Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing head for printing on a bank book, a platen disposed opposite the printing head, and a cam mechanism for moving the platen. A sensor detects the thickness of the bank book which is between the printing head and the platen, and a sensor moving mechanism moves the sensor toward or away from the platen. A controller controls the operation of the cam mechanism and the sensor moving mechanism as the sensor is moved to a measuring position approaching the printing head. The printing head is moved toward the platen according to a detected value and then the sensor is retracted from the measuring position. As a result, after moving the printing head, the sensor does not contact the surface of the bank book, and therefore does not produce jamming or oblique feeding of the bank book during a line feed or printing operation.

Abstract: An automatic platen gap adjusting device for a printer for automatically adjusting a relative gap length between a platen and a recording head, and for checking whether the recording head and a recording sheet are in contact after the adjustment.

Abstract: An impact printer having a print head, the print head having a movable armature, a printing wire fixed to the armature, and sensor for detecting movement of the armature. The position of the armature is monitored based on an output of the sensor. A home sensor detects whether the print head is at a home position. A paper end sensor detect whether a printing medium is between the platen and the print head. A gap motor means adjusts a gap between the printing wire and the platen. A gap controller is responsive to detection signals output by said home sensor and said paper end sensor, for controlling the print head to swing the armature so as to cause the tip of said printing wire to strike the platen, determining a time of impact of the tip with the platen based on the monitored position of the armature, performing a comparison of the time of impact with a predetermined impact time, and outputting a drive signal to the gap motor for adjusting the gap according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An adjustable printhead-carrying yoke for a printer which permits dynamic adjusting of the printhead's fore and aft and skew positions. There is a fixed yoke portion carried by the printer and a movable yoke portion carrying the printhead. There is also fore and aft adjusting apparatus for moving the movable yoke portion thereby adjusting the printhead's fore and aft position while the printhead is printing and skew adjusting apparatus for moving the movable yoke portion thereby adjusting the printhead's skew while the printhead is printing.

Abstract: In forming a desired print gap between a sheet of paper fed on a platen and a print head by driving a moving mechanism for changing a space between the platen and the print head, a condition where the space between the platen and the print head becomes smaller than a predetermined value is detected, and in this case the space between the platen and the print head is increased by a driving portion for driving the moving mechanism. Accordingly, when a thin paper is used as the sheet of paper, cutting, wrinkling, etc. of the thin paper can be prevented.

Abstract: Color inkjet printers commonly employ a plurality of print cartridges, usually either two or four, mounted in the printer carriage to produce a full spectrum of colors. In order to optimize print quality, it is desirable to minimize the distance between a thermal inkjet printhead and the media that is being printed on. In a multiple printhead printer only one printhead can be the closest one to the media due to the various mechanical tolerances of the printer. Since black text print quality is more sensitive to printhead-to-media distance than is color graphics quality, the overall print quality of both black text and color graphics is optimized by assuring that the black print cartridge is closest to the media.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head moved in a predetermined direction relative to a recording medium; a shaft member extended in the predetermined direction for rotatably supporting a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and for guiding movement of the recording head in the predetermined direction; a support member extended in the predetermined direction for supporting the carriage in cooperation with the shaft member; and a changing mechanism a distance between the recording head and the recording medium by changing a height of the carriage, the height being measured from the supporting member. In the case that the recording medium is made of materials, for example, having a poor property in absorbing ink, the operator can adjust the distance between the recording head and the recording medium to be large enough by using the above mentioned mechanism so that the recording medium, which may have warped due to ink absorption, will not rub against the recording head.

