Abstract: A flat display displays images on both sides is disclosed. The flat display includes a liquid crystal molecule layer disposed between two substrates, and a driving array having a plurality of switch devices disposed on one of the substrates. Images are asynchronously displayed on both sides of the flat display by controlling a rotation state of the liquid crystal molecule layer by the driving array in cooperation with a light source provided by a light source module. The light source module includes two light-guiding plates. One of the light-guiding plates is disposed on the substrate having the driving array, and the other light-guiding plate is disposed on the other substrate having a color filter.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel soluble pigment precursors possessing not only higher thermal stability but also improved solubility characteristics and to a process for mass coloration of high temperature polymers that utilizes these novel soluble pigment precursors. The pigment precursors of the invention are essentially of the formula A(B)x  (I) where x is an integer from 1 to 8, A is the radical of a chromophore of the quinacridone, anthraquinone, perylene, indigo, quinophthalone, indanthrone, isoindolinone, isoindoline, dioxazine, azo, phthalocyanine or diketopyrrolopyrrole series, this radical being linked with xB groups via one or more heteroatoms, these heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of N, O and S and forming part of the radical A, and B is hydrogen or a group of the formula although at least one B group is not hydrogen and when x is from 2 to 8 the B groups may be identical or different.

Abstract: A printing system for printing images, and including a system to reduce marking material coverage, while maintaining color fidelity, includes an image input, where the image defines an amount of marking material to be deposited on an printed reproduction, a marking material coverage calculator, determining expected original marking material coverage for a given area of a received image; and a marking material reduction controller, using the expected marking material determination to control coverage reduced reproduction of the given area in accordance with a non-linear coverage reduction function.

Abstract: A high capacity compressed document image storage apparatus for color printing systems.The compressed document storage system is highly suited for use with high speed color pagewidth print heads. However, the document storage apparatus can also be used with other printing systems, such as color electrophotographic and other systems.The compressed document storage system is composed of the following major components:1) an image creation system which can operate on a band by band basis.2) an input memory which stores at least one band of the uncompressed page image. Two bands are preferred to allow double buffering, so that the RIP and compression stages can proceed simultaneously.3) a page image compression system which can operate on a band by band basis. A new page image compression scheme which achieves high compression ratio and preserves high image quality is disclosed.4) a mass storage device for storing compressed page images.

Abstract: A chart recorder method and apparatus wherein a recording head records a plurality of different colored line segments on a recording medium, a head drive moves the recording head and the recording medium reciprocally relative to each other in a scanning direction, a recording medium drive moves the recording medium and the recording head relative to each other in a sub-scanning direction, a component receives a plurality of signals to be recorded on the recording medium as a corresponding plurality of traces to be recorded by the recording head, and a control circuit controls the recording head so that at least one of the traces is formed by line segments which change color cyclically.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided with plural recording units. A supplied original is discriminated by an original discriminating unit, and is recorded by a recording unit selected according to the result of the discrimination by the discriminating unit. The plural recording units are mutually different in the recording image magnification or in the recording method.

Abstract: A motor vehicle time speed recorder that includes a hollow parallelepiped-shaped housing, time apparatus, speed apparatus, graphical time apparatus, and graphical speed apparatus. The hollow parallelepiped-shaped housing has a front with an elongated slot and a side with an aperture. The time apparatus is responsive to the time of day. The time apparatus is disposed in the hollow parallelepiped-shaped housing and generates a time signal, so that the time of day can be monitored. The speed apparatus is responsive to the speed of the motor vehicle. The speed means is disposed in the hollow parallelepiped-shaped housing and receives a speed signal, so that the speed of the vehicle can be monitored. The graphical time apparatus graphically represents the time signal generated by the time apparatus and is disposed in the hollow parallelepiped-shaped housing, so that the time of day can be graphically represented.

