Abstract: A docking station for a removable printer mechanism is provided, together with methods for providing a removable printer mechanism. The docking station may have a base with parallel side arms adapted to be fixed to an interior of a printer housing. Side walls may extend from each of the parallel side arms. The side walls may be adapted to guide the printer mechanism into a docked position in the printer and to removably fix the printer mechanism in the docked position. A clamping element may be provided which is adapted to clamp and hold a printer-side cable connector in position to accept a corresponding cable connector of the printer mechanism. The printer mechanism may easily be slid into and out of the docking station for repair or replacement.

Abstract: A docking station for a removable printer mechanism is provided, together with methods for providing a removable printer mechanism. The docking station may have a base with parallel side arms adapted to be fixed to an interior of a printer housing. Side walls may extend from each of the parallel side arms. The side walls may be adapted to guide the printer mechanism into a docked position in the printer and to removably fix the printer mechanism in the docked position. A clamping element may be provided which is adapted to clamp and hold a printer-side cable connector in position to accept a corresponding cable connector of the printer mechanism. The printer mechanism may easily be slid into and out of the docking station for repair or replacement.

Abstract: A docking station for a removable printer mechanism is provided, together with methods for providing a removable printer mechanism. The docking station may have a base with parallel side arms adapted to be fixed to an interior of a printer housing. Side walls may extend from each of the parallel side arms. The side walls may be adapted to guide the printer mechanism into a docked position in the printer and to removably fix the printer mechanism in the docked position. A bridge element may extend between the parallel side arms at a rear of the base. A clamping element may be fixed to the bridge element and be adapted to hold a printer-side cable connector in position to accept a corresponding cable connector of the printer mechanism. The printer mechanism may easily be slid into and out of the docking station for repair or replacement.

Abstract: A docking station for a removable printer mechanism is provided, together with methods for providing a removable printer mechanism. The docking station may have a base with parallel side arms adapted to be fixed to an interior of a printer housing. Side walls may extend from each of the parallel side arms. The side walls may be adapted to guide the printer mechanism into a docked position in the printer and to removably fix the printer mechanism in the docked position. A bridge element may extend between the parallel side arms at a rear of the base. A clamping element may be fixed to the bridge element and be adapted to hold a printer-side cable connector in position to accept a corresponding cable connector of the printer mechanism. The printer mechanism may easily be slid into and out of the docking station for repair or replacement.

Abstract: An improved quiet impact printer mechanism for use with a typewriter or printer which includes a print hammer having a significant mass for impacting a character pad against an ink ribbon, paper and a platen. A first embodiment has a drive means providing insignificant inertia through the use of a cam driven by an inexpensive, low torque reversible motor which is coupled to the hammer through a cam follower. The cam arrangement may also propel the hammer toward the platen under a predetermined series of controlled velocities. A second embodiment of a printer mechanism, similar to that described above, includes a rotary member driven by a motor link, coupled to the print hammer for moving the hammer toward and away from the platen. The motor link includes an acoustic noise reducing means.

Abstract: An improved quiet impact printer mechanism for use with a typewriter or printer which includes a print hammer having a high effective mass at the print point for impacting a character pad against an ink ribbon, paper and a platen at a relatively low velocity. The pinter mechanism drive means includes a cam driven by a low torque reversible motor for moving a cam follower. The cam follower is coupled to the hammer by means of a pin and moves the hammer towards the platen. The cam may also cause movement of the hammer toward the platen under a predetermined series of controlled velocities.

Abstract: A printing device including a print hammer having a noise dampener for use with an impact printer mechanism. The print hammer has a significant mass for impacting a character pad against an ink ribbon, paper and a platen. In a first embodiment the print hammer includes an acoustic noise dampening layer interposed between a mass weight and the hammer face which carries the anvil that impacts during printing. In other embodiments the print hammer is formed in two parts. One part having a weighted mass and the other part being pivotally coupled to the printer mechanism. The two parts are structurally joined together by a noise dampening member. Transmission of acoustic noise during impact printing through the hammer is reduced.

Abstract: An acoustic transmission member is disclosed for use in an encoding system utilizing acoustic energy wherein diverging sound waves are induced within the member in response to selected actuation of a striker positioned along the member. The time taken by each sound wave to travel through the member is measured in the system to provide an elapsed time interval unique to all strikers for generating a code indicative of the selected input. The acoustic transmission member is a rod formed into a series of coils or helixes with at least one coil length provided and when assembled disposed between adjacent striker positions. The coil configuration defines an expanded path, as compared to the straight linear distance between adjacent strikers, for the sound waves to travel.