Abstract: An adjusting apparatus includes a shaft, a rack, and a gear. The shaft includes a cam portion contacting a bracket and a securing portion. The cam portion includes a first outer edge and a second outer edge connected to the first outer edge. The cam portion defines a pivoting axis. The distance between the first outer edge and the pivoting axis is less than the distance between the second outer edge and the pivoting axis. The gear is toothed and secured to the shaft and the rack defines a plurality of slots engaged by the toothed gear. The rack is used to drive the gear and the shaft to be rotated.

Abstract: An office machine. The office machine includes a main body, a shaft, a recording head, a driving wheel, a driven wheel, a tension buffer and a transmission belt. The shaft is disposed on the main body. The recording head is slidably disposed on the shaft. The driving and driven wheels are disposed on each end of the shaft respectively. The tension buffer is disposed on the main body and includes a sleeve, a wheel mount, and a resilient member. The sleeve is disposed on the main body and has a cavity. The wheel mount is disposed in the cavity and connected to the driven wheel. The resilient member is disposed between the sleeve and the wheel mount to move the wheel mount sliding in the sleeve. The transmission belt is disposed between Transmission and driven wheels and joined with the recording head. The driving wheel drives the transmission belt such that the recording head slides on the shaft.

Abstract: A print carriage assembly for an ink jet printer. The print carriage assembly includes a print carriage slidably supported on a printer slider rod, and a sub-carriage that is separate from the printer carriage and slidably supported on the printer slider rod for pushing the printer carriage.

Abstract: A carriage drive belt for moving a carriage includes an elongated belt section having a longitudinal axis and including a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion along the longitudinal axis, and a compliant belt section secured to the elongated belt section, wherein the compliant belt section extends between the first portion and the second portion of the elongated belt section and is configured for attachment of the carriage thereto.

Abstract: A carriage drive belt for an inkjet printer includes an elongated belt section and compliant belt section secured to the elongated belt section. The elongated belt section has a longitudinal axis and includes a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion along the longitudinal axis. The compliant belt section extends between the first portion and the second portion of the elongated belt section and has an axis extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongated belt section.

Abstract: A printer assembly includes an idler pulley, a printhead carrier belt, an idler-pulley spring, and a ratchet stop. The printhead carrier belt is operatively connected to the idler pulley and extends in an inboard direction from the idler pulley. The idler-pulley spring biases the idler pulley in an outboard direction to maintain belt tension as the belt lengthens during wear. The ratchet stop is located inboard of the idler pulley and operatively engages the idler pulley against movement of the idler pulley in the inboard direction, wherein such inboard movement would cause printing errors.

Abstract: An apparatus, which includes a carriage scanning mechanism, can be compactly made and its assembly costs can be reduced. In addition, the drive load can be minimized and a carriage can be precisely driven. The apparatus can be provided in a recording apparatus, an information recording/reproducing apparatus, an information recording apparatus, an information reproduction apparatus, an information reading apparatus and an information erasing apparatus. According to the present invention, each of these apparatuses comprises a carriage provided for performing scanning in a predetermined scanning area, a drive device provided for the carriage, and wire wound around an output unit of the drive device in the predetermined scanning area and extended under tension along a scanning direction of said carriage. The output unit, around which the wire is wound, moves along the wire upon being driven by the drive device to scan the carriage.

Abstract: An inkjet printing mechanism includes a vibration isolating attachment system for securing a drive belt to an inkjet printhead carriage for increasing print quality by isolating the carriage from multi-directional vibrations generated by a carriage drive motor while propelling the carriage during printing. The vibration isolating member is of a resilient material having a first end coupled to a drive mechanism interface member which is joined to the belt, a second end coupled to a carriage interface member supported by the carriage, and a body section between the first end and the second end. Two or more vibration isolating members may be used, with a preferred shape being an I-shaped cross section. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a vibration isolating attachment system, and a method of method of isolating an inkjet printhead carriage from vibrations generated by a carriage drive motor, are also provided.

