Abstract: An ink printer cartridge is provided wherein ink is stored in a foam reservoir situated within an ink chamber. The foam reservoir does not substantially fill the interior space of the ink chamber, and in particular does not contact the lid of the cartridge. The foam reservoir is retained in place by means of a clip which abuts the top of the foam reservoir. In an embodiment, the clip may compress the foam. A number of features of clip are disclosed, including particular arrangements for fitting into the cartridge, and adjustments as to height and width.

Abstract: An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an Ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.

Abstract: An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.

Abstract: An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.

Abstract: An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.

Abstract: An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including an ink-supply tank formed with an ink-supply delivery port and an ink absorbing member formed of a porous material and dimensioned to substantially fill the ink-supply tank. The ink-supply tank includes an inner wall surface having projections to provide a space between the ink absorbing member and the wall surface.

Abstract: An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including an ink-supply tank formed with an ink supply delivery port having an opening for passage of ink from the ink-supply tank. An ink absorbing member formed of a porous material is mounted within the ink-supply tank and compressed relative to at least another region of the ink absorbing member at least in the region thereof facing the opening of the ink supply delivery port.

Abstract: An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including a unitary ink-supply tank formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections and a further separate ink-supply tank. An ink absorbing member formed of a porous material is positioned in each of the ink-supply sections and in the further separate ink-supply tank, each of the ink absorbing members substantially filling its respective ink-supply section or further separate ink-supply tank, substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of the ink-supply sections of the further separate ink-supply tank being carried by the respective ink absorbing member thereof. At least two of the ink-supply sections carry ink of different colors other than black, the further ink-supply tank carrying black ink.

Abstract: An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including an ink-supply tank formed as a single disposable unit and adapted for mounting in and removal from the ink-supply system as a unit. The ink-supply tank is formed with a plurality of ink-supply sections, each of the ink-supply sections having an ink-supply delivery port. An ink absorbing member formed of a porous material substantially fills each of the ink-supply sections, substantially the desired capacity of ink for each of said ink-supply sections being carried by each of the ink absorbing members, at least two of the ink-supply sections carrying ink of different colors.

Abstract: An ink-supply system for a dot matrix printer including an ink-supply tank having an ink-supply delivery port, an ink impregnated member formed of a porous material within the ink-supply tank, and ink impregnated in the ink absorbing member under a pressure sufficiently low to substantially eliminate air bubbles within the ink impregnated member.

Abstract: An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.

Abstract: A print head having a plurality of printing elements is disposed in an opposing relationship to an opposing electrode, and a negative voltage is applied to the opposing electrode while the print head is grounded. As a result, appearance of a spark discharge can be prevented, thereby preventing damage to the printing elements an extraordinary scattering of ink while improving the safety of and assuring stabilized printing by the device.

Abstract: An ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head for actuating wires with ink attached to tip ends thereof into contact with a sheet of print paper to transfer ink to the sheet, thereby forming ink dots thereon. The ink-supplied wire dot matrix printer head includes a wire guide member having a wire guide hole for guiding the tip end of the wire, and an ink tank containing an ink absorbing body therein and having an ink supply port in which a portion of the wire guide member is inserted. The wire guide member has a capillary ink path communicating with a side of the wire and supplied with ink from the ink absorbing body.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved dot matrix-type printing system wherein the wires of the print head are arranged to impinge on the reverse side of the workpiece to cause it to be moved into contact with a cavitated ink transfer roller, whereby, the workpiece is brought into direct contact with ink droplets carried by the caves in the cavitated surface in such a fashion as to create a symbolic array on the frontside of the workpiece. Secondary embodiments utilize finely apertured belt means and a source of ink disposed inside of said belt with the workpiece being impinged into contact with the ink carrying belt means.

