Abstract: A portable printer is provided including a paper retention mechanism removably coupled to a printing assembly. The paper retention mechanism includes a housing divided into a supply paper compartment and a printed paper compartment. To conserve space, the printed paper compartment is located in a stacked configuration relative to the supply paper compartment. The printed paper compartment also includes a transparent panel to allow viewing of printed pages. The panel is also able to be opened to allow removal of printed pages.

Abstract: Creep is prevented in the ink cartridge engaging member resulting from the ink cartridge being vacuum packaged with unnecessary force applied to the engaging member. The ink cartridge vacuum package includes an ink cartridge and outside packaging. The ink cartridge has an ink cartridge body and a flexible engaging member. The engaging member projects away from the side of the ink cartridge body to which it is disposed. The outside packaging vacuum seals the ink cartridge inside while maintaining the engaging member in the same position as when force is not applied to the engaging member.

Abstract: A printhead assembly has one or more printhead chips mounted end or end in or on a housing. The housing has an elongate air duct that supplies air to the printhead chips. The duct is open at both ends so the assembly may be used in left and right hand configurations.

Abstract: The present invention is a set-top box integrated with a low-height printer. The printer includes an input tray for storing input media sheets and an output area for holding output media sheets. The printer further includes a printhead that scans and prints on the media sheets from the front to the back of the printer. The media sheets are stored in the input tray in a landscape orientation and are held in the output area in a semi-curled position. Alternatively, the media sheets are stored in the input tray in a portrait orientation.

Abstract: A printer includes a front panel having an approximately flat main surface which serves as one of the surfaces of the external housing of the printer, a feed-tray attachment hole for detachably attaching a feed tray which stores a paper sheet to the main body of the printer, and an output hole for outputting the paper sheet after an image is printed, and an output door which is attached to the external panel to cover the output hole such that the output door can be opened and closed, the output door being opened when the printed sheet is output through the output hole. The output door serves as an auxiliary output tray while the output door is open and the printed paper which is output through the output hole is placed on the top surface of the output door.

Abstract: A recording unit frame, in which a recording unit is to be mounted, includes a frame and a cover body. The frame surrounds a scanning area of a carriage in which recording onto a recording sheet is performed by a print head, and accommodates a guide mechanism and a carriage moving mechanism. The frame has at least an opening on its top. The cover body is fixedly attached to the frame so as to block a part of the opening of the frame. The cover body has a window that enables a user to have access to a recording sheet in the frame. With these structures, the recording unit can be shrunk in height without losing its rigidity and strength, thereby providing a printer capable of maintaining high print quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for printing image files, including a printer, with a receptacle for receiving a memory card for storing a plurality of image files. The printer further includes a user interface for enabling a user to enter selection commands, a display for showing messages, and a processor responsive to a first user input to print a sheet with reduced versions of the image files in a first sequence of the image files. The processor is further responsive to another user input for specifying at least one arrangement of the image files where they are all printed with the same orientation on a particular sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a printer including a grip portion that becomes a handhold in moving the printer, and the grip portion is formed of a part of a jacket of the printer.

Abstract: A reconfigurable panel is provided that includes a first door and a second door having a viewing portion. In a preferred embodiment, the first door is connected to the second door and the first door and second door cooperate to form a space suitable for holding a decorative sheet between the doors, such that the decorative sheet may be viewed through the viewing portion. If desired, a user can change the appearance of the panel by changing the decorative sheet. Embodiments of an assembly and a method for reconfiguring the appearance of a panel are also disclosed.

Abstract: An identification card manufacturing system that includes first and second identification card manufacturing device modules and a unification mounting. The first identification card manufacturing device module includes a first card transport mechanism and an output, through which the card transport mechanism is configured to discharge individual cards. The second identification card manufacturing device module includes a second card transport mechanism and an input, at which the second card transport mechanism is configured to receive cards. The unification mounting positions the output of the first device module in card handoff alignment with the input of the second device module.

Abstract: A personal digital assistant 901 stores personal information in an electronic and transportable form. The digital assistant includes a body section 902 connected to a display screen 904. The body 902 houses a memory, control circuitry for operating the personal digital assistant and an internal printer 500 for printing stored and/or displayed information. The printer 500 has a removable ink/print media cartridge 504 disposed in the hinge joint 905 connecting the body section 902 and the display screen 904.