Abstract: In a printing device having an abutment (10) intended for supporting a recording medium (52), a print head (32) which is movable relative to the abutment (10) in the direction of the lines, an actuating drive (28, 26, 24) for setting the print head distance relative to the abutment (10) and a pressing element (36) which extends the full width of the recording medium and presses the recording medium (52) onto the abutment (10) and can be deflected in accordance with the thickness of the recording medium (52), a magnet (54) is arranged on one of the parts (pressing element 36, part 46 fixed to the print head) and at least one Hall probe (56) is arranged on the respective other part (part 46 fixed to the print head, pressing element 36) in such a way that the magnet (54) and the Hall probe (56) can be brought into congruence with one another in a predetermined print head position corresponding to a measurement position, a circuit arrangement (60) being provided to measure the Hall voltage and to regulate the lat

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are disclosed for aligning the operation of the ink jet printhead cartridges of a multiple printhead ink jet swath printer that includes a print carriage that is movable along a horizontal carriage scan axis, (b) first and second ink jet printhead cartridges supported by the movable carriage for printing onto a print media that is selectively movable along a vertical media scan axis, and (c) an optical sensor supported by the movable carriage. Alignment of the operation of the printheads along the media scan axis is performed by determining with the optical sensor the relative positions of horizontal test line segments printed by selected nozzles of the printhead cartridges.

Abstract: A printer having an adjusting apparatus for adjusting a head gap between a print head and a print sheet supported on a platen, is disclosed. In such printer, at first, a carriage 1 mounting the print head 8 thereon is advanced to the print sheet 6 by eccentrically rotating a guide bar 3 passed through a slide hole 1a with a solidable lubricant therebetween through a step motor 12 until a ribbon mask 9 contacts to the print sheet 6. And a drive pulse number Nm, which is input to the step motor 12 until the ribbon mask 9 contacts to the print sheet 6 and corresponds to moving distance of the carriage 1 from a standard position O, is calculated. Further, a value Na (=N1-Nm) representing a drive pulse number for the step motor 12 corresponding to a thickness of the print sheet 6, is calculated.

Abstract: An ink jet printer (10) having a print head (14) for directing an ink jet toward a sheet of paper (16) includes automatic print head spacing apparatus (80) that holds the print head apart from the sheet of paper by a preselected distance. In a preferred embodiment, the printer includes a rotatable drum (20) for supporting the sheet of paper and media securing system (24) of a first predetermined thickness for securing the paper to the drum. The print head is positioned at the preselected distance after a major surface (130) of the print head engages and is pushed back by the media securing system.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording device for depositing ink onto a recording medium with relative movement therebetween to effect recording on the recording medium; a shaft engageable with a part of the recording device and rotatable about an eccentric axis; and a member for supporting the shaft adjacent longitudinal ends thereof for eccentric rotation of the shaft to change relative positional relation between the recording device and the recording medium.

Abstract: An impact printer having a platen, an impact printing member such as a printing wire, a driver such as a driving coil for driving the impact member, a controller for controlling the driver and a temperature detector. Before printing data is printed, the temperature detector compares the temperature of the printer to a set point. If the temperature is too low, a warm-up signal is provided and the driver displaces the printing member to such an extent that printing does not occur. The warm-up signal can also cause the gap between the platen and the printing member to widen to such an extent that printing cannot occur.

Abstract: A computer printer which has a print head and a printing bed plate comprises an apparatus to adjust the distance between the print head and the printing bed plate to thereby allow for printing on charts which are not of uniform thickness. The distance adjustment apparatus comprises a rigidly mounted sensing roller and/or a leading or trailing feeler lever, which electronically controls the print head distance.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus capable of manually adjusting a gap between a print head and a platen so as to prevent a print operation from being executed when the gap is outside of an appropriate range for a paper being used. The position of the print head can be manually adjusted by use of an adjusting lever. Further, the print head can be moved by a step motor under the control of a CPU to adjust the gap. After the gap adjustment is accomplished by the adjusting lever, the CPU causes the print head to shift toward a rear standard position and stores the count N1 of driving pulses required for the shift movement. The set printing gap is detected on the basis of this value N1. The print head is then moved until it contacts the printing sheet and a count N2 of driving pulses required for the contact movement is stored in the memory of the CPU. The paper thickness is measured on the basis of this value N2.

Abstract: A printer of the kind having a printing head for printing on a sheet being held against a platen roll by a sheet presser, with both printing head and sheet presser mounted fast to a head carriage which is movable not only in a direction parallel to the axis of the platen roll but also in a direction normal thereto. For adjusting the spacing between the printing head and the platen roll to the thickness of the sheet to be printed upon, a drive motor is coupled to the head carriage via a yieldable clutch.

