Abstract: A shoe in the form of a cylindrical screw is rotatably threaded through a carriage supporting a print head and has one end held slidably against a guide rail parallel to a main guide shaft on which the carriage is movable parallel to the platen of an impact printer. The shoe is rotated about its own axis to tilt the carriage and hence the print head to adjust the spacing between the print head and the platen. The shoe is rotated by a gap change lever angularly movably supported on the carriage and having teeth for mesh with a gear mounted on the shoe. For initializing the spacing between the print head and the platen, the gear on the shoe is displaced out of mesh with the teeth of the gap change lever and rotated to turn the shoe. To achieve a desired spacing between the print head and the platen, the gear on the shoe is moved into mesh with the teeth of the gap change lever, and the gap change lever is turned to rotate the gear and the shoe for angular movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A wire dot-matrix printer has a print head which can be moved toward and away from a sheet or sheets of print paper by means of a stepping motor, the print head being movable from an initial position. The wire dot-matrix printer also includes a detector for detecting the thickness of the sheet or sheets of print paper by bringing the print head from the initial position into abutment against the sheet or sheets and then moving the print head back to the initial position, and a controller for determining the speed of movement of the print head with respect to a platen in parallel relationship thereto, based on information from the detector.

Abstract: The platen roller in a matrix printer is mounted to the printer case so that stop plates of the mount define a representation of the disposition of the roller. A frame is provided to hold a guide rod on which rides a carriage, and the print head is secured to that carriage. Adjustable cams on the rod abut the stop plates when the frame is slid into the case to, thereby, establish the distance between head and platen. The frame carries also the head drive, its motor and the paper-feed motor, there being a key connection to the platen, maintaining a driving connection even for different cam adjustments and frame positions in the case.

Abstract: This device provides a printer wherein a narrow strip of sheet paper is passed between a platen roller and a print head, characterized in that one end of each of the platen roller and print head are supported in a cantilevered manner and owing to this arrangement, the gap between the printing roller and print head is open at the other end to enable the insertion of sheet paper into the gap from that end.

Abstract: The print head of a serial printer includes a protruding plug which is seated and locked into a receptacle on a translating carriage. An endless belt has teeth engaged in a correspondingly contoured groove of the carriage for positive connection between carriage and belt, whereby the head traverses the printing medium for printing thereon. The platen is positively and simply held and includes a resin surface for impact of print wires. The gap between the head and platen is readily adjusted in steps by motion of a lever.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the position of the printing head of a printer has a leaf spring received in a groove formed in the carrier of the printer. The spring is bent into a doglegged form such that the spring force is applied to both ends of the carrier backwardly. The printing head is mounted on a support plate which is provided with a groove with which the anchoring portions of the leaf spring engage. The support plate is mounted on the upper surface of the carrier so as to be slidable forwards and backwards by a counter-sunk screw.

Abstract: An improved printer for accommodating and printing upon, a broad range of record medium thicknesses, including multi-part forms, while maintaining high print quality. The printer includes a platen and a pair of guide rails having a fixed relationship to one another, and an adjustable marking module supported for movement along the guide rails. An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the clearance between the platen and the marking module includes a toggle bracket for allowing the front of the module to pivot about the guide rail closest to the platen and for allowing the rear of the module to be moved relative to the furthest guide rail.

Abstract: A resilient ribbon mask for an impact printing apparatus which includes a print head is mounted for sliding movement on a frame connected to the print head. The frame and mask are angled away at either side of the print head from the surface of the platen along which the print head travels in a line printing operation. A slot in the mask for allowing passage of printing elements therethrough is oriented with its long dimension parallel to the direction of print head travel, and extends into the angled portions of the mask on each side of the print head so that the slot ends do not engage the record media being printed upon. The ribbon mask is held in close proximity to the print head during printing operations, but is permitted to spring away from the print head at the end of a line being printed, in order to facilitate ribbon changing and record media insertion and removal.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the relative position of a carriage assembly to a platen on a printer frame comprising first and second parallel supports mounted to a printer frame in spaced apart relationship parallel to said platen, a pulley support assembly mounted on one of the supports for movement parallel to said one support, a bearing assembly slidably mounted on the other of the supports, a carriage assembly detachably mounted to said pulley support assembly and slidably attached to the bearing assembly to allow movement of the carriage assembly towards or away from the bearing assembly while maintaining contact with the bearing, and means for adjusting the one support in a horizontal plane towards or away from the platen whereby the carriage assembly is moved toward or away from the platen.

Abstract: This invention involves methods and apparatus relating to the assembly and structure of a dot matrix print head. The invention includes a single unit, coil assembly of a bobbin, coil, and clapper which can be removeably placed as a unit among fixed pole pieces and yoke members in the print head. The print head also includes a supporting arragement for the coil assemblies which automatically aligns the clapper of each coil assembly with the impact end of one of the print wires during the assembly of the print head. Other disclosed features of the invention are novel designs for the wire guide members, a heat sink member, and mounting structure by which the print head is attached to the main guide and rail guide bearings of the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A color impact matrix printer has replaceable color cartridges which are selectively brought into cooperative engagement with a print head. The printer includes a powered manifold for adjusting the print gap, a cartridge housing which is rapidly moveable by a lever system and a ribbon drive mechanism which allows for selective and incremental driving of each cartridge.

