Abstract: A brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) assembly is provided. The BTSI assembly may include an armature assembly and a flux collector. The armature assembly may include an armature component, a shaft, and a pin. The armature component may include a central through-hole defining a central axis and include a first end defining a first angle surface. The shaft may be disposed within the central through-hole and the pin mounted to the shaft. The flux collector may be mounted to the shaft and includes a second end defining a second angle surface. The armature component and the flux collector may be arranged with one another such that a first plane defined by the first angle surface is substantially parallel to a second plane defined by the second angle surface.

Abstract: A method of punching a via or through hole in a polymer-metal laminate workpiece in a punch press. The punch press has a punch tool, a driver coil for driving the punch tool through the polymer-metal laminate workpiece, and a stopper for stopping the punch travel of the punch tool and mechanically returning the punch tool to its starting position. The method includes the steps of applying an electrical current pulse through the driver coil to electromagnetically drive the punch downward to and through the workpiece, and then elastically colliding the punch tool with the stopper to stop and return the punch tool on an upward return stroke. Subsequently a second, braking pulse is applied through the driver coil to electromagnetically brake the punch. The second electrical current is applied after the start of the punching pulse, for a time and magnitude sufficient to brake the punch press.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print actuator that maintains an adequate impact force and a shift stroke length and considerably increases a printing speed. According to the print actuator of the present invention, when a leaf spring 78 has been released from a rear magnetic unit 68 and passes through its neutral point and abuts upon magnetic poles 92 and 94 of a front magnetic unit 86, kinetic energy is stored in the leaf spring 78. By contacting the magnetic poles 92 and 94 of the front magnetic unit 86, the leaf spring 78 obtains a reaction force and generates kinetic energy for the return direction. The initial kinetic energy for an armature 80 is acquired from the composite force that consists of the reaction force and a recovery force that is stored in the leaf spring 78. The movement of the armature 80 is greatly accelerated by the attraction force of a permanent magnet 70 when no current is supplied to a coil 72, and is brought into contact with the magnetic poles 92, 94 and halted.

Abstract: To suppress a secondary bound of a print wire of a dot matrix printer which may occur after a single dot or continuous dots are printed and also to prevent both density variation of printed characters and printing ghost from occurring, a braking pulse is applied after application of a printing pulse in the case of printing the single dot and after a printing pulse of the trailing print cycle in the case of printing the continuous dots. The duration of the braking pulse to be applied after the application of the printing pulse in the trailing print cycle of the continuous dot printing is set to be shorter than the duration of the braking pulse applied after the printing pulse in the case of printing the single dot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a matrix print head (1) which is set at a fixed distance to a substrate support (2), where a recording substrate (3) is supported on the substrate support (2). An ink ribbon (4) is led between print pins (5) of a matrix pin print head (1) and the recording substrate (3), with a drive (6) provided jointly to the print pins (5) or to each print pin individually. In each case an electromagnetic coil (8) belongs to each print pin (5) and each print pin (5) is movable back and forth within a stroke from a rearward position into a forward position.

Abstract: An impact printer has a platen, a carriage movable in parallelism to the platen, a hammer carried on the carriage, driving means for protruding the hammer toward the platen, detecting means for detecting the speed of the hammer striking against the platen and returned therefrom, and control means for changing over the speed at which the hammer is protruded toward the platen in conformity with the result of the detection of the detecting means.

Abstract: An impact type recording apparatus includes a platen for supporting a recording medium, a hammer guided for reciprocal movement between an impacting position in which it strikes against the platen and a retracted position spaced apart from the platen, energizing means producing a force for biasing the hammer from the retracted position toward the impacting position, means for detecting the position of the hammer to thereby detect the speed of the hammer, and drive control means for operating the energizing means with only one pulse to brake the hammer when the hammer is moved from the impacting position to the retracted position, and making the operation timing of the braking pulse variable in conformity with the result of the detection by the detecting means.

Abstract: A striker device for use in printers comprises a platen roller, a character-carrying disc and a print hammer for striking a character of the disc against the roller. The print hammer is actuated by an armature which is movable in an impact direction by virtue of electromagnetic excitation of a stator body. The device includes strike-silencing means comprising sliding guide surfaces between the print hammer and the armature, which ensure freedom of movement for the armature with respect to the hammer in the impact sense and direction, and a ring of elastomeric material which is interposed between the armature and the print hammer and which transmits the kinetic energy of the armature to the print hammer with a delay. Particular ratios between the masses `Mh` and `Ma` of the hammer and the armature and between the levels of hardness `Kr` and `Kp` of the elastomeric ring and the roller provide a single but prolonged strike on the part of the print hammer.

