Printing apparatus

Claim 2

In a printing apparatus having a plurality of pivotally mounted printing heads positioned in alignment at a printing station for printing on a record medium which is advanced to the station, and means for transferring printing material to said heads when said heads are in a home position: the improvement for selecting and rotating selected ones of said printing heads into contact with a record medium for printing thereon comprising a plurality of elongated lever arms each supported at a stationary pivot and each associated with a printing head; means for coupling each of said lever arms to an associated head, said coupling means including a mechanical link pivotally mounted to said lever arm and to said head; means including a bias spring for applying a resilient force to each of said lever arms for causing said associated heads to rotate from a rest position to a printing position; means for selectively inhibiting the rotation of each of said lever arms and including a solenoid having an armature thereof coupled to an associated lever arm; said means for applying a resilient force to each of said lever arms including a bias spring; said print head including a pivotally mounted print head member and a pivotally mounted drive member and having a seat for receiving a resilient drive body; said head member having a bifurcated segment, said bifurcated segment defining a surface which when a force is applied thereto causes rotation of said head member; and said drive member including a jaw segment for engaging said surface and causing said drive member to rotate, said drive means further including means for positioning a resilient body for engagement with said seat of said print head member.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for automatically rotating said printing head to a rest position from a printing position.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said printing heAds comprises a rotably mounted body having a cross member for engaging each of said heads and for forcing said heads to a home position, and means for causing periodic rotation of said body.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cross member engages said head drive member for returning said print head to a home position.

Claim 6

A printing apparatus comprising: a plurality of pivotally mounted printing heads positioned in linear alignment at a printing station for printing on a record medium which is advanced to the station; each of said printing heads comprising a pivotally mounted print member and a pivotally mounted drive member, said head member including a seat for receiving a resilient drive body, said head member further including a bifurcated segment having a surface which when a force is applied to said surface causes rotation of said head member, said drive member including a jaw segment for engaging a surface of the bifurcated segment, said drive member including means for positioning a resilient body in engagement with said seat, said head member including a wettable body positioned thereon for depositing a printing material on a record medium; means for transferring printing material to said wettable body when said wettable is in its home position; a plurality of elongated lever arms each supported at a stationary pivot point and each associated with a printing head; means for coupling each of said lever arms to its associated head; means for applying a resilient force to each of said lever arms for causing said associated heads to rotate from a rest position to a printing position; a plurality of solenoids each having an armature thereof associated with and coupled to an associated one of said lever arms for selectively inhibiting the rotation of said lever arms; a rotatably mounted bracket having a cross member for engaging each of said heads and forcing said head to a home position; a drive shaft having a drive cam positioned thereon; and means for coupling said cam to said rotable bracket for engaging each of said heads and forcing said heads to a home position.

Claim 7

A printing apparatus comprising: a plurality of pivotally mounted printing heads positioned in linear alignment at a printing station for printing on a record medium which is advanced to the station; each of said printing heads comprising a pivotally mounted print member and a pivotally mounted drive member, said head member including a seat for receiving a resilient drive body, said head member further including a bifurcated segment having a surface which when a force is applied to said surface causes rotation of said head member, said drive member including a jaw segment for engaging a surface of the bifurcated segment, said drive member including means for positioning a resilient body in engagement with said seat, said head member including a wettable body positioned thereon for depositing a printing material on a record medium; means for transferring printing material to said wettable body when said wettable is in its home position; a plurality of elongated lever arms each supported at a stationary pivot point and each associated with a printing head; means for coupling each of said lever arms to its associated head; means for applying a resilient force to each of said lever arms for causing said associated heads to rotate from a rest position to a printing position; a plurality of solenoids each having an armature thereof associated with and coupled to an associated one of said lever arms for selectively inhibiting the rotation of said lever arms; a rotatably mounted bracket having a cross member for engaging each of said heads and forcing said head to a home position; a drive shaft having a drive cam positioned thereon; and means for coupling said cam to said rotable bracket for engaging each of said heads and forcing said heads to a home position.