Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a main body for recording on a recording medium, a protective cover which has an opening, for covering the main body with a portion other than the opening of the protective cover, and a waterproof cover which is connected to the protective cover via first and second connecting portions. When the first and second connecting portions are respectively in connected states, the waterproof cover is positioned so that the waterproof cover is opposed to the opening of the protective cover, and there is a gap for passing the recording medium between the protective cover and the waterproof cover. When the first connecting portion is in the connected state and the second connecting portion is in a disconnected state, the waterproof cover is moved to a position so that a part of the main body can be exposed to an outside through the opening.

Abstract: A print cartridge for an inkjet printer with a media drive assembly, the cartridge comprising: a drive shaft for feeding a media substrate past a printhead, the drive shaft positioned such that it engages the media drive assembly upon installation of the cartridge; wherein during use, the drive assembly transfer torque to the drive shaft by contact friction.

Abstract: A printer assembly for dispensing a printer media and printing on the printer media as it is dispensed. The printer assembly includes a housing with a container portion and a lid portion, and a latching mechanism configured to coordinate latching, unlatching and biasing of the lid with locking and unlocking of the printer media supply from a media supply assembly. The latching mechanism may be configured to urge the lid portion away from the container portion when the lid portion is unlatched. The latching mechanism can include a locking surface that is configured to engage a locking surface on relatively movable media support members, restraining relative movement of the media support members and locking down the media supply therein when the latching the lid portion closed. The locking surface is positioned external to opposing, relatively movable surfaces of the media support members enabling a compact assembly for hand held printers.

Abstract: A hand-held modular printer system for printing a stored image. The printer system includes a memory module in which the image is stored; a printer module releasably interconnected with the memory module; and a print media dispenser module defining a print media outlet at one end thereof. The printer module has an elongate body defining an entry slot along one longitudinal side thereof and an exit slot along an opposite longitudinal side thereof. The printer module further includes a print media passage extending transversely through the elongate body, and a printer arranged across the print media passage. The print media dispenser is adapted to be releasably interconnected with the printer module along a longitudinal side thereof so that the print media outlet is in register with the entry slot, the dispenser module being configured to store a stack of sheets of print media and including a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sheet of print media through the outlet and into the passage for printing.

Abstract: A handheld printer and a printing method thereof are provided. The handheld printer receives distance information from at least one sensor positioned outside the handheld printer, determines its position based on the distance information, and determines data to be printed in the determined position.

Abstract: An electronic brush (10) for dispensing ink (22) onto a writable medium (30) employs an electronic-brush housing (12), at least one ink dispenser (20) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, an electronic-brush scanner (14) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, and a controller (16). The controller is in electrical communication with the ink dispenser and the electronic-brush scanner. A position of the electronic brush is determined based on at least one position indicator in a first portion of a dispensed image that is scanned by the electronic-brush scanner and communicated to the controller. An ink-dispense signal is sent from the controller to the ink dispenser based on the determined electronic-brush position.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods are disclosed relating to one or more media guides configured to guide a surface being printed upon relative to a manually moved print device.

Abstract: A handheld printer that provides an appropriate application of ink to a print medium without a bulky and complex mechanical system for positioning a print head with respect to the print medium. A handheld printer according to the present teachings includes a navigation subsystem that tracks a motion of the handheld printer with respect to a printing surface and a print head controller that causes a print head to fire ink drops onto the printing surface in response to the motion and in response to an image contained in an image buffer.

Abstract: A hand-held ink jet device constructed for use with insertable ink jet print/cartridges to produce ink droplet streams is provided. The device includes a memory capable of storing at least one image pattern. A driver coupled to the inkjet jets and being selectively actuatable for providing ink jetting electrical energy pulses. A selector switch for electively choosing one of the at least one image patterns stored on the memory. In addition, a spray switch is provided for selectively actuating the driver to provide electrical energy pulses to energize the respective jets in order to spray ink from the self-contained ink supply in the shape of the selected image pattern.

Abstract: A mobile printing system includes a print medium having coded tags printed in IR-absorbing ink over a first face, each coded tag encoding data indicative of a location of that coded tag on the first face, an identifier of the print medium and a unique digital signature associated with the identifier. A mobile device for printing on the print medium includes a sensor for capturing an image of the coded tags when the print medium is positioned in a media feed path; a processor for decoding the sensed coded tag; verifying the digital signature; authorizing use of the print medium if the digital signature is verified; and determining the position of the print medium in the media feed path using the determined location of the sensed coded tag. The mobile device has a printer for printing information in registration with the sensed coded tag.

