Abstract: An interlock arrangement for selectively removably mounting an ink cassette in the chute of a printer carriage comprises an ink cassette including a notch or recess and an interlock clip selectively connectable to a side of a printer carriage chute and cooperates with the notch member to provide an interlock which allows insertion of the ink cassette into the chute and prevents insertion of an ink cassette that does not have a notch or recess.

Abstract: A printing labeler having a label restraining and guiding system with a deflection member for turning back only the backing sheet of a continuous label strip composed of a backing sheet having a label peel-off layer and a plurality of labels provisionally attached to the backing sheet to thereby peel the labels from the backing sheet, a platen that supports lateral end portions of the deflection member, a pair of left and right side plates that support the platen and a label guide piece that faces the platen and guides the continuous label strip toward the deflection member and the label guide piece integrally has a pair of left and right engagement flange portions engageable with a pair of left and right engagement grooves formed in the pair of left and right side plates, a stop portion that connects upstream ends of the engagement flange portions and a deflection guide portion that connects downstream ends of the engagement flange portions and that a surface of the platen faces a vacant space enclosed by th

Abstract: A core holding device and a cover for roll-shaped label of a label sticking machine capable of assuredly holding a roll-shaped label or a core thereof, simplifying an operation for installation and removal thereof and forming it simple and compact, characterized in that core holding members for holding the roll-shaped label are of a rotating type. Each of the core holding members is energized by a spring, a pair of spring plates and the pair of core holding knob members comprises a rotating shaft part, a core holding part and a knob part which is located on the opposite side of the core holding part and projected outward from the sides of the plates and the spring plates can energize the core holding part of each of the core holding knob members in the core holding positional direction thereof.

Abstract: A core holding device of a label sticking machine capable of assuredly holding a roll-shaped label or a core thereof, simplifying an operation for installing and removal thereof, and forming it simple and compact. Characterized in that core holding members for holding the roll-shaped label are of a rotating type, each of the core holding members is energized by a spring, a pair of spring plates and the pair of core holding knob members are installed between right and left side plates.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting a print head in a printer. The arrangement comprises a frame (1) to which a feeder device feeds a material to be printed which the printer will print on by means of a print head (3), movably arranged adjacent to a print roll (2) for being brought into, or out of, contact with the material to be printed. According to the invention, the arrangement uses a magnet (5) to hold the print head. Preferably, the print head is fitted in a fixture device (4), which is pivoting freely around a rear axle (7) parallel to the print roll, and the pressure is applied on the print head by a pressure member (6). The magnet (5) is preferably attached to the pressure member (6) so as to transfer pushing as well as pulling forces. The invention enables screws or fixed mounting of the print head to be avoided. The arrangement according to the invention also allows for the print head (3) pressure point to be transversally displaced.

Abstract: A device for accurately controlling the positions of a driving motor and a print head and enhancing print quality by sensing the position of the driving motor by occurring pulses from a timer at shorter intervals than predetermined step units and synchronously driving the print head with control of the driving motor, includes a synchronizing pulse generator for generating high speed synchronizing pulses for controlling the position of the driving motor and the print head, a position controller for synchronously controlling the position of the driving motor with divided generated pulses, a print head controller for synchronously controlling the position of the print head with the divided generated pulse, an interrupt controller for receiving interrupt signals generated in the position controller during the acceleration and deceleration of the driving motor and for generating interrupt in the priority order, and a CPU (central processing unit) for generating interrupts according to interrupt request signals, se

Abstract: A thermal printer is provided with an integrated sensor that detects the printhead position without requiring a custom cable assembly or other sensing components. The thermal printer comprises a rotatable platen and a printhead disposed relative to each other to define a print region therebetween through which a print media is transported. The printhead may be selectively pivoted between a closed position abutting the platen and an open position substantially separated from the platen. The printhead is operable to print information onto the print media as the print media is transported by rotation of the platen when the printhead is pivoted to the closed position. The printhead further comprises a circuit board coupled thereto that is pivotable in cooperation with the printhead. The circuit board is operably coupled to a central controller to receive control signals and provide the control signals to the printhead.

Abstract: The present patent discloses a method and apparatus for improving communication between print drivers and a host computer. The disclosed method simplifies and standardizes the output data format of the host computer. The disclosed printer processing electronics are placed on a moving "smart" printer carriage in close proximity with the print drivers. The simplification of the host computer output, and the positioning of processing electronics speeds up printing of documents and eliminates the need for substantial intermediate processing electronics between the host computer and the printer carriage.