Abstract: A reciprocating belt drive arrangement for the printhead carriage of a printer comprises an endless belt looped around a toothed drive pulley, which engages a toothed part of the belt, and an idler pulley with circumferential grooves which are arranged to receive ribs on the remaining part of the belt to prevent transverse movements of the belt leading to wear. The ribs and grooves may be interchangeable. In an alternative embodiment the toothed and ribbed parts extend side-by-side along the belt.

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: Disclosed is an improved printer and carriage drive mechanism. The carriage motor is mounted at a first side of the printer chassis, and an idler pulley is mounted at a second side of the chassis. The carriage also has a pair of idler pulleys. A single flat smooth belt is attached to the first side of the chassis. From there, it passes over to and around one of the idler pulleys on the carriage, back to and around the motor pulley, across the print zone and around the idler pulley on the second side of the chassis, back to and around the other carriage idler pulley, and then back to the second side of the chassis, where it is attached. The motor is movably attached to the chassis and is tensioned by a spring. This mechanism provides for substantial mechanical advantage over common simple carriage drive mechanisms. A smaller, less expensive motor and a quieter flat smooth belt can be used. The motor is allowed to run at more optimal speeds and expensive ball bearings can be avoided in the motor and pulleys.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recorder for recording on a recording medium, with the recorder being capable of moving toward and away from a conveyance route of the recording medium. A drive force transferring device transfers a drive force to the recorder and moves the recorder across the conveyance route of the recording medium. The recorder is biased toward a direction of the conveyance route of the recording medium by the drive force transferring device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carriage shifting apparatus comprising a drive source, a suspension member suspended to transmit a driving force of the drive source, a carriage connected to the suspension member and reciprocally shiftable by the driving force of the drive source, a tension applying means for applying a tension force to the suspension member, and a weight body attached to the tension applying means via a viscoelastic member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carriage driving device in which a rack 8 with high rigidity and gear teeth 8a at one side elongated therethrough is fixed on a bottom frame 7c in a frame 7 of a printer 1 so that the rack 8 is arranged parallel with a platen 5, and both a pinion 16 meshed with the gear teeth 8a of the rack 8 and a driving motor 15 for rotating the pinion 16 are arranged on a plate 18 which is rotatably supported around a support shaft 17 in a horizontal direction on the carriage 2. The pinion 16 is biased by a spring 22 so as to constantly mesh with the gear teeth 8a of the rack 8. In the carriage 2, a first contact member 10 slidably contacting on the upper surface of the rack 8 and a second contact member 11 slidably contacting to the side of the rack 8 opposite to the side where the gear teeth 8a are formed, are arranged so that a predetermined positional relationship of the carriage 2 against the platen 5 is maintained.

Abstract: The printhead of an ink jet printer is mounted on a printhead carrier for reciprocal movement on a carrier guide rod above a record feed path. A bi-directional motor drives a drive belt attached to the carrier to thereby pull the printhead back and forth. The belt is attached to the carrier at two points which are spaced from the axis of the carrier guide rod, one point being above the axis and the other point being below the axis. The arrangement is such that any tilt of the printhead carrier in a vertical plane, resulting from a pulling force of the drive belt, is always in the same direction regardless of the direction in which the printhead carrier is pulled. This improves the accuracy of ink dot placement thereby giving better print quality. The drive belt is mounted on pulleys which are positioned such that there is an upward incline from each attachment point to a pulley. The carrier is provided with feet which ride in a groove in a carrier guide.

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 recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording medium includes a recording head, a reversible motor, a force transmitting pulley for transmitting the drive force of the motor, a timing belt having a toothed portion engageable with teeth of the force transmitting pulley to receive the transmission of the force in order to move the recording head and an untoothed portion for idly rotating the pulley, and a controller for controlling the motor. The toothed portion of the belt includes two teeth at opposite ends of the untoothed portion, one of which is formed into such a shape that it is difficult for a tooth of the pulley to run thereon.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium including a recording device capable of moving along a passage through which a recording medium passes and recording data on the recording medium; a conveyance device for conveying the recording medium; a moving device for moving the recording device along the conveyance passage; a driving source; a first transmission device for transmitting the power from the driving source to the conveyance device; a second transmission device for transmitting the power from the driving source to the moving device; and a switch for selectively connecting the first transmission device and the drive source while maintaining the connection between the driving source and the second transmission device.

