Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a carriage having a recording head, a movement unit that reciprocally moves the carriage, a carriage detection unit, a point-of-origin detection unit that detects the position of a point of origin of the carriage, a regulation unit capable of restricting the movement of the carriage, and a control unit that selectably performs one of a first initialization processing and a second initialization processing longer in time than the first initialization processing. The control unit selects one of the first initialization processing and the second initialization processing on the basis of whether movement of the carriage is restricted and whether a travel distance of the carriage corresponds to a predetermined distance, when the movement unit moves the carriage from a position of origin toward the regulation unit.

Abstract: A space for housing an optical sensor is formed between a detection gear of a drive transfer gear and a frame for supporting the detection gear. A detected part shaped like comb teeth is formed integrally on inner walls of the detection gear. The optical sensor is placed so that the detected part passes through a space between a photo emitter and a photo receptor of the optical sensor. Since the detection gear and the frame protect the optical sensor from stray light and interfering substances such as paper powder, or the like, a high-reliability, small-sized detection mechanism can be provided.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head for forming an image on a recording medium, a carriage for holding the recording head, capable of scanning in a main scanning direction, and a carrying mechanism for carrying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, wherein even with shift of the position of the carriage before scanning, scanning of the carriage is carried out after the carriage is located at a start position, or wherein a difference of the start position of the carriage upon each scanning is arranged to be a distance equal to an integral multiple of one period of phase of motor.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism for a lever including a spring member supported by the lever and frame of the printer and an actuation portion for rotating the lever by pressing and displacing an intermediate portion of the spring member. The printer may include a feed-in roller for feeding sheets of paper, a carriage for printing the sheet fed by the feed-in roller, a feed-in gear for rotating the feed-in roller, a movable gear rotatably supported by a rotatable lever and capable of assuming a first position in which the movable gear meshes with the feed-in gear to rotate the feed-in gear and a second position in which the movable gear does not mesh with the feed-in gear, and an actuation mechanism.

Abstract: A paper skew removal apparatus including a single paper feed roller for feeding a paper in a state that the paper feed roller is in contact with the central part of the paper as viewed in the paper width direction, and a paper feed roller and gate roller for contacting the leading edge of the paper, the portions of the rollers that contact the leading edge of the paper are disposed in a direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the paper fed by the paper feed roller. A printer is also disclosed which incorporates the disclosed paper skew removal apparatus. The inventive and unique construction provides reduction of paper feed time and size reduction in the overall printer, as well as ensuring a reliable skew removal from the paper.

Abstract: A printer has dual opposing printheads which can print in tandem on two sides of paper fed along a printing plane. The dual opposing printheads can print the same information on each side of two paper sheets fed in back-to-back (two-ply) fashion, thereby providing a document and copy simultaneously. The printer can also print different information on two sides of the same paper sheet or on each side of two paper sheets, thereby doubling the printing speed as compared to a single printhead. In a preferred embodiment, the dual opposing printheads are mounted in carriages driven reciprocatingly in tandem by one drive belt. Tandem paper feed mechanisms are arranged at one side of the printer and have respective clutch spring devices which are actuated alternately by cam surfaces on the printhead carriages so as to drive a pair of paper feed rollers with the paper fed in between them.

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: A mechanical device to be easily placed and removed over the margin rod of a key operated machine and having motion transfer levers which mechanically couple certain of its keys to other corresponding keys of the machine. The device is suitable for providing automatic carriage return after the space bar is activated within the margin zone, thus providing for improved alignment of the right margin, compression of the typed information, and increased typing speed.

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: An information processing apparatus has a keyboard including a key for setting an automatic line feed/line return mode, a control device, a printer, and a memory. When a space input is detected in a preset hot zone, an automatic line feed/line return is made. When a space input immediately after an automatic line feed/line return is detected, the space input is cancelled and the printer waits for the next key input.

Abstract: An electropic typewriter includes a changing unit for changing margin positions; a storage device for storing hot zone position information; and a deriving unit responsive to the change of the margin positions caused by the changing unit for deriving a new hot zone so as to modify the hot zone position stored in the storage 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: An electronic typewriter having a carriage which is automatically returned upon entering of space data through one operation of a space key on a keyboard, which space data is to be executed within an automatic-carriage-return zone which consists of a desired number of columns just before or up to the right-hand margin of the line of printing, comprising: a check device for checking whether printing data entered immediately after space data which causes an automatic carriage return is another space data or not; a timer which is started upon entering of the carriage-return space data; and a control device for comparing data of a time which is given by the timer when the above-indicated another space data is entered, with data of a predetermined reference time, and thereby executing the above-indicated another space data if the data of the time which is given by the timer is found to be beyond the data of the reference time, the control device neglecting the above another space data if the data of the time of th

Abstract: In a printer for desk calculators etc., return control means is disposed in order to control return means for resetting a carriage as well as a hammer to a starting position. When a type wheel has been shifted to a specified position in a carry direction and has opposed to the hammer at a specified rotational position, the return control means actuates the return means on the basis of a next carry operation.

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 recording device is disclosed according to which writing information is recorded and the writing position in which the record head writes the information on a recording medium is detected. A discriminator determines the width of the recording medium loaded in the device, and a controller responsive to the discriminator and the detector controls the movement of the record head.

Abstract: A printer system having local control for dynamically positioning a print head relative to a print medium utilizing positioning and print data signal inputs, including a control unit for receiving and storing data inputs, the control unit including circuit means responsive to the positioning data for arranging and outputing the stored print data to a print head, control circuitry connected to said control unit and head positioning apparatus employing a movable print medium connected to the control circuitry for positioning the head in relationship to the web in response to said control circuitry so that the head is thereby dynamically controlled by the respective data signal inputs.