Abstract: Provided is a mobile phone having a chassis with a drive mechanism incorporated therein. A replaceable print cartridge received by the chassis is also provided. The replaceable print cartridge has a housing with ink-bearing structures and a printhead, as well as a media drive shaft rotatably mounted to the housing for driving print media past the printhead. The media drive shaft has a drive wheel driven by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism has a piezo-electric element supported by an arm extending from the chassis. Actuation of the piezo-electric element causes an oscillating movement of the arm to contact the drive wheel upon each oscillation to thereby cause rotational movement of the drive wheel and the media drive shaft.

Abstract: Provided is a stamp having a housing defining an opening, and a printhead and ink cartridge arrangement housed within the housing. The printhead is displaceable between a protected position within the housing and a printing position in which the printhead is exposed via the opening. The stamp also includes control circuitry configured to control the printhead for printing preprogrammed indicia on a print media, the control circuitry including a memory for storing said indicia. The stamp further includes a mechanical arrangement with a governor for displacing the printhead from the protected position to the printing position, said governor regulating motion of the printhead during printing.

Abstract: A personal digital assistant includes a body section; a display section pivotally engaged with the body section; a hinge section joining the display portion with the interface portion, and facilitating the display section to pivot with respect to the body section; an internal printer arranged in the body section; and a print media roll disposed within the hinge section. The print media roll feeds print media to the internal printer.

Abstract: An improved handheld printer includes projectors to project images of the various page content that remains to be printed on the page. By providing this visual indication of locations of the page that remain to be printed, the projectors assist the user in achieving full coverage of the page when moving the handheld printer across the page. The projectors emit a narrow beam of light that can be rapidly scanned, with the assistance of micromirror-based optics, over points composing an area on the page to create a visual image to guide the user along the page. The projectors can be used to project an actual image of the page content to be printed. Alternatively, the projectors can project signals or other meaningful information onto the page that provide instructions to the user or point the user towards void areas that have been missed.

Abstract: Provided is a stamp including a compressible housing having an upper housing portion telescopically receiving a lower housing portion defining an opening. The stamp also includes a printhead and ink cartridge arrangement housed within the lower housing, said printhead displaceable between a protected position within the housing and a printing position in which the printhead is exposed via the opening for printing. Also included is a mechanical arrangement comprising a pair of arms fixed at one end to a top of the printhead and at another end to the upper housing, so that when the upper housing is moved toward the lower housing, the arms move the printhead from the protected position to the printing position.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer with a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead, the printhead comprising: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, an optical sensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by the print engine controller.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated by an operator to print an image on a media. A controller correlates a location of a printhead to the image and causes printing or not. A position sensor provides input to the controller. Its signal typifies pixels in a matrix frame indicating a current position frame and, over time, a previous position frame. The controller compares the two frames to find a presence of the previous in the current. To improve computational efficiency, the controller reduces a relative size of both frames before comparing. Specific reduction techniques contemplate converting a matrix frame of pixels indicative of previous and current locations into smaller matrices, including one-dimensional forms. Possible search areas within the current frame to look for the previous frame utilize knowledge about the movement history of the printer. Position sensor signal validity and controller architectures are other noteworthy features.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated back and forth by an operator during use to print an image on a media. The media includes reference indicia upon which users maneuver the printer whenever a location of the printer is unknown or needs updating or validating. A controller of the printer correlates the location of a printhead to the image and when lost communicates to a direction indicator to provide user notification of where to move the housing to reacquire the location. Embodiments of the reference indicia include guide and location patterns, with the guide pattern pointing to the location pattern. Other indicia include related tick marks of substantially equal size and shape with substantially equal spacing there between. Supply items for applying on the media include a substrate with reference indicia thereon that matches stored reference indicia in the printer.

