Abstract: A handheld imaging apparatus includes an image acquisition device and an ink jet printing in an integral housing. The printing drive may include a single motor that drives both a print carriage and a paper drive member for printing images created by the imaging acquisition device.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided. A vibrator comprising an elastic member and an electric/mechanical energy converting device jointed to the elastic member is attached to a carriage on which a printing head is mounted. The vibrator generates a progressive vibrating wave. The vibrator is partially come into frictional contact with a rail-shaped stator and moves along the rail-shaped stator by the progressive vibrating wave. An object to be driven is frictionally come into contact with a portion of the vibrator which is not in contact with the rail-shaped stator. The object to be driven is driven by the progressive vibrating wave. By providing a motion converting mechanism for the carriage, driving operations other than the carriage feeding operation are also executed by the vibrator.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a paper guide, provided on a frame for guiding recording paper; a platen pivotally supported by the frame; a paper feeding roller rotatably provided in the frame; and a printing driving section reciprocally moving with respect to the recording paper on the platen for performing printing, and a cam rack in engagement with the paper feeding roller for intermittently rotating the paper feeding roller. The cam rack has a projection to be engaged with the paper feeding roller for stopping the rotation of the paper feeding roller.

Abstract: A shuttle-type printer includes a media feed assembly to controllably transfer a recording media through a printing station and a carriage operably mounted at the printing station to move bidirectionally across the media. The printer further includes means mechanically connected to the carriage and media feed assembly for simultaneously (1) moving the carriage and (2) indexing the media through the printing station, whereby the means includes a single motor. Accordingly, a single drive motor can accomplish both carriage motion and media advancement.

Abstract: A highly reliable, low-noise, printer for providing good print quality while configured to print and feed paper using a single motor. A cam mechanism is used to provide simplified control over paper feeding operations. A print head carriage is driven by a belt drive gear assembly that also drives the paper feed cam directly. A paper feed roller is rotated by a drive lever assembly which interacts with a first cam profile formed on a surface of the paper feed cam, and the resulting torque is controlled by a contact release mechanism driven by interaction with a second cam profile also formed on a surface of the paper feed cam.

Abstract: A paper handling system is provided which allows for controlled passage of a pivot between a normally biased initial position and a task-performing position. The pivot includes a sheet-directing member and a track which is fixed relative to the sheet-directing member and is movable to the task-performing position in opposition to pivot bias. A follower, which is configured for selected travel along the track, selectively applies a force against the track in opposition to biased sheet-directing member movement. A processor-controlled printhead carriage is used to trigger and then to regulate pivot rotation.

Abstract: The invented printer includes a carriage-actuated clutch and a motor-driven gear element. The clutch is selectively engageable with the element and causes the printer to perform different tasks when engaged. More specifically, the invented printer includes a motor-driven gear, a printhead and a printhead carriage, a clutch having a flexible portion, and a gripping surface on the flexible portion for engaging the motor-driven gear. To actuate the clutch, the carriage pushes against the clutch causing it to flex and engage the motor-driven gear. When engaged, rotating the gear a predetermined distance causes the clutch to rotate a predetermined distance, in turn causing the printer to perform a certain task. Continuing to rotate the clutch causes the printer to perform other tasks.The invented printer also includes a paper-feed mechanism for picking up and feeding a sheet of paper into the printer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive element of typewriters or similar office machines where the movement of the platen is derived from the movement of the carriage. In the past numerous drive elements have been required in devices of this type, which required a considerable assembly effort and bearing effort. In contrast hereto the drive element proposed is formed in one piece as a one-armed lever which is rotatably disposed coaxially with the platen and with the line space wheel disposed thereon and which has at least one ratchet which is in operative contact with the line space wheel. A displacement element disposed on the carriage of the machine comes into operative contact with the one-armed lever within a set movement range of the carriage and pivots it, so that the turning of the platen takes place by means of the ratchet.

Abstract: This specification discloses a recording apparatus for recording an image corresponding to image information on a sheet. More particularly, the specification discloses a recording apparatus for recording an image corresponding to image information on a sheet which apparatus has a head for effecting recording in the form of a dot matrix, a support device for movably supporting the head, a conveying device for conveying the sheet, and a drive source for imparting a drive force for causing the head to scan a plurality of times each time one line is recorded and a drive force for driving the conveying device.

Abstract: A document preparing apparatus capable of preparing a document in which small letters and capital letters are printed together, e.g. a document in English. The apparatus includes a decision circuit for deciding whether or not a character to be processed is at a head of a sentence, and a capitalizing circuit for capitalizing the character when the decision circuit decides that the character heads a sentence.

Abstract: A thermal printer having a main shaft supporting a carriage mounted with printing mechanisms including a printing head and an ink ribbon peeling member for peeling an ink ribbon off the recording sheet as the carriage travels, and fixedly provided with sheet feeding rollers for feeding a recording sheet. The carriage is moved along the main shaft for printing operation to print information on the recording sheet on a line. Before beginning a new line, the carriage is returned to the starting position while the main shaft is rotated to feed the recording sheet. Thus, the main shaft functions as both a guide shaft for guiding the carriage and a sheet feeding shaft for feeding the recording sheet, and thereby the construction of the thermal printer is simplified and the number of the components is reduced.