Abstract: The drive includes a cable attached to opposite sides of the print head carrying carriage, looping on one side in several loops around a drive drum, and on the other side around a deflection pulley. The deflection pulley is mounted on a spring-biased pivot lever to tension the cable in an adjustable manner. The drum is connected to the drive motor in a compact fashion by means of a belt drive.

Abstract: A device for connecting a toothed timing belt to a printhead carriage includes an arcuate member and a pair of posts extending downwardly from the carriage. The arcuate member includes a generally concave surface and a generally convex surface which is complementary to the toothed configuration of the timing belt. The posts are provided with angled surfaces located adjacent to the convex surface of the arcuate member to define passageways into which the belt is placed. Ledges at the lower ends of the posts prevent unintended slippage of the belt from the device when the belt is not under tension.

Abstract: Belt tensioning apparatus for a serial printer wherein a spring imparts a predetermined pull to driving belt by applying a predetermined force to a slide on which a belt return idle pulley is mounted, and wherein a slide is offset from a working point and in the direction opposite to the force exerted by the spring by an amount controlled by a stop pad, preferably resilient and position adjustable, or automatically changeable in position owing to belt elongations occurring during operation.

Abstract: A hybrid printer includes at least one impact type print head and at least one non-impact type print head, which are selectively used to print not only graphic information but also character information. For example, the impact type print head may be a type wheel print head and the non-impact type print head may be a pen print head. The print heads are selectively magnetically coupled to the carriage drive belt.

Abstract: A toothed belt and pin assembly for a printer in which the pin is engaged with a guide hole of a carriage for reciprocally driving the carriage during movement of the belt. The assembly has an endless belt having a pitch line, and a pin mounted on the belt with the axis of the pin coinciding with the pitch line of the belt.

Abstract: A thermal printing head is supported on a member which is independent of a carriage supporting an ink ribbon cassette and which is slidably supported on a shaft extending in parallel to a platen. The carriage is also slidably supported on the shaft. The head supporting member is rotatable about the shaft for moving the head between its printing and non-printing positions. A rack is connected to the head supporting member and is rotatable by a solenoid or like device for rotating the head supporting member about the shaft. A wire extending about a pulley mechanism and along the shaft is fastened at both ends to the head supporting member for moving it and thereby the head along the platen.

Abstract: A printer comprises printing means; a carriage on which this printing means is mounted; an endless, loop-like timing belt, fixed to the carriage, for moving the carriage, the surfaces of this endless belt which face with each other having serrated toothed portions; and a member for sandwiching the endless belt to stop the movement of the carriage. This printer may be also provided with an intermediate engaging member which is interposed between the upper and lower belts of the endless belt. This engaging member has serrated toothed portions having the same pitch as that of the serrated toothed portions of the endless belt. With this simple constitution, the carriage can be easily locked and unlocked without using special tools such as a screw and a screwdriver.

Abstract: A tension adjusting device of a carriage transfer belt which is characterized in that by a first bracket movable in the lengthwise direction of the belt a second bracket is supported rockably, by one end of the second bracket a pulley is supported, and to one end of the second bracket a spring is coupled for applying a turning force thereto, whereby a decrease in tension of the belt due to aged deterioration can be adjusted automatically.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer wherein the carriage is equipped with the ribbon cassette and the thermal head and has a take-up shaft engageable with the take-up core of the ribbon cassette, and clutch means is provided between the motion converting means and the take-up shaft of the carriage, rotational force is transmitted from said motion converting means to the clutch means, and the clutch means cuts off the transmission of the rotational force to the take-up shaft. The rubbing transfer phenomenon does not occur, since, the ink ribbon starts to travel before the thermal head contacts the platen or after the thermal head separates the platen. It is possible to effect control such that no rubbing transfer occurs even when the thermal head is pressed against the platen to effect printing while the carriage is moving transversely at high speed.