Abstract: A hand operated marking device for printing upon print media, the marking device comprising: a pair of housings which are movably interconnected together so that a first one of the housings is adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to compression of the housings between a hand and the print media; a printer which is located within the first housing and comprising a movable printhead configured to print ink; a selector arrangement operatively mounted to the second housing and enabling selection of an indicia, from a plurality of possible indicia, to be printed by the printhead; and a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings and which moves the printhead along the print media responsive to the compression of the housings so that the selected indicia is printed upon the print media, wherein the first housing defines an opening in which the printhead can move, and the marking device further comprises a retractable shutter which is operatively connected to move with th

Abstract: Provided is mobile phone having an internal printer. The phone includes a print cartridge having a housing with ink bearing structures and a printhead integrated circuit, and a capper fast with the housing to operatively cap the printhead integrated circuit. The cartridge also includes a lid and cover assembly for sealing engagement with the housing to protect the housing and capper, as well as a media drive shaft rotatably mounted to the housing for driving print media past the printhead.

Abstract: Provided is a mobile telephone which includes an internal printhead, an ink cartridge and an optical sensing arrangement. The internal inkjet printhead arrangement is fed with print media via internal and external pathways defined by a body of the telephone. The ink cartridge supplies ink to the printhead. The optical sensing arrangement enables the telephone to decode tags of coded data printed on such media fed through the internal and external pathways. The sensing arrangement includes a beam splitter configured to deflect incoming light onto an image sensor of the telephone, a first infrared LED operatively directing light onto media present in the external pathway, and a filter and lens arrangement configured to receive and direct light reflected from the external media onto the beam splitter.

Abstract: A hand operated marking device includes a pair of housings movably interconnected together, a first one of the housings adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to a compression of the housings; a printer located along a bottom surface of the first housing, the printer including a movable printhead exposed through an aperture of the first housing; a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings, the moving mechanism for moving the printhead in a printing direction responsive to the compression of the housings; and a shutter for covering the aperture of the first housing, the shutter adapted to be retracted as the moving mechanism moves the printhead. The moving mechanism includes a pair of arms pivotally mounted at one end to the second housing and at the other end to the printhead, and further comprising an extension return spring extending between the other end of the arms and the first housing.

Abstract: Provided is a personal digital assistant. A printer is arranged in a body section. The printer includes a printhead, a motor driver and a media transport device arrangement for transporting print media from a roll of print media past the printhead. A motor driver and guillotine motor arrangement sever the printed print media from the roll of media. A microcontroller controls the printhead and respective motor driver arrangements.

Abstract: A pen-like device which has a tubular body containing a nib configured to retract into the tubular body when pressed upon print media, an ink supply having a tube defining a plurality of internal chambers containing respective ink, and ink ejection nozzles in fluid communication with the ink supply. The ink ejection nozzles are configured to print ink upon the print media responsive to the retraction of the nib.

Abstract: A print engine is provided for in an inkjet printer. The print engine includes a chassis. A print cartridge is mounted to the chassis, and includes a print roll defining a plurality of ink reservoirs and carrying a wound length of print media. A first motor assembly is mounted on the chassis and is configured to drive a roller of the print cartridge to transport the print media. A printhead assembly is engaged with the print cartridge to eject ink from the reservoirs upon the transported print media. A cutter assembly is configured to cut a printed length of print media from the remaining wound length. A second motor assembly is mounted to the chassis and is configured to drive the cutter assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held portable printer having an internal antenna, convertible to an RFID printer capable to receiving RFID data from a scanner coupled to the printer. The printer preferably shares a common RFID reader/writer with an RFID scanner. The scanner has an external antenna which can be coupled to and preferably attached to the printer. The scanner preferably includes the RFID reader/writer. The internal antenna is close to but separate from the printer's print head and the internal antenna is movable as a unit with the print head.

Abstract: A print roll unit is provided for dispensing print media. The print roll unit includes an elongate core, in turn, including a plurality of ink supply containers. Each container contains a respective type of ink. A roll of print media includes a tubular former in which the core can be received and a length of print media which is wound upon the former. A casing includes a pair of molded covers which can be fastened together in a releasable manner to encase the roll of print media. The casing defines a print media exit slot. A pair of pinch rollers is rotationally mounted to the casing, and is configured to feed print media from the former and out through the exit slot.

Abstract: A digital pager has a built-in printer to enable the printing of a text message and/or a graphic image upon a page as the pager housing traverses the page. The pager can be maintained compact and lightweight as no paper storage or paper feed mechanism need be provided.