Abstract: A recording and/or reading head has a recording and/or read nose and is movably mounted. The head is preloaded against a record carrier with first and second preload values. A sensor device senses and maintains the distance between the record carrier and the nose constant. The preloading structure includes a spring loaded cam operated mechanism acting between the head and the record carrier via a spring loaded wheel secured to the head, the wheel engaging the record carrier. A switching mechanism switches the apparatus between the first and second preload conditions. The apparatus can print or operate with documents of different thicknesses.

Abstract: In dot impact printers, a platen or a print head may be thermally expanded or contracted due to heat generated from a driver of a print head, with the result that a gap between the print head and a sheet of print paper on the platent varies. In order to maintain a proper gap therebetween regardless of the thermal deformation of the platen and/or print head, a temperature sensor is provided for sensing the temperature of the platen or the print head, and the gap therebetween is adjusted based on the sensed temperature. This adjustment is performed each time when a number of printed characters have reached a predetermined number.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to adjust an interval or gap between a print head carried by a carrier unit and a printing paper disposed on a platen by sensing a paper thickness to obtain the optimum position of the print head without stepping-out a motor, including a holder, pulley, shielding plate, and a cam to rotate not only the holder and pulley with respect to the cam, but also the shielding plate with respect to the pulley independently of each other against the cam at a predetermined angle so that characters of a high quality may be printed on the printing paper.

Abstract: A dot matrix printhead is adjusted automatically or manually with respect to a platen in accordance with the thickness of a recording medium on which printing is to occur. When a host data processor sends a control signal to a printer microprocessor to indicate that a recording medium of a different thickness is to be printed, a carrier, which has a first portion supporting the printhead and pivotally and slidably mounted on a front guide rail, is moved so that a shift arm on the carrier engages a right side plate of the frame. This disconnects a ribbon drive motor gear from a ribbon drive gear and moves the ribbon drive motor gear into engagement with a gear train. Rotation of the gear train rotates a gear, which has a threaded shaft and is rotatably supported by a second portion of the carrier slidably mounted on a rear guide rail, to cause pivoting of the first portion of the carrier about the front guide rail to change the gap of the printhead from the platen.

Abstract: An imaging head for use in a spark-discharge recording apparatus, including a tracking system for monitoring and maintaining the head a fixed distance away from the surface of a recording blank. The tracking system preferably measures the distance between the head and the surface of the blank using a gas source oriented toward the blank's surface and a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the gas reflected therefrom. The signal produced by the pressure sensor indicates the size of the gap. The pressue sensor is coupled to a servo system that alters the position of the head to maintain a preselected gap distance.

Abstract: A thermal printer is provided with a free floating print head and a sliding top supporting a platen roller. The platen roller is engageable with the print head such that a biased uniform force is applied to the print head. The sliding top is movable between a print ready position and a paper loading position. A wide gap is provided between the platen roller and the print head which in the paper loading position, allowing for easy paper loading without need for threading.

Abstract: Letter quality addressing is possible at production speeds. A feeding and transport system positively feeds discrete media elements to be addressed (such as envelopes) past a number of print heads in a positive manner to maintain consistent and proper alignment of the printed text on the media elements. First and second feed rollers feed the media elements to a pair of pinch rollers, the operation of the first roller being interrupted once a media element reaches a predetermined position. A selector bar with abrasive strips is associated with the second feed roller. The pinch rollers feed the media elements onto endless transport belts, with transport wiper plates disposed on top of the belts to hold the media elements in contact with the belts. The transport wipers comprise plates mounted by levers at opposite ends in such a way that an element may easily move under a plate, but is held tighter by the plate as it moves along it.

Abstract: For dot impact printers having a platen which may be installed such that the geometric central axis thereof is displaced off a rotation axis about which the platen rotates, a carriage on which a print head is mounted is moved toward the platen from a predetermined position until the distal end portion of the carriage is brought in abutment with the circumference of the platen to thereby measure the surface level of the platen. This measurement is repeatedly carried out while angularly rotating the platen. The thus measured surface levels of the platen are averaged, and based on the average data an optimum position of the print head to be located apart from the sheet of print paper supported on the platen is determined.

