Abstract: An electronic device having an accessory device such as an AC adapter is constructed so that the part that holds the accessory device is not a dedicated part of the electronic device and allows the easy dissipation of heat. The electronic device has an installation member configured to attach an accessory device to the part of the electronic device that is the bottom when the electronic device is in place for use; and a support member configured discretely from the installation member, and supporting the electronic device on the installation surface when the electronic device is installed for use.

Abstract: The present invention embraces methods to automatically adjust print locations on a label on center-tracked printers. The methods are applicable for the initial out of the box setup and when changing media/print scripts after deployment of the printer. A novelty of the present invention is that no additional hardware may be required and the method is implemented with a relatively simple software algorithm. By utilizing a simple software algorithm and an analysis of the objects (barcode, text, shape, graphics, etc.) in the rendered image buffer, the centered position for the label can be calculated. The calculation of the centered position for the label is based on the print head width and the image width. An additional benefit with this invention is that the risk of printing outside the physical label (due to mechanical or label media roll variations) is minimized, since the image is printed centered.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wide format color digital print engine, and in particular to a drum-based large format digital ink jet print engine having a vertically articulated carriage portion which carries both the print heads and an imaging array, adjustable saber angles for print heads, a novel service station, and an extremely robust weight-bearing carriage architecture. In particular, the present invention provides a highly manufacturable print engine benefiting from a discrete few controlled mounting locations so that accurate mounting of the cooperating sub-assemblies allow a very stable carriage assembly for driving said carriage laterally with respect to a printing medium coupled to the exterior of a drum.

Abstract: A print head drive mechanism and cooperating positioning assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the print head drive mechanism comprises a lead screw that is coupled to the print head and extends through the threaded hub of a gear. The gear is driven by a stepper motor through a pinion. The thread pitch of the lead screw matches the jet spacing in the print head to minimize positional offsets due to component irregularities and misalignments. A support cylinder extends from one face of the gear and includes a tapered nose that seats within a recess in a brace. The brace cooperates with two spaced apart legs to form a positioning assembly that is essentially non-extensible in an X-axis direction but freely pivotable in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) includes an imaging drum (300). A printhead (500) moves along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis (301) of the imaging drum as the imaging drum rotates. A linear drive motor (258) turns a lead screw (250) and is mounted directly onto the shaft of the lead screw. The motor is constrained from rotation by means of a rotational stop (296) that is magnetically held. A similar means is used to constrain a drum encoder (344).

Abstract: A carriage drive system includes a timing belt pivotally anchored to a carriage. A drive motor rotates the timing belt, moving the carriage along a carriage path. The drive belt moves along a pair of pulleys. A first pulley is coupled to the motor's drive shaft. A second pulley is coupled to an idler spring. The idler spring determines the belt tension when the belt is stationary. Acceleration of the carriage alters the belt tension. A pivot connection occurs between the drive belt and the carriage. During acceleration, the pivotal connection rotates shortening the effective length of the belt, which in turn stretches the idler spring, and increases belt tension. While the carriage is at rest or moving at constant velocity, the pivot connection serves to reduce side load impact on the drive motor's shaft and windings. The pivot connection also isolates the carriage from high frequency vibrations.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wide format color digital print engine, and in particular to a cooperating group of print engine sub-assemblies comprising a sealable enclosure defining electronics and printing sub-spaces within the enclosure and supporting two critical alignment plates which alone control alignment of all major sub-assemblies of the print engine and which provide accurate attachment points for a carriage drive and rail sub-assembly, a motor and drum mounted to rotate within a printing bay, and mounting points for a service station for cleaning and storing a plurality of marking elements associated with replaceable ink emitting cartridges. The subassemblies cooperate to generate high quality colored images as a drum-based large format digital ink jet print engine.

