US3874288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed impact printer
Assignee: Intermec Technologies Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-03
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A high speed mechanical impact printer using a continuously rotating print wheel. Paper label stock is contained on a supply reel and fed through a print station comprising the print wheel and a print hammer by a motor and roller means positioned beyond the print station. Substantially constant tension is maintained between the supply reel and the print station by a spring assisted tension means operating in conjunction with the supply reel. The print wheel is secured to a belt-driven, printer drive member through a compressible plastic ring. In printing, a hammer impacts the label stock and an ink ribbon against the rotating print wheel under logic control. After printing, the stock proceeds through a mechanical means which permits the operator to conveniently strip the most recently printed label from the stock backing so that he may attach it to a commercial item or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry P Ellefson
- 👤 M Ray Dilling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:44
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J9/00; B41J9/26; B41J9/38; B41J1/00; B41J1/22; B41J1/32; B41J1/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An article useful in an impact printer for coupling rotational force generated by a drive member mounted to rotate about a central shaft to a print wheel mounted to rotate about said central shaft and movable therealong by means mounted on said central shaft for moving said print wheel axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive member, comprising a ring-like, generally flat pad having upper and lower spaced surfaces and a peripheral edge surface therebetween, the lower surface of which is adapted to mate with a portion of said drive member so that the pad rotates therewith when so mated, the upper surface of which is presented in operation adjacent the print wheel such that said drive member, said pad, and said print wheel are positioned axially sequentially along said central shaft, the upper surface having one or more hump-like integral portions thereof extending therefrom to contact a first surface of said print wheel, the remainder of said upper surface remaining out of contact with said first surface, said hump-like portions being sufficiently compressible such that upon application of pressure on said print wheel axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive member, said hump-like portions deform and engage said first surface to rotate said print wheel upon rotation of said drive member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An article useful in an impact printer for coupling rotational force generated by a drive member mounted to rotate about a central shaft to a print wheel mounted to rotate about said central shaft and movable therealong by means mounted on said central shaft for moving said print wheel axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive member, comprising a ring-like, generally flat pad having upper and lower spaced surfaces and a peripheral edge surface therebetween, the lower surface of which is adapted to mate with a portion of said drive member so that the pad rotates therewith when so mated, the upper surface of which is presented in operation adjacent the print wheel such that said drive member, said pad, and said print wheel are positioned axially sequentially along said central shaft, the upper surface having one or more hump-like integral portions thereof extending therefrom to contact a first surface of said print wheel, the remainder of said upper surface remaining out of contact with said first surface, said hump-like portions being sufficiently compressible such that upon application of pressure on said print wheel axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive member, said hump-like portions deform and engage said first surface to rotate said print wheel upon rotation of said drive member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus of claim 1, including a plurality of hump-like portions, positioned at regular intervals on said upper surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article of claim 1, wherein said pad and said hump-like portions are compressible, plastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An article of claim 1, wherein said ring-like pad further includes first and second annular projections extending normally from the lower surface of said pad and integral therewith, said first and second annular projections defining an annular trough for engagement with said drive member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
252 words
A print wheel assembly for use in an impact printer, comprising in combination: drive means mounted so as to be rotatable about a central shaft; print means having a plurality of print characters on a peripheral surface thereof mounted to be rotatable about said central shaft and movable axially therealong; a pad positioned between said drive means and said print means for coupling the rotational force of said drive means to said print means, said pad being ring-like and generally flat, and having upper and lower spaced surfaces with a peripheral edge surface therebetween, said lower surface adapted to mate with said drive means so that the pad rotates therewith, said upper surface being presented in operation axially adjacent said print means, such that said drive means, said pad, and said print means are positioned axially sequentially along said central shaft, the upper surface of said pad having one or more hump-like integral portions thereof extending therefrom to contact a first surface of said print means, the remainder of said upper surface remaining out of contact with said first surface, said hump-like portions being sufficiently compressible such that upon application of pressure on said print means axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive means, said hump-like portions deform and engage said first surface to rotate said print wheel upon rotation of said drive member; and, means mounted on said central shaft for moving said print means axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
252 words
A print wheel assembly for use in an impact printer, comprising in combination: drive means mounted so as to be rotatable about a central shaft; print means having a plurality of print characters on a peripheral surface thereof mounted to be rotatable about said central shaft and movable axially therealong; a pad positioned between said drive means and said print means for coupling the rotational force of said drive means to said print means, said pad being ring-like and generally flat, and having upper and lower spaced surfaces with a peripheral edge surface therebetween, said lower surface adapted to mate with said drive means so that the pad rotates therewith, said upper surface being presented in operation axially adjacent said print means, such that said drive means, said pad, and said print means are positioned axially sequentially along said central shaft, the upper surface of said pad having one or more hump-like integral portions thereof extending therefrom to contact a first surface of said print means, the remainder of said upper surface remaining out of contact with said first surface, said hump-like portions being sufficiently compressible such that upon application of pressure on said print means axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive means, said hump-like portions deform and engage said first surface to rotate said print wheel upon rotation of said drive member; and, means mounted on said central shaft for moving said print means axially of said central shaft in the direction of said drive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus of claim 5, including a plurality of hump-like portions, positioned at regular intervals on said upper surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article of claim 5, wherein said pad and said hump-like portions are compressible, plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An article of claim 5, wherein said ring-like pad further includes first and second annular projections extending normally form the lower surface of said pad and integral therewith, said first and second annular projections defining an annular trough for engagement with said drive member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |