Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Nitto-denko Corporation

Hideaki Matsuda

Matsuo Yomogida

Daisuke Saito

Mutsuo Ogawa

Genzi Oshino

Shigeru Tazawa

Mitsuyoshi Satoh

Katsuhiko Obata

Yutaka Shibata

Takamitsu Abe

Kenichi Ueda

Takuya Tanaka

Mituru Takahashi

Takanori Endo

Tadashi Yonezawa

Masami Miyake

Mitsuo Kuramoto

Isamu Suzuki

Seiro Yahata

Kenichi Kimura

Hideo Numabe

Sumio Suzuki

Shigenobu Irokawa

Kunihiko Kanehira

Kimio Watanabe

Nobuhiko Nii

Seiji Fujioka

Shigeru Yashima

A printing system including a plurality of different kinds of printers and a printer selecting device therefore are disclosed. The printer selecting device includes an accepting section for accepting information representative of a desired number of printings input, and selecting means for selecting one of the printers matching with the desired number of printings. Image data to be printed are sent from the printer selecting device to the printer selected. In this configuration, one printer adequate for the desired number of printings, which is an important factor for the selection of a printer, is automatically selected.

Printing system including different kinds of printers and a printer selecting device therefor

A bar code reader provided with a laser diode () and a rotatory mirror () for deflecting a laser beam emitted by the laser diode for scanning, wherein a strip (A) attached to the rotatory mirror (), serving as a sensing indicator, is sensed at a position corresponding to a reading start edge of a laser beam scanning range of a bar code (1), and rotation of the rotatory mirror () is stopped for a predetermined time length after sensing of the strip (A) and measurement of a scanning time length up to the final position of bar code reading, respectively, in the case of automatic scanning while rotation of the rotatory mirror () is locked upon measurement of half of a scanning time length up to the final position of the bar code reading after the sensing of the strip (A) in the case of manual scanning, so that the laser beam can be recognized with ease, enabling focusing thereof or the manual scanning to be implemented.

Bar code reader

When a holder of an ID card approaches an image formation instructing device for sending an image forming instruction to an image forming apparatus, an ID code stored in a RF-ID element built in the ID card is read by a RF communication device. When the image formation instructing device transmits an image forming instruction to the image forming apparatus in this condition, an image forming operation is executed and the number of sheets for image formation is counted by counting means. Further, the counted number of sheets for image formation is associated with an ID code having predetermined bearing on the personal ID code read by the RF communication device and thereafter stored and held in a number-of-sheets file. Thus, the number of sheets for image formation is managed without preparing a key counter, a key card, etc. and without special operation.

System for managing number of sheets for image formation

A printing system including a plurality of different kinds of printers and a printer selecting device. The printer selecting device includes an accepting section for accepting information representative of a desired number of printings input, and selecting section for selecting one of the printers matching with the desired number of printings. Image data to be printed are sent from the printer selecting device to the printer selected. In this configuration, one printer most advantageous in printing cost for the desired number of printings, which is an important factor for the selection of a printer is selected.

A bar code reader provided with a laser diode ( ) and a rotatory mirror ( ) for deflecting a laser beam emitted by the laser diode for scanning, wherein a strip ( A) attached to the rotatory mirror ( ), serving as a sensing indicator, is sensed at a position corresponding to a reading start edge of a laser beam scanning range of a bar code ( ), and rotation of the rotatory mirror ( ) is stopped for a predetermined time length after sensing of the strip ( A) and measurement of a scanning time length up to the final position of bar code reading, respectively, in the case of automatic scanning while rotation of the rotatory mirror ( ) is locked upon measurement of half of a scanning time length up to the final position of the bar code reading after the sensing of the strip ( A) in the case of manual scanning, so that the laser beam can be recognized with ease, enabling focusing thereof or the manual scanning to be implemented.

Bar code reader having a rotatory optical deflector and a rotation position detector

When a holder of an ID card approaches an image formation instructing device for sending an image forming instruction to an image forming apparatus, an ID code stored in a RF-ID element built in the ID card is read by a RF communication device, an image forming operation is executed, and the number of sheets for image formation is counted by counting means. Further, the counted number of sheets for image formation is associated with an ID code having predetermined bearing on the personal ID code read by the RF communication device and thereafter stored and held in a number-of-sheets file. Thus, the number of sheets for image formation is managed without preparing a key counter, a key card, etc. and without special operation.