Abstract: A printing module mounted inside the top cover of a barcode printer and adapted to print a barcode on a sheet member is constructed to include an output unit having a relatively higher first mounting face and a relatively lower second mounting face and a USB connector, a bottom panel affixed to the second mounting face of the output unit and hooked on the bottom side of the output unit, a locating plate affixed to the first mounting face of the output unit, a holder frame coupled to the locating plate and adapted to detachably secure the printing module to the inside of the top cover of the barcode printer by a hook joint.

Abstract: When a cover body at a closing position is pulled up with respect to a main body, then a lock lever attached to the cover body abuts against a hook body of the main body, regulating a rattle of the cover body with respect to the main body. When a user lifts up a multi-function peripheral device by grabbing the lock lever, the lock lever comes into engagement with the hook body, thereby preventing the lock lever from opening.

Abstract: A printer includes: a recording section for recording information on a recording medium; a medium carrying mechanism for carrying the recording medium on which information has been recorded by the recording section; a medium accommodating section extending in a vertical direction or in a slanted vertical direction for accommodating the recording medium carried by the medium carrying mechanism; and pusher means for pushing the recording medium carried by the medium carrying mechanism into the medium accommodating section.

Abstract: A printer of the present invention includes a first and a second tray each being movable between a full-closed position and an open position. When the operator moves the first tray in the opening direction, the first tray forces the second tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the opening direction, uncovering a first and a second opening at the same time. When the operator moves the second tray in the closing direction, the second tray forces the first tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the closing direction, covering the two openings at the same time. The operator can therefore move the two trays by a single action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tachograph including a cuboid housing and a print device. The print device is formed in such a manner that the thermal print head in the housing of the tachograph, the transport cylinder and the mechanism actuating the cylinder are disposed in a support which can be removed from the front side of the tachograph. In addition, a support bridge is provided to support the thermal print head which can pivot counter to the action of supporting springs. The bridge is secured onto the top panel of the tachograph by insertion of a retainer.

Abstract: A printer including an input tray including a input print media support surface and an output tray including an output print media support surface separate from the input print media support surface of the input tray, wherein the output tray nests in the input tray or the input tray nests in the output tray when the input tray and the output tray are in the closed position, and wherein the input tray is configured to prevent input print media in the input tray that has not been circulated through the printer from contacting output print media in the output tray that has been circulated through the printer.

Abstract: An ink media pack integrally formed with an ink receptacle portion receiving ink and a printing medium receptacle portion receiving a printing medium to be used in an ink-jet printing system is disclosed. In the pack, an optimal combination of ink and a printing medium to obtain a high quality image is housed. In an embodiment the printing medium is cloth and the ink contains dye which can dye the cloth. In another embodiment, the ink has a coloring agent content in a range of 2.0 Wt % to 15.0 Wt % and the printing medium has a bleeding ratio in a range of 2.0 times to 4.0 times.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a housing, a first door rotatably coupled to the housing and a second transparent door overlying the first door. A decorative sheet between the first door and the second transparent door allows the imaging device to be customized in appearance.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is capable of recording images in high quality by supporting and operating each member in good precision despite the use of inexpensive and simple structure for the supporting member thereof. A recording unit is provided with a chassis made in the form of a box as a whole by folding the upper and lower edge portions and the right-hand side of a plate member. For the recording unit, a carriage is slidably supported with a guiding portion formed by folding the upper and lower edge portions of the chassis functioning as the supporting member. Also, a pinch roller holder is axially supported to support the pinch roller axially. To the base of the base unit, a carrier roller and a sheet-expeller roller are axially supported. The recording unit and the base unit are connected with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and generating images includes a printing unit. The printing unit includes a carrier that is dimensioned to approximate a PCMCIA memory card. A media supply is receivable in the carrier. A page width print head assembly is mounted in the carrier to print images on the media. The page width print head assembly includes at least one print head chip and a suitable printing microprocessor that is configured to control operation of the print head chip. An ink supply mechanism is operatively arranged with respect to the print head assembly to supply the print head assembly with ink. A media feed mechanism is positioned in the carrier to feed media to and from the print head chip. The apparatus includes an image recordal apparatus that includes a housing in which the carrier is received. The housing is dimensioned to define a sleeve for the carrier so that at least half the carrier is received in the housing.

