Abstract: An ink jet card printer includes a card transport and a print unit. The card transport includes a first belt, a first motor configured to drive the first belt to feed a card along a processing axis, a second belt, and a second motor configured to drive the second belt to feed a card along the processing axis. The print unit includes an ink jet print head and a gantry. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation simultaneously on a card supported in a print position on the first belt and on a card supported in a print position on the second belt. The gantry is configured to move the ink jet print head along a fast scan axis that is parallel to the processing axis and a slow scan axis that is perpendicular to the processing axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure reduces the manufacturing costs of a support member with a portion made from resin that supports a conductive member. The support member is equipped with: a resin main body portion that has a support surface for supporting a conductive member such as an electric wire; and a metal plate that has a through-hole for a bolt and is for attachment to a device. The main body portion has a receptacle portion into which the plate is press-fitted and fixed.

Abstract: A conveyor device includes a conveyor belt and a suction section. The conveyor belt conveys a recording medium. The suction section sucks on the recording medium via the conveyor belt. The suction section includes a guide member that supports the recording medium via the conveyor belt. The guide member has a plurality of grooves including at least one pair of grooves that are adjacent in a conveyance direction of the recording medium. Each of the grooves in the pair has an end adjacent to an end of the other groove in the pair. The adjacent ends of the respective grooves in the pair each have a portion overlapping with a portion of the adjacent end of the other groove in the pair (groove overlapping region) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A transportation device includes a transportation unit that transports continuous paper, and an image capturing unit that has a light irradiator capable of irradiating the continuous paper which is transported by the transportation unit with light and detects a transportation amount of the continuous paper based on reflected light of the light irradiated onto the continuous paper by the light irradiator. The light irradiator is arranged so as to irradiate the continuous paper with light obliquely with respect to the detection region of the continuous paper from the width direction side of the continuous paper, which is orthogonal to the transportation direction of the continuous paper.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a guide portion which guides a sheet; a support portion which rotatably supports the guide portion; a biasing portion which applies a force to the guide portion to be at a closed position with respect to the support portion and is provided to be detachably attachable; and a stopper portion which contacts with the biasing portion to regulate a rotation of the guide portion in a direction that the guide portion opens.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a controller that controls a conveying roller and a discharge roller for conveying a recording medium. The controller controls the rotation phases of the conveying roller and the discharge roller when the recording medium leaves the conveying roller before the recording medium enters the conveying roller.

Abstract: Disclosed is an idler roller assembly for a printing apparatus. The idler rolling assembly includes a shaft, at least one idler rolling element connected to the shaft, the at least one idler rolling element having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to the shaft at a substantially center portion of the idler rolling element, the at least one idler rolling element being cylindrically shaped and having an axis substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft, and at least one radial control movement element connected to the shaft, the at least one radial control movement element having a radius selected to leave a predetermined gap between an outer edge of the at least one radial control movement element and the inner surface of the idler rolling element.

Abstract: Disclosed is an idler roller assembly for a printing apparatus. The idler rolling assembly includes a shaft, at least one idler rolling element connected to the shaft, the at least one idler rolling element having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to the shaft at a substantially center portion of the idler rolling element, the at least one idler rolling element being cylindrically shaped and having an axis substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft, and at least one radial control movement element connected to the shaft, the at least one radial control movement element having a radius selected to leave a predetermined gap between an outer edge of the at least one radial control movement element and the inner surface of the idler rolling element.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism is provided. The paper feed mechanism includes a pair of paper feed rollers at the upstream side and the downstream side of a printing device in a direction in which a recording paper is fed during printing, and press contact rollers in press contact therewith. The back surface of the recording paper receives a pushing force from projections formed on the pair of paper feed rollers by a predetermined depth such that the recording paper is fed during printing by the printing device.

Abstract: A hand held personal digital assistant including: an information storage device; a display; a printer including a pagewidth printhead wherein said printhead is an inkjet printhead; a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use; and a user interface allowing a user to: selectively retrieve and display information from said storage device on said display; print said information using said printer; and enter and store new information in said information storage device.

