Check writing machine

A check writer for imprinting commercial checks, personal checks, money orders, and other negotiable instruments, including in combination:

• a frame means, having a printing line therein;
• a housing engageable with said frame means;
• a plurality of type segment members with each member having a set of printing characters centered on the peripheral printing face thereof, with each segment member being supported by said frame means and selectively moveable to locate said printing characters on said printing line with each corresponding printing face having a uniform width and length of dimension and with a gap distance between adjacent sets of printing characters between about 45-50/1000ths of an inch;
• a prefix plate holder assembly associated with said frame means, said holder assembly structurally arranged to receive and mount a prefix plate member adjacent to said printing characters on said plurality of type segment members located on said printing line;
• an inked ribbon support means associated with said frame means for supporting said inked ribbon adjacent to said printing characters disposed on said printing line;
• platen means supported by said frame and structurally arranged for cooperation with said printing characters disposed on said printing line;
• actuating means supported by said frame means, said actuating means being moveable from an at rest non-printing position to the printing position for effecting the printing operation;
• and
• linkage means operatively coupled to said actuating means and structurally arranged and coupled to said platen means for moving said platen means from an at rest position to a printing position to provide pressure contact between the negotiable instrument and said printing characters on said type segment members located on said printing line when said actuating means is in the printing position and for moving said platen means to its normal at rest position in the return movement of said actuating means to its at rest non-printing position.

An inked ribbon support means for use with a check writing machine including a frame means having a printing mechanism and a printing line therein, a plurality of type segment members supported by the frame and each having a set of printing characters on the peripheral printing face of a uniform width and length of dimension with a gap distance between adjacent sets of printing characters between about 35-55/1000ths of an inch thereof and each being selectively moveable to locate the printing characters on the printing line, a prefix plate holder assembly associated with the frame means and having an elongated mounting portion extending therefrom for receiving and positioning a slidingly movable prefix plate member having a cavity extending the length thereof and having curvilinear sidewall portions and a flat wall support portion having printing characters on the outside surface thereof adjacent the plurality of type segment members on the printing line, and an inked ribbon support means removably mounted to the frame means for supporting the inked ribbon adjacent the printing characters on the printing line, the inked ribbon support means comprising:

• an inked ribbon and a cartridge having an upper and lower housing structurally arranged to be sealed together for defining a spool receiving chamber for said inked ribbon to permit cooperation between the inked ribbon and the type segment members on the printing line.