Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for use in an ink-jet printer having a printhead and an opposing platen capable of movement toward and away from the printer's printhead to define a record media gap therebetween. The system is effective to selectively restrict movement of a printer's platen to effect adjustment of the record media gap upon detection of record media having a characteristic which warrants such a change. The system is provided with a detector capable of recognizing the characteristic, and with a stop mechanism which acts in concert with the detector to effect the desired change. In its nominal configuration, the stop mechanism limits movement of the platen at a first position so as to define a first record media gap. However, upon detection of record media having the characteristic, the stop mechanism is automatically reconfigured so as to allow movement of the platen to a second position defining a second record media gap.

Abstract: In a printing device having an abutment (10) intended for supporting a recording medium (52), a print head (32) which is movable relative to the abutment (10) in the direction of the lines, an actuating drive (28, 26, 24) for setting the print head distance relative to the abutment (10) and a pressing element (36) which extends the full width of the recording medium and presses the recording medium (52) onto the abutment (10) and can be deflected in accordance with the thickness of the recording medium (52), a magnet (54) is arranged on one of the parts (pressing element 36, part 46 fixed to the print head) and at least one Hall probe (56) is arranged on the respective other part (part 46 fixed to the print head, pressing element 36) in such a way that the magnet (54) and the Hall probe (56) can be brought into congruence with one another in a predetermined print head position corresponding to a measurement position, a circuit arrangement (60) being provided to measure the Hall voltage and to regulate the lat

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a continuous web printing apparatus comprising transport means including an endless belt having a sticky surface, a plurality of support rollers having said endless belt entrained therearound and a drive means for rotating said support rollers to move said endless belt, a press means for pressing a continuous web, such as a fabric or transfer sheet, against said endless belt to stick said continuous web to said endless belt, an ink jet head disposed between said support rollers in opposed relation to the surface of said continuous web stuck to said endless belt, an abutment adapted to abut against said endless belt, said abutment being opposed to said ink jet head with the continuous web and said endless belt interposed therebetween, head gap adjusting means for moving at least either of said ink jet head or said abutment in a direction in which the two are opposed to each other, and recovering means for peeling said continuous web, which has passed by said ink je

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing head for printing on a bank book, a platen disposed opposite the printing head, and a cam mechanism for moving the platen. A sensor detects the thickness of the bank book which is between the printing head and the platen, and a sensor moving mechanism moves the sensor toward or away from the platen. A controller controls the operation of the cam mechanism and the sensor moving mechanism as the sensor is moved to a measuring position approaching the printing head. The platen is moved toward the printing head according to a detected value, and then the sensor is retracted from the measuring position. As a result, after moving the platen, the sensor does not contact the surface of the bank book, and therefore does not produce jamming or oblique feeding of the bank book during a line feed or printing operation.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed comprising a carriage manually movable along a bed and a print drum carried by the carriage to make rolling engagement with a mail item supported on the bed. A toothed rack extends along the length of the bed and gearing on the carriage meshes with the rack to drive the print drum and an impression roller carried by the carriage. The gearing is arranged such that as the carriage is moved in a forward direction along the bed, a mail item gripped between the print drum and the impression roller is fed along the bed in the reverse direction so that the length of traverse of the carriage, and the length of the bed, is less than the length of the franking impression to be printed.

Abstract: A printer having an adjusting apparatus for adjusting a head gap between a print head and a print sheet supported on a platen, is disclosed. In such printer, at first, a carriage 1 mounting the print head 8 thereon is advanced to the print sheet 6 by eccentrically rotating a guide bar 3 passed through a slide hole 1a with a solidable lubricant therebetween through a step motor 12 until a ribbon mask 9 contacts to the print sheet 6. And a drive pulse number Nm, which is input to the step motor 12 until the ribbon mask 9 contacts to the print sheet 6 and corresponds to moving distance of the carriage 1 from a standard position O, is calculated. Further, a value Na (=N1-Nm) representing a drive pulse number for the step motor 12 corresponding to a thickness of the print sheet 6, is calculated.

