Transact Technologies, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Company

David E Weeks

Bruce Harris

Steven A Supron

Richard A Monroe

Jeffrey S Koepele

Donald E Brooks

Bart C Shuldman

David Block

James Del Signore

Peter Zach

Michael Sizer

Steven P Hilsdorf

Miguel Ortiz

A label sensing mechanism for a printer mechanism is provided. The label sensing mechanism may comprise a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor disposed opposite one another, each of the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor may comprise an emitter and a detector. The first optical sensor and the second optical sensor may be positioned on either side of a paper path along which label liner bearing labels to be printed travels. The first optical sensor and the second optical sensor may be operable together or separately in order to detect label position, preprinted marks on the label liner, and preprinted marks on the labels. A method for sensing labels using such a label sensing mechanism and a printer having such a label sensing mechanism are also provided.

Label sensing mechanism with two optical sensors and different sensing modes for detecting label position, preprinted marks on label liners and preprinted marks on labels

Terminal with integral printers

A paper bucket for a printer with a self-adjusting spindle mechanism capable of accommodating media rolls of varying width is provided, together with a printer having such a paper bucket and corresponding method. The adjustable paper bucket may have a bucket frame and oppositely disposed wall assemblies pivotally mounted in the bucket frame. The adjustable paper bucket may further include oppositely disposed vertical flanges, each of the vertical flanges being pivotally mounted to a respective one of the wall assemblies. A spindle flange is rotatably mounted to each vertical flange for accepting a media roll therebetween. A motion linkage connects the wall assemblies together such that a movement of one of the wall assemblies results in an equal and opposite movement of the other one of the wall assemblies.

Printer paper bucket with rotating spindle mechanism for accommodating media rolls of varying width

A pivot mechanism for a printer is provided, the pivot mechanism comprising a pivot base and two oppositely disposed side walls extending perpendicular to the pivot base. An arched slot may be provided in each side wall. Each slot may have at least two notches, each notch defining different positions of the pivot mechanism. Two lever arms may be provided, each of the two lever arms comprising a first end and a second end, with a connecting rod connecting the first ends of the lever arms together. A locking pin may be disposed on the second end of each of the lever arms. Each of the locking pins may extend into a corresponding one of the slots and engage with a corresponding notch. A pivot rod extends through the lever arms and into or through the side walls. The printer housing is adapted to pivot on the pivot rod.

Pivot mechanism for a printer and a printer with a pivoting printer housing

Methods and apparatus for supporting a paper roll in a paper bucket of a printer are provided. The paper bucket may comprise a curved base portion for accepting paper rolls of varying widths, two oppositely disposed side walls movably mounted to the curved base portion, and a two-part spring-loaded spindle assembly extending through each of the side walls and adapted to support a paper roll therebetween. Each spindle assembly may comprise a first spring loaded spindle part and a second spring loaded spindle part movably connected to one another.

Two-part spindle mechanism for a printer paper bucket, a printer paper bucket, and a printer having a paper bucket with a two-part spindle mechanism

A cutter for a printer is provided, together with corresponding methods. The cutter has a fixed blade and a movable blade. The fixed blade is arranged on a cover bracket. The cover bracket is movable between an open and a closed position. The movable blade is arranged on a printer frame. The movable blade is adapted to move from a home position into engagement with the fixed blade for cutting paper media during a cutting action. In the open position of the cover bracket, the fixed blade and movable blade are separated, enabling paper jams to be cleared and paper to be loaded.

Cutter for a printer

A configurable cutter mechanism for a printer and corresponding methods are provided. The cutter mechanism may comprise a rotary cutter mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and for translation across at least a portion of a width of a paper path perpendicular to the rotation axis. A fixed blade assembly may be provided that is adapted to cooperate with the rotary cutter. The fixed blade assembly may extend across the width of the paper path. A controller may be provided for controlling a variable length of travel of the rotary cutter across the width of the paper path. The paper path runs between the rotary cutter and the fixed blade assembly.

