Abstract: An impact mechanism for use in an impact printer, to deliver a printing force to drive a character element against a platen by means of a print tip movable toward and away from the platen. A rockable bail bar having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the platen is constrained to limited angular movement toward and away from the platen by a prime mover connected to the bail bar. A push rod interconnects the print tip and the bail bar for delivering impact forces to the platen as the bail bar is moved toward the platen. The push rod is normally coupled to the bail bar for delivering impact forces to the platen and may be decoupled from the bail bar for drawing the pring tip away from the platen so as to allow the character element to be removed. A decoupling mechanism is provided to lift the push rod off of the bail bar and to recouple it to the bail bar as required.

Abstract: An improved serial impact printer designed to substantially reduce impact noise generation during the printing operation. The printer includes a print tip exhibiting high effective mass relatively movable with respect to a deformable platen, with a print element, a marking ribbon and an image receptor sheet interposed between the print tip and the platen which are urged together during a controlled contact period of extended length.

Abstract: An impacting element for an impact printer having a platen, selectable character elements and means for driving the impacting element to impart a printing force to a selected character element, to drive it against said platen for a contact period, the impacting element including a sensor thereon for generating a signal indicative of the initiation of the contact period.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for utilizing finger control switches connected to a binary code receiver for the purpose of driving a printer and/or a visual and/or audible readout device. The device is made up of a number of switches normally in the open position which can be depressed to a closed position. The input from the switches is communicated to a binary code receiver, which activates a printer, a visual readout or an audible device. The apparatus is used both for communication to other equipment and as a teaching device for physically demonstrating the combination of switch positions required to produce a given command.

Abstract: A printing pressure damping mechanism for a hand labeler: A printing platen is pivotally mounted on the frame of the hand labeler. The platen has a printing portion at one side of its center of pivotal motion. A hand lever pivotally connected to the frame of the labeler carries a printing head, which is turned toward the printing platen when the hand lever is squeezed against the biasing force of a return spring. Shock-absorbing means, comprising a leaf spring on the hand lever and an elastic abutment member on the other side of the printing platen from the printing portion engage to turn the printing portion of the printing platen toward the printing head. The hand lever is further squeezed and moves to overcome the biasing force of the leaf spring when the printing head abuts against the printing portion of the platen. The squeezing force, which might otherwise be applied as a printing force to the printing platen through the hand lever, is damped to a preset level.