Abstract: A paper discharge section for a printer having a printer body includes first and second support portions mounted on the printer body. At least one of the support portions is slidable towards and away from the other support portion. A paper pushing down portion is mounted on the printer body and positioned intermediate the support portions. The first support portion can rotate between at least a first position at which the first support portion supports a first bottom side portion of the sheet of paper and at least a second position in which the first support portion does not support the first bottom side portion of a sheet of paper. A slidable edge guide for guiding a first side edge of a sheet of paper is provided and slidable towards the other edge guide. A linkage mechanism links the slidable edge guide to the first support portion to cause the first edge guide and first support portion to slide together.

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 recording apparatus which includes a first and second discharge members located downstream from a recording head for discharging a sheet, and first and second auxiliary discharge members also located downstream from the recording head for discharging the sheet, where the first and second auxiliary discharge members are urged against the first and second discharge members, respectively, at a first position, and where the first auxiliary discharge member is substantially urged against the second discharge member at a second position.

Abstract: A sheet alignment device for lining up a sheet being fed to a proper location for printing operation is disclosed. A driving gear is fittingly inserted and mounted on an axial end portion of a pivot on which at least a pair of feeding rollers are integrally formed. A torsion coil knock-up spring is used to link the pivot and the driving gear. When operated, the torsion coil knock-up spring reserves and accumulates torsion moment of the pivot. Upon cease of rotational motion of driving gear, the accumulates torsion moment forces the pivot to continue rotation thereof, allowing a sheet to advance more thereby securing printing operation from failure.

Abstract: A tape holding case is described for use with a thermal printing device which allows for more efficient cutting and feeding of tape. The cassette has a slot into which a cutting blade can pass which avoids the use of an anvil for cutting. Moreover, the cassette can have a stepped portion for providing a so-called "peel cut" at the end of the tape.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing, cutting or otherwise working sheets of sheet material has a friction sheet advance mechanism and a sheet loading mechanism in advance of the feed mechanism having rows of sprocket pins cooperating with complementary rows of sprocket holes in a sheet to assure accurate insertion of a sheet into the sheet advance mechanism and subsequent accurate movement of the sheet through the advance mechanism and past a work station. A photosensor carried by the work head of the apparatus senses one side edge of the sheet as a reference for laterally positioning the work process relative to the sheet, and a transversely extending index edge of an index hole in the proof sheet is detected and used as a reference for the longitudinal positioning of the work process relative to the sheet.

Abstract: In a thermal-transfer-type color printer, an ink ribbon and a paper are sandwiched between a thermal head and a platen roller so that a specific image is transferred onto the paper in a specific color. The platen roller is made by a rubber material which has a certain degree of hardness. On the surface of the ink ribbon, plural colors of ink are sequentially and repeatedly painted. Hence, after transferring an image onto the paper in one color, the paper is moved backward; and then, another image is transferred onto the paper in another color. Thus, a multi-color printing is performed. In order to avoid a color shade or an printing error, in which a printing position of one-color image does not accurately match with a printing position of another-color image, the paper should be accurately moved forward and backward. In order to do so, the thermal-transfer-type color printer provides a precise paper-feed mechanism which comprises a pinch roller and a paper-feed roller.

Abstract: The printing apparatus or the sheet feeding apparatus disclosed here which employs vibration driven actuators as driving sources has a circuit for detecting the characteristics of the actuator during preparatory operation performed previous to the regular operation. Information detected by said circuit is used to control the actuators during the regular operation. As a result, a printing apparatus or a sheet feeding apparatus capable of reducing wasteful or unnecessary operation can be obtained.

Abstract: An interior drum type printer includes a paper feed mechanism permitting quick and simple paper advance to a printing position. This is attained in that a print head is connected to a paper feed means which is mounted for controlled rotation together with the print head about a shaft arranged within the printing drum.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus clamps a sheet of printing paper at a first position of a drum supplied with the printing paper. The printing paper is released from a clamped state at a second position just in front of an initial printing position. While unclamped, the leading edge of the printing paper is transferred to the initial printing position, so that printing is started from the leading edge and the printing paper is again clamped at a third position which is located beyond the initial printing position. Therefore, printing is performed from the leading edge of the printing paper, which results in printing without any margins. Also, a plate spring presses the printing paper toward the drum just in front of the printing position where the print head, applies pressure for printing. The plate spring elastically applies pressure to the printing paper to transfer the printing paper to the printing position while in contact with the drum.

