Abstract: A sheet discharge mechanism is provided which is capable of preventing improper sheet transfer. The sheet discharge mechanism includes discharge rollers for moving a recording paper sheet, and an electric discharge brush adjacent to the discharge roller. The electric discharge brush includes a plurality of filaments for removing electrostatic charge generated at the discharge rollers. The filaments of the brush also prevent the recording paper sheet from being moved in unintended directions.

Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a magnetic reading and writing station that has a read/write head for recording information on, or reproducing information from, a magnetic stripe carried on the ticket. The ticket is driven past the read/write head by a drive mechanism that contacts the ticket at a substantial distance from the read/write head so that the magnetic stripe is free to flex independently of the portion of the ticket that is in contact with the drive mechanism. More satisfactory contact between the read/write head and the magnetic stripe is thereby achieved.The ticket printer also has a second reading/writing station in series with the first station along a ticket feed path, so that errors in reading or writing by the first station may be detected and/or corrected at the second station.A ticket feed path is constructed using feed modules that are mounted on pins extending from a vertical mounting plate.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method of use therefore are disclosed. The printing apparatus is usable as a replacement printer for replacing an existing printer apparatus without having to change printer drivers or make custom firmware changes in computers on a computer network. The inventive printer apparatus includes a map of source number assignments in the memory of the replacement printer apparatus for the replaced existing printer apparatus and for the replacement printer apparatus. The printing apparatus has a plurality of paper sources with each paper source being assigned a particular pre-assigned assignment code. The print request codes associated with the existing network printer being replaced must be determined. The print request codes are representative of a particular type of paper source. A map of print request codes which are sent by computers on the network for driving the existing printer are compared with the pre-assigned source number assignment of the replacement printer.

Abstract: A laser printer having two sheet feed trays mounted in the top of its case, enabling two different sizes of sheet to be loaded in the printer or increasing the sheet capacity of the printing device by providing the same type of sheet in both trays. The first tray nearest to the back end of the printer extends only a short distance over the end of the printer case so that the printer occupies little space, and the overall height of the case need not be increased. The second tray can be removed to reveal a sheet conveying path from the first tray, facilitating the removal of jammed sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, or a printer incorporating the sheet feeder, has separation pads for separating a sheet to be fed by sheet feed rollers from the next sheet and a roller spring which produce urging force smaller than that produced by a spring of the separation pad. Idle rollers are brought into contact with the separation pads by means of the roller spring, thereby preventing the lowering of the next sheet. A sheet reset lever is pivoted so as to return the next sheet to a hopper. As a result, the sheet sheets stacked on the hopper in an inclined state is fed one by one through use of a separation pad method without increasing force for driving rollers and a back tension.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided with a paper supply stacker on which sheets are stacked and held, a recording head for effecting recording on the sheets fed out from the paper supply stacker, a flat support device for supporting the sheets during the recording by the recording head, and a discharged paper stacker onto which the sheets recorded by the recording head are discharged.

Abstract: A liquid ink printing machine, for forming an image on a recording medium moving along a path, including an arrangement for reducing media feedhead loads on media being fed in the printing machine. This is accomplished by using the printing machine's printhead carriage to contact a lever which will lower a paper tray holding the media once media being fed has reached an advance nip past the feedhead, thus reducing drag on the media being fed.

Abstract: Compact printer with quick-loading cassette and method therefor. The invention includes a printer enclosure and a cassette insertable into the enclosure. The cassette includes a dye ribbon supply reel having a dye donor ribbon wound thereabout and a rotatable dye ribbon take-up reel engaging an end portion of the donor ribbon for taking-up the donor ribbon. A curved receiver supply tray is disposed in the cassette for supplying receiver sheets to the printhead which is disposed in the enclosure. The curved receiver supply tray occupies less space, depending on the radius of curvature, than the elongate rectangularly-shaped receiver supply trays of the prior art. Over time, a stack of the receiver sheets residing in the supply tray obtains a curved contour because the stack of receiver sheets conforms to the curved shape of the receiver supply tray.