Abstract: A carriage driver includes a cam shaft having a shaft, a cylinder provided around the shaft and made of material of which thermal expansion coefficient is different from that of the shaft, and a cam groove provided on the cylinder, a carriage motor which rotatively drives the cam shaft, a carriage having a print head and movably mounted on the cam shaft, and a prohibiting mechanism provided at boundaries between the shaft and the cylinder of the cam shaft and simultaneously at ends of printing area, in order to prohibit distortion of the cam shaft in an axial direction due to change in temperature.

Abstract: In a serial printer a pinion and a rack for lateral movement of a carriage, a dislodging member with edges proximate to the rack is provided to remove any chads or other foreign matters that may be attached to the rack, as they approach the pinion with the lateral movement of the carriage. The chads or other foreign matters are prevented from being caught between the pinion and the rack, and noises and increase in the torque due to the rolling in is prevented.

Abstract: An electronic checkbook (10) is provided for printing checks. electronic checkbook (10) is of a hand-held size and operates on two AAA batteries. An on/off switch (30) which includes a needle valve (410) controls ink flow. A print cap switch (26) is also provided for rugged applications. Checks are advanced under a printhead (38). The printhead (38) and a roller shaft (46) for advancing the checks are both driven by a single motor (56). A transmission (54) translates power from the motor (56) to the printhead (38) and the roller shaft (46). The position of both the motor (56) and the printhead (38) are sensed by use of a single LED (124) and photodetector (128). Ink is supplied to the printhead (38) from an ink cartridge (12). Data is stored in a non-volatile check register (16). Reconciliation of transactional information can be made by reference to information stored on a statement strip (20).

Abstract: A carriage, preferably carrying a knife for cutting a moving web for attachment of the cut web end to a web winding roll, is driven on a supporting rail along a linear path by means of a driving motor operating a toothed driving belt. The belt is detachably clamped to the carriage by a clamp fixed on the carriage and formed by a support plate having a belt supporting surface thereon and a pressure plate provided with teeth for mating engagement with the belt teeth mounted on the support plate in opposed relation to the support plate surface to define with the surface a slot for reception of the belt. The pressure plate is slidably supported for movement toward and away from the surface and is spring-biased to normally clamp the belt therebetween.

Abstract: First and second tubes (16, 18) extend between first and second housings (12, 14). A magnet assembly (52) is slidably received in the first tube (16) which is formed of non-magnetic material. A timing belt (38) is attached to one side of the magnet assembly (52) and extends through tube (16) to the first housing (12) around timing pulleys (24, 26) through second tube (18) into second housing (14), around pulleys (28, 30) back into the first tube (16) and is attached to the other end of magnet assembly (52). A carriage (20) is slidably received on the first tube (16) and mounts thereon a second magnet (70) magnetically coupled to the magnet assembly (52). A wheel (74) or a block (92) having a bore therethrough rides on the second tube (18) to maintain the selected orientation of the carriage. First and second proximity switches (76, 78) are mounted in the housings adjacent the ends of the second tube (18) which respond to a sensor element (80, 81) attached to the timing belt (38).

Abstract: A translatable information transfer device, such as ink jet printhead, is stepwise advanced by a mechanism consisting of a lead screw axially spring biased at one end, cam surface provided at the other end of the lead screw, fixed cam follower which engages the cam surface, and a carrier for the information transfer device mounted on the lead screw with cooperating internal threads. Rotation of the lead screw does not advance the carrier having the information transfer device until after one complete revolution of the lead screw, whereupon the cam surface and cam follower permit the information transfer device to axially advance a predetermined distance, such as, for example, one printing swath.

Abstract: A printing machine wherein printing onto a substrate is effected by a first movement of a print head (1) downwardly into contact with the substrate and then by a second movement over the surface of the substrate while thermal printing elements within the print head (1) are selectively energized. The first movement is controlled by downward movement of a pair of rollers (6,7) operated by synchronized angular movement of a pair of eccentric shafts (8,9) one of which is freely mounted within each roller (6,7). The first and second movements are driven by a first and second stepper motor respectively. The rollers may be coupled by drive belts (4,5).

