Abstract: A drive circuit for a piezoelectric stack which drives a desired mechanical object such as a printing head of a dot matrix printer or an ink jet printer. A winding is connected in series with one of electrodes of the piezoelectric stack so that an excitation voltage is applied to the stack via the winding. An excessive charge current at each time of drive and an excessive discharge current at each time of recovery are prevented.

Abstract: In an impact printer head intermittently movable along a printing line and comprising a plurality of printer units (25) each of which has a thickness and a printing wire (30) having a printing end operable between rest and actuated positions along a line of displacement (R), a support member (45) supports the printing wires so that a distance between two adjacent ones of the printing ends becomes smaller than each thickness at the actuated positions. To this end, the printer units are radially disposed by the supporting member to make the lines of displacement form an acute angle for two adjacent printer units and to position the printing ends in a predetermined configuration at the actuated positions. The predetermined configuration may be a single straight line perpendicular or oblique to the printing line. Alternatively, the configuration may be a pair of straight lines orthogonal or inclined to the printing line.

Abstract: In a differential lever actuator comprising transmission members (41, 42) for differentially transmitting oppositely sensed angular displacements from first and second weight points (P1, P3) of first and second lever members (31, 32) to first and second predetermined points (P2, P4) of a differential lever member (41), a distance between midpoints (S, T) between the first weight and predetermined points and between the second weight and predetermined points is kept constant irrespective of the angular displacements. Preferably, at least one transmission member should be perpendicular to a line passing through the related weight point and a fulcrum point (Q or R) of the associated one of the first and second lever members. When carried by the differential lever member for print of a dot, a rod should preferably have an axis passing through a point of intersection of the transmission members.