Abstract: An ink jet printer (10) having a print head (14) for directing an ink jet toward a sheet of paper (16) includes automatic print head spacing apparatus (80) that holds the print head apart from the sheet of paper by a preselected distance. In a preferred embodiment, the printer includes a rotatable drum (20) for supporting the sheet of paper and media securing system (24) of a first predetermined thickness for securing the paper to the drum. The print head is positioned at the preselected distance after a major surface (130) of the print head engages and is pushed back by the media securing system.

Abstract: A typical printing device has a document feeder, a printer, and a document transport mechanism for transporting documents from the document feeder to the printer. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a thickness measurer which measures the thickness of a document prior to the transport of the document to the printer, a controller which receives the thickness information and which provides a gap-adjustment signal, and an adjuster which receives the gap-adjustment signal and adjusts the gap accordingly.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises two levers (80, 81), which are rotatable around rigid axles (86, 87). Added to this is a third rigid axle (85), which carries the one lower infeed roller (21.2). The upper infeed roller (21.1) is supported at a lever (80) and is springingly pressed against the lower infeed roller (21.2). The apparatus permits letters to be postage metered run in direction of the arrow (52) and thereby press the two infeed rollers (21.1, 21.2) apart from each other up to a maximum width D.In operation one lever (80) carries a bolt (95) at an arm (94), where the bolt (95) engages into a curved slot (98) of the other lever (81). The bolt (95) freely moves in the curved slot (98) between zero and a with of, for example, 3 mm. In case of a larger width, the bolt (95) impacts at the edge of the slot and presses the other lever (81) in direction of the dashed illustrated deflection position. Other lever (81) has a release hole (99).

Abstract: A printer with a print-head distance-setting device for adjusting the distance (1) between print head (2) and print-material counter support (3) for recording-material carriers (4) of unequal thickness, resting on the print-material counter support (3), including a mechanical sensing member (5) for controlling a print head (2), adjustable in a direction perpendicular relative to the longitudinal direction of the slider carriage motion, where the print head (2) is disposed on a longitudinally movable print-head slider carriage (7), which print-head slider carriage (7) in turn is guided with a pair of parallel guide axles (9), of which one guide axle (9) is supported by way of a pair of eccentric-disposed pins (10) and of which the second guide axle (9) is cross-movably supported in the printer side walls (32).

Abstract: A printer 20 for imprinting data on a variety of multi-dimensional media 62 has media based registration and can accomplish free edge printing for printing data adjacent edges. The printer 20 includes a transport mechanism 52 for accurately transporting and positioning the media 62 before a print head 102. Further, the printer 20 includes a carriage mounted sensor 144 for media edge detection, registration and media size determination. A media presentation mechanism 96 ensures that the media 62 is appropriately presented and maintained at the optimal distance from and orientation with respect to the print head 102.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording device for depositing ink onto a recording medium with relative movement therebetween to effect recording on the recording medium; a shaft engageable with a part of the recording device and rotatable about an eccentric axis; and a member for supporting the shaft adjacent longitudinal ends thereof for eccentric rotation of the shaft to change relative positional relation between the recording device and the recording medium.

Abstract: A carriage is displaceable parallel to a record carrier and supports a head displaceable in a direction essentially perpendicular to the record carrier. In order to obtain a mounting free of play while maintaining parallelism of the head during its movement and at the same time reduce the risk of damage to the head in the event of a collision, the head is supported by at least one leaf spring pair. Each leaf spring pair consists of a front and a rear leaf spring attached between the carriage and the head in attachment points. The connecting lines between the attachment points of the leaf springs substantially form a parallelogram. The apparatus is used as a printer for printing information on record carriers of paper type.

Abstract: Apparatus having a common mounting axis for both a cover mechanism and a head positioning arm isolates a print head from disturbances or distortions caused by a force being applied to the cover mechanism, such as the operator leaning on the cover, which result in inferior print quality.