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus for recording information signals on a recording sheet. The apparatus includes a conveyance mechanism for conveying the sheet, a recording head reciprocating along the sheet for performing recording thereon, a driving power source for generating a driving force rotating in one direction which is used for reciprocating the recording head and for conveying the sheet by the conveyance mechanism, and a mechanism for inhibiting the conveyance of the sheet while the recording head is moving along the recording region of the sheet. The reciprocating operation of the recording head and the conveyance operation of the sheet are effected by a single motor.

Abstract: A dot line printer with a paper feed time controlling capability includes a hammer bank accommodating a plurality of print hammers, a shuttle mechanism for shuttling the hammer bank back and forth along a print line, and a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding a sheet of paper in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the hammer bank shuttles. When a first predetermined amount of a line space feeding is to be carried out after completion of one line printing, a hammer bank reversing time is prolonged. When more than the first predetermined amount of the line space feeding but less than a second predetermined amount of line space feeding is to be carried out, it is carried out during an extended period of time including both the hammer bank reversing time and the subsequent hammer bank scanning time without prolonging the hammer bank reversing time.

Abstract: A printer carriage is carried by the guide bars of a printing unit with the help of busings and is moved along the guide bars by means of a traction mechanism. The traction mechanism is attached to the printer carriage and/or the bearing elements, in such a way that a compensating torque is exerted on the printer carriage or the bearing elements. The compensating torque counterbalances the torque generated during reversal of movement so that the carriage does not rock when it reaches an endpoint of its travel.

Abstract: An improved carriage moving mechanism on a frame for a typewriter of printer.(a) The carriage is movably mounted on a guide rail for longitudinal movement on the frame;(b) The traveling motor is fixedly mounted on the carriage including a pinion attached to a rotary shaft of the motor;(c) The rack is attached to the frame extending longitudinally substantially in parallel to the guide rail;(d) The rack is rigid longitudinally thereof and is flexible in a flex direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the rack including a tooth side adapted to engage with said pinion, the surface of the rack including the line of teeth and its surface opposite the pinion being substantially parallel to the guide rail; and(e) A spring loaded slider assembly is mounted as a part of the carriage and is adapted to make continuous sliding contact with the surface of the rack in opposition to the tooth surface of the rack in the area of the pinion rotation.

Abstract: A print head press-contact device for a printer, arranged such that a print head holder is rotatably attached to a head press-contact lever, and the head press-contact lever is rotatably attached to a head carrier. The print head is thus installed in the head carrier through a plurality of pivots, such that the print head can follow a hard print material which may not evenly contact the flat face of a platen.

Abstract: In a serial printer wherein a bi-directionally operating motor drives a carriage in an oscillatory motion between two end points, an improvement for minimizing the time for direction reversal of the carriage. There is a ballistic rebound device for transferring energy of the moving carriage in one direction into a resilient member and for retransmitting energy absorbed by the resilient member back into the carriage in a direction opposite the one direction. There is also an electrically operated brake for selectively coupling the ballistic rebound device to the carriage. Sensing apparatus is provided for sensing the position of the carriage with respect to the two ends.

Abstract: A printer head is connected to its counterbalance by a counter drive in a manner to reduce shock and noise when the printer head is reciprocated by a linear motor. The counter drive comprises a pulley and a pair of belts or wires which are wound approximately half way around the pulley in respective opposite directions on opposite sides of the pulley, with one end of each belt being connected to the counterbalance, and the other end of each belt being connected to the printer head. Thus, the counterbalance moves in the opposite direction of the printer head. A movable element of the linear motor is connected coaxially to the counterbalance, in a manner such that the weight of the movable element is included in the total weight of the counterbalance. The printer head is mounted on a carriage which the carriage has a roller spaced laterally from the shaft. slides along a shaft.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided with a drive device for driving a carriage supporting a printing head, a speed control device for releasing a control signal for controlling the speed of the drive device, and a signal output device for releasing a control signal, in the place of the speed control device.

