Energy-dissipative improvement in high-speed print hammer mechanisms

Claim 2

In a mechanism having a small working member that is mounted to be freely movable along an axis into engagement with a work portion and rebound thereafter, and which has said working member ballistically propelled into said work portion by engagement of an external exciting member with said working member, resilient means connected between said working member and said exciting member and operable to reengage said working member with said external exciting member upon rebound of said working member following engagement with said work portion and while said external exciting member is yet displaced from a quiescent position from having propelled said working member, magnetic coupling and transducing apparatus mechanically connected with said external exciting member and electrically connected to an electrical network, said apparatus acting upon said external exciting member while said member is traveling toward said quiescent position from said displaced position and transducing kinetic energy possessed by said external exciting member and said working member into electrical energy, and electrical dissipating means coupled electrically with said magnetic coupling and transducing apparatus, whereby kinetic energy is extracted from said moving working member by returning said working member to engagement with said exciting member and electrically dissipating energy from the moving combination of working member and exciting member.

Claim 3

In a high-speed printing mechanism of the type having a small lightweight printing hammer member which is mounted in connection with a frame member so as to be freely movable along one axis of said hammer member and which is energized by a rapidly moving external exciting member which contacts said printing hammer member near an end of said printing hammer member, first resilient means connected to said printing hammer member and said external exciting member for reengaging said printing hammer member with said external exciting member following printing impact by said hammer member and while said exciting member is yet displaced as a result of having excited said hammer member, second resilient means connected to said external exciting member and said frame member for aiding return of said reengaged external exciting member and hammer member to a quiescent home position, magnetoelectric transducing and coupling means mounted upon said frame member and coupled magnetically with said exciting member for transducing kinetic energy from said exciting member and said printing hammer member into electrical energy, and electrical dissipating means externally located from said magnEtoelectric transducing and coupling means and electrically connected with said magnetoelectric transducing and coupling means so as to electrically dissipate energy from said external exciting member and said printing hammer member.

Claim 4

In a high-speed printing mechanism of the type having a small lightweight printing hammer member which is mounted in connection with a frame member so as to be freely movable along one axis of said hammer member and which is energized by a rapidly moving external exciting member which contacts said printing hammer member near an end of said printing hammer member, first resilient means connected to said printing hammer member and said external exciting member for reengaging said printing hammer member with said external exciting member following printing impact by said hammer member and while said exciting member is yet displaced as a result of having excited said hammer member, second resilient means connected to said external exciting member and said frame member for aiding return of said reengaged external exciting member and hammer member to a quiescent home position, magnetoelectric transducing and coupling means mounted upon said frame member and coupled magnetically with said exciting member for transducing kinetic energy from said exciting member and said printing hammer member into electrical energy, and electrical dissipating means externally located from said magnEtoelectric transducing and coupling means and electrically connected with said magnetoelectric transducing and coupling means so as to electrically dissipate energy from said external exciting member and said printing hammer member.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said magnetoelectric transducing and coupling means comprises an electrical solenoid, and said electrical solenoid is the same solenoid as that which excites said exciting member of said mechanism.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 wherein said exciting member comprises an exciting arm which is pivotally mounted and connected with an armature portion of said solenoid at one end thereof and engages said hammer member at the other end thereof, and said first resilient means comprises a spring member which is permanently attached to said printing hammer member and removably attached to said external exciting member.