Abstract: A case member and a resilient supporting member are removably coupled to each other. The case member has a mounting portion mounted on a traveling member, which includes a carriage of a printing apparatus. The supporting member includes first and second portions which are formed integrally from a leaf spring material, and can be deformed elastically. A printing hammer, a bearing member supporting the hammer, a solenoid coil member for driving the hammer, a spring member used to return the hammer, a hammer socket receiving an impact from the hammer, and a shock absorbing rubber plate are coupled together and held between the case member and the supporting member. As the printing hammer moves to its return position, it abuts against the hammer socket, thereby moving it in a returning direction.

Abstract: The print apparatus comprises a character-carrying element of the `daisywheel` type with flexible spokes which can be selectively positioned in front of a platen roller, a print hammer for moving a selected character towards the platen roller, an actuating solenoid for the print hammer and a damping mechanism which acts on the hammer after the printing of each character. The hammer is directly connected to a movable armature of the solenoid and is returned by a return spring.During the return phase, the armature displaces, against a travel limiting stop, a counteracting weight which is urged towards an intermediate stop by the force of a counteracting spring. A first damping element is disposed between the movable armature and the counteracting weight and a second damping element is disposed between the weight and the travel limiting stop. The two damping elements, operating sequentially, minimize the time required for the hammer to settle down.

Abstract: A method of damping the rebound in print hammer magnets in typewriters or similar office machine in which kinetic energy is removed, in a manner known per se, from the armature of the print hammer magnet returning to its initial position by charging the coil of the print hammer magnet with a so-called braking pulse. The method provides the charging of the coil of the print hammer magnet with measuring pulses during the time when it returns into its initial position and to measure the current flowing through the coil. The increase in current depends on the width of the air gap and therefore permits conclusions as to the position of the armature, so that the braking impulse can be switched on at the correct time.

Abstract: A printing head for use with an electrodynamic type wire dot printer includes an electrodynamic wire actuator disposed in a magnetic field to be deformed by an electromagnetic force, a printing pin fixedly supported by the electrodynamic wire actuator, and an anti-rebound damping member in cooperation with either the electrodynamic wire actuator or the printing pin. The wire actuator is resiliently deformed so as to give the printing pin a movement between a position wherein the printing pin rests and a position whereat the printing pin hits a platen roller through an ink ribbon and a printing paper wrapped around the platen roller, thereby to print an ink dot on the printing paper. When the printing pin is returned to the rest position, a electric voltage is applied to and, as a result, deforms the anti-rebound damping member to retain either the electrodynamic wire actuator or the printing pin in order to rapidly stop the printing pin at the rest position.

Abstract: The machine comprises a print-head (3) for printing characters on labels (11) which are borne by a strip (10) which passes over a print-platen (8). In order to prevent, in reliable, rapid and space-saving manner, a second printing as a result of a rebound of the head (3) on the platen (8), this machine comprises: a lever (35) having two arms forming a V (36, 37) of alternate angular movement synchronized with the movements of the head (3), with dihedral (40) of elasitc return, pivoted in the platen (8) and urged alternately in one direction and the other by a pusher (30) which is integral with the head (3) and by a retraction arm (43) which is integral with an inking device (25, 26, 27) for preventing the return of the head (3) as the result of a rebound, by engagement of an arm (36) in a detention notch (32-33) which is integral with the head (3).

Abstract: A moving piezoelectric type crystal element drives a print wire in the direction of a platen and against the resilience of return spring and a rebound spring. A voltage pulse is applied through a conductor and across the piezoelectric element to cause displacement or elongation strain thereof to drive the print wire into impact with the platen and upon impact of the print wire a voltage pulse is generated across the piezoelectric element which generated pulse is recovered through the conductor.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal element is resiliently urged to a home position and drives a plunger member and a print wire in printing operation. Upon rebound movement, the crystal element contacts a step portion of the print head housing to inhibit oscillation of the crystal element more rapidly than oscillation of the plunger member.