Abstract: A thermal printer (10) with a thermal head (16) for image-wise heating a heat-sensitive sheet according to an elongate printing zone, which comprises sheet feeding means having a sheet advancing mode for feeding a sheet with its leading end through the gap between the print drum (15) and the thermal head (16) of this printer beyond the position it should take at the start of printing, and a sheet-returning mode in which the sheet can move backwardly, and a stop (44, 52) against which the backwardly moving sheet abuts with its trailing edge for its longitudinal alignment, thereby to obtain with its leading end the correct printing start position in the gap.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an ink-jet printer that uses a solenoid driven cam to move the paper tray away from the pickup roller when a sheet of paper is loaded into the printer from the automatic feed roller. This causes the paper transport velocity to be steadier and improves the quality of printing.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet support, on which sheets of paper can be stacked with their front ends aligned on the bottom surface of the support. The feeder also includes two feed rollers for feeding one by one the sheets stacked on the support. An inclined surface extends downstream in the feeding direction from the front end of the bottom surface of the support, and inclines downstream with respect to the bottom surface. The rollers are positioned out of symmetry with respect to the width of the bottom surface. A side end portion of the inclined surface which is far from the rollers is less resistant to sheets of paper than the portions of this surface which face the rollers. Even a wide sheet can be fed without inclining with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: A printing medium winding apparatus includes a drum on a periphery of which a leading-end holding device and a trailing-end engaging groove are provided. The holding device and engaging groove hold and engage with a leading end and trailing end of a printing paper sheet, respectively, when the paper sheet is fed to the drum. The apparatus further includes a paper sheet lifting device which presses the sheet on the periphery of the drum to keep the sheet in close contact with the periphery, and lifts a part of the sheet from the periphery to be curved and projected radially outwardly until the trailing end of the sheet reaches the engaging groove so that the trailing end can be inserted into the engaging groove.

Abstract: The invention accomplishes print medium feed functions, at least in part, by making use of pre-existing printer apparatus that is used to accomplish other functions of the printer. For example, the invention can enable the use of a single print drive mechanism to accommodate multiple print medium feed paths within a printer and, in particular, feed paths in which print media are fed into the print drive mechanism in different (e.g., opposite) directions. Additionally, the invention can enable a rotatable media guide that can be positioned in one position to guide a sheet of a print medium during a print operation and in another position to release the sheet of the print medium after the printing operation, to be positioned in still another position to facilitate guiding a sheet of a print medium into a print drive mechanism after the sheet has traversed a gap in the feed path.

Abstract: A combination printer and scanner comprises a frame and a plurality of rollers mounted in the frame that define a single paper path through the frame. The combination printer and scanner further comprises an automatic sheet feeder and an automatic document feeder mounted to the frame for selectively providing clean paper print sheets and documents having text and/or graphics to be scanned, respectively, to the single paper path. A scanner station is mounted in the frame for scanning documents conveyed through the single paper path. A printer station is mounted in the frame for printing text and/or graphics on print sheets conveyed through the single paper path. A pen door is hingedly connected to the frame for opening and closing a region along the single paper path to allow access to the scanner station to permit the cleaning of a scanner window thereof.

Abstract: A method of compensating for a paper feed error through automatically reperforming operations to pick up printing paper when the paper feed error occurs includes the steps of: (a) driving a pickup roller, picking up printing paper stacked in a paper cassette, and then, feeding the picked up printing paper to an image forming unit; (b) after picking up the printing paper in step (a), checking to determine whether or not the printing paper has been fed to the image forming unit; and, (c) when it has been determined in step (b) that the printing paper has not been fed and a paper feed error has been generated, again driving the pickup roller, so as to attempt to pick up the printing paper stacked in the paper cassette again.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent a sheet of continuous-form paper from slackening when it is fed back in a printer capable of feeding both sheets of continuous-form paper and cut-form paper.

