Abstract: To assemble a printer chassis comprising three structural aluminium beams extending between two structural sideplates, the printer carriage beam is first attached to the sideplates by means of attachment points arranged along a straight line and then the printing beam and lower beam are attached to provide a vibration- and deformation-resistant chassis relative to which all the other printer components are referenced. Slider rods are mounted on the printer carriage beam by means of screws which hold the rods against the beam to keep them straight. The screws also pass through apertures in rod supports, the apertures being sized to permit longitudinal thermal movements of the rods relative to the beam.

Abstract: A carriage, driven along a carriage rod, rests on the carriage rod at carriage V-bearings. The V-bearing connection is open at the bottom. A magnetic preloader applies a magnetic force biasing the carriage toward the carriage rod. A roller coupled to the carriage runs along a track surface away from the carriage rod. At high slew velocities, a local discontinuity, such as a bump, encountered by the roller causes an acceleration of the roller away from the track surface. The upward rotation causes a torque rotating the carriage around the carriage rod. A magnetic restoring torque is applied in the vicinity of the roller to keep the roller running smoothly along the track surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printing mechanism includes a vibration isolating attachment system for securing a drive belt to an inkjet printhead carriage for increasing print quality by isolating the carriage from multi-directional vibrations generated by a carriage drive motor while propelling the carriage during printing. The vibration isolating member is of a resilient material having a first end coupled to a drive mechanism interface member which is joined to the belt, a second end coupled to a carriage interface member supported by the carriage, and a body section between the first end and the second end. Two or more vibration isolating members may be used, with a preferred shape being an I-shaped cross section. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a vibration isolating attachment system, and a method of method of isolating an inkjet printhead carriage from vibrations generated by a carriage drive motor, are also provided.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for effecting recording by a recording device carried on a carriage movable along a recording material includes a platen for supporting the recording material in a recording region in which the recording device effects the recording on the recording material; a confining member for confining the recording material on the platen; a supporting member mounted on the carriage to support the carriage for movement thereof along the recording material and in contact with the confining member, wherein the supporting member engages to and disengages from an elastically deformable portion of the confining member outside the recording region.

Abstract: A carriage drive system includes a timing belt pivotally anchored to a carriage. A drive motor rotates the timing belt, moving the carriage along a carriage path. The drive belt moves along a pair of pulleys. A first pulley is coupled to the motor's drive shaft. A second pulley is coupled to an idler spring. The idler spring determines the belt tension when the belt is stationary. Acceleration of the carriage alters the belt tension. A pivot connection occurs between the drive belt and the carriage. During acceleration, the pivotal connection rotates shortening the effective length of the belt, which in turn stretches the idler spring, and increases belt tension. While the carriage is at rest or moving at constant velocity, the pivot connection serves to reduce side load impact on the drive motor's shaft and windings. The pivot connection also isolates the carriage from high frequency vibrations.

Abstract: A bearing mechanism includes a shaft for guiding a reciprocable carriage; a bearing mounted on the carriage and slidable relative to the shaft; a receiving member extending from the bearing to receive lubricant oil removed by the sliding movement between the shaft and the bearing; and a lubricant oil passage formed in the bearing to connect the receiving member and a portion between the shaft and the bearing.

Abstract: The ink jet printer is provided which eliminates play between a carriage supporting an ink jet head and a guide shaft, allows the ink jet head to be releasably attached to the carriage, and provides reliable electrical connection between the ink jet head and the carriage with a reduced number of parts. An embodiment of the ink jet printer of the invention includes a guide shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which paper is forwarded. A carriage is slidably mounted on the shaft, moving in reciprocal directions while being guided by the guide shaft. An ink jet head, releasably attached to the carriage, prints ink dots on the paper for forming a printed image by jetting ink out of nozzles. A first electrically connecting portion is arranged on the carriage. A second electrically connecting portion is arranged on the ink jet head so as to come in pressure contact with the first electrically connecting portion.

