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: Apparatus for printing characters on at least one data carrier comprising a printing head movable along the data carrier, a line advance device for feeding the data carrier substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the printing head, an ink ribbon feed mechanism for feeding an ink ribbon in relation to the data carrier, a cut-off mechanism for cutting off the data carrier, and a shaft rotatable less than 360.degree. in one direction by a reversible motor from a home position to an end position determined by the selected operation cycle and thereafter back to the home position by reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft. The reversal of the shaft is performed at different times during subsequent operation cycles to permit gears and cams on the shaft to move the printing head to positions determined by the number of characters to be printed on the data carrier, actuation of the line advance device, and actuation of the ink ribbon feed mechanism or cut-off mechanism.