Imprinter having independently mounted, preloaded print rollers

Claim 2

An imprinter comprising: a base having a print bed disposed thereon; a printing member having at least two rows of raised characters, said printing member being disposed on said print bed; a document having at least two information fields respectively associated with said two rows of characters, said document being disposed over said printing member; first and second print roller members respectively associated with said two information fields; actuator means movably mounted with respect to said base for effecting relative movement between said two print roller members and said printing member; first means mounted with respect to said actuator for mounting said first print roller member with respect to said actuator means including a first shaft upon which said first print roller member is disposed; second means mounted with respect to said actuator for mounting said second print roller member with respect to said actuator means including a second shaft upon which said second print roller member is disposed, said second shaft being separate from said first shaft, said first and second mounting means being independently mounted with respect to said actuator and operating independently of one another so that interaction between said first and second print roller members is minimized whenever said print roller members simultaneously coact with their respective associated rows of characters of said printing member and said first and second mounting means aligning said print roller members substantially coaxially; both of said print roller members being in printing position whenever relative movement in a predetermined direction is effected between said print roller members and said printing member by said actuator means; preloading means mounted with respect to at least one of said first and second mounting means for biasing at least one of said first and second print roller members toward said print bed; and limit means mounted with respect to said preloading means for establishing the minimum distance that said one print roller member is biased toward said print bed so that said one print roller member is raised from said print bed against the force exerted by said preloading means whenever said one print roller member encounters its associated row of characters raised from said printing member whereby the print quality of the imprinted information associated with said one print roller member is good because of (1) the independent mountings of said first and second print roller members and (2) the compensating action of said preloading means with respect to dIfferent printing members, the raised characters of which may vary in height from one printing member to another.

Claim 3

An imprinter as in claim 1 where said preloading means includes at least two separate preloading means mounted with respect to and disposed along the axial direction of said one print roller member whereby the preloading effect is substantially evenly distributed over the length of said one print roller.

Claim 4

An imprinter as in claim 1 where each of said print roller members has a said preloading means operatively associated therewith.

Claim 5

An imprinter as in claim 1 where said actuator means includes a carriage member having vertical side walls movably mounted with respect to said print bed; and a first shaft mounted with respect to and extening between the vertical side walls of said carriage.

Claim 6

An imprinter as in claim 1 where said second mounting means includes a second bracket having a vertical side wall and being pivotally mounted on said first shaft, said second bracket having an opening therein; and a tubular member mounted in said opening, said tubular member being concentrically disposed with respect to said second shaft, the inner diameter of said tubular member being greater than the outer diameter of said second shaft, said second print roller member being mounted on said tubular member.

Claim 7

An imprinter as in claim 5 where said limit means includes a threaded member disposed between said first and second brackets, said threaded member extending through a non-threaded opening in said first bracket and being threaded into a threaded opening in said second bracket whereby the extend that said member is threaded into said opening corresponds to the minimum distance of said second print roller with respect to said print bed.

Claim 8

An imprinter as in claim 6 where said preloading means includes a compression spring disposed about said

Claim 9

An imprinter as in claim 3 where said preloading means includes a first screw extending through a non-threaded opening in said bracket; a nut threaded onto the threaded portion of said screw; and a compression spring disposed about said screw and between said bracket and said nut.

Claim 10

An imprinter as in claim 8 where said limit means includes a screw threaded through an opening in said carriage member, said screw bearing on said nut of the preloading means.

Claim 11

An imprinter comprising: a base having a print bed disposed thereon; a printing member having at least two rows of raised characters, said printing member being disposed on said print bed; a document having at least two information fields respectively associated with said two rows of characters, said document being disposed over said printing member; first and second print roller members respectively associated with said two information fields; actuator means for effecting relative movement between said two print roller members and said printing member; a mounting member mounted with respect to said relative movement effecting means; first means mounted with respect to said mounting member for pivotally mounting said first print roller member with respect to said mounting member; second means mounted with respect to said mounting member for pivotally mounting said second print roller member with respect to said mounting member, said first and second mounting means pivotally operating independently of one another so that interaction between said first and second print roller members is minimized whenever said print rollers simultaneously coact with their respective associated rows of characters of said printing member and said first and second mounting means aligning said print roller members substantially coaxially; both of said print roller members being in printing position whenever relative movement in a predetermined direction is effected between said print roller members and said printing member by said actuator means.

