Money order imprinter

In an imprinting apparatus for imprinting money orders and like instruments, the combination comprising:

• a frame,
• a plurality of type segment members supported by said frame and at least certain ones of said type segment members having first and second sets of printing characters, said type segment members being movable to locate printing characters of said first and second sets on first and second printing lines, respectively,
• an inked ribbon and ribbon support means supporting said ribbon adjacent to printing characters disposed on said first and second printing lines,
• platen means supported by said frame and including a first platen adapted for cooperation with printing characters of said first set and a second platen adapted for cooperation with printing characters of said second set,
• actuating means supported by said frame and including an operating lever having a normal non-printing position and being movable to a printing position for effecting a printing operation,
• means coupled to said operating lever for moving said first and second platens into pressure contact with an instrument disposed between said platen means and printing characters disposed on the printing lines including
• first support means carrying said first platen,
• a first linkage means coupling said first support means to said operating lever,
• second support means carrying said second platen,
• a second linkage means coupling said second support means to said operating lever,
• and potential energy creating means connected to said second support means to effect impact movement of said second platen into pressure contact with the instrument and printing characters on the second printing line prior to said first platen being moved into pressure contact with the instrument and printing characters on first printing line.

In an imprinting apparatus for imprinting money orders and like instruments, the combination comprising:

• a frame,
• a plurality of type segment members supported by said frame and at least certain ones of said type segment members each having first and second sets of printing characters, said type segment members being movable to locate printing characters of said first and second sets on first and second printing lines, respectively,
• an inked ribbon and ribbon support means for supporting said ribbon adjacent to printing characters disposed on the first and second printing lines,
• platen means supported by said frame and including a first platen adapted for cooperation with printing characters of said first set and a second platen adapted for cooperation with printing characters of said second set,
• actuating means supported by said frame and including an operating lever having a normal non-printing position and being movable to a printing position for effecting a printing operation,
• a form disposed between said platen means and said type segment members,
• means coupled to said operating lever for moving said first and second platens into pressure contact with said form disposed between said platen means and printing characters disposed on the printing lines, said means for moving including
• a first mechanism coupled to said first platen for moving same into pressure contact with said form and printing characters on the first printing line,
• and a second mechanism coupled to said second platen and operable independently of said first mechanism to effect impact movement of said second platen into pressure contact with said form and printing characters on the second printing line
• and said means for moving said first and second platens being adapted to return said first and second platens to their normal position in the return movement of said operating lever to its normal position.