Abstract: A carriage support system for a computer driven printer/plotter employs a slider rod and a slider bar mounted parallel to each other on a printer chassis wherein the bar supports the front side of a printer carriage and the rod supports the rear side of the carriage thus eliminating expensive centerless ground carriage support rods. The slider bar also has a plurality of dual edge paper pinch wheels supported thereon which are biased into engagement with the paper or other medium on which printing takes place by a plurality of springs integrally formed from a single member affixed to the slider bar.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording uses a carriage mounted with a recording head moving along a guide shaft. The recording apparatus includes a magnetic linear encoder consisting of a scale element magnetized and a detection unit for detecting magnetized information magnetized to the scale element. Provided also are clicks formed on any one of the detection unit and the carriage and click engaging portions formed in the other one of the detection unit and the carriage. The clicks engage with the click engaging portions, whereby the detection unit is snap-locked to the carriage. This enables the detection unit of the magnetic linear encoder to be readily attached to the carriage and besides, when attached, prevents disorder of the information magnetized to the scale element. Further, even when a position of the carriage shifts corresponding to sheets having different thicknesses, a sliding load of the carriage does not change.

Abstract: An ink jet printer in which an ink cartridge is used. The cartridge includes an ink tank and a head base plate which has an ink jet head including a plurality of ink discharging nozzles. A carriage for mounting an ink cartridge thereon has at least three projections for individually contacting with at least three portions of the head base plate. The head base plate is pressed against the projections to fix the ink cartridge to the carriage thereby to position ink discharging nozzles of the ink jet head accurately at predetermined positions with respect to a recording medium so that ink may be jetted in a predetermined direction with certainty from the ink jet head to the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing apparatus comprising a printing track defining a print receiving surface and a printing carriage arranged to travel along the printing track. The carriage includes printing heads arranged to receive data from a central database for printing on the printing surface at predetermined positions along the printing track, and a roller arrangement for driving the carriage along the printing track. An optical position encoder is provided for monitoring the movement of the carriage as it travels along the printing track. A data transmission link is provided for interfacing the central database to the carriage. The central database includes both positional data for controlling the position of the printing heads and pricing data. The printing track has mounting clips for mounting it on a shelf edge, and the printing heads are arranged to label items of stock on the shelf.

Abstract: A cassette holder assembly includes a first cassette holder for detachably attaching a first ink ribbon cassette at a position that the ink ribbon is supplied to a printing face of a print head, and a second cassette holder detachably mounted on the first cassette holder when the first ink ribbon cassette is detached from the first cassette holder and provided with a ribbon shifting mechanism for shifting the ink ribbon of a second ink ribbon cassette with respect to the printing face of the print head. In accordance, the cassette holders can be replaced easily by an operator, and the printer can be used effectively.

Abstract: A carriage support system for a computer driven printer/plotter employs a slider rod and a slider bar mounted parallel to each other on a printer chassis wherein the bar supports the front side of a printer carriage and the rod supports the rear side of the carriage thus eliminating expensive centerless ground carriage support rods. The slider bar also has a plurality of dual edge paper pinch wheels supported thereon which are biased into engagement with the paper or other medium on which printing takes place by a plurality of springs integrally formed from a single member affixed to the slider bar.

Abstract: A glide bearing subsystem is described. The invented bearing subsystem includes an expanse having a non-circularly cross-sectional through hole providing in a first, e.g. an upper, region thereof two arcuately spaced planar contact surfaces providing dual parallel lines of contact with a cylindrical rail upon which the carriage is mounted for reciprocal axial movement. A second, e.g. a lower, region of the hole generally opposite and preferably smoothly joining the first hole region is semicylindrical and of slightly greater diameter than that of the rail, thereby controlling inadvertent lift-off of the carriage during acceleration phases of its reciprocal movement along the rail. Preferably, the carriage has a pair of axially spaced bearings formed in generally planar thin expanses of oil-impregnated bronze, which expanses are made by a sintering process and are insert molded integrally with the printer's carriage.

Abstract: A dimensionally stable bushing assembly for a printer carriage 10 uses a bushing liner 20 constructed of a relatively flexible and dimensionally non-stable lubricous material which is afforded dimensional stability by an interference fit of the exterior wall of the liner 20 with the interior wall 15, 17 of apertures 14, 16 in the carriage which are manufactured to the desired degree of dimensional tolerance. In the preferred embodiment, the printer carriage 10 is made of polycarbonate which slides on stainless steel slider rods. The bushing liners are preferably a molded mixture of from 25-35 percent carbon, 15-25 percent teflon and 45-55 percent nylon. Although such mixtures typically shrink during the molding process, it is necessary, due to the special open or C-shaped configuration of the liners, only to maintain a close control on the thickness of the molded liners 20 rather than carefully controlling both thickness as well as their peripheral dimension.