Abstract: A printer includes first transporting belts disposed in parallel at predetermined intervals in the direction intersecting the direction of transportation of print media. The first transporting belts transport a print medium while adsorbing the print medium. Second transporting belts disposed in parallel at predetermined intervals in the direction intersecting the direction of transportation of print media further transport the print media. The second transporting belts are separated from the first transporting belts at the downstream part of the first transporting belts in the direction of transportation of print media. A print head prints on the print medium. The position of separation at which the print medium is separated from the first transporting belts is different in the direction of transportation of print media between one of the first transporting belts and another one of the first transporting belts.

Abstract: A printer including: at least one elongate roller arranged, in use, to rotate so as to transport print media within the printer; a support frame for supporting the roller at the longitudinal first and second ends of the roller so as to allow the rotation of the roller; and fixing means for fixing the roller to the support frame at the first end of the roller, the fixing means including: a bearing into which the first end of the roller is positioned for allowing the rotation of the roller; and engagement means arranged to slidably engage with the support frame so as to fix the roller thereto, the bearing being configured to allow pivotal movement of the elongate roller about the second end of the roller during the sliding engagement of the engagement means and support frame.

Abstract: A pinch control apparatus in a printer for controlling a pinch force exerted on a medium which is being fed into a printing zone is provided. The pinch control apparatus includes a camshaft rotatably mounted across a width of the medium, at least one cam attached to the camshaft, a plunger and a biasing rod. The cam has a predefined profile and is able to rotate with the camshaft. The plunger abuts the predefined profile of the at least one cam. The biasing rod extends from a pinch plate to the plunger to bias the pinch plate to a linefeed roller for exerting the pinch force on the medium therebetween. The pinch force exerted on the medium is controllable by the rotation of the camshaft.

Abstract: 1. A hand held personal digital assistant including: memory for storing information; a display; a pagewidth printhead; a processor for processing information to generate dot data and supply it to the printhead; a supply of print media disposed within said personal digital assistant. a user interface configured to enable: retrieval of the information from the memory for display on the display; printing of the displayed information; and input of further information for storage, display and printing.

Abstract: There are provided a suction unit which sucks a recording medium, and a unit which changes sucking force of the suction unit according to the property of the recording medium. Hereby, since the sucking force of the suction unit can be set according to a state of the recording medium. Therefore, for example, even if the recording medium is greatly curled, since its recording medium can be surely sucked on the transporting surface of the recording medium by the suction unit. Further, even if the recording medium has little rigidity and is thin, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being stuck on the transporting surface of the recording medium by the suction unit.

Abstract: A printing medium is conveyed at a high speed and high accuracy by reducing the conveyance error of a conveyor roller as much as possible. For this purpose, the printing apparatus includes first measuring unit for obtaining a conveying amount of said printing medium by measuring a rotational amount of the conveyor roller, second measuring unit for obtaining a conveying amount of the printing medium by directly detecting a moving amount of the printing medium, and control conveying operation by using both of output values obtained from the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit. Thereby, it is possible to correct the output value from the first measuring unit by the output value from the second measuring unit, as well as to switch the output value used for the conveyance control between both the output values.

Abstract: A print media transport assembly for advancing a print media through a print zone includes a primary drive roller rotatably mounted on an entry side of the print zone and a pinch roller rotatably mounted opposite the primary drive roller. The primary drive roller and the pinch roller are adapted to contact the print media and the primary drive roller is adapted to advance the print media through the print zone. The print media transport assembly also includes a secondary drive roller rotatably mounted on an exit side of the print zone and a starwheel rotatably mounted opposite the secondary drive roller. The secondary drive roller is adapted to contact a first side of the print media and the starwheel is adapted to selectively contact a second side of the print media.

