Printing mechanism producing a rubbing action

Claim 2

In a printing mechanism for transferring ink from an ink carrier to a record member a. a hammer member Comprising an elongated body portion pivotedly mounted at one end and having a portion offset in a generally perpendicular direction to said body portion at the other end, said offset portion having an end portion comprising a convex printing surface, said hammer member adapted for rotational movement during each printing operation; b. and a support member mounted adjacent the convex printing surface of said hammer member, said support member comprising an elongated resilient member fixedly mounted at one end and having a free flat surface portion at its opposite end which end extends in a direction towards the pivoted end of said hammer member where the flat surface portion is juxtaposed with the convex printing surface for supporting a record member and an ink carrier in a blocking position with the movement of said convex surface, said support member mounted to position the record member and the ink carrier into engagement with the convex printing surface and in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion of said hammer member whereby upon rotation of said hammer member during a printing operation, the flat surface portion of said support member is deflected by movement of said convex surface sufficiently to allow the convex surface to move across the ink carrier, thereby transferring ink from the carrier to the record member.

Claim 3

The printing mechanism of claim 1 in which the support member is mounted in a plane which forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said elongated body thereby flexing said support member in a direction to allow that flat surface portion of said support member to exert a compression force on said convex printing surface when positioned in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongated body.

Claim 4

A printing apparatus comprising a. a hammer member consisting of an elongated body portion pivotally mounted at one of its ends for rotational movement and having a right-angle portion at the opposite end, said right-angle portion having an end portion in the form of a convex printing surface, said hammer member adapted to be rotated about its pivoted end during each printing operation to move the convex printing surface in a printing direction; b. a platen mounted adjacent the convex surface of said hammer member, said platen comprising the free end portion of a cantilever leaf spring the other end of which is fixedly mounted, said free end portion extending in a direction towards the plane of the axis of rotation of said hammer member and in a juxtaposition with said convex surface normally blocking the printing movement of said surface, said leaf spring mounted to position the platen into engagement with one end of said convex surface and in a plane parallel with said elongated body; c. a record member positioned on said platen; d. and a dry ink transfer ribbon positioned on the record member whereby upon rotation of said hammer member during a printing operation, said record member and the transfer ribbon will be deflected by said convex surface in a direction away from the pivoted end of said hammer and against the action of the leaf spring to allow the convex surface to move across the transfer ribbon thereby producing a rubbing action to transfer the dry ink from the ribbon to the record member.

Claim 5

A printing apparatus comprising a. a hammer member consisting of an elongated body portion pivotally mounted at one of its ends for rotational movement and having a right-angle portion at the opposite end, said right-angle portion having an end portion in the form of a convex printing surface, said hammer member adapted to be rotated about its pivoted end during each printing operation to move the convex printing surface in a printing direction; b. a platen mounted adjacent the convex surface of said hammer member, said platen comprising the free end portion of a cantilever leaf spring the other end of which is fixedly mounted, said free end portion extending in a direction towards the plane of the axis of rotation of said hammer member and in a juxtaposition with said convex surface normally blocking the printing movement of said surface, said leaf spring mounted to position the platen into engagement with one end of said convex surface and in a plane parallel with said elongated body; c. a record member positioned on said platen; d. and a dry ink transfer ribbon positioned on the record member whereby upon rotation of said hammer member during a printing operation, said record member and the transfer ribbon will be deflected by said convex surface in a direction away from the pivoted end of said hammer and against the action of the leaf spring to allow the convex surface to move across the transfer ribbon thereby producing a rubbing action to transfer the dry ink from the ribbon to the record member.

Claim 6

The printing apparatus of claim 3 in which the cantilever leaf spring is fixedly mounted in a plane which forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said elongated body thereby flexing said leaf spring in a direction to allow the platen to exert a compression force on said convex printing surface when the platen is positioned in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongated body.

Claim 7

The printing apparatus of claim 4 in which the convex printing surface of said hammer member is formed of a circular arc whereby upon deflection of said platen by the convex surface during a printing operation, the total surface area of said convex surface will engagE the transfer ribbon.