Abstract: The printer is mounted on a desk-top computer and can print both numeric characters and graphic and calculation symbols in two different colors. The characters and the symbols are provided in a relief configuration in accordance with a matrix of rows and columns on a rubber sheet wrapped around a rotatable drum. The characters in adjacent columns are inked by an inking roller formed by adjacent porous discs which are alternately impregnated with red and black ink. The drum can perform a translatory movement in the axial direction selectively to present to the printing hammers the columns of characters which are linked with black and the columns of characters which are linked with red. The drum is translated fixedly with respect to the inking roller by means of a cam which rotates at a speed half the speed of the drum and engaged with one or other of two cam follower pins which can be selected by means of a solenoid.

Abstract: A dot printer wherein magnetic ink is fed by magnetic-flux generating means to a slit formed between a pair of magnetic poles, and needles are selectively driven so that tips thereof furnished with the magnetic ink are brought into contact with a recording paper to perform printing with the ink. Since the magnetic ink is fed to the slit only during the operation of the printer, the ink is not present in the slit when no printing operation is being performed, hence preventing occurrence of a trouble that may otherwise be induced by evaporation of the magnetic ink.

Abstract: An ink-dot printer comprises a recording paper, at least one needle disposed in one side the recording paper and movable between a rest position remote from the recording paper and a projected position close to the recording paper, a driving mechanism for moving the needle between the rest position and the projected position, a driving control unit electrically connected to the driving mechanism so as to supply a driving control signal for controlling the movement of the needle to the driving mechanism, an ink supply mechanism adapted to supply ink to the distal end portion of the needle on the recording sheet side so that the ink attaches to the distal end portion when the needle is located in the rest position, an electrode disposed in another side of the recording paper and facing the distal end portion of the needle, and voltage control unit for applying between the needle and the electrode an ink flying voltage with respect to the supply of the driving control signal from the driving control unit to the

Abstract: According to the invention, printing is formed on a front surface of a printing paper by moving a printing ribbon in opposition to a wire of a printing head, and rotating a platen so as to face a solid part disposed in the platen to the wire printing head. On the other hand, the printing is subsequently carried out on a back surface of the printing paper by moving the printing ribbon to its retreating position, and rotating the platen so as to face an ink impregnated porous substances of the platen to the wire printing head.

Abstract: An ink dot printer comprises a recording sheet, at least one needle made of an electrically conductive material and located in one side of the recording sheet so as to move between a normal position remote from the recording sheet and a projected position close to the recording sheet, a drive mechanism for displacing the needle between the normal position and the projected position, an ink supply mechanism for supplying and attaching ink to the tip of the needle which faces the recording paper when the needle is in the normal position, an electrode disposed on another side of the recording mechanism and facing the tip of the needle, and an electric field generating mechanism for generating, between the electrode and needle, an electric field of such intensity as to cause ink to fly from the tip of the needle, when the needle is closer to the recording sheet than the normal position, toward the recording sheet to thereby form an ink dot on the recording sheet.

Abstract: An arrangement for indicating the refilling level of a collapsible ink container (1,2) comprising a measuring circuit having an alternating voltage source (U.about.) to form an electric control signal which depends on the capacitance (8) between the liquid ink and an electrically conductive coating (5) which is insulated with respect to the ink by the wall of the ink container wherein the electrically conductive coating (5) is provided on the outside of the lower part (1) of the ink container.

Abstract: In a wire-dot impact type printer a cylindrical platen and a printing paper are rotated or transported at the same rate, by connecting them to a single and common electric motor through a first and second transmission mechanisms, respectively. The first transmission mechanism directly connects the platen to the motor to cause the former to rotate together with rotation of the latter in any direction, whereas the second transmission mechanism includes a clutch composed of a first and a second members rotatable about a common center axis but separately from each other in which the first member is caused to rotate together with rotation of the motor in any direction while the second member is caused to rotate together with the first member being rotated in one direction but prevented from rotating when the first member is rotated in the other direction. In the latter case the platen is rotated for color changing operation, but the printing paper is prevented from running through the printer.