Abstract: After a printer lid has been opened, when a signal indicating that the lid is closed again and a signal indicating that there is a sheet in a print mechanism are received, the spacing or distance between a print head and the face of a sheet held against a platen is automatically adjusted to a desired value. Therefore, when a printing process is to be resumed after the lid has been opened during printing operation, the spacing between the print head and the face of the sheet is corrected even if the spacing may have been varied due to physical contact to the print head or the carriage mounting the print head by the operator, so that desired print quality will be maintained after the printing process is resumed.

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: An interval between a wire-dot printing head and a printing medium in a wire-dot impact printer, wherein the wire-dot printing head is provided with a plurality of printing wires which strike against the printing medium, is adjustably controlled by an interval adjustment device and a control device. Displacements of the printing wires are detected when they are operated, and the interval between the wire-dot printing head and the printing medium is adjusted appropriately as a function of the resultant value of such detection. It is possible to adjust the interval between the wire-dot printing head and the printing medium in a short time so that the printing operation can be carried out a high speed and with high quality.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically adjusting the distance of a printing head from a printing support wherein motor means enable changing, on command, the print head distance from the support and a movable armature/plunger electromagnetic detector, fixed to the printing head is energized, when the print head is moved far from the printing support, so as to perform the cocking of the armature/plunger and is thereafter maintained in energized status by a minimal current for holding the electromagnet in cocked state, so that a subsequent movement of the print head towards the printing support, owing to the interference with the printing support of an actuation element coupled to the armature/plunger, causes armature/plunger release and a reluctance change, hence an e.m.f. induced in the energization winding which is detected by a comparator circuit and signaled to a control logic to indicate that the print head is at a predetermined distance from the printing support.

Abstract: A thermal printer which always performs a satisfactory printing operation regardless of whether a ribbon cassette mounted for printing houses an ink ribbon for hot release mode printing or an ink ribbon for cold release mode printing. Hot release mode printing is satisfactory for printing normal printing papers, while cold release mode printing is satisfactory for printing OHP (overhead projection) papers. The printer is capable of sensing the difference between ribbon cassette having an ink ribbon for hot release mode printing and a ribbon cassette having an ink ribbon for cold release mode printing, when mounted on the printer for printing. The printer upon sensing the type of ribbon cassette mounted, then adjusts its components, if necessary, so that they are configured in locations appropriate to perform satisfactory printing according to the type of ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette mounted.

Abstract: A motor drives, through a gear train, a cam set to force the printhead of a wire matrix printer against the platen and record sheet(s) with a force great enough to cause the cam to stop rotating. Continued driving of the gear train causes one of the gears to be driven around another gear, relieving the drive force. A detection of the stopping of the cams causes the stopping of the drive motor and a slight reversal. This adjusts the head to paper gap regardless of the paper thickness.

Abstract: A printing device is disclosed, consisting of a chassis (10), an abutment (40), and relative to the abutment in the direction of lines, an adjustable printing head (36) and a chassis fixed stop (16) for fixing the printing position of a print carrier (18), inserted between the printing head (36) and the abutment (40). The stop (16) is assigned a holding device (20) for holding the print carrier in its printing position, whereby the beam-shaped abutment (40) and the printing head (36) are carried on a pivoting frame (42), which on chassis (10) parallel to abutment (40) and a distance to an axis (44) is carried in a pivoted mode and by way of a pivoting drive (62-72) is adjustable.

Abstract: A print head is moved to and fro between two direction reversing points along a print support and simultaneously moved forward toward the print support until the head engages the support. The engagement of the head with the support produces a variable parameter in response to the to and fro reciprocating movement. When the parameter reaches a given value indicating engagement of the head and support, the forward movement of the head is stopped, and the print head, starting from this position, in which the gap between the head and support is zero, is moved in the reverse direction away from the support to the desired gap value.

