Magnetic dot matrix printing

In a magnetic dot matrix printer for printing a character text on a sheet of non-magnetic paper, of the kind comprising:

• an elongaged strip platen of permanent magnet material;
• means for positioning a sheet of non-magnetic paper on one surface of the platen with the platen extending across the paper in alignment with a portion of the paper comprising a location for a line of text;
• magnetic recording means, comprising a plurality of electromagnets having magnetizing poles corresponding to a group of character matrix dots, for magnetizing dot size portions of the platen in accordance with predetermined patterns constituting magnetic images of the characters for a line of text by selective energization of the electromagnets;
• magnetic toner dispensing means for applying limited quantities of a magnetic toner to the exposed surface of the paper overlying the platen to develop visible images, corresponding to the magnetic images, on the paper;
• and
• magnetic erasing means for erasing the magnetic images from the platen in preparation for printing a further line of text;
• the improvement comprising:
• platen displacement means for displacing the platen, in a direction generally transverse to the paper surface, between a print position engaging the paper and an inactive position, the displacement between the two platen positions being sufficient to preclude substantial magnetic attraction between the magnetic images and the visible toner images when the platen is in its inactive position;
• line feed means for advancing the paper, in a direction substantially parallel to the paper surface, to move the visible toner images to a fixing position displaced from the platen print position;
• and
• fixing means for fixing the visible toner images on the paper, while at the fixing position, to complete printing of a line of text on the paper.