Abstract: Drying equipment for a printer for aiding drying of a printed image on a web of print media includes a feed path through which the print media containing the printed image is fed after printing of the image on the print media. A drive arrangement drives the web through the feed path at a predetermined rate. A fluid supply duct is in communication with the feed path for supplying drying fluid over at least one surface of the web.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for unlocking a compartment of an opening mechanism, comprising a frame, the compartment being designed to receive a paper roll, and being closed with a cover (10). The invention is characterised in that a lever (22) is mounted rotating on the cover (10) and comprises a manoeuvring part (24), the lever (22) comprising stop elements (30) capable of co-operating with the sides of the frame to cause the cover (10) to rotate relative to the frame when the lever (22) is rotated relative to the cover (10). The invention is applicable to opening mechanisms for thermal printing machines.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead lid has a light opacity component and a laser light transparent component molded together in two shots in an injection molding chamber. The laser light transparency component has a periphery that extends beyond a periphery of the light opacity component on substantially all sides thereof. An inkjet printhead body laser welds to the laser light transparency component in an area between the peripheries of the two lid components. Inkjet printers for containing the printhead are also disclosed. In the molding chamber, two sources of injection molding materials inject a first and then a second mold to mold the two lid components together. One of the two sources of injection molding materials has laser light transparency characteristics while the other has light opacity characteristics. Mechanical interlocking features may also exist in both of the two lid components.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: A pack integrally housing inks and printing media has an ink housing section 211 arranged so as to overlap part of a printing media housing section 210. The ink housing section 211 is configured to rotationally move around a rotational moving shaft 212e so as to be opened and closed relative to the printing media housing section 210. On the other hand, the printing media housing section 210 has an opening 215 formed in a lower part thereof and in which part of housed printing media appears, thereby enabling the pack to come into contact with a sheet feeding roller of the printer when the pack is installed in a printer. Additionally, while not installed in the printer, the pack is covered with the opening and closing ink housing section 211, thereby enabling the printing media to be protected from dusts or the like.

Abstract: A configuration protects a printing module in a mail processing appliance. The mail processing appliance has a supporting frame for the printing mechanism in a non-secure area and has a transverse movement device for transverse movement of a printing module. The printing module is disposed in the supporting frame such that it can move transversely with respect to a direction of mail item transport and is mechanically protected against unauthorized access. A protection cap is attached to the printing carriage and is constructed to surround an area of the variable position printing module that is to be protected. The movement area of the printing module is bounded by the walls of a box within the supporting frame. Impeding devices are provided to impede the transverse movement of the transverse movement device of the printing module once a cover has been opened or removed. The cover covers an opening in the housing, with the opening being provided for replacement of at least one ink cartridge.

Abstract: An ink cartridge storage structure and method provide consistent print density and quality by mixing the ink when the cartridge is removed from the packaging and installed to a printer for use. An ink-filled ink cartridge with an ink supply port installable to the head of a printer is stored inside an individual box made to hold the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge is stored inside the individual box so that the ink supply port is at the top when the box is in the normal upright position.

Abstract: A printer with a photo stand is constructed by which the photo stand is attached to the tape printer so as to cover a left side surface of a housing of the tape printer. In the printer with the photo stand, the tape printer is inclined with respect to an installed plane. With this structure, a photograph held in the photo stand is oriented toward a direction that a picture side of the photograph can be easily seen. A protrusion is provided to a lower surface of a cover of the tape printer, so that the printer with the photo stand can be prevented from falling in an inclined direction of the tape printer. The photo stand can be attached to the tape printer to form a single-piece unit, so that the printer with the photo stand saves space while displaying the photograph.

Abstract: A device and method for automatically opening the cover of an ink-jet printer using a solenoid driving device, which responds to an electrical signal sent from a controller unit because the unit detected either a paper jam or that the ink cartridge is depleted. The new mechanism for automatically opening a printer cover allows the user to remove jammed paper or to replace the spent ink cartridge with greater speed and efficiency. This device has the advantages of being economical for use in ink-jet printers and employs a simple design which minimizes the need for repair and simplifies the manufacturing process.

