Abstract: An opening/closing structure of a cover includes a casing and a rotatable cover. A shaft part and a bearing part are formed to one and the other of the casing and the cover, respectively. One of the shaft part and the bearing part is formed with one of a protrusion and a relief part on a part of an end surface in an axial direction, and the other of the shaft part and the bearing part is formed with the other of the protrusion and the relief part on a facing surface facing the end surface. The protrusion circumvents contact with the surface having the relief part when the cover is closed. When the cover is opened, from the closed state, by a particular angle, the protrusion contacts the surface so as to be applied with a resistant force against rotation of the cover.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer including a controller configured to execute a setting process, a transport stop process, and a first transport control process. In the transport stop process, a driving device is controlled to stop transport of a print-receiving medium in a state in which an intermediate position faces a cutter. The intermediate position is between a print part last in order and a print-receiving part located immediately after the print part last in order. In the first transport control process, the driving device is control to transport the print-receiving medium to an upstream side by a first unit transport amount in accordance with an operation of a first operation device or to transport the print-receiving medium to a downstream side by a second unit transport amount in accordance with an operation of a second operation device.

Abstract: A printer includes a printer body including a print head, a lid, a cutter that cuts recording paper, and fixed and movable blade units. The lid is connected to and is opened and closed relative to the printer body. The fixed blade unit is provided in the printer body and includes a fixed blade of the cutter. The movable blade unit is provided on the lid and includes a movable blade of the cutter. A first projection is formed at a first end of the fixed blade unit and a first groove is formed at a first end of the movable blade unit. A second groove is formed at a second end of the fixed blade unit and a second projection is formed at a second end of the movable blade unit. The first and second projections are inside the first and second grooves, respectively, when the lid is closed.

Abstract: A cutting device includes a guide rail opposing a platen, a printer head that prints an image and Trim marks on a sheet member, a cutter blade that performs a cutting process on the sheet member, a medium feeding mechanism that feeds the sheet member from front and back, a Trim mark detection portion that detects positions of the reference marks, and a controller that sets a cutting process position to correspond to a printing position of the image, prints the image and Trim marks while feeding the sheet member forward, detects the positions of the Trim marks with the Trim mark detection portion, and performs the cutting process with the cutter blade in the cutting process position set by the controller.

Abstract: A printer having multiple stages of nozzles is controlled to avoid or minimize blank space between print portions when printing on roll paper. A controller in communication with the printer is configured to determine if last partial print data to be printed contains blank raster data. If so, the controller calculates the difference between a total number of rasters in the first through the last partial print data and the number of blank rasters in the last partial print data, prints the last partial print data, and controls the paper transportation mechanism to advance the roll paper only the calculated distance to eliminate excess blank space between print portions. The functionality of the controller is also embodied in a method for controlling a printer as described above.

Abstract: A printer module for use in a printer apparatus having a rotationally openable lid includes a fixed blade module having a fixed blade, a movable blade module having a movable blade and configured to be joined to the fixed blade module such that the movable blade and the fixed blade face each other, and a positioning unit configured to position the movable blade module relative to the fixed blade module such that an angle between the movable blade and the fixed blade becomes optimum upon joining the movable blade module to the fixed blade module, wherein the movable blade module is configured to be movable relative to the rotationally openable lid upon being mounted on the rotationally openable lid of the printer apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing on at least one page of a print media is disclosed. The apparatus includes a removable media handling device that directs the printed media to a first location or a second location, the second location functions as a finishing stage to perform a finishing step on the print media. The removable media handling device includes a media diverter to direct the media to either the first or second location. The image forming apparatus also includes a housing, a print engine to fix an image representing data to the page of print media, a formatter to supply data to the print engine, the formatter being configured to supply a first set of data representing the side of the page to be printed and a second set of data to provide instructions on the output of the printed page, and print media supplier to supply pages of print media to the print engine from a stack of print media pages having leading edges.