Abstract: A cordless printer head, for example of a bubble-jet or ink-jet printer, is provided with memory to allow it to store data to be printed and a control device for driving the printer head. This avoids the need for a continous data transmission to the printer head requiring a costly cable and associated space and other problems. Instead data to be printed can be downloaded to the printer head at intervals by a data transfer device provided at the end of the movement of the printer head.

Abstract: In a print wheel encoding scheme, signs such as reflector strips are arranged on an encoder ring along the print wheel petals. One strip is provided at each petal. The strips are grouped into groups of three or more petals. Each group starts with a reflective strip and terminates with a non-reflective strip, or vice versa. The strips are read by a single optical sensor to provide a reliable mechanism for reading the print wheel I.D., homing the print wheel and detecting print wheel error conditions such as jams or mispositioning.

Abstract: A printing device having a detachable printwheel coupling means which includes a motor driven drive plate which is formed with a cantilevered spring finger and an aligning slot disposed on the side opposite the spring finger. The spring finger carries at its free end an alignment pin which automatically engages a radially offset cam surface located in a recess formed in the hub of a printwheel when the drive plate rotates relative to the printwheel. The printwheel hub also includes a drive pin which engages the aligning slot when the printwheel and drive plate abut under the urging of a pressure plate. The device inhibits angular and radial movement between the drive plate and the printwheel.

Abstract: A miniature printer is provided which can print characters in additional different character sets of fonts by combining several character sets which are included in the printer on a type drum or type belt. The printer includes a mechanism for selecting particular character sets and impacting a selected character from a selected character set on a printing medium. After a character is printed, the user may select a character from another character set which is present on the drum or belt and overprints the first character. This combination of character sets allows the printer to produce characters which distinguishable fonts without utilizing different color inks.

Abstract: A dot printer wherein a film of magnetic ink is formed in a slit shaped between a pair of magnetic poles, and needles piercing through the ink film thus formed are driven to deposit the magnetic ink on a recording paper so as to print dots thereon. The tips of the needles in an undriven state are positioned in the ink film proximately to one surface thereof adjacent to the recording paper, so that an adequate amount of the magnetic ink is deposited on the paper to eventually attain clear printing.

Abstract: A printing device according to the present invention, the contact of a ribbon-guiding-member surfaces with the ribbon is increased, restraining the movement of the ribbon with the threading path bent by elastic restitution of the flexible ribbon guiding member. A printing device according to another features, accurate printing and correction is effected disregarding the play within the support arm or deformation of the carriage and limit a printhead to a predetermined printing line on a platen by restraining the movement of the nose end of a support arm with positioning members coupled thereto within proximity of the platen.

Abstract: An electronic terminal is mechanically and electrically connected to an electronic printer module to form a portable electronic terminal/printer. The bottom housing of the terminal and an extended portion of the bottom housing of the printer module together form a dovetail type connection. The bottom housing of the terminal has a plurality of rails formed thereon and the extended portion of the bottom housing of the printer module has a plurality of channels formed therein for slidably receiving the rails, forming a dovetail type connection. One half of an electrical connector is mounted on the terminal and the other half of the electrical connector is mounted on the printer module in a position to couple when the mechanical dovetail connection is made. A latch mechanism, attached to the extended portion of the bottom housing of the printer secures the bottom housing of the printer and also the two halves of the electrical connector.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for use in an impact printer, to deliver a printing force to drive a character element against a platen by means of a print tip movable toward and away from the platen. A rockable bail bar having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the platen is constrained to limited angular movement toward and away from the platen by a prime mover connected to the bail bar. A push rod interconnects the print tip and the bail bar for delivering impact forces to the platen as the bail bar is moved toward the platen. The push rod is normally of a first length and rigid delivering impact forces to the platen and is collapsible to a second length, shorter than the first length, for drawing the print tip away from the platen so as to allow the character element to be removed. A collapsing mechanism is provided to convert the push rod from the first length to the second length.

Abstract: A multihead thermal printer comprises a plurality of thermal heads arranged around a platen roller. An ink film associated with each thermal head includes an end mark leaving a length to an end of the ink film at least equal to that of one sheet of recording paper. A device for detecting the end mark is disposed adjacent to each thermal head. When the detecting device detects the end mark, the printer completes the printing of a sheet of recording paper in the process of printing, but stops the feed of a succeeding sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing of mailing inserts prepackaged within envelopes and for printing of the envelopes also as desired simultaneously wherein specifically both sides of one or more inserts can be printed as desired by one pass through a computer controlled printer. Printing can be controlled for both sides of any inserts as well as the obverse or reverse surface of the front and back sheets which form the envelope. Inking means preferably in the form of carbon layers are carried at selected locations along the obverse and reverse surfaces of all inserts and each envelope sheet in such a manner as to allow impact printing on desired surfaces. The impact printer has the capability of printing both forward or conventional characters and reverse characters which are rotated about a vertically extending axis to facilitate printing on the reverse surfaces of insert sheets and envelope sheets.