Abstract: A record head is energized in accordance with received image data to transfer an ink of an ink sheet to a record medium and perform image recording on the record medium while the ink sheet and the record medium are fed in opposite directions. The rotation period of a roller driven during feeding of the record medium or the feed direction of the record medium is detected to detect adhesion between the ink sheet and the record medium. When adhesion between the ink sheet and the record medium is detected, a recording operation is interrupted to feed the ink sheet and the record medium to release adhesion between the ink sheet and the record medium. When the adhesion is released within a predetermined time period, the recording operation is continued. When the adhesion is not released within the predetermined time period, an alarm sound is issued.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a method and apparatus for counteracting the effects of a localized drag on a sheet medium as it is being moved by a drive system, for example, in a printer or plotter to prevent misregistration of the sheet medium with the X-axis drive system as the sheet medium is moved past the print or plot head which creates a drag thereon. The sheet medium is stiffened in the region thereof which is contacted by the print or plot head by bending the sheet medium in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the sheet medium. The bend may be provided by a curved guide located between the print or plot head and the X-axis drive system. Friction is reduced between the sheet medium and the curved guide by mounting the curved guide, e.g., one or more rollers, to rotate freely under the action of the sheet medium moving thereover, or by pneumatically supporting the sheet medium above the curved guide as the sheet medium is moved thereover.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printer wherein a pinch roller is contacted with a printed face of paper after printing by an ink jet head to press the paper against a paper discharging roller, which contacts with a non-printed face of the paper after printing by the ink jet head to feed the paper to a paper discharging station, and a cut portion for exposing part of an outer circumferential face of the pinch roller is formed in a pinch roller cover which covers over the pinch roller so that a paper discharging operation for the printed paper is made smooth and cleaning of the pinch roller when ink of the printed paper sticks to the pinch roller can be performed readily with safety.

Abstract: A paper moving system for a computer driven printer/plotter comprises a paper pinching assembly positioned at the two oppositely facing edges of the paper adjacent the print zone 10. The edges of the paper are fed through each assembly where the paper is gripped between a lubricous shim plate 52 and a straight stretch of a paper drive belt 42 which frictionally engages the paper. The belts of each assembly are biased toward the shim plates by a spring urged rail 50 to hold the belts in non-slip engagement with the paper. The paper is tensioned edge to edge by the assemblies so that a paper table or platen underneath the print zone is unnecessary.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder assembled to a printer which is provided with a sheet feed means for feeding a continuous-form sheet. The sheet feeder includes a hopper for storing therein a stack of cut sheets and a pivotable stacker for storing therein a stack of printed cut sheets. The stacker has operative position for receiving the cut sheets therein and has a spaced position for allowing the continuous form sheet to be printed. Detecting means is provided for detecting pivotal position of the stacker, and control means is provided for feeding the continuous form sheet when the stacker is out of the operative position responsive to the position of the stacker. A sheet feed mechanism is provided for feeding the cut sheets on the hopper to the printer. The sheet feed mechanism becomes inoperative when the continuous-form sheet is to be printed.

Abstract: A printing machine comprises a frame for supporting a pair of roller shafts spaced apart at a predetermined distance from each other and, a flat platen disposed between the roller shafts. An endless sheet-feeding belt made of an elastic material is stretched between the roller shafts. The sheet-feeding belt has an inner surface sliding on the flat platen by rotation of the roller shafts and an outer surface having such a high frictional coefficient that allows a sheet on the outer surface to be fed together with the sheet-feeding belt. A pair of pinch rollers hold the sheet in cooperation with the outer surface of the sheet-feeding belt at the roller shafts, for feeding the sheet. A printing head is opposed to the outer surface of the sheet-feeding belt at the flat platen.

Abstract: In a printing device having at least a pair of sheet discharge rollers for discharging a printing sheet on which a printing operation has been executed, provided are means for judging whether the printing sheet exists or not at a contact position of the pair of sheet discharge rollers, and control means for controlling the pair of rollers so as to be brought out of contact in case that the sheet does not exist at the contact position. Thus, even if the sheet is skewed or bent, it is securely nipped between the pair of sheet discharge rollers, thereby reducing occurrence of a sheet jamming.

Abstract: The elements of a printing mechanism, including a platen, print head and drive motors, are constructed and arranged to provide a clearance permitting an envelope to remain entirely in a flat condition in a plane tangent to the platen at the location of the printing line while the envelope is being printed by the print head. The housing of the printing mechanism is constructed with specially configured slots. First and second opposite end walls of the housing, and a third wall, extending from one end wall to the other, provide at least partial coverage of the print head and platen. The third wall has a slot extending from one end wall to the other, the slot being arranged to receive an envelope and to allow the envelope to be inserted in a flat condition between the print head and the platen. The end walls have parallel slots, meeting and continuous with the slot of the third wall.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in a printer is provided with: feeding rollers for holding and feeding a sheet of paper therebetween; and an operation lever for changing the contact pressure of the feeding rollers by attaching or detaching the feeding roller to or from the opposite feeding roller depending on a type of sheet, e.g., a continuous form transferred by pin tractors or a manually inserted cut sheet. The operation lever also connects or disconnects a clutch mechanism provided between a drive motor and the pin tractors simultaneously with the attaching/detaching operation for the feeding rollers. A single operation of the operation lever can achieve a precise transfer of a selected type of sheet while suspending another type of sheet in the printer. The sheet feeding apparatus is also provided with a transmission mechanism for transmitting a torque between the platen and the feeding rollers by a friction driving force.

