Dot matrix print head

In a wire dot printer having a housing, an actuating coil within the housing, a core member associated with the actuating coil, a plunger moveable by the actuating coil and having a print wire secured thereto, the improvement comprising

• means at one end of the core member for guiding the operating end of the print wire and including a ceramic guide member having an aperture therethrough and integrally molded in said guiding means and captured within the guiding means for providing a guide for the print wire, said ceramic guide member including an outer face having an enlarged counterbored aperture therein, said counterbored aperture being of cylindrical configuration and the aperture in said ceramic guide member through which said print wire passes defining a print wire sliding face spaced from said outer face, said counterbored aperture avoiding engagement between said print wire and the outer face of said ceramic guide member.

A print wire guide for use in a wire dot printer having core means and means for moving the print wire in an axial direction through said core means and through a guide portion in the printer, said print wire guide being positioned at one end of said core means and comprising a ceramic guide element integrally molded in and contained by said ceramic guide portion and having an aperture through said ceramic guide element, said ceramic guide element including an outer face at each end thereof and having an enlarged counterbored aperture at each end of the ceramic guide element, each of said counterbored apertures being of cylindrical configuration and said aperture in said ceramic guide element through which said print wire passes defining a print wire sliding face spaced from the outer face at each end of the ceramic guide element, and each of said counterbored apertures avoiding engagement between said print wire and the corresponding outer face of said ceramic guide element.