Abstract: A document feeder device is disclosed. The document feeder device includes a frame, a first roller shaft coupled to the frame, and a second roller shaft coupled to the frame. The first shaft is cantilevered. The document feeder device further includes a bearing coupled to the first roller shaft. The bearing has an eccentric shape and the eccentric shape allows the bearing to be rotated such that the position of the first roller shaft stays parallel to a second roller shaft. As a result, rollers attached to the first and second roller shafts are kept aligned so that they reliably feed documents through a printer. The document feeder device decreases production costs by eliminating the need for additional frame hardware and/or more rigid frame hardware.

Abstract: In order to manufacture a discharging roller which discharges a recording medium from a recording apparatus, there are a first die formed with a first recess extending in an axial direction of a shaft portion of the discharging roller, and a second die formed with a second recess extending in the axial direction. The first die and the second die are combined such that the first recess and the second recess face to form a continuous cavity. Synthetic resin is injected into the cavity to mold a bore portion of the shaft portion.

Abstract: A passive linear encoder includes a loop and a sensor. The loop is configured to engage print media and to move in concert with, and under power of, the print media. The sensor is positioned to scan indicia defined on an inner surface of the loop.

Abstract: A device for holding a sheetlike article on a movable underlying surface for transporting the sheetlike article in at least one direction selected from the group consisting of a direction into and a direction out of an operating station having a printing unit, includes a member having a surface underlying the sheetlike article, the sheetlike article being retainable by pneumatic pressure on the surface, a screening device disposed locally fixedly with respect to an operating station, the screening device serving for reducing an airflow in a region of the printing unit at least with respect to adjacent regions, the reduction in the airflow resulting from the sheetlike article being held on the underlying surface.

Abstract: One embodiment of a positioning system for positioning a sheet of print media within a print media handling mechanism comprises a drive shaft that rotates about a drive shaft axis of rotation; and a drive roller mounted on the drive shaft, the drive roller driven by the drive shaft to rotate about an axis of rotation different from the drive shaft axis of rotation.

Abstract: A removing member which rotates while being in contact with the periphery of a rotating member for conveying a sheet of paper that rotates while being in contact with a printed side of a sheet of paper is provided. When undried ink on the printed side is transferred to the periphery of the rotating member at the time of conveying the printed sheet, the undried ink is thinly spread in a part where the periphery of the rotating member and the periphery of the removing member come into contact with each other and therefore dried quicker. The removing member removes a part of the ink from the periphery of the rotating member. Consequently, the printed sheet is prevented from being smudged by the re-transfer. Since double-side printing or multicolor printing can be started before the ink on the printed side of the printed sheet of paper is completely dried, the work efficiency of the double-side printing or multicolor printing is improved.

Abstract: A print media feed system for advancing a sheet of print media having a leading edge and a trailing edge in a sheet feed direction through a print zone in an imaging apparatus includes a rotating support positioned downstream of an exit roller in relation to a sheet feed direction. The rotating support provides a rotating support surface that engages a non-printed side of the sheet of print media downstream of the exit roller while the trailing edge of the sheet of print media is advanced through the print zone by the exit roller, the rotating support not contributing to advance the trailing edge of the sheet of print media through the print zone, but contributing to advance the sheet of print media after the sheet of print media is released by the exit roller.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for attracting and conveying a conveyed object by a belt provided with electrodes, includes an applying unit for applying a voltage to the electrodes to generate an electric force and a belt attracting unit for attracting the belt utilizing the electric force. Vibration of the conveying belt during conveyance can be suppressed and stable conveyance of a conveyed object can be realized.

Abstract: A printer with a media feed apparatus bas a media tray with a surface for supporting a media stack. A wave drive mechanism has a pair of wheels, a belt looped around said wheels, and a plurality of freewheeling rollers. Each one of the freewheeling rollers has an axis attached to and moving with the belt. At least one of the plurality of freewheeling rollers makes contact with the top sheet in the tray while the belt moves the axis in a feed direction to shift the top sheet in the feed direction. A controller controls a bias force of the wave drive mechanism against the top sheet during the time that the wave drive mechanism moves the sheet.

