US 4,230,412 AGranted

Matrix print head assembly

AssigneeHelmut Falk

InventorDonald G. Hebert

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Abstract

A wire matrix print head assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced armature members in which each armature member is operatively associated with a pair of radially spaced magnetic pole members and a coil associated therewith, each armature member being mounted between the pole members and the wire printing members with the end surfaces of the pole members facing the direction of movement of the armatures during printing movement from a non-print position to a print position, the inner pole member end surface providing a pivotal support surface for the armature member and also providing a locating surface engageable with a portion of the armature housing opposite thereto, a resilient biasing member mounted on the armature housing portion and engaging the armature member opposite the pivotal support surface, a resilient support and locating member engaging the radially innermost end portion of the armature opposite the associated wire printing member, and an axially adjustable sleeve means for supporting and locating the resilient support and locating member.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A matrix print head assembly comprising:

a number of wire members spaced about a central longitudinal axis and being longitudinally movable between a non-print position and a print position;
guide means for movably supporting said wire members;
a number of rigid armature members equal to the number of wire members movable between a non-print position and a print position and extending radially outwardly of and being circumferentially spaced about the central longitudinal axis with radially inner drive head portions engageable with said wire members during movement from the non-print position to the print position to drive the wire members from the non-print position to the print position;
a number of electromagnet means, having radially innermost and radially outermost pole portions, equal to the number of armature members, mounted in juxtaposition to a radially outer portion of said armature members for pivotally supporting said armature members during movement from the non-print position to the print position and being selectively energizable for causing pivotal movement of said armature members toward said electromagnet means and opposite pivotal movement of the radially inner portion of said armature members away from said electromagnet means during movement from the non-print position to the print position by magnetic force applied to the radially outer portion;
said armature members being positioned between said electromagnet means and said wire members such that said drive head portions are movable away from said electromagnetic means toward said wire members during movement from the non-print position to the print position;
pivotal support means on the radially innermost pole portions for pivotally supporting an intermediate portion of said armature members during movement of said armature members from the non-print position to the print position;
and
resilient axially adjustable abutment means engageable with radially innermost portions of each armature member.

5 more elements

A matrix print head assembly comprising:

a number of wire members spaced about a central longitudinal axis and being longitudinally movable between a non-print position and a print position;
guide means for movably supporting said wire members;
a number of rigid armature members equal to the number of wire members movable between a non-print position and a print position and extending radially outwardly of and being circumferentially spaced about the central longitudinal axis with radially inner drive head portions engageable with said wire members during movement from the non-print position to the print position to drive the wire members from the non-print position to the print position;
a number of electromagnet means, having radially innermost and radially outermost pole portions, equal to the number of armature members, mounted in juxtaposition to a radially outer portion of said armature members for pivotally supporting said armature members during movement from the non-print position to the print position and being selectively energizable for causing pivotal movement of said armature members toward said electromagnet means and opposite pivotal movement of the radially inner portion of said armature members away from said electromagnetic means during movement from the non-print position to the print position by magnetic force applied to the radially outer portion;
pivotal support means on one of said pole portions for pivotally supporting an intermediate portion of said armature members during movement of said armature members from the non-print position to the print position;
a molded plastic housing means for supporting said wire members;
a radially outwardly extending molded plastic armature retaining flange means having a radially outermost rim portion axially spaced from said electromagnetic means and defining a cavity containing said armature members;
said armature members extending generally parallel to said flange portion and being located in juxtaposition thereto;
an electrically conductive rigid metallic plate member extending radially outwardly of the central longitudinal axis generally parallel to said armature retaining flange means;
fastening means for connecting said plate member to said housing means and said armature retaining flange means;
a number of pairs of magnetic pole portions equal in number of said armature members mounted on said plate member and extending into said cavity;
an electrical coil member associated with one of each of said pairs of magnetic pole portions within said cavity;
and
abutment and locating means on said pole portions for fixed rigid abutting engagement with portions of said armature retaining flange means to fixedly axially locate a radially outer portion of said armature retaining flange means relative to said plate member.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.