Abstract: A control method for providing an acceptable motion window (range) that restricts high accelerations and velocities of an ink jet print head. The method provides two limited step ranges that are initiated dependent on the total distance that the print head is to be moved. If the distance is outside of the window range, a first step is used to bring the print head to a position which is a fixed second step from the final position. By limiting the print head's motion in each step range, the excitation of the fluid (ink) system is limited. With the first step completed, a second step range is used to drive the print head to the final position. If the initial distance is within the window range, the second step range is selected to drive the print head. The method is implemented with a computer program and print head position signals.

Abstract: A line printer apparatus with which a printing control operation is carried out by using a printing mechanism and printing operation control unit in which the reversal of the motion of a printing unit is carried out in synchronization with the feeding of a paper to be printed.

Abstract: A printer mechanism including a frame, a platen, a printhead, a compensator mechanism supported on a frame and movable relative thereto to compensate for print media of various thicknesses, a drive motor for driving the printhead rotatable in the first direction to drive the printhead and rotatable in the second direction and a sector gear connected to the compensator mechanism for effecting movement of the compensator mechanism to move the platen supported thereby away from the printhead. The drive motor when rotated in the second direction is effective to drive the sector gear to move the compensator mechanism to move the platen to a position in which it is spaced apart from the printhead.

Abstract: Disclosed is a precision printhead transport apparatus. The apparatus includes a differential wheel rotatably mounted upon belt or a printhead carriage which is constrained to move along a printing path. A first portion of an endless belt or band is looped around a first portion of the differential wheel having a first radius and a second portion of the band is looped around a second portion of the differential wheel having a second radius. The band further passes around two pulleys positioned on opposite sides of the differential wheel, one of the pulleys being an idler pulley and the other a driven pulley. A course stepping motor drives the driven pulley and the action of the differential wheel assures that gross rotation of the driven pulley produces only small linear displacement of the printhead carriage.Embodiments disclosed include both smooth and toothed bands and the use of a pair of rigid racks in place of the endless band.

Abstract: A small-sized printer has a carriage moving in front of a platen. A print wheel is rotatably mounted on the carriage and coupled to a print wheel gear. The print wheel gear meshes with two worm gears which extend parallel to the platen. A rack-like cam also lies parallel to the platen and is followed by rocking lever which drives a pivoted hammer support. A pivoted hammer on the pivoted support strikes the inside of the print wheel, forcing an inked character to print on the paper, and rolling the character on the paper as the carriage moves. The two worm gears are powered by a motor which acts through a print drive. Their rotation is controlled so that the print wheel is rotated for print character selection by rotating both worm gears to turn the print wheel gear, the carriage is caused to move along the print line by stopping rotation of one of the worm gears, and the carriage is caused to return to its original position by stopping the other worm gear.

Abstract: The carriage is displaced by a tooth belt which is moved continuously by an electric motor and is connected to the carriage be means of an element engaged between two teeth of the belt and slidable on the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the carriage. The pulleys are provided with a recess capable of engaging the element in such a way as to move it positively in said perpendicular direction. The carriage is also connected by means of a tension spring to a strip provided with areas of an optical encoder in respect of the print positions. The upper paper pressure arrangement is formed by two rollers carried by two sliders fitted into corresponding longitudinal slots in the fixed support. The paper is carried by a feed reel which is carried by two arms which can be fitted by catch engagement on corresponding shoulders on the fixed support. The printer is particularly suitable for being connected to the output of a personal or home computer.

