Abstract: A printer has a substantially linear transport path P1 in which a card C is transported, roller 41 provided on the transport path P1 to transport the card C, roller 42 spaced apart from the roller 41 on the transport path P1 to transport the card C to the opposite side to the roller 41, cleaning roller 31 that is disposed opposite to the roller 41 on the transport path P1 and that has an adhesive portion for cleaning the surface of the card C, and control section 95 for controlling the rotation velocity of the roller 31 to rotate the roller 31 at least at rotation velocity V1 and at rotation velocity V2 lower than the rotation velocity V1, where the control section 95 controls the rotation velocity of the roller 31 from the rotation velocity V1 to the rotation velocity V2 for a period during which the front end of the card C reaches the roller 41 from the cleaning roller 31.

Abstract: A card printing apparatus for sequentially printing a plurality of colors on a card has a card supply unit for supplying a card; a card conveyance path provided linearly from the card supply unit for conveying the card; a conveyance device provided on the card conveyance path for conveying the card; a printing unit provided on the card conveyance path; a card cleaning member disposed between the card supplying unit and the printing unit provided within the returning range of the card while printing the card conveyed in reverse; and a card cleaning member moving device for moving the card cleaning member to a retreated position separated from the card cleaning member and the card conveyance path, and an operating position. The card cleaning member is moved to the retreated position when the card is conveyed in reverse while printing.

Abstract: Accumulation of foreign matter on the surface of a thermal head that can cause printing defects can be reliably prevented. The downstream edge of a surface of the thermal head is substantially flush with the downstream end of a paper nipping area and a platen roller in the thermal printer. The downstream end extending from the downstream edge perpendicular to the back side is connected to a through-hole formed in a heat sink. Foreign matter on a liner-less label paper clings to the downstream end of the thermal head after passing the paper nipping area, and is then fed along the downstream end into the through-hole on the back. Foreign matter does not accumulate on the surface of the thermal head, and problems such as streaking and other printing defects caused by foreign matter on the surface of the thermal head do not occur.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a housing defining a dust opening, a plurality of rows of keys mounted in the housing with two of the a plurality of lines of the keys forming a horizontal gap and at least one cleaning device. Each of the cleaning devices is secured in one of the horizontal gaps. The cleaning device includes a driving rod and a cleaning brush. One end of the driving rod is rotatably fixed to the sidewall of the housing, and the other is driven to rotate the driving rod. The driving rod defines an outer threading thereon. The cleaning brush includes a sleeve and a plurality of arms fixed on the outer surface of the sleeve. The sleeve defines an inner thread cooperated with the outer thread of the driving rod. The driving rod rotates to move the cleaning brush along the driving rod.

Abstract: A card cleaning mechanism has a cleaning roller that cleans a surface of a card by contacting the conveyed card, and a roller-shaped cleaner that cleans a surface of the cleaning roller by contacting the cleaning roller. The cleaning roller is configured to move between a retreated position separated from a card conveyance path, and an operating position contacting a surface of the card being conveyed and the roller-shaped cleaner by advancing into the card conveyance path. Accordingly, the card cleaning mechanism can securely remove dust and dirt adhering to the card printing surface and does not reduce card printing quality.

Abstract: A printer with debris control apparatus which minimizes printer fouling. The printer includes a print head for printing on media, a platen having a side for feeding the media along a path past the print head, and debris control member in contact with the media.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a housing defining a dust opening, a plurality of rows of keys mounted in the housing with two of the a plurality of lines of the keys forming a horizontal gap and at least one cleaning device. Each of the cleaning devices is secured in one of the horizontal gaps. The cleaning device includes a driving rod and a cleaning brush. One end of the driving rod is rotatably fixed to the sidewall of the housing, and the other is driven to rotate the driving rod. The driving rod defines an outer threading thereon. The cleaning brush includes a sleeve and a plurality of arms fixed on the outer surface of the sleeve. The sleeve defines an inner thread cooperated with the outer thread of the driving rod. The driving rod rotates to move the cleaning brush along the driving rod.