Abstract: An impact-type recording apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus of this invention comprises: a platen for supporting a recording medium; hammer means guided for reciprocal movement between a strike position where the hammer means strikes a character element to force it against an inked ribbon and a recording medium supported on the platen and a stand-by position where the hammer means is kept apart from the platen; energizing means for generating a force acting to move the hammer means from the stand-by position to the strike position; and control means for actuating the energizing means while the hammer means is being moved from the stand-by position to the strike position for striking purposes and while the hammer means is being moved from the strike position to the stand-by position for returning purposes. This construction enables the high-speed operation of the printing mechanism to be carried out with a low level of noise generation.

Abstract: Damping apparatus for minimizing print hammer settle time permits an increase in the hammer repetition rate, and in which the damping element is a reactive mass which is freely movable behind the actuated element to effect one or more energy transfer collisions with the actuated element. A return spring applies a return force to restore the actuated element and the reactive mass to a rest position. A bias spring, having an applied spring force which is lower than the return spring moves the reactive mass at a slower rate than the actuated element to cause the actuated element to collide with the reactive mass in advance of the rest position whereby the rebound energy of the actuated element is dissipated and restoration of the actuated element can occur as a result of the restore force applied by the return spring.

Abstract: An electromagnetic printing hammer device including a permanent magnet having a pair of electromagnetic pole-faces spaced apart from each other by a gap. A hammering element formed of a permanent magnet at least in one portion thereof is located in the gap for movement in a plane parallel to the pole-faces. The hammering element exerts a force of impact on the back of a type as a thrust is applied thereon when a pulse current is passed to the electromagnet and supported by bearings for linear movement in a direction in which it exerts a force of impact.

Abstract: An improved dot matrix actuator is provided which includes a magnetic circuit formed of a yoke assembly and a pivotal armature. The armature is pivotally supported with respect to the yoke by means of a flexure assembly which eliminates the need for a true pivot between the two elements. The elements are shaped so as to maintain a constant small air gap therebetween so as to maximize the magnetic efficiency of the device while eliminating wear. The device is operated just below saturation of the magnetic circuit in order to maximize efficiency. In addition, the actuator includes several features for maximizing its speed and operational efficiency.

Abstract: Electromagnetic printing group for a dot matrix printer where the armature movement towards the rest position isdamped by a counterarmature interposed between the armature and a resilient element defining the rest position so that the air cushion interposed between counterarmature and armature provides a first damping action followed by the damping caused by the ballistic impact between armature and counterarmature and finally by the resilient damping of the residual energy of the armature and counterarmature.

Abstract: Damping apparatus within an actuator device in which a backstop is supported on one portion of a dual cantilever to match the movement of the impacting actuator to reduce wear and provide positive restoration of initial position, wherein the backstop-supporting cantilever portion is embedded in energy-absorbing elastomeric material that is symmetrically confined to shorten settling time of the actuator and remain unaffected by temperature changes.

Abstract: A printing hammer rebound control system for use in impact-type printing machines is provided. The present system includes separate memory devices for storing the information of primary and its associated secondary energization. The primary energization is to move the printing hammer in the printing direction and the secondary energization is to slow down the hammer when it is in the returning motion. The present system applies an appropriate secondary energization in accordance with the intensity of the primary energization applied, thereby allowing to maintain the level of hammer rebound and production of noise at a minimum.

Abstract: A plunger armature printing system incorporates an opto-electronic sensor for sensing the movement of a vane fixed to the armature of the print mechanism. The output signal generated by the sensor is employed to define periods for measurement of the speed of movement of the armature. A microprocessor is employed for supplying accelerating and decelerating pulses to the armature magnet for causing the armature to achieve a preselected printing force, in response to the time intervals between similar signals produced by said sensor, and to return said armature to its rest position rapidly without rebound.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the hammer velocity of an impact printer is described. A velocity sensor generates a signal which is a function of hammer position. This is compared to a reference voltage, and a drive pulse is generated if a velocity correction is needed. The sensor can be located at the backstop and used to control the hammer velocity toward zero as the position nears the backstop. If the sensor is located at the backstop, the sensor output will remain constant for following velocity as its position approaches the backstop, allowing a constant reference voltage. A table look-up can be inserted in the circuit to supply corrections, for a sensor that does not have a position dependent velocity output.