Abstract: A printing mechanism assembly, including a platen, a carriage bearing a print head thereon, a ribbon cassette, and drive mechanisms for driving these members for printing operation, is mounted on a subframe to form a unit. Also, control means including a printed board for controlling the operations of the drive mechanisms, and power supply means for supplying electric power to the drive mechanisms through the control means are unitized independently. All of the resulting units are mounted on a main frame. The subframe, with the printing mechanism assembly thereon, is removably mounted on the rear half portion of the main frame; the control unit on the underside of the main frame, and the power supply unit in a notch formed at the front corner portion of the main frame. Power supply units of various specifications may be used alternatively which incorporate different transformers adapted for varied external supply voltage connected thereto.

Abstract: The device comprises an electric motor whose rotor is capable of rotating selectively in either direction and a transmission unit which comprises a sleeve carrying a gear at an input end in mesh with a pinion on the motor shaft. At the output end of the sleeve a toothed pulley is engaged with a tensioned, toothed belt for moving the print unit back and forth. The sleeve is journalled on a shaft which can shift laterally at the input end and is urged by a spring and lever to shift in the sense forcing the gear into mesh with the pinion, thereby to minimize the radial clearance between the pinion and the gear.

Abstract: A print control device for use with a portable battery powered dot matrix printer has a DC motor which moves a carriage with a dot generating mechanism and is provided with a shaft position signal generator. A control circuit responds to the anglular position of the drive motor to establish a print cycle in which the DC motor and the dot generating mechanism are driven in alternation so as to minimize the rate of power consumption.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for indexing the print hammer of typewriters or the like having a carriage supported type matrix positionable in X-Y directions to present a selected character for printing wherein the matrix positioning motor is used to index the hammer in advance of matrix positioning movement.

Abstract: A compact plotter is disclosed, having a small area in which a plurality of print heads (10) are laterally scanned to print impressions on the paper (14), and the paper (14) is incrementally advanced by an indexer (42) past the print heads (10). A paper travel encoder (36) measures the paper advancement. A computer 22 and a processor 26 are provided to coordinate the printing of pattern data stored in a data base (24) both with the movement of the print heads (10) and the advancement of the paper (14). The computer (22) allocates data from the data base (24) to be printed according to the amount of paper advancement. If the paper (14) is advanced more than a predefined amount, more data is allocated for printing than is actually printed. If the paper (14) is advanced less than the predefined amount, less data is allocated to be printed than is actually printed.

Abstract: In a facsimile recorder a traversing print head is detachably coupled to a cable by a ball on the cable which is seated on the print head by a spring detent with camming ramps which allow automatic disengagement and reengagement of the ball and head and also rotation of the ball in the seat of the head.

Abstract: A print timing circuit for a printer has a reciprocating carriage and at least one printing element mounted on the carriage. The print timing circuit includes a carriage controller for reciprocating the carriage and an encoder for detecting the speed of movement of the carriage and generating an encoder signal representative of the speed of movement of the carriage. An oscillator produces a print timing signal to control operation of the printing element. A frequency divider and comparator divides the encoder signal by N, where N is an integer. It also divides the print timing signal by M, where M is an integer. Then, it compares the phase relationship of the divided signals and provides an adjustment signal representative of the phase relationship of the divided signals to the oscillator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a travelling control of printing head in which when a printing head is to be returned to its home position, the printing head is returned in a selected one of two modes, the first mode being such that a lead screw is reversely rotated upon completion of a desired printing operation to cause the printing head to return to its home position through a first guide groove provided for the forward travelling of the printing head and the second mode being such that the lead screw is rotated forward even after the completion of the desired printing operation and the guide groove is changed from the first one to a second one which is provided only for the return travelling of the printing head and which has a pitch larger than that of the first one so that the printing head can be quickly returned to its home position at a speed higher than that in the forward travelling.