Abstract: An ink-dot printer comprises a pair of slit forming members arranged to define a slit therebetween, an ink tank for storing ink in which the slit is immersed, a recording sheet opposed to the slit, a needle movable between a rest position and a projected position, a driving mechanism for moving the needle between the two positions, and an ink attracting unit for generating a magnetic or electric field in the slit, thereby attracting the ink from the ink tank into the slit to cause the ink to attach to the distal end portion of the needle located in the rest position, the ink attracting unit being adapted to generate an ink attracting magnetic or electric force of a necessary intensity for the ink to be attracted from the ink tank into the slit at the time of ink attraction, and to generate an ink holding magnetic or electric field of a minimum necessary intensity for a predetermined amount of ink to be held in the slit after the predetermined amount of ink is attracted into the slit, wherein the ink attaching

Abstract: A reinforced hard porous ink roll assembly and a method of making same. The ink roll assembly of the invention comprises a hard porous material suitable for inking, the improvement comprising a hard ink resistant material encompassing a substantial portion of the outside surface of the roll to provide reinforcement therefor. A method of making the roll of the invention is also provided in which the hard porous inking material is made by metering the polymeric material which is used to form said hard porous material into a mold in increments, and applying pressure to the mold and polymeric material at each increment. After the mold is filled with the polymeric material, the polymeric material is cured. The roll is cooled and a strip of the mold material is milled to expose a small portion of the hard porous inking material in a straight strip parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll.

Abstract: A wire matrix printer head has a group of print wires guided so as to pass through holes formed in an ink reservoir. The group of print wires are operatively connected to an actuator unit provided within a housing, the group of print wires having their free ends slidably supported by a bearing plate secured to one end of the housing. An ink chamber is disposed at the rear of the bearing plate, and within the ink chamber is provided an ink reservoir and a spring urging means for urging the ink reservoir towards the bearing plate. The ink reservoir has a sufficiently large clearance relative to each of the print wires, and accordingly, a supply of ink to the respective print wires is transmitted via the back surface of the bearing plate rather than a direct supply thereof from the ink reservoir to the print wire to prevent a deterioration of the ink reservoir due to highly frequent frictions between the ink reservoir and the respective print wires.

Abstract: A printing color indicating member is furnished to a non-printing portion of an ink impregnated porous substance body, so that a desired printing color can be exactly designated, and the porous substance body of the desired color may be easily chosen, irrespectively of the colored outer appearance of the ink impregnated porous substance body. The color indicating member being higher in density than the ink impregnated porous substance.

Abstract: The printing mechanism of a dot matrix printer includes a platen provided on its jacket with elongated ink impregnated sintered bodies each extending over the entire length of the platen. The platen is movable in the printing direction at one side of a printing paper. A printing head moves in the same direction but at a different speed at the opposite side of the paper so that impact wires strike different points on a preselected sintered body during the printing of a line.

Abstract: A printer of the dot impact type which prints by guiding a printing paper between a printing head and a platen which is composed of a plurality of sintered bodies containing inks of different colors, and attaching the ink containing body to the printing paper, comprising a platen which changes the ink color by rotating the ink containing sintered bodies; a drive device including a one directional clutch which sends the printing paper in a normal direction by clockwise rotation of a motor, and changes the colors by counterclockwise rotation; and a switching mechanism which connects the one directional clutch to bi-directions when the printing head is moved outside on available printing scope.

Abstract: A wire dot printer that requires no cover over the wire portion of the printer head when not in service in order to prevent ink drying is constructed using an ink supply devoid of water. The ink composition used in such an ink wire dot printer contains a water soluable dyestuff or an oleaginous dyestuff which is soluable in a polar solvent, a polyhydric alcohol or a derivative thereof and a water soluable amine.