Abstract: A computer printer which has a print head and a printing bed plate comprises an apparatus to adjust the distance between the print head and the printing bed plate to thereby allow for printing on charts which are not of uniform thickness. The distance adjustment apparatus comprises a rigidly mounted sensing roller and/or a leading or trailing feeler lever, which electronically controls the print head distance.

Abstract: A printer is used for printing information on a center-folding type book when the book is in the open state, and comprises a printing head, a platen movable toward and away from the printing head, and feed rollers for moving the opened book through the printing position defined by the printing head and the platen, such that the printing operation is carried out on a leading half of the book and then on a trailing half thereof. A gap between the printing head and the platen is adjusted in response to a variation of a thickness of the half of the book positioned at the printing position; this adjustment being carried out by abutting the platen against the half of the book, and then moving the platen away therefrom by a given distance, before the printing operation is carried out on a first line contained in the trailing half of the book and closest to a center-holding line thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus capable of manually adjusting a gap between a print head and a platen so as to prevent a print operation from being executed when the gap is outside of an appropriate range for a paper being used. The position of the print head can be manually adjusted by use of an adjusting lever. Further, the print head can be moved by a step motor under the control of a CPU to adjust the gap. After the gap adjustment is accomplished by the adjusting lever, the CPU causes the print head to shift toward a rear standard position and stores the count N1 of driving pulses required for the shift movement. The set printing gap is detected on the basis of this value N1. The print head is then moved until it contacts the printing sheet and a count N2 of driving pulses required for the contact movement is stored in the memory of the CPU. The paper thickness is measured on the basis of this value N2.

Abstract: A printer of the kind having a printing head for printing on a sheet being held against a platen roll by a sheet presser, with both printing head and sheet presser mounted fast to a head carriage which is movable not only in a direction parallel to the axis of the platen roll but also in a direction normal thereto. For adjusting the spacing between the printing head and the platen roll to the thickness of the sheet to be printed upon, a drive motor is coupled to the head carriage via a yieldable clutch.

Abstract: In a printer having a platen, a print head disposed opposite to the platen, and a ribbon mask fixedly provided on the print head and having a masking plate provided with an aperture to expose only the front end of the print head to the platen, an ink ribbon is extended through a space between the platen and the print head, and the masking plate is disposed between the platen and the ink ribbon to shield a recording sheet wound round the platen from the ink ribbon. The aperture of the masking plate has inclined edges inclined to a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the print head so as to intersect a platen center obliquely. In case the side edge of a floating portion of the recording sheet is caught in the aperture of the masking plate while the print head is moved, the side edge slides along the inclined edge to escape from the aperture, so that the side edge is not caught in the aperture of the masking plate.

Abstract: A recording and/or reading head has a recording and/or read nose and is movably mounted. The head is preloaded against a record carrier with first and second preload values. A sensor device senses and maintains the distance between the record carrier and the nose constant. The preloading structure includes a spring loaded cam operated mechanism acting between the head and the record carrier via a spring loaded wheel secured to the head, the wheel engaging the record carrier. A switching mechanism switches the apparatus between the first and second preload conditions. The apparatus can print or operate with documents of different thicknesses.

Abstract: A frame plate is movably mounted on a guide shaft erected from a base for movement upward and downward, a space formed between the base and the frame plate being served as the insertion passage for the typing sheet. The frame plate is provided thereon with a printer adapted to print such data as time and serial numbers on the inserted typing sheet, a cam shaft adapted to move the printer forward and backward, and a motor for rotating the cam shaft. A spring is disposed between the frame plate and the base in order to normally pull the frame plate toward the base side, a rubber stopper being disposed to a bottom surface of the frame plate in order to normally maintain the distance between a printer head and the surface of the typing sheet constant.

