Printer hammerspring

A hammerbank for a dot matrix printer comprising:

• a hammerbank frame;
• a plurality of magnetic means disposed within said hammerbank frame;
• a plurality of hammersprings adapted to be retained respectively by each magnetic means in a mechanically retracted manner by said magnetic means, each hammerspring having a base portion, a spring portion, and an end portion that can be magnetically retained proximate said magnetic means said spring portion having a thickness and a width, said base, spring and enlarged end portion all being formed from a single coextensive piece of metal, said spring portion uniformly and continuously decreasing in thickness and width between the base portion and the end portion;
• said end portion having a thickness and width, said end portion uniformly increasing in thickness from said spring portion to a set thickness;
• and,
• means for attaching said base portions to said hammerbank.

The combination of a hammerbank with hammersprings for printing on a dot matrix printer wherein the improvement comprises:

• a hammerbank frame having a plurality of pairs of pole pieces in magnetically conductive relationship to a permanent magnet;
• an electrically conductive member disposed in proximate relationship to each of said hammerbank pole pieces;
• terminal means for connecting said electrically conductive members;
• means for energizing said electrically conductive members to negate the permanent magnetism of said pole pieces;
• a plurality of hammersprings, each disposed having an end portion spanning in proximate relationship each pair of said pole pieces, said hammersprings having a base portion, a spring portion, and an end portion all formed of a coextensive piece of metal said spring portion having a thickness and a width and uniformly and continuously tapers in decreasing thickness and width from said base portion;
• and
• said end portion having a thickness and width, said end portion uniformly increasing in thickness from said spring portion to a set thickness.

A process for providing improved printing comprising:

• providing a hammerbank frame;
• supporting a plurality of permanent magnets in said hammerbank frame each having pairs of pole pieces;
• means for negating the magnetism of said permanent magnets;
• providing a plurality of hammersprings that can be retracted at the ends thereof across said pole pieces having a spring portion, enlarged end portion and printing tips;
• retaining said hammersprings in a stressed condition uniformly through said spring portion across said pole pieces by said permanent magnets;
• storing mechanical energy within said spring portion, said stressed condition of said hammersprings being provided through said spring portion having a uniformly and continuously decreasing thickness and width from where said hammerspring is mounted to said enlarged end portion, said end portion having a thickness and width, said end portion uniformly increasing in thickness from said spring portion to a set thickness;
• and
• releasing said hammersprings to allow for the stored mechanical energy of said spring portion to drive said printing tips against a print ribbon for purposes of printing a dot against an underlying piece of paper.