Abstract: An improved striking device is provided as including a main post having two main longitudinal slots. An insert post having an outside diameter that is less than the inside diameter of the main post is provided. A striking surface is provided that is attached to an arm which in turn is attached to an arm housing. The arm housing has a first housing end and a second housing end. The arm housing is placed around the main post and the second housing end rests upon a support axle passing through the insert post. The first housing end includes a cam surface having two peaks located on opposite sides thereof and two valleys located on opposite sides thereof with each of the two valleys disposed between each of the two peaks. A cam follower is included which is retained in contact against the cam surface by a pair of springs.

Abstract: A float activated gauge includes a float, a frame for guiding the vertical movement of the float, and a twisted metal strip coacting with the float to provide a visual indication of the vertical position of the float. The frame is held in position by an easily assembled head comprising a ring body and a cap. The frame comprises two vertical rods, each of which terminates on its upper end in an outwardly extending stub. When assembled, the rods and stubs of the frame are sandwiched between the cap and the ring body, so that assembly of the gauge does not require bending or deforming of the frame.

Abstract: A bi-directional vent for a fuel tank utilizes a resilient sealing member which in its unflexed state is a simple resilient washer. The sealing member is disposed inside a vent body, and forms both an inner and outer seal. The inner seal is formed between an inner circumferential edge on a central hole in the washer and a conical sealing surface attached to the vent body. The outer seal is formed between an outer annular sealing surface on the washer and a circumferential edge formed on a central opening in the vent body. Increased pressure in the tank causes the sealing member to deflect at its inner portion away from the circumferential edge on the vent body, resulting in outward venting. Reduced pressure in the tank causes the outer part of the sealing member to deflect away from the conical seating surface, resulting in inward venting.

Abstract: An improvement in manually operable vents includes a pair of barbs positioned on the end of a leg attached to a vent screw. A vent body is formed with a retaining well on its underside facing the barbs. A throat is formed in the vent body, opening into a flat upper surface of the retaining well. During assembly, the vent screw is screwed into the vent body, causing the barbs to deflect inwards as they are urged through the throat. Once clear of the throat, the barbs restore to their normal position. The vent screw is then held captive, if removal is attempted, by the barbs wedging against the flat upper surface and a cylindrical side wall of the retaining well.

Abstract: A float activated gauge for indicating the level of liquid in a tank utilizes a twisted float following member. The float following member is disposed adjacent to the float and is caused to rotate as the float moves vertically due to a change of the level of liquid in the tank. A U-shaped main body for the gauge guides the float vertically, holding the float captive and against the float following member. A needle extends at a right angle from the float following member and is externally visible to provide an indication of the amount of rotation of the float following member and, therefore, the level of liquid in the tank.

Abstract: A modified wire guide and assembly method for facilitating the insertion of wires into a dot matrix print head. In the preferred embodiment, the wire guide has a planar surface with downwardly extending wire holes defined by first and second surfaces. The first surface has a truncated conical shape and the second surface has a cylindrical shape. Additionally, the wire guide has an upwardly extending, inclined cam surface that intersects the planar surface to form a closed path. The first surface defining each hole is positioned adjacent the cam surface and intersects the closed path so that a wire striking the cam surface will move down it toward and into one of the holes. The assembly method of the present invention involves inserting a wire through three wire guides using aids that apply a first force in a first direction to bow the wire and then apply a second force in an opposite direction to guide the wire through the print head.

Abstract: This invention involves methods and apparatus relating to the assembly and structure of a dot matrix print head. In the preferred embodiment, the tops of the bobbins, yoke members, and pole pieces are ground flush in a common plane. The common plane is then used as a reference to mount and assembly remaining elements of the print head including the clapper members and backstop for the clapper members. The clapper members are mounted for pivotal movement between first and second positions by a cover member and securing cap. For uniform operation, the pivotal axis are all in the common reference plane on respective bobbin members and the gaps of the clapper members are automatically set to the identical size by intermeshing fingers on the cover and cap members. Additionally, corresponding and abutting surfaces on the bobbins, cover member, and cap member act in concert by the operation of a single screw to properly align, assembly, and adjust the operating parts of the print head.

Abstract: This invention involves methods and apparatus relating to the assembly and structure of a dot matrix print head. The invention includes a single unit, coil assembly of a bobbin, coil, and clapper which can be removeably placed as a unit among fixed pole pieces and yoke members in the print head. The print head also includes a supporting arrangement for the coil assemblies which automatically aligns the clapper of each coil assembly with the impact end of one of the print wires during the assembly of the print head. Other disclosed features of the invention are novel designs for the wire guide members, a heat sink member, and mounting structure by which the print head is attached to the main guide and rail guide bearings of the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A bearing for a rotating shaft including a main body with three sections. The first section has a square profile whose sides are dimensioned to be received in a corresponding square slot in a support structure and held against rotation. The second section has a profile with at least five sides with four sides thereof being coplanar with the four sides of the first section. The fifth side falls within the profile of the first section and preferably is substantially the same thickness as the support structure plus a retaining clip. The third section has a profile with a portion greater than any portion of the profiles of the first and second sections wherein the bearing can be inserted into the slot in the support structure and held in place with a retaining clip positioned substantially about the second section.