Claim 7

A high-speed printer mechanism comprising: a mechanism support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imparting printed information to impacted media; a drivable hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being so supported as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; a stop member connected to said frame member in a rigid manner and so located with respect to said drivable hammer member as to be engaged by said hammer stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array, whereby kinetic energy from said hammer member is transferred largely to said stop member and said type font array; a forward cantilever flexure spring attached to said frame member and to said hammer member in a supporting manner; a rearward cantilever flexure spring attached to said frame member and to said hammer member in a supporting manner; excitation means capable of energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis; a first energy-absorbing member mounted in a position wherein engagement with a large central portion of said forward cantilever flexure spring occurs when said hammer member engages said type font array; and a second energy-absorbing member mounted in a position wherein engagement with a large central portion of said rearward cantilever flexure spring occurs when said hammer member engages said type font array, said first and second energy-absorbing members being composed of resilient organic material configured into padlike members of a size at least equal to a substantial fraction of said flexure springs'' size and mounted in connection with said frame member, whereby movement of said hammer member is halted and reversed by said type font array and said hammer-engaged stop member, and said energy-absorbing members are capable of quickly arresting motion in said forward and rearward cantilever springs and extracting kinetic energy from said springs without subjecting said springs to large life-reducing flexure stresses.

Claim 8

A high-speed printer mechanism comprising: a mechanism support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imparting printed information to impacted media; a drivable hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being so supported as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; a stop member connected to said frame member in a rigid manner and so located with respect to said drivable hammer member as to be engaged by said hammer stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array, whereby kinetic energy from said hammer member is transferred largely to said stop member and said type font array; a forward cantilever flexure spring attached to said frame member and to said hammer member in a supporting manner; a rearward cantilever flexure spring attached to said frame member and to said hammer member in a supporting manner; excitation means capable of energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis; a first energy-absorbing member mounted in a position wherein engagement with a large central portion of said forward cantilever flexure spring occurs when said hammer member engages said type font array; and a second energy-absorbing member mounted in a position wherein engagement with a large central portion of said rearward cantilever flexure spring occurs when said hammer member engages said type font array, said first and second energy-absorbing members being composed of resilient organic material configured into padlike members of a size at least equal to a substantial fraction of said flexure springs'' size and mounted in connection with said frame member, whereby movement of said hammer member is halted and reversed by said type font array and said hammer-engaged stop member, and said energy-absorbing members are capable of quickly arresting motion in said forward and rearward cantilever springs and extracting kinetic energy from said springs without subjecting said springs to large life-reducing flexure stresses.

Claim 9

A high-speed printer mechanism as in claim 5 wherein said padlike members are configured into a shape having a flat surface engageable by said flexure springs, and said printer mechanism includes means for holding said flexure springs in a nonstraight and slightly cocked position while said hammer member rests in a quiescent home position, and said padlike members are mounted at an acute angle with respect to the general locus of said nonstraight slightly cocked spring position, said acute angle having its vertex near the point where said flexure springs attached to said frame member, whereby said flexure springs move from said nonstraight slightly cocked position into a nearly straight position engaging said padlike members as a result of said hammer member''s being excited.

Claim 10

A high-speed printer mechAnism as in claim 5 wherein said padlike members are composed of neoprene rubber having a hardness near 10 on the Shore A durometer scale.

Claim 11

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationarily mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being so supported as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and so located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer as to be engaged by said hammer stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member on said frame member and so located as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; resilient kinetic-energy-absorbing members mounted on said frame member in a position wherein engagement with each of said flexure support springs will occur when said hammer member engages said type font; a resilient kinetic-energy-dissipative face member, mounted on the hammer-engaging face of said hammer stop member, which is contacted by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion of said hammer member when said hammer member engages said type font array; energy-dissipative face members mounted upon mutually-contacting surfaces of said hammer member and said actuating arm member, at least one of said face members being deformable with resistance upon impact so as to be dissipative of impact-imparted kinetic energy, said face members being urged into contact during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle by resilient urging means operative upon at least one of said hammer and actuating arm members to both urge said members into contacting concerted movement with respect to said frame member and increase kinetic-energy-dissipating sliding friction between said members during relative movement at said mutually contacting surface; magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by said resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means; and a kinetic-energy-dissipative impact face member mounted upon at least one of the mutually contacting surfaces of said actuating arm member or said backstop member, said face member acting to dissipate kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member upon impact as said members reach said quiescent home position.

