US 3,998,154 A · Hammer assembly for use in impact printers

Abstract

An improved hammer assembly is disclosed for use in impact printers having a print station comprising a continuously rotating print wheel and an adjacent hammer mechanism for selectively impacting print stock and an interposed ink ribbon against a raised element on the print wheel to thereby imprint a character on the print stock. The hammer assembly includes an elongated hammer having a hammer surface at one end and an actuating surface at the other end which is engaged by a hammer actuating device in the hammer mechanism having a controllable, substantially reciprocative movement. The elongated hammer is supported for substantially reciprocative, planar movement with respect to a similarly elongated first support member by a pair of linear leaf springs which extend between the elongated hammer and the first support member in a spaced-apart, parallel manner. A second support member is provided for rigidly securing the hammer assembly to a support means in the hammer mechanism and is connected to the first support member by a flexure which is located on the first support member at a location offset from but adjacent to a first end thereof. A pin is located on the first support member at a location offset from but adjacent to a second end thereof and extends at right angles from the first support member and through an aperture in the support means. A cam is rotatable on the pin and engages the aperture in the support means to permit adjustable rotation of the first support member, and accordingly the elongated hammer, with respect to the fixed second support member to insure that the hammer surface is vertically aligned with respect to the print wheel.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A hammer assembly for use in an impact printer including a print station comprising hammer assembly support means and hammer actuating means having a controllable, substantially reciprocative movement, said hammer assembly comprising:

a. an elongated hammer means having a hammer surface located at one end thereof and an actuating surface located at the other end thereof suitable for engaging the hammer actuating means,
b. an elongated first support member having first and second ends,
c. first and second linear leaf springs having their ends rigidly secured to said elongated hammer means and to said first support member at corresponding ends thereof and supporting said elongated hammer for substantially reciprocative, planar movement with respect to said first support member,
d. a second support member capable of being rigidly secured to the hammer assembly support means,
e. flexure means connecting said second support member to said first support member at a location thereon offset from but adjacent to said first end, and
f. adjusting means coupled to said first support member for permitting adjustable rotation of said first support member, and accordingly said elongated hammer means, with respect to said second support member through said flexure means.

3 more elements

An improved imprinting mechanism for use with an impact printer, said imprinting mechanism comprising:

a. a hammer assembly support means and a hammer actuating means having a controllable, substantially reciprocative movement in a direction contained in a first plane,
b. a hammer assembly including a hammer means which is elongated in a first direction and which has located at one end thereof, a hammer surface and at the other end thereof an actuating surface engagable with said hammer actuating means, said hammer assembly further including a first support member also elongated in said first direction, and having first and second ends, first and second linear leaf springs having their ends rigidly secured to said hammer means and to said first support member at corresponding ends thereof and supporting said hammer for substantially reciprocative, planar movement with respect to said first support member, a second support member, flexure means connecting said second support member to said first support member at a location offset from but adjacent to said first end, so that said first and said second support members and said hammer means, define a second plane comprising said first direction and a direction perpendicular thereto, and a first adjusting means connected to said first support member and extending at right angles to said second plane,
c. means securing said second support member to said hammer assembly support means so that said second plane substantially coincides with said first plane, and
d. second adjusting means secured to said hammer assembly support means and coacting with said first adjusting means for permitting adjustable rotation of said first support member, and accordingly said hammer means, in said second plane with respect to said second support member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hammer assembly for use in impact printers

Life of this patent

Hammer assembly for use in impact printers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10