Abstract: A transport system for a dot matrix printing mechanism including an improved overall design for the transport system and improved designs for individual elements of the system and combinations of elements. The overall design of the present invention uses snap fits extensively throughout for ease of assembly and disassembly, integrates many previously separate parts into one-piece members, employs common part designs wherever possible, and uses single parts to perform multiple functions wherever possible. For example, the striker bar and ribbon frame of the system are combined into one piece and the ribbon cartridge is releasably mounted to the ribbon frame using one end of a latch member while the other end of the latch member is used to bias a pressure roller against the paper advancing roller. The overall design also includes a common drive train interconnected between the moving parts of the system whereby all of the moving parts can be powered by a single motor.

Abstract: This invention involves methods and apparatus relating to the assembly and structure of a dot matrix print head. The invention includes a single unit, coil assembly of a bobbin, coil, and clapper which can be removeably placed as a unit among fixed pole pieces and yoke members in the print head. The print head also includes a supporting arragement for the coil assemblies which automatically aligns the clapper of each coil assembly with the impact end of one of the print wires during the assembly of the print head. Other disclosed features of the invention are novel designs for the wire guide members, a heat sink member, and mounting structure by which the print head is attached to the main guide and rail guide bearings of the printing mechanism.

Abstract: This invention involves methods and apparatus relating to the assembly and structure of a dot matrix print head. The invention includes a single unit, coil assembly of a bobbin, coil, and clapper which can be removeably placed as a unit among fixed pole pieces and yoke members in the print head. The print head also includes a supporting arrangement for the coil assemblies which automatically aligns the clapper of each coil assembly with the impact end of one of the print wires during the assembly of the print head. Other disclosed features of the invention are novel designs for the wire guide members, a heat sink member, and mounting structure by which the print head is attached to the main guide and rail guide bearings of the printing mechanism.

Abstract: This invention involves methods and apparatus relating to the assembly and structure of a dot matrix print head. The invention includes a single unit, coil assembly of a bobbin, coil, and clapper which can be removeably placed as a unit among fixed pole pieces and yoke members in the print head. The print head also includes a supporting arrangement for the coil assemblies which automatically aligns the clapper of each coil assembly with the impact end of one of the print wires during the assembly of the print head. Other disclosed features of the invention are novel designs for the wire guide members, a heat sink member, and mounting structure by which the print head is attached to the main guide and rail guide bearings of the printing mechanism.

Abstract: This invention involves methods and apparatus relating to the assembly and structure of a dot matrix print head. The invention includes a single unit, coil assembly of a bobbin, coil, and clapper which can be removeably placed as a unit among fixed pole pieces and yoke members in the print head. The print head also includes a supporting arrangement for the coil assemblies which automatically aligns the clapper of each coil assembly with the impact end of one of the print wires during the assembly of the print head. Other disclosed features of the invention are novel designs for the wire guide members, a heat sink member, and mounting structure by which the print head is attached to the main guide and rail guide bearings of the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A transport system for a dot matrix printing mechanism including an improved overall design for the transport system and improved designs for individual elements of the system and combinations of elements. The overall design of the present invention uses snap fits extensively throughout for ease of assembly and disassembly, integrates many previously separate parts into one-piece members, employs common part designs wherever possible, and uses single parts to perform multiple functions wherever possible. For examples, the strike bar and ribbon frame of the present invention are combined into one piece and the ribbon cartridge is releasably mounted to the ribbon frame using one end of a latch member while the other end of the latch member is used to bias a pressure roller against the paper advancing roller. The overall design also includes a common drive train interconnected between the moving parts of the transport system whereby all of the moving parts can be powered by a single motor.

Abstract: A matrix printer which is specifically adaptable for printing and the like is characterized by having a stationary print head containing a plurality of print wires which are arranged in a single row extending transversely of the direction of travel of a relatively heavy paper stock. The paper is advanced at a substantially constant rate of speed along the guide path and signals are generated in response to that advancement to activate selected ones of the print wires in the row so as to form dot-like impressions in the paper, line-by-line, as it is advanced past the print head. The density or spacing of the wires coupled with the printing speed is such that designs, alphanumeric characters, together with coded information, may be impressed upon the paper as it is continuously advanced past the print head, the code providing a means of verification of the information printed as well as to signal the end of the printing operation for each ticket.

Abstract: For use in a business machine having a printer and a platen for backing documents during printing, a document stop and position indicator mechanism comprising, in preferred form: movable document stop means for vertically supporting a document at a preselected printing position relative to the platen, a manually rotatable drive shaft mounting gearing engaging gear linkage connected to the document stop means for adjusting the document printing position by raising or lowering the document stop means, a flexible band having ends thereof secured to the document stop means, and band guide means, comprising pulleys, for training the band past a viewing point, the band being calibrated to identify thereat the document printing position established by knob rotation of the drive shaft.