Magnetic head control assembly for a magnetic passbook printing system

Abstract

A printing apparatus is provided for printing on a document or bank passbook which has affixed thereto a magnetic stripe on which information with respect to the print operation is written and/or read by a magnetic head scanning assembly. The printing apparatus includes a document holder for accommodating the document to be printed on, and an automatic line positioning device in the form of a stepper motor to move the holder, and accordingly the document, to the line to be printed on as recorded on the magnetic stripe, at which time the platen is advanced against the document, and the data printed on the line by the print head. The magnetic head scanning assembly at beginning-of-stripe position is retracted from the magnetic stripe on the document, and when actuated, advances the head to contact the magnetic stripe to read data on the stripe. The magnetic head scanning assembly includes three photosensors spaced along the path of travel of the scan assembly, providing signals at the beginning-of-stripe position, head-in-contact position, and end-of-stripe position, which returns the scanning assembly to the beginning-of-stripe position where the assembly is retracted away from the document, and the platen is retracted. Having obtained print line information from the magnetic stripe, the passbook is automatically positioned at the proper print line by the stepper motor, the platen is advanced, and the data is printed thereon. The platen is retracted and the passbook is returned to the home position, where the platen is again advanced, and the magnetic head scanner assembly writes updated information on the magnetic stripe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.