Abstract: An adjustable shaft mechanism for adjusting the gap between a print head and a platen in a dot matrix printer has a printer frame with two end frame members and a fixed guide member. An adjustable shaft runs substantially parallel to the guide member between the end frame members. A print head carriage runs along the guide and shaft members. A substantially vertical slot in each of the end frame members is employed to adjust the adjustable shaft for movement up and down with respect to the end frame members. Spring loading means biases the shaft toward the guide member. A cam on each end member is mounted for rotation for adjusting the shaft in the slots to raise and lower the print head carriage and the associated print head with respect to the platen.

Abstract: In a parallel setting device for a print head carriage guide relative to a print medium support (6) in printers, in particular in matrix printers, the print head carriage guide includes a parallel disposable and position adjustable carriage guide axle (5) relative to the print medium support (1) and disposed rearwards relative to the print medium support at the printer frame 1 and a front carriage guide axle (4) adjustable to a minimum distance and disposed opposite to the print medium support (6). The rear and the front carriage guide axle (4,5) in each case are supported in the side plate (2,3) of the printer frame (1). The print medium support (6) is disposed at a level different to that of the front carriage guide axle (4).

Abstract: In the printer of the type in which the spacing between a print head and a sheet of paper supported on a platen can be adjusted depending upon the sheet used, the position in which the spacing is adjusted is freely selectable. When printing is effected on a sheet with tab labels, the position of the print head is specified so that the print head confronts the tab label, and then the spacing between the print head and the face of the print sheet is adjusted upon moving the print head to the specified position.

Abstract: A printer includes a platen (3), a print head (7) and a front carriage guide shaft (4) for supporting the print head and adjustable for selectively varying the print head-to-platen spacing. The guide shaft is mounted to the printer frame by an eccentric (11) and a setting lever (12) secured to the eccentric is selectively movable for adjusting the print head-to-platen spacing. A detent plate (13) is mounted to the printer frame (1, 2) and carries stops (14, 15) for limiting movement of the setting lever and, therefore, the print head-to-platen spacing adjustment. Releaseably engageable lock elements (16) on the detent plate and frame provide relative adjustability and retention of the position of the detent plate on the frame for setting the position of the front limit stop (15) and, thereby, the minimum permitted print head-to-platen spacing obtainable through movement of the setting lever.

Abstract: The print head (9) disposed on a print-head carriage (8) can be moved back and forth parallel to a print support (13) between end positions (8a, 8b) and can be set perpendicular to the print-surface support (13) against a spring force of, for example, a leg spring (14) relative to the print surface support (13) in the context of a device for the setting of the distance of a print head (9) on a thick print material (10) in an office machine, in particular in a printer for savings booklets or vouchers.In addition, at least one rotatable roller (15), supported at the print-head front face (9a), is provided, which roller rests on a bendable strip (16) running in parallel to the print surface support (13), where the bendable strip (16) rests solidly on the thick printing material (10) during the printing process.

Abstract: A printer apparatus including a timer, for setting a period T1 when the print head moves forward toward a platen, and a period T2, which is longer than period T1, when the print head moves away from the platen. In response to an interrupt signal from the timer, a CPU supplies a signal, for changing over the exciting phase of the stepping motor, to a motor driving circuit. As a result, the motor driving circuit operates to speed up the rotation of the stepping motor when the print head moves forward, providing a low level of torque with which to move the print head toward the platen. On the other hand, the motor driving circuit operates to slow down the rotation of the stepping motor when the print head moves away from the platen, providing a high level of torque with which to move the print head away from the platen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wire dot matrix printer capable of printing letters on a plurality of superposed sheets of paper, in which there is provided a drive current adjuster for continuously increasing and decreasing the drive current of solenoids which move printing wires, in association with a distance adjuster for adjusting the relative distance between the front end of the printing wires and a platen roller, thereby the impact force of the printing wires can be continuously changed in accordance with the number of superposed sheets of paper.