Abstract: Printing device with means for conveying paper A printing device (10) comprises a lower part (12) and an upper part (14) that is mounted on said lower part (12) such that it can pivot about a pivot axis (16). A print head (18) and a holding trough. (62) for a recording medium supply roll (64) are arranged in the lower part (12) , and a conveying device (24, 30) for a recording medium (66), and a print backing support (36) spatially associated with the print head (18) are arranged in the upper part (14). The upper part (14) has two side walls (42) which laterally enclose a recording medium supply roll (64) put into the holding trough (62).

Abstract: A wide-width format printer having detachable and replaceable paper feed unit components includes an automatic sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media, a manual sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media plus an additional width, paper feed unit for feeding print media fed from either the automatic sheet feeder or the manual sheet feeder through a paper path which passes a print position to a media ejection portion, the paper feed unit comprising at least first and second detachable print roller sections, first and second detachable spur wheel sections, at least two detachable friction wheels and a drive roller, wherein the first detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other, the second detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other and wherein the first and second detachable printer roller segments are aligned coaxially and the first and second detachable spur wheel segments are a

Abstract: A removing member which rotates while being in contact with the periphery of a rotating member for conveying a sheet of paper that rotates while being in contact with a printed side of a sheet of paper is provided. When undried ink on the printed side is transferred to the periphery of the rotating member at the time of conveying the printed sheet, the undried ink is thinly spread in a part where the periphery of the rotating member and the periphery of the removing member come into contact with each other and therefore dried quicker. The removing member removes a part of the ink from the periphery of the rotating member. Consequently, the printed sheet is prevented from being smudged by the re-transfer. Since double-side printing or multicolor printing can be started before the ink on the printed side of the printed sheet of paper is completely dried, the work efficiency of the double-side printing or multicolor printing is improved.

Abstract: An ink jet printer wherein a belt transports an image receiving member past a printhead is equipped with guiding means (18) for creating a bulge, d, in the belt, extending towards the ink ejecting means, thus keeping the “throw distance” constant and/or with rollers for moving the belt, one of the rollers having a flange and being positioned so as to force the belt agains the flange.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting single sheets through a device for exposing or printing the single sheets, with a drum and means that press the single sheet against the drum, with a processing station having a processing gap, with the single sheets being exposed or printed in the processing station, includes means that limit the processing gap. According to the invention, the means for limiting the processing gap are moveable so said the distance between the drum and the means for limiting the processing gap can be increased or decreased.

Abstract: To avoid the effects of unwanted variations in the pen-to-paper spacing of a printer, deliberate and effectively randomised variations are introduced by using paper drive rollers (20) with an irregular cross-section. In one embodiment, an overdrive roller comprises rollers (23-26) the surfaces of which incorporate flattened portions (27, 28) of differing widths and spacings. The number, size and/or spacing of the portions (27, 28) differ from roller to roller. Instead or in addition, variations may be incorporated into a pinch wheel (101), platen (15) or other component of the paper drive system.

Abstract: A paper pickup apparatus in a printer for pivotally moving by a motor includes a driving shaft rotated by the motor, a first pickup housing having at least one first transmission gear and first and second end portions, the first end portion mounted to the driving shaft, the first transmission gear transmitting torque from the driving shaft, a second pickup housing having at least one second transmission gear and being rotatably mounted to the second end portion of the first pickup housing, the second transmission gear transmitting torque from the first pickup housing, a connecting portion for connecting the first and second pickup housing with each other, the first pickup housing being rotatable to the second pickup housing centering thereon, and a pickup roller mounted to the second pickup housing and rotated by torque from the second transmission gear.

Abstract: In the present invention, the recording paper is conveyed by a feed roller to plural recording portions sequentially, and each recording portion successively prints each specific color on the recording paper while applying tension to the paper. The tension applied to the recording paper is switched to a predetermined value each time the recording paper is conveyed to each recording, portion when starting to print.