Abstract: Accumulation of foreign matter on the surface of the thermal head that can cause printing defects can be reliably prevented. The downstream edge 54a of the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 is substantially flush with the downstream end of the paper nipping area C of the thermal head 5 and the platen roller 8 in the thermal printer 1. The downstream end 54 extending from the downstream edge 54a in a direction perpendicular to the back side is connected to a through-hole 66 (foreign matter receptacle) formed in the heat sink 6. Foreign matter on liner-less label paper 11 clings to the downstream end 54 of the thermal head 5 after passing the paper nipping area C, and is then fed along the downstream end 54 into the through-hole 66 on the back. Foreign matter does not accumulate on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5, and problems such as streaking and other printing defects caused by foreign matter on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 do not occur.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus in accordance with the present invention generally include a housing and a portal defined therethrough, whereby a vacuum filter cartridge can be placed in an operable position within the housing by way of the portal. The vacuum filter cartridge can have a hose operatively connected thereto. Air can be induced to flow into and through the hose, and thereby into and through the vacuum filter cartridge. The airflow can have a velocity sufficient to cause debris to be inducted into the hose and into the vacuum filter cartridge to be filtered, thus rendering the vacuum filter cartridge and hose operable as a cleaning device.

Abstract: In order to provide a linear actuator which is capable of solving deposition of deposit due to a long-time use and preventing malfunction, the linear actuator has a driving shaft 3 which reciprocates or expands and contracts to its axial direction, a slider 4 which is frictionally engaged with the driving shaft so as to be movable along the driving shaft, and driving controller for controlling a motion of the driving shaft so that the slider moves to an arbitrary moving direction. The driving controller has a self-maintenance mode for advancing N2 and retreating N1 the slider 4 alternatively, and making an advancing amount and a retreating amount different, controlling the driving shaft 3 so as to entirely move the slider 4 to any one of the directions.

Abstract: The printer moves printing paper (12) toward an ejecting direction and a feeding direction in order to clean a notched rollers (28). Next, the printer moves the printing paper (12) toward the feeding direction under conditions where a cutting paper holder (60) is holding the tip portion of the printing paper (12) in order to clean the cutting paper holder (60). Next, the printer cuts off the tip portion of the printing paper (12) in a long rectangular shape in order to clean a cutting edge (54) of a cutter (50). Thereby, it is possible to clean the printer (ink type recording device) without a user's action.

Abstract: An imager has a cartridge assembly with a print head arranged directly over a production path. The print head vertically moves on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the production path for allowing the print head to be purged, cleaned, parked or a combination thereof, while the print head remains directly over the production path. The imager also includes a service station assembly having a waste ink receptacle that moves horizontally in relation to an axis parallel to the plane of the production path for purging, cleaning or parking the print head, or a combination thereof, while the print head remains directly over the production path.

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 card printer is provided with a cleaning roller that will pick up debris on the surface of a card on which printing is to take place. The cleaning roller has a sticky surface, that is engagement with a band of adhesive tape that moves to contact the surface of the cleaning roller and remove debris that is on the cleaning roller surface. The tape is preferably formed in an endless band mounted on a pair of rollers that are in a common housing with the cleaning roller. The housing is removably mounted in the printer, and can be opened for replacement of the band of tape.

Abstract: A card printer is provided with a cleaning roller that will pick up debris on the surface of a card on which printing is to take place. The cleaning roller has a sticky surface, that is engagement with a band of adhesive tape that moves to contact the surface of the cleaning roller and remove debris that is on the cleaning roller surface. The tape is preferably formed in an endless band mounted on a pair of rollers that are in a common housing with the cleaning roller. The housing is removably mounted in the printer, and can be opened for replacement of the band of tape.

Abstract: A recording apparatus removes foreign objects adhering to a recording medium over a long period of time, so that images having no defects caused by foreign objects are obtained over a long period of time. The recording apparatus includes a recording medium supply section, a recording medium conveyance section, a record medium cutting section, and a recording section. An adhesive rubber roller containing TiOx (titanium oxide) and a hydrocarbon compound, having a functional group of C—O or Si—O and not containing Ba (barium), is used in at least one of the recording medium supply section, recording medium conveyance section, recording medium cutting section and recording section.

Abstract: A vacuum platen and method for use thereof in a printing device are disclosed. An apparatus embodiment includes a first surface having a plurality of first apertures therethrough, a labyrinth configured to include a plurality of passageways each of which is fluidly coupled to at least one of the first apertures, and a second surface having a plurality of second apertures therethrough each of which is fluidly coupled to the vacuum source and at least one of the passageways thereby establishing an airflow from the first apertures, through the passageways, and out the second apertures. The vacuum platen also includes at least one receptacle in each of the passageways, each receptacle configured to collect debris from the airflow as it travels through the labyrinth.

Abstract: A printer includes platen opening/closing means for increasing a gap between a platen and a print head when a printing medium is set to the printer, and cleaning means for cleaning a photo sensor device. The cleaning means removes paper dust, for example, accumulated to such an extent as to interrupt the optical path between the light emitting and receiving elements of the photo sensor device. The cleaning means is controlled by a control means contained in the printer. The control means drives the cleaning means when an output signal level of the photo sensor device is below a predetermined signal level after the printing medium is discharged out of the printer.

Abstract: A recording medium convey apparatus including a rotary member rotated while contacting with a recorded surface of a recording medium on which the recording was effected by using ink, and a cleaner for removing the ink transferred to the rotary member from the recorded surface of the recording medium, and wherein a contact position where said rotary member and said cleaner means in an axial direction, and at least one of said rotary member and said cleaner means is fixed to be inclined with respect to a rotation device.

Abstract: The improved thermal image recording apparatus and method have a cleaning mode in which after a specified number of image prints have been produced, the thermal head is cleaned by delivering the thermal recording material without applying energy to the thermal head or with low energy below a specified value being applied to the thermal head. The improved thermal image recording apparatus and method are capable of removing stain from the thermal head before it adheres tenaciously to the head. These offer also the advantage of eliminating the need on the part of the user to perform a special maintenance program, and the cleaning operation performed with the apparatus and the method of the invention is less noisy than in the case of using the lapping film.

Abstract: A cleaning roller system, which is preferable for use in a printer having a printing head, is disclosed. The cleaning roller system comprises an adhesive roller which is provided on a recording material feeding side relative to a print head, the adhesive roller has adhesive property, and is in contact with a surface of said recording material, and rotates in a direction of transporting said recording material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a release-coated linerless label web which includes a cleaner and a printable portion. The web can be threaded into contact with a thermal print head and the cleaner can clean the print head and thereafter the web is advanced to printed on a series of labels. The cleaner can be comprised in one embodiment of a plurality of lines of perforation cuts which roughen the surface of the web sufficiently to clean the print head upon many contact of the web with the print head. In another embodiment the cleaner is provided by embossments. In yet another embodiment the cleaner is provided by straining the web. Methods of making and using the web are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system including a source of treatment fluid further including a treatment fluid reservoir and a treatment fluid transfer element adapted to transfer treatment fluid from the reservoir to at least one of the two elements involved in wiping the printhead, the two such elements consisting of the printhead and the wiper, the transfer element thereby acts as an applicator placing treatment fluid onto said at least one element, the source of treatment fluid not contacting said one element directly, and the treatment fluid then is available to assist in cleaning the printhead as it is wiped by the wiper, removing accumulated dried ink solids and other debris, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render such accumulations more removable by wiping.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler for printing and applying labels and for printing tags. The labeler has a keyboard, a display, a scanner, and a battery-containing handle. The labeler is user-friendly and compact. The labeler can be easily loaded with label and tag webs of different widths. The labeler has a discharge chute for the carrier web which can be slid to a position outside the labeler for easy cleaning.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead body includes one or more zones for cleaning, guiding and stabilizing a printhead wiper of an ink jet printer. The printhead body includes a receptacle providing a reservoir for ink, and the receptacle includes a wall having an outer surface. The wall includes a region at which location of one or more ink discharge nozzles is established. A plurality of ribs is located in each of the wiper cleaning zones, which in turn is located to be adjacent the wall region. The orientation of the ribs may be defined with reference to a first axis extending in the plane of the outer wall surface and intersecting the wall region in a first direction, and by a second axis, or axis of symmetry, extending in the plane of the outer wall surface and extending substantially parallel to an edge of the wall and through a central portion of the region to perpendicularly intersect the first axis.

Abstract: A wiping member is described for slidingly cleaning a discharge port face of an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein electrothermal convertors generate heat energy causing film boiling in the ink so that the ink is discharged from the discharge ports. By reducing the simultaneous contact area of the wiping member which can slide on the discharge port face, as well as moving successively the contact area, the deformation or distortion of the wiping member, is deminished. The entire area thus can be wiped uniformly even if the array of discharge ports is longer. The wiping member comprises a cylindrical support rotated in a direction perpendicular to the array of discharge ports, and wiper portions made of a rubber elastic material arranged in a spiral or stagger form which are secured on the peripheral face of the cylindrical support, with a wiper cleaner which is an ink absorber to make contact with the wiper portions being disposed near the wiping member.

Abstract: In a serial printer a pinion and a rack for lateral movement of a carriage, a dislodging member with edges proximate to the rack is provided to remove any chads or other foreign matters that may be attached to the rack, as they approach the pinion with the lateral movement of the carriage. The chads or other foreign matters are prevented from being caught between the pinion and the rack, and noises and increase in the torque due to the rolling in is prevented.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer in which when a printing head is soiled, the debris on the printing head can be removed automatically. The printing head movable to and from a platen is mounted on a carriage capable of being reciprocated along the platen, and a cleaning pad is disposed on an extension line of the platen downsteam or upstream in the printing column direction of the platen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording system including a recording head for performing recording on a sheet, a first rotary member disposed at a downstream side of the recording head and contacting an unrecorded surface of the sheet on which the recording is performed by the recording head and adapted to apply a feeding force to the sheet, and a second rotary member being provided at its peripheral surface with a plurality of teeth and contacting a recorded surface of the sheet with the tips of the teeth thereof, and cooperating with the first rotary member to feed the sheet. The plural teeth of the second rotary member are staggered with other teeth in a direction transverse to a sheet feeding direction. A member is provided to clean the first and second rotary members.

Abstract: Cleaning method for a thermal head used in thermal transfer printers, wherein said cleaning method uses a cleaning solution comprising at least one organic solvent having in pure state a vapour pressure above 25 mbar at 20.degree. C. and a lubricant selected from the group consisting of paraffins, polyolefin waxes, fluor compounds, phosphate compounds, phosphonate compounds, polysiloxanes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, fatty acid amides, fatty acids salts and polyalkyleneoxides.

Abstract: Methogology and apparatus are described which employ an improved modular service station design wherein a printhead-servicing sled is selectively vertically driven to effect execution of servicing tasks. In keeping with its desired modularity, the sled is made readily removable using an improved clamp and sled arrangement. The sled is driven by a unique drive system such drive system being capable of effectively selectively stalling or locking instrumentality such as the sled in various positions defined along its path of vertical movement. To save time and space, both the printhead and the servicing mechanism such as the wipers and the caps are moved so as to place them in proper relative positions for execution of a task.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for removing particulate matter from one or more surfaces of a workpiece, such as a credit card blank, prior to printing a graphic design thereon. The apparatus includes a pair of cleaning rollers which engage both sides of the card, the cleaning rollers having an adhesive coating for removing loose particulate matter from the surfaces of the card. The apparatus also includes a stripper system for stripping collected particulate matter away from the cleaning rollers after a predetermined number of cards have been cleaned.

