Abstract: A soot sensor includes a soot sensor including a sensor element and heater element disposed on a first surface of the soot sensor. A soot sensing system may include a soot sensor and circuitry electrically coupled to the sensor and heater elements of the soot sensor. The circuitry is configured to determine an amount of soot accumulated on the soot sensor and to control heating of the heater element in response to the soot accumulation.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: at least one roller pair which has a driving roller and a driven roller facing the driving roller and which rotates while interposing the recording medium therebetween to transport the recording medium in a first direction; a recording section which records an image on the recording medium transported by the roller pair; a position detecting section which detects a position of the recording medium with respect to the roller pair in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction before the recording section starts recording; a determining section which determines a rotation amount of the driving roller before the recording section starts the recording depending on the position in the second direction of the recording medium detected by the position detecting section; and a control unit which controls the driving roller based on the rotation amount determined by the determining section.

Abstract: A print media processing apparatus increases printer throughput by starting printing after setting the conveyed print medium to the printing start position, and a transportation control unit controls how far the print medium is advanced according to the length of text to be printed on the print medium. The transportation control unit advances the paper to the position where printing text of a specified length to the printing area of the paper begins.

Abstract: An image scanner and image scanning method to reliably image scanned media in an image scanning apparatus with consistent quality. The image scanning apparatus may be included within a printer 10 for printing to the medium. The image scanning apparatus comprises a transportation mechanism for transporting a card C along a transportation path 41 from an insertion opening 41 and an image sensor 44 to image the card on the transportation path 41. Guide walls 54 guide the card C into alignment with the transportation path 41. The transportation mechanism conveys the card C in a forward direction toward the image sensor 44 to a specified indexing position, and then in reverse toward the insertion opening 41a. The image sensor 44 images the card C as the card C is transported in reverse from the indexing position. The card C is then discharged from the card insertion opening 41a.

Abstract: A paper sensing apparatus of an office machine has a sensor actuator disposed to pivot with respect to a pivot center of a conveying roller by a printing paper when the printing paper is conveyed, and a sensing unit generating a paper sensing signal in accordance with a rotation of the sensor actuator. Accordingly, the paper sensing apparatus is capable of accurately sensing a leading end of the printing paper, and thus a top margin of the printing paper can be effectively controlled as the paper sensing apparatus is installed to be operated with respect to a rotation center of the conveying roller so that an error generated during sensing a paper top position due to a lengthened distance between the conveying roller and a transferring roller can be reduced.

Abstract: A skew-correcting media delivery system and method for driving media along a media path. A driver urges the media in a first direction and an opposite second direction along the media path. A substantially flat surface, which is aligned substantially perpendicular to the second direction, extends into the media path such that the trailing edge of the media operably engages the substantially flat surface when the media is urged in the second direction thereby aligning the media in the media path.

Abstract: A separator abuts on a leading edge of a recording paper to separate it from a periphery of a paper roll when the paper roll is rotated forward in a paper feeding direction. The separator is attached to a supporting arm, which is urged by a spring so as to move the separator in accordance with a change of a diameter of the paper roll. The separator is provided with a vibration detecting sensor. While the paper roll is rotated backward in a winding direction, the vibration detecting sensor outputs a signal to a controller. This signal has a level corresponding to a scale of vibration. The controller detects the leading edge from the signal level when a head portion of the separator has overleapt the leading edge of the recording paper.

Abstract: Before stopper members (25) of a skew correcting mechanism (10) are evacuated from a sheet conveyor path, sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) rotate a set angle in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction such that a sheet is separated from the stopper members (25). The sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) are arranged so that at least one of the rollers of each pair is independently pressed against the other with a force corresponding to the type of the sheet.

Abstract: A kiosk printer for unattended operation is equipped with a presenter to prevent a user from prematurely trying to remove a printed document. The presenter has motor driven feed rollers and a document sensor for determining when the printing document is in the presenter document path. The presenter has a home position adjacent to the printer document exit path. When printing starts, the document enters the presenter feed rollers and is sensed by a document sensor. A drive motor moves the presenter at the same rate as the printing document. When the presenter reaches a feed position it stops and the document sags and forms a document loop as printing continues. When printing stops, the presenter feed rollers feed the document from the kiosk to a user. When the printed document has exited the presenter, the presenter returns to the home position awaiting succeeding printed document.

