Abstract: A smart material actuator wherein one or more smart material devices are constrained in a frame such that expansion or contraction of the frame effects movement of side frame members away from or towards one another. The side frame members are constrained such that such movement away from or towards one another effects rotational movement of the frame for outputting amplified movement at an output member that rotates with the frame.

Abstract: A serial impact printer and including a single cam member for properly establishing and maintaining the throat gap distance between a character imprinting surface and the platen at a print point and for raising and lowering a selected ribbon, of a composite marking correcting ribbon pack assembly, to and from the print point. A short throat gap distance is needed for commercially acceptable printing speeds in this hammer mass printer, and is needed for high quality printing; conversely, a long throat gap distance is needed for print point visibility at all other times. The cam member has plural camming surfaces which coordinate ribbon position with throat gap distance.

Abstract: A novel rotary printing device, such as a daisy-type printwheel, for use in an impact printer, having identifying means thereon. In one form, plural protrusions, extending axially outwardly from the printing device, are provided and the angle between the protrusions serves the dual function of identifying the print element characteristics and identifying the reference position of the printing device for "arming" the printer with the information. In another form, a single protrusion is provided solely for identifying the reference position. A method and apparatus for in situ identification of the novel rotary printing device also forms a part of the instant invention.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for controlling the movement of a movable element to bring the movable element to rest at a desired stopping position. The apparatus comprises a multi-phase drive motor having a drive shaft coupled to the movable element for driving same, four electrically conductive coils mounted in position-displaced relationship about the shaft, and means coupled to the drive shaft and responsive to the selective energization of the coils by respective motor drive signals for causing the corresponding rotation of said drive shaft and movement of said movable element. A sensor is coupled to the drive shaft and is responsive to the rotation thereof for generating an electrical signal containing information indicative of the direction, speed and distance of movement of said movable element. Further, means are included for detecting from the distance information indicated by the electrical signal whether the movable element is within a predetermined distance of said desired stopping position.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for controlling the movement of a movable element between an initial starting position and a final stopping position.

Abstract: In a printer including a record material movable past a printing station, and a print assembly capable of printing a line of characters in dot matrix format upon relative movement of the print assembly and the record material in a first direction, a method and apparatus is disclosed for printing the line of characters. In accordance with such method and apparatus, the print assembly and record material are first moved relative to one another in the first direction at a first predetermined speed. Then, the print assembly is activated to print a first predetermined number of dots of the dot matrix pattern defining each character in the line. This is followed by moving the print assembly relative to the record material a predetermined amount in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and effecting relative movement of the print assembly and the record material in a third direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for energizing a selected one or more of a plurality of actuation devices in order to cause a printing element associated with each selected actuation device to strike an adjacent recording medium.