Claim 12

An imprinter comprising: a base having a print bed disposed thereon; a printing member having at least two rows of raised characters, said printing member being disposed on said print bed; a document having at least two information fields respectively associated with said two rows of characters, said document being disposed over said printing member; first and second print roller members respectively associated with said two information fields; actuator means for effecting relative movement between said two print roller members and said printing member; a mounting member mounted with respect to said relative movement effecting means; first means mounted with respect to said mounting member for pivotally mounting said first print roller member with respect to said mounting member; second means mounted with respect to said mounting member for pivotally mounting said second print roller member with respect to said mounting member, said first and second mounting means pivotally operating independently of one another so that interaction between said first and second print roller members is minimized whenever said print rollers simultaneously coact with their respective associated rows of characters of said printing member and said first and second mounting means aligning said print roller members substantially coaxially; both of said print roller members being in printing position whenever relative movement in a predetermined direction is effected between said print roller members and said printing member by said actuator means.

Claim 13

An imprinter as in claim 10 including preloading means including compression spring means extending between said actuator means and at least one of said first and second mounting means for biasing at least one of said first and second print roller members toward said print bed; and limit means associated with said actuator means for establishing the minimum distance that said one print roller member is biased toward said print bed so that said one print roller is raised from said print bed against the force exerted by said preloading means whenever said one print roller member encounters its associated row of characters raised from said printing member whereby the print quality of the imprinted information associated with said one print roller is good because of (1) the independent mountings of said first and second print roller members and (2) the compensating action of said preloading means with respect to different printing members, the raised characters of which may vary in height from one printing member to another.

Claim 14

An imprinter comprising: a base having a print bed disposed thereon; a printing member having at least two rows of raised characters, said printing member being disposed on said print bed; a document having at least two information fields respectively associated with said two rows of characters, said document being disposed over said printing member; first and second print roller members respectively associated with said two information fields; actuator means movably mounted with respect to said base for effecting relative movement between said two print roller members and said printing member, said actuator means including a carriage member having vertical side walls movably mounted with respect to said print bed, and a first shaft mounted with respect to and extending between the vertical side walls of said carriage; first means for mounting said first print roller member with respect to said actuator means, said first mounting means including a first bracket having vertical side walls and being pivotally mounted on said first shaft, a second shaft extending between the vertical side walls of said first bracket, said first print roller member being mounted on said second shaft, means for biasing said first bracket upwardly about said first shaft, and means for limiting the uppermost position of said first bracket; second means mounted on said first shaft for mounting said second print roller member with respect to said actuator means, said first and second mounting means operating independently of one another so that interaction between said first and second print roller members is minimized whenever said print rollers simultaneously coact with their respective associated rows of characters of said printing member; both of said print roller members being in printing position whenever relative movement in a predetermined direction is effected between said print roller members and said printing member by said actuator means; preloading means mounted with respect to at least one of said first and second mounting means for biasing at least one of said first and second print roller members toward said print bed; and limit means mounted with respect to said preloading means for establishing the minimum distance that said one print roller member is biased toward said print bed so that said one print roller member is raised from said print bed against the force exerted by said preloading means whenever said one print roller member encounters its associated row of characters raised from said printing member whereby the print quality of the imprinted information associated with said one print roller member is good because of (1) the independent mountings of said first and second print roller members and (2) the compensating action of said preloading means with respect to different printing members, the raised characters of which may vary in height from one printing member to another.