Abstract: A printer having a carriage guided for movement along a platen and supporting a wire matrix printing element includes means for changing the distance between the printing element and the platen an amount to facilitate paper feeding and an additional amount for paper insertion.The means of changing the distance between printing element and platen includes an electric motor driven in accordance with a stored program which determines motor acceleration characteristics.

Abstract: A serial printer comprises a carriage 32 movable parallel to a platen 14 and on which there is mounted a printing device 31, for example of the daisy wheel type. The guides 23, 25 on which the carriage slide are mounted on a frame 20 which can turn with respect to the fixed sides of the machine on pivots 16, 17 to allow easy replacement of the daisy wheel. A motor 70 located beneath the roller constituting the platen effects displacement of the carriage along the writing line by means of a steel cable 72 and a series of return pulleys 44, 45, 75, 82. The cable passes through coaxial holes 74, 84 in the pivots of the frame, in such a way that its conditions are not altered when the frame is turned. A unidirectional clutch 86 and a spring 89 coupled to one end 88 of the cable maintain the tension in the cable always constant, while providing a non-yielding anchorage when the motor pulls on that end of the cable.

Abstract: Means are disclosed for use in a line printer having a print head on a carriage traversing parallel to a platen for printing characters through an inked ribbon onto a print medium drawn between the ribbon and platen. The inventive means provide for adjusting the print head position. Bracket means slidably mounted on the carriage provide for movement of the bracket toward and away from the platen. The bracket provides for mounting the print head on the carriage. A bracket adjusting member consisting of a lever in the preferred embodiment is coupled between the carriage and the bracket for manual adjustment of the spacing of the print head with respect to the platen. Pointer means are pivotally mounted on the carriage engage the bracket such that bracket movement and hence print head movement is translated into pointer movment, providing for a gross indication by means of indicia beneath the pointer of print head location with respect to the platen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printer in which a printing head confronting a platen and a paper pressing roller for pressing a recording paper are attached to the same levers mounted rotatably and turnably and the distance between the top end of the printing head and the platen can directly be changed according to the thickness of the recording paper to be inserted, whereby influences of changes of the paper thickness on the printing state can be eliminated substantially. In this printer, the distance between the top end of the printing head and the platen can be adjusted very precisely by a simple structure.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a print head upon a carriage having an adjustable collar and a slotted support which receive opposing ends of an elongated shaft secured to the print head. The shaft is accurately positioned on the carriage by means of openings in said collar and said support which receive cooperating portions of said shaft. A spring biased cylindrical member retains the shaft within the carriage support and the collar. The collar is provided with a pair of projections which are engaged by the cam surface of a cam member rotatably mounted upon the shaft for adjusting the axial position of the print head relative to said collar and hence relative to a web supporting platen. The forms thickness setting assembly is accurately adjusted simply by axial adjustment of the collar, to assure the accuracy of all forms thickness settings through only a single adjustment step.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, engaging and disengaging a selection motor drive hub and a daisy wheel print element. Included therein and utilized therefor are means for permitting a pivoting of a ribbon cartridge and means for connecting the ribbon cartridge to a selection motor. The motor and cartridge are connected such that upon a pivoting of the ribbon cartridge for (1) a print element change, the hub is translated out of engagement with the print element, and (2) continued printing, the hub is translated into engagement with the print element.

Abstract: A daisy wheel printer carrier for print element and ribbon cartridges. The carrier is made up of a frame having a vertically oriented print element cartridge receptacle adjacent one end and support means for carrying a pivotable ribbon cartridge adjacent the other end. The frame is structured to be mounted on adjustable eccentric rails for slidable translation toward and away from a printer platen, and for orientation relative to the platen upon adjustment of the rails.

Abstract: A teleprinter includes a carriage for conveying a dot matrix-type print head along an operating path parallel to a print-receiving surface. The carriage is mounted on parallel-spaced support rods by means of spaced bearings slidably engaged to one of the support rods, and a pair of perpendicularly-aligned guide rollers which engage the other guide rod. The carriage is advanced by a drive belt which extends along the carriage operating path and is attached to the carriage at either end. A stepper motor coupled to one of the pulleys drives the belt to position the carriage. A removable cartridge on the carriage contains an inked ribbon which is advanced with movement of the carriage by a drive gear engaged to the drive belt. A unidirectional clutch prevents the inked ribbon from moving in a reverse direction during carriage return.

Abstract: A printer carrier for carrying both a selection motor and a carrier for print element and ribbon cartridges. The printer carrier is made up of a frame, adjustable rails, and a leadscrew follower, and is structured to be mounted on escapement rails. The adjustable rails are for accepting the selection motor and the carrier for print element and ribbon cartridges. Upon adjustment of the rails, the motor and cartridge carrier are oriented relative to a printer platen. The follower is for connecting the apparatus to a leadscrew for controlling escapement along the escapement rails.

