Self restoring pivoting means and print hammer using same

Claim 2

Pivoting means for pivoting a mechanical load (24) back and forth about a pivot axis and in a plane of motion within a low amplitude angle, said pivoting means characterized by: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivoting mechanical load; a first elongated leaf spring (14) located in a first plane perpendicular to said plane of motion with the longitudinal axis of said first elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; a second elongated leaf spring (16) located in a second plane perpendicular to said plane of motion and with the longitudinal axis of said second elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; means (23) for attaching the end portions of said first and second elongated leaf springs to said frame; and, means for attaching said mechanical load to both said first and said second elongated leaf springs substantially equidistant from the attached end portions of each of said elongated leaf springs; whereby pivotation of said mechanical load flexes both elongated leaf springs in torsion.

Claim 3

The pivoting means according to claim 1 further characterized in that said first and second planes are perpendicular to each other.

Claim 4

A pivoting means for pivoting a mechanical load (24) between a rest position and a work position about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and within a relatively low amplitude angle, said pivoting means being characterized: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivoting mechanical load; a first elongated leaf spring (14) located in a horizontal plane with the longitudinal axis of said first elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; a second elongated loaf spring (16) located in a vertical plane with the longitudinal axis of said second elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; means (23) for attaching both extremities (21a, 21c and 21b, 21d) of said first and second leaf springs to said frame; means for attaching said mechanical load to said first and second elongated leaf springs substantially equidistant from the attached extremities of each of said leaf springs; whereby pivotation of said mechanical load in a vertical plane is provided by flexing both elongated leaf springs in torsion.

Claim 5

A pivoting means for pivoting a mechanical load (24) between a rest position and a work position about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and within a relatively low amplitude angle, said pivoting means being characterized: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivoting mechanical load; a first elongated leaf spring (14) located in a horizontal plane with the longitudinal axis of said first elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; a second elongated loaf spring (16) located in a vertical plane with the longitudinal axis of said second elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; means (23) for attaching both extremities (21a, 21c and 21b, 21d) of said first and second leaf springs to said frame; means for attaching said mechanical load to said first and second elongated leaf springs substantially equidistant from the attached extremities of each of said leaf springs; whereby pivotation of said mechanical load in a vertical plane is provided by flexing both elongated leaf springs in torsion.

Claim 6

A pivoting means for pivoting a mechanical load (24) back and forth between a rest position and a work position, about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and within a relatively low amplitude angle, said pivoting means being characterized by: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivoting mechanical load; a first elongated leaf spring (14) located in a horizontal plane with the longitudinal axis of said first elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; a second elongated leaf spring (16) located in a vertical plane with the longitudinal axis of said second elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; means (23) for attaching both extremities of said first and second leaf springs to said frame; means for attaching said mechanical load to said first and second elongated leaf springs substantially equidistant from the attached extremities of each of said leaf springs; actuating means (30) for pivoting said mechanical load from said rest position to said work position whereby said first and second elongated leaf springs are both flexed in torsion; and, restoring means (32) releasing said actuating means whereby said mechanical load is self restored back to said rest position by the return torque provided by said first and second leaf springs flexed in torsion.

Claim 7

A pivoting means for pivoting a mechanical load (24) back and forth between a rest position and a work position, about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and within a relatively low amplitude angle, said pivoting means being characterized by: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivoting mechanical load; a first elongated leaf spring (14) located in a horizontal plane with the longitudinal axis of said first elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; a second elongated leaf spring (16) located in a vertical plane with the longitudinal axis of said second elongated leaf spring being parallel to said pivot axis; means (23) for attaching both extremities of said first and second leaf springs to said frame; means for attaching said mechanical load to said first and second elongated leaf springs substantially equidistant from the attached extremities of each of said leaf springs; actuating means (30) for pivoting said mechanical load from said rest position to said work position whereby said first and second elongated leaf springs are both flexed in torsion; and, restoring means (32) releasing said actuating means whereby said mechanical load is self restored back to said rest position by the return torque provided by said first and second leaf springs flexed in torsion.

Claim 8

The pivoting means according to claim 4 further characterized in that it includes dampening means for dampening the oscillations of said mechanical load about its rest position upon return of said mechanical load to its rest position from its work position.

Claim 9

The pivoting means according to claim 5 wherein said dampening means includes a back stop element (50) attached to a backstop support and located proximate the mechanical load rest position.

Claim 10

The pivoting means according to claim 6 wherein said backstop element (50) is made of a resilient material.

Claim 11

In a printer comprising a platen (60) for supporting a recording medium, a typefont carrying means (52), a print ribbon (59) interposed between said typefont carrying means and said recording medium, a hammer head (26) connected to a power arm (28) pivotable in a given plane of motion from a rest position to a print position wherein a character bearing print element (54) of said typefont carrying means is struck against said print ribbon and recording medium, pivoting means for pivoting said pivotable power arm, including: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivotable power arm; a first elongated leaf spring (14) located in a first plane parallel to said platen and perpendicular to said plane of motion; a second elongated leaf spring (16) located in a second plane perpendicular to said plane of motion and at an angle with respect to said first plane; means (23) for attaching the end portions of said first and said second elongated leaf springs to said frame; means for attaching. said power arm to said first and second elongated leaf springs intermediate the attached end portions of each of said elongated leaf springs; actuating means (30) for pivoting said power arm in said plane of motion from said rest position to said print position whereby said first and second leaf springs are flexed in torsion; and, restoring means (32) for pivoting said power arm back from said print position to said rest position.

Claim 12

In a printer comprising a platen (60) for supporting a recording medium, a typefont carrying means (52), a print ribbon (59) interposed between said typefont carrying means and said recording medium, a hammer head (26) connected to a power arm (28) pivotable in a given plane of motion from a rest position to a print position wherein a character bearing print element (54) of said typefont carrying means is struck against said print ribbon and recording medium, pivoting means for pivoting said pivotable power arm, including: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivotable power arm; a first elongated leaf spring (14) located in a first plane parallel to said platen and perpendicular to said plane of motion; a second elongated leaf spring (16) located in a second plane perpendicular to said plane of motion and at an angle with respect to said first plane; means (23) for attaching the end portions of said first and said second elongated leaf springs to said frame; means for attaching. said power arm to said first and second elongated leaf springs intermediate the attached end portions of each of said elongated leaf springs; actuating means (30) for pivoting said power arm in said plane of motion from said rest position to said print position whereby said first and second leaf springs are flexed in torsion; and, restoring means (32) for pivoting said power arm back from said print position to said rest position.

Claim 13

In a printer according to claim 8, said pivoting means further characterized in that said angle is substantially 90°.

Claim 14

In a printer comprising a platen (60) for supporting a recording medium, a typefont carrying means (52), a print ribbon (59) interposed between said typefont carrying means and recording medium, a hammer head (26) connected to a power arm (28) pivotable in a vertical plane of motion from a rest position to a print position to strike a character bearing print element (54) of said typefont carrying means against said print ribbon and recording medium, pivoting means for pivoting said pivotable power arm characterized by: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivotable power arm; a first elongated leaf spring (16) located in a vertical plane perpendicular to said plane of motion with the longitudinal axis of said first leaf spring being horizontal and said first leaf spring having both extremities (21b, 21d) attached to said frame; a second elongated leaf spring (14) located in a horizontal plane with its longitudinal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first leaf spring and having both of its extremities (21a, 21c) attached to said frame; actuating means (30) for pivoting said power arm in said plane of motion from said rest position to said print position whereby said power arm flexes said first and second leaf springs in torsion; and, restoring means for pivoting said power arm back to said rest position using the return torque of said leaf springs flexed in torsion.

Claim 15

In a printer comprising a platen (60) for supporting a recording medium, a typefont carrying means (52), a print ribbon (59) interposed between said typefont carrying means and recording medium, a hammer head (26) connected to a power arm (28) pivotable in a vertical plane of motion from a rest position to a print position to strike a character bearing print element (54) of said typefont carrying means against said print ribbon and recording medium, pivoting means for pivoting said pivotable power arm characterized by: a frame (22) fixed relative to said pivotable power arm; a first elongated leaf spring (16) located in a vertical plane perpendicular to said plane of motion with the longitudinal axis of said first leaf spring being horizontal and said first leaf spring having both extremities (21b, 21d) attached to said frame; a second elongated leaf spring (14) located in a horizontal plane with its longitudinal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first leaf spring and having both of its extremities (21a, 21c) attached to said frame; actuating means (30) for pivoting said power arm in said plane of motion from said rest position to said print position whereby said power arm flexes said first and second leaf springs in torsion; and, restoring means for pivoting said power arm back to said rest position using the return torque of said leaf springs flexed in torsion.

Claim 16

In a printer according to claim 9 or 10, the pivoting means being further characterized in that said actuating means include: an energizable electro magnet (30) having a magnet yoke (34) and a coil (32) wound about said magnet yoke; means (38, 40) for attaching said magnet yoke to said frame; and, a magnet clapper (36) attached to said power arm; wherein energization of the electro magnet attracts said magnet clapper to said magnet yoke and thereby rotats said power arm from said rest position to said print position, flexing therefrom the elongated leaf springs in torsion.

Claim 17

In a printer according to claim 11, the pivoting means being further characterized in that said means for attaching said magnet yoke to said frame includes means (38, 40, 42) for adjusting the air gap between said magnet yoke and clapper by slidingly moving the magnet yoke relative to the frame.

Claim 18

In a printer according to claim 12, the pivoting means being further characterized in that said restoring means for pivoting the power arm back to rest position includes: a backstop support (10) connected to said frame; a resilient backstop element (50) attached to said backstop support, wherein removal of energization of said electro magnet allows the return torque exerted on the power arm by said two elongated leaf springs flexed in torsion to bring the hammer head against the backstop element which resiliently dampens the oscillations of the power arm and hammer head about said rest position.

Claim 19

In a printer according to claim 10 the pivoting means being further characterized in that at least one of said elongated leaf springs is. coated with an elastomer compound.