Abstract: A serial printer comprises a printing head, a carrier for carrying the printing head, a platen, and a pair of guide members extending in parallel with the platen for supporting the carrier in a movable manner. An openable member is attached openably to the casing of the printer and supporting one of the guide members. Engaging receivers are formed in the carrier for allowing the one guide member to engage therewith and disengage therefrom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the one guide member. Engaging brackets may be mounted on the printing head for coming into and out of engagement with one of the guide members at a right angle with respect to the extending direction of the one guide member. Moving members may be supported movably in the casing of the printer for supporting the one guide member, when moved, to bring the one guide member into and out of an engagement with the engaging brackets.

Abstract: A method for setting an apparatus, such as a printer, wherein a sensor is mounted to sense the position of a settable detection object during operation of the apparatus. The apparatus may be set as a function of the occurrence of an output from the sensor that is above or below a predetermined level at predetermined setting positions, as a function of the setting position that is close to the middle point of a range defined by adjacent positions at which the output level of the sensor rises above and falls below the predetermined level, or as a function of the position at which the highest output from the sensor is detected.

Abstract: An exact constraint mounting is provided between the print head and the carriage of an ink jet printer. The mounting scheme includes three generally spherical alignment features on the carriage, a conical depression on the print head for cooperating with a first alignment feature to define a point, a trough on the print head for cooperating with a second alignment feature to define a line through the point, and a flat on the print head for cooperating with the third alignment feature to define a rotation about the line. The improved mounting system results in a highly precise, repeatable, stress-free mounting for the print head.

Abstract: The carriage is configured for interchangeably holding pens of different sizes at the same position relative to a circuit that is mounted to the carriage. In a preferred embodiment, a black-ink pen or a relatively large color-ink pen may be carried by the carriage. The size of the carriage opening into which the pen is inserted is reduced by a spacer mechanism to accommodate the smaller pen, which spacer mechanism is retracted from the opening upon insertion of the larger pen.

Abstract: A carriage is displaceable parallel to a record carrier and supports a head displaceable in a direction essentially perpendicular to the record carrier. In order to obtain a mounting free of play while maintaining parallelism of the head during its movement and at the same time reduce the risk of damage to the head in the event of a collision, the head is supported by at least one leaf spring pair. Each leaf spring pair consists of a front and a rear leaf spring attached between the carriage and the head in attachment points. The connecting lines between the attachment points of the leaf springs substantially form a parallelogram. The apparatus is used as a printer for printing information on record carriers of paper type.

Abstract: A printing head drive circuit of a printer is mounted on the side of a carriage having a printing head attached thereto for a allowing said carriage to act as a heat sink. Hereby, no particular cooling means (heat sink, cooling fan and the like) is required for printing head drive elements. In addition, a controller and heat generating parts can be completely separated. Thus, it can be anticipated to reduce the number of parts and the cost required for assembling the whole structure as well as to improve reliability of the printing head drive circuit.

Abstract: A printer in which a single pinch roller serves the dual function of a pinch roller cooperating with the drive roller to feed paper to the printing zone, and a carriage guide to guide movement of the printhead carriage. This roller automatically properly references the printhead to the printing surface, regardless of paper thickness. The printhead carriage, which is pivotally mounted to a carriage guide rod, rests in contact with and rides along the roller. Preferably, the center of gravity of the printhead carriage is spaced from the carriage guide rod and is disposed above the pinch roller, and the pinch roller is spaced from the carriage guide rod, so that the printhead carriage is preloaded into continual contact with the carriage guide rod. The carriage guide rod may be disposed either on the same side of the printhead carriage as the pinch roller, or on the opposite side of the carriage from the pinch roller.

