the recording medium from a non-recording face thereof to a recording face thereof while the recording medium is stopped during intermittent feeding to cause even separation of the recording medium from the feeding structure.