Printer mechanism

A record material feed mechanism comprising:

• a. means engaging a record material for moving the record material when operated;
• b. a rotatably mounted gear member for operating said moving means to move the record material a distance commensurate to the rotation of said gear member;
• c. a first gear segment rotatably mounted adjacent said gear member for engaging and rotating said gear member, when actuated, a first predetermined distance;
• d. a second gear segment rotatably mounted adjacent said gear member for engaging and rotating said gear member, when actuated, a second predetermined distance, said first and second gear segments mounted in a side-by-side relationship;
• e. means engaging said first and second gear segments for normally urging said segments towards an overlapped position;
• f. and actuating means engaging said gear segments for reciprocally rotating said gear segments between a first and second actuated position, said actuating means simultaneously rotating said gear segments into engagement with said gear member for moving the record material a distance commensurate with the rotation of the gear member and positioning said segments under the action of said urging means in a tandem position during movement of the gear segments from said first to said second actuated position and in an overlapped position during movement of the gear segments from said second to said first actuated position whereby the movement of the record material to said first actuated position is less than the movement to said second actuated position.

In a data terminal device constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on print lines located on a record member, a mechanism for feeding a record member between a home position and a printing position including:

• a. a drive roller engaging the record member for moving the record member a distance commensurate with the rotation of the drive roller;
• b. gear means engaging said drive roller for rotating said drive roller when operated;
• c. a first rotatably mounted gear segment positioned adjacent said gear means, said gear segment engaging said gear means, when actuated, to operate said gear means to move the record member a predetermined distance between the home position and the printing position;
• d. a second rotatably mounted gear segment positioned adjacent said first gear segment, said second gear segment engaging said gear means, when actuated, to operate said gear means to move the record member a predetermined distance between the home position and the printing position;
• e. means engaging said gear segments for normally urging said gear segments towards an overlapped position;
• f. cam members engaging each of said gear segments for reciprocally actuating said segments between a first and second actuated position and moving said segments between an overlapped and tandem position when operated;
• g. and means for operating said cam members whereby said cam members will simultaneously rotate said gear segments into engagement with said gear means for moving the record member a predetermined length and positioning said gear segments under the action of said urging means in a tandem position during movement of the gear segments from said home position to said printing position and in an overlapped position during movement from said printing position to said home position to position a different portion of the record member adjacent the printing position during each succeeding printing operation.