Abstract: A paper feed device for a recording apparatus includes means for containing a plurality of sheets therein, supply means for feeding the sheets from the containing means, conveyor means for feeding the sheets fed by the supply means in the paper feeding direction and in the opposite direction so as to pass through a recording station, a reversible motor for commonly driving the supply means and the conveyor means, means for driving the conveyor means in the paper feeding direction by forward rotation of the motor, driving the conveyor means in the opposite direction by reverse rotation of the motor and driving the supply means, and means for selectively inhibiting the operation of the supply means during the reverse rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A combination printer and scanner comprises a frame, rollers mounted in the frame for defining a single paper path therethrough, an automatic sheet feeder mounted to the frame for selectively providing to the single paper path clean paper print sheets, and an automatic document feeder mounted to the frame for selectively providing to the single paper path documents having text and/or graphics printed thereon to be scanned. The combination printer and scanner further comprises a scanner station mounted in the frame for scanning documents conveyed through the single paper path and a printer station mounted in the frame for printing text and/or graphics on print sheets conveyed through the single paper path. A document feeder cartridge is normally positioned adjacent a scanner window of the scanner station to partially define a segment of the single paper path adjacent the scanner station.

Abstract: A printing assembly (10) having a printer (30) and a single sheet transport mechanism (22) for automatically transporting discrete sheets seriatim from within a tray held in a tray receptacle (32) to the printer and a discrete sheet load enhancement apparatus with a holder (24) of an auxiliary supply of printable stock (18), a removable open tray (20) with a feed opening (40) accessible for receipt of discrete sheets (14) of printable stock fed within the feed opening while releasably mounted within the tray receptacle and a continuous discrete sheet feeder and producer (16) for automatically feeding the sheets (14) seriatim from the separate supply of printable stock (18) through the feed opening (40) into the removable open tray (20).

Abstract: A process motor (82) provides bidirectional motive force to a printer (50) drive train (80) that selectively engages with multiple self-homing printing functions. A print head (52) is tiltable to a maintenance position and a transfer roller (64) is loadable against a transfer drum (54) by respective missing tooth gear (96, 160) latching mechanisms. A print media pick roller (122) and transfer drum maintaining devices (70, 72) are actuated by spring-wrap clutches (114, 236) that are protected from reverse rotation by a one-way clutch (106). Print media transport rollers (140, 142) are selectively engaged with the one-way clutch by an electro-mechanical clutch (128). A picked and transported print medium (56) receives an ink image from the transfer drum and is stripped therefrom by stripper fingers (66) and directed into media exit rollers (212, 220) for delivery to a media output tray (68).

Abstract: A single sheet printer (21) is adapted to receive continuous carrier forms for printing by a burster module (16) for separating continuous printable stock (24) into separate bursted sheets which are fed to the printer transport mechanism (12) in lieu of the single sheet storage module (24).

Abstract: A display unit is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to a main body of an electronic apparatus. An inlet for manually inserting a sheet is provided in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the display unit, and a sheet feeding device capable of continuously feeding sheets is provided so as to be detachable with respect to the inlet. It is thereby possible to supply a sheet from the front side of the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: A printer allowing attachment and detachment of an external device for improving a paper feed system. The printer allows either an automatic sheet feeder for successively feeding a plurality of cut sheets of paper or a tractor device for feeding a continuous sheet of paper as the external device to be selectively mounted, and the printer itself includes a permanent tractor, in which the permanent tractor and the external device can be driven by a common driving source. More specifically, the printer includes a printing mechanism, a paper feed path communicating with the printing mechanism, a driving source for the paper feed system, and an output gear connected to an output shaft of the driving source. The permanent tractor is located so as to communicate with the paper feed path, and includes an input gear connected to the output shaft of the driving source.