Abstract: In dot impact printers, a platen or a print head may be thermally expanded or contracted due to heat generated from a driver of a print head, with the result that a gap between the print head and a sheet of print paper on the platent varies. In order to maintain a proper gap therebetween regardless of the thermal deformation of the platen and/or print head, a temperature sensor is provided for sensing the temperature of the platen or the print head, and the gap therebetween is adjusted based on the sensed temperature. This adjustment is performed each time when a number of printed characters have reached a predetermined number.

Abstract: A transfer printer includes a platen drive mechanism for rotating a platen roller facing a print head, and a paper feed mechanism for feeding a paper sheet passing between the platen roller and the head. A ribbon supply device is driven through a transmission mechanism by the drive power of the feed mechanism. The transmission mechanism has a roller holder supporting a transmission gear and arranged to be movable between a transmission position wherein the transmission gear engages an interlocking gear of the feed mechanism and an input gear of the ribbon supply device and a release position wherein the transmission gear is disengaged from the input gear so as to interrupt the power transmission. The roller holder is urged by a spring toward the transmission position, and restricted an excessive movement to the transmission position so that the transmission gear is in mesh with the input gear with a suitable backlash.

Abstract: There is disclosed a recording apparatus for image recording on a recording sheet, in which a releasing member is provided for releasing the recording head from the platen roller, and the sheet setting operation is conducted by the platen roller while the recording head is released, in order to reduce the load on the driving force of the platen roller. The releasing member can assume a locked position, in which the operator can use both hands for other operations, or an unlocked position, in which the recording head automatically returns to the recording position after sheet setting.

Abstract: A typical printing device has a document feeder, a printer, and a document transport mechanism for transporting documents from the document feeder to the printer. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a thickness measurer which measures the thickness of a document prior to the transport of the document to the printer, a controller which receives the thickness information and which provides a gap-adjustment signal, and an adjuster which receives the gap-adjustment signal and adjusts the gap accordingly.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head and a platen roller facing the head. The platen roller is supported by supporting frames. The frames are rotatably supported by a stationary shaft. A second set lever is mounted on the supporting frame to be movable integrally with the frames, and includes a pressing portion facing a paper guide. The paper guide is pressed against a feed roller for feeding a paper sheet passing between the head and the platen roller. When the supporting frames are rotated in a direction to leave the platen roller from the head by a first set lever, the pressing portion pushes the paper guide so as to leave it from the feed roller.

Abstract: A paper gap adjustment mechanism having two coaxially mounted cams which have a camming surface with a linear transition area for forms thickness adjustment and an adjacent ramp area for moving the platen open position plus a straight radius area at the top of the ramp area. A lever is attached to the cams for both controlling forms thickness and platen gap open but the printer operator actuates this lever itself only when controlling the forms thickness positions. A second lever is rotatable on the cam shaft also. The second lever is provided with detent means engageable by the first lever so that rotation of the second lever rotates the first lever and the cams from the set position of the first lever to the open position. The detent means has multiple set positions at which the first lever is engaged when the first lever is rotated to set thicknesses. Rotation of the second lever from the open position to closed position automatically returns the first lever to the prior set position.

Abstract: A printing head supporting device including a supporting mechanism for supporting a printing head so that the printing head can be brought into contact with and separation from a platen, and a pressure plate detachably mounted to a printer body. When the pressure plate is mounted to the printer body, the printing head is maintained in contact with the platen to obtain a printable condition. In contrast, when the pressure plate is detached from the printer body, the printing head is maintained in separation from the platen, so that an operator can easily carry out a maintenance work such as cleaning of the printing head or removing of a recording paper caught between the printing head and the platen. Thus, the maintenance work can be easily carried out by a simple operation such that the pressure plate is simply detached from the printer body.