Claim 12

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationarily mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being so supported as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and so located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer as to be engaged by said hammer stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member on said frame member and so located as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; resilient kinetic-energy-absorbing members mounted on said frame member in a position wherein engagement with each of said flexure support springs will occur when said hammer member engages said type font; a resilient kinetic-energy-dissipative face member, mounted on the hammer-engaging face of said hammer stop member, which is contacted by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion of said hammer member when said hammer member engages said type font array; energy-dissipative face members mounted upon mutually-contacting surfaces of said hammer member and said actuating arm member, at least one of said face members being deformable with resistance upon impact so as to be dissipative of impact-imparted kinetic energy, said face members being urged into contact during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle by resilient urging means operative upon at least one of said hammer and actuating arm members to both urge said members into contacting concerted movement with respect to said frame member and increase kinetic-energy-dissipating sliding friction between said members during relative movement at said mutually contacting surface; magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by said resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means; and a kinetic-energy-dissipative impact face member mounted upon at least one of the mutually contacting surfaces of said actuating arm member or said backstop member, said face member acting to dissipate kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member upon impact as said members reach said quiescent home position.

Claim 13

A high-speed printing mechanism as in claim 8 wherein said resilient kinetic-energy-absorbing members engageable by said flexure support springs are composed of neoprene rubber; said energy-dissipative impact face member for said hammer stop member is composed of prepolymEr polyester urethane material with curative and having a relatively long temperature modulus profile; one of said dissipative face members mounted upon mutually contacting surfaces of said hammer member and said actuating arm member is composed of acetal material having a lubricative filler dispersed therein; the other of said face members is composed of an elastomeric prepolymer polyester urethane material with curative and having a relatively long temperature modulus profile; and said energy-dissipative impact face member engaged at said backstop and quiescent home positions is composed of an elastomeric prepolymer polyester urethane material with curative and having a relatively long temperature modulus profile.

Claim 14

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationarily mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being so supported as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and so located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer as to be engaged by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; resilient urging means operative upon at least one of said hammer and said actuating arm members for urging said members into contacting concerted movement with respect to said frame member during portions of the operating cycle of said high-speed printing mechanism; a backstop member on said frame member and so located as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; resilient kinetic-energy-absorbing members mounted on said frame member in a position wherein engagement with each of said flexure support springs will occur when said hammer member engages said type font; and magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by said resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means.

Claim 15

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationarily mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being so supported as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and so located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer as to be engaged by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; resilient urging means operative upon at least one of said hammer and said actuating arm members for urging said members into contacting concerted movement with respect to said frame member during portions of the operating cycle of said high-speed printing mechanism; a backstop member on said frame member and so located as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; resilient kinetic-energy-absorbing members mounted on said frame member in a position wherein engagement with each of said flexure support springs will occur when said hammer member engages said type font; and magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by said resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means.

Claim 16

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationarily mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop member engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being supported so as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to saId hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer so as to be engaged by said hammer stop member engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member on said frame member and located so as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; a resilient kinetic energy dissipative face member mounted on the hammer-engaging face of said hammer stop member which is contacted by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion of said hammer member when said hammer member engages said type font array; and magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by a resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means.

Claim 17

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationarily mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop member engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being supported so as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to saId hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer so as to be engaged by said hammer stop member engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member on said frame member and located so as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; a resilient kinetic energy dissipative face member mounted on the hammer-engaging face of said hammer stop member which is contacted by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion of said hammer member when said hammer member engages said type font array; and magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by a resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means.

Claim 18

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationary mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop member engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being supported so as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer so as to be engaged by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member mounted on said frame member and located so as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; a resilient kinetic energy dissipative face member mounted on the hammer-engaging face of said hammer stop member which is contacted by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion of said hammer member when said hammer member engages said type font array; and kinetic energy dissipative impact face members mounted upon mutually contacting surfaces of each said actuating arm member and said backstop member, said face members dissipating kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member upon impact as said members reach said quiescent home position.

