Font changing apparatus for daisy wheel printer

Abstract

An under-the-cover automatic font changing apparatus for a daisy wheel printer which utilizes a print element housed in a cartridge during printing. The apparatus is adapted to exchange print elements in the cartridge. Included in the apparatus are an elongated and vertically oriented rack, a plurality of print element holding means located along the rack, drive means for vertically elevating and lowering the rack in a single plane, and means for causing a selection motor drive hub included in the printer to be translated toward and away from the print element for a print element change. During printing, the drive hub is for rotating the print element housed in the cartridge. Cooperating with the apparatus is a carrier positionable along and above the rack and carrying the cartridge. The cartridge has spring means included therein for cooperating with the drive hub upon insertion of one of the holding means into the cartridge. The spring means and drive hub cooperate for (1) installing a print element included in the cartridge on the holding means for removal of the print element from the cartridge, and (2) removing a print element from the holding means for loading the cartridge with a print element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.