Abstract: The present invention entails an accurate, sensitive, and stable means of mounting a print head to a movable carriage assembly of the type used in computer output printers. The invention uses one pair of planar mounting surfaces and one pair of angled mounting surfaces between the print head and the carriage of a print head assembly. A pair of pivoting clamping plates apply a force that urges both pairs of mounting surfaces together while simultaneously providing adjustment of the translation of the print head relative to the carriage. The translation across the oppositely angled surfaces on two of the four mounting surfaces provides an accurate azimuthal angle adjustment for the print head. Because the other mounting surfaces are in the same plane, the translation affects only the azimuthal angle.

Abstract: A printing head drive circuit of a printer is mounted on the side of a carriage having a printing head attached thereto for a allowing said carriage to act as a heat sink. Hereby, no particular cooling means (heat sink, cooling fan and the like) is required for printing head drive elements. In addition, a controller and heat generating parts can be completely separated. Thus, it can be anticipated to reduce the number of parts and the cost required for assembling the whole structure as well as to improve reliability of the printing head drive circuit.

Abstract: A printer carriage is carried by the guide bars of a printing unit with the help of busings and is moved along the guide bars by means of a traction mechanism. The traction mechanism is attached to the printer carriage and/or the bearing elements, in such a way that a compensating torque is exerted on the printer carriage or the bearing elements. The compensating torque counterbalances the torque generated during reversal of movement so that the carriage does not rock when it reaches an endpoint of its travel.

Abstract: An inpact dot printer has a ribbon cassette the casing of which is made of plastic. A leaf spring is mounted in the casing so as to be resilient contact with the inked ribbon in the cassette. An element protrudes from the spring to the outside of the casing, and is located at a position where it is in resilient contact with either a carriage of conductive material or a metal part secured to the carriage when the ribbon cassette is installed in position on the carriage. When the printer effects printing operation, static electricity generated on the ribbon is carried away to ground via the protruding element and other components.

Abstract: A dot matrix print head has a heat sink substantially surrounding the head for dissipating heat therefrom. A print head carriage includes a pivot or bearing assembly on one side of the print head and includes a bail type clamp pivoted on the carriage on the other side of the print head. The arrangement allows the heat sink to swing from a covered print head operating position to an uncovered position for servicing or for removing the print head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing mechanism having a printing head mounted on a carriage frame so as to linearly move the printing head toward a platen.

Abstract: A printing apparatus such as a printer of the type using a type wheel includes two guide members which extend between a pair of side frames and each of which is fixed by riveting. A carrier is slidably mounted on the guide members. A carriage loaded with a type wheel and others is mounted on a carrier in such a manner as to be rotatable by 90 degrees between a predetermined print position and a wheel replace position behind the print position. A sensor for determining the presence/absence and the kind of a type wheel loaded in the carriage is provided.

Abstract: A printing device such as a printer of the type using a type wheel in which a carriage is loaded with a printing mechanism and movable along a carrier to allow the printing mechanism to print out data on a paper, which is wrapped around a platen. The carrier and/or the carriage is produced by press-forming a single sheet metal to cut down the production cost and the number of structural elements of the printer.

Abstract: The carriage is displaced by a tooth belt which is moved continuously by an electric motor and is connected to the carriage be means of an element engaged between two teeth of the belt and slidable on the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the carriage. The pulleys are provided with a recess capable of engaging the element in such a way as to move it positively in said perpendicular direction. The carriage is also connected by means of a tension spring to a strip provided with areas of an optical encoder in respect of the print positions. The upper paper pressure arrangement is formed by two rollers carried by two sliders fitted into corresponding longitudinal slots in the fixed support. The paper is carried by a feed reel which is carried by two arms which can be fitted by catch engagement on corresponding shoulders on the fixed support. The printer is particularly suitable for being connected to the output of a personal or home computer.

Abstract: A printer head bank in which an assembly of yoke, magnet, coils and printing board are encapsulated in a resin forming the head carriage to which the typing hammers are attached.

