Abstract: Method and apparatus for operating a printer to control acceptance of data from an external source and to execute the operations associated with printing. The electronics comprises a microprocessor based control system in which both the program steps and the data to be printed are stored in the microprocessor memory and wherein the microprocessor accepts incoming data and processes such data in accordance with foreground and background programs, respectively, and wherein the system is provided with interrupt capabilities for jumping from one program to the other upon the occurence of predetermined criteria.A number of protective techniques and circuits are provided to prevent certain operations from being executed during power up or power down conditions.

Abstract: A bidirectional belt-drive for printers and the like comprising a carriage assembly movable across a paper web and supporting a print head mounting bracket. A belt has upper and lower runs extending through guide passageways in the carriage assembly. Independent jam cleat assemblies are normally biased by single spring means to a neutral position so as to be displaced from both runs of the belt.Swingably mounted knurled supporting surfaces cooperate with the jam cleat assemblies to enhance gripping of the fabric belt. Each jam cleat assembly has a pair of cooperating arms whose free ends are arranged to engage one another and extend between the arms of the single torsion spring means.The carriage assembly print head slidably receives the mounting bracket which is urged in the forward direction by bias means and may be adjustably positioned by adjustable cam means to enable the carriage assembly to maintain a fixed position relative to the platen and requiring only movement of the print head mounting bracket.

Abstract: A dot matrix impact printer having print wires reciprocating within a print head. A bearing guides printing tips in the nose of the print head. Liquid printing material stored within a container adjacent to the print head is delivered by a wick from the container to the sides of the print wires by capillary action. The liquid printing material works its way through the jewel bearing of the print head and on to the printing tips of the print wires whereupon it is transferred to the print receiving medium when impacted by the print wires. Porous absorbent members, adapted to expand upon wetting, engage the print wires at a location between said wick and said jewel bearing to regulate the flow of liquid printing material toward the printing tips to prevent dripping or dribbling of the liquid printing material from the print head and to prevent the liquid printing material from travelling along the print wires away from said jewel bearing and toward the print wire actuating means.

Abstract: A paper supply roll holder having an axle insertable through the core of a paper supply roll for rotatably supporting the paper supply roll upon a supporting bracket. The rearward portion of the supporting bracket rests upon a suitable support surface while the forward ends of a pair of resilient arms are inserted into openings upon a printer housing for releasable locking therebetween and to positively locate the paper supply holder relative to the printer. The paper extends from the supply roll over a resiliently-mounted dancer bar and into the printer where it is guided therethrough by web feeding means of the incremental-feed type. The spring elements resiliently supporting the dancer bar are adapted to yield upon incremental advancement of the web feeding means, to thereafter rotate the supply roll through a small angle as the web feeding means pauses during the printing of a line to assure that the web is fed in an orderly fashion.

Abstract: A drive assembly for printer carriages and the like comprised of a closed looped metallic tape entrained about a drive and a driven pulley and being moved at a substantially constant rate. The carriage assembly reciprocally slides along guide rods for linear movement in a forward and reverse direction and is provided with guideways for enabling substantially unimpeded movement of the upper and lower runs respectively of said closed looped tape. Solenoid operated jam cleat assemblies are respectively engageable with the upper and lower runs of said closed looped tape in a mutually exclusive fashion. Connecting rod means is provided to assure engagement of only one of the jam cleats with the associated run of the closed loop tape to prevent stopping or jamming of the tape and to assist in the release of the deactivated jam cleat. By selective energization of the pair of solenoid assemblies, the carriage assembly may be moved in either the forward or reverse direction at any given instant of time.

Abstract: A print head of the dot matrix impact type is provided with a plurality of solenoid assemblies arranged in a circular array about the rearward portion of the print head. A thin flexible printed circuit cable encircles the solenoid assemblies and has imbedded therein thin flexible wires each terminating at one end in an exposed connecting terminal and connected at their opposite ends to a connector plug mounted upon the cable and adapted to releaseably receive a mating connector. Embedded in the cable are a plurality of flat rigid plates serving as a stiffening member, interlocking tab and tab receiving members, a clamping member having an elongated embracing tab and a locating member having a pair of locating tabs for positively locating and orienting the printed circuit cable relative to the solenoid assemblies and for securing the locating member to one of the solenoid assemblies to prevent the cable from sliding about the print head solenoid assembly array.

Abstract: Apparatus for attenuating noise necessarily emitted from output slots of a printer mechanism enclosure and utilizing a minimal amount of enclosure components of significantly reduced size. Input and output housings or compartments for noise attenuation are provided, each of which form elongated narrow guideways. One end of each of the guideways of each of said compartments is aligned with the paper input and output slots, respectively, of the printer mechanism housing and is sealed to prevent noise at the juncture. The guideways have narrow passageways extending therethrough, but are sufficiently wide to permit the paper passing therethrough to move without experiencing any drag resistance due to the presence of the guideways. At least one surface of the guideways confronting and substantially parallel to the moving paper web is lined with a suitable noise attenuating foam.