Abstract: A second passage 20 is arranged on a side opposite to a discharge port 16 relative to a first passage 18. Additionally, an intercepting member 24 is provided which intercepts the communication between the first passage 18 and the insertion port 14 and allows the insertion port 64 to communicate only with the second passage 20, at a portion of the first passage 18 near the insertion port 14, whereby the intercepting member 24 intercepts the communication between the first passage and the insertion port 14 at a prescribed timing.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a transporting roller for transporting a recording sheet to a recording section of the apparatus; a pre-biasing roller disposed upstream of the transporting roller relative to the direction of transportation of the recording sheet and arranged to impart to the recording sheet such a tendency that both lateral end portions of the recording sheet are curled away from a recording head; and a platen having a guide surface for guiding and supporting the recording sheet. An aperture is formed in the platen so as to oppose the recording head and so as to extend in the width direction of the recording sheet. The aperture has a predetermined width and a sloping surface so as to extend downward in the direction of transportation of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A cam 37 is rotated in an arrow F direction. This causes sheet conveyance rollers 10a, 10b and guide elements 33, 34 to rotate on a lower conveyance shaft 27 and an upper conveyance shaft 30, respectively, so that they are separated from a drive roller 12. Thus, a spur plate 21 faces the upward stream end with respect to the recording sheet conveyance direction and opens in synchronism with the sheet conveyance rollers 10a and 10b, etc. Accordingly, it is possible to readily remove a recording sheet subjected to the jam.

Abstract: A postage meter machine has a digital printer device with a guide plate and a transport mechanism for print media controlled by a control unit that generates print control signals for a printhead in order to print the print medium surface with a corresponding print format while the print medium is being transported past the printhead. A print sensor is arranged in the guide plate before a recess for the printhead. A preparation sensor is arranged in the guide plate at a predetermined distance upstream, preceding the print sensor. The control unit includes a microprocessor to which an encoder for determining the belt travel path of the conveyor belt and the aforementioned sensors are connected. The microprocessor, together with a memory, forms a belt counter that is updated on the basis of the signals supplied by the encoder.

Abstract: A paper detection device for a printer, includes: a support member; a main lever pivotably mounted on the support member, wherein the main lever has a self-resetability to an upright position and is pivotable only in a sheet-feed-direction; an auxiliary lever pivotably mounted on the main lever, including a free end protruding into a sheet passage, wherein the auxiliary lever has a self-resetability and moves the main lever in the sheet-feed direction when the free end thereof is urged in the sheet-feed direction, but does not move the main lever in a reverse-sheet-feed direction when the free end of the auxiliary lever is urged in a reverse-sheet-feed direction.

Abstract: A method and a device for adjusting the printing position of a printer head. When a recordable medium having a greater thickness than that of a standard cut sheet of letter size paper is inserted in an electrophotographic apparatus, it is often necessary to increase the distance between the top recordable medium in the paper supply tray and the paper input port in the electrophotographic apparatus to allow a greater number of thick sheets of recordable medium to be loaded. One method of increasing the distance is to rotate a guide panel into a position that abuts the electrophotographic apparatus and increases the distance between the paper supply tray and the paper receiving port. Unfortunately, this causes the printer head to require adjustment, as the horizontal positioning of the printable medium fed into the printer has changed. This inventive method and device uses a sensor to determine when the guide panel has been rotated and automatically adjusts the printer head's position.

Abstract: A mail transport for a franking machine is disclosed in which mail is fed toward a printing head by input rollers, is fed past the printing head by an impression roller and is ejected from the franking machine by ejection rollers. Drive to the input rollers is controlled to initially feed the mail at a transit speed toward the print head, to feed the mail item at a printing speed, during a printing period, lower than the transit speed and initially in an ejection period after the printing period to feed the mail item at the transit speed. When the mail item is released from the input rollers, the ejection rollers are driven to feed the mail item at a higher speed than the transit speed.

Abstract: A graphics printer apparatus and method using sensors to detect the position of a work piece relative to a print head. A single drive motor driving the feed rollers and a print roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for controlling the operation of a mailing machine having a postage meter which includes a thermal printer which transfers wax ink from an ink ribbon to an envelope being fed through the mailing machine, in such a way that the printer cannot operate if the envelope is not is a proper position in the mailing machine to completely cover a feed roller which controls movement of the envelope and the ink ribbon.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the transportation speed of a sheet, such as a printed sheet or manuscript, includes a sheet transportation system and a speed controller. The transportation system includes a single drive motor and a plurality of rollers driven by the single motor and arranged in such a manner that a sheet to be transported is held by the rollers one after another. The speed controller includes a sensor for detecting the position of the sheet. The number of rollers which hold the sheet is determined. A speed controller provides the motor with a designated speed command calculated on the basis of the numbers of rollers, so that the actual sheet transportation speed is always constant regardless of the numbers of rollers which hold the sheet.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus comprising a first conveyance system (C1) for conveying a first printing medium (3), a second conveyance system (C2) for conveying a second printing medium (6), and a print head (1) for conducting printing on the first or second printing medium on a platen (2), a detector (13) detects presence or absence of the first printing medium on the first conveyance system (C1), and a platen drive controller (18) causes rotation of the platen during the printing or conveyance of the second printing medium if the first printing medium is found present in the first conveyance system (C1). The platen drive controller may conduct the control over the rotation also on the basis of the state of conveyance of the second printing medium in order to ensure rotation of the platen from time to time while avoiding excessive rotation to reduce noises and power consumption.

Abstract: A machine comprising, structure for printing an indicia, structure for feeding a sheet having a leading edge downstream in a path of travel to the printing structure, structure for controlling the sheet feeding and printing structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure for sensing the leading edge of a sheet in the path of travel, the sensing structure connected to the microprocessor and providing a signal thereto indicating that the leading edge has been sensed, the microprocessor programmed for commencing counting a predetermined time delay in response to the signal, the microprocessor programmed for causing the printing structure to commence printing the indicia on the sheet a selected marginal distance from the leading edge thereof corresponding to the predetermined time delay, the controlling structure including structure for manually selecting the marginal distance and thus the predetermined time delay from a plurality thereof, the control

Abstract: A printer capable of printing selectively on cut sheets and webs, wherein feed paths along which the cut sheets and webs are fed by respective feeding devices are selected depending upon the type of the recording medium. The sheet driving device may include a sheet inlet through which a cut sheet is manually inserted, an automatic sheet feeder for delivering cut sheets from a sheet stacker, and a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding the cut sheet which is manually inserted or the cut sheets which are successively delivered from the automatic sheet feeder. A power transmitting mechanism and a power shut-off mechanism are provided to transmit a drive force from a single drive source to the appropriate one or ones of the web feeding device, automatic sheet feeder and sheet feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A recording apparatus using a recording head driven in accordance with print information includes a feeder for feeding a recording material; a discriminator for discriminating presence or absence of next printing information before completion of discharging of a current printed recording material; and a controller for controlling the feeder to start feeding of the next recording material prior to completion of the discharging of the current recording material, when the discriminator discriminates the presence of the next printing information.

Abstract: In the determination of the length of a sheet that has been inserted in a printer, an optical sensor scans the length of the sheet as it is fed into the printer, and a counter is controlled to provide a count corresponding to the length of the sheet. When the sensor encounters a mark on the sheet, such as a line, it provides an output indicating that the sheet is not present. This erroneous output is corrected by moving the sensor laterally of the sheet to a position displaced from the mark to enable further sensing of the presence of the sheet in a region that does not include the mark.

Abstract: A printer uses a rotating platen to transport a sheet of receiver (print media) across a programmable print head. The receiver is held to the platen with a positive receiver-locking clamp at the beginning of a print cycle. The clamp is released prior to the completion of formation of an image on the receiver so that the receiver can be quickly removed from the platen. This reduces the print cycle time of the printer. The clamp is configured and operated such that the speed of the moving receiver is not changed when the clamp is released. The clamp configuration and operation thereof permit the printing of high-resolution images without any discernible image distortions being caused by the release of the clamp during image formation.