Abstract: A chart recorder is described, of the type which includes a strip of pressure-markable chart paper (12, FIG. 1) that is slowly moved downpath past a marking station (30) where at least one stylus (32) presses against the chart strip to mark it, which is compact, reliable, and accurate. The marking station includes a first wide but thin belt (52) extending in a loop between a pair of rollers, with the stylus coupled to the belt so as the output of a temperature sensor turns the belt, the stylus moves across the width of the chart strip. A slider (82, FIG. 3 ) coupled to the stylus and belt, can slide along a lateral guide (90) that resists tilting of the slider, to thereby enable it to keep the stylus pressed against the chart strip. Where two styluses are used, a second independently driven belt is coupled to a second stylus with the second belt lying below the first one. A supply roll (20, FIG.

Abstract: A simple chart recorder is described of the type which includes a strip of pressure-markable chart paper, which includes two pressure marking styluses that create traces that can be readily distinguished from one another. Each stylus has a horizontal inner portion (80, FIG. 2 ) that extends largely parallel to chart paper movement and a vertical outer portion (88), with the first stylus having an inner portion lying above the second stylus and having an outer portion lying further downpath than the second stylus. One of the styluses includes a blue pencil lead (92) whose point creates a pressure-marked trace part (116, FIG. 3 ) as well as blue lines (120, 122) on opposite sides of the trace part. Another stylus includes a wheel (180, FIG. 6) with a plurality of points spaced about its periphery to produce a multipoint trace (172). Another stylus includes two closely-spaced tips (200, 202, FIG. 7 ) that form a doubleline trace (208). Another stylus has a tip with a large radius of curvature (R1, FIG.

Abstract: A penstocker for an automatic drafting machine in which a shutter 15 is slidably mounted on a peripheral wall 13b of the penstocker's main body 10 such that a desired one or more slits 20, 21 and 22, formed on the peripheral wall 13b, are shielded thereby forming a predetermined pattern indicative of a presence or absence of the penstocker main body, a type of pen held by the penstocker main body and an origin of the penstocker main body.

Abstract: A drawing head 11 of a pens exchanging mechanism has a pair of stationary arms 12 and 13 attached at one edge of a drawing head and a pair of rotary arms 14 and 15 pivotably attached at opposite edge of the head. In order to hold stably and surely the writing instrument 10, a spring force of the lower rotary arm 15 deflecting toward the stationary arms 12 and 13 is designed to have a strong one. When the drawing head 11 comes near a stocker in order to carry out writing instruments exchanging operation between the stocker 19 and the drawing head 11, an extruding arm 18 on the lower rotary arm 15 hits a securing member 24 installed on the stocker 19. Further movement of the drawing head 11 rotates the rotary arm 15 and the rotary arm 15 goes away from the writing instrument 10. Then the upper rotary arm 14 engages with a rotary arm 21 of the stocker 19 and rotates going away from the writing instrument 10, thus a holding of the instrument 10 is transferred from the drawing head to the stocker.

Abstract: This device relates to graphics apparatus of the pen-plotter type comprising a plotter head which is moveable in a horizontal direction Y and supports a writing instrument which is vertically moveable (Z direction) on the head. Each writing instrument bears an identification surface the location of which along the Z direction depends on the instrument type. The apparatus further includes a fixed abutment. The instrument type is identified by detecting the vertical position of the instrument when the identification surface is brought into contact with the abutment. For greater accuracy, a differential measurement can be obtained between this vertical position and a reference position obtained by bringing a reference surface of the instrument into contact with a reference abutment.

Abstract: This device relates to graphics apparatus of the pen-plotter type comprising a plotter head which is moveable in a horizontal direction Y and supports a writing instrument which is vertically moveable (Z direction) on the head. Each writing instrument bears an identification surface the location of which along the Z direction depends on the instrument type. The apparatus further includes a fixed abutment. The instrument type is identified by detecting the vertical position of the instrument when the identification surface is brought into contact with the abutment. For greater accuracy, a differential measurement can be obtained between this vertical position and a reference position obtained by bringing a reference surface of the instrument into contact with a reference abutment.