Abstract: A statement printer of an automated teller machine includes a top plate (16) pivotally mounted on a pair of spaced side walls (12). The top plate supports a ribbon cartridge (18) thereon. The cartridge includes a pair of downward extending projections (38) which are accepted in a longitudinally extending recess (24) in the top plate. Notches (40) and the longitudinally extending projections engage a leaf spring (28) to position the cartridge thereon. The top plate further includes a pair of finger projections (30) having slots (34) for accepting wing projections (36) that extend from the sides of the cartridge. The guided relationship between the downward extending projections and wing projections on the cartridge and the longitudinal recess and the slots on the top plate enable the cartridge to be guided into position on and off the top plate which facilitates changing the cartridge in the confined space inside an automated teller machine.

Abstract: A printer and a print start method for a printer allows printing to be started at a desired position reliably even if the sheet to be printed upon is shorter than a standard length. The print start method includes determining the relative size of the sheet to be printed upon and then starting a print operation on a sheet by a print head after a sheet feed roller has released the sheet to be printed upon if the sheet being printed upon has a relatively long or standard length, and starting a print operation on a sheet by a print head before the sheet feed roller has released the sheet to be printed upon if the sheet being printed upon has a relatively short length.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a sheet supply device which supplies a sheet, a guide member which guides the sheet delivered by the sheet supplying device, a hold down member which presses the sheet against the guide member, a release device which releases the pressure of the hold down member, and a control device which controls the sheet supply device in connection with pressure releasing operation of the release device.

Abstract: A print media alignment apparatus is disclosed. An embodiment includes a first member configured to apply a varying force to at least one print media sheet of a print media stack. This force varies from a minimum below a first print media stack height to a maximum at a second print media stack height. The alignment apparatus also includes a second member configured to apply a constant force to the print media stack irrespective of the stack height. Another embodiment includes a print media width adjuster configured to be moveable adjacent a print media stack having at least one sheet of print media, the print media stack defining a plane. The alignment apparatus also includes a wall on the width adjuster. The wall includes a wall first print media contact surface configured to slope at an angle with respect to the plane. The alignment apparatus further includes a member attached to the width adjuster, the member including a member print media contact surface configured to be perpendicular to the plane.

Abstract: A multiple-function printing device provides for picking pages from a stack of sheets in an input feeder for roller-driven movement along a first path through a printing station to an output, and for picking pages from a stack of documents in an input feeder for roller-driven movement along a second path through a scanning station to an output, with at least a portion of the first and second paths being commonly shared, with a document deflector which, in a document scanning mode of operation, is pivoted into a lowered position generally parallel to a print station platen to constrain the top and bottom of curled documents exiting from the scan station so as to prevent an incipient paper jam. The deflector is actuated by a drive mechanism including a ball link and cranks connected to a common motor in a service station for capping and wiping print cartridges in the printing station.

Abstract: A pressure roller drive assembly for a document printer having a pressure roller carried by a pressure roller axle for advancing and retracting a document along a paper path, with the pressure roller pivoting in a first direction towards a side wall to prevent skew or misalignment during advancement of the document and the pressure roller pivoting in a second, opposite direction towards a side wall to prevent skew or misalignment during retraction of the document is disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet; an auxiliary roller for feeding a sheet supported on the sheet supporting device; a separating device, having a separation roller and a friction separation device, for feeding one-by-one the sheet; a feeder for feeding the sheet separated by the separating means; auxiliary roller moving device for moving the auxiliary roller between an operative position where the auxiliary roller is in contact with the sheet and an inoperative position where it is away therefrom; a separation roller moving device for moving the separation roller between an operative position where the separation roller is in contact with the friction separating device and an inoperative position where the separation roller is away therefrom; wherein the auxiliary roller moving device and the separation roller moving device move the auxiliary roller and the separation roller from their operative positions to inoperative positions after the feeder s

Abstract: A metering roller and feed guide are included in a desktop printer between a first roller and a print zone. During first side printing, a media sheet is fed along the first roller and directed by an upper feed guide over the refeed guide to a second roller. The metering roller feeds the media sheet through the print zone. As the trailing edge approaches a metering pinch line, the metering roller stops. After a drying time, the second roller reverses direction moving the media sheet back toward the refeed guide. The refeed guide blocks the original path and directs the media sheet toward a repick guide and the first roller. The media sheet is fed onto the first roller for second side printing. In one embodiment the media sheet is wrapped around the first roller and unwrapped into the input tray during the refeed process to accommodate long media sheets.