Abstract: A printer having a print head with a mounting portion, and a carriage with a supporting structure engaging the mounting portion of the print head to hold it in place on the carriage. The supporting structure includes a lateral positioning portion for positioning the print head laterally in a direction of movement of the carriage, a downward positioning portion for positioning the print head downwardly of the carriage, and a rear wall for receiving a force of reaction of the print head upon printing action on a platen. The printer comprises a biasing device for biasing the mounting portion of the print head downwardly and rearwardly against the downward positioning portion and rear wall of the supporting structure of the carriage, respectively. The carriage may include a serrated portion fixedly engaging a toothed belt for driving the carriage along the platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing escapement positioning error by matching the move sequence of a print carrier to the mechanical system dynamic characteristics without the use of a feedback sensor are described. A plurality of constant velocity signals are provided for driving the print carrier to the next print position. The sequential velocity signals comprise an acceleration velocity signal and a deceleration velocity signal, the duration of which are dependent upon the damped natural frequency of the print system. For long escapement moves, a slew velocity command is provided between the acceleration and deceleration velocity commands so as to maintain the velocity of the print carrier at the amplitude it had attained at the conclusion of the acceleration velocity signal. The relative amplitudes of the acceleration, slew and deceleration velocity signals are a function of the damping ratio of the printer system.

Abstract: A depository/printer mechanism is provided for use with an automated teller machine (ATM). The mechanism includes an envelope tray for receiving a customer envelope to be deposited in a depository bin, a support assembly for supporting the envelope tray for movement between horizontal and vertical positions, and a printer frame secured to the support assembly. A printer carriage is also provided including a motor for reciprocating the printer carriage in the printer frame between a first position and a second position, and from the second position back to the first position. The printer carriage includes a printer module for printing indicia on the customer envelope.

Abstract: The typewriter comprises a character carrying daisywheel having flexible petals which is carried by a carriage that is movable transversely with respect to the platen roller. Mounted on the carriage are a motor for moving the carriage, a motor for character selection, a print hammer, a cartridge for the typing ribbon, a correction ribbon and a drive unit for advancing the typing ribbon and raising and advancing the correction ribbon. The structure of the hammer and the arrangement of the typing ribbon and the character carrying daisywheel are such that typing and reading of the line of print are possible without it being necessary for the typing ribbon to be raised. The carriage is displaced in the two directions from the current position to an intermediate position to the left of the desired position. The carriage is then positioned precisely by a tooth-type setting means after a undirectional displacement of the displacement motor.

Abstract: The printer includes a print head moveable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of a sheet of recording paper. The print head is supported on a carriage which is reciprocably driven. Different paper feed pitches are selectable depending upon the lateral position of the carriage at the end of printing. A paper feed cam includes two or more feed grooves and pitch changing grooves connecting the feed grooves so that the paper feed means can operate from any selected one of the feed grooves. A cam follower connected to the carriage rides in a groove causing the paper feed cam to be driven by motion of the carriage. Different feed pitches for graphics and text are provided.

Abstract: A printer apparatus including a printhead (14) for printing on a data carrier (20), a printhead carrier (15) for moving the printhead along a path, a cutter mechanism (30) for cutting the data carrier upon command, a bi-directional drive means (34) having an output shaft (36) operable to be driven in first and second directions and a one-way clutch means (46) operatively associated with the output shaft for actuating the cutter mechanism (30) and driving the printhead carrier (14). The drive means when effecting rotation of the output shaft (36) in the first direction effecting movement of the printhead carrier and printhead along the path and when effecting rotation of the output shaft in the second direction effecting actuation of the cutter mechanism (30) to cut the data carrier.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head for effecting recording on recording paper, a unit for generating a rotational force, a feed unit for shifting the relative position of the recording head and the recording paper by the rotational force from the rotational force generating unit so that the recording head can record a series of records on the recording paper, a first holding unit for holding the feed unit for rotation and sliding movement in the direction of the axis thereof, and a second holding unit for holding the rotational force generating unit, the second holding unit being fixed to the first holding unit to control the movement of the feed unit in the axial direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a printer, having an elongate platen and a print head carriage adapted for relative movement therebetween longitudinally of the platen, in which a position indicator ascertains the position and direction of motion of said carriage longitudinally of said platen. The indicator comprises an optical position encoder rotatably mounted on an axis fixed longitudinally of said platen, and a carriage position responsive means connected to said carriage and said encoder to transmit said relative movement to said encoder to rotate said encoder in synchronism with said relative movement. The encoder has a pattern of detectable indicia and a detector is responsive to said indicia to provide a signal indicative of said position.