Abstract: A hand operated marking device for printing upon print media, the marking device comprising: a pair of housings which are movably interconnected together so that a first one of the housings is adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to compression of the housings between a hand and the print media; a printer which is located within the first housing and comprising a movable printhead configured to print ink; a selector arrangement operatively mounted to the second housing and enabling selection of an indicia, from a plurality of possible indicia, to be printed by the printhead; and a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings and which moves the printhead along the print media responsive to the compression of the housings so that the selected indicia is printed upon the print media, wherein the first housing defines an opening in which the printhead can move, and the marking device further comprises a retractable shutter which is operatively connected to move with th

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated back and forth by an operator during use to print an image. An inkjet printhead of the printer has a plurality of fluid firing actuators arranged in a substantial column. A controller communicates with the printhead to identify active actuators given to fire at a particular time during use to print the image. However, to prevent unsightly print quality from occurring during overlapping adjacent print swaths, for example, certain of the identified actuators are prevented from firing. Especially, actuators in the column further from a center of the column fire less frequently than those closer to the center. A position sensor is also used to locate the printhead relative to the image. The controller correlates the position to the printhead and actuators and fires the active actuators or not.

Abstract: A semiautomatic electronic printer comprises a housing (2) and, internally, a print head (8). A push-button (3), projecting upwards from the housing (2), is rigidly connected to a frame (7), which is mounted in a spring-charged relationship inside the housing (2) in such a manner to be vertically movable between a rest position and a working one. The frame (7) sustains in the upper part a printed circuit board including a microprocessor for acquiring from a separate computer data that has to be printed, and for storing such data, as well as for controlling the operation of the print head (8), supported by a carriage (20), with its inferior part being brought to touch the medium to be printed when the push-button is pushed downwards and to translate horizontally after the printing of a line of dots until a desired imaging made of a dot matrix has been printed on the all printing surface.

Abstract: A micro-fluid jetting device and a method of ejecting fluid mixtures onto a substrate. The micro-fluid jetting device includes a housing containing a logic circuit and fluid reservoirs for at least two different fluids. A micro-fluid ejection head is attached to a first end of the housing. The ejection head is in electrical communication with the logic circuit and the fluid reservoirs. At least two channel members are provided for directing fluid from the reservoirs to a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles in a nozzle plate member. The ejection nozzles for each of the at least two different fluids are arranged in the nozzle plate member so that adjacent ejection nozzles are in flow communication with different fluids. A power source in electrical connection with the micro-fluid ejection head is provided in the housing for activating the micro-fluid ejection head for jetting the fluids therefrom.

Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for ejecting a fluid onto a substrate surface in a plurality of physical orientations between the ejection device and a substrate surface, and methods for controlling the geometric accuracy of printing using a hand-held printing apparatus. Various spatial and dynamic orientations of the ejection device are measured, such as rotation angle, yaw angle, and velocity and acceleration vectors. Threshold limits are established for the orientations and printing is disabled if the measured values exceed the threshold limits.

Abstract: A hand operated marking device for printing upon print media, the marking device comprising: a pair of housings which are movably interconnected together so that a first one of the housings is adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to compression of the housings between a hand and the print media; a printer which is located within the first housing and comprising a movable printhead configured to print ink; a selector arrangement operatively mounted to the second housing and enabling selection of an indicia, from a plurality of possible indicia, to be printed by the printhead; an ink connector adapted to couple with an ink cartridge via one or more ink sockets, and further adapted to couple with the movable printhead via one or more tubes; and a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings and which moves the printhead along the print media responsive to the compression of the housings so that the selected indicia is printed upon the print media.

Abstract: A printer configured to receive documents to be printed from a computer system, the printer including an interface, and being configured to: receive, via the interface, input from a user indicative of a print command; send, from the printer to the c A printing and display device comprising: a flat panel display for displaying images from a computer; and a printer, the printer including at least two the printheads, the printheads being disposed on either side of a path through which print media is fed for printing, thereby enabling substantially simultaneous printing of both sides of the print media.

Abstract: A mobile device including: a printer for printing onto a print medium; and a stylus having a printhead tip for allowing a user to use the mobile device as a writing or drawing device; the stylus and the printer sharing at least one common ink reservoir.