Abstract: An adjustable carriage assembly for a printing device having a print mechanism to be translated along a linear print path. The carriage assembly includes an upper carriage sub-assembly and a lower carriage sub-assembly, the lower carriage sub-assembly having a pair of laterally spaced arm members joined together by a pair of cross members. Each arm member has an open pivot slot and a support ramp portion. A spring coupled between the upper and lower carriage sub-assemblies in the region adjacent the pivot portions provides a spring detent for the upper carriage sub-assembly with respect to the lower carriage sub-assembly in both the first operative position and a second inoperative position. The guide members are adjustable eccentric washers.A cartridge latch is configured to be removably mounted in an aperture formed in a platform on the upper carriage sub-assembly.

Abstract: A typewriter carriage cable snubber which is automatically reset at the time power is turned on is described. The cable is normally tensioned by a mechanism which is spring driven to maintain the cable tension at the proper value, and a snubber is provided to prevent the positioner from allowing the cable path to shorten under the increased tension that occurs during carriage acceleration. When the power is turned off, the cable tends to shrink due to the decreased temperature. When power is turned on, the carriage is initialized by positioning it at the left end of its range. At this position the cable tensioning mechanism can be reset to allow a shorter cable length by having an extension of the carriage disengage the snubber, allowing the positioning mechanism to reset itself to a shorter cable length.

Abstract: In a tract wire tightening device for a carriage of a printer, a wire connected to the carriage is looped around pulleys. A motor to drive the wire is movable with respect to a base. A spring is interposed between the motor and the base so as to bias the pulley which is interlocked with the motor.

Abstract: An impact printing mechanism which contains a great number of printing types in a minimized spacing is disclosed. Types are arranged in rows of columns on a plurality of substantially planar type carrying elements which are accommodated in equally spaced parallel relationship in a removable casing. Selection of a type is attained by three dimensional movements including horizontal movements of the elements within and perpendicular to their planes and a vertical movement of an element within its plane.The type carrying elements are carried on a carrier while a print hammer is mounted on an independent carrier. The former carrier includes an outer section and an inner section mounted for movement on the outer section, and means for lifting a type carrying element is mounted on the outer section.

Abstract: An adjustable diameter pulley, particularly suitable for the belt tension adjustment in belt transmission system such as those used in serial printers, utilizing a central core having a tapered portion, a threaded cylindrical portion and also a plastic ring having external cylindrical surface and a central tapered opening. The opening receives the conical portion of the core and is provided with deep slits which allow its expansion. A second ring, screwed on the cylindrical portion of the core, causes the expansion of the plastic ring to vary.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a serial printer for reciprocating a carrier along a platen by means of a wire, wherein the wire is connected to a wire retainer, which is a member separated from the carrier, to form a wire route, the carrier being detachably mounted on the wire retainer whereby the carrier may be removed with the wire remained stretched. Maintenance, checking and repair are easily accomplished and initial assembling is accomplished in a very simple manner.

Abstract: A serial impact printer 11 includes a frame 15 mounted drive motor 47 coupled to a print wheel 31 to effect rotation thereof. The print wheel 31 is mounted on a movable print carrier 29 which serially moves from print position to print position along the print line. The motor 47 is coupled to the wheel pulley 51 of the print wheel 31 through a belt 49 which is wrapped about two idler pulleys 57 and 59 located on a sub-carrier 61. The sub-carrier 61 moves one half the distance of the print carrier 29 so that during escapement motion of the print carrier 29, the belt 49 imparts no rotary motion to the wheel pulley 51 and hence to the print wheel 31. The print carrier 29 may be clamped by clamp 77 to the belt 49 to effect the return motion thereof. The motor 47 is also coupled through a clutch 127 to the line feed apparatus of the platen 23.

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 motor and the member for actuating the hammer, as well as the member of 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 alternatively engaged and dis-engaged to make various operations such as printing, column shift, paper feeding and so forth.

Abstract: A flexible force transmitting member biasing arrangement consisting of a snubbing device and a spring. The arrangement functions to permit a flexible force transmitting member attached to it to undergo a significant amount of movement (due to the force exerted by the spring) at very slow rates but prevents the flexible force transmitting member from undergoing substantial movement at high rates attendant with high frequencies of motion. A preferred form of the snubbing device is a dashpot.