Abstract: A printer with a media feed apparatus has a media tray with a surface for supporting a stack of media sheets. A wave drive mechanism above the stack support surface has a media contact element operable to make contact with a top sheet of a media stack in the tray while moving in a feed direction to shift the top sheet in the feed direction. An encoder above the tray operates to detect motion of the top sheet. A controller may monitor the encoder to determine the speed of sheet motion, and set the speed of the wave drive mechanism to maintain the sheet motion above a threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a conveyance belt for supporting and conveying a sheet, an attraction force generating device for electrostatically attracting the sheet, a voltage supplying device for supplying voltage to a voltage receiving portion of an electrode of the attraction force generating means formed at a side edge with respect to a moving direction of the conveyance belt and a protection member formed at a side edge with respect to a moving direction of the conveyance belt for isolating the voltage receiving portion of the electrode of the attraction force generating device from an exterior by covering the entire side edge of the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A mechanism for selectively switching two drive transmission systems by one driving source is provided and a rocking lever which can be rocked between a first drive transmission gear of a first drive transmission system and a first drive transmission gear of a second drive transmission system respectively located on both sides of a drive shaft is provided. A rocking gear located between both drive transmission gears and selectively engaged with both drive transmission gears by the rock for transmitting driving force from the driving source is attached to the rocking lever and a locking means locks the rocking lever in a state that the locking means is engaged with either of the both drive transmission gears. The first drive transmission system and the second drive transmission system are connected to a drive unit normally and reversely rotated.

Abstract: A discharging unit has multiple discharging rollers for transporting sheets downstream from a recording head in the direction of transporting, arrayed in the direction of transporting. Of the multiple discharging rollers, a second discharging roller at the farthest-downstream disposed farthest downstream in the sheet transporting direction is formed with higher precision than a first discharging roller disposed further upstream.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism includes a sheet feed roller for transporting a sheet along a paper transport path, and a sheet-pressing member disposed so as to press the sheet feed roller. The sheet-pressing member integrally includes a pressing portion which is formed by increasing the diameter of a part of a coiled portion of a compression coil spring.

Abstract: A printer for printing on both sides of a document, such as a check being printed at a point of sale terminal, uses a single printing station to print on both sides of the document. The document is moved along a document path and past the printing station, with the first side of the document being printed, with an end portion of the document then being positioned to extend through a slot within a rotor. The rotor is then turned through a 180-degree angle in a first direction, with an end portion of the document being held within the rotor and wrapped around a segment of the rotor. This end portion is next driven back to the printing station for the second side of the end portion to be printed upon. Then the end portion is driven away from the printing station, as the other end of the document is pulled through the rotor. Finally, the rotor is returned by rotation through 180-degrees opposite the first direction.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for plotting on sheets of different widths, such as by cutting and/or printing, a tool support holding a plotting tool, such as a pen or knife blade, is spaced apart from a laterally-extending sheet-supporting surface and movable in the y-coordinate direction over the sheet-supporting surface for plotting on the sheet. A first drive roller defining an abrasive surface is rotatably mounted adjacent to the sheet-supporting surface for engaging a first marginal portion of the sheet and driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction. A second rotatably-mounted drive roller is spaced laterally relative to the first drive roller, and defines an abrasive surface for engaging a second marginal portion of the sheet and further driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction.

Abstract: A belt drive for a machine for printing images on a flat printing material, having a continuous belt revolving during operation, includes a belt guide having stops for two protruding edges of the belt, the edges being oriented in a longitudinal direction of the belt and opposite one another in a transverse direction of the belt; and a machine for printing images on flat printing material having such a belt drive.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a path size switching plate (10) between a recording paper roll and an aligning device (15) for aligning a recording paper with a paper transport path. The path size switching plate limits the paper transport path in a direction of thickness of the recording paper while the recording paper is being conveyed in a paper supply direction, preventing the recording paper from getting jammed. While the recording paper stops and the aligning device pushes opposite side edges of the recording paper for alignment, the path size switching plate widen the paper transport path in the direction of thickness of the recording paper, so as to make a loop for absorbing torsion applied to the recording paper between the recording paper roll and the aligning device as a result of alignment.