Abstract: A printing hammer assembly for use in impact printers includes a printing hammer which has an impact surface and an armature and which is supported to be movable in a reciprocating manner along its longitudinal axis, a driving solenoid which drives to move the printing hammer forward when energized against the force of a coil spring which normally applies a biasing force to the printing hammer in the backward direction and a yoke leading a magnetic flux produced by said solenoid to the armature of printing hammer. A pair of magnets are disposed such that they are magnetically repulsive to each other with one of them fixed in position and the other movable over a predetermined distance thereby allowing to absorb the rebounding energy of the hammer when it returns to its home position.

Abstract: A print hammer for printers and typewriters comprises a hammer rod (11) which is axially movable in a housing (17, 18). The hammer rod is biassed towards a rest position by a spring and can be moved to a print position by a drive means, for example a solenoid coil (19). The hammer rod delimits a room (31) in the housing the size of which increases during the movement of the hammer rod towards the print position. The room (31) is connected to the surrounding atmosphere via a narrow channel (33) and also via a valve means (25, 28) which is open during the movement to the print position but closed during the return movement to the rest position. The valve means (25, 28) also forms a stop member for the hammer rod (11) in the rest position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bi-directional drive printer actuator with position feedback control and methods of operation to optimize the performance of impact type printers. By monitoring the position of the print wire, a forward input power pulse can be varied as to magnitude and duration to maintain a desired predetermined velocity of the print wire up until the time of impact. Further, by monitoring position feedback signals generated as the print wire returns to an at-rest position, a reverse input power pulse and forward input power pulse can be modulated for magnitude and duration to maintain a desired rearward velocity of the print wire, and bring the print wire to an at-rest position with a minimum of rebound off a back stop.

Abstract: The inventor discloses a hammer assembly suited for use in generating impact for printers, such as printers using daisy-wheels. The assembly comprises an electromagnetic assembly for selectively producing an electromagnetic field across an air gap. A hammer element is slidably disposed in said gap so that it is biased in a rest position and moves toward another position when said field is activated.A damping assembly is provided to dampen the reciprocating movement of the hammer element. The damping assembly has a rigid element which collides with the hammer element to bring it to a stop at its rest position. A shock absorbing element is used to dissipate the kinetic energy of the element.

Abstract: A matrix print wire solenoid used in a wire matrix printer and including an enclosure member releasably secured to one end of the solenoid by a spring member deformed by the outer surface of the enclosure member to pre-load the enclosure member and an energy absorbing member located adjacent the enclosure member. A plunger member to which one end of a print wire is affixed is located adjacent the energy absorbing member for engaging the member during the rebounding movement of the plunger member enabling the energy absorbing member to transmit impact forces to the enclosure and the spring members.

Abstract: The machine comprises a print table (8) and a print head (3) which are intended for the printing of characters on labels (11) borne by a continuous strip (10).The print head (3) comprises a pusher (32), a lateral stop (29) and two detention notches (30, 31), and the print table (8) has a rotary cam (33) with return prism (34) and cocking spring (35), having three lifts (38).Upon the typing, one lift is turned by the pusher (32) and the following lift comes laterally against the stop (29). When the print head rebounds, this lift engages in a notch (30) and holds the print head spaced from the print table.This arrangement is provided to prevent a second printing of characters on the labels as a result of rebound. In a variant, the rotary cam is replaced by a reciprocating bolt.

Abstract: A striker mechanism for a high speed serial printer, for example of the daisy wheel type, includes a hammer movable axially towards the platen under the action of an electro-magnet whose armature carries a striker, and against the action of a return spring. Two lubricating felt pads are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the striker hammer and are pressed against the hammer by the grip of a spring for damping the hammer vibrations during the printing cycle. The armature comprises a pivoted lever which is damped with respect to its pivot by means of a felt washer and the lever is damped on return by a helical spring on a rod with a reduced diameter center section where it is struck by a pad on the lever.

Abstract: In a drive circuit for an electromagnetic printing element of an impact printer, a drive pulse drives the printing element from a backstop toward a record medium to print indicia. A voltage comparator senses the change in the induced voltage in the printing element when it impacts on the backstop for triggering a single shot circuit to apply to the printing element a damping pulse of a polarity such as to oppose its rebound from the backstop. A latch circuit is responsive to the damping pulse to disable the single shot circuit until the end of the next drive pulse. The drive and damping pulses are applied to the printing element through a bidirectional current source.