Abstract: A resistive sheet thermal transfer printer includes a plurality of recording electrodes in in contact with a resistance layer of a current sensitized ink sheet, a common electrode in contact with the resistance layer of the current sensitized ink sheet, and a power supply for applying a voltage across the common electrode and each of the recording electrodes in accordance with image data. The resistive sheet thermal transfer printer also includes, a detection circuit for detecting an electrical current passing through each of the recording electrodes when a predetermined voltage is supplied to each of the recording electrodes, a control circuit for determining, based on a detected electric current obtained by the detection circuit, whether or not a deposit has accumulated on at least one of the recording electrodes, and an abrasive mechanism for abrading ends of the recording electrodes when the control circuit determines that the deposit has accumulated on at least one of the recording electrodes.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a bearing structure (2), a slidably movable print head (6) guided in said bearing structure, a dragging unit (22, 23) adapted to move a sheet (7) to be printed under the print head and exhibiting dragging members (22) directly acting on the sheet, a plate-like body (4) provided with a write surface (5) located under the print head and representing a rest surface for the sheet, the bearing surface being oscillatable relative to the plate-like body between an operating position in which the bearing surface and plate-like body are substantially in mutual contact and a raised position for putting the sheet in place, in which the dragging members directly acting on the sheet are located in the plate-like body substantially below the write surface.

Abstract: A facsimile machine and paper cartridge system wherein the facsimile machine is convertible by accepting disposable cartridges having either plain paper or paper coated with a thermal transfer coating, either cartridge having a paper flow path which reverses the natural curl of the paper to provide generally flat facsimile printouts. Each type of cartridge may also be provided with a wiping surface for cleaning the facsimile machine print head upon the insertion and removal of the cartridge from the machine.

Abstract: A thermal paper cartridge for a facsimile machine, the cartridge including an internal supply of thermal paper, a facsimile machine print head cleaning surface, and an internal paper flow path which reverses the natural curl of the paper to provide generally flat facsimile printouts.

Abstract: A plain paper cartridge for a facsimile machine, the cartridge having an internal supply of plain paper and thermal transfer ribbon, a wiping surface for cleaning the facsimile machine print head upon the insertion and removal of the cartridge from the machine, and an internal paper flow path which reverses the natural curl of the paper to provide generally flat facsimile printouts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing a graphic design on a hard plastic workpiece such as a credit card blank includes a thermal printing element which is supported by a head assembly that has been designed a single link, to have low mechanical compliance in a horizontal plane and yet to allow the print head to align with a print roller. A cleaning assembly is further provided which includes a pair of cleaning rollers having an adhesive coating; and a novel arrangement for stripping particulate matter away from the cleaning rollers after a predetermined number of cards have been cleaned. A number of stepper motors are provided to perform the cleaning and printing functions. The stepper motors are controlled by a local control system which monitors a number of sensors provided on the cleaning and printing stations and is subservient to an overall system controller. The invention further includes a novel method of operation, a cassette for use with the printing station and a novel thermal printing foil.

Abstract: A wire dot printing head includes armatures each of which is coupled to a printing wire, a felt guide for reducing the friction between the printing wires and a printing wire guide, a residual sheet disposed over a magnetic core frame, a biasing leaf spring, and a oil leakage preventing member. Such member is disposed over the armatures to intercept oil flowing from the felt guide. An erroneous dot printing operation due to the arms of the leaf spring sticking to the residual sheet is prevented.

Abstract: For a computer printer having a paper feeder designed to engage a continuous perforated paper having a series of prepunched holes on the left and right marginal strips, a vacuum attachment is disclosed for keeping clean the interior of the computer printer from dust, paper perforations, paper punch waste materials, or other debris produced during printing operations, comprising vacuum means, nozzle means operably connected to said vacuum means, and means for amounting the nozzle means adjacent the paper feeder of the computer printer.

Abstract: A stationary dot matrix printer for printing both continuously variable and repetitive information on a moving substrate utilizing a continuously driven endless loop of ink absorbing web material and either a solvent laden wick to wipe the print wires or a composite web having a non ink-absorbing impact layer on the print head side of the web. A shuttle element drives the web reciprocally in a lateral direction to distribute the wear.

Abstract: A method of cleaning the record head of an image recording system of the transfer type including an electrostatic record head having a multiplicity of electrodes arranged in an array or arrays and a preliminary charging unit operative to uniformly charge a dielectric record medium to a predetermined pre-charge voltage before the record medium is to be passed to the record medium for being activated to produce electrostatic latent images thereon by selective application of control signals to the electrodes in addition to a predetermined recording bias voltage lower than the pre-charge voltage and constantly impressed on all of the electrodes throughout each page print cycle of the system. The method comprises applying a cleaning voltage to the electrodes during a period of time continuous to one of the page print cycles, the cleaning voltage being higher than the pre-charge voltage.

Abstract: A dot printer is adapted to make test printing by driving dot pins (161 to 167) included in a print head (16) before the first character is printed out. More specifically, a central processing unit (1) makes evaluation of the value of a period of approximately one-third of the period required for depression of a printing sheet by the dot pins, thereby to provide the same to an input/output port (6), before print control data for printing the first character is outputted. The input/output port is responsive to the output from the central processing unit to provide a printer driver (9) with a print timing signal of the pulse width of approximately one-third of the pulse width of the print timing signal required for printing the characters. The print driver is responsive to the applied print timing signal to drive the dot pins.

Abstract: A record head of an image recording apparatus is reciprocally tilted to suitably vary the contact condition between the surface of the record head and that of a recording medium, thereby removing toner particles which are momentarily stuck to the record head surface. To maintain styluses of the head unchanged in position, the reciprocation of the record head is effected for the interval between the end of a recording cycle for one page and the start of the next recording cycle for another page, which interval has no influence on the image recording operation.

Abstract: A moistened fabric pad is supported in a container having a cover configured to engage a type element. The cover is fastened to the container so that the fabric pad and type element are brought into contact. Rotation of the type element against the surface of the moistened fabric pad removes dirt and ink from all areas of the type element.

Abstract: A thermal printer provides first and second sub-frames pivotally supported on a main frame to provide access to a dot resistance heater for cleaning and easy removal of the respective structures. Each structure is releasably fixed in operating position in which a resilient drive roller on the second sub-frame presses the thermally sensitive paper against the printer head. The same roller is driven by a motor on the second sub-frame and moves the paper along the paper path by friction drive. The paper moves between a fixed and rotatable knife on the second sub-frame actuated by crank and linkage connection to the core of a solenoid whose winding is fixed on the main frame. A curved guide plate directs the paper toward an opening and into a surface which imposes an S curve on the paper. The S curve allows enlargement of a storage loop in the paper in case the opening is blocked. suThe present invention relates to a thermal printer for the rapid production of tickets, or the like.

Abstract: A non-impact printing system in which a multi-wire head collects debris has an arrangement for cleaning the head with a brush by sweeping the head over the brush in a first direction and immediately sweeping the head back over the brush in the reverse direction, while simultaneously pulling the head away from the brush.Certain aspects of the preferred embodiment disclosed herein include inventive subject matter set forth in the copending application of Robert Burdett Taggart, Ser. No. 26,647, filed Apr. 3, 1979, entitled, "Printing Apparatus Drive System".

Abstract: A pressure roller bar for ink recording devices is disclosed wherein the rollers are formed with ink absorbing surface portions. The roller may have a synthetic body with a circumferential recess receiving a replaceable felt ring which projects radially outwardly of remaining portions of the roller.

Abstract: A device for producing imprints on a recording medium having a member acting on the medium which strikes or presss against a surface of the medium in its forward position. The member is in the form of an elongated arm being resiliently connected to a frame or other support. The arm is also provided with means to prevent ink from adhering to the member as a result of the latter striking the printing ribbon and the ink moving between the arm and the impact surface when said arm is in its rear position.