Abstract: The inventon relates to a method and apparatus for marking or recording patient-related information and other necessary data in connection with X-ray imaging on a certain section of a film (6) by using a marking apparatus (2) which is movable relative to film (6). In the method, markings are made latent on film (6) in a manner that the markings become visible in connection with film development. The marking is effected as a sequence, line-directed deviation of a marking being obtained by moving the marking apparatus and the film relative to each other. The marking apparatus (2) used in the method is provided with marking elements which are brought into contact with film (6) for producing a marking on film (6), vertical deviation of alphanumerical marks included in a marking being achieved by individually controlling the operation of each marking element included in the marking apparatus.

Abstract: A writing tool (30) carried by a write head (10) of a drawing machine is transferred to an empty station in a storage turret by bringing the write head carrying the writing tool to a transfer position, engaging the writing tool in the station of the storage device by lowering the tool, and disengaging the writing tool from the write head by moving the write head away from the transfer position. A writing tool is transferred from a station of the storage device to the write head by engaging the writing tool on the write head by bringing the write head into the transfer position, disengaging the writing tool from its station in the storage device by raising the tool, and displacing the write head together with the writing tool away from the transfer position. Tool transfer is thus provided solely by a combination of the vertical tool movements and the displacement of the write head along a given direction as normally required for the purpose of plotting on a print medium.

Abstract: A pen exchange mechanism is disclosed, by which a plurality of pen chuck mechanisms holding pens on a carriage are disposed, and a slider is engaged with the carriage at a position corresponding to a pen, which should print, among said pens, printing being effected while driving a pen chuck mechanism at a position corresponding to the slider together with the pen by means of a pen driving mechanism.

Abstract: A computer driven plotter pen includes a turret from which a any one of plurality of different types of pens may be selected. When the plotter determines that a pen has become spent, the spent pen is automatically removed by a pen transfer carriage from the pen turret and discarded. The transfer carriage then removes a fresh replacement pen of like type to the spent discarded pen from a magazine thereof, and installs the replacement pen in the turret which in turn installs it in the plotter pen carriage. No operator involvement is required.

Abstract: A graphic recorder includes a moveable pen carriage and drive means associated with the pen carriage for causing it to travel back and forth under computer control. A media roller defines a continuous cylindrical member supported beneath the carriage path and coupled to a computer controlled media drive system. Recording pens supported on the pen carriage are selectively lowered into recording positions in which they write upon a flexible media and against the media roller directly.

Abstract: Apparatus, for use in conjunction with a digital plotter incorporating controlled multiple markers to create displays, for determining the position of the markers along axes of movement, comprises a detector assembly disposed at a fixed axial position relative to the plotter, and a driver for moving a marker relative to the detector assembly. The detector assembly includes means for detecting movement of the marker relative thereto and producing signals indicative of the movement. A processor interprets the signals for determining an axial position of the marker and optionally detects and compensates for a variation in the axial position of a current marker relative to the axial position of a prior marker.

Abstract: A rotary action graphic recording system includes a pen carriage supporting a plurality of recording pen shuttles in a linear array together with means for moving the pen carriage in a carriage path. Each pen shuttle supports a recording pen having a downwardly extending tip. Rotary actuation means are supported by and operative upon the pen carriage to engage selected ones of the recording pen shuttles for movement of the pen tips into contact with the recording media. The rotary actuating means are operated by an elongated actuator beam supported in parallel with the carriage path and coupled to the rotary actuating means. Brake means within the rotary actuator are provided which are operative to engage the actuator beam and permit alignment of the rotary actuator with a slected pen within the pen carriage array by movement of the pen carriage.

Abstract: An automatic pen positioning system is operative within a graphic recording system having a plurality of recording pens moveably supported by a pen carriage. The pen carriage is moveably along a first path above a media which is moveable along a second path. A motor drive system moves a selected one of the plurality of pens into contact with the media during recording. A closed loop servo system is operative upon the pen motor drive and is controlled by a position information processor. A following error processor is coupled to the servo system and compiles a periodically sampled table of absolute position, commanded position and following error for the servo system during the initialization process in which each pen is moved toward the media at a constant velocity until it impacts the media impeding further pen motion. The following error processor determines the pen to media contact position of the engaged pen on the basis of the information derived from the servo system.

