Multiple sheet ticket printer

Claim 2

A high speed rotary printer for printing selected symbols on an endless web of multiple sheet stock formed with sprocket holes disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis thereof, said printer comprising: a. a rotatable printing cylinder having rows of raised characters disposed about its periphery in arcuate columns; b. an impactor assembly including a plurality of actuators, impactors and hammers, one of each said actuator associated with one of each said impactors, one of each said impactors associated with one of each said hammers, one of each said hammer associated with one of each said rows of raised characters, each said actuator having energized and deenergized states, each said impactor operative between a rest position and an actuated position, each said hammer restrained for reciprocal movement between a rest position and a strike position, said impactor moved from its rest position to its actuated position when said actuator associated therewith is momentarily in its energized state, said moved impactor momentarily engaging said hammer associated therewith, said engaged hammer moving from its rest position to its strike position and decoupling from said moved impactor, said moved impactor returning to its rest position, said engaged hammer striking the multiple sheet stock and momentarily forcing the multiple sheet stock against one of said raised symbols in said row in registratioN with said engaged hammer, said hammer returning to its rest position, said raised symbol pressed against the multiple sheet stock being printed on each of the multiple sheets; c. first sprocket drive means; d. second sprocket drive means; e. a belt engaging said first and second sprocket drive means, said belt including sprocket pins adapted for engagement with the sprocket holes in the multiple sheet stock, the multiple sheet stock forwardly advancing in a path from said first sprocket drive means to said second sprocket drive means when engaged by said belt; f. a rotating cutting blade operatively connected to said second sprocket drive means, said rotating cutting blade operative to sever the sprocket holes from the multiple sheet stock; g. rotary cutter means positioned in said path after said second sprocket drive means, said rotatable printing cylinder disposed in said path between said first sprocket drive means and said rotary cutter means, said rotary cutter means disposed in perpendicular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the multiple sheet stock and operative to sever the multiple sheet stock after said symbols are printed thereon; and h. tension means engaging opposite faces of the multiple sheet stock, said tension means disposed in said path after said rotary cutter means, said tension means providing tension on the multiple sheet stock and ejecting the printed multiple sheet stock from the printer when severed by said rotary cutter means.

Claim 3

The high speed rotary printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotary cutter means includes: a. cylindrical cutter means formed with an opening having a substantially concave cutting edge adapted to engage the multiple sheet stock; b. a cam plate having an eccentric cam track operatively connected to said cylindrical cutter means; c. means for rotating said cam plate; d. a crank arm having a cam follower adapted for engagement and disengagement with said cam track; and e. means for moving said crank arm towards said cam plate, said cam follower engaging said cam track when said crank arm is moved towards said cam plate, said cylinderical cutter means being rotated when said cam follower engages said cam track, the multiple sheet stock being severed when engaged by said concave cutting edge.