Abstract: Means are disclosed for use in a line printer having a print head for traversing between a first side frame and a second side frame. The print head is driven in its traverse by a flexible belt close-looped between an idler pulley and a driven pulley. A predetermined tension of the belt is provided and maintained by the means and method according to the invention.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for printer carriage and printing ribbon includes a roller for feeding an ink ribbon, a shaft rotatably mounted on the printing carriage, first and second pulleys rotatably mounted on the shaft, first and second one-way clutches for transmitting the rotation of the first and second pulleys in a predetermined direction to the shaft, a cord stretched on the first and second pulleys so as to cause translational movement of the shaft and first and second pulleys in first and second directions. In this drive mechanism, the pulleys are respectively rotated in opposite directions when they are translationally moved in the first or second direction. The rotation of these pulleys in a predetermined direction is transmitted through the first and second one-way clutches to the shaft, and the rotation thereof is transmitted through a coupler to the ink ribbon feed roller.

Abstract: A driving device for a printing carriage (20) with print head (22) including printing elements (24) which print characters on a data carrier includes a motion converting means (14) with a closed gear path (16) converting the rotational movement of a motor driven pinion (10) to a reciprocating movement of the printing carriage along the data carrier. Two pivotable gear segments (26, 28) which are in engagement with each other and with the motion converting means move the printing carriage in any of two directions parallel with the data carrier when the pinion is in engagement with any one of two straight gear paths (16a) on the motion converting means and permit the displacement of the motion converting means perpendicularly to said directions when the pinion is in engagement with any one of two curved gear paths (16b) which connect said straight paths (16a) on the motion converting means.

Abstract: Two carriage drive systems are arranged to be selectively coupled to a uniform stepping mechanism responsive to spacing signals whereby a carriage can be indexed across a writing line at 10 or 12 pitch increments.

Abstract: A serial printer for printing information on a record material is disclosed. The printer includes a frame and a platen mounted on the frame for rotation about its axis, the platen capable of supporting and advancing record material through the printer. A carriage assembly is also included and has a printing member supported thereon, the carriage assembly being supported for movement along a printing path adjacent the platen. Further, a motor is mounted on the frame and means are included for converting the rotary motion of the motor to movement of the carriage assembly along the printing path, the converting means including a cable mounted at either end to the frame. Additionally, means are included for maintaining a substantially constant tension on the cable, the tensioning means including means coupled to an end of the cable for automatically taking up slack in the cable caused by stretching or wear of the cable.

Abstract: A high-speed printer in which the carriage carrying a print wheel is coupled to a servo controlled driving motor having intermittent motion. The motor drives a helically grooved pulley, which has attached to it left and right cable segments. The other ends of the cable segments are attached to the movable carriage. A cable preload spring and friction pulley snubber combination maintains cable tension relatively constant. The snubber provides a tight cable system during normal carriage acceleration and deceleration. The preload spring allows for tension correction when the cable suffers from long-term stretching due to constructional stretching, that is, the normal tendency of wound cables to stretch due to seating of individual wires in the strand.

Abstract: A carriage supporting a single type element is couplable either to the upper run or the lower run of a looped cable drive system for left or right or right to left letter feeding movement under control of an escapement pawl carrier associated with a unidirectional control rack and driven by the upper run of the cable drive system.

Abstract: To more fully utilize the surface area of a typewriter ribbon in a cartridge ribbon receptacle, the cartridge locating plate supporting the receptacle is caused to oscillate with respect to the print head assembly. The ribbon cartridge assembly is a part of a print head and ribbon carrier that is positionable along a line of print by a drive motor through a belt drive engaging a drive pulley rotatably mounted to the carrier. Mounted to rotate with the drive pulley is a cam that engages a cam follower also mounted to the head and ribbon carrier. An upstop forms a part of the cam follower and engages the cartridge locating plate. With the cam follower driven by the cam, an oscillating motion is imparted to the upstop with reference to the head and ribbon carrier which motion is then imparted to the cartridge locating plate. Also fastened to the head and ribbon carrier is a solenoid that when energized spring biases the cartridge locating plate through a leaf spring attached to the plate.