Claim 15

An imprinter comprising: a base having a print bed disposed thereon; a printing member having at least two rows of raised characters, said printing member being disposed on said print bed; a document having at least two information fields respectively associated with said two rows of characters, said document being disposed over said printing member; first and second print roller members respectively associated with said two information fields; actuator means movably mounted with respect to said base for effecting relative movement between said two print roller members and said printing member, said actuator means including a carriage member having vertical side walls movably mounted with respect to said print bed, and a first shaft mounted with respect to and extending between the vertical side walls of said carriage; first means for mounting said first print roller member with respect to said actuator means, said first mounting means including a first bracket having vertical side walls and being pivotally mounted on said first shaft, a second shaft extending between the vertical side walls of said first bracket, said first print roller member being mounted on said second shaft, means for biasing said first bracket upwardly about said first shaft, and means for limiting the uppermost position of said first bracket; second means mounted on said first shaft for mounting said second print roller member with respect to said actuator means, said first and second mounting means operating independently of one another so that interaction between said first and second print roller members is minimized whenever said print rollers simultaneously coact with their respective associated rows of characters of said printing member; both of said print roller members being in printing position whenever relative movement in a predetermined direction is effected between said print roller members and said printing member by said actuator means; preloading means mounted with respect to at least one of said first and second mounting means for biasing at least one of said first and second print roller members toward said print bed; and limit means mounted with respect to said preloading means for establishing the minimum distance that said one print roller member is biased toward said print bed so that said one print roller member is raised from said print bed against the force exerted by said preloading means whenever said one print roller member encounters its associated row of characters raised from said printing member whereby the print quality of the imprinted information associated with said one print roller member is good because of (1) the independent mountings of said first and second print roller members and (2) the compensating action of said preloading means with respect to different printing members, the raised characters of which may vary in height from one printing member to another.

Claim 16

An imprinter comprising: a base having a print bed disposed thereon; a printing member having at least two rows of raised characters, said printing member being disposed on said print bed; a document having at least two information fields respectively associated with said two rows of characters, said document being disposed over said printing member; first and second print roller members respectively associated with said two information fields; actuator means movably mounted with respect to said base for effecting relative movement between said two print roller members and said printing member, said actuator means including a carriage member having vertical side walls movably mounted with respect to said print bed, and a first shaft mounted with respect to and extending between the vertical side walls of said carriage; first means mounted with respect to said actuator for mounting said first print roller member with respect to said actuator means; second means mounted with respect to said actuator for mounting said second print roller member with respect to said actuator means, said first and second mounting means operating independently of one another so that interaction between said first and second print roller members is minimized whenever said print rollers simultaneously coact with their respective associated rows of characters of said printing member; said first and second mounting means being disposed at different locations along the length of said first shaft and where each said first and second mounting means includes a bracket having vertical side walls and being pivotally on said first shaft, a second shaft extending between the vertical sidewalls of said bracket, one of said print roller members being mounted on said second shaft, and means for biasing said bracket upwardly about said first shaft; both of said print roller members being in printing position whenever relative movement in a predetermined direction is effected between said print roller members and said printing member by said actuator means; preloading means mounted with respect to at least one of said first and second mounting means for biasing at least one of said first and second print roller members toward said print bed; and limit means mounted with respect to said preloading means for establishing the minimum distance that said one print roller member is biased toward said print bed so that said one print roller member is raised from said print bed against the force exerted by said preloading means whenever said one print roller member encounters its associated row of characters raised from said printing member whereby the print quality of the imprinted information associated with said one print roller member is good because of (1) the independent mountings of said first and second print roller members and (2) the compensating action of said preloading means with respect to different printing members, the raised characters of which may vary in height from one printing member to another.