Abstract: A polychrome printing platen of a printer having a platen shaft comprises an axially elongated platen body rotatably mounted on the platen shaft and having a plurality of grooves formed therein to extend in the axial direction and spaced from each other in the circumferential direction, and a plurality of permanent magnets each arranged in each of the grooves. A plurality of axially elongated elements having inks of different colors impregnated therein are attached to the platen body. Each ink impregnated element has an upper face and a lower face and has a magnetizable plate secured to the lower face thereof. All ink impregnated elements are detachably attached to the platen body by the permanent magnets which attract the magnetizable plates.

Abstract: In a printer which guides a printing paper between a printing head and a platen having ink containing bodies, and prints on said paper by pressure of the printing head; an attaching device for a platen body of the printer, wherein rotation control of the platen for changing ink color is made via a square shaft which is provided independently of a platen shaft having a rotatable, slidable plurality of bodies containing inks of different colors, and the platen is laterally moved via a supporter which slides along the square shaft, and the platen body comprising the platen and the platen shaft is structured independently of said rotation control and said lateral movement.

Abstract: A wire dot printer having a plurality of ink applicators for separately applying inks of different colors to the ends of printing wires disposed in separate groups in the ink applicators. The ink applicators are supplied respectively with inks of different colors for effecting multicolor printing on a recording paper. The wire groups are separately housed in a plurality of compartments extending longitudinally of the wires and are separated by partitions. The ends of the wires in each group are arranged in an array. The printer may include a cleaning mechanism for removing deposited paper dust and ink from the distal end of the print head while preventing mixing of ink colors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for printing information on a sheet of material provide a circular platen with a first peripheral portion having a first radius and a second peripheral portion having a second radius exceeding the first radius. Such circular platen is mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent a print head. A sheet entry gap is provided between the platen and the print head by moving the first peripheral portion about the mentioned axis into first proximity to the print head, and a sheet is entered into such entry gap between the platen and the print head. A print gap relative to the print head is provided by moving the second peripheral portion of the platen about the mentioned axis into second proximity to the print head at the entered sheet. Since the mentioned first proximity is larger than the latter second proximity, jamming of the entering sheet at the print head is effectively avoided.

Abstract: A wire dot printer comprises a plurality of wires for carrying ink respectively on the ends thereof, and ink applicator mechanism applying the ink to the wire, and an ink heater unit disposed adjacent to the wire ends for heating the ink to a controlled temperature level. The ink is applied to the side surfaces of the wires and is drawn to the wire ends by capillary attraction.

Abstract: An impact type color printer is provided a control circuit which produces a random digit signal each time the printer is connected to a power supply, according to which random digit signal a platen is rotated so that one of plural impact sections axially arranged in each ink saturated member of different color is selected at random and positioned just opposite to a printing head to be subjected to impact thereby for printing operation.

Abstract: An ink dot printer includes an ink tank having a magnetic ink supplying hole and an air opening; a pair of magnetic pole plates arranged to form a slit one end of which is immersed in magnetic ink in the ink tank; and an electromagnet for magnetizing the magnetic pole plates to introduce the magnetic ink in the ink tank into the slot to form a magnetic ink film. A plurality of needles arranged adjacent to one another along the longitudinal direction of the slit are each freely movable in its longitudinal direction between a first position where one end portion is immersed in the magnetic ink film in the slit, and a second position where the one end portion is projected from the magnetic ink film. Electromagnets selectively drive the needles to move them from the first position to the second position, wherein the needles selected force the magnetic ink adhered on their one ends at the first position, onto a recording paper to form dots of the magnetic ink.

