Impact printing apparatus

Printing apparatus comprising:

• platen means for supporting record media for printing:
• printing means comprising a plurality of impact printing elements and a frame for mounting said printing elements for reciprocating printing movement;
• means for maintaining a predetermined distance between said platen means and said printing means during a printing operation;
• ribbon guide means secured to said printing means for guiding a printing ribbon into cooperative relation between the ends of said print elements and the platen means on which record media may be positioned for printing;
• ribbon mask support means secured to said printing means;
• ribbon mask means secured adjacent one end thereof to said ribbon mask support means and slidingly coupled to said support means adjacent the other end of said ribbon mask means, said ribbon mask means being positioned to receive the printing ribbon between said mask means and the ribbon guide means, and having an aperture therein to accommodate movement therethrough by the printing elements;
• a cam surface on the ribbon mask support means comprising an angled extension thereof;
• and
• a cam surface on the platen means comprising a planar element secured at an end of the platen means and disposed at an angle to the reciprocating direction of movement of the platen means for cooperative engagement with the angled extension of the ribbon mask support means to increase the predetermined distance between the printing means and the platen means at the end of a printing line, whereby printing ribbon insertion is facilitated.