Abstract: A printer module for use in a printer apparatus having a rotationally openable lid includes a fixed blade module having a fixed blade, a movable blade module having a movable blade and configured to be joined to the fixed blade module such that the movable blade and the fixed blade face each other, and a positioning unit configured to position the movable blade module relative to the fixed blade module such that an angle between the movable blade and the fixed blade becomes optimum upon joining the movable blade module to the fixed blade module, wherein the movable blade module is configured to be movable relative to the rotationally openable lid upon being mounted on the rotationally openable lid of the printer apparatus.

Abstract: A control part comprises a division location setting part for setting a division location based on an image data; a scan start position setting part for setting scan start positions of recording heads based on the division location; an image data division part for dividing an image data by the division location; and a head movement control part for controlling movement of the recording heads. The division location setting part sets a division location in a blank area having no pixel to be recorded in the primary scanning direction, in the case of publication printing, in a center margin area between page data. Since the recording heads perform scanning concurrently their respective areas that are divided by the division location, no deterioration in image continuity occurs between the recording heads. This permits an image recorder, though having plural recording heads, capable of performing concurrent recordings without loss of continuity.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving, inverting and returning sheets from and to a printer for large-sized paper, said printer being adapted to be automatically fed a web of paper from a supply of paper through an inlet (6), defined by a portion of a paper-supporting plate (7), where said printer further is adapted to print and cut sheets of said web of paper and to guide the printed sheet out thereof through a separate outlet (13), where the apparatus is adapted to receive the just printed and cut sheets from said outlet and to return said sheets to the printer in the inverted state. The apparatus comprises a rotatable first guide means (14), which in one position guides the sheet into the apparatus and in a second position guides said sheet past the apparatus.

Abstract: A cut-processing apparatus generates tool move control data to reciprocate the tool, and sheet feed control data to feed the sheet; stores an amount of tool move loss due to backlash in the carriage gear train occurring at tool move direction shift, and an amount of sheet feed loss due to backlash in the sheet feed gear train occurring at sheet feed direction shift; and corrects the tool move control data based on the stored amount of tool move loss at tool move direction shift, and the sheet feed control data based on the stored amount of sheet feed loss at sheet feed direction shift.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing finishing operations on at least one graphics area on a graphics sheet, the graphics sheet having a graphics side, an opposite process side, and reference features, the graphics side bearing the graphics area(s) and registration marks in predetermined positions with respect to the graphics area(s). The method comprises positioning the graphics sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, sensing from the graphics side the positions of the registration marks, determining the coordinates of the graphics area(s) with respect to the sheet-receiving surface as if viewable from the process side, and performing finishing operations on the process side of the graphics sheet based on such determination, whereby such process-side finishing operations compensate for variations of the graphics area(s).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of removable developing units each of which has an image carrier whose width is narrower than a width of a printable area of the printing paper, and a driving unit for driving the plurality of the removable developing units. The plurality of the removable developing units are disposed in different rows parallel to a main scanning direction such that one end of an image producing area of an image carrier of a first developing unit coincides with one end of an image producing area of an image carrier of a second developing unit adjoining to the first developing unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a control unit for supplying printing data to the plurality of the removable developing units in timings shifted form row to row.

Abstract: A method for preparing a graphic on a sheet of material which also includes at least one registration mark at and about the graphic in predetermined positions. The method involves the steps of applying the graphic and at least one registration mark on a sheet of material in positions according to layout data, transferring the layout data to a processing controller, placing the sheet of material on a sheet-receiving surface, sensing the position of the registration mark on the sheet of material, and utilizing the layout data and the position of the registration mark to precisely narrow-path-process around the graphic on the sheet of material. Certain embodiments use either (a) a subset of marks which is applied on one side of graphic or certain reference features, such as edges and corners of the sheet and elements of the graphic, to ascertain the position and orientation of the sheet on the apparatus.