Abstract: A replacement ribbon package for ribbon cartridge assemblies. The package comprises a Mobius Loop ribbon arranged in full fanfold fashion within a channel-shaped ribbon holder. A semirigid stripper sheet positioned between the ribbon and the base of the channel-shaped member permits the ribbon to be simply and readily stripped from the channel-shaped member once the package is inserted into the ribbon cartridge housing. A tearaway wrapper, which encircles the channel-shaped member and the ribbon serves to loosely hold the ribbon fanfold portion to prevent any creasing. The package is designed to be placed into the ribbon cartridge housing to simplify the installation operation and eliminate handling of the ribbon portion inserted into the ribbon cartridge housing.The package may be boxed or inserted within a plastic tray having a lid heat sealed to the tray flange.Instructions may be printed upon the enclosure package, the tear strip, or upon a separate insertion.

Abstract: A pin-feed tractor assembly for advancing a web of indeterminate length through a printing station and including a timing belt having spaced teeth defining interspersed grooves. The drive sprocket is arranged to engage the notches for moving the belt. Sections of the belt between adjacent notches are rigid while the region of the notches is flexible to permit bending of the belt only at the notches, thereby providing equal stresses in the belt. The outer surface of the belt is provided with feed pins arranged at equi-spaced intervals. The pitch of the belt teeth is one-half the pitch of the perforations in the elongated web which receive the feed pins. The pitch circle of the equi-spaced feed pins is smaller than the pitch circle over the rigid flat portions causing the feed pin to retract somewhat from the web before starting its circular path around the drive sprocket to prevent the web from being damaged or torn.The belt is a molded one-piece member.

Abstract: A printer having at least one reciprocally mounted printing member controlled to impact against a printing surface by selective energization of an associated printing driving member. The forward end of the member is guided by a bearing. Ink from a supply source is directed to the printing member near the forward end of the printing member whereby the ink is drawn into the region between the guide hole in the printing member guide bearing and the periphery of the printing member to be moved to the region in front of the forward tip of the printing member whereby activation of the driving member abruptly moves the printing member in the forward printing direction causing the ink deposited upon the tip of the printing member to be urged toward and against the ink receiving medium to transfer the ink to the ink receiving medium. A group of printing members may be used to print in this manner to collectively form characters, symbols, and even graphic patterns.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided with a movable carriage upon which is mounted an inkjet print head and a small reservoir having a fluid capacity capable of printing a predetermined number of characters, and which is sufficiently light in weight as to minimize the mass mounted upon the carriage. Sensing means detect the low level of ink for causing the carriage to be moved to the end of one of the printer margins at which is located a stationary large capacity ink reservoir having an outlet nozzle adapted to be inserted into an opening in the small capacity reservoir for filling the reservoir either under control of a pump or by gravity feed, whereupon the printer resumes the printing operation.

Abstract: A print head assembly of the free flight, ballistic type comprising a wire guide subassembly and a solenoid drive assembly adapted to be precisely and adjustably interconnected by means of a novel flexible resilient parasol adapted to simultaneously adjust the spacing between the solenoid assembly armatures and the associated poles without effecting the magnitude of the biasing force imposed forces exerted on the armatures.

Abstract: A correction device for typewriters and the like, including a material, preferably in liquid form, maintained at a predetermined pressure within a container. The container outlet is coupled through a narrow elongated tube whose dispensing end is positioned upon the typewriter carriage or other device so as to be located immediately across from the last printed character or other symbol. An operating switch activates an electronic circuit for dispensing a measured amount of the material over the last printed character, the color of said material being the same as the paper being printed upon to provide the same effect as erasure of the character. The dispensing of the measured dosage may be accomplished either by electronic or mechanical means. The erasure means may be provided as an integral part of the typewriter unit or as an independent stand-alone accessory.

Abstract: An electronic slot machine employing solid state circuitry of modular design, simplifying maintenance to the tasks of module replacement, changing lamps and possibly clearing a coin jam. A coin detector creates a jam condition upon any malfunction during coin insertion. A high frequency clock drives a multistage counter which is decoupled from the clock either upon insertion of the proper number of coins (in an automatic machine) or upon the operation of the conventional operating handle which is activated by coin entry. A stepping motor steps the reels, having a plurality of symbols, while stepping the count in the counter to zero, which count deenergizes the stepping motors. Three-bit binary codes are generated representing the reel symbols in the final output position for any type of machine from three symbol center line to five line criss-cross models.