Claim 19

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationary mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contact with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop member engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being supported so as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer so as to be engaged by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member mounted on said frame member and located so as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; a resilient kinetic energy dissipative face member mounted on the hammer-engaging face of said hammer stop member which is contacted by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion of said hammer member when said hammer member engages said type font array; and kinetic energy dissipative impact face members mounted upon mutually contacting surfaces of each said actuating arm member and said backstop member, said face members dissipating kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member upon impact as said members reach said quiescent home position.

Claim 20

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationary mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contaCt with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being supported so as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer so as to be engaged by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member mounted on said frame member and located so as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; energy-dissipative face members mounted upon mutually contacting surfaces of said hammer member and said actuating arm member, at least one of said face members being deformable with resistance upon impact so as to be dissipative of impact imparted kinetic energy, said face members being urged into contact during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle by resilient urging means operative upon at least one of said hammer and actuating arm members to both urge said members into contacting concerted movement with respect to said frame member and increase kinetic energy dissipating sliding friction between said members during relative movement at said mutually contacting surface; magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by said resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means; and kinetic energy dissipative impact face members mounted upon mutually contacting surfaces of each said actuating arm member and said backstop member, said face members dissipating kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member upon impact as said members reach said quiescent home position.

Claim 21

A high-speed printing mechanism comprising: a stationary mounted support frame member; a type font array which is movably mounted with respect to said frame member and is capable of imprinting character information on a medium upon contact with said medium; a drivable ballistic hammer member for bringing media into contaCt with said type font array, said hammer member including a stop-member-engaging portion integral therewith, said hammer member being supported so as to be freely movable along a longitudinal axis between a quiescent home position and a position engaging said type font array; forward and rearward cantilever flexure support springs for said hammer member, said springs being attached at one end thereof to said hammer member; a hammer stop member connected to said frame member and located with respect to said drivable ballistic hammer so as to be engaged by said hammer-stop-member-engaging portion when said hammer member is in engagement with said type font array; excitation means for energizing said hammer member into motion along said longitudinal axis by way of a pivotally mounted actuating arm member which engages an end portion of said hammer member during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle; a backstop member mounted on said frame member and located so as to be engaged by retreating motion of said actuating arm member, said backstop member thereby being capable of determining the quiescent locus of said actuating arm and said print hammer members; energy-dissipative face members mounted upon mutually contacting surfaces of said hammer member and said actuating arm member, at least one of said face members being deformable with resistance upon impact so as to be dissipative of impact imparted kinetic energy, said face members being urged into contact during a large portion of said printing mechanism''s operating cycle by resilient urging means operative upon at least one of said hammer and actuating arm members to both urge said members into contacting concerted movement with respect to said frame member and increase kinetic energy dissipating sliding friction between said members during relative movement at said mutually contacting surface; magnetic coupling and transducing means coupled to said actuating arm member and activatable by external control means to extract kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member as said members are urged into concerted movement by said resilient urging means, said extracted kinetic energy being converted into electrical energy by said magnetic coupling and transducing means and dissipated by an electrical network connected with said magnetic coupling and transducing means; and kinetic energy dissipative impact face members mounted upon mutually contacting surfaces of each said actuating arm member and said backstop member, said face members dissipating kinetic energy from said actuating arm member and said hammer member upon impact as said members reach said quiescent home position.

Claim 28

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus including a penetration stop member for a high-speed impact printing mechanism that also includes a print hammer member suspended from a frame member and movable along a lengthwise axis between a rest position and an extended position wherein engagement with both a printable medium and said energy-absorbing, excursion-limiting apparatus occurs, said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus also including: metallic position adjustment means for supporting and for providing vernier position adjustment of said penetration stop member, said metallic position adjustment means including a threaded metallic member connected with a force-multiplying, resolution-increasing lever of the first class, and resilient organic material energy-absorbing means supported on said penetration stop member and position-located by said metallic position adjustment means for engaging said print hammer member near said extended position, reversing movement direction of said print hammer member, absorbing kinetic energy from said print hammer member and converting said kinetic energy into heat energy, whereby said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus provides a rigid and position-adjustable limit of travel for said print hammer member together with energy-dissipating means for said print hammer member.