Abstract: The platen (11) is mounted between two side plates (9-10) of equipment which is hinged to two risers (5-6) to rotate about an axis .gamma. running parallel to the axis of the platen. The platen is provided with a freewheel mechanism including an inner ring (28) which is connected to the platen and an outer ring (29) which is provided with a peg (31) engaged in a slot (8) in a fixed member (7). The slot is situated on the opposite side of the platen axis .DELTA. relative to the axis of rotation .gamma. and in substantially the same plane. Detector means (36-37) for detecting the presence of a document in an insertion channel (17) cause the platen to rotate in the direction in which the freewheel mechanism drives the outer ring, thereby pressing the peg against the slot and rocking the equipment about the axis .gamma. thus allowing a document to pass between the print head and the platen until it meets an abutment (14) which is moved into place by the rocking action.

Abstract: A document activated imprinter apparatus for imprinting characters from a credit card comprising a housing with entrance and exit slots, imprinting means, a carrier member with a flat upwardly facing surface, receiving and positioning means, guiding and reciprocating means and forward drive means.

Abstract: A passbook printer uses a conveyor belt (16) to urge a passbook (86) towards a raised barrier (40) for the passbook (86) to strike the barrier (40) and then have one edge thereof aligned with the barrier (40) by sliding engagement with the conveyor belt (16). After alignment, the barrier (40) is lowered and the passbook (86) is advanced beneath a printhead and sensor assembly (38) which senses the orientation of the passbook (86) and prints thereon in a correct and upright manner regardless of the orientation of the passbook (86).

Abstract: An impact printer having a roll platen on which a continuous paper is set and fed by the rotation of the roll platen rotated by a first motor, and a cut sheet is fed on the continuous paper by a feeding mechanism which includes feed rollers rotated by a second motor. When information is printed on the cut sheet, a controller drives a second motor and a first motor so as to feed the cut sheet and the continuous paper in the same direction. Since the continuous paper is fed synchronously when feeding the cut sheet during printing on the cut sheet, print elements impact on different positions of the continuous paper and the roll platen. Accordingly, impact traces on specific areas of the continuous forms and wearing of specific areas of the platen are prevented.

Abstract: A print head (15) on a carriage (16) slides on a carriage guide bar (17) in front of a platen bar (18). A receipt slip (25) is fed from a roll (26) over part of the width of the platen bar (18) to a knife (40) for cutting off individual receipts. A daybook slip (45) is fed from a roll (46) over the bar (18) to a take-up roll (50). Other documents may be fed in for printing either downwardly between upper guides (37 and 38) or upwardly between lower guides (35 and 55). In either event the inserted document is engaged by a drive roller (60) and pressure roller (70) to be positioned at a predetermined height, under control of photodetectors (80 and 81). The pressure roller (70) is mounted between levers and can move away from the drive roller (60) to accommodate the thickness of the inserted document. The levers also support the carriage guide (17), whereby the head (15) is positioned a constant distance from the surface on which printing is effected.

Abstract: The printer is provided for alternative use with long webs or individual, precut forms; it includes two friction roll drives adjacent to the print head and platen, and a sprocket drive upstream, being permanently engaged with a perforated web. The drives operate in synchronism but do not participate in all operations. Printing on the web is carried out after advancing the web by one form length and retracting it during stop and go printing. Switches control access to a bypass, the insert for a single form, and a receiver tray, into which any printed form drops.

Abstract: A shared document feed station includes a common drive mechanism for normally advancing a receipt tape through a receipt tape zone and for selective operation to advance an alternative document through an alternative document zone. Document detectors sense the presence of a document in the alternative document zone and function to inhibit the drive mechanism from advancing the receipt tape while enabling the advance of the alternative document.

Abstract: Disclosed is a means for feeding unit documents, such as sheets, envelopes, pages, cards, and the like to an apparatus for processing. Means is provided for feeding the documents to and removing them from the operating apparatus at a relatively high rate of speed. During the time that an individual document is being operated upon it is conveyed by means associated with the operating apparatus. Examples of such operations would be printing addresses on an envelope, embossing credit cards, encoding magnetic tapes, and the like. Upon conclusion of the operation, the documents are removed quickly so that a second document may be supplied to the operating apparatus expeditiously.