Dot matrix printing device employing a novel image transfer technique to print on single or multiple ply print receiving materials

A print head of the dot matrix type comprising:

• a hollow housing having forward and rearward ends;
• a plurality of reciprocally mounted elongated slender print wires positioned in said housing and having forward and rearward ends;
• solenoid driving means each mounted upon the rearward end of said housing and being coupled to the rearward end of an associated print wire for normally maintaining its associated print wire in a first non-printing position and for urging its associated print wire in a printing direction when activated;
• print wire guiding means positioned in the forward end of said housing and arranged to maintain the forward ends of the print wires in a predetermined pattern and including a plurality of bores, each receiving and guiding an associated reciprocating print wire, the shape of each bore conforming to the cross-sectional configuration of its associated print wire;
• a supply of ink;
• and
• means in said housing comprising wicking material communicating with said ink supply and wipingly engaging all of said print wires for applying ink to said print wires in the region behind said guiding means whereby ink is drawn into the region between the outer peripheries of the print wires and the interior surfaces of said bores by capillary action to move along said bores in the aforesaid printing direction so as to be deposited upon the printing tips of said print wires.