Abstract: An improvement to graphics pen plotters including a pen gripping mechanism for gripping a cylindrical bodied pen in a generally vertical orientation for sensing the presence and type of a pen in the gripping mechanism with a single sensor. There is a multi-channel sensor adapted for producing and sensing a plurality, "n+1", of parallel light beams disposed one above the other to produce a binary number at an output thereof indicating the ones of the light beams sensed by the sensor. The sensor is disposed to shine the light beams at a position past which the pen is moved by the gripping mechanism. There is also a cylindrical reflective surface disposed about a portion of the body of the pen so as to be struck by the light beams when the pen is being gripped by the gripping mechanism at the position and reflect the light beams back towards the sensor to be sensed thereby.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for sensing whether a pen is in the grasp of a pen claw of a drawing arm or a plotter or other graphics mechanism. More specifically, the present invention comprises a pen claw movable between an upward position and an downward writing position, the pen claw being connected to a detector which detects both upward and the downward movements of the pen claw. The pen is provided with an annular ring extending therefrom and the plotter mechanism has a stop provided thereon.

Abstract: In a device for exhanging objects, in particular writing instruments, between two holders (4, 5) open on one side, in which the object (6) is retained at least in one holder (4) by the cooperation of two retaining elements, one of which is a permanent magnet and the other is a ferromagnetic element. The retaining element provided in the one holder (4) is connected to a raceway mechanism and in the retaining position is disposed at least near the receiving zone of the holder (4), and in the separating position is located farther away from the receiving zone of the holder (4).

Abstract: A symmetrical braking system for a graphic recorder includes a generally cylindrical brake support supported by a carriage drive and having a combination of cam surfaces. A brake rotor is rotatable supported upon the brake support and defines an arrangement of captivating notches which receive a pair of brake shoes in an overlying arrangement. Bearing means are coupled to each of the brake shoes and are driven by the cam surfaces of the brake support. A coupling arrangement is secured to the brake rotor and provides a coupling for rotational forces between the brake rotor and an actuator beam extending through the brake structure. Rotational forces applied to the actuator beam are coupled to the brake rotor and the bearing means cooperate with the cam surfaces to move the brake shoes into or out of engagement with the actuator beam as a function of rotational position.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a mechanism for incrementally rotating a plotter carousel holding a plurality of pens around its perimeter. The rotational increments of the carousel are spaced to present any of the plurality of pens to a drawing arm on the plotter, or other graphics. A non-servo, non-stepper electric motor, such as a DC motor commonly used in slot cars, provides the rotational power to rotate the carousel. A control device switches the motor on or off with an output connected to the base of a driver connected between the power supply and the motor. The motor, when on, rotates an incremental indexing mechanism that in turn rotates the carousel in increments, each increment being a fraction of one full rotation. A switch is provided which detects that the carousel has been rotated one increment.

Abstract: A pen type sensor for use in a graphics pen plotter wherein plotter pens are moved along a pre-established path between a pen holding area and a plotting area for reading a plurality of vertically oriented reflective indicia positions thereon to create a binary logic output signal representative of the pen type. There is a hollow body member having a pair of angled front surfaces. Light emitting apparatus is associated with one of the pair of angled front surfaces for directing a light beam to simultaneously strike the indicia positions at a point on the path of pen movement. A plurality of light detectors are associated with the other of the pair of angled front surfaces for receiving on respective sensing surfaces thereof the light beam as it is reflected by reflective indicia on a pen at respective ones of the positions and for creating respective bi-stable output signals reflecting the presence and absense of reflected light on the sensing surfaces.

