Abstract: A ribbon positioning mechanism comprises a ribbon cartridge, a nosepiece, a stepper motor and flexible ribbon guides connecting the ribbon cartridge to the nosepiece. The nosepiece has two side members connected by a bridge, one of which has a downwardly extending leg. A rack located on the bottom of the leg engages a pinion attached to the stepper motor for lifting the nosepiece into a desired position. A ribbon, having a plurality of parallel color bands, passes from the ribbon cartridge via the flexible ribbon guides and through the nosepiece where it is aligned with a print head. The nosepiece freely slides on vertical guide posts attached to a print head carrier and printer logic controls the stepper motor to align the desired color band with the print head.

Abstract: A method for fixing a pin to a ceramic substrate includes inserting the pin into a hole through the thickness of the substrate, restraining one end of the pin that extends from one surface of the substrate, and striking the end of the pin at the opposite end of the substrate with a force sufficient to form a head on the pin and to cause permanent radial expansion of the pin against the surface of the hole in the substrate.

Abstract: A printer frame assembly having snap-together parts includes a base member, two side frame members, resilient cushions and an impact platen. The base member has locating receptacles to position the side frame members and interlocking flexure latches to snap-lock with corresponding locking surfaces located on the two side frame members. The interlocking flexure latches provide a bias to align the side frame members in a front-to-back direction and lateral alignment channels to prevent lateral displacement. The resilient cushions are positioned between the bottoms of the side frame members and the base member to urge the interlocking flexure latches and locking surfaces into secure engagement and to eliminate any clearances between the side frame members and the base member. The impact platen serves as a structural member of the frame and is positioned intermediate the two side frame members.

Abstract: Operation of an AC plasma display panel requires the three control operations of write, erase, and sustain. Sustain, write and erase signals are stored in a plurality of sections in a storage device and the sections are selectively accessed according to the specific operation to be provided to the plasma panel display. Switching between the sections in the storage device is accomplished without signal discontinuity in the sustain, write, and erase signals used to drive the illuminable cells. The sustain operation is recycled during those periods when no write or erase operation is being done.