Abstract: A printer has first and second print mechanisms separated by a gap for the passage of a print medium. The print mechanisms are mounted on relatively movable support members. A gap adjustment mechanisms has one set of cam means for moving the support members relative to each other for both forms loading and forms thickness adjusting. The cam means comprises a pair of elongate cam bars translatable along one support member and follower pins on the other member which are located in camming slots formed in the cam bars. The camming slots have first and second camming sections in the form of linear ramps with gentle and steep slope angles respectively. The cam bars are translatable by pinion gearing in engagement with rack gearing on the cam bars, the pinion gears being on a shaft rotatable by a knob to thereby cause the follower pins to be cammed by either the first linear ramp for forms thickness adjustment or the second linear ramp for forms loading.

Abstract: Two rollers with lobes for feeding a sheet are disposed below the plane feed surface. The two rollers are rotatable on axes perpendicular to one another and move the sheet or the document to be printed in a direction perpendicular and parallel, respectively, to the printing direction of the head to align the sheet against retractable stop elements movable parallel to the printing direction and against a lateral guide perpendicular to the printing direction. Suitable optical sensors detect a possible misalignment of the sheet and cause a further rotation of the rollers to complete the alignment of the sheet against the guides; in case a document such as an accounting book is to be fed, a testing device detects the thickness of the document for positioning the head at a prefixed distance from the printing surface of the document itself.

Abstract: A printer having a printing mechanism for placing printed matter on a substrate, the printing mechanism including character printing elements and an electrically driven hammer unit which is connected to receive an actuating current and is operative for causing the printing elements to print characters on the substrate by impacting against the elements with an impact force dependent on the magnitude of the actuating current, the printer being further provided with: a substrate thickness monitoring device mounted in the printer for monitoring the thickness of a substrate disposed to be printed upon by the mechanism and for producing an electrical output signal indicative of the substrate thickness within a predetermined amount of time; and an actuating current control circuit connected to receive the output signal from the monitoring device and to control the actuating current in a manner to reduce the impact force when the substrate thickness is less than a selected value.

Abstract: An automatic head gap adjustment device for a printer has a plunger that protrudes beyond the print head toward the platen, a linear transducer that detects the amount by which the plunger is depressed, and a motor for widening and narrowing the head gap by moving the print head or platen. A controller drives the motor forward, narrowing the head gap, until the signal output by the transducer changes by a certain amount, then drives the motor in reverse for a fixed amount, widening the head gap, then preferably drives the motor forward again by a smaller fixed amount to take up play in the drive mechanism. This device adjusts the head gap accurately despite changes in ambient conditions.

Abstract: A printer includes an inkjet pen to eject ink drops for printing on the surface of a sheet, a carriage mounted to carry the pen back and forth on the sheet, and a skid-like spacer to ride upon the printed surface. The spacer maintains a preselected spacing between the pen and the printed surface and, also, maintains paper flatness at the localized area of printing.

Abstract: In a thermal printer having a platen and thermal print head, the print head is supported on a special print head support structure which allows the print head to pivot so as to apply a uniform pressure across the width of labels or price tags which are fed between the print head and the platen. The support structure for the print head includes: a two-part support member including a print head attachment member for holding the thermal print head and a pressing member for pressing the thermal print head toward the platen; a fixed spindle for rotatably supporting the support member; and a pivot member between the thermal print head attachment member and the spindle, the pivot member enabling the attachment member, and therefore the print head, to pivot in a plane parallel to the axis of the platen in a manner which tends to equalize the pressure across the labels or price tags being imprinted.

Abstract: A thermal printer comprises a pair of fixed frames for rotatably supporting a platen which is rotated by a motor and a head unit rotatably supported by the fixed frames through a pair of movable frames and for supporting a thermal head. A pair of pinch rollers are rotatably mounted on the fixed frames, which are selectively brought to a first operating state to feed a paper sheet to the region between the platen and the thermal head, and a second operating state to feed no paper sheet. The thermal head is selectively moved between a first position, in which it is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which it is disengaged from the platen. The thermal head is moved to the first position, at the same time the pinch rollers and moved to the second operating state, while the thermal head is moved to the second position, at the same time the pinch rollers are moved to the first operating state.

