Abstract: A drive and actuation mechanism for a component insertion machine having a lead screw mounted to a housing by a ball nut and a spline nut so as to be movable longitudinally and rotationally. The lead screw has a hollow shaft in which a push rod is disposed. An arm support is mounted to the lead screw so as to move vertically with the lead screw. An actuation arm is connected at a first bearing point to the push rod and connected at a second bearing point to the arm support. The actuation arm is driven by a crank motor, which is connected to the actuation arm at a third bearing point, to move the push rod. The ball nut and spline nut are also driven by motors to move the lead screw vertically and rotationally.

Abstract: A print head for use in an electrolytic matrix printer is described. In this print head, predetermined ones of a plurality of electrodes are permanently grounded and are thereby forced to always function as cathodes. The remaining electrodes serve as print electrodes and, depending on the information needed during a given print cycle, either print or are not energized. These print electrodes, therefore, are constrained to always function as anodes. Fixing the function of the electrodes in the print cycle prevents reverse current flow in an electrode from print cycle to print cycle and placing the permanently grounded electrodes intersticially between and about the print electrodes to isolate them, in particular, further enhances this effect. This is particularly beneficial when using platinum print electrodes that form a protective passivation layer which is destroyed by the reverse current flow resulting from alternating electrode functions.