Printer power supply
AssigneePrintronix, Inc.
InventorsGordon Barrus, Richard E. Schumaker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printer is disclosed of the dot matrix type having a series of hammers with pins that print upon an underlying media, and which are released from magnetic retention by reversing the polarity of a permanent magnet and having electro-mechanical drive circuits and logic circuits. A power supply supplies an output of a voltage level for driving the electro-mechanical circuits connected to a ribbon drive, platen drive, paper feed, shuttle motor, and fans at a given voltage and the hammers at a different voltage. A thermal sensor is connected to a heat sink of the power supply, and to the printer controller to change the rate of printing when pre-established temperatures are sensed.
Claims6
A printer for dot matrix printing on a media comprising:
- a hammerbank having a plurality of hammers which are retained by permanent magnet means;
- means for releasing said hammers;
- a ribbon drive comprising first and second motors for driving a ribbon by said hammers for imprinting dots on the media by said hammers impinging the ribbon;
- means for feeding media over said hammers in said hammerbank;
- platen means for supporting said media against which said hammers can impact;
- a shuttle supporting said hammerbank for reciprocating shuttle movement across said media;
- fans for cooling said printer;
- a controller for controlling said printer movement;
- a power supply connected to said controller for providing an output o fpower to said printer for driving the ribbon and fans, an for driving the hammers of said hammerback at a different voltage from said ribbon drive and fans, and an output for providing power to the controller of said printer;
- thermal sensing means connected to said power supply for sensing its temperature;
- and,
- means to signal said controller of a pre-established temperature of said power supply sensed by said thermal sensing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.