Abstract: A printer for printing on at least two types of recording sheet using a single print head arranged at a single printing section. The printer includes a first recording sheet forwarding path, a second sheet forwarding path, a first recording sheet forwarding mechanism, a second recording sheet forwarding mechanism, a printing section opening/closing mechanism, a first recording sheet path opening/closing mechanism, a second recording sheet path opening/closing mechanism, a single recording sheet detector, and a recording sheet blocking mechanism.

Abstract: A thermal printing device or the like and a tape or tape-ribbon cartridge designed for operative insertion into and use with such device. The device and cartridge of the present invention includes a tape drive system for driving the tape or tape and ribbon through the thermal printing device including a drive roller connected with the machine and a corresponding drive roller mounted within the cartridge and biased toward the machine drive roller. The device and cartridge of the present invention also includes an alignment system comprising a floating alignment member for insuring proper transfer alignment between the platen and the printhead.

Abstract: A motor drives, through a gear train, a cam set to force the printhead of a wire matrix printer against the platen and record sheet(s) with a force great enough to cause the cam to stop rotating. Continued driving of the gear train causes one of the gears to be driven around another gear, relieving the drive force. A detection of the stopping of the cams causes the stopping of the drive motor and a slight reversal. This adjusts the head to paper gap regardless of the paper thickness.

Abstract: A passbook printer has a print head movable along a printing station and in opposed relation to a platen for printing data on the passbook. The printer has an optical reading head assembly which is movable independent of the print head and in a direction of the path of the passbook past the printing station. The optical reading head assembly is positioned at the printing station for reading page and line information from the passbook and then is moved to a position adjacent the printing station for permitting the print head to freely move along the printing station.

Abstract: A dot-matrix impact printer, including a print head including a piezoelectric element, and a print wire which is movable from a non-operated position thereof to an operated position thereof, owing to displacement of the piezoelectric element, to produce an imprint on a surface of a recording medium. The printer uses a piezoelectric control device which is responsive to a wire activation command, for applying a controlled drive voltage to the piezoelectric element to thereby activate the print wire to the operated position, wherein the drive voltage includes a static voltage which decreases with increasing paper thickness and which gets the wire close to the paper, and a dynamic voltage which provides the print force and increases with increasing paper thickness.

Abstract: Dot-matrix printer for printing on a paper resting against a platen includes a bendable piezoelectric lamina which is supported along a first edge planar ferromagnetic member which is operatively connected to the bendable piezoelectric lamina at a region remote from the first edge, a dot print element mounted the movement of the bendable piezoelectric lamina along a line parallel to the plane of the planar ferromagnetic member, control means for generating first or second voltage signals for energizing the bendable piezoelectric lamina to cause the planar ferromagnetic member to assume a first or a second position, and electromagnetic means for applying a controllably variable magnetic force on the planar ferromagnetic member such that only when the planar ferromagnetic member is not in the first position is there sufficient force exerted by the dot print element to print on the record medium with the diameter of the dot being a function of the force.

Abstract: A print head is moved to and fro between two direction reversing points along a print support and simultaneously moved forward toward the print support until the head engages the support. The engagement of the head with the support produces a variable parameter in response to the to and fro reciprocating movement. When the parameter reaches a given value indicating engagement of the head and support, the forward movement of the head is stopped, and the print head, starting from this position, in which the gap between the head and support is zero, is moved in the reverse direction away from the support to the desired gap value.

Abstract: Document handling apparatus 10 includes a reception platen 32 disposed below and movable with respect to a dot-matrix printer 28 having a printer head 30. A document placed on the platen 32 can therefore be brought into register with the printer head 30 by the raising and/or lowering of the platen 32 which is caused by a solenoid 48 linked to an eccentric cam 40 disposed below the platen 32. Rubber stoppers 38, 39 act as spacing means to ensure that a document in contact with the platen 32 and the stoppers 38 is at a distance from the printing head 30 pre-determined to allow the head 30 during its operation to contact the document's surface. Rollers 52 cause the document to be moved over the platen 32 and a sensor is provided to sense the presence of the document and actuate the solenoid.

