US3907091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Type disc-interposer assembly for a printer
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-12
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A rotating, circular type carrier for a serial printer is equipped with axially movable type elements arranged on its periphery and having type members on one face, and a metal interposer disc with radial spokes is placed on the same axis of rotation such that the spokes line up with the other face of the elements; the inclined rear surfaces of the spokes are struck by a hammer so that the impact energy is transmitted from the hammer through a spoke to the corresponding element and the hammer is cammed back by the inclined surface of the rotating spoke.
Inventors
- 👤 Johann Hans Meier
- 👤 Jerry Wesley Raider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:44
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J1/00; B41J1/22; B41J1/24; B41J1/28; B41J1/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S400/00; Y10S400/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
Printing apparatus for use in a printer having a rotatable print carrier support which is movable across a document and having a print hammer operable from a rest position to effect impact of a type carrying element on said support which is intermediate said document and said print hammer against said document for printing thereon comprising; a rotatable print disc having a plurality of resilient axiallymovable type carrying elements with two faces, said type carrying eLements having type characters on one face adjacent said document, an interposer disc disposed to rotate with said print disc and having the same plurality of resilient radial spokes positioned adjacent and normally in contact with the other face of the type carrying elements, said radial spokes being stiffer than said type carrying elements and having cam surfaces for engagement with said print hammer which are operable to restore said print hammer to said rest position by cam action as they rotate past said print hammer, and means securing the print disc and interposer disc on said rotatable support in predetermined fixed rotational relation to each other so that said print disc and interposer disc rotate together at the same angular velocity and said interposer spokes impart an axial velocity to said print disc type carrying elements when impacted by said print hammer, causing said print disc type carrying elements to separate from said interposer spokes before impacting said document to print.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
Printing apparatus for use in a printer having a rotatable print carrier support which is movable across a document and having a print hammer operable from a rest position to effect impact of a type carrying element on said support which is intermediate said document and said print hammer against said document for printing thereon comprising; a rotatable print disc having a plurality of resilient axiallymovable type carrying elements with two faces, said type carrying eLements having type characters on one face adjacent said document, an interposer disc disposed to rotate with said print disc and having the same plurality of resilient radial spokes positioned adjacent and normally in contact with the other face of the type carrying elements, said radial spokes being stiffer than said type carrying elements and having cam surfaces for engagement with said print hammer which are operable to restore said print hammer to said rest position by cam action as they rotate past said print hammer, and means securing the print disc and interposer disc on said rotatable support in predetermined fixed rotational relation to each other so that said print disc and interposer disc rotate together at the same angular velocity and said interposer spokes impart an axial velocity to said print disc type carrying elements when impacted by said print hammer, causing said print disc type carrying elements to separate from said interposer spokes before impacting said document to print.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 characterized by said type carrying elements comprising radial fingers defined by radial slots extending inwardly from the periphery of the print disc, and said print disc and interposer disc being secured in fixed relation with each other to a hub which is detachably secured to said rotatable support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 characterized by a wedge means secured on said hub between said print disc and said interposer disc whereby said fingers of said print disc are positioned to be normally in contact with and are pressed against the spokes of said interposer disc so as to be preloaded thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 characterized by a flat disc spring positioned between said wedge means and said interposer disc to normally engage the spokes of said interposer disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 characterized by an energy absorbing plastic disc secured on said hub and in contact with said interposer disc adjacent the periphery thereof on the side away from said print disc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 characterized by a resilient cap positioned about the periphery of said flat disc spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 characterized by said interposer disc lying substantially in a single plane and said spokes of said interposer disc being twisted about a radial axis out of the plane of said disc to provide inclined cam surfaces on the sides away from said print disc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 characterized by said print disc having a band of resilient material bonded to the fingers and covering a central portion of said print disc and at least a portion of the slots between the spokes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
Printing apparatus comprising, a platen positioned on one side of a document to provide support for the document and define a print line, a type-element carrier moving in a direction parallel to the print line and supporting type carrying elements movable in the direction perpendicular to the platen at the desired point of impact, said type carrying elements having two faces with type characters on the face adjacent said platen and document, flexible interposers attached to said type-element carrier, each interposer corresponding to one type element and contacting the other face of said type element away from said platen and documents, means biasing said type elements and interposers against each other so as to normally preload said type elements against said interposers, a print hammer operable to impact said interposers and cause said interposer to impart velocity to the corresponding type element, whereby said type element separates from said corresponding interposer and impacts its type character against said document and platen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
Printing apparatus comprising, a platen positioned on one side of a document to provide support for the document and define a print line, a type-element carrier moving in a direction parallel to the print line and supporting type carrying elements movable in the direction perpendicular to the platen at the desired point of impact, said type carrying elements having two faces with type characters on the face adjacent said platen and document, flexible interposers attached to said type-element carrier, each interposer corresponding to one type element and contacting the other face of said type element away from said platen and documents, means biasing said type elements and interposers against each other so as to normally preload said type elements against said interposers, a print hammer operable to impact said interposers and cause said interposer to impart velocity to the corresponding type element, whereby said type element separates from said corresponding interposer and impacts its type character against said document and platen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as claimed in claim 9 characterized by said interposers having inclined cam surfaces on the side of said print hammer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
205 words
