Abstract: A tape feeding apparatus has a feeding roller that feeds a tape and a roller accommodation section that has a cylindrical accommodation section inner surface along with a roller outer circumferential surface of the feeding roller, accommodates the feeding roller having a gap with the roller outer circumferential surface, and has a roller opening aperture through which the accommodated feeding roller faces the tape. The feeding roller is rotatably supported at one end section side in a cantilever state and is opened at the other section side.

Abstract: A paper-feeding device and a multi-functional printer are provided. The paper-feeding device includes a base, a driving axle, a position-limiting element and a retaining element. The base has a first assembling portion. The driving axle, the position-limiting and the retaining elements are all in the base. The position-limiting element has a second assembling portion and two position-limiting portions on radial directions of the second assembling portion between the inserting portion and the body. The retaining element includes a swing frame, a paper-separating element and a spring. The body of the swing frame is located between the two position-limiting portions. The first and second pivoting portions coaxial and connect the body are pivoted respectively to the first and second assembling portions. The inserting portion of the paper-separating element is sheathed by the body and the separating element leans against the driving axle.

Abstract: A printer apparatus includes: a platen roller around which paper sheets wind; a printing structure arranged for being drawn near to and away from the platen roller; a plurality of winding support members circumferentially disposed around the platen roller, for guiding a paper sheet to wrap around the roller; a sheet feed guide disposed in proximity to the printing structure and being pivotable substantially along the circumference of the roller; and a diverting mechanism for letting the sheet feed guide escape to a position such that it does not interfere with the printing structure in a print mode. The sheet feed guide is linked with a lever that pivots in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the platen roller, the lever having a fore-end protuberance.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus having high quality image printing capability due to minimized registration errors is provided. The image printing apparatus has a thermal head 18 and a platen roller 15 which is shorter in its circumference than the length of a pro-cut print medium 2 to be printed. An image is printed on the print medium by transporting the print medium and a ink ribbon 23 between the thermal head and the platen roller. A pair of clamp rings 3, 3 are rotatably and respectively provided approximately along both sides of the print medium, and each clamp ring has a circumference being same to or longer than the length pre-cut print medium, and has an internal gear 3b1. A clamper 5 is installed to connect the clamp rings together, and rotates with the print medium being clamped thereby. A capstan roller 7 is installed between the clamp rings and connected to a drive motor 8 to rotate constantly.

Abstract: A paper conveyance system for individually transporting cut sheets having various thicknesses and rigidity through a printing device includes a main roller for driving the cut sheets, a nip pair located downstream of the main roller, and a top paper guide movable to accommodate the cut sheets having variable thicknesses. The cut sheets are transported between the top paper guide and the main roller and the system includes a device or limiting mechanism for preventing the top paper guide from rotating greater than a predetermined amount in the event that thick or stiff sheet material is conveyed through the printing device. With such an arrangement, both thin sheet and thick sheet material can be accurately directed to a nip roller pair located at an outlet of the printing device. A holder for an upper one of the roller nip pair also includes a tapered guide portion for guiding the leading edge and the longitudinal edges of the sheet material as the sheet material passes through the nip roller pair.

Abstract: A thermal printer in which a sheet of recording paper is held by and between a thermal print head includes a plurality of heat generating elements and a platen drum, the amounts of heat of the heat generating elements are selectively changed, and an image is printed onto the recording paper. In the thermal printer, a printing position is set just behind a clamp position at which a clamp clamps the leading end of the recording paper onto the platen drum. Therefore, the image printing can be started immediately after the clamp position passes through the thermal head, with the recording paper being in part wound around the platen drum by the thermal printer. As a result, the time taken from paper feeding to printing starting can be reduced.

Abstract: The invented printer includes a paper drive and mechanisms which hold paper in proper alignment in the drive. Specifically, it includes a pressure plate capable of bringing a sheet of paper into contact with a drive roller so that the paper is properly aligned, a wrapper which keeps paper in proper contact with the drive roller, a media edge contactor that presses against paper, a carriage guide support which helps to insure proper alignment of the paper during printing, and a back-out restraint to prevent paper from backing out of the printer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for effecting printing on a printing medium, comprising a rotatably supported platen roller, a printing head which faces the platen roller and which is designed to allow a printing medium to pass between it and the platen roller, rotary support members arranged on either side in the axial direction of the platen roller and the printing head, a mechanism for rotating the rotary support members, and printing medium retaining devices for continuously retaining the printing medium on the respective outer peripheries of the rotary support members in such a manner that it is movable with respect to the peripheries.

Abstract: A printer includes a paper guide disposed around an outer peripheral portion of a platen to which a print head is opposed. A platen cover is disposed in proximity to the outer periphery of the platen and has an opening at a portion opposed to the print head, a paper passageway being formed between the platen cover and the paper guide.

Abstract: A printer system containing an elastic endless sheet member which extends between roller members in front of a print head. The roller members are disposed so as to form a flat surface of the elastic endless sheet member in front of the print head in order to ensure clean printing. One of the roller members is connected to a paper feed motor so that a paper sheet is fed in front of the print head in the vertical direction in unison with the rotation of the elastic endless sheet member around the roller members.

Abstract: A printing apparatus wherein a platen for supporting a recording medium printed by a print head is pivotally supported by a support member. The support member, which extends between left and right side frames of the printer, includes a first and a second engaging portion at its opposite ends. These engaging portions respectively engage an aperture and a cutout formed through the respective side frames, so that the support member and the platen are pivotally supported by the side frames. The cutout is aligned with the aperture, and is open at an edge of the corresponding side frame. This side frame includes a detent portion disposed adjacent to the cutout. The support member further includes a third engaging portion which engages the detent portion, thereby preventing the second engaging portion from being disengaged from the cutout through the open end of the cutout.

Abstract: A printer for printing characters through a printing ribbon on printing paper placed on a platen by moving a carriage along the platen and driving a printing head on the carriage. The platen is placed in the rear end portion of the printer frame. An opening for insertion of printing paper is formed in the rear end surface of the frame to which the platen is approximated. Various paper feeders for automatically supplying single sheets or a continuous printing paper are connected to the rear of the printer frame so as to face the open area.

Abstract: A sheet guide mechanism in a recording device including a rotatable platen and a recording member opposed to the platen, comprising pressure rollers adapted to come into pressure contact with the platen for pressing down a recording sheet, and a guide plate extending from a lower portion of a recording side of the platen in a direction opposite to the recording side past below the platen, the guide plate having windows formed therein for avoiding the pressure rollers and guide pieces formed on edges in a sheet inserting direction of the windows, the guide pieces being bent in a direction away from the platen.

Abstract: A device for guiding a record medium sheet which is to be printed upon in a printing machine having a platen, the device being arranged to guide the sheet around the platen and including an apron member formed and positioned to hold the sheet in contact with the platen and to guide the sheet at a point closely below the line being printed, the member being constructed to conform to the curvature of the lower portion of the platen and presenting a press and guide edge at each end of the member in the direction of the circumference of the platen, and a spring biassing component disposed for pressing the member resiliently against the platen to cause the edges to bear against the platen, the member being of a material selected so that the coefficient of friction between the record medium sheet and the press and guide edges is less than the coefficient of friction between the platen and the record medium sheet.