Ribbonless endorser for printing both fixed and variable information on moving documents

Printing apparatus or use at a print station in a document processor in which documents are transported at a first transit speed along transport paths located upstream and downstream of said print station, said printing apparatus, effective for decelerating the documents to a second printing speed in the area of said print station and for printing both fixed and variable information thereon, comprising:

• a. first means disposed on opposite sides of said print station and effective for controllably moving documents therein and therealong at said decelerated second printing speed, said first means including a resilient velocity control member and a first biased back-up member,
• b. second means disposed on opposite sides of said print station and effective for printing said variable information on said documents at said decelerated second printing speed, said second means including activatable impact producing printing means and impact receiving printing means,
• c. third means disposed on opposite sides of said print station and effective for printing said fixed information on said documents at said decelerated second printing speed, said third means including impressable printing means and a second biased back-up member,
• d. adjustable means for transferring ink to said impact receiving printing means and to said impressable printing means, and
• e. drive means for controllably rotating said resilient velocity control member, said impressable printing means, and said impact receiving printing means, said controlled rotation of said resilient velocity control member in cooperation with said first biased back-up member being effective for moving documents at said decelerated second printing speed throughout said print station, said controlled rotation of said impressable printing means in cooperation with said second biased back-up member being effective for printing said fixed information on a said document, and said controlled rotation of said impact receiving printing means in conjunction with the activation of said impact producing printing means being effective for printing said variable information on a said document in predetermined relationship with said fixed information.

Printing apparatus for use in a print station in a document processor in which documents are transported at a first transit speed along a transport path located upstream and downstream of said print station, said printing apparatus effective for decelerating the documents to a second printing speed in the area of said print station and for printing variable information thereon, said apparatus comprising:

• first means disposed on opposite sides of said print station for controllably moving documents therein and therealong at said decelerated second printing speed;
• second means effective for printing said variable information on said document at said decelerated second printing speed, said second means including activatable impact producing printing means and impact receiving printing means;
• adjustable means for transferring ink to said impact receiving printing means;
• and
• drive means for controllably rotating said first means and said impact receiving printing means, said controlled rotation of said first means being effective for moving documents at said decelerated second printing speed throughout said print station, and said controlled rotation of said impact receiving printing means in conjunction with the activation of said impact producing printing means being effective for printing said variable informaton on a said document.