Abstract: A printhead is formed by injecting unfilled nylon by injection unit 1 and mineral filled nylon by injection unit 3. The filling adds impact resistance for printing, while the unfilled nylon is particularly resistant to flexural fatigue near the hub of the printwheel. Unit 1 is operated first to form an outer layer, with quantity limited so that the outer layer comes to about the middle of the arms of printheads. Unit 3 is then operated to form a core and to be the only material forming the character elements. The resulting printhead is durable and is capable of use at greater deflection than the same printhead made of only the impact resistant material.

Abstract: In a needle print head including a plurality of hinged armature magnets arranged in a ring about a needle guide with each of the magnets including a U-shaped magnet yoke, a magnet coil on one of the U-legs of such yoke and a hinged armature arranged at least nearly radially, the hinged armature at its radially inner end is connected to a print needle and is biased by spring force to a rest position away from the yoke at which it engages a stop, each hinged armature at its radially outer end being pivotally supported by a cylindrical pin for rotation about the axis of the pin, and a return spring engaging the hinged armature at a point between the print needle and the radially inner yoke leg.

Abstract: Improved rotary-type printing wheels, components thereof and mechanisms for mounting the printing wheels to a drive are disclosed. The disclosed printing wheels have a reduced rotary moment of inertia. As compared to all plastic printing wheels, they have improved print characteristics and service life while still having a reduced rotary moment of inertia. The printing wheels include a central hub having teeth extending along its periphery which are engaged by a drive. Alignment apparatus is provided for aligning the hub and drive, but rotary torque need only be applied to the printing wheel hub through the peripherally disposed teeth. The spoke elements of the printing wheel are made of metal and can be formed as one piece with the hub or separately. The tips of the spoke elements have a configuration which facilitates and improves attachment of a character element thereto while reducing the rotary moment of inertia of the print wheel.

Abstract: An improved printing support and method for use in a conventional dry lettering printing machine of the type having a print station, a rotatable printing support having print characters thereon, and means for causing the machine to execute a print cycle which includes providing a color carrying ribbon and image carrying tape at the print station, aligning the ribbon, tape, and a selected print character at the print station for printing, exerting a printing force at the print station, and reciprocating the tape cartridge to advance the tape and ribbon to print the next character at the print station. The improvement comprises inverting the print characters relative to a readable orientation so that when the characters are printed on a first tape surface and the tape is inverted, the characters appear in the correct sequence and orientation when viewed through the tape from a second tape surface opposite the first. The tape will thus be readable when inverted and placed on the underside of a transparent sheet.

Abstract: In a dot matrix line printer in which a plurality of hammer springs mounted along the length of an elongated reciprocating hammerbank are selectively released or fired to impact dot printing impact tips mounted thereon against a print paper through a length of ink ribbon to print dots, the wear that would otherwise occur each time one of the hammer springs rebounds back into contact with a pair of pole pieces against which the hammer spring resides when in its retracted position is greatly minimized by chromium masses plated on the tip of the hammer spring and on the tips of the pole pieces. Chromium platings on each hammer spring are confined to the end of the spring and comprise either a pair of masses adjacent the different pole tips or a single mass encompassing both pole tips. The chromium masses are of convex contour and of hexavalent chromium composition to provide the masses with hard and smooth surfaces that slide over and do not abrade one another upon impacting.

Abstract: A cooled print hammer assembly in which a plurality of hammer coils are formed in a resin member having a recess in which is placed a cooling fin. The opened faces of the fins are placed adjacent a plate of the frame of the print hammer assembly so that closed forced-air ducts are defined by the fins and the frame plate. Additionally, partitions may be placed on the sides of the fins so that the external sides of the fins are cooled.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly for selecting characters to be recorded includes a substrate carrying an array of characters arranged on one face thereof. A character selection device moves between advanced and retracted positions along each of two axes of the array and, by means of an optical viewfinder, registers a given character with respect to the position of the selecting device. Registration openings distributed along each of the two axes cooperate with an associated detent carried by the selecting device so as to retain the selecting device in a fixed position relative to the locus of the character which has been selected. Movement of the character selection device to the locus of a given character serves to control the recording of the character selected.