Image forming system

A bar code reader for reading a bar code by emitting a laser beam from a laser diode toward the bar code and receiving the subsequently reflected light on a photosensor, in which the photosensor is disposed along an irradiating direction of the laser beam emitted from the laser diode, thereby achieving the most effective arrangement of the laser diode and the photosensor occupying less area.

A method and a device for determining the amount of ink or similar liquid existing in a container are disclosed. A resonance circuit is arranged on the container storing the liquid. A voltage having a preselected frequency is applied to a drive coil located outside of the container to thereby induce a voltage having a preselected frequency in the resonance circuit. The voltage induced in the resonance circuit, in turn, induces a voltage having a preselected frequency in a sense coil also located outside of the container. The amount of liquid in the container is determined in terms of the voltage induced in the sense coil.

Method and device for determining the amount of a liquid existing in a container

A stand with a communication capability is formed with a communication pit in its top for receiving a pen type scanner. The communication pit is shaped complementarily to the scanner so as to prevent the scanner from shaking or rotating. An auxiliary circuit board stands upright on a printed circuit board built in the stand. An infrared transmission/receipt device is mounted on the auxiliary circuit board. The infrared transmission/receipt device faces an infrared communication port included in the scanner when the scanner is inserted into the communication pit.

Stand with a communication capability for a barcode reader

A stencil printer includes a plurality of ink drums spaced from each other in the direction of paper conveyance and each having a respective master wrapped therearound. An upstream ink drum and pressing means movable into and out of contact with the upstream ink drum define an upstream print position. A downstream ink drum and pressing means movable into and out of contact with the downstream ink drum define a downstream print position. An intermediate conveyor is located between the upstream print position and the downstream print position for conveying a paper carrying an image printed at the upstream print position toward the downstream print position. A distance which the paper moves from the upstream print position to the downstream print position is longer than a distance between the upstream print position and the downstream print position. Defective printing is reduced even when the peripheral speed of the upstream ink drum and that of the downstream ink drum are different from each other.

Stencil printer

In a cutting device having a moving (disc) cutter and a fixed cutter which extends in a cutting direction, wherein the moving cutter moves along the fixed cutter, thereby cutting a medium which is interposed therebetween, a presser member which is movable together with a medium pressing interlocking plate is lowered to press on the medium to fix the same at a portion close to a cutting position since a bearing attached to the moving cutter engages with the medium pressing interlocking plate to press down the same as the moving cutter moves. Since the moving cutter cuts the medium at this state, the cut edge of the medium can be excellent in linearity even if it has low rigidity in the outward-surface direction at right angles to the surface thereof. While the moving cutter does not cut the medium, the presser member is retracted to a standby position.

Cutting device

In a printer for printing on a recording medium using a transfer medium, a transfer medium capable of being repeatedly used at the same portion thereof (e.g., a multi-pass thermal transfer ribbon) is conveyed in the normal direction in performing the printing process by a recording means such as a thermal head etc. and the conveying amount of the transfer medium which is used for printing is measured at that time. The transfer medium is conveyed in the reverse direction by a given amount based on the result of the measurement and the reverse direction conveying ratio of the transfer medium to the used length of the transfer medium which is arbitrarily set by a transfer medium reverse direction conveying ratio setting means irrespective of the used amount of the transfer medium every time a unit of printing is completed. Thereafter the transfer medium is conveyed in the normal direction for printing. Repeating these processes, it is possible to use up the transfer medium so far as it is can be practically used for printing.

Printer and method of printing using the same

A thermal printer that prints on a recording sheet by holding the recording sheet between a thermal print head and a platen, driving the thermal print head to generate heat and driving the platen to feed the recording sheet comprises an approach limiting means that limits the approach of the thermal print head to the platen and determines a minimum distance between the thermal print head and the platen. The approach limiting means is provided with a stopping member for stopping the thermal print head or a print head holding member holding the thermal print head moving toward the platen to limit the approach of the thermal print head to the platen and to determine a minimum distance between the thermal print head and the platen. The thermal printer reduces the bias of distribution of the pressure of the thermal print head on the recording sheet along the width of the same and is capable of printing characters and the like clearly over the entire width of the recording sheet.

Growing community of inventors

Natori, Japan

Hideaki Matsuda