Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A printer comprising at least two print hammers each displaceable between a rest and a print position; an elastic body maintained in a deformed position by each of said print hammers at its respective rest position; and magnetic circuit control means for holding each said hammer at said rest position and releasing same for selective displacement to said print position by the energy of said deformed elastic body, including a permanent magnet common to at least two of said print hammers for producing the magnetomotive force for holding said print hammers at their rest positions, a portion of each of said print hammers forming a part of the associated magnetic circuit control means when at their rest positions, a control coil associated with each print hammer and positioned so that the magnetomotive force applied to said print hammer is decreased upon the application of a signal to the associated control coil to release said print hammer to effect printing, and means for varying the reluctance of each of said magnetic circuit control means upon the release of the associated print hammer to maintain the operating point of said permanent magnet substantially constant before and after the release of said associated print hammer from its rest position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A printer comprising at least two print hammers each displaceable between a rest and a print position; an elastic body maintained in a deformed position by each of said print hammers at its respective rest position; and magnetic circuit control means for holding each said hammer at said rest position and releasing same for selective displacement to said print position by the energy of said deformed elastic body, including a permanent magnet common to at least two of said print hammers for producing the magnetomotive force for holding said print hammers at their rest positions, a portion of each of said print hammers forming a part of the associated magnetic circuit control means when at their rest positions, a control coil associated with each print hammer and positioned so that the magnetomotive force applied to said print hammer is decreased upon the application of a signal to the associated control coil to release said print hammer to effect printing, and means for varying the reluctance of each of said magnetic circuit control means upon the release of the associated print hammer to maintain the operating point of said permanent magnet substantially constant before and after the release of said associated print hammer from its rest position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A printer as recited in claim 1, wherein each said magnetic circuit control means includes a first portion including said portion of said print hammer and a second portion including said variable reluctance means, said first and second portions being connected in parallel with said permanent magnet and each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A printer as recited in claim 2, wherein said variaBle reluctance means includes means defining a gap in said second portion and means responsive to the magnetomotive force generated by the application of said signal to said control coil for adjusting the width of said gap so as to narrow said gap upon the release of the associated print hammer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A printer as recited in claim 3, wherein said variable reluctance means includes a fixed magnetic circuit member magnetically coupled to said control coil and defining an attractive face and an attractive plate mounted for displacement toward and away from said attractive face to define said gap, said attractive plate being displaced toward said attractive face in response to the magnetomotive force of said control coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A printer as recited in claim 4, wherein said variable reluctance means includes means for biasing said attractive plate in a position defining a maximum gap width.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A printer as recited in claim 5, wherein said variable reluctance means includes means for selectively setting said maximum gap width.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A printer as recited in claim 6, wherein said attractive plate is pivotally mounted, said means for selectively setting said maximum gap being a setting screw.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A printer as recited in claim 6, wherein said variable reluctance means includes stopper means in the path of said attractive plate toward said attractive face to define a minimum gap width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A printer as recited in claim 8, wherein said variable reluctance means includes means for selectively positioning said stopper means to set said minimum gap width.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A printer as recited in claim 4, wherein said variable reluctance means includes stopper means in the path of said attractive plate toward said attractive face to define a minimum gap width.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A printer as recited in claim 10, wherein said variable reluctance means includes means for selectively positioning said stopper means to set said minimum gap width.