Abstract: An ink cartridge insertion/extraction mechanism includes a cover pivotally mounted to the housing of the ink cartridge holder. A pair of links are pivotally mounted to the cover and extend into the ink cartridge holder. The bottom of each link is provided with a boss that extends into the ink cartridge holder that contacts the bottom of ink cartridge. As the cover is rotated closed, a pushing rib on the cover contacts the top of the ink cartridge and pushes the ink cartridge further into the holder, causing the needles to puncture the septum of the ink cartridge. To extract the ink cartridge, the cover is rotated from the closed position to the open position, lifting the links until the bosses at the bottom end contact the bottom of the ink cartridge and lift the ink cartridge off of the needles.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to house page-wide arrays (PWAs) of print heads in a printing apparatus comprises a plurality of support structures each housing a PWA. Each PWA comprises a linear array of print nozzles in a lateral direction. The structures are stacked in a vertical array and are each attached to a wall structure at a closed lateral end of the structure. Opposite the closed end, each structure has an open end for lateral insertion and removal of the corresponding PWA. Between the open and closed ends, each structure has an opening in a front face through which the array of nozzles in the corresponding PWA may operate while housed in the structure. An adjustable protrusion extends within each structure from the closed end, whereby the lateral position of the corresponding PWA may be fixed relative to the closed end of the structure and the wall structure.

Abstract: A printed wiring board 50 is assembled to a molded ink manifold 52. A bonding board 50 has circuit contacts 54 aligned on a similar pitch as circuit contacts 56 on a die module 58. A fluid seal material 64 is applied onto the die mold 58 on an ink inlet surface. During the same dispensing step, a series of microdots of conventional isotropic conductive adhesive 62 are dispensed upon the circuit contacts 56 of the die module 58. The die module 58 is aligned brought into contact with the manifold 52/wiring board 50 assembly. The bonds made by the fluid sealant 64 and the isotropic conductive adhesive 62 are cured simultaneously in an oven.

Abstract: A guide 63 for guiding a card 10 to a printing unit 50, and guides 62, 61 for guiding the card from the printing unit 50 to a storage chamber for temporary storage, are integrally formed to a frame 30 having an integrally formed opening-shaped mounting unit 32 for fastening a printing unit 50 for printing and transporting the card 10, and a flat mounting surface 31c for fastening a control board for controlling the printing unit 50. The card printer is configured by housing the frame 30 in cases 20, 40, but because the major members and components are integrally formed or fastened to the card 10, disassembly and assembly can be easily accomplished.

Abstract: A first lever 70 is linked to coupling unit 60 to couple and decouple a pair of rollers 26, 30 which pinch and deliver a recording sheet 20 in a delivery direction toward an image-forming zone for image formation. This first lever 70 is placed near an inlet port 16.

Abstract: The invention provides a portable communication apparatus capable of minimizing the ink tank incorporated therein and easily and simply printing the data stored therein even while it is carried. For this purpose there is disclosed a configuration incorporating a printing mechanism and adapted to execute ink filling and waste ink collection for the printing mechanism at the battery charging operation of the portable communication apparatus.

Abstract: A security chassis for a secure area in the interior of a secure housing having a supporting frame for the printing mechanism in the non-secure area, a printing module being arranged such that it can move in the supporting frame and being protected mechanically against unauthorized access. The supporting frame is supported on at least one functional edge of at least one chassis shell, and at least two mutually spaced chassis shells surround the secure area. The at least one functional edge has ventilation openings formed at its margin. The geometric shape of the edge of the functional edge making penetration of tools into the secure area enclosed by the two chassis shells impossible.

Abstract: An expandable/contractible type portable printer is provided, including: an expandable/contractible casing including an enclosure and opposite outer jackets expandably and contractibly mounted at opposite sides of the enclosure; a printing unit disposed in the casing for printing on a recording sheet by jetting ink onto the recording sheet from a printing head mounted on a carriage which is reciprocatively movable in a primary scanning direction; and a sheet feed unit disposed in the casing for feeding the recording sheet in a secondary scanning direction, the opposite outer jackets being coupled to the enclosure by a rack-and-pinion mechanism so as to be expandable and contractible with respect to the enclosure evenly in opposite lateral directions.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for a compact printer module comprises a stationary printhead, an ink reservoir, a motive means and an image storing means, all housed within an elongate body. The motive means carries a printable media past the printhead which prints a full width image in a single pass. A power supply is also preferably housed within the elongate body.

