Shuttle apparatus for printer

A shuttle apparatus for a printer having a print shuttle provided with a print head and movable along guide means, said shuttle apparatus comprising:

• a row of permanent magnets attached to said print shuttle;
• and
• a row of electromagnetic coils secured to a stationary member so as to face said permanent magnets across a gap, said electromagnetic coils constituting in combination with said permanent means a linear motor for driving said print shuttle to reciprocate along said guide means,
• wherein said permanent magnets are attached to a yoke provided on said print shuttle, said yoke having both end portions thereof bent so as to face respective outer sides of said permanent magnets at both ends of said row of permanent magnets across a gap.

A shuttle for a printer having a print shuttle unit provided with a print head and driven to perform reciprocating motion, said shuttle apparatus comprising:

• a balance shuttle unit having approximately the same weight as that of said print shuttle unit and disposed so that the center of gravity of said balance shuttle unit travels on a line approximately the same as a line of travel of the center of gravity of said print shuttle unit;
• and
• means for driving said balance shuttle unit to reciprocate in linked relation to the reciprocating motion of said print shuttle unit in parallel but reverse in direction to said print shuttle unit,
• wherein said print shuttle unit is driven by a first linear motor, while said balance shuttle unit is driven by a second linear motor.

A shuttle apparatus for a printer having a print shuttle unit provided with a print head and driven to perform reciprocating motion, said shuttle apparatus comprising:

• a balance shuttle unit having approximately the same weight as that of said print shuttle unit and disposed so that the center of gravity of said balance shuttle unit travels on a line approximately the same as a line of travel of the center of gravity of said print shuttle unit;
• and
• means for driving said balance shuttle unit to reciprocate in linked relation to the reciprocating motion of said print shuttle unit in parallel but reverse in direction to said print shuttle unit;
• wherein said balance shuttle unit has a balance shuttle driven by said driving means in a direction opposite to a direction of travel of said print shuttle unit, and a counterweight unit connected to said balance shuttle by connecting means and disposed at a position which faces said balance shuttle across said print shuttle unit.

A shuttle apparatus for a printer having a print shuttle unit provided with a print head and driven to perform reciprocating motion, said shuttle apparatus comprising:

• a balance shuttle unit having approximately the same weight as that of said print shuttle unit and disposed so that the center of gravity of said balance shuttle unit travels on a line approximately the same as a line of travel of the center of gravity of said print shuttle unit;
• and
• means for driving said balance shuttle unit to reciprocate in linked relation to the reciprocating motion of said print shuttle unit in parallel but reverse in direction to said print shuttle unit,
• wherein said balance shuttle unit comprises a plurality of balance shuttle units disposed with said print shuttle unit interposed therebetween so as to be driven by said driving means in a direction opposite to a direction of travel of said print shuttle unit.