Abstract: A sheet transport system has an encoder roller in direct contact with the sheet media and driven by the sheet media to detect and compensate for any registration error particularly at lead and trail edges during transport of the sheet media as media enters and exits transport nips. The invention is well suited for use in controlling and monitoring paper movement in incremental advance and print systems, such as ink jet printers. A biasing member ensures that the sheet media and encoder roller are in intimate contact. Preferably, a material with a high coefficient of friction is provided on an outer periphery of the encoder roller to assist in mating of the roller with the sheet media.

Abstract: A wide format versatile printing mechanism is provided which has ribbon tensioning means to equalize the surface tension forces across the ribbon and remove all wrinkles. In one embodiment a cambered rod is introduced between the print head and the ribbon feed roll to apply an uneven force across the ribbon's width from its uncoated side. The cambered rod is fixed between two lateral lid side plates by two screws having their axis coaxial with the axis of the cambered rod which have at one of the end cut some radial grooves. The cambered rod can be rotated around its axis and positioned under different angles around its axis by means of a set screw through the lid side plate which corresponds with the radial grooves of the cambered rod's end, offering a variation of the tensile forces in the ribbon. In another embodiment, a second rotating cambered rod is located between the print head and ribbon take-up roll to apply an uneven tensile force across the ribbon's width from its uncoated side.

Abstract: A process and image formation apparatus with an enhanced loading of printable media onto a path of conveyance through the apparatus during the practice of the process by feeding paper for an image forming apparatus by setting a predetermined pickup time of a pickup roller; detecting wether a paper is picked up by the pickup roller when a printing order is received; wherein if the paper is detected, a printing operation is performed, if the paper is not detected, a pickup time of the pickup roller is counted and attempting to pick up the paper by the pickup roller until the counted pickup time is not less than the predetermined pickup time or until the paper is detected.

Abstract: A tag feed system is used to feed tags through a marking machine, such as a tag printer or a laser marking machine, that marks information on the tags. A laser-marking system is used to mark and label information on metal tags, and a tag feed system for the laser-marking system that drives the tag material through the laser-marking system for marking. The laser marking system can include a housing, a laser for marking tag material, a tag unwind system for holding and supporting unlabeled tag material before it is marked and a tag retainer system for holding and supporting labeled tag material after it is marked. The tag feed system for feeding tag material through the laser marking system includes a housing unit that contains a first aperture through which tag material enters the housing unit for marking, a second aperture through which marked tag material exits the housing unit, and a lasing window through which a laser beam from the laser passes to mark tag material.

Abstract: A print head and check flipper subassembly having a removable flipper cartridge allows printing of both sides of a check or other document in one continuous operation, in which the orientation of the check or other document is reversed in relation to a print head, eliminating the need for an operator to remove and reinsert the check during the printing or handling process.

Abstract: A printer (10) for printing single sheets (126, 128) and at least one continuous paper strip (122) on a printing substrate plane (19), in which a single sheet (126, 128) is led up to the printing station (36, 56) from the operator side by being displaced manually on a feed table (20) and, in said printing station, can overlap the continuous paper strip (122), at least over part of the width of the latter. The continuous paper strip (122) is fed to the printing station (36, 56) from the operating side and the continuous paper feed channel (34) and the single-sheet feed channel (30) are each assigned a driven feed roller (98; 38) of a pair of feed rollers (100; 44). A mating roller (42) that is arranged on a rocker (48) can be pressed optionally against the driven feed roller (98; 38) of the continuous paper feed channel (34) or the single-sheet feed channel (30).

Abstract: A forward/backward printing thermal printer which brings a printing paper onto a printing member and performs a printing action in order to form an image. The printer comprises a thermal head which transfers the image onto the paper according to an image signal, a platen roller which moves the paper back and forth when it rotates, and a pair of which press the paper on the platen roller and cause it to move back and forth with the roller. When the paper moves and is no longer held on one side by a, the paper pressing means on the side where the paper has been released is moved on the outer circumference of the platen roller by a fan-shaped gear rotated by a drive gear so as to again grip the edge of the paper which is carried to the position of the other. In this way, the effective printing range on the paper is enlarged without any error in the paper's position or color due to the transport mechanism. The printer can also be made compact.