Configurable cutter mechanism for a printer and method for configuring a cutter mechanism for a printer

A dual-purpose printer for printing receipts and validating forms is provided. The printer comprises a receipt drive roller for driving paper through a receipt path, a dual-purpose roller capable of contacting the drive roller, and a validation idler roller adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with the dual-purpose roller. The receipt path is formed between the receipt drive roller and the dual-purpose roller. A validation path is formed between the validation idler roller and the dual-purpose roller. Rotation of the receipt drive roller in a first direction enables driving of paper through the receipt path. When the validation idler roller is in engagement with the dual-purpose roller, rotation of the dual-purpose roller in the first direction enables discharging of a form from the validation path.

Methods and apparatus for printing receipts and validating forms

Methods are provided for driving sheets through a transaction-based printer. A sheet drive forwards a sheet through a printing station to a cutting station where the sheet is severed from a spool by a cutter. Movement of a kicker element is coordinated with that of the cutter so that the severed sheet is kicked into a bin located in the top cover of the printer. The printer can be, for example, an ink-jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation or thermal printer used to print tickets, vouchers, coupons or the like.

Method for stacking tickets in a printer

Methods and apparatus for bursting perforated paper stock are provided. A feed mechanism is provided for feeding perforated paper stock in a feed direction along a paper path in a printer. The perforated paper stock has sections separated by perforations. A loop area is provided in the printer for accumulating one of the sections of the perforated paper stock. A burst element is provided for bursting a perforation of the accumulated section. In order to burst the perforation of the accumulated section, the feed direction is reversed to draw the perforation of the accumulated section against the burst element, thereby separating the section from the perforated paper stock. A paper dispensing mechanism is provided for advancing the separated section out of the loop area and dispensing the section from the printer.

Methods and apparatus for bursting perforated paper stock

A transaction-based printer has a sheet drive for forwarding a sheet through a printing station to a cutting station where the sheet is severed from a spool by a rotary cutter. A kicker element is mounted in the cutting station. Movement of the kicker element is coordinated through the cutter drive with that of the rotary cutter so that the severed sheet is kicked into a bin located in the top cover of the printer. The printer can be, for example, an ink-jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation or thermal printer used to print tickets, vouchers, coupons or the like.

Stacker for a printer

Apparatus for cleaning the nozzles of an ink jet cartridge that is mounted upon the carriage of a small point of sale printer. The carriage is arranged to carry one or more ink cartridges over a reciprocal path of travel through a printing station. The printer contains a drive roller mounted upon a shaft for advancing a substrate through the printing station. A rotor is journalled for free rotation on the shaft adjacent to one end of the drive roller. A rocker arm connects the rotor to a solenoid which when energized moves the rotor from an inoperative position into an operative position. A wiper blade is mounted upon the rotor which is adapted to wipe the nozzles on the ink cartridge when the rotor is in the operative position and to retract the blade out of contact with the nozzles when the rotor is moved into the inoperative position.

Wiping apparatus for an ink cartridge

An ink jet printer having a drive roller assembly for conducting forms into and out of a printing station that is located beneath the drive roller assembly. A pair of sensor units are mounted above the axis of the drive roller for detecting the alignment and registrations of the leading edge of a form as it enters the nip between the drive roller and a biasing plate prior to initiating a validation sequence. A sensor unit is mounted below the axis of the drive roller for detecting the leading edge of a form as it starts to move out of the nip. The validation sequence is terminated when the trailing edge of the form is detected by the two upper sensors. The printer is arranged to process forms in a lengthwise orientation or a widthwise orientation.

Ink jet validation printer

Apparatus for reciprocally moving one or more ink cartridges through the printing station of an ink jet printer. A carriage having at least one open top compartment equipped with a latching mechanism which is arranged to urge the front face of the ink cartridge into contact with the front wall of the compartment. The latching mechanism includes a frame that is pivotally supported in the rear wall of the compartment so that it can move between a rearwardly canted position into an upright vertical position. A biasing member is pivotally supported in the frame and contains a pair of spaced apart ramps. A spring rotates the biasing member within the frame so that the ramp rides in biasing contact with the back of an ink cartridge being inserted into the compartment as the frame is rotated from the canted position into the upright position.

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Willseyville, NY, United States of America

David E Weeks