Abstract: This invention provides a hammer unit for use in character printers in which the front end of the plunger of the solenoid operating under control of the print command is positioned directly opposite to and close to the type face of the character head, with the said plunger part being provided with a plunger tip which can be attached to and detached from in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the plunger and which covers the cylindrical face of the plunger and entire circular face of the plunger front end, and with at least the cap part of the plunger tip covering the said front end of the plunger being made of some synthetic resin type material.According to this invention, when the plunger tip has to be replaced due to wearing out of its cap part, etc., the plunger tip can be replaced easily and quickly by slipping it on and off the plunger along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the plunger.

Abstract: A daisy wheel for a typewriter having a plurality of petals with a character head on the end of each petal comprising irregular width characters on the ends of the petals and means for positioning the character heads in an irregular spacing about the circumference of said daisy wheel to accommodate the irregular width characters.

Abstract: A serial printer having a platen (5) and a carriage (4) having a printer head (6) with a plurality of aligned print needles close to the platen (5) for mosaic printing is disclosed. According to the present invention, an ink ribbon is in a detachable ribbon cartridge (3) under tension, and the printer head (6) has a smooth slope at the top of the head (5) that slopes towards the platen, thus, when the ribbon cartridge is put on the printer, the ink ribbon is temporarily twisted at the top of the slope on the head (6), and by swinging the printer head (5) a few times along the platen (6), the ink ribbon (1) at the top of the slope slides down along the slope into the narrow gap between the head (6) and the platen (6), and thus, the ink ribbon (1) is positioned in front of the print needles.

Abstract: A serial print element for use with a serial matrix font type printer for printing dot matrix type graphics with a serial matrix font type printer and a method of printing dot matrix graphics with a serial matrix font type printer. The print element includes a carrier for supporting type elements. The print element is coupled to the carrier and is capable of printing at least graphics images formed of dot patterns. The print elements include at least one dot pattern segment series of at least two dots in length. Each of the dot pattern segment series includes a type element on the carrier for each printable dot pattern combination. As a result, dot matrix type graphics can be printed by a serial matrix font type printer. In addition, the print element can contain ASCII character type elements to allow both graphics and character printing with the same print element.

Abstract: A printwheel for an impact printer includes a sheet metal core having a central disk portion and a plurality of radially extending arms. Sintered ceramic or metal character slugs are affixed to retaining regions at the ends of the respective character arms. A polymer film jackets the disk portion and adjacent regions of the character arms.

Abstract: A printwheel, for use in a serial printer, in which the spokes pass in contact with a printwheel alignment member, which contact is a noise generation and wear inducing source. The printwheel is designed to include a noise and wear reducing element. The printwheel spokes terminate in character pads bearing type faces on one side thereof and are hammered on their opposite side. A wiping element is secured to the printwheel hub and lies adjacent to the spokes on the hammered side. The wiping element includes a ring of continuous, low mass, flexible material, having a wear resistant surface. The ring is located immediately radially inwardly of the character pads.

Abstract: In a type disc composed of: a hub; a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub and spaced apart about the circumference of the hub to form slits between the spokes, each spoke carrying, at its end remote from the hub, a type face arranged to be driven against a record carrier by a printing hammer; and a damping arrangement associated with the spokes for damping vibrations, the arrangement is constituted by a mass of a selected material partially filling each slit and connecting together the spokes adjoining each slit, the material being selected to have a composition which is more elastic than the material of each spoke.

Abstract: A device for monitoring and compensating for changes in the flight time of the print hammers of impact printers is disclosed. The flight time of the respectively monitored hammer is calculated from the elapsed time between the moment of firing of a hammer and the moment of impact of the print type carrier against the impact platen. In order to ensure automatic self-adjustment of all print hammers in predetermined test cycles, without the actual printing process itself being affected, and without there being any test imprints on the record carrier, the print type carrier includes, in addition to the standard print types, an additional test type. The impact surface area of the test type is large enough such that no visible imprint is made upon its impact on the record carrier because of the low impact pressure.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a teleprinting machine capable of transmitting and writing capital and small letters, where the number of additionally transmitted shift code combinations is minimized in order to reduce the transmission time in this fashion.

