Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, in which excellent mounting ability is achieved and damage and dislodging of a recording apparatus can be prevented. A mounting opening for mounting the recording apparatus is formed in a side surface of an apparatus body comprised of an ASF upper case and an ASF base. When the recording apparatus is mounted, after the recording apparatus is rested on a recording apparatus supporting portions for supporting the recording apparatus for shifting movement in a mounting direction, the recording apparatus is guided along the recording apparatus supporting portions in the mounting direction. By providing an eaves portion substantially in parallel with the recording apparatus supporting portions, an upward movement of the recording apparatus is regulated when and after the recording apparatus is mounted.

Abstract: On printer (20), tape cartridge (4) is detachable relative to mounting unit (5). Mounting unit (5) is covered by cover (22). When cover (22) is closed, its protrusion (51) rotates rotary component (54), and its operating edge (54b) moves moving component (55). When operating edge (54b) moves over the top edge of surface A of guiding surface (55a) of the moving component, the cover is completely closed. Subsequently, rotary component (54) is guided to surface B, where it is held in a coupled state. In conjunction with moving component (55), head carrier component (59) rotates, and head (6) located at the tip of the head carrier component becomes fixed at the print position. In the condition in which a print position is formed, rotary component (54) is off from protrusion (51) of the cover. Therefore, no load acts from the side of head (6) onto the side of cover (22).

Abstract: A device for uncurling thermal sensitive recording paper includes a paper container having first and second arcuate portions that are rotatably connected to form a cylindrical body. The paper container accommodates installation of a roll of the thermal sensitive recording paper. A projection is formed on a first end of the first arcuate portion for engaging and applying a predetermined pressure upon the thermal sensitive recording paper. A groove is formed between the projection and a first end of the second arcuate portion to provide a path through which the thermal sensitive recording paper travels. A locking member is positioned at the first end of the first arcuate portion and provides a slot to accommodate the connection between the first and second arcuate portions. A pole extends outwardly from the first end of the second arcuate portion and is inserted into the slot to establish the connection between the first and second arcuate portions.

Abstract: A sheet guide mechanism, for use with a printer having a printing head on a carriage that is mounted on a carriage shaft for movement in a printing direction which is transverse to a feeding direction of a printing sheet supported by a platen, includes a sheet guide movably mounted on the carriage shaft. The sheet guide moves in the printing direction along with the printing head. The sheet guide can move in unison with the printing head without interfering with the printing operation.

Abstract: A printer in which a rolled recording paper is housed in a recording paper cassette formed integrally with a printer proper and openably with respect thereto, and one of a thermal recording head or a platen roller is disposed at an openable free end of the cassette with the other disposed in the printer proper, whereby printing onto the recording paper is effected by conducting electrical current to the recording head while the recording paper being clamped by the recording head and platen roller.

Abstract: An integral locking device for a typewriter is used to safeguard against damages and to prevent a correction ribbon from feeding when the typewriter is transported. The integral locking device locks a carrier in a predetermined channel position, locks the correction bail on the carrier to prevent correction ribbon feed, and jams a correction ribbon feed release device.

Abstract: A typewriter includes a carriage arranged for reciprocating travel, a receiving arrangement mounted on the carriage, a drive arrangement mounted on the carriage, and a ribbon cartridge receivable in and removable from the receiving arrangement and operatively connectable with the drive arrangement, and an XY-plotter receivable and removable from the receiving arrangement when the ribbon cartridge is absent from the receiving arrangement. The XY-plotter includes a stylus holder for supporting a plurality of styli; a first force-transmitting arrangement operatively connectable to the drive arrangement for moving the stylus holder such as to place a selected stylus in a standby writing position; and a second force-transmitting arrangement operatively connectable to the drive arrangement for moving the selected stylus in contact with the record carrier.

Abstract: A vibrating apparatus, such as a shuttle type dot printer, has a vibrating unit mounted in the casing thereof and which, when it operates, generates vibrations in opposite lateral directions of the vibrating unit. The vibrating unit is mounted in the casing for providing interacting of vibrations which occur in the inside by leaf type springs connected between pairs of projections on the vibrating unit and the casing with the plane of the leaf type springs perpendicular to the lateral direction of the vibrations of the vibrating unit. The apparatus further has a locking device for locking the vibrating unit relative to the casing, which, when the casing is on a supporting surface, allows the vibrating unit to vibrate freely in the opposite lateral directions, and which, when the casing is lifted off the supporting surface, locks the vibrating unit to the casing.

Abstract: A postage meter module includes die protector blades to prevent fraudulent taking of postage meter imprints. A first plurality of die protectors are retracted to expose the adjacent printwheels when the meter makes a check on its internal condition. The remainder of the die protectors are retracted under different conditions while the first are still retracted in order to enable an imprint to be taken. Preferably the remainder of the die protectors are retracted only for a predetermined interval after a print signal has been received. The die protectors also serve to align the printwheels when the protectors are retracted.