Abstract: A hard copy apparatus with a print media telescoping tray system is disclosed. The telescoping tray system consists of an output tray, a paper tray, and an output tray position detector. The trays are constrained to translate in one line of motion, a substantially planar path into and out of the front of the apparatus, by nesting the paper tray within the output tray and guiding the trays along the line of motion. The trays telescope in a relatively small vertical opening below the paper feed drive mechanism of the apparatus. The telescoping tray system enables two modes of printing operation by providing a paper output path when in the output tray closed mode and by providing a full tray where printed sheets can be stacked during a multi-sheet or batch print job in an output tray open mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet supplying apparatus for selecting and supplying a sheet from a plurality of sheet supply portions. Each of the sheet supply portion comprises a sheet supporting means for supporting the sheets, a rotatable sheet supply means for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means, a drive source for driving the rotatable sheet supply means, a drive transmitting means for transmitting or not transmitting a driving force of the drive source to the rotatable sheet supply means, and a control means for controlling the transmission and non-transmission of the drive transmitting means.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus includes a sheet supply roller provided at its periphery with a cylindrical portion for supplying a sheet and a cut-out portion having a radial distance smaller than a radius of the cylindrical portion, a friction separator moving toward and away from the sheet supply roller to separate sheets one by one when it is contacted by the cylindrical portion of the sheet supply roller, and a biasing mechanism for biasing the friction separator toward the sheet supply roller. In addition, a rotation controller stops the sheet supply roller so that the cut-out portion is opposed to the friction separator when the feeding of the sheet effected by the sheet supply roller is finished, and a guide is arranged for pinching the sheet, which is fed out by a force smaller than a pinching force for pinching the sheet between the cylindrical portion and the friction separator, between the friction separator and the guide when the sheet supply roller is stopped by the rotation controller.

Abstract: A multiple-function printing device provides for picking pages from a stack of sheets in a sheet feeder for roller-driven movement along a first path through a printing station to an output stacker, and for picking pages from a stack of documents in a document feeder for roller-driven movement along a second path through a scanning station to the output stacker, with at least a portion of the first and second paths being commonly shared, the scanning station being underneath the commonly shared path, and with common mechanisms including a first pick and second pick for picking from the document and sheet pages, providing roller-driven movement through the processing stations. A media chassis is provided, including an integral platen, with integral spaced side walls which rotatively mount each of picks on and between at least one of the side walls. A prescan drive roller, a fixed deflector and a gear train are attached to a side wall of the chassis, the latter for driving the respective picks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet supporting means for supporting a sheet, a rotatable sheet supply means for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means and a skew-feed correction means for correcting a skew-feed of the sheet by rotating the sheet in a plane including a surface of the sheet while the sheet is being fed by the rotatable sheet supply means.

Abstract: A paper tray assembly for a computer controlled printer has an angled paper discharge wall and a paper stack skewer which automatically urges the leading edges of each sheet of paper in the stack against the slanted wall as the paper tray is inserted into a tray receiving slot in the printer. The reason for doing this automatic skewing is to prevent paper misfeeds. Optionally, paper length and paper width adjusting slides are used with the automatic paper stack skewer being pivotally affixed to a length adjustment slide, if used. The skewer is operated by interengaging cams and followers which are actuated as the paper tray is inserted into or removed from a tray receiving slot in the printer.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a hopper dimensioned to retain a plurality of sheets thereon and a sheet feed roller for feeding an uppermost sheet out of the plurality of sheets maintained on the hopper. Further, a separation pawl is located at a corner portion of the plurality of sheets held on the hopper for separating an uppermost sheet from a next sheet if the sheets to be printed upon are relatively thin. A wall surface is located downstream in a sheet feed direction with respect to the plurality of sheets maintained on the hopper is also provided for separating an uppermost sheet from a next sheet if the sheets to be printed upon are relatively thick. A selecting mechanism for selecting either a separating operation utilizing the separation pawl or a separating operation utilizing the wall surfaces also provided on the printer.