Abstract: A hand held inkjet pen includes a housing, an ink reservoir, an inkjet printhead and a spacer. The ink reservoir is located within the housing. The inkjet printhead is located toward a distal end of the housing, and includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink received from the reservoir. The spacer is located at the distal end of the housing for contacting a media sheet. Force applied to the spacer selects an on state for controlling ejection of ink from the plurality of nozzles.

Abstract: A one-molding frame for a combination printer has a paper feed module frame, a print module frame, a scan module frame, all being integrally formed in a base frame. The one-molding frame is used in an inkjet combination printer having a pickup roller to separate stacked paper sheet by sheet and feed the separated paper, an inkjet head unit to form an image on paper fed from the pickup roller, and a scan part to read a document. The one-molding frame has a base frame with a conveyance path for the paper formed therein, a paper feed part protruding from one end of an upper surface of the base frame to define a stacker on which plural sheets of paper are stacked, and the paper feed part on which the pickup roller is disposed.

Abstract: The present invention is a set-top box integrated with a low-height printer. The printer includes an input tray for storing input media sheets and an output area for holding output media sheets. The printer further includes a printhead that scans and prints on the media sheets from the front to the back of the printer. The media sheets are stored in the input tray in a landscape orientation and are held in the output area in a semi-curled position. Alternatively, the media sheets are stored in the input tray in a portrait orientation.

Abstract: Printing apparatus includes print heads which are covered by a cover mechanism when the print heads are not in use. The cover mechanism is adapted to create a moist environment around the print heads saturated with vapors of an associated solvent. The printing apparatus also includes a purging system for the print heads. The purging system is adapted to cause the print heads to discharge a high-velocity stream of ink therethrough in response to selective manual actuation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is featured with excellent operability of storage at the time of non-use, as well as excellent operability of charging the battery, in addition to such advantages as thin and battery-driven, and preferably suitable for portable use. A cradle provided for this image forming apparatus functions as a placement stand when an ink jet printer, which is provided with a battery charger mounted thereon, is inserted in the direction designated appropriately at the time of non-use. When the ink jet printer having the battery charger thus mounted thereon is contained in the cradle, the contact point portion of the battery charger and the contact terminal portion of the cradle are electrically connected. Therefore, the battery incorporated in the battery charger is charged when the AC adopter cable is inserted into the CDL-DCin jack of the cradle.

Abstract: A tray-access door device is provided that includes a body having first and second ends. Preferably, an access door is connected at or about the first end of the body and a tray is connected at or about the second end of the body. In an operational configuration, the tray at least partially covers an access opening formed between the access door and the tray. In a closed configuration, the tray at least partially covers the access opening, and the access door at least partially covers the tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having an image forming portion positioned over a partition wall that vertically partitions a body frame above a cover plate. A second circuit board in which a tall electronic component-mounting side is upward directed is placed in a space between the partition wall and the cover plate. A first circuit board in which an electronic component-mounting side is downward directed is placed on a lateral side of the second circuit board. The first and second circuitp boards are placed in a stepwise manner so that the level of the first circuit board is higher than that of the second circuit board. A return path for reversely transporting a sheet is formed between the cover plate and the upper face of a return tray.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cartridge for use with a digital printing device. The cartridge includes a casing for housing print media and a supply of ink. The casing also includes a transport assembly which is adapted to cooperate with a powered gear provided on the printing device to thereby eject the print media from the casing.

Abstract: When a printhead is not in use, it remains filled with ink. In order to prevent evaporation of the ink through the nozzles of the printhead, and the consequential depositing of ink components in and around the ink nozzles, the invention provides capping of the nozzle during the non printing modes of the printer. The capping mechanism uses a page width elastomeric seal, which can move between a first capping position, in which it seals said nozzles of the printhead in an air tight manner, and a second position in which the elastomeric seal moves away from said print head to allow paper to be printed upon by said print head.

Abstract: A printer, copier, facsimile machine or any other device for printing indicia on sheets of paper or other printable sheet materials. The device includes a paper input tray which is arranged to be oriented in a generally vertical direction irrespective of whether the device is in a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation. The device also includes an output tray arranged to receive the paper or other printed sheet material exiting from the printer.

Abstract: A digital photo album 901 includes a body section 902 connected to a display screen 904. The body 902 houses control circuitry for operating the digital photo album and an internal printer 500 for printing displayed images. The printer 500 has a removable ink/print media cartridge 504 and prints images of equal size to those displayed.