Abstract: In a web processing device, a marking head is disposed so as to oppose an X-ray film which is trained about a print roller which is at an upstream side of slitting blades. Within a scanning range of a laser beam of a marking head, two printing regions are disposed with a non-printing region therebetween. The non-printing region is disposed so as to oppose a cutting line which is cut by the slitting blades. Before cutting the X-ray film, the web processing device forms marking patterns on both sides of the cutting line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting a graphics area from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area. The method involves applying a plurality of registration marks on the sheet at and about the graphics area in predetermined positions at the time the graphics are applied thereto, sensing the locations of the registration marks on the sheet of material at the time of cutting, and cutting the graphics area from the ready-to-cut sheet along a path determined in response to the sensed locations positions of the registration marks with respect to the graphics area at that time, whereby precise cutting occurs despite two-dimensional distortion of the sheet prior to cutting.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus has press rollers which rotationally move while pressing a fixing-medium in a transverse direction, and a cutter blade which is moved along with the press rollers and pressingly cuts the fixing-medium in the transverse direction. As a result, the press rollers rotate over a recording surface at the time of cutting of the fixing-medium, thereby avoiding occurrence of unwanted friction. Exfoliation of ink from a wet recording surface and damage on a recorded image can be prevented.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cutting graphics areas from a sheet of material bearing a combination of graphics areas and a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect thereto, the combination being in a predetermined approximate position and orientation with respect to a set of reference features of the sheet. The method involves automatically determining whether the reference features are in an expected coordinate region on a sheet-receiving surface, and, if not, automatically determining the coordinate region of such features. Further steps then include sensing metrics of the reference features to determine the position and orientation of the sheet, inferring therefrom the approximate positions of the registration marks and then sensing the precise positions thereof with a main sensor, and cutting the graphics areas from the sheet in response to such precise positions.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for automatic cutting of graphics area(s) from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area(s), the graphics areas having a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect thereto and including a subset of the marks on no more than one side of the graphics area which are initial-position/orientation-determining marks. The method involves placing the sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, attempting to sense the subset in the field of view of a main sensor, and, when the subset is not in an expected location, automatically determining the coordinate region of the subset on the sheet-receiving surface and automatically repositioning the main sensor to the coordinate region such that the subset is within the field of view of the main sensor.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cutting a graphics area from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area. The method improved involves applying a plurality of registration marks on the sheet at and about the graphics area in predetermined positions at the time the graphics are applied thereto, the plurality of marks including a subset of marks (the subset preferably being a tandem pair of marks) which is applied on one side of the graphics area which are used to determine the position and orientation of the sheet, sensing the locations of the registration marks on the sheet of material at the time of cutting, and cutting the graphics area from the ready-to-cut sheet along a path determined in response to the sensed positions of the registration marks with respect to the graphics area at that time, whereby precise cutting occurs despite two-dimensional distortion of the sheet prior to cutting.

Abstract: Improved label printing and applying apparatus (10) is provided which includes an improved digital printing assembly (12) having a rotatable impression drum (18) presenting an outer surface (20), as well as at least one digital print head (22) adjacent the drum outer surface. The overall apparatus (10) also includes a downstream label cutting and application assembly (14) having an adhesive applicator (32), laser cutter (40) and a label applying device. In use, a web (16) traverses the drum (18) with essentially no relative movement between the web (16) and drum surface (20), and the print head(s) (22) are actuated to form images on the web (16), which may be identical or varied. Thereafter, the printed web passes into and through the assembly (14) where adhesive is applied, the individual images are laser cut, and the labels are thereupon applied to products (54).

Abstract: A printer comprising a perforator is provided, both printing and perforating functions being controllable in response to a single operator program. The single operator program can be a pre-existing word-processing program modified by addition of software provided together with the printer and perforator unit, a unique word processing program integrally including the perforator control functionality, or another type of program for interacting with a printer, such as a graphics program.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for optimizing a production output of a processing device for processing flat articles, the processing device including at least one processing arrangement for receiving and processing the flat articles and which has function parameters controllable through actuators. Actual values of the function parameters are detected. Deviations of the actual values of the function parameters from set values are thereafter evaluated according to an empirically determined algorithm. A correction value for at least one of the actuators is calculated based on results of the above evaluation, and the actuator is operated based on the correction value for controlling the function parameters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing a digital disc-literature assembly. In the method, a sheet of print media is electrophotographically printed. The sheet has a literature portion bearing a fused toner image and a transfer portion bearing a transferable toner image. The transferable toner image and the face of a digital disc are placed in registration and the transferable toner image is fused to the face of the digital disc. The literature portion is configured for inclusion with the digital disc. The digital disc and literature are assembled.