Abstract: In a serial printer having a single type wheel, the type wheel is rotatably supported on a rocking frame, which is rockable relatively to a fixed frame, so as to be fixed with respect to the direction of the axis of rotation, and is rotated by means of a single drive motor. A drive transmission mechanism between the motor and the type wheel includes a main shaft rotatably supported by the rocking frame and a main cam rotatable in one with the main shaft. Each revolution of the main shaft and the main cam is divided into at least three rotational angular ranges, which are allotted individually for operation processes of type selection, printing, and sheet feed. All these processes are executed with use of the single drive motor as a drive source. A sheet holding mechanism continuously maintains a paper hold state until a specific character, such as an end mark, is printed after the start of a printing cycle. A printing sheet is held and released by means of the aforesaid drive motor as the drive source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a paper guide, a feed roller and a pinch roller for feeding and guiding a recording medium. The pinch roller is biased to normally be pressed agaisnt the feed roller and can be separated from the feed roller so that the recording medium can be introduced between them. The paper guide comprises two guide members that contact respective side edges of the recording medium when the pinch roller is separated from the feed roller.

Abstract: A printer, having a cylindrical platen rotatable for delivery of a printing sheet, which comprises a roller support shaft disposed in parallel with the platen and rotatably supported by a cover which is capable of being open and closed, and at least one feed roller mounted on the shaft. In the state the cover is closed, the cut form sheet is settable, without the need of displacing the feed roller, by frictionally holding the sheet at the side downstream of the printing section between the feed roller and urging portions formed on a printer main unit at a location close to the platen to delivery the sheet, with utilization of resiliency of the sheet, thereby permitting printing onto the sheet up to trailing or lower end thereof. In case of using the continuous sheet, a tractor unit is mounted on the printer.

Abstract: A sheet feed device applicable to a recorder such as an ink jet printer or a thermal printer has feed rollers mounted on the same shaft in a spaced relationship and platen blocks mounted in spaces between the feed rollers. A sheet fed along the feed rollers is conveyed to the platen blocks by a feed force of the feed rollers.

Abstract: A printer comprises a first paper feed passage extending from the rear of a platen to a printing position through the lower part of the platen, and a second paper feed passage extending from substantially just under the printing position to the printing position. A first pinch roller is disposed on the way to the first paper feed passage for pressing a first paper against the platen. The first paper is fed by rotating the platen. A second pinch roller is disposed on the way to the second paper feed passage for pressing the second paper against the platen. Rotation of the platen here causes the second paper to be fed. In addition, a paper insertion device according to the present invention includes a flat part for placing a paper thereon and a slit for converting the advance direction of a paper from horizontal to vertical.

Abstract: A printer comprises a paper feed roller, an intermediate gear coupled with the paper feed roller and having a spur gear section on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a paper feed cam having an axis extending perpendicularly to an axis of the intermediate gear and having on its outer circumferential surface a helical tooth for meshing engagement with the spur gear section of the intermediate gear. The paper feed roller is angularly movable for a predetermined angular interval through the intermediate gear in response to angular movement of the paper feed cam. The paper feed cam has in the outer circumferential surface thereof a gap for disengagement with the intermediate gear. The helical tooth has an inclined end edge for guiding meshing engagement with the intermediate gear.

Abstract: A mechanical torque transmitting apparatus such as a one-way clutch which includes two distinct sets of flexural arms (primary and auxiliary) and a cylindrical engagement surface. The primary flexural arm is adapted to be in edgewise continuous engagement with the cylindrical surface. Preferably, the primary flexural arm has a long, straight, narrow cross-section area and applies a relatively low force against the cylindrical surface when said surface is rotating in a free-wheeling direction. In the non free-wheeling direction, the force against the cylindrical surface increases until the rotational forces overcome and buckle the primary flexural arm whereupon the auxiliary flexural arm is brought into contact with the cylindrical surface to resist further rotation.

Abstract: A clamping device for a printer has a plurality of sideways-slippage preventing rollers housed in a roller housing which is fixed to a rear face of a wall of a ribbon shield. These preventing rollers prevent the printing paper from slipping sideways during a printing operation. A plurality of pressing plates are fixed on a hammer cover and biased towards the preventing roller by springs. A printing paper travels between the preventing rollers and the pressing plates, and the preventing rollers are oriented to rotate in the direction in which the printing paper travels. Since the preventing rollers prevent the printing paper from slipping sideways during printing, the printing lines are aligned properly. The preventing rollers also exert a minimum forward clamping force on the printing paper, which thus prevents the paper from tearing.

Abstract: A large format paper handling assembly has an axially stationary platen which is rotatably mounted on pivotally mounted support arms. The platen is supported on spaced frame supported front guide rollers and rear feed rollers. The off axis rear feed rollers are adapted to be manually and/or automatically line indexed to frictionally feed paper between the rear feed rollers and the platen. Hold down rollers are mounted on a bail extending between spaced paper feed release levers which are pivotally mounted on the frame about the axis of the front guide rollers and are movable away from the platen against the bias of springs. The springs acting through the hold down rollers maintain the platen in frictional engagement with its supporting front guide rollers and rear feed rollers. The pivotal movement of the paper feed release lever withdraws the hold down rollers and also acts to pivot the platen support arms to move the platen away from the front guide rollers and the rear feed rollers.