Abstract: A carriage mechanism of a printer includes a carriage frame, a printed circuit board mounted on the carriage frame and having an exposed wiring portion and a plurality portion of guide holes, and a cable having at one end thereof an exposed wiring portion to be electrically connected to the exposed wiring portion of the printed circuit board. An inked ribbon feed mechanism has guide projections to be inserted into the guide holes and a plurality of elastic hooks for fastening to the carriage frame. A cable fixing mechanism includes a flexible film member to be superimposed over the end of the flexible cable and fixed thereto. One end of the flexible film member is shaped as the end of the flexible cable and the other end of the flexible film member is progressively narrower and projects toward a folded portion of the flexible cable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for carrying a printing head which comprises, a first guide shaft disposed in parallel with a platen, a second guide shaft disposed in parallel with the first guide shaft, a carriage slidably supported by the first and second guide shafts, a printing head mounted on the carriage so as to be opposite to the platen, and a permanent magnet provided on the carriage so as to be opposite to an outer peripheral surface of the first guide shaft. The magnetic attraction force of the magnet with respect to the first guide shaft is set to be larger than gravity acting onto the printing head and the carriage when the magnet is arranged to be in opposition to a lower side portion of the outer peripheral surface of the first guide shaft, while set to be large enough to prevent the carriage from floating due to printing force of the printing head against the platen when the magnet is arranged to be in opposition to an upper side portion of the outer peripheral surface of the first guide shaft.

Abstract: A printing mechanism assembly, which includes a platen, a print head opposed to the platen for printing operation, a carriage carrying the print head thereon, and a guide rod for supporting the carriage so as to be movable along a print line, is supported on a plastic subframe. The subframe is provided integrally with channel-shaped reinforcing members extending parallel to the platen at front and rear end portions of the subframe. Each reinforcing member is formed integrally with a number of reinforcing ribs arranged at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the member. The subframe is mounted, at its front and rear end portions, on a main frame. For the mounting arrangement, engaging projections are formed on the rear end portion so that they can substantially horizontally engage mounting recesses in the main frame with the aid of vibration-proof rubber members.

Abstract: A printing apparatus with an image reading device, having a platen extending along a line of printing, a guide rod extending parallel to the platen, a carriage movable on the guide rod, and a printing head which is mounted on the carriage to effect a printing operation a recording medium on the platen. The image reading device comprises: a pair of support portions which slidably engage the guide rod so as to sandwich the carriage in a direction parallel to the line of printing; a bridging portion connecting the support portions such that the support portions are immovable relative to each other; an image-reading portion supported immovably relative to the support portions and the bridging portion, and having an operative position adjacent to the surface of the recording medium, for reading images on the surface; and a control circuit fixed to the bridging portion, for controlling an image-reading operation of the image-reading portion.

Abstract: An adjustable carriage assembly for a printing device having a print mechanism to be translated along a linear print path. The carriage assembly includes an upper carriage sub-assembly and a lower carriage sub-assembly, the lower carriage sub-assembly having a pair of laterally spaced arm members joined together by a pair of cross members. Each arm member has an open pivot slot and a support ramp portion. A spring coupled between the upper and lower carriage sub-assemblies in the region adjacent the pivot portions provides a spring detent for the upper carriage sub-assembly with respect to the lower carriage sub-assembly in both the first operative position and a second inoperative position. The guide members are adjustable eccentric washers.A cartridge latch is configured to be removably mounted in an aperture formed in a platform on the upper carriage sub-assembly.

Abstract: A dot printer wherein a bearing member is movably attached to each of two shafts disposed in parallel with a platen, and a plurality of electromagnets are secured to the bearing members together with a head which houses therein a plurality of needles driven by the electromagnets. In this arrangement, the necessity of employing a carrier can be eliminated to simplify the structure as well as to reduce both the dimensions and the weight of the whole while ensuring a high-speed printing operation with another advantage of facilitating the assembling process.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a platen for supporting a sheet of paper, comprising: a carriage movable along the length of the platen, and including an upward protrusion having a top surface which includes a first slant part inclined downwardly in a direction toward the platen; a print head including a mounting portion resting on the upward protrusion, the mounting portion having a bottom surface which includes a second slant part in abutting contact with the first slant part; and a fixing device for clamping the mounting portion of the print head to the upward projection of the carriage substantially in a direction of height of the upward protrusion. An angle of inclination of the first and second slant parts being selected such that a clamping action of the fixing device produces a component force sufficient to force a portion of the print head against a side surface of the protrusion on its side opposite to the side facing the platen.