Abstract: An apparatus adjusts the angular orientation of a moving carriage carrying a type font in a true font, stop-to-print, moving head high speed printer. This rotational adjustment provides a simple but accurate paper thickness adjustment which simplifies the printer construction and increases its reliability.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting a carriage assembly in a printing relationship to a platen. The carriage supports the printing mechanism including a print element. The distance between the carriage with the print element and the platen is adjusted by the adjustment apparatus, which rotates the carriage about a first support rail by changing the distance between the carriage and a second support rail.

Abstract: A non impact dot matrix printer of the serial-parallel or parallel type having a base member extending parallel to the line of print direction on which a plurality of adjacent printing heads is independently mounted; each head has a planar surface carrying thereon a row of dot size printing elements facing the recording medium, the rows of all the heads being aligned to form a single long row of printing elements extending parallel and equally spaced along the line of print direction; each head is fixed to an end of a resilient lamina, the other end of which is fixed to the base member, the lamina by flexing and twisting allows uniform contact of resistive elements of each head against recording medium; in the printer, the base member is reciprocated along the line of print direction by a pair of cam following rollers cooperating with a cam.

Abstract: A print head carriage assembly for a serial printer apparatus, the carriage including a platform having two parallel channels extending laterally through the frame member for receiving self-aligning bearings and carriage guide rails; a central seat within the platform for seating the housing of a matrix print head with the longitudinal dimension of the print head oriented normal to the longitudinal axes of the channels, locking means for securing the matrix print head in place about said central seat with the neck of the head extending substantially normal to the axes of the channels, manifold adjustment means for adjusting the position of the head within the seat relative to the axes of the channels; and means for engaging the platform to a drive means for driving said platform laterally along said guide rails.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising a stationary frame structure having accommodated therewithin a plurality of printing hammers arranged in a row, a tiltable support structure positioned in front of the frame structure and rotatable about an axis fixed on the frame structure, a type carrier movable on the support structure partially along a straight travelling path extending in parallel with the row of the printing hammers and forming an elongated clearance between the travelling path and the row of the printing hammers, position retaining means for holding the support structure in an inoperative position having the travelling path of the type carrier spaced wider apart from the row of the printing hammers, clearance adjusting means for minutely adjusting the above mentioned clearance depending upon the thickness of the printing sheet or sheets to be printed at a time, and cam means providing a mechanical and functional intervention between the position retaining and clearance adjusting means.

Abstract: A platen gap adjuster for a printer utilizes a shaft along which the print head carriage slides during printing of each line. The shaft is eccentrically mounted by means of unitary, offset spindles the common axis of which is parallel to but spaced from the shaft axis. By rotating the shaft about the common spindle axis, the carriage and print head will be moved transversely of the shaft, thereby adjusting the gap between the print head and platen without impairing the longitudinal sliding motion of the carriage.

Abstract: The gap between the print head and the printing surface or platen in a printer is extremely critical in certain types of printers. Where printers are required to accept print media of various thickness (single or multipart paper), an adjust mechanism is required to optimize the print gap. A problem arises thereafter whenever ribbon has to be changed or new paper fed into the printer, since the print head must be retracted from its optimum gap position for ease of operation. The present invention provides for automatically resetting the print head to its predetermined previous gap spacing following movement of the print head away from the printing surface for servicing such as paper loading on ribbon replacement. This is accomplished by providing a lever, adapted to move the print head away from the printing surface, with a cam face for mating with a cam follower carried by a gap adjustment arm pivoted for movement in fixed distance increments about a pivot point.

Abstract: A high speed printing device having a printing head provided with printing needles. The printing device is mounted on a movable carriage which is adapted to move adjacent to a recording medium. The printing head is pneumatically operated and also is movable relative to the carriage so that the distance between the printing needles and the recording medium is variable.

Abstract: A carriage for positioning a print mechanism in front of a record medium and moving the print mechanism back and forth in front of the record medium with facility for retracting the print mechanism to permit insertion of a ribbon and biasing the print mechanism forward toward the record medium against an adjustable stop. The retracting mechanism being further adjustable for retracting the printing mechanism completely out of the carriage for removal therefrom.

Abstract: A printing device is provided which includes a feeler pivotally mounted on a printer frame and urged into engagement with record media positioned on a platen for printing. A magnetic element on the feeler coacts with a Hall generator on the frame to provide a control voltage which is effective to control a motor for positioning of the frame so that a print head mounted on said frame is located at a proper distance from the record media for printing thereon.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which has an adjustable support for the print head assembly, either or both for changing the spacing between the print head and paper supporting surface to accommodate multiple sheets of paper and to facilitate paper and ribbon changing and for changing the vertical position of the print head into one of two or more discrete positions to effectively at least double the number of dot positions available for printing from the print head wire array.