Imprinter apparatus and method

An imprinter apparatus for imprinting data from a source member onto a recording document, said imprinter apparatus comprising:

• a base plate;
• a print carriage for transporting a print roller over said base plate;
• and
• means for raising and lowering said print roller at predetermined intervals through an imprinting stroke, comprising:
• a molded print roller axle, said molded print roller axle being axially inserted through said print roller such that said print roller is free to rotate upon contact with the recording document during imprinting, said molded print roller axle having an inclined planar surface formed thereon, said inclined planar surface having an upper end and a lower end;
• contact means for bearing against said inclined planar surface such that said print roller is in a lowered position when said contact means contacts said inclined planar surface upper end and said print roller is in a raised position when said contact means contacts said inclined planar surface lower end;
• means for biasing said molded print roller axle against said contact means;
• camming means for reciprocally sliding said molded print roller axle axially through said print roller such that said contact means is caused to contact either said inclined planar surface upper end or said inclined planar surface lower end;
• and
• means for restraining said molded print roller axle against axial rotation.

A method of attaching a print carriage to a base plate of an imprinter apparatus such that said print carriage is free to move in a linear direction with respect to said base plate, comprising the steps of:

• forming parallel channels along the length of a surface of said base plate;
• rotatably mounting first rolling means to an inner side surface of said print carriage such that said first rolling means is prevented from moving laterally relative to said inner side surface of said print carriage;
• aligning said first rolling means within one of said channels;
• rotatably mounting second rolling means to an inner side surface of said print carriage such that said second rolling means is allowed to move laterally relative to said inner side surface of said print carriage;
• aligning said second rolling means within another one of said channels;
• retaining said first rolling means and said second rolling means within said channels such that said print carriage is prevented from moving vertically, laterally, and rotationally with respect to said base plate.

An imprinter apparatus for imprinting data from a source member onto a recording document, said imprinter apparatus comprising:

• a base plate;
• a print carriage for transporting a print roller over said base plate;
• and
• means for raising and lowering said print roller at predetermined intervals through an imprinting stroke, comprising:
• a molded print roller axle, said molded print roller axle being axially inserted through said print roller such that said print roller is free to rotate upon contact with the recording document during imprinting, said molded print roller axle having an inclined planar surface formed thereon, said inclined planar surface having an upper end and a lower end;
• contact means for bearing against said inclined planar surface such that said print roller is in a lowered position when said contact means contacts said inclined planar surface upper end and said print roller is in a raised position when said contact means contacts said inclined planar surface lower end;
• means for biasing said molded print roller axle against said contact means;
• camming means for reciprocally sliding said molded print roller axle axially through said print roller such that said contact means is caused to contact either said inclined planar surface upper end or said inclined planar surface lower end;
• and
• means for restraining said molded print roller axle against axial rotation including a slot formed by flanges extending from an end of said molded print roller axle, a fin projecting from an inner surface of said print carriage, said slot engaging said fin so as to prevent rotation of said molded print roller axle.