A paper stacker for use with a printer which prints connected sheets that are to be stacked in a folded relationship having a surface for receiving the paper with a frame surrounding the paper that is raised in relationship to the paper in order to maintain paper within the confines of the frame as the frame moves upwardly. The frame is balanced by a constant force spring, and is indexed by optical sensors. The frame includes two adjustable fences for variously sized paper which adjustably moves with paddles to press the paper edges downwardly in the stack. Pinch rollers for driving the paper include low inertia drive rollers formed of a relatively low density plastic material with a pair of idler rollers. To improve stacking, ironing tractor idler rollers iron the tractor perforations, and chains orient the catenary stacking movement.

A device for printing on a continuous sheet includes a motor (22) for carrying the continuous sheet, a switching unit (18) for switching a minimum unit of control of the motor (22) depending on a paper size of the continuous sheet, and a position-detection unit (24) for detecting a rotational position of the motor (22). The device further includes a stop-control unit (19) for controlling the motor (22) to stop at a position matching a selected minimum unit of control based on the rotational position of the motor (22) detected by the position-detection unit (24).

A device for printing on a continuous sheet includes a motor (22) for carrying the continuous sheet, a switching unit (18) for switching a minimum unit of control of the motor (22) depending on a paper size of the continuous sheet, and a position-detection unit (24) for detecting a rotational position of the motor (22). The device further includes a stop-control unit (19) for controlling the motor (22) to stop at a position matching a selected minimum unit of control based on the rotational position of the motor (22) detected by the position-detection unit (24).

A cutting system for a printing device comprises a cutting blade (58) which has a cutting surface wherein there is defined a notch (58a). The cutting system also has an anvil (60) on which a printing medium such as heat shrink material is supported during cutting. The cutting surface of the blade (58) cuts through the printing medium leaving an uncut area at the notch (58a).

A colour printer has a print unit (1) with a continuous roll (4) of paper which passes over a platen roller (2) beneath a print head (3) with interposed ink transfer ribbon fed between reels (6) and (6'). The end of the paper roll (13) is clamped between jaws (9,10) of a clamping carriage (5) which is movable to position (5') to draw out length (L) of paper (4). During this action the print head (3) is operative to deposit or transfer an appropriate colour from ribbon (6) onto the paper. Roll (4) then rewinds the paper and draws clamp (5) back to the start position. The print operation is repeated for each colour required after which rollers (12a,12b) cause the paper to be discharged through guides (18a,18b) and through sheet cutter (7).

This invention relates to an image forming apparatus comprising: feeding means for attaching the recording medium and feeding the recording medium in a predetermined feeding direction; image forming means for forming images according to image information on the recording medium fed by the feeding means; and separating means for separating the recording medium from the feeding means in a direction angled from the feeding direction of the feeding means. The feeding means is located on a downstream side of the image forming means and is separating the recording medium from the feeding means by pushing the recording medium from non-recording face side thereof to recording face side thereof while the recording medium is stopped during intermittent feeding.

A device for performing a predetermined type of operation, such as a printing operation, upon a strip (10) of working medium, such as paper, at intervals along the strip comprises guide means for guiding the strip along a working path through the device, by way of an operating (printing) station (6,11), and traction means (12) arranged for engagement with the strip and operable to drive the strip along the working path. The device also includes setting means (19,20,28), disposed at an externally accessible position along the working path, upstream of the operating station, for enabling the leading edge of a strip (10) being fed into the device to be positioned at a predefined start location (28) whilst the traction means are disengaged, whereafter engagement can be brought about between the traction means and the strip. Drive control means (33-35,37,38) coupled with the traction means are operable automatically to cause the strip, after engagement with the traction means has been brought about, to move along the working path to such an extent that a preselected portion of the strip is presented at the operating station. Such a system can simplify alignment of desired parts of the strip with the operating station, for example the alignment of the top of a page as defined by fold lines on the strip.

A device for performing a predetermined type of operation, such as a printing operation, upon a strip (10) of working medium, such as paper, at intervals along the strip comprises guide means for guiding the strip along a working path through the device, by way of an operating (printing) station (6,11), and traction means (12) arranged for engagement with the strip and operable to drive the strip along the working path. The device also includes setting means (19,20,28), disposed at an externally accessible position along the working path, upstream of the operating station, for enabling the leading edge of a strip (10) being fed into the device to be positioned at a predefined start location (28) whilst the traction means are disengaged, whereafter engagement can be brought about between the traction means and the strip. Drive control means (33-35,37,38) coupled with the traction means are operable automatically to cause the strip, after engagement with the traction means has been brought about, to move along the working path to such an extent that a preselected portion of the strip is presented at the operating station. Such a system can simplify alignment of desired parts of the strip with the operating station, for example the alignment of the top of a page as defined by fold lines on the strip.

A mounting apparatus 10 for mounting a printing apparatus 20 to a structure 100, the mounting apparatus 10 including an attachment part 12 which is attachable to the structure 100 and a support member 14 upon which a printing apparatus 20 is supportable, the support member 14 enabling the printing apparatus 20 to be located in a desired position along a first axis A which extends in a first direction relative to the structure 100, and wherein at least a part of a footprint of the support member 14, defined in a first plane which is substantially transverse to the first axis A, overlaps at least a part of a footprint of the printing apparatus 20, defined in a second plane which is substantially transverse to the first axis A, and wherein the support member 14 is extendible/retractable along the first axis A to adjust the position of the printing apparatus 10 relative to the structure 100.

A reference mark (120, 120a, 120b) is recorded in an area (101) between one image and the next image sequentially printed on a first surface of a continuous sheet. In a print on a second surface of the sheet, the recorded reference mark is read, and a print position of the image on a second surface of the sheet is set. A plurality of images (110) are sequentially printed on the second surface on the basis of this setting.