Abstract: A recording device capable of writing a character on a sheet of paper with a writing ball-point pen according to a set of character pattern data which is stored in a pattern memory, and erasing a written character with an erasing ball-point pen with reliability, by means of (1) modifying the set of character pattern data into a corresponding set of erasing pattern data which permits each of the components of an erasing path of the erasing pen to be shifted from the written character in a selected one of a first and a second direction which are normal to a first and a second reference line intersecting with each other, the set of erasing pattern data causing the component of the erasing path to be shifted in the first direction if a segment of the written character corresponding to the component is positioned nearer to the first reference line than the second, or to be shifted in the second direction if the segment is positioned nearer to the second reference line, and (2) controlling movements of the erasing

Abstract: In a pen pressure device including a carriage, a pen axially movably supported to the carriage in such a manner that a front end of the pen is opposed to a paper, a pen pressure spring for biasing the pen toward the paper, a return spring for biasing the pen in a direction apart from the paper; the improvement comprises a hammer mounted on the carriage and adapted to be biased by the pen pressure spring having a spring force greater than that of the return spring to thereby urge the pen, and a cam member for moving the hammer to a retracted position where the pen is not urged by the hammer.

Abstract: In a multi-position graphics plotter pen carousel system employing a pen capping mechanism therein at each pen position for capping and uncapping pens held by the carousel, an improvement for allowing the sensing of pen presence at the pen positions and the indexing of the carousel with a single sensor. Each pen capping mechanism is adapted to assume a first position with a pen in the pen position and assume a second position with no pen in the pen position. A plurality of first sensible attributes are associated with respective ones of the pen capping mechanisms for exhibiting a first characteristic when a pen is contained at the associated pen position and for exhibiting a second characteristic when no pen is contained at the pen position. A plurality of second sensible attributes are associated with respective ones of the pen positions for constantly exhibiting the first characteristic.

Abstract: In a plotter (10) having a plurality of pens (14) stored in a rotatable turret (16) for selective use in a plotting operation, the turret may be rotated by the drive motor (32) used to move the paper (12) bidirectionally, thereby eliminating the cost and weight associated with a pen turret drive motor. The rotation of the turret is mechanically coupled to a grit wheel shaft (34), which is used to move the paper and which is driven by the paper drive motor. The turret is positioned on a spindle (86) provided with slots (88) associated with the location of the pens. The bottom of the spindle is provided with a worm gear (110), which is continuously engaged by a worm (94) mounted on one end of a worm shaft (96). The grit wheel shaft is also provided with a gear (104) which is selectively engageable by a sliding gear (102) mounted on the other end of the worm shaft. A lever engager (98) is actuated by a foot (106 ) on the bottom of the carriage assembly (56) which supports a pen during the plotting operation.

Abstract: The body of a writing member is movable in translation between a rest position and a work position, at least partly under the action of a magnetic force, and is permanently held against at least one guide element carried by the support, by means of a magnetic attraction force acting transversely relative to the direction of displacement in translation of the writing member.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a turret head in a pen plotter wherein the turret head and pen holder move in combination with the pen carriage to provide turret selectability at the writing site. Sensors and associated logic are provided for detecting the presence of a turret on the pen carriage, for sensing the presence and absence of pens in the turret and in the pen holder, for detecting the type of pen or other writing device being used and taking appropriate action responsive thereto, and for applying varible damping constants to the movement of the turret head. Control logic is disclosed for assuring reliable and optimum operation.

Abstract: A multi-pen recording device including a carriage holding a number of pens and movable on a shaft over a writing surface, a single plunger provided for selectively urging a selected individual pen against the writing surface, a belt for driving the carriage attached to the carriage, a clutch provided on the carriage for transmitting the drive force of the belt to the plunger and for releasing the same, whereby the drive force of the belt is used as the drive force for the pen selection and is used as a single plunger for urging a pen against the writing surface which eliminates the need for a special drive source for changing over the plunger toward the respective pens.

Abstract: A method of exchanging writing implements for automatic drafting machine and its device in which a plurality of writing implement holders consisting of a stationary arm and a rotary arm at a stocker side, and a writing implement holder consisting of a stationary arm and a rotary arm is provided at a drawing head side, and when the drawing head moves to pick up a writing implement at the stocker side, a position of the stocker is shifted relatively to the drawing head so that a writing implement holding side end of the stationary arm at the drawing head side is shifted at a predetermined interval in the inside direction of an open portion of the writing implement holder at the stocker side relative to the writing implement holding side end of the stationary arm at the stocker side, and when the drawing head moves to place a writing implement at the stocker, a position of the stocker is shifted relatively to the drawing head so that the writing implement holding side end of the stationary arm at the stocker sid