Abstract: An ink dot printer comprises: an ink tank storing magnetic ink; a pair of magnetic pole plates arranged opposite to each other to form a slit whose one end is immersed in the magnetic ink in the ink tank; an electromagnet magnetizing the paired magnetic pole plates to introduce the magnetic ink in the ink tank into the slit to form a magnetic ink film therein; a plurality of needles arranged adjacent to one another along the longitudinal direction of the slit where each is freely movable in its longitudinal direction between a first position where its one end portion is immersed in the magnetic ink film in the slit and a second position where its one end portion is projected from the magnetic ink film in the slit; electromagnets for selectively driving the needles to move from the first position to the second position; and stoppers which collide with the needles in the course of their moving from the first position to stop the needles at the second position; wherein the driving force produced in the electroma

Abstract: An ink cartridge 10 includes an ink level sensor 38 having a probe supporting structure, such as platform 174, which projects into a collapsible ink container 16 from an ink container support 18. First and second electrical probes 40, 41 are embedded within the structure, with tip portions 188, 190 of the probes 40, 41 being exposed to provide an electrically conductive path through the ink between the probes. Flat closure surface 176, 178 are provided between the exposed portions of the probes against which the container 16 collapses. When the ink container 16 collapses against these surfaces 176, 178, the resistance between the probes increases, is insensitive to ink conductivity, and indicates that volume of ink within the cartridge is low. The platform 174 is supported by tapered necks 180, 182 projecting into the ink container from the ink container support 18.

Abstract: An ink supply device for an inking type dot matrix printer wherein an ink occlusion body as an ink dipping portion is provided at the extreme end of a printing head, printing wires are inserted through the ink occlusion body to dip tips of the printing wires in ink, and dot-like characters are printed on a sheet of recording paper with the ink. In the ink supply device, the ink occlusion body has an ink occlusion body mounted on the lower surface thereof in a required spaced relation and a pair of detection electrodes for detection of a quantity of ink in a way that a portion thereof is positioned in said space. Each detection electrode is partly in pressure contact with the ink occlusion body.

Abstract: A printer which is provided with a daisy wheel so that the types thereof are brought into contact with an ink roller to thereby apply ink onto the types and constructed to be disposed the ink roller at the position at an angle of 90.degree. or less circumferential of the daisy wheel from the printing position.The position of the types is grouped into two regions defined in connection with the ink roller set position and the rotation direction of the daisy wheel is decided by the region in which the types to be printed are positioned, in order to get high printing speed.The fingers located at a portion corresponding to the ink roller set position when the daisy wheel is in a printing-stand-by condition are smaller in length than others and have no type respectively, thereby preventing the daisy wheel from being deformation.

Abstract: In a wire-dot impact type printer, a single electric motor is employed for rotating a platen provided at a periphery thereof with a plurality of ink saturated members to thereby change a color to be applied to a printing paper, as well as for rotating tractors cooperated with feed rollers to thereby transport the printing paper in a predetermined direction. A transmission mechanism for transmitting rotational movement of the motor to the tractors comprises a switch disc rotated together with the motor and having a circular periphery thereof which is half toothed and half untoothed, and a clutch composed of a first rotating disc rotated due to engagement with the toothed half portion of the switch disc and a second rotating disc capable of rotating together with the first rotating disc being rotated in one direction to thereby cause the tractors to rotate for the paper feeding operation, but prevented from rotation when the first rotating unit is rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A compact printer having a typefont belt constituting a typefont wheel maintained under tension on a support, wherein the platen is rendered displaceable in a direction away from the typefont wheel after the completion of the printing operation, and the front end of a hammer provided in the typefont wheel is inclined upwards.