Abstract: In a printer of the type in which printing is carried out on a recording medium with a print element through an ink ribbon interposed between the print element and a sheet or paper, a ribbon cassette accommodating therein the ink ribbon has a ribbon stopper removably provided for limiting the movement of the ink ribbon within the ribbon cassette. A switch is provided for detecting the presence of the ribbon stopper in the ribbon cassette when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the printer. If the ribbon stopper is detected by the switch, then a ribbon feed motor is not energized so that the ink ribbon is not withdrawn from the ribbon cassette. Thus, the ink ribbon will not be cut off, which may otherwise be caused if the ribbon is forcibly withdrawn without removing the ribbon stopper.

Abstract: A compliant head loading mechanism for a thermal printer is disclosed which compliantly loads a thermal print head against a carrier and a receiver mounted on a drum to uniformly apply pressure across the receiver at the nip. The mechanism includes a spring biased pivotably mounted pivot bracket which is moved between load and unload positions and a bracket member which is pivotably mounted on the pivot bracket and which carries the print head.

Abstract: In a carriage fixing mechanism for a printing apparatus, engaging openings are formed in a frame disposed at a side portion of the printer and a side portion of a carriage, respectively. The mechanism includes a fixing member. The fixing member includes a first engaging portion to be detachably engaged with the opening of the frame and a second engaging portion to be detachably engaged with the opening of the carriage.

Abstract: The printer, in which a carriage carries a printing head and reciprocates along a guide rail, comprises a locking member attached in the vicinity of the end portion of the guide rail for locking the carriage temporarily, further comprises the locking member arranged to the position toward the locking member attached in the vicinity of the end portion of the guide rail. The locking member is attached to the lever which adjusts the print gap.

Abstract: A printer-utilizing apparatus is disclosed herein, which decides automatically upon power throw whether the apparatus is in print mode or non-print mode and effects initializing of the printer and auto paper feed if the apparatus is in print mode, but does not conduct any printer operation such as initializing and paper feed, if the apparatus is in non-print mode. More particularly, the apparatus prevents unnecessary DC power consumption which otherwise would occur in a compact DC-powered printer apparatus and, when in print mode, conducts printer operations such as initializing of the printer and paper feed as well as notifying easily and clearly the operator that the apparatus has been turned on.

Abstract: A serial printer comprises a carriage (21) which is movable parallel to a platen roller (11) and on which are mounted a character carrying disc (28) having a flexible blades, a stepping motor (26) for selecting the character to be printed, and a striker hammer (30, 31). The carriage is slidable on a cylindrical guide (17) and is provided with a pair of slider members (62, 63) which co-operate with a fixed bar (18) that is parallel to the guide (17) and to the platen roller (11). Mounted on the fixed bar (18) at the left-hand side of the printer is a key (70) which can co-operate with the slider members (62, 63) of the carriage to disconnect them from the bar (18) and to permit the carriage (21) to be swung down so that the character carrying disc (28) can be easily removed and replaced.

Abstract: A keyboard spacer for inhibiting the depression of selected push buttons upon a keyboard is shown including a longitudinal trunk having a first resilient arm which engages a key stem of a keyboard switch between the switch and the push button. As the first resilient arm yields, a second latching arm snaps over the key stem for retaining the spacer in the position desired. The spacer, which inhibits the depression of the push button, may be easily removed if push button operation is desired.

Abstract: The invention concerns a shift mechanism for typewriters having a carriage in which the shift instruction is transmitted by two distinct interlocks of which one is in an active position when the other is in an inactive position. Each interlock is controlled by a primary lever and an auxiliary lever which causes it to work in connection with drive means serving to place it in an active position. A stirrup-shaped pivotal part is provided with two principal elements, one of which comprises the auxiliary lever controlling a first one of the interlocks, and the other element comprising an arm capable of being driven by the second interlock, the latter being normally controlled by the primary lever connected to a key on a keyboard.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the feeding of paper about a printer platen. Controlled are paper aligning, rear roller feeding, front roller feeding and paper bail operation. The apparatus is primarily made up of a rocker button, reed switches, a drive motor, a cam gear, a comb, and a paper bail. Upon operator manipulation of the rocker button, the drive motor is turned on for rotating the cam gear. Rotation of the cam gear effects bi-directional rotation of the comb and a paper bail arm carrying the paper bail. Rotation of the comb in a first direction results in (1) a rear feed roller being displaced from the platen to provide a feeding path for paper when inserted into the printer, and (2) a paper aligner being positioned for aligning the paper. Rotation of the comb in a second direction results in the rear feed roller causing engagement of the paper and platen and the paper aligner being brought out of the feeding path of the paper.

Abstract: A desk top justifying text writing composing machine including automatic encoding and reading control means for operating a desk top justifying reproducing machine, or for operating larger and more sophisticated printing machines capable of automatic justification. The machine will produce unjustified typed lines and will automatically encode for controlling another machine to print justified lines, as a result of a single series of manual keyboard composing operations and automatic code controlled reproducing operations for producing a justified copy of a literal text, respectively.The machine includes a delete key and automatic deleting and back spacing means that reverses the machine and deletes codes from a code medium according to previously encoded information for back space correction purposes. The machine operates much like a normal office typewriter and may be operated by a person with a little more than normal typewriting skills for encoding a justified corrected text and function control codes.