Abstract: An ink jet pen that is equipped with a free ink chamber. The ink jet pen has a free ink chamber in fluid communication with a negative pressure producing chamber. The negative pressure producing chamber is in communication with a printhead. The ink jet pen has a power source and a surface detection device. The surface detection device is adapted to move along a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a charging stand for charging a mobile phone. The stand includes a base defining a receptacle configured to receive the mobile phone. A battery charging circuit includes a power cord extending into the base, step-down circuitry for reducing supplied voltage from the cord, and exposed contacts configured to supply the reduced voltage to a battery of the mobile phone received in the receptacle. A removable ink cartridge is received in the receptacle and is configured to supply ink to a printer of the mobile phone received in the receptacle.

Abstract: The invention provides for a print roll for a camera having an internal printer. The print roll includes an ink reservoir section with a core portion configured to house ink for the printer, and a paper roll section positioned about the ink reservoir section, said paper roll section operatively locating paper for the printer. The print roll also includes an outer casing having two sections each locating a pinch roller to form a pinch roller assembly when the two sections are fitted together about the paper roll section, the pinch roller assembly configured to operatively feed paper from the paper roll to the printer.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device is provided having a body, a printhead arranged in the body to print on a print media, and a drive shaft arranged in the body to feed the print media past the printhead for printing. The printhead is arranged within 2 millimeters from the drive shaft.

Abstract: A mobile device that has a media path for receiving a sheet of print medium and a media drive mechanism for directing the print medium along the media path. An optical sensor in the device is positioned to receive first optical image information via a first optical pathway, and second optical image information via a second optical pathway. The first optical information being from an area of the media path and the second optical information being from an area external to the mobile device.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device comprising: an inkjet printhead for printing to a media substrate; a drive shaft for feeding the media past the printhead; and, a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the media feed roller and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Method of printing from a printer, where the printer includes one or more maintenance firings from a printhead nozzle. Formatting a print job to be printed in determining which nozzles on a printhead require maintenance during printing of the print job. Modifying the formatted print job to include one or more maintenance firings for the nozzles requiring maintenance.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an image capture assembly, roll of print media and microelectromechanical stationary printhead. Upon capturing an image a central processing integrated circuit operates the printhead and associated transport assembly to print the captured image. A guillotine is provided to automatically severe each print. The guillotine operates a counter in order that an operator of the digital camera is able to keep track of how much print media remains on the roll.

Abstract: A mobile device having printhead for printing onto a media substrate, a media feed path along which the media substrate is fed past the printhead, and a capper assembly. The capper assembly is movable between a capped position covering the array of nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the array of nozzles. The capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that the capper assembly moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media substrate.

Abstract: A handy printer and a mobile phone based on the use of the same are provided, wherein the printing can be performed on recording paper sheets having various sizes. The handy printer comprises a cover member which is movable between an exposure position at which an ink discharge surface of an ink discharge head is exposable to the outside and a cover position at which the discharge surface is hidden from the outside. When the cover member is positioned at the cover position, the recording is permitted on a recording paper sheet accommodated in a recording paper-accommodating mechanism. When the cover member is positioned at the exposure position, the recording is permitted on a recording medium disposed outside a handy-printer body casing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method that includes moving a handheld device over a print medium, depositing a tagging substance with the handheld device in a tagging pattern on the print medium, further moving the handheld device over the print medium such that at least one sensor of the handheld device senses at least part of the tagging pattern, and determining at least one of a position and/or a velocity of the handheld device based upon the sensing at least part of the tagging pattern. The tagging pattern is configured to provide absolute position information.

Abstract: A point of sale terminal that is capable of printing on a roll of paper is provided with a compartment defining an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, a left side and a right side between the upper and lower surfaces, and a rear surface between the upper and lower surfaces. The terminal also includes a display and a keypad disposed on the upper surface, and a printer with a paper roller and a printing mechanism for receiving and printing on the roll of paper. The printer is disposed within the compartment, and a door is provided in the lower surface of the compartment for insertion of the roll of paper. The compartment is provided with an exit for the paper adjacent the rear surface.

Abstract: A hand held personal digital assistant including: an information storage device; a display; a printer including a pagewidth printhead wherein said printhead is an inkjet printhead; a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use; and a user interface allowing a user to: selectively retrieve and display information from said storage device on said display; print said information using said printer; and enter and store new information in said information storage device.

Abstract: A modular printer system includes a number of modules connected together to define a substantially pen-shaped structure. A male connector is at one end of each module and a female connector is at an opposite end of each module. The modules include at least one image processing module, at least one housekeeping module and at least one isolated module.