Claim 17

An imprinter comprising: a base having a print bed disposed thereon; a printing member having at least two rows of raised characters, said printing member being disposed on said print bed; a document having at least two information fields respectively associated with said two rows of characters, said document being disposed over said printing member; first and second print roller members respectively associated with said two information fields; actuator means movably mounted with respect to said base for effecting relative movement between said two print roller members and said printing member, said actuator means including a carriage member having vertical side walls movably mounted with respect to said print bed, and a first shaft mounted with respect to and extending between the vertical side walls of said carriage; first means mounted with respect to said actuator for mounting said first print roller member with respect to said actuator means; second means mounted with respect to said actuator for mounting said second print roller member with respect to said actuator means, said first and second mounting means operating independently of one another so that interaction between said first and second print roller members is minimized whenever said print rollers simultaneously coact with their respective associated rows of characters of said printing member; said first and second mounting means being disposed at different locations along the length of said first shaft and where each said first and second mounting means includes a bracket having vertical side walls and being pivotally on said first shaft, a second shaft extending between the vertical sidewalls of said bracket, one of said print roller members being mounted on said second shaft, and means for biasing said bracket upwardly about said first shaft; both of said print roller members being in printing position whenever relative movement in a predetermined direction is effected between said print roller members and said printing member by said actuator means; preloading means mounted with respect to at least one of said first and second mounting means for biasing at least one of said first and second print roller members toward said print bed; and limit means mounted with respect to said preloading means for establishing the minimum distance that said one print roller member is biased toward said print bed so that said one print roller member is raised from said print bed against the force exerted by said preloading means whenever said one print roller member encounters its associated row of characters raised from said printing member whereby the print quality of the imprinted information associated with said one print roller member is good because of (1) the independent mountings of said first and second print roller members and (2) the compensating action of said preloading means with respect to different printing members, the raised characters of which may vary in height from one printing member to another.

Claim 18

An imprinter as in claim 10 where said actuator means includes a carriage member having vertical side walls movably mounted with respect to said print bed; and a first shaft mounted with respect to and extending between the vertical side walls of said carriage.

Claim 19

An imprinter as in claim 14 where said first mounting means includes a first bracket having vertical side walls and being pivotally mounted on said first shaft; a second shaft extending between the vertical side walls of said first bracket, said first print roller member being mounted on said second shaft; means mounted on said actuator means for biasing said first bracket upwardly about said first shaft; and means mounted on said actuator means for limiting the uppermost position of said first bracket.

Claim 20

An imprinter as in claim 15 where said second mounting means includes a second bracket having a vertical side wall and beIng pivotally mounted on said first shaft, said second bracket having an opening therein; and a tubular member mounted in said opening, said tubular member being concentrically disposed with respect to said second shaft, the inner diameter of said tubular member being greater than the outer diameter of said second shaft, said second print roller member being mounted on said tubular member.

Claim 21

An imprinter as in claim 16 where said limit means includes a threaded member disposed between said first and second brackets, said threaded member extending through a non-threaded opening in said first bracket and being threaded into a threaded opening in said second bracket whereby the extent that said member is threaded into said opening corresponds to the minimum distance of said second print roller with respect to said print bed.

Claim 22

An imprinter as in claim 17 where said preloading means includes a compression spring disposed about said threaded member and between said first and second brackets.

Claim 23

An imprinter as in claim 14 where said first and second mounting means are disposed at different locations along the length of said first shaft and where each said first and second mounting means includes a bracket having vertical side walls and being pivotally on said first shaft; a second shaft extending between the vertical sidewalls of said bracket, one of said print roller members being mounted on said second shaft; and means mounted on said actuator means for biasing said bracket upwardly about said first shaft.

Claim 24

An imprinter as in claim 19 where said preloading means includes a first screw extending through a non-threaded opening in said bracket; a nut threaded onto the threaded portion of said screw; and a compression spring disposed about said screw and between said bracket and said nut.

Claim 25

An imprinter as in claim 20 where said limit means includes a screw threaded through an opening in said carriage member, said screw bearing on said nut of the preloading means.

Claim 26

An imprinter as in claim 1 where said first and second shafts are slightly longer than said first and second print rollers.

Claim 27

An imprinter as in claim 19 where each said second shaft is slightly longer than its associated print roller member.