Howtek, Inc.

Centronics Data Computer Corporation

Herbert E Menhennett

Robert Howard

Richard R Helinski

John Larsen

Color printing characterized by high color density and color contrast is provided by jetting an ink composition composed of an optically clear, phase change base material and a primary subtractive color dye which is soluble in the base material onto the surface of a printing medium to form a multiplicity of closely spaced color dots or spots arranged to define a line or character on the medium. Each dot consists of one or more well defined, optically clear, semitransparent color layers each of which has a different color so that the observed color of each dot is a true subtractive mixture of the colors in the layers. Specific ink compositions are also disclosed.

Ink jet color printing method

A sheet-feed mechanism (10) for a rotary print head (12) includes a track (16) that defines a paper path in the form of a partial circular annulus. Belts (40 and 42) carry tabs (36, 38, 72, and 74) that support the lower end of a paper sheet, and movement of the belt causes the tabs to raise the paper sheet as it is printed. A guide structure (60) keeps the paper sheet in the proper cylindrical shape until it has left the track, at which time a curved portion (67) of a cam post (66) urges the paper out so that it pops open to a flat shape and falls into a tray (70).

Sheet-feed mechanism for rotary print head

Apparatus for use in a dot-matrix type impact printer for printing each line of characters and/or graphic data in a selective one of a plurality of character fonts and/or formats. In one preferred embodiment, a manual selection is made corresponding to either a normal or compressed spacing between adjacent dot columns by selection of a registration array from a group of such arrays. Dual-channel reading means cooperate with the registration arrays for determining the position of a print head as it moves across a print line and for enabling a plurality of print wires to be selectively impacted against the paper document whenever the print head is in proper registration as determined by the selected array. Spacing between registration slits of each array is uniform but is different as between arrays. The selected array may be changed either manually or remotely. Upon completion of the printing of a line, control logic means returns the printer to a 'selected' format. Double width characters may be printed utilizing any of the arrays. In an alternative embodiment, a horizontal format may be utilized to permit printing in only selected regions or columns.

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Windham, NH, United States of America

Herbert E Menhennett