Abstract: This invention provides improved means for automatically retracting the styli away from the paper when the rotational speed of the rotor drops below a predetermined minimum level. Improved means also are provided for stably holding and accurately positioning the styli during printing. In addition, simple means are provided for adjusting the axial position of the styli to ensure proper character spacing. A snap-on housing protects the rotor and the retracted styli and allows the rotor and styli to be removed easily from the rotary printer as a single enclosed unit. An improved latch is provided for locking the rotor in one place on the drive shaft, but allowing the rotor to be removed relatively easily. The platen has a slight inclined area or ramp at the leading edge of the recording paper. The ramp smooths the travel of the styli on to the paper and increases the area of the paper which can be used for printing.

Abstract: A computerized system for translating a torch head tip at a constant travel speed along a contoured workpiece including a driven skate characterized by an elongated bed, a pair of independently pivotal trucks connected to the bed in supporting relation therewith and mounted on a contoured track of an arbitrary configuration in mutually spaced relation, an axially extensible torch head manipulator arm mounted on the bed of the carriage and projected perpendicularly from the midportion thereof and having a torch head mounted at its distal end, and a real-time computerized control drive subsystem to advance the skate along the track at a variable rate for maintaining a constant speed for the torch head tip and to position the torch axis relative to a preset angle to the workpiece.