Abstract: In a drive circuit for an electromagnetic printing element of a matrix impact printer, a drive pulse drives the printing element from the backstop toward a record medium to print indicia, and a damping pulse, applied to the printing element after its return to the backstop, urges it toward the backstop to limit rebound therefrom. Logical control circuitry is responsive to overlap of a drive pulse with a preceding damping pulse for terminating the damping pulse and for decreasing the width of the drive pulse in proportion to the amount of overlap. Blanking means are provided to prevent application of a damping pulse to the printing element until after the completion of a preceding drive pulse and after impact of the printing element with the record medium and with the backstop.

Abstract: A marking element assembly including a yoke which is driven by an arm. The arm is connected to a slider block which transfers motion to the yoke. The yoke has an interior channel for slider block free motion, with drag, after a marking element connected to the yoke stops yoke motion. The slider block moves against interior walls of the yoke dissipating arm motion and providing shock absorption for the marking element.

Abstract: A mechanism using a stepping motor as the prime mover for a bar code printing head or hammer mounted on the end of a pivotal lever. Where the output code (such as the postal code used in the U.S.) requires a full bar as one binary indication and a half bar the other binary indication, two motors each with its own printing head are used. The heads are spaced apart longitudinally relative to an object to be printed. A full bar is made up of two half bars, thus, both motors must be energized at separated time intervals to cause both heads to strike in a single transverse alignment to print a full bar. The lever supporting the printing head is constructed to position its center of percussion essentially in alignment with the printing hammer to minimize wear on the motor shaft.

Abstract: In the printer pin control circuitry described herein, data bits which request the actuation of respective pins are entered, indirectly, into respective digital equivalent shift registers to provide, for each pin, a respective short term history of actuation requests. A high speed, special purpose digital processor sequentially examines the several shift registers to determine, at successive points in time, whether each pin winding should then be energized or not to produce an effective energizing and damping waveform under a variety of sequential actuation conditions.

Abstract: A constant pressure printing mechanism for use in a label printing machine: the platen is pivotally secured to the machine body; the pivotally supported, hand operated printing levers include a projection, which engages a pivotally supported platen lifting member, and the lifting member is pivoted by the projection to turn the platen toward the printing head, whereby the printing head and the platen are moved near to each other to perform the printing of labels.

Abstract: A constant pressure printing mechanism for a portable label printing machine, or the like, comprising a driving member which is disposed on either the movable hand lever or the stationary hand grip of the label printing machine and a pressure receiving member which is disposed on the other of the hand lever or the hand grip. The invention uses stored energy derived from a manual squeezing operation to produce the printing stroke, independently of the intensity and duration of a manual squeeze. In one form, the driving member comprises a movable roller, a guiding means to allow the movable roller to move therethrough and an elastic means which always urges the movable roller in one direction and the pressure receiving member comprises a contact surface and an arcuate surface to be brought into contact with the above movable member when the hand lever is squeezed.

Abstract: A printing pressure damping mechanism for a hand labeler: A printing platen is pivotally mounted on the frame of the hand labeler. The platen has a printing portion at one side of its center of pivotal motion. A hand lever pivotally connected to the frame of the labeler carries a printing head, which is turned toward the printing platen when the hand lever is squeezed against the biasing force of a return spring. Shock-absorbing means, comprising a leaf spring on the hand lever and an elastic abutment member on the other side of the printing platen from the printing portion engage to turn the printing portion of the printing platen toward the printing head. The hand lever is further squeezed and moves to overcome the biasing force of the leaf spring when the printing head abuts against the printing portion of the platen. The squeezing force, which might otherwise be applied as a printing force to the printing platen through the hand lever, is damped to a preset level.

Abstract: A printing pressure damping mechanism for use with a hand labeler: a hand lever is pivotally connected to the frame of the hand labeler. A printing head is carried by the hand lever so that it may move toward a printing platen when the hand lever is squeezed. An auxiliary lever is spaced from the hand lever and is movable to and from the hand lever. A shock absorbing coil spring is interposed under compression between the hand lever and the auxiliary lever so as to bias the levers apart. The auxiliary lever further moves against the biasing force of the coil spring when the printing head abuts the platen, so that the squeezing force which might otherwise be applied as a printing force by the printing head to the platen can be damped to a preset lever through the spring biased cooperation of the two levers. The platen is also spring biased to damp printing pressure.