Abstract: An impact printer is capable of printing at either ten characters per inch or fifteen characters per inch by changing the type character carrying member. The print hammers are spaced at the same distance apart as are the type characters on the carrying member or band and the hammers are displaced from a home position by one space for printing the fifteen characters per inch at a higher speed than when printing at ten characters per inch. The hammers are time shared and are caused to be moved or shifted a precise distance of 4 increments of 1/30 inch each for a standard pitch band at ten characters per inch or a precise distance of 2 increments of 1/30 inch each for a compressed pitch band at fifteen characters per inch.

Abstract: A welding fixture includes members supporting the ends of a print band and spaced to permit welding of the ends of the band with a laser beam. The edges of the band on either side of the weld joint are held parallel by means of at least two alignment pins on either side of the weld with the pins forming one terminal of a plurality of switches in circuitry to indicate proper alignment of the band prior to welding. One support member of the fixture is pivotable or tiltable to enable the ends of the band to be made square prior to welding.