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for recording operating condition information regarding transportation equipment and for determining the accuracy of recorded duration of the operating conditions. The system includes a first recording member for recording the operating condition information and a second recording member for recording time information in a predetermined pattern with accurate duration recording of the operating condition information and where such predetermined pattern is broken with inaccurate duration recording of the operating condition information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a measuring and recording system for transportation equipment which measures the values of various operating parameters of the equipment and which records these values in analogue fashion on a recording medium. The system is characterized by an electronic signaler which causes readily visible markings to be produced on the recording medium distinct from the analogue recording pattern and independent from the analogue recording level when any of the operating parameters reaches a certain preset value.

Abstract: A multi-pen type plotter printer is disclosed in which a desired character or graphic pattern is produced on the monitor paper by a selected one out of plural pens arranged in the carriage in accordance with an information signal, comprising a hammer slidably and pivotally disposed on the carriage for actuating the selected pen into contact with the surface of the paper for plotting while the carriage and the platen are moved. A blade member is pivotally disposed which has a dimension wider than the width of the effective plotting range and is rotated in either direction to rotate the pusher in the same direction so as to cause the pusher to move toward and away from the pen.

Abstract: A pen-recording apparatus for writing on a sheet of recording medium on a rotatable platen, with plural pens movable with a carriage along the platen. The apparatus comprises a pen-holding head which is supported by the carriage rotatably about an axis perpendicular to a line of movement of the carriage, and which holds the plural pens such that axes of the pens are evenly spaced from each other circumferentially of the head, and such that the pens are axially movable toward and away from the platen. The carriage rotatably supports a pinion coupled to the pen-holding head to transmit a rotary motion to the pen-holding head. The apparatus further comprises a rack member including a rack which is disposed parallel to the platen and engageable with the pinion to rotate the pinion when the carriage is moved in one of opposite directions along the platen.

Abstract: A plotter-printer includes a carriage assembly which is reciprocatingly movable along a platen, and the carriage assembly is comprised of a carriage main body, a plurality of pens movably mounted on the carriage main body in a predetermined pattern such that they are normally located at a retracted position where no printing takes place and selectively moved to an advanced position where printing takes place when actuated and at least one actuating lever pivotally supported on the carriage main body for selectively actuating the pens. In the preferred embodiment, the pens are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows which are spaced apart from one another in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the carriage assembly and a like plurality of actuating levers are provided, one for each of the rows.

Abstract: A recorder including an A/D converter for converting analog measured input signals into digital input sampling data for a predetermined sampling period, for processing the converted data by a microprocessor, and for subsequently driving a recording head to make a recording on a recording paper. A paper end detecting sensor is carried on the head, and the microprocessor is caused to compute a recording position signal according to the measured input signals on the basis of the sampling data; to correct the recording position signal on the basis of both a reference width for the recording paper and the paper width, which is measured as a result of detecting the 0% and 100% ends of the recording paper by the sensor, thereby to produce a recording position correcting signal according to the extension or contraction of the recording paper; to control the position of the recording head in accordance with the recording position correcting signal; and to make a recording on the recording paper by the recording head.

Abstract: A pen recorder is provided with a holder base and a hammer base which are movable along a platen. A plurality of pens are mounted in parallel on the holder base. A hammer for pressing any one of the pens is mounted on the hammer base. One of the bases is driven by a driving means such as a pulse motor. Moreover, a lock mechanism is provided for connecting the holder base and the hammer base. Thus, it becomes possible to select the pen to be pressed by the hammer through the movement of relative position between the bases effected by the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A graphic recording system wherein a plurality of recording elements are carried by a carriage, the carriage being movable in two directions along a path relative to a recording medium. An actuator selectively actuates the recording elements by mechanical engagement for recording on the medium. A rod having a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to the path is supported, independently of the carriage, for rotation about its axis. An actuator arm is carried by the rod for rotation with the rod while being movable along the rod axis. Detents selectively interlock the actuator and carriage in predetermined relative positions. In a preferred embodiment, the detents are formed of slots within the carriage in predetermined relationships with the recording elements and a key rotatable with the actuator arm into and out of the slots.