Abstract: A printing gap adjustment mechanism compensates for the change in the pring gap variation caused by the relative motion between two side walls of the printer frame supporting a platen and two guide rods slidably supporting a print head. The mechanism includes a compensator rod and a pair of eccentric members rotatably mounted in a compensator plate which is pivotally mounted on one side wall of the printer frame. One end of the compensator rod is frictionally secured to the opposite side wall while the other end is rotatably supported in an opening in the other side wall and is secured to an eccentric mounted to the compensator plate. One of the guide rods supporting the print head is located near the platen and is secured between two eccentric members, one of which is rotatably mounted in the compensator plate and the other is rotatably mounted in the opposite side wall. The other guide rod is secured between the two side walls.

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 thermal transfer printer having an ink ribbon winding mechanism and a heating element biasing mechanism driven by a single motor source is provided. A carriage is slideably mounted on a guide for reciprocating along a platen. A print head including a heating element is mounted on the carriage. An ink ribbon winding means for moving the ink ribbon across the heating element and a head displacing means for displacing the heating element towards the platen during printing and away from the platen when not printing are both mounted on the carriage. The motor is operatively coupled to the ink ribbon winding means and the print head displacing means.

Abstract: The printer, in which a carriage carries a printing head and reciprocates along a guide rail, comprises a locking member attached in the vicinity of the end portion of the guide rail for locking the carriage temporarily, further comprises the locking member arranged to the position toward the locking member attached in the vicinity of the end portion of the guide rail. The locking member is attached to the lever which adjusts the print gap.

Abstract: A printer includes a platen having a longitudinal axis and a printing head mounted in opposition to the platen. The guide shaft is mounted to extend parallel to the axis of the platen. A carriage supports the printing head and includes a carriage frame mounted on the guide shaft for movement axially therealong and for movement rotatably thereabout and a base plate having a first end integral with the carriage frame and a second end directed away therefrom. A guide plate is fixed at a position below the second end of the base plate and extends parallel to the guide shaft. A parallel link mechanism includes a fixing member attached to a lower surface of the second end of the base plate and a slider memebr connected to the fixing member. The slider member has a slot within which fits the guide plate, such that movement of the carriage axially of the guide shaft causes the parallel link mechanism and the second end of the base plate to be guided by the guide plate.

Abstract: A matrix line printer has an L-shaped shuttle for a series of electromagnetic actuators. Wires are provided running in an arc from the printer frame to the shuttle. Peojections on the shuttle engage eccentrically mounted rollers on the frame.

Abstract: The print head is mounted on a carriage which, in turn, rides on a round bar which is transversely adjustable towards and away from the parallel running platen. The round bar rolls in horizontal oblong slots in side walls of the frame and has short, drum-shaped cams eccentrically connected to its ends, the cams being coaxial to each other and are held individually in abutment with reference surfaces that are individually adjustable on these side walls towards true parallelism; an adjusting lever is affixed to a third cam on the bar, and is coaxial to the two other cams, which lever is latchable in positions to thereby hold adjusted distances of the print head from the platen.

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 matrix printer utilizes an inking roller for supplying ink to the surface of the printer platen and has guide means adjacent the platen to separate the print paper from the platen. The guide means includes an elongated slot or window for access to the platen by the print wires. The print wire support means is spring loaded in a direction toward the platen and utilizes a solenoid to move the support means away from the platen. A pair of rollers is engageable with the paper and positioned between the platen and the print element carriage to form a predetermined space between the paper and the end of the print wire when the carriage is moved toward the platen.

Abstract: A media thickness compensating device for a printer which senses the thickness of each record medium, e.g., a printing sheet, mounted on a platen to maintain a proper printing gap between the record medium and a print head. In this device, sensing means including a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber member is disposed so as to be movable toward and away from the platen. The movement of the print head is compensated in accordance with the displacement of the sensing means moved from a reference position to a position where the sensing means comes into contact with the record medium to cause the resistance of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber member to reach a predetermined reference value. Thus, the printing gap can be kept proper at all times.

Abstract: A thermal printer is provided with a free floating print head and a sliding top supporting a platen roller. The platen roller is engageable with the print head such that a biased uniform force is applied to the print head. The sliding top is movable between a print ready position and a paper loading position. A wide gap is provided between the platen roller and the print head which in the paper loading position, allowing for easy paper loading without need for threading.