Abstract: A reciprocating drive mechanism, capable of producing a substantially trapezoidal velocity profile, reciprocates the hammer banks of a dot matrix printer, or printers in general, at a relatively high frequency (40 HZ), and a high constant velocity (34 to 40 in/sec). Utilizing a set of non-linear springs, the hammer banks are reciprocated at one of the many possible resonant frequencies of the non-linear spring mass system, thus minimizing power consumption. Single action solenoids or a voice coil type motor is servo controlled to compensate for the energy loss due to damping. An optical switch establishes the zero position of the hammer banks at midlength of the travel. A velocity transducer measures the velocities at all positions. By integrating the velocities, the positions at any time of travel is known for proper placement of the print dots.

Abstract: A device is provided for guiding a print element of a printer device. The guide device comprises a guide bushing which is provided with two sliding surfaces and which is carried on a guide rail facing the platen. A support mount is engaged over the guide bushing and has a projection for fastening a traction device, such as a toothed belt, of a drive system. The support mount also has latch openings for receiving latch pieces for accurate positioning of the print element. The print element further comprises a fork-like guide projection to be received over and for sliding along a second guide rail. In order to fasten the print element to the guide bushing, a resilient snap-in clip is held constantly locked at the print element, the snap-in clip being pivotal so as to partially embrace the guide bushing and has projecting ends which are freely accessible for unlatching of the clip.

Abstract: A printing mechanism is provided with a counter-balanced hammer bank such that the hammer bank and a counterweight are oppositely reciprocated by a pair of cams mounted on a vertically oriented cam shaft. Vibration of the printer even at high speed can be eliminated by completely dynamically balancing the system.

Abstract: A guide for directing a print head in a printing device parallel to a platen, the guide being constructed of a unitary extrusion of a metallic material having two guide rails joined by a thin web of material. The structural arrangement of the guide offers a high resistance against bending so that a constant predetermined distance can be maintained between the print head and the platen.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a print head on a movable carriage which moves the print head across a record medium supported by a platen. The apparatus includes a projection extending from the front portion of the carriage, an opening in the print head arranged to accommodate the projection aligning the print head with respect to the platen, a compression spring maintaining the projection in the opening and a movable camming surface in contact with the projection for positioning the print head a variable distance away from the platen.

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: A typewriter printing assembly is disclosed in which a typing assembly and type actuator are mounted for movement along a shaft and are connected to a follower. The connection of the typing assembly and follower is a detachable one, and the support for the shaft is removable for facile assembly and disassembly of the typing assembly on the shaft. The type actuator comprises a light interfitting assembly of the type hammer and support formed to accommodate the shaft and for straight line movement of the hammer when activated.

Abstract: A dot printer in which vibration is eliminated without the use of a separate counterweight. The printer includes first and second hammer banks each holding a plurality of dot printing elements. The first and second hammer banks are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance in the direction in which a printing sheet passes. A motor and oppositely-phased drive cams reciprocate the two hammer banks in opposite directions parallel to a dot printing direction.

Abstract: A matrix printer comprising a printing head which is pivotable, under the influence of the braking effect of a magnetic field, about an axis which is perpendicular to the line direction and to the surface of the paper to be printed. The different printing positions of the printing head realized by said pivoting motion are utilized for printing characters with a comparatively good recognizability at a comparatively low printing speed or, as desired, for printing characters which are less rapidly recognizable at a comparatively high printing speed.Matrix printers of this kind are used, for example, in text editing systems.

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding an ink ribbon for a printer, with top edges standing perpendicularly to and inclined forward toward the printing plane, over which the ink ribbon laid on flange plates which act as slides when fed further and threads in itself. At the same time means for the quick fixing of the print head are provided on the apparatus serving for the guiding of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) is provided comprising: a carriage (12); a snap-spring (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in postion on the carriage; and an interconnect strip (16) for supplying electrical signals to the cartridge, including a force loading spring pad (24) for urging a portion of the interconnect strip against a portion of the cartridge. The cartridge has top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and includes a printhead (44) on the bottom surface, an electrical contact strip (46) on the back surface connected to the printhead, referencing pads (56) on the side surface, and a lip (64) on the back surface for accepting the snap-spring. Referencing surface (60) are provided for receiving the referencing pads on the cartridge. The spring pad urges the interconnect strip against the electrical contact of the cartridge.