Abstract: A method of controlling noise in an impact printer that modulates the input pulse to the power amplifier of the printer. The resulting current waveform is then applied to the print wire solenoids. The final shape of the force input to the platen reduces or spreads the spectral envelope containing problem harmonics and acoustic output noise.

Abstract: An embossing device, which can produce traditional braille cells and crisp, well-defined, raised images of graphical subjects is disclosed. Embossing of sheet material is accomplished using punches which have embossing faces shaped to mate with recessed areas on the surface of a platen.

Abstract: A braille printer that embosses braille characters line by line, in which embossing dies formed in the form of a line on which a plurality of projections or recesses for embossing braille characters, and debossing dies, on which a plurality of projections or recesses are formed in a line, are made to face each other, and the recesses and projections at positions corresponding to printing signals are pressed against each other. Cams for making the embossing dies move forward are disposed at both end positions of a line of characters below each of the embossing dies which are held at embossing positions in such a manner as to be movable forward or backward. The contour of each of these cams at both end positions of the line of characters have an apex, each of these apices being the same distance from a cam shaft.

Abstract: A stamping tool for use in an auto-indexable tool station having a number of character inserts that can be rotatably moved below a striker area so that a thin metal plate or sheet of metal may be marked. The stamping tool allows for automatic adjustment of tool length for any variation in material thickness. A pneumatic cylinder actuates a mechanism that engages the key way in the head nut. The tool length is changed by the rotary motion of the auto-indexable tool station. The character housing is rotated by the indexable tool station through the punch key which moves the selected character insert to the striker area within the tool. The striker area causes the character insert which is spring biased to protrude lower than the character inserts that are not in the striker area. When the stamping tool is struck by the ram, only the character insert in the striker area will contact the material to be marked.

Abstract: An embossing apparatus (22) includes an embossing wheel (28) having a punch side (30) and a die side (32). The embossing wheel (28) has punch blocks (50) and die blocks (52) spaced around its periphery. A card (20) is carried to an embossing position by card transport (24) and aligned by a guide plate (36). The embossing is done by pushing the punch blocks (50) and die blocks (52) against the card (20) by a hammer (42, 42a) driven by a solenoid (38, 38a). Character return plates (46, 46a), located on the outer sides of the embossing wheel (28) engaging the inside of character blocks (35), spring the character blocks (35) and solenoid shaft (40, 40a) back to a home at rest position when the embossing stroke is completed. The solenoids (38, 38a) have bumpers (54, 54a) mounted thereon for controlling the motion of the shaft (40, 40 a).

Abstract: Conveying apparatus for embossing machines for producing printing plates for address printing machines or for identification means made out of sheet metal or plastic material. The embossing machine conveying apparatus is capable of moving the printing plates in two directions which are perpendicular to each other. One of these directions is the direction required for character embossing within a print or read line and the second direction, which is perpendicular to the first, is in the direction of line spacing.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a plurality of drive coils for driving printing hammers arranged longitudinally in side-by-side relation at one side of a core of the U-shape. A first cooling fluid passageway is defined inside the core of the U-shape to allow a cooling fluid for cooling the drive coils to flow therethrough, and a second cooling fluid passageway is defined outside the core by a duct to allow the cooling fluid for cooling the drive coils to flow therethrough without escaping to the outside by diffusion. A current of cooling fluid is forcibly fed into these cooling fluid passageways by a fluid machine.

Abstract: Machines for writing braille type having two opposing rows of embossing units each with a support holding a punch-forming stamp guidable between an inactive position and a pushed-out embossing position with abutment against a die member disposed opposite the embossing unit. An electromagnet for each unit controls the stamp with a displaceable plunger. The rows of units are arranged for synchronous movement towards and away from each other in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of movement of a sheet for receiving the type. Each opposing support forms coherent die-punch pairs. Each support has a double-armed rocker which with one end abuts an impressing end of the embossing stamp while the other end projects outwards so that on movement of the support towards the path of the sheet, it is guided substantially at right angles towards the end of the plunger of the electromagnet when said plunger is pushed out.

Abstract: An electronically controlled embossing machine for embossing alpha-numeric characters on flexible sheets such as, for example, plastic or metal credit cards or nameplates. Embossing is accomplished by two constantly rotating embossing wheels which carry radially movable embossing molds about their peripheries. One embossing wheel carries male or projecting embossing molds; the second wheel carries matching female or intaglio embossing molds. Selection of a certain character via a keyboard, or by electrical signals from any data source, causes the appropriate male and female molds to be moved radially outwardly on each wheel by mechanical mold cam levers. A flexible sheet, such as a plastic credit card blank, interposed in the bite of the two embossing wheels, is embossed by the radially extended embossing molds in a rolling-squeezing process.

Abstract: Automatic card embossing apparatus includes a rotatable embossing wheel carrying about its periphery punch and die pairs for all characters available for embossing. Each character position of the wheel defines an address and the wheel is controlled for rotation to a desired address for embossing the character there-located. Data identifying all embossable characters is processed to derive three control numbers for each character, the first control number identifying the corresponding wheel address for the corresponding punch and die pair, the second number identifying the horizontal position on the card where the character is to be embossed, and the third control number identifying the line number on the card. The data is sorted into ascending order of wheel addresses. In operation, a card is transported to a reference position relative to the embossing wheel and the embossing wheel is rotated to the address of the first control number.