Abstract: A rigid plastic tube supports an ink applying sleeve of resilient micro-porous ink retaining material, and a pair of end journal and closure members are pressed into opposite ends of the tube. An ink retaining unit confined within the support tube between the end closure members and includes axially spaced thin plastic discs which define therebetween ink retaining capillary chambers for receiving a supply of ink. A series of axially spaced holes are formed in the support tube and control the outward radial flow of ink from the capillary chambers into the micro-porous sleeve. In one form, the thin plastic discs are separately formed of molded and include axially projecting hub portions which interfit and provide for pressing a stack of the discs together to form the ink retaining unit.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a plurality of ink supplying elements coaxially mounted on a shaft for rotation therewith with each element having an ink containing layer molded integrally with an ink impervious layer covering a side face of the ink layer while an exposed radially outward edge face provides an ink supply surface. The ink containing layers are initially each molded into the ink impervious layer which provides a covering for one side face and a radially outward edge face of the ink containing layer. The edge face covering is subsequently removed from the ink containing layer to expose an ink supply surface of the ink layer. A substantial portion of the ink impervious material is retained in the exposed ink supply surface of the ink containing material to reinforce the surface pores therein while permitting an ink flow therefrom.

Abstract: A wire dot printer using fluid ink in which printing is carried out with the ink adhering to the end faces of the wires. A front wire guide guides the end portions of the wires adjacent to the printing end faces of the wires. A rear wire guide is positioned behind the front wire guide. An ink path fed by capillary action is provided between the front and rear wire guides which crosses the wires at positions adjacent the end faces of the wires. Also disclosed is a pump for conveying the ink within the printer and preferred compositions of the ink itself.

Abstract: An ink supplying mechanism has a plurality of flat ink containers each having an ink outlet tube for supplying ink outward. The ink outlet tubes are sealed by a sealing elastic coupling member to form a multi-color ink container. The ink cassette is removably connected to connecting tubes which lead to ink supply passages.

Abstract: A rigid plastic tube supports an ink applying sleeve of resilient micro-porous ink retaining material, and a pair of end journal and closure members are pressed into opposite ends of the tube. An ink retaining unit confined within the support tube between the end closure members and includes axially spaced thin plastic discs which define therebetween ink retaining capillary chambers for receiving a supply of ink. A series of axially spaced holes are formed in the support tube and control the outward radial flow of ink from the capillary chambers into the micro-porous sleeve. In one form, the thin plastic discs are separately formed or molded and include axially projecting hub portions which interfit and provide for pressing a stack of the discs together to form the ink retaining unit.

Abstract: An ink applying sleeve of resilient micro-porous ink retaining material is confined between a pair of circular flanges mounted on a connecting support hub. A cylindrical ink retaining unit is also mounted on the center hub and is confined between the flanges to support the sleeve. The unit includes a stack of thin plastic discs which define concentric annular ink retaining capillary passages or chambers for receiving a supply of ink. The concentric chambers are interconnected by a series of radially extending passages which control the outward radial flow of ink from the concentric chambers into the micro-porous sleeve. In one form, the thin plastic discs are heat-formed from thin sheet plastics material and have a center hole for receiving the support hub.

Abstract: A print wheel assembly for a word processing machine utilizing a daisy wheel-type printer as a type-carrying disk in which the typefaces are mounted upon flexible members generally extending radially from a hub by which the wheel is mounted in the machine. According to the invention, a pigment carrier overlies the typefaces and can be of disk configuration and is so mounted on the wheel as to shift relative to the typefaces, whereby successive impacts are offset from one another for each typeface. The pigment carrier can be a bibulous or capillary fabric drawing ink from a reservoir dimensioned to supply sufficient ink to feed the transfer layer for the duration of the useful life of the wheel.

Abstract: A dot matrix impact printer for color printing comprising a platen and a print wire. The platen comprises a plurality of members made of porous material containing different colors. The print wire and platen member are driven to a position adjacent each other and the print wire is moved to force a paper to the platen, so that a dot is printed on the paper with color ink contained in the corresponding member of the platen.

Abstract: A marking device for a shorthand machine selectively marks the margins of the paper tape output of the shorthand machine to denote a portion of the shorthand notes for ready reference. The activating keys for the device are located in close proximity with the machine keyboard, whereby the operator may activate the device with minimal interruption of the recording process. Disposable marking instruments may be employed in the device. Incorporation of the device in the machine cover preserves the first planar surface of the cover and further, facilitates storage of the device when not in use.