Abstract: A character ring-selecting type printer for printing m laterally spaced columns includes less than m character rings with lateral spacing between adjacent character rings. The character rings are translated in unison to enable one character ring to print in more than one column.

Abstract: A mechanism for achieving a precisely-timed intermittent operation includes an oscillating drive having continuously repeating oscillating cycles during which an output member of the oscillating drive oscillates back and forth between opposed dead center positions. A driven structure which has an input portion is provided for producing a predetermined intermittent operation. A motion-transmitting member has an operating position situated in the path of movement of the output member of the oscillating drive to be moved thereby, the input portion of the driven structure being situated in the path along which the motion-transmitting member is moved by the output member so that when the latter is in its operating positon a drive is transmitted from the output member through the motion-transmitting member to the driven structure to operate the latter. This motion-transmitting member has a retracted, rest position beyond the path of movement of the output member.