Abstract: A printing method of playing out piled sheets of paper one by one, feeding the played-out sheet of paper to the position of a platen, and printing the sheet of paper, the printing method includes the steps of: (a) feeding the sheet of paper played out from the piled position thereof at a first speed until the sheet of paper approaches a platen which is stopping; (b) feeding the sheet of paper at a second speed lower than the first speed until a required short time passes from a time when the sheet of paper is engaged with the stopping platen, for performing a sheet flexing and a sheet skew removing; and (c) driving the platen at the second speed to feed the sheet of paper to a printing position. And the printing apparatus performs the printing method.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus comprises sheet supporting means for supporting a sheet, rotary supply means for feeding out the sheet, rotary convey means for conveying the sheet by a predetermined amount and then for effecting the registration of the sheet by a reverse rotation, drive means for driving the rotary convey means in a normal direction and a reverse direction, a switching output gear connected to the drive means so that a driving force from the drive means is transmitted to the switching output gear, and switching means for engaging the switching output gear with an input gear connected to the rotary supply means to transmit a rotational driving force of the rotary convey means to the rotary supply means, and for disengaging the switching output gear from the input gear.

Abstract: Formed on a base frame of a printer is a guide surface which forms one surface of a portion of a paper passage. A pair of rollers of a transferring device are supported proximate one end. A cover frame and a carriage unit are each formed with a guide member, and an urging device, for example, a movable guide lever, and a roller are supported thereby. By mounting the carriage unit and the cover frame onto the base frame from above there is formed a portion of the paper passage, that is a passage for the feed of the paper, in a space where the guide members are spacedly opposed to the guide surface. At the same time, the movable guide lever and the roller are urged against a roller of the transferring device. After assembly, a paper storage tray of an automatic paper feeder is inserted into the printer in a position behind the paper passage.

Abstract: A multiple-function printing device provides for picking pages from a stack of sheets in an input feeder for roller-driven movement along a first path through a printing station to an output, and for picking pages from a stack of documents in an input feeder for roller-driven movement along a second path through a scanning station to an output, with at least a portion of the first and second paths being commonly shared, and with common mechanisms being used for various steps such as for picking, providing roller-driven movement through the processing stations, and for actuating a pressure plate in the input feeders. A document guide in a document scanning mode of operation is pivoted into a lowered position generally parallel to the print station platen to constrain and contain the top and bottom of any curled document exiting from the scan station into an output roller nip so as to prevent an incipient paper jam. Prior to a printing mode of operation on a paper sheet, the document guide is pivoted about 100.

Abstract: A sheet-supply unit including a drive source for supplying rotational drive power; a supply roller supplying one sheet at a time to a sheet transport pathway when rotated; a partial gear provided so as to rotate integrally with the supply roller and be capable of receiving transmission of rotational drive power from the drive source; a lever pivotable between a transmission mode wherein rotational drive power from the drive source is transmitted to the partial gear and a non-transmission mode wherein rotational drive power from the drive source is prevented from being transmitted to the partial gear; a pair of resist rollers disposed in the sheet transport pathway for stopping and aligning a sheet supplied by the supply roller and for transporting the aligned sheet, and capable of receiving rotation drive power from the drive source; an actuator capable of switching between a first mode and a second mode; and a switching mechanism for, based on the mode of the actuator, pivoting the lever into the transmissio