Abstract: A mechanism for feeding record media from a supply roll through a printing station. The printing station includes printing means and a platen assembly operable for printing on the record media. A feed roller is supported by the platen assembly and is movable therewith in a direction to and from the printing means. A pressure roller is supported in opposed manner to said feed roller and the pressure roller is journaled in bearings in frame plates. The bearings include elongated slots therein for the shaft of the pressure roller to enable the pressure roller to move a predetermined distance into the path of the record media from the supply roll and to guide the record media along a path to avoid contact with the printing means.

Abstract: A printer having a device for advancing and retracting a print head toward and away from a paper supporting platen, an automatic head gap adjusting device for controlling the head advancing and retracting device, to advance the print head until the print head comes into contact with a recording paper, and then retracting the print head by a predetermined distance, to thereby adjust a head gap between the paper and the print head, and an operator-controlled head gap adjusting device for manually operating said head advancing and retracting device, to thereby adjust the head gap. A mode selector is provided for selecting one of an automatic adjusting mode in which the head gap is adjusted by the automatic head gap adjusting device, and a manual adjusting mode in which the head gap is adjusted by the operator-controlled head gap adjusting device.

Abstract: A carriage for a scanning ink jet plotter has at least two roller supports which ride on the platen or on the drafting surface to maintain a constant spacing between an ink jet mounted on the carriage and the drafting surface to improve resolution of the plotted lines. A biasing spring may also be used the urge the roller supports into contact with the drafting surface for further enhanced resolution.

Abstract: In the printer of the type in which the spacing between a print head and a sheet of paper supported on a platen can be adjusted depending upon the sheet used, the position in which the spacing is adjusted is freely selectable. When printing is effected on a sheet with tab labels, the position of the print head is specified so that the print head confronts the tab label, and then the spacing between the print head and the face of the print sheet is adjusted upon moving the print head to the specified position.

Abstract: In apparatus for thermally transferring ink from a ribbon, having backing and ink donor layers, to a letter, wherein the apparatus includes a frame, a thermal printhead, structure for controlling the printhead, and a roller rotatably connected to the frame for rotation when in engagement with a letter fed between the roller and a ribbon, there is provided an improvement for urging a ribbon and letter into engagement with one another. The improvement includes the printhead controlling structure including structure for disposing the printhead in a non-printing position permitting a ribbon to be located between the printhead and roller and in a printing position wherein the printhead is in engagement with the backing layer of a ribbon, and the printhead controlling structure including structure for resiliently supporting the printhead to urge the ink donor layer of a ribbon into contact with a letter when the printhead is disposed in the printing position.

Abstract: In a printer in which a plurality of hammers mounted along the length of an elongated hammerbank are selectively fired as the hammerbank is reciprocated relative to an elongated platen to impact a length of ink ribbon against at least one length of print paper supported by the platen to effect printing in dot matrix fashion, the platen being rotatable about an axis of rotation to vary the size of a platen gap between the plurality of hammers and the platen, a mechanism is provided for positively locking the platen in any one of a succession of different rotational positions to provide locking platen gap adjustment. The Positions are identified in order to facilitate resetting of the platen to a desired gap size. The mechanism includes a rotatable knurled thumbknob having mounted thereon a cam having a succession of eccentric or radially varying detents in an outer surface thereof which receives the end of a pivotally mounted, spring-biased lever.

Abstract: A ribbon protector is used for protecting paper from contamination by an ink ribbon in a printer, where the protector is inserted between paper located between a platen and a printing head. The printing head facing the platen performs spacing movement for printing. Two connected plate-like elements are provided with through openings for passage of the pin of the printing head. Mutually engageable electroconductive elements are provided on the inner walls of the two plate-like elements, at least in the area where they are compressed by the tip of the printing head, and spacers which are made from resilient materials are located between the two plate-like elements.