Abstract: A color plotter capable of printing out alphanumeric characters and the like at a high speed in addition to color plots is disclosed. A print head assembly comprising ink ejection heads is partly allocated to multicolor plots and partly to single-color characters and controlled to selectively print out graphic data and character data on a sheet as desired. The print head assembly is mounted on a carriage. In a plotter mode, the carriage and sheet are driven each in a reciprocal movement in directions perpendicular to each other with the plot section of the print head assembly energized. In a printer mode, the character section of the print head assembly is energized in response to input pixel data while the carriage is stroking.

Abstract: A mechanism for driving a pen recorder includes a carriage movable with respect to a recording sheet, a pen holder rotatably mounted on the carriage and carrying a plurality of pens, the pen holder having a writing position in which one of the pens at a time can be located, the pen holder including a rotatable pen selector mechanism, a hammer swingably mounted on the carriage for pressing one of the pens in the writing position toward the recording sheet, a motor, a cam rotatably by the motor, a lever for actuating the hammer, the lever having a portion held in sliding contact with the cam, so that the hammer can be driven by the cam, an intermittent gear rotatable in unison with the cam, and a driven gear held in mesh with the intermittent gear and having a shaft coupled with the rotatable pen selector mechanism.

Abstract: A pen changer for use in an X-Y plotter which plots on a paper. The pen changer includes a frame and a shaft supported thereon. The carriage is supported on the shaft and guided thereby. The carriage includes a plurality of recording pens. The pen changer includes a frame and a shaft supported thereon. The carriage is supported on the shaft and guided thereby. The carriage includes a plurality of recording pens arranged along the axial direction of the shaft. The carriage moves essentially perpendicular to the paper. A hammer is axially movable on the shaft in response to movement of the carriage. A changing mechanism positions the hammer with respect to a selected one of the plurality of recording pens so the hammer can select the selected recording pen to plot on the paper.

Abstract: A pen recorder has two movable bases adapted to be movable in directions along a platen, one of the bases being driven in directions along the platen. A plurality of pens are mounted in parallel on one of the bases, and a hammer is mounted on the other base for pressing any one of the pens toward the platen. The base which is not driven has a lock lever adapted to engage with a plurality of portions of the base which is driven. The base which is not driven further has an urging lever for driving the lock lever. The urging lever is slidably mounted on a pen changeover shaft rotated by a driving mechanism. The pen recorder further has a spring for urging the lock lever in the locking direction, as well as forcing the urging lever to abut against the lock lever in the unlocking direction. Also disclosed is a method of setting the initial position of the pen recorder.

Abstract: A multi-color pen recorder comprises a platen rotatable about its own axis, a pen carriage mounted on the platen and movable axially therealong, a pen holder removably mounted on the pen carriage for removably supporting a plurality of pens on the pen holder, and a hammer mounted on the pen carriage for pushing one of the pens in a position on the pen holder toward the platen.

Abstract: A sheet guide mechanism in a recording device including a rotatable platen and a recording member opposed to the platen, comprising pressure rollers adapted to come into pressure contact with the platen for pressing down a recording sheet, and a guide plate extending from a lower portion of a recording side of the platen in a direction opposite to the recording side past below the platen, the guide plate having windows formed therein for avoiding the pressure rollers and guide pieces formed on edges in a sheet inserting direction of the windows, the guide pieces being bent in a direction away from the platen.

Abstract: A drum plotter has a pen carriage movable back and forth across a sheet of print paper on a platen which is rotatable about its own axis in opposite directions. The pen carriage supports thereon a pen holder unit rotatable for bringing one of pens with differently colored inks into a writing position. The pen in the writing position is pushed by a hammer toward the platen for writing desired characters, figures or the like on the sheet of print paper. The pen holder unit is rotatably actuatable by a ratchet wheel engaged by a pawl member driven intermittently by a cam mounted on a shaft supporting the pen carriage and drivable by a solenoid-operated mechanism.