Claim 4

A high speed rotary printer for printing selected symbols on an endless web of multiple sheet stock formed with sprocket holes disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis thereof, said printer comprising: a. a housing; b. a frame pivotably mounted to said housing; c. a rotatable printing cylinder mounted to said frame, said printing cylinder having rows of raised characters disposed about its periphery in arcuate columns; d. an impactor assembly mounted to saidhousing, said impactor assembly including a plurality of actuators, impactors and hammers, one of each said actuators associated with one of each said impactors, one of each said impactors associated with one of each said hammers, one of each said hammer associated with one of each said rows of raised characters, each said actuator having energized and deenergized states, each said impactor operative between a rest position and an actuated position, each said hammer restrained for reciprocal movement between a rest position and a strike position, said impactor moved from its rest position to its actuated position when said actuator associated therewith is momentarily in its energized state, said moved impactor momentarily engaging said hammer associated therewith, said engaged hammer moving from its rest position to its strike position and decoupling from said moved impactor, said moved impactor returning to its rest position, said engaged hammer striking the multiple sheet stock and momentarily forcing the multiple sheet stock against one of said raised symbols in said row in registration with said engaged hammer, said hammer returning to its rest position, said raised symbol pressed against the multiple sheet stock being printed on each of the multiple sheets; e. first sprocket drive means mounted to said housing; f. second sprocket drive means mounted to said housing; g. a belt engaging said first and second sprocket drive means, said belt including sprocket pins adapted for engagement with the sprocket holes in the multiple sheet stock, the multiple sheet stock forwardly advancing in a path from said first sprocket drive means to said second sprocket drive means when engaged by said belt; h. a rotating cutting blade operatively connected to said second sprocket drive means, said rotating cutting blade operative to sever the sprocket holes from the multiple sheet stock; i. rotary cutter means mounted to said housing in said path after said second sprocket drive means, said rotatable printing cylinder disposed in said path between said first sprocket drive means and said rotary cutter means, said rotary cutter means including a cylindrical cutter formed with an opening having a substantially concave cutting edge adapted to engage the multiple sheet stock, a cam plate having an eccentric cam track operatively connected to said cylindrical cutter, means for rotating said cam plate, a crank arm having a cam follower adapted for engagement and disengagement with said cam track, and means for moving said crank arm towards said cam plate, said cam follower engaging said cam track when said crank arm is moved towards said cam plate, said cylindrical cutter being rotated when said cam follower engages said cam track, the multiple sheet stock being severed when engaged by said concave cutting edge; and j. tension means mounted to said housing in said path after said rotary cutter means, said tension means including first and second rollers disposed at and engaging opposite faces of the multiple sheet stock, said tension means providing tension on the multiple sheet stock and ejecting the printed multiple sheet stock severed by said rotary cutter means from the printer.

Claim 5

A high speed rotary printer for printing selected symbols on an endless web of multiple sheet stock formed with sprocket holes disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis thereof, said printer comprising: a. a housing; b. a frame pivotably mounted to said housing; c. a rotatable printing cylinder mounted to said frame, said printing cylinder having rows of raised characters disposed about its periphery in arcuate columns; d. an impactor assembly mounted to saidhousing, said impactor assembly including a plurality of actuators, impactors and hammers, one of each said actuators associated with one of each said impactors, one of each said impactors associated with one of each said hammers, one of each said hammer associated with one of each said rows of raised characters, each said actuator having energized and deenergized states, each said impactor operative between a rest position and an actuated position, each said hammer restrained for reciprocal movement between a rest position and a strike position, said impactor moved from its rest position to its actuated position when said actuator associated therewith is momentarily in its energized state, said moved impactor momentarily engaging said hammer associated therewith, said engaged hammer moving from its rest position to its strike position and decoupling from said moved impactor, said moved impactor returning to its rest position, said engaged hammer striking the multiple sheet stock and momentarily forcing the multiple sheet stock against one of said raised symbols in said row in registration with said engaged hammer, said hammer returning to its rest position, said raised symbol pressed against the multiple sheet stock being printed on each of the multiple sheets; e. first sprocket drive means mounted to said housing; f. second sprocket drive means mounted to said housing; g. a belt engaging said first and second sprocket drive means, said belt including sprocket pins adapted for engagement with the sprocket holes in the multiple sheet stock, the multiple sheet stock forwardly advancing in a path from said first sprocket drive means to said second sprocket drive means when engaged by said belt; h. a rotating cutting blade operatively connected to said second sprocket drive means, said rotating cutting blade operative to sever the sprocket holes from the multiple sheet stock; i. rotary cutter means mounted to said housing in said path after said second sprocket drive means, said rotatable printing cylinder disposed in said path between said first sprocket drive means and said rotary cutter means, said rotary cutter means including a cylindrical cutter formed with an opening having a substantially concave cutting edge adapted to engage the multiple sheet stock, a cam plate having an eccentric cam track operatively connected to said cylindrical cutter, means for rotating said cam plate, a crank arm having a cam follower adapted for engagement and disengagement with said cam track, and means for moving said crank arm towards said cam plate, said cam follower engaging said cam track when said crank arm is moved towards said cam plate, said cylindrical cutter being rotated when said cam follower engages said cam track, the multiple sheet stock being severed when engaged by said concave cutting edge; and j. tension means mounted to said housing in said path after said rotary cutter means, said tension means including first and second rollers disposed at and engaging opposite faces of the multiple sheet stock, said tension means providing tension on the multiple sheet stock and ejecting the printed multiple sheet stock severed by said rotary cutter means from the printer.