Line printer hammer banks
AssigneePrintronix, Inc.
InventorsJohn W. Gemmell, Rohit Sharma, Rudy Concepcion, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a hammer bank for a line printer includes a back plate having a front surface, a back surface and a uniform thickness between the front and back surfaces. At least one hammer is disposed in front of the back plate. The at least one hammer is spring-biased for forward movement and away from the back plate and is releasably retained against such forward movement by a magnetic force acting rearwardly thereon. An elongated pole piece that is associated with the at least one hammer extends forwardly from the front surface of the back plate and is selectively operable to interrupt the magnetic force acting thereon.
Claims20
A line printer hammer bank, comprising:
- a back plate having a front surface, a back surface and a uniform thickness between the front and back surfaces;
- at least one hammer disposed in front of the back plate, the at least one hammer being spring-biased for forward movement away from the back plate and releasably retained against such forward movement by a magnetic force acting rearwardly thereon;
- and,
- an elongated pole piece extending forwardly from the front surface of the back plate, the pole piece being associated with the at least one hammer and selectively operable to interrupt the magnetic force acting thereon.
A line printer, comprising:
- a shuttle mechanism;
- and
- a hammer bank coupled to the shuttle mechanism for horizontal reciprocating movement by the shuttle relative to a vertically moveable print medium, wherein the hammer bank comprises:
- a back plate having a front surface, a back surface and a uniform thickness between the front and back surfaces;
- at least one hammer disposed in front of the back plate, the at least one hammer being spring-biased for forward movement away from the back plate and releasably retained against such forward movement by a magnetic force acting rearwardly thereon;
- and,
- an elongated pole piece extending forwardly from the front surface of the back plate, the pole piece being associated with the at least one hammer and selectively operable to interrupt the magnetic force acting thereon.
A method for making a hammer bank for a line printer, the method comprising:
- providing a back plate having a front surface, a back surface and a uniform thickness between the front and back surfaces;
- disposing at least one hammer in front of the back plate, the at least one hammer being spring-biased for forward movement away from the back plate and releasably retained against such forward movement by a magnetic force acting rearwardly thereon;
- and,
- extending an elongated pole piece forwardly from the front surface of the back plate, the pole piece being associated with the at least one hammer and selectively operable to interrupt the magnetic force acting thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.