Abstract: A printer is provided with carriage having a daisy print wheel supporting type elements at the external circumferential edges of respective spokes that make up the wheel. The printer sequentially performs a printing operation by causing its carriage to move in the direction of a printing row and a hammer to strike the designated type element held by an associated print wheel spoke after rotating the designated type element into the printing position. The daisy print wheel includes a number of spokes each mounting a type element at its external circumferential edge. At least one of these spokes is provided with a pen at the position corresponding to that of the type element held by the remaining spokes, and as a result, by selecting the pen from the type element supported in the remaining spokes, either a picture, diagram, or a graph can be optionally drawn, thus effectively realizing a multifunctional printer.

Abstract: A dot printer head including a plurality of cores each surrounded by a coil, a yoke connected to the cores magnetically, and a plurality of armatures each facing one of the cores and the yoke and having one end to which a needle is connected. A plurality of projections are provided on the yoke, and each armature has an opening in which one of those projections is engaged. This arrangement enables each armature and the yoke to face each other in a large area, while the area in which they face each other and which extends in parallel to the armature can be small. The pivot about which each armature is rotatable can be brought closer to the corresponding core. This enables a reduction in the air gap between the armature and the core and thereby the production of a large attracting force from a small magnetomotive force. It also enables a reduction in the equivalent mass of each armature and thereby an increase in the speed of printing and a reduction in the power consumption of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A check encoder (11) for printing of full field MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) codes on checks, includes a check guide (19) and means for sensing the position of the check (25,27) in the check guide (19). A pair of fixed roller assemblies (29,31), coact with a pair of movable roller assemblies (33,35) to grip the check and move the check under the action of a stepper motor (44) to an initial known position. A hammer (87), mounted in a hammer mount (83) and activated by an electrical solenoid (91) impacts the check against successive selected characters on a font wheel (61) to print the desired MICR code. A computer program, controls the operation of the check positioning, check encoding and check moving operations. When the desired MICR code has been printed on the check, the check is moved out of the encoder (11) by means of the fixed and movable roller assemblies (29,31,33 and 35).

Abstract: The high speed print pin actuator disclosed herein is constructed as two sub-assemblies, a U-shaped fixed magnet structure and an armature sub-assembly. One leg of the U-shaped structure constitutes a coil core and the other includes a permanent magnet and a keeper plate, the ends of the keeper and the core being finished to a common plane. The armature assembly includes a flux return bridge structure which extends from the keeper to a region adjacent the end of the coil core and which is bifurcated to receive an armature which is selectively attracted to the coil core. The armature is carried on a spring which is, in turn, mounted on the bridge structure. With the spring in a deflected position, the armature is finished to a common surface with the portion of the bridge which mates with the magnet structure. Accordingly, assembly of the armature sub-assembly with the U-shaped fixed magnet structure is facilitated and accurate parallelism of the armature and pole piece is provided.

Abstract: The multi-wire dot print head is provided with a plurality of print wires with a wire driving armature associated with each of the print wires and being operable to move the print wire toward a print position. The wire driving armatures each include an actuator lever and a cylindrical movable core mounted intermediate opposite ends of the actuator lever with an electromagnetic actuator associated with each of the armatures for imparting movement thereto. The outer end of the actuator lever is provided with a downwardly depending pivot leg and pivot or fulcrum support means for the actuator lever is positioned in a plane below the level of the open end of a cylindrical bore in the electromagnetic actuator so that a minimum amount of clearance may be provided between the cylindrical core and the cylindrical bore.

Abstract: A hairpin type spring is mounted on the body of a print wheel disc provided with an upstanding post of generally cylindrical configuration and having an overhang and a pair of second posts spaced longitudinally from the first post. The second posts are each being provided with laterally opening facing recesses defined as ninety degree sectors, each having perpendicular lateral walls. The spring includes a bend and a pair of branch arms. The spring is mounted with its bend bearing on the post beneath the overhang and its arms within the recesses in the second posts bearing laterally against the recess walls with the free ends bearing axially against said recess walls. The first post and the upstanding second posts are formed unitary with the disc.

Abstract: An improved daisy-wheel printer of the type in which a hammer contacts a daisy-wheel to print characters is designed so as to facilitate the position setting of the hammer and other movable parts for actuating the type head. According to the design, it is possible to shift the type head with a reduced force and to eliminate the necessity for the adjustment of same during assembly. The stability and tilting operation of the carriage is enhanced. The carriage is stably secured, eliminating lateral oscillation of the same without the necessity of manufacturing the carriage using highly precise machining. The ribbon cartridge is held in such a manner as to be able to move rapidly, with reduced generation of vibration and with high durability. The design facilitates the determination of relative positions of constituents of the magnet device which drives the hammer, and facilitates fine adjustment of the same. The magnet assembly includes a substrate and an arm extending from the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a small printer capable of effecting printing in two colors by a simple structure. The small printer comprises a base formed in a cylindrical shape, a plurality of places of printing type belts mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the base, two sets of printing type groups of the same pattern formed on the printing type belts circumferentially thereof, hammer units corresponding to the printing type belts and contained in the base, and a pair of ink rollers capable of applying inks of distinct colors to the different printing type groups formed on the printing type belts.

