Abstract: A shuttle apparatus for a printer having a print shuttle unit driven to reciprocate. The print shuttle unit includes a print shuttle provided with a print head and movable along a guide device. A row of permanent magnets are attached to the print shuttle, and a row of electromagnetic coils are secured to a stationary member so as to face the permanent magnets across a gap. The coils and the permanent magnets constitute a linear motor for reciprocating the print shuttle unit along the guide device. A balance shuttle unit having approximately the same weight as that of the print shuttle unit is disposed so that the center of gravity of the balance shuttle unit travels on a line approximately the same as the line of travel of the center of gravity of the print shuttle unit. The balance shuttle unit is driven to reciprocate in linked relation to the print shuttle unit in parallel but reverse in direction to the print shuttle unit.

Abstract: A printer head is connected to its counterbalance by a counter drive in a manner to reduce shock and noise when the printer head is reciprocated by a linear motor. The counter drive comprises a pulley and a pair of belts or wires which are wound approximately half way around the pulley in respective opposite directions on opposite sides of the pulley, with one end of each belt being connected to the counterbalance, and the other end of each belt being connected to the printer head. Thus, the counterbalance moves in the opposite direction of the printer head. A movable element of the linear motor is connected coaxially to the counterbalance, in a manner such that the weight of the movable element is included in the total weight of the counterbalance. The printer head is mounted on a carriage which the carriage has a roller spaced laterally from the shaft. slides along a shaft.