Serial printing apparatus comprising, a platen positioned on one side of a document to provide a support for the document and define a print line thereon, a carriage movable along said print line in spaced relation with said platen and document, a type-element carrier rotatably mounted on said carriage and having type elements movable perpendicular to the print surface, said type elements having type characters on the one face adjacent said platen and document, an interposer array rotatably mounted on said carriage, coaxially and in fixed rotational relation with said type element carrier so as to rotate together at the same angular velocity and having flexible components aligned with and normally in contact with said type elements, said interposer array being adjacent to said type element carrier on the side of said type element carrier away from said platen and document, and a print hammer mounted on said carriage operable to impact one of said flexible components of said interposer array and cause said flexible component of said interposer array to impart velocity to the corresponding type element in contact therewith causing it to separate from said interposer flexible component and to impact the type character of said type element against said document and platen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
205 words
Serial printing apparatus comprising, a platen positioned on one side of a document to provide a support for the document and define a print line thereon, a carriage movable along said print line in spaced relation with said platen and document, a type-element carrier rotatably mounted on said carriage and having type elements movable perpendicular to the print surface, said type elements having type characters on the one face adjacent said platen and document, an interposer array rotatably mounted on said carriage, coaxially and in fixed rotational relation with said type element carrier so as to rotate together at the same angular velocity and having flexible components aligned with and normally in contact with said type elements, said interposer array being adjacent to said type element carrier on the side of said type element carrier away from said platen and document, and a print hammer mounted on said carriage operable to impact one of said flexible components of said interposer array and cause said flexible component of said interposer array to impart velocity to the corresponding type element in contact therewith causing it to separate from said interposer flexible component and to impact the type character of said type element against said document and platen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as defined in claim 11 characterized by said components of said interposer array having inclined cam surfaces on the side of said print hammer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
191 words
Printing apparatus for use in a printer in which a type carrying element is movable to present a plurality of type along a print line on a document, and a print hammer is operable to effect impact of said type carrying element and document for printing thereon, comprising, a movable type carrying element having a plurality of type bearing portions movable both past said document to present different type to print positions along said print line and toward said document with a predetermined spring constant to print thereon, an interposer mounted to move past said document with and at the same rate as said type carrying element and having an interposer portion normally positioned in contact with each type bearing portion, between said print hammer and said type carrying element, to transfer energy to said type from said print hammer when impacted by said print hammer primarily by stress waves travelling through said interposer portion, said interposer portion having a spring constant substantially higher than that of said movable type carrying element so as to cause said movable type carrying element to separate from said interposer portion and impact said document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
191 words
Printing apparatus for use in a printer in which a type carrying element is movable to present a plurality of type along a print line on a document, and a print hammer is operable to effect impact of said type carrying element and document for printing thereon, comprising, a movable type carrying element having a plurality of type bearing portions movable both past said document to present different type to print positions along said print line and toward said document with a predetermined spring constant to print thereon, an interposer mounted to move past said document with and at the same rate as said type carrying element and having an interposer portion normally positioned in contact with each type bearing portion, between said print hammer and said type carrying element, to transfer energy to said type from said print hammer when impacted by said print hammer primarily by stress waves travelling through said interposer portion, said interposer portion having a spring constant substantially higher than that of said movable type carrying element so as to cause said movable type carrying element to separate from said interposer portion and impact said document.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 characterized by said type carrying element comprising a disc and said type carrying portions comprising radial fingers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 characterized by said interposer portions comprising radial spokes against which said corresponding print disc fingers are preloaded.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as defined in claim 15 characterized by the spokes of said interposer being sufficiently thicker than said fingers of said type disc, so as to be more than five times stiffer than the fingers of said type disc.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as defined in claim 16 characterized by a spring disc mounted between said print disc and said interposer and being stiffer than said interposer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as defined in claim 17 characterized by a spacer positioned between said print disc and said spring disc adjacent said support to provide for biasing the fingers of said print disc against the spokes of said interposer adjacent said type.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
165 words
Printing apparatus comprising, a platen positioned on one side of a document to provide support for the document and define a print line, a type element carrier movable in a direction parallel to said print line and supporting a plurality of type bearing portions movable in a direction perpendicular to said platen, said type bearing portions having type on the one face adjacent said platen and document, interposer means attached to said type element carrier having a plurality of cantilever interposer portions, corresponding one for one with each type bearing portion positioned in contact with said type bearing portions on the face of said type bearing portions away from said platen and document to transmit energy to said type primarily by stress waves, and a print hammer operable to impact a selected one of said interposer portions to impart a velocity to said corresponding type bearing portion causing it to separate from said interposer portion and to impact said type against said document and platen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
165 words
Printing apparatus comprising, a platen positioned on one side of a document to provide support for the document and define a print line, a type element carrier movable in a direction parallel to said print line and supporting a plurality of type bearing portions movable in a direction perpendicular to said platen, said type bearing portions having type on the one face adjacent said platen and document, interposer means attached to said type element carrier having a plurality of cantilever interposer portions, corresponding one for one with each type bearing portion positioned in contact with said type bearing portions on the face of said type bearing portions away from said platen and document to transmit energy to said type primarily by stress waves, and a print hammer operable to impact a selected one of said interposer portions to impart a velocity to said corresponding type bearing portion causing it to separate from said interposer portion and to impact said type against said document and platen.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as defined in claim 19 characterized by said type carrying element comprising a disc of a resilient material having a plurality of radial fingers bearing said type.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 20 characterized by said interposer means comprising a disc having radial spokes corresponding to said type carrying element fingers but being stiffer than said type carrying element fingers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as defined in claim 21 characterized in that said interposer means spokes are sufficiently thicker than said type carrying element fingers so as to be from 5 to 10 times as stiff as said type carrying element fingers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 characterized by a disc spring positioned between said type carrying element and said interposer means in contact with said interposer means and being stiffer than said interposer means spokes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 23 characterized by a