Abstract: A printwheel 20 for a daisy wheel printer 10, the printwheel 20 including a hub portion 23 and a plurality of radially extending, deflectable petals 21 projecting therefrom. The petals include a pad or tip 24 thereon with print forming indicia on one surface 24a thereof and a striking surface on the opposite surface 24b thereof adapted to be struck by a print hammer 30 to move the indicia against paper 16 or other print receiving medium. The striking surface 24b comprises first and second, axially projecting inclined surfaces 25, 26, each of the inclined surfaces being disposed, with respect to the other, to subtend an angle `AN` therebetween in plan.

Abstract: A print wheel for use in a serial printing system wherein print heads are provided with alignment surfaces corresponding to alignment surfaces on the print hammer. A beam retarder is utilized to assure that the alignment surfaces are firmly mated.

Abstract: A type carrier for use in an impact-type printing machine to form an imprint of virtually the equal quality when used with either a flat hammer or a detentable, shaped hammer is provided. The present type carrier includes a hub and a plurality of fingers extending from the hub, each finger having a printing section which has a front surface provided with at least one type and a back surface having a novel structure. The back surface of the printing section includes at least one flat portion and at least a pair of sloped portions. Preferably, the sloped portions are defined such that they slope down oppositely from a plane common to or below the flat portion in the direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the finger.

Abstract: A print element for a printer having a multiplicity of type members arranged in a plurality of layers are supported on a support member or support members and one of said type members is brought to a predetermined printing position in which the type member strikes a sheet of paper wound on a paper to carry out printing by the type member. The thicknesses of the type members are varied from one another depending on the position in which each type member is arranged and on the vertical dimension of each type member. And when the type members are disposed in two layers on the forward ends of spokes extending from a center hub of the print element, and the back of the support member is struck by a print hammer to carry out printing by the type member, the support member has its thickness varied in accordance with the thickness of the type member supported thereon, so that the sum of the thickness of each type member and the thickness of the support member is substantially constant for all the type members.

Abstract: A typesetter with a continuously rotating character drum that places lines of character images on thin transparent tape, equalizes line lengths for margin justification by stretching the tape, and places the lines on transparent film in a form suitable for direct imposition in making positive-working plates for lithographic printing. It provides multiple type fonts and fonts of different typographic size on-line simultaneously, proportional spacing by lands on the character drum that advance the tape the requisite amount for each character depending on its length, and margin justification controlled by optical mark reading.

Abstract: A daisy wheel printer wherein a non-contacting sensor (24) is employed to detect the rotational position of the daisy wheel (10) by response to the interrupting action of the character stalks (12, 14) and to produce a train of pulses providing positional information in accordance with said interrupting action. In accordance with the invention, each stalk of the daisy wheel is divided by a longitudinal slit (26) into two or more branches (28, 20) thereby to increase the frequency of the interrupting action and, for a given rotation of the wheel, to cause the sensor to produce a train of pulses (32) containing a number of pulses which is an integral multiple of the number of stalks passing the sensor.

Abstract: A method for selectively hardening and toughening the bulk mass of predetermined portions of a polymeric structure which includes the steps of contacting the polymeric structure with a multifunctional monomer to diffuse the monomer into the polymeric structure and irradiating the predetermined portions of the polymeric structure with activating radiation to cause the bulk polymeric material at those portions to be hardened and toughened. In a preferred embodiment the character fonts of a print wheel made from nylon 66 are contacted with a multifunctional monomer which is subsequently exposed to electron beam radiation whereby a structural network of monomer or monomer reactive with polymer or mixtures is formed.

Abstract: A serial printer having a carriage, a disc-shaped type wheel rotatably carried by said carriage and adapted to be moved transversely of a paper, dome-shaped resilient supporting members covering a plurality of apertures formed in the periphery of said type wheel, type characters attached to respective supporting members, and hammer means adapted to press selected one of said type on said paper. The rotation of the type wheel, driving of the hammer and the shifting of the carriage can be achieved by one D.C. motor which acts in one direction continuously.