Abstract: A desktop card print having an improved automatic card feed hopper that employs a card picking mechanism that includes an automatic gate mechanism in combination with a card edge assist picker while providing a card exception slot for manual feeding of a card, a removable ribbon cassette that employs a magnetic encoder mechanism for tracking the motion of a ribbon mounted on the ribbon cassette, a scanning station that is configured and arranged to capture an image of one or more surfaces of the card as it passes the scanner, and a power take-off (PTO) gear adjacent the rear end of the printer for use in driving an additional processing mechanism to be mounted at the rear of the printer.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.

Abstract: A sheet cassette (1) according to the present invention has a double structure portion (10) including an upper plate (11) and a lower plate (12). The lower plate (12) has a first guide groove (13) elongated widthwise of a sheet to be contained in the cassette and having a plurality of inch-based size engagement recesses (17) and a plurality of centimeter-based size engagement recesses arranged longitudinally thereof. The upper plate (11) is movable along the lower plate (12) widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette. The inch-based size engagement recesses (17) are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a first position, and the centimeter-based size engagement recesses are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a second position. The sheet cassette (1) further has a width limiting plate slidable widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette according to the width of the sheet.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.

Abstract: An original document tray for a scanning and printing apparatus includes original document guides for guiding an original document in the original document tray into a scanning unit by determining or regulating a widthwise position of the original document, and manual-feed sheet guides provided with the original document tray for guiding a manual-feed sheet to be supplied to a printing unit by determining a widthwise position of the manual-feed sheet. The manual-feed sheet guides can be adjusted manually in the widthwise direction. The original document guides are disposed on an original document supporting surface of the original document tray on which the original document is placed, and the manual-feed sheet guides are disposed on a side opposite the original document supporting surface. The original document guides can also be moved manually in the widthwise direction and move in conjunction with the manual-feed sheet guides.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for flattening a substrate against a surface of a platform is provided. The method comprising positioning guides within a platform so that opposite edges of a substrate placed on the platform do not come in contact with at least one print head in close proximity over the substrate.

Abstract: A loader (1) for a printer for printing flat articles (2), this loader (1) which delimits a storage magazine (9) for the articles in the stacked condition being provided internally with a pivoting member (4) arranged to hold the articles (2) in bearing contact with a drive element (5) for discharging the articles (2) to be printed through an opening (7) provided in a wall of the magazine (1). This loader (1) is characterized in that the pivoting member (4) is provided with a counterweight (6) to form an assembly exerting a substantially constant bearing force on the article or articles (2) to be printed, this forced being self-positioning in the course of emptying the loader by moving along one of the articles to be printed in a direction generally opposite to the direction of expulsion of the articles from the loader.

Abstract: A printer (10) is modified to effectively remove the center tension rollers (154', 254', or 354') so as to avoid adversely impinging on edible paper (14) along the paper path (32) of the printer (10). A tray (282) may provide a wall (290) to define an offset from an outboard edge (232) of the paper path (32) so as to align a substrate (18) supporting the edible paper (14) with a paper-free margin (22) under an outboard tension roller (154, 254, 354) rather than the edible paper (14). A portion (O) of an outboard roller (354) may be thickened to elevate an inwardly portion (I) thereof off from adversely impinging on edible paper (14) passing thereunder.

Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus including a print station, a transport mechanism for positioning a record medium at the print station, an arcuately-shaped platen, a line of printing elements and a thermally responsive ribbon. Relative movement between the platen and the printing elements is effected from a pivot point. Printing in a variety of styles of fonts like E13B is possible on documents like checks or deposit slips, for example. Special spring and wire members facilitate the separation of the ribbon from the document after printing.

Abstract: A workpiece such as a paper or a card is held in proper position in a typewriter having a paper scale for typing to the bottom of the workpiece without side slippage by the inventive workpiece holders. Each of the pair of holders mounts fixably, detachably, and slidably flush with the outer surface of the paper scale and has an inner member positioned when mounted such as to be parallel to the outer surface of the paper scale and at a suitable distance out and on each side of the workpiece for free movement of the workpiece between the member and the outer surface of the paper scale.

Abstract: Demountable, replaceable, printer ribbon cartridge transport apparatus comprising an elongated, flat, rigid, support member provided with oppositely disposed parallel recessed areas co-extensive with the longer dimension thereof and having means intermediate the ends for adjusting the length of the member and thereafter retaining the adjusted length. An endless inked ribbon is disposed within the recessed areas with each opposite end of the ribbon looped around the end of the support member and back upon itself so as to be moveable lengthwise in opposite directions along the long dimension of the support member. Demountable end caps are secured to each opposite end of the support member to protect the ribbon as it reverses direction about the end of the support and to enable the support member to be cammed into and out of engagement with ribbon drive means.