Abstract: The invention relates to a high capacity paper tray cabinet and transport apparatus for transporting sheets of paper or other print media from the high volume tray to a printer which sits on top of the cabinet. A pivotally mounted convex paper guide and a pivotally mounted concave paper guide housing at the rear of the cabinet define a paper path therebetween which extends generally vertically and then curves to a generally horizontal direction for feeding paper to the single sheet paper path in the printer through an access aperture in the rear wall of the printer. Paper drive rollers and an electrical resistance paper pre-heater are mounted in the apparatus proximate the discharge end of the paper path such that pre-heated paper can be immediately fed at the appropriate location of the paper path in the printer, preferably an inkjet printer.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer that prints onto thermal adhesive binding tape includes a tape feeding adapter that enables the feeding of tape into and out of the printer. The adapter includes a base support member for supporting a plurality of tapes in a substantially horizontal position for feeding into the printer and two tape guide members positioned orthogonally and centrally of the base support member for guiding the tapes into and out of the printer. Two support and guide members are connected to and extends orthogonally with respect to the two tape guides members for receiving and supporting the tapes between the two tape guides members and above the base support member after the tapes have exited the printer.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeder of a document input device includes a pick roller 20, separator pads 68 that come into contact with the pick roller 20, a first pair of pick springs 58, and a second pick spring 60. The first pick springs 58 are disposed on the upstream side of the second pick spring 60 in the direction of conveying the paper. The first pick springs 58 are disposed on the regions on both outer sides of the width of the separator pads 68 in the axial direction of the roller, and the second pick spring 60 is disposed at a central position in the width of the separator pad 68. The first and second pick springs 58 and 60 are integrally formed as a spring unit using a single metal plate, and a force of contact of the first pick springs 58 upon the pick roller 20 on the upstream side is smaller than a force of contact of the second pick spring 60 upon the pick roller 20 on the downstream side. The separator pad 68 is formed by branching a web 70 of a rubber sheet into fork-like pad units.

Abstract: A printer for printing characters and images on recording paper comprising: a paper cassette for storing the recording paper; a platen roller around which the recording paper is wound at the time of the transfer of images for printing; a clamping mechanism for clamping the recording paper between the clamping mechanism and the platen roller; a motor for driving the platen roller through a gear unit; a thermal printing head for transferring images onto the recording paper; a paper feeding rollers for feeding the recording paper from the paper cassette to the clamper; a paper discharging rollers for discharging the recording paper upon the completion of the transfer of images thereto; and an ink cassette storing an ink sheet inside thereof; in which the clamping mechanism comprises a clamper which is mounted on the platen roller in such a manner as to permit the free movement of the clamper, holds the recording paper by pushing the recording paper onto the platen roller in a first position and also releases the

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording device for recording an image on a recording medium, a transport device for transporting the recording medium past an area at which the recording device is provided, a platen provided in the area for supporting the recording medium, and a bearing provided in the platen for fitting therein a shaft of a transport roller of the transport device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms desired images continuously onto print sheets. The apparatus includes a printing part, a primary sheet feed mechanism for extracting one by one the print sheets stacked on a sheet feed table, and a secondary sheet feed mechanism for taking each print sheet extracted by the primary sheet feed mechanism and for feeding the print sheet toward the printing part at a rate corresponding to the printing speed of the printing part. The secondary sheet feed mechanism further comprises a timing roller and a guide roller in contact with the print sheet for feeding thereof, an electromagnetic clutch for intermittently activating one of the timing roller and the guide roller, and a controller for receiving a detection signal showing a rotating status of the printing part and for supplying the electromagnetic clutch accordingly with an output signal in synchronism with the rotating status.

Abstract: A remote-driven encoder which includes a feed tray assembly (12) and an autofeed roller assembly (14) which moves checks one at a time into a check guide path. A deskewing roller (46) moves the checks from the tray assembly (12) to the autofeed roller assembly (14). The check is moved along the check guide path by first and second drive assemblies (16, 20). Intermediate of the two drive assemblies (16, 20) is an encoder assembly (18) and a ribbon cartridge (22). The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors which provide information for control of the movement of the check, including a preload sensor (70), a detect sensor (88), and a leading edge sensor (90), among others. The check moves through a substantial angle from the feed tray past the encoder assembly. The encoded check is moved around an eject roller and then into a catch tray at the rear of the apparatus.