US3905294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed line printing apparatus
Assignee: SILOICON VALLEY BANK
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Filing: 1974-01-23
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A high speed line printer includes a print-receiving medium, a continuously moving type carrier, a ribbon positioned between the print-receiving medium and the type carrier, and a bank of hammer units having individually fired but simultaneously retracted hammers positioned adjacent the print-receiving medium. Each hammer is magnetically retracted and held against the force of a flat spring armature. Upon release of a hammer, the stored mechanical energy of the spring causes the hammer to be driven to a printing impact and a damper prevents subsequent printing impacts due to hammer oscillation. Each hammer unit comprises a pole piece with a convex pole face and a hammer which includes the flat spring armature secured at one end to the pole piece and an impact element mounted on the outer surface of the armature at the other, free end thereof. The damper has a low mass body which includes energy absorbing material and is spring biased to a normal position in contact with the impact element. The utilization of multiple impacts between the damper and hammer permits the damper mass to be reduced so as to reduce the total movable mass, thereby decreasing hammer flight time and increasing efficiency. An interposer is operable to prevent the printing of an unwanted line by inhibitng the flight of the hammers in the event of an error condition such as a power failure.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon Brent Barrus
- 👤 Leo Joseph Emenaker
- 👤 Raymond Franklin Melissa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:00
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J29/00; B41J29/54; B41J29/58; B41J9/00; B41J9/02; B41J9/10; B41J9/26; B41J9/36; B41J9/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A hammer arrangement for use in a high speed printer comprising: means for generating a magnetic flux during selected time periods; hammer means positioned adjacent said flux generating means for magnetic coupling therewith, said hammer means including impact means and spring means, said spring means having an end fixed in relation to said magnetic flux generating means and a free end supporting said impact means, said impact means having a retracted position and a printing impact position, said impact means being biased by said spring means away from said retracted position and toward a rest position between said retracted and printing impact positions, generation of said magnetic flux retracting said impact means to said retracted position and storing energy in said spring means, said spring means driving said impact means toward said impact position upon termination of said magnetic flux means for sensing a power failure error condition which requires inhibition of the flight of said impact means to prevent said impact means from reaching said printing impact position, said sensing means producing a signal indicative of the pressure of said power failure; means responsive to said sensing means signal for engaging said hammer means and inhibiting the flight of said impact means to prevent said impact means from reaching said printing impact position; and means including energy storage means responsive to said sensing means signal and coupled to actuate said means for engaging said hammer means to inhibit flight of said impact means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A hammer arrangement for use in a high speed printer comprising: means for generating a magnetic flux during selected time periods; hammer means positioned adjacent said flux generating means for magnetic coupling therewith, said hammer means including impact means and spring means, said spring means having an end fixed in relation to said magnetic flux generating means and a free end supporting said impact means, said impact means having a retracted position and a printing impact position, said impact means being biased by said spring means away from said retracted position and toward a rest position between said retracted and printing impact positions, generation of said magnetic flux retracting said impact means to said retracted position and storing energy in said spring means, said spring means driving said impact means toward said impact position upon termination of said magnetic flux means for sensing a power failure error condition which requires inhibition of the flight of said impact means to prevent said impact means from reaching said printing impact position, said sensing means producing a signal indicative of the pressure of said power failure; means responsive to said sensing means signal for engaging said hammer means and inhibiting the flight of said impact means to prevent said impact means from reaching said printing impact position; and means including energy storage means responsive to said sensing means signal and coupled to actuate said means for engaging said hammer means to inhibit flight of said impact means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
A hammer arrangement, as defined in claim 1, in which: said inhibiting means includes an interposer member having an inhibiting position and a non-inhibiting position, said interposer member having an energy-absorbing surface adapted to be engaged by said hammer means in the inhibiting position of said interposer member, the mass of said interposer member being substantially greater than the mass of said hammer means; and which includes: means for biasing said interposer member toward said non-inhibiting position; and means coupled to said error condition sensing means and connected to said interposer member for displacing said member to the inhibiting position in response to the presence of said error indicative signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hammer arrangement, as defined in claim 2, in which: said displacing means includes a solenoid device and an electrical energy storage device connected to said solenoid device through switch means operable to be closed by said error indicative signal, said biasing means comprising leaf spring elements carrying said interposer member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A hammer arrangement, as defined in claim 1, which includes: means for sensing at least one error condition additional to said power failure error condition, which additional error conditon requires inhibition of the flight of said impact means to prevent said impact means from reaching said printing impact position, said additional error condition sensing means producing a signal indicative of the presence of said additional error condition, said hammer means engaging and inhibiting means being coupled and responsive to said additional error condition sensing means.
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) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |