Matrix printer parallel with styli and plural coaxial driver coils

Claim 2

A matrix printer comprising: a. a plurality of movable styli wires extending parallel to each other; b. a plurality of electrically energizable coils, each of which is attached to one of the styli wires, the coils being wound around a single axis extending parallel to the styli wires; c. magnetic means for providing magnetic lines of force across the sides of the coils such that the coils move in directions along the axis when energized; and d. selectively operable circuit means for energizing selected coils to thereby move each selected coil along the axis, whereby the styli wires are selectively moved.

Claim 3

The matrix printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the styli wires are movable to print and nonprint positions, are of different lengths, and have ends arranged to lie in a straight line when in print positions.

Claim 4

The matrix printer as recited in claim 2, wherein the circuit means energizes selected coils in alternate directions, thereby causing each selected coil to move along the axis and return to its original location, whereby the styli wires are selectively moved to print and thereafter withdrawn to nonprint positions.

Claim 5

A matrix printer comprising: a. a plurality of electrically energizable coils; b. a center pole extending within the coils; c. a plurality of movable styli wires, each of which is attached to one of the coils and extends substantially parallel to the center pole; d. a plurality of permanent magnets surrounding and spaced along the center pole; e. A plurality of pole members spaced along and surrounding the center pole at locations which provide paths for a plurality of loops of magnetic lines of force from the permanent magnets, each loop passing through at least one of the pole members, across at least one of the coils and along the center pole; and f. selectively operable circuit means for energizing selected coils to thereby move each selected coil along the center pole, whereby the styli wires are selectively moved.

Claim 6

A matrix printer comprising: a. a plurality of electrically energizable coils; b. a center pole extending within the coils; c. a plurality of movable styli wires, each of which is attached to one of the coils and extends substantially parallel to the center pole; d. a plurality of permanent magnets surrounding and spaced along the center pole; e. A plurality of pole members spaced along and surrounding the center pole at locations which provide paths for a plurality of loops of magnetic lines of force from the permanent magnets, each loop passing through at least one of the pole members, across at least one of the coils and along the center pole; and f. selectively operable circuit means for energizing selected coils to thereby move each selected coil along the center pole, whereby the styli wires are selectively moved.

Claim 7

The matrix printer as recited in claim 4 wherein: each coil is surrounded by one of the pole members; and the pole members and permanent magnets are alternately arranged along the center pole.

Claim 8

The matrix printer as recited in claim 5 wherein, the permanent magnets are arranged such that the like poles of adjacent magnets face each other, and the magnetic lines of force of adjacent loops move in opposite directions.

Claim 9

A matrix printer comprising: a. a frame having two ends; b. a printhead secured at one end of the frame and having a plurality of apertures; c. a center pole located within the frame and extending between the frame''s ends; d. a plurality of spaced electrically energizable coils wound around the center pole; e. flexible means for securing each of the coils at their spaced locations, such that they may slide along the center pole; f. a plurality of styli wires of different lengths, each of which is attached to one of the coils and extends into one of the apertures in the printhead; Pg,20 g. a plurality of permanent magnets; h. a plurality of pole members for providing paths for magnetic lines of force from the magnets across the sides of the coils such that the coils move along the center pole when energized; and i. selectively operable circuit means for energizing selected coils, thereby causing each selected coil to move along the center pole, whereby selected styli wires are selectively moved relative to the printhead.

Claim 10

A matrix printer comprising: a. a frame having two ends; b. a printhead secured at one end of the frame and having a plurality of apertures; c. a center pole located within the frame and extending between the frame''s ends; d. a plurality of spaced electrically energizable coils wound around the center pole; e. flexible means for securing each of the coils at their spaced locations, such that they may slide along the center pole; f. a plurality of styli wires of different lengths, each of which is attached to one of the coils and extends into one of the apertures in the printhead; Pg,20 g. a plurality of permanent magnets; h. a plurality of pole members for providing paths for magnetic lines of force from the magnets across the sides of the coils such that the coils move along the center pole when energized; and i. selectively operable circuit means for energizing selected coils, thereby causing each selected coil to move along the center pole, whereby selected styli wires are selectively moved relative to the printhead.

Claim 11

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 wherein: the apertures in the printhead are arranged along a line.

Claim 12

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 wherein: the center pole has a bore and branch passages leading from the bore to each of the coils; and further comprising: means for introducing a gas into the center pole''s bore and passages to cool the coils.

Claim 13

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 wherein the styli wires are hollow.

Claim 14

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 wherein; each of the styli wires extends substantially parallel to the center pole, and is bent near its attachment to one of the coils so that it may move without contacting other coils.

Claim 15

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 and further including: means for stopping the movement of each of the coils when the stylus wire attached to the coil moves to a print or a nonprint position.

Claim 16

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 and further comprising: means for guiding the styli wires during their movement to print and nonprint positions.

Claim 17

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 wherein the styli wires are attached to the outsides of the coils.

Claim 18

The matrix printer as recited in claim 7 wherein the permanent magnets include: a. a pair of end magnets, each of which provides one-half of the flux passing across one of the two coils which are adjacent the ends of the frame; and b. a plurality of inner magnets, each of which provides twice the flux as one of the end permanent magnets, the flux provided by each of the inner magnets being evenly distributed to two adjacent coils.

Claim 19

The matrix printer as recited in claim 15 wherein: each of the end magnets surrounds the center pole at a location between one end of the frame and the coil adjacent that end; and each of the inner magnets surrounds the center pole at a location between two adjacent coils: and the pole members include: a. a pair of end pole members, each of which surrounds the center pole at a location between one of the end magnets and an end of the frame, each end pole member providing a path for the magnetic lines of force from one of the end magnets to the center pole; and b. a plurality of inner pole members, each of which surrounds the center pole at a location between two of the permanent magnets, each inner pole providing a path for the magnetic lines of force from two permanent magnets to the coil located between them.

Claim 20

The matrix printer as recited in claim 16 wherein: the like poles of adjacent magnets face each other, so that a plurality of loops of magnetic lines of force are provided, each of the loops passing across at least one of the coils, the magnetic lines of force of adjacent loops moving in opposite directions with each loop starting at one of the permanent magnets, passing through one of the pole members, passing along the center pole, passing trough another pole member, and returning to the magnet.

Claim 21

The matrix printer as recited in claim 17 wherein: the center pole is a cylinder; each of the permanent magnets is an annulus; each of e end pole members is an annulus; and each of the inner pole members is an annulus having a T-shaped cross section with each end of the T''s horizontal portion abutting one of the permanent magnets, and the end of its vertical portion located adjacent one of the coils.

Claim 22

The matrix printer as recited in claim 18 wherein the flexible means for securing the coils comprises; a. a pluRality of spoollike members slidably mounted on the center pole, each of the spoollike members having one of the coils wound on its inner portion, the rims of each of the spoollike members being flexible and located adjacent the sides of the vertical portion of one of the T-shaped inner pole members; and b. a plurality of pairs of clamping members, the clamping members of each pair being located adjacent the rims of one of the spoollike members.

Claim 23

The matrix printer as recited in claim 19, and having gaps between the center pole and each of the spoollike members mounted thereon, and between the coils and the portions of the inner pole members adjacent the coils.

Claim 24

The matrix printer as recited in claim 19 wherein: the rims of each of the spoollike members contain an electrically conductive material; each of the coils has its ends contacting the electrically conductive material contained in the rims of the spoollike member on which it is wound; and the circuit means is connected to the rims of each of the spoollike members.

Claim 25

The matrix printer as recited in claim 21, wherein the circuit means includes; a. a plurality of pairs of electrically conducting members, the members of each pair contacting the rims of one of the spoollike members; and b. a plurality of pairs of lead wires, each pair being connected to a pair of conducting members.