Abstract: A serial impact printer capable of performing multicolor printing at high speed. In this printer an inked ribbon divided into multiple colored bands each along the longitudinal direction thereof is arranged to extend and move in a direction intersecting the print line. A print head assembly is provided with print wire units arranged along the print line, as many in number as the number of the colored bands. Each of the print wire units comprises a plurality of print wires and is disposed in opposition to each of the colored bands respectively.In this arrangement and method multicolored impact serial printing can be performed, just as in conventional monocolor impact printing, without any color change motion of the multicolor inked ribbon or of the print head.

Abstract: An armature support device for rotatably supporting, in a print head, one end of an armature which holds a print wire at the other end thereof. The support device comprises a support member and a spring member. The spring member is made of a piece of a resilient wire, including a fixed portion of a hair pin shape to be secured to the armature, a pair of arm portions extending oppositely on the same axis from both ends of the fixed portion for functioning as a rotational fulcrum for the armature, a pair of leg portions further extending, by being perpendicularly bent, from both ends of the arm portions for being firmly fixed to the support member. The armature is biased toward a predetermined position by torsional resilient force of the arm portions of the spring member, and it is rotated about the arm portions by an electromagnetic device twisting the same to advance or restore the print wire.

Abstract: A print head for a serial dot-printer which includes improved structure to fix each print wire to a pivotable armature. The armature is provided with an arm portion which is made of a stainless steel plate and consists of a pair of mutually opposed side portions and a connecting portion connecting the side portions. Inner surfaces of the front areas of the side portions are welded to each other at the free end portion of the arm. A first supporting full 360.degree. aperture is thus formed between the welded side portions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the armature, and a second print wire supporting aperture is formed in the connecting portion and is spaced by a predetermined distance from the first supporting aperture. The rear end of the print wire is inserted through the first supporting aperture until it reaches the second supporting aperture where it is welded to the internal surface of the second supporting aperture in the connecting portion.

Abstract: A damper for line printers and the like in which the print head moves from left to right across a paper document during the printing phase and upon completion of a line of print, moves in the "carriage return" direction at a more rapid rate to return to the left-hand margin of the paper document preparatory to the printing of the next line of characters.The damper is utilized to attenuate and cushion the impact of the print head as it approaches the left-hand margin of the paper document and comprises a stationary mounted cylinder and a cooperating print head mounted plunger having a rollably mounted O-ring.