Printing head mechanism

Claim 2

Printing head apparatus for an impactless printer comprising, a printing head including stylii extending outwardly therefrom, flexible multiconductor cable means secured to said head and having the conductors therein connected to said stylii for supplying electrical impulses thereto, support means secured to said printer for slidably carrying said head in a direction substantially parallel to and across the plane of the paper to be printed, means for biasing said head in a direction toward one end of said support means, a continuous flexible belt adjacent a portion of said printing head and passing between said head and said paper, means on said belt for contacting said printing head and moving said printing head in a direction to overcome said biasing means, spring means at the other end of said support means for removing said printing head from contact with said means on said belt whereby said biasing means slidably returns said head to said one end of said support means, and means for driving said belt.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring means at the other end of said support means comprises a spring for biasing said head in a direction away from the plane of said belt.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a scan channel, and a return channel substantially parallel to said scan channel, said head having a reciprocating movement in said channels.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said head comprises a plurality of spaced fingers attached to said belt.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said head comprises a plurality of apertures in said belt, and a knob extending outwardly of said head, said knob being of a cross-sectional dimension such as to fit within said apertures.

Claim 7

Printing head apparatus for an impactless printer comprising a printing head including stylii extending outwardly therefrom, flexible multiconductor cable means secured to said head and having the conductors therein connected to said stylii for supplying electrical impulses thereto, support means secured to said printer outwardly from and substantially parallel with the plane of the paper to be printed, means for mounting said head pivotally and slidably on said support means, means for biasing said head in a direction toward one end of said support means, a continuous flexible belt adjacent a portion of said printing head and passing between said head and said paper to be printed, a plurality of spaced finger means attached to and extending outwardly from said belt, said fingers contacting said head at said one end of said support means and moving said head so as to overcome said biasing means, spring means at said other end of said support means for pivoting said head out of contact with said fingers means whereby said biasing means slidably returns said head to said one end of said support means, and means for driving said belt.

Claim 8

Printing head apparatus for an impactless printer comprising a printing head including stylii extending outwardly therefrom, flexible multiconductor cable means secured to said head and having the conductors therein connected to said stylii for supplying electrical impulses thereto, support means secured to said printer outwardly from and substantially parallel with the plane of the paper to be printed, means for mounting said head pivotally and slidably on said support means, means for biasing said head in a direction toward one end of said support means, a continuous flexible belt adjacent a portion of said printing head and passing between said head and said paper to be printed, a plurality of spaced finger means attached to and extending outwardly from said belt, said fingers contacting said head at said one end of said support means and moving said head so as to overcome said biasing means, spring means at said other end of said support means for pivoting said head out of contact with said fingers means whereby said biasing means slidably returns said head to said one end of said support means, and means for driving said belt.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for mounting said head comprises a leg extending in a downward direction from said head, a first channel having an axis substantially parallel to said support means for guiding said leg as said fingers move said head, and a second channel having an axis substantially parallel to said first channel for guiding said leg when said head is returned to said one end of said support means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said spring means for pivoting said head comprises a spring at the end of said first channel for contacting said leg and pivoting it to a position so as to mate with said second channel.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of spaced finger means comprises a rigid plate secured to said belt.

Claim 12

The apparatUs of claim 6 further comprising control means for temporarily increasing the speed of said driving means so as to cause said head to be reset to said one end of said support means.