Abstract: An improved modular carriage assembly for an inkjet printer including: a carriage with at least two stalls molded therein for holding a plurality of inkjet pens; and a removable frame insertable in a compartment in the carriage adjacent to the stall for holding an electrical circuit. In a specific embodiment the improved modular carriage assembly includes at least two extensions molded onto the removable frame. When the removable frame is inserted into the compartment each of the extensions is inserted into a respective stall. A method of assembling a carriage assembly for an inkjet printer with inkjet pens includes the steps of: attaching an electrical circuit to a frame; positioning a unitary clamp on a carriage; and installing the frame with attached electrical circuit to the carriage. Installing the frame on the carriage holds the unitary clamp in place on the carriage.

Abstract: A print guide mechanism having parallel first and second guide rods, and a carriage assembly designed to move along the guide rods. The carriage assembly in a preferred embodiment comprises a frame and at least one pair of associated roller bearing assemblies being secured to the frame and being arranged so as to engage the first guide support rod for providing linear movement of the carriage assembly along the first guide rod, at least one upper roller bearing assembly mounted to the frame for engagement with the second guide rod, and a first mounting assembly having at least one lower roller bearing assembly. The at least one upper and lower roller bearing assemblies are arranged so as to engage the second guide rod between. The first mounting assembly is pivotally mounted to the frame so as to compensate for parallel misalignment between the guide rods and is biased for applying a loading force so that positive engagement is provided between the guide rods and the roller bearing assemblies.

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: 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 coupled to the bail bar for delivering impact forces to the platen and may be decoupled from the bail bar for drawing the pring tip away from the platen so as to allow the character element to be removed. A decoupling mechanism is provided to lift the push rod off of the bail bar and to recouple it to the bail bar as required.

Abstract: A printer having a daisy type-wheel or the like comprises a carrier longitudinally movable along a platen and a carriage detachably and pivotally mounted on the carrier. Mounted on the carriage are a ribbon cartridge, the type-wheel, a hammer assembly and a magnet assembly for actuating the hammer assembly. The design of the printer permits easy and accurate positioning and adjustment of constituents of the carriage, easy and accurate attachment of the carriage to the carrier, and easy tilting of the carriage for replacement of the type-wheel. Shifting of the type-wheel is achieved rapidly and with the low vibration. The ribbon cartridge may be moved from a non-printing to a printing position easily, with low vibration and with little generation of noise. The U-shaped ribbon cartridge includes an engaging member extending from a front leg of the cartridge toward the inside of the U-shape.

Abstract: A trolley of a printer includes a pair of angularly upright projecting dovetail-like fingers spaced apart near a left edge thereof, and a spring biased wedge pin located near a right edge thereof, for slideably engaging chamfer-like surfaces on the left and right-hand sides of a printhead assembly, respectively, for permitting the assembly to be snapped into and out of retention upon the trolley, the trolley further including right and left hand leaf springs located near its rear edge for pushing the printhead assembly forward toward the front edge of the trolley to a forwardmost position determined by one of the pair of dovetail-like fingers striking a "stop" located upon one side of the printhead assembly for preventing further forward movement, whereas the printhead assembly is pushed rearward upon the trolley in the event of a paper jam developing between the printhead and a platen.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge engageable with an upper stopper member of a cartridge receiving apparatus which includes a cartridge body of substantially U-shaped form having at least one front leg member and an engaging member extending from the at least one front leg member of the cartridge body for engagement with the upper stopper member so as to secure the cartridge body in a predetermined position with respect to the cartridge receiving apparatus. The engaging member extends from a bottom portion of the cartridge body and further includes a reinforcement portion cooperably connected to the engaging member. The cartridge body is engageable with at least one holding member of the cartridge receiving apparatus and the cartridge body includes at least one retaining lug engageable with the at least one holding member for positioning the cartridge with respect to the cartridge receiving apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a serial printer for reciprocating a carrier along a platen by means of a wire, wherein the wire is connected to a wire retainer, which is a member separated from the carrier, to form a wire route, the carrier being detachably mounted on the wire retainer whereby the carrier may be removed with the wire remained stretched. Maintenance, checking and repair are easily accomplished and initial assembling is accomplished in a very simple manner.

Abstract: A guide for directing a printing head parallel to a printing direction in a printing device, the said printing head being displaceable along two parallel, round guide rods which are maintained at a fixed distance from each other by sheet-metal clamps which extend transversely of the longitudinal direction of the rods and which are provided with bearing apertures in which the guide rods are clamped. The guide offers a comparatively high resistance against bending, so that a constant distance is maintained between printing head and record carrier.