Abstract: A serial printer suitable for use in desk-top calculators or the like. The serial printer has a rotary shaft rotatable together with two type wheels. The power supply to the rotary shaft is made by a motor which operates continuously only in one rotational direction through a first clutch. A second clutch is provided to make a selective power transmission between the rotary shaft and the member for actuating the hammer, as well as the member for causing the carrying operation. The states of the first and the second clutches are controlled by a change-over arm which in accordance with the operation instruction given by an operation instruction coil, such that these clutches are alternatingly turned on and off to make various operations such as printing, column shift, paper feeding and so forth.

Abstract: A printing timing correction device in a shuttle type dot line printer wherein a shuttle is reciprocated in directions perpendicularly intersecting a direction of feeding printing paper, printing needles regularly arranged on the shuttle are projected to recording paper to thereby conduct desirable printing operations and the shuttle performs non-constant velocity motion for which the rotation of a driving motor is transmitted by a crank mechanism.The printing timings are varied against the printing needles performing non-constant velocity motion in accordance with the speed of the printing needles, whereby the printings are performed at equal interval positions on the printing paper. This correction is performed by varying the delay time periods of signals fed to the printing needle driving device.

Abstract: An electronic printer mechanism having a movable printhead assembly , wherein the printhead is a matrix of selectively heatable semiconductor mesas for producing dot matrix characters one line at a time on a paper medium. The electronic printer mechanism is constructed with a sectional housing including upper and lower housing sections which are releasably secured together to define an interior chamber for receiving components of the electronic printer. The lower housing section is provided with complementary sets of shaft-receiving recesses such that drop-in assembly of components with respect to the lower housing section as received in respective sets of the recesses prior to securement of the upper and lower housing sections together is accomplished. One component assembly comprises an operating shaft on which the printhead assembly including a carrier member fixedly supporting a printhead is mounted for transversing movement therealong.

Abstract: A printing mechanism includes a right-angle drive for imparting rotation to a rotary printing element having printing type thereon, rotation of the print element selecting a specific character to be imprinted on a printing medium. The right-angle drive permits the printing element to be moved transversely of the printing medium while receiving rotational mechanical signals for imparting the requisite rotation to the printing element. A shaft having a longitudinal keyway therein passes though a bevel gear of the right-angle drive, there being a key extending from the gear to the keyway to permit the sliding of the gear along the shaft while being controlled in rotation thereabout. A carriage carrying the rotary print element and the right-angle drive is driven in the transverse direction by a worm gear having a worm surface provided with inclined sides which mate with a pair of angled inclined rollers supported by the carriage for engagement with the worm gear.

Abstract: An emiter marking pattern is provided on a lead screw in parallel with the thread of the lead screw. A carriage driven along by the lead screw contains a transducer for sensing the emitter marking pattern on the lead screw to produce electrical output signal pulses indicative of incremental displacement of the carriage. A printhead can be mounted on the carriage and the electrical output signal pulses from the transducer used to control printing operations. The emitter marking pattern can be designed to provide control signals for other purposes, for example for controlling start-up, running, deceleration and reversal of a motor driving the lead screw.

Abstract: A serial printing mechanism which employs a type wheel having a plurality of type characters has a single motor mounted on a carriage employed to accomplish plural functions. The single motor selectively rotates the type wheel to locate the predetermined type character in front of the typing position, and shifts the carriage. The carriage drive which shifts the carriage along a platen is powered by the single motor through a clutch which selectively engages the motor with the carriage drive.