Abstract: A thermal printer using a single pulse motor is disclosed. This thermal printer comprises: a single pulse motor; a moving member which is moved in accordance with the drive of the pulse motor; a head raising and lowering mechanism and a sheet feed mechanism which are selectively actuated in correspondence with the movement of the moving member; and a carriage moving mechanism which is interlockingly driven by the pulse motor. These components are driven by the single pulse motor. Also, the moving member may be a rack.

Abstract: A printer comprises a paper feed roller, an intermediate gear coupled with the paper feed roller and having a spur gear section on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a paper feed cam having an axis extending perpendicularly to an axis of the intermediate gear and having on its outer circumferential surface a helical tooth for meshing engagement with the spur gear section of the intermediate gear. The paper feed roller is angularly movable for a predetermined angular interval through the intermediate gear in response to angular movement of the paper feed cam. The paper feed cam has in the outer circumferential surface thereof a gap for disengagement with the intermediate gear. The helical tooth has an inclined end edge for guiding meshing engagement with the intermediate gear.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the control of the format of documents, such as letters, prepared automatically on a printer in response to code signals read from a record medium (magnetic storage medium), and to mode control means for associated apparatus. The invention concerns itself particularly with the handling of left margins and indentation levels for different paragraphs in a document especially when a document under preparation has line lengths that are either shorter or longer than the line lengths of an original document that was prepared concurrently with the storage of the coded signals on the record media. A preferred embodiment includes an input/output printer having a keyboard for entry of information and a single element print head for printing of information and an associated unit including an associated recorder for recording key entries as code signals on a magnetic tape record medium and an associated reader for subsequently reproducing the code signals for printing.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus has two partially toothed gears which are separately provided on a drive shaft and which rotate corresponding to the opposite ends of the displacement path of a carriage, and a driven gear rotating together with a paper feed roller which is driven by the toothed gears. The paper feeding amount can be desiredly set by setting the mounting angular position of the partially toothed gears with respect to the drive shaft.

Abstract: An electronic printer mechanism having a movable printhead assembly , wherein the printhead is a matrix of selectively heatable semiconductor mesas for producing dot matrix characters one line at a time on a paper medium. The electronic printer mechanism is constructed with a sectional housing including upper and lower housing sections which are releasably secured together to define an interior chamber for receiving components of the electronic printer. The lower housing section is provided with complementary sets of shaft-receiving recesses such that drop-in assembly of components with respect to the lower housing section as received in respective sets of the recesses prior to securement of the upper and lower housing sections together is accomplished. One component assembly comprises an operating shaft on which the printhead assembly including a carrier member fixedly supporting a printhead is mounted for transversing movement therealong.

Abstract: A carriage return device in a typewriter including: an interposer operable through operation of a key lever for the carriage return; a cycle bail driven by the interposer; a driving source adapted to rotate a main shaft by a predetermined number of rotations in association with the cycle bail; a cycle clutch for intermittently transmitting a driving force to the main shaft; an actuating bail for performing a cycle of movement having a locus of a predetermined mode to cause the interposer to disengage from the cycle bail; a carriage return bell crank for operating in association with the interposer when the interposer moves in the direction of disengaging from the cycle bail; a carriage return clutch operable by the carriage return bell crank; a carriage driving device for driving the carriage to return through operation of the carriage return clutch; and a mechanism for operating to return the carriage return bell crank upon completion of carriage return; wherein the carriage return device further includes a

Abstract: A manually operated dot printer designed for use in a pocket sized calculator or a small sized electronic device includes a printing head which is manually movable across a sheet of printing paper in one direction. A pulse generating circuit produces a signal in synchronization with the speed of travel of the printing head. While the printing head is moving in said one direction, the printing head effects electrically controlled printing operations with dots in response to the signal produced by the pulse generating circuit. As the printing head is advanced, spring means store energy which is applied to return the printing head and advance the printing paper.

Abstract: A manually operated dot printer designed for use in a pocket-sized calculator or a small-sized electronic device includes a printing head which is manually driven across the dot printer paper in one direction to store energy in springs. The springs return the printing head in steps intermittently while the printing head effects printing on the printing paper. The springs also feed the printing paper. While the printing head is manually moved, the printing elements are maintained out of contact with the printing paper. During return movement of the printing head, the printing elements are in contact with, or nearly in contact with, the printing paper for printing operations. The actual printing operations of the printing head are performed with electrical control using elements of low power consumption.

Abstract: In a movable printing point typewriter wherein line feed mechanism on a stationary platen is driven by type element carrier drive mechanism, provision is made to detect the distance of the carrier from an established left margin and, if it is too short, to move the carrier first in escapement direction a sufficient distance from the left margin and then in carrier return direction so that a line feed can be completed before the carrier is returned to the left margin.

Abstract: A typewriter having a carriage return line indexing key to initiate in parallel a powered carriage return and a powered line indexing operation is provided with linkage associated with the carriage return action which assures initiation of the line indexing operation should the keylever depression be sufficient to initiate a carriage return operation but insufficient to initiate the line index operation.

Abstract: A printing office machine of the type having a carriage, a controllable line spacing mechanism and a controllable carriage return mechanism for returning the carriage to the beginning of the printing line with a manually actuatable control actuated by a first key for enabling both the line spacing mechanism and the carriage return mechanism to effect both the line spacing and the return of the carriage to the beginning of the printing line. A manually actuatable stop device, actuated by a second key, is provided for preventing the movement of the carriage to override the carriage return mechanism to effect the line spacing of the carriage without the return of the carriage to the beginning of the printing line.