Claim 29

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus including a penetration stop member for a high-speed impact printing mechanism that also includes a print hammer member suspended from a frame member and movable along a lengthwise axis between a rest position and an extended position wherein engagement with both a printable medium and said energy-absorbing, excursion-limiting apparatus occurs, said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus also including: metallic position adjustment means for supporting and for providing vernier position adjustment of said penetration stop member, said metallic position adjustment means including a threaded metallic member connected with a force-multiplying, resolution-increasing lever of the first class, and resilient organic material energy-absorbing means supported on said penetration stop member and position-located by said metallic position adjustment means for engaging said print hammer member near said extended position, reversing movement direction of said print hammer member, absorbing kinetic energy from said print hammer member and converting said kinetic energy into heat energy, whereby said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus provides a rigid and position-adjustable limit of travel for said print hammer member together with energy-dissipating means for said print hammer member.

Claim 30

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting aPparatus as in claim 17 wherein said resilient organic material energy-absorbing means includes a thermoplastic material jacket member molded around an end portion of said penetration stop member.

Claim 31

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus as in claim 18 wherein the composition of said thermoplastic material jacket member includes a polyester polyurethane material having 4.0 percent to 4.3 percent isocyanate and cured with a 25 percent to 75 percent combination of dichlorobenzidine and methylene bis(ortho-chloroaniline) at 85 percent stoichiometry.

Claim 32

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus for a high-speed impact printing mechanism that includes a print hammer suspended by cantilever flexure springs from a frame member and movable along a lengthwise axis between a rest position and an extended position wherein engagement between said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus and plural portions of said print hammer and flexure springs occurs; said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus comprising: plural first resilient energy-absorbing stop member means each larger than said cantilever flexure springs and each in rigid connection with said frame member adjacent each of said cantilever flexure springs for engaging a large portion of each of said cantilever flexure springs in said extended position and for removing kinetic energy from said cantilever flexure springs upon said springs approaching said extended position; and second resilient energy-absorbing stop member means rigidly connected with said frame member adjacent said print hammer for engaging said print hammer in said extended position and for removing kinetic energy from said print hammer upon said print hammer approaching said extended position; whereby separate energy-absorbing means members are provided for kinetic energy removal from said flexure springs and for kinetic energy removal from said print hammer and the severe flexing of said flexure springs by the rapid and bilateral transfer of kinetic energy between said print hammer and central portions of said flexure springs during impact of said print hammer at said extended position is minimized.

Claim 33

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus for a high-speed impact printing mechanism that includes a print hammer suspended by cantilever flexure springs from a frame member and movable along a lengthwise axis between a rest position and an extended position wherein engagement between said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus and plural portions of said print hammer and flexure springs occurs; said energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus comprising: plural first resilient energy-absorbing stop member means each larger than said cantilever flexure springs and each in rigid connection with said frame member adjacent each of said cantilever flexure springs for engaging a large portion of each of said cantilever flexure springs in said extended position and for removing kinetic energy from said cantilever flexure springs upon said springs approaching said extended position; and second resilient energy-absorbing stop member means rigidly connected with said frame member adjacent said print hammer for engaging said print hammer in said extended position and for removing kinetic energy from said print hammer upon said print hammer approaching said extended position; whereby separate energy-absorbing means members are provided for kinetic energy removal from said flexure springs and for kinetic energy removal from said print hammer and the severe flexing of said flexure springs by the rapid and bilateral transfer of kinetic energy between said print hammer and central portions of said flexure springs during impact of said print hammer at said extended position is minimized.

Claim 34

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said plural first resilient energy-absorbing stop member means includes a plurality of neoprene rubber energy-absorbing pad members, there being one pad member for each of said cantilever flexure springs.

Claim 35

Energy-absorbing and excursion-limiting apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said neoprene rubber is a soft neoprene rubber having a hardness near 10 on the Shore A durometer scale and said pad members are substantially flat in configuration.