Abstract: A system and method for determining top of form while printing on continuous feed media. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage device is encoded with instructions that when executed cause a processor to: 1) cause a selected printer to produce a print on continuous feed media; 2) determine, based on a compensation factor that accounts for movement of the continuous feed media through the printer in excess of a length of the data of the print, the distance to advance the continuous feed media such that a succeeding print starts at a top of form location of the continuous feed media; and 3) cause the selected printer to advance the continuous feed media in accordance with the determined distance to advance such that the succeeding print starts at the top of form location of the continuous feed media.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to registering media in a duplex printing system. A first side of a sheet of media is registered in a first pass in response to detection of a first end of the sheet. A registration marker is deposited on the sheet proximate to a second end of the sheet in the first pass. The registration marker can include a marking material that is in the non-visible light range. A second side of the sheet is registered in a second pass in response to detection of the registration marker deposited on the sheet.

Abstract: A method for printing on a smart card using the printer of a postage meter is disclosed. The postage meter has a feed mechanism for feeding mail items past a print head and the construction of the feed mechanism is such that the spacing of adjacent feed rollers is greater than the length of the smart card. As a result the feed mechanism is incapable of feeding smart cards. Therefore in the method a carrier is provided for the smart card, the carrier being of sufficient length as to be engaged by the feed rollers during feeding thereof. Preferably the carrier comprises a sheet having a recess therein to receive the smart card so that the print receiving surface of the smart card is approximately co-planar with the surface of the carrier sheet.

Abstract: A printer is provided, which comprises a printer body 20 including a paper sheet feeding unit for setting paper sheets therein for printing and a paper sheet discharging unit, and a printer controller 10 of the printer body 20. When setting again paper sheets after printing on one surface in the paper sheet feeding unit for printing on the other surface, the printer body 20 is adapted to print, under control of an instruction from the printer controller 10, a first symbol indicating that the paper sheets should be set in the paper sheet feeding unit with the upper, lower, left or right part of the printed surface directed in the paper sheet feed-out direction and also with the printed surface up or down.

Abstract: In a print position setting method, a sequence of the following operations of printing toner mark 4 by the obverse side printer, of detecting the toner mark 4 by a mark sensor 9, and feeding a printing sheet a distance ranging from a toner mark detecting position 12 to a page leading edge position 6 when the printing operation starts, is automated.

Abstract: The device embodying the invention is intended to equip a processor-driven printer comprising a hopper capable of containing and supporting a freely rotating roll of paper, a guide and drive means enabling the web of paper to be led from the roll to a drive device, to a line by line print station and then to an output orifice. It comprises at least one first detector capable of detecting marks affix on the web, in an area not used for printing. The invention applies to a printer of the type used in man/machine dialog or in remote transmission.

Abstract: In a multiple-time recorder in which different colored recordings are superimposed on a single sheet to draw a multi-colored drawing, the reference position of the recording paper must remain at a same point for each-time drawing of a single color. At an initialization, a physical property of the recording paper is measured as a function of the paper position including the reference position, and this function is stored in a reference data memory. Before the commencement of the next and subsequent recordings, the same physical property is measured and stored in a compared data memory. From the cross correlation of the contents of the compared data memory and those of the reference data memory, the reference position for the next and subsequent recordings is precisely determined.

Abstract: An information processing mechanism having a combined printing and reading head wherein the reading head is maintained as close as possible to the printing head by providing means for deflecting light entering the reading head so that the organization of the reading head may be arranged with a reading window thereof through which light enters the reading head arranged adjacent the printing head between a printing needle guide member and a magnet carrier of the printing head, the magnet carrier having a wider dimension than the printing needle guide member.

Abstract: In order to control the movement of a label web to be imprinted past the printing head of a thermal printer, or the like, the label web carries optically detectable marks at predetermined intervals therealong. The label web is comprised of label pieces adhesively secured to an underlying supporting web. An optical sensor for detecting the marks on the label web is disposed on a label holding member which is hinged to a supporting base, so that the label web is fed past the supporting base and is pressed thereagainst by the label holding member. Holes located on the supporting base at opposite sides of the label web help remove any adhesive material that is emitted from the sides of the label web. The support base has guiding lands for guiding the movement of the label web. The operation of the printer and of the label feed device is controlled by the optically sensed marks on the web.

Abstract: A device for recording both machine readable information and visible information on a recording member such as a time-card or ledger card or pass-book with a strip of magnetic record material on it. The device includes recording apparatus for recording machine readable information on the recording member, a transport mechanism for moving the recording member and the recording apparatus relative to each other, a printer for printing visible characters or other marks upon the recording member, and print spacing apparatus which uses the relative motion between the recording member and the recording apparatus to space the characters from one another on the recording member. In a preferred embodiment, the recording apparatus is a magnetic recorder and the magnetic recorder and the printer are fixed relative to each other during the motion created by the transport mechanism. Preferably, the same mechanism which creates the relative motion for recording also moves the record card into and out of the device.

Abstract: A marking device for a shorthand machine selectively marks the margins of the paper tape output of the shorthand machine to denote a portion of the shorthand notes for ready reference. The activating keys for the device are located in close proximity with the machine keyboard, whereby the operator may activate the device with minimal interruption of the recording process. Disposable marking instruments may be employed in the device. Incorporation of the device in the machine cover preserves the first planar surface of the cover and further, facilitates storage of the device when not in use.

Abstract: Stop marks are printed on a document such as a bank passbook to indicate the position of the last data entry. The passbook is fed into the present apparatus until the lowermost stop mark is sensed. The passbook is stopped after a predetermined number of timing pulses have been counted after detection of the stop mark and another stop mark is printed on the passbook. The density of the new stop mark is sensed and, if insufficient, more stop marks are printed on top of the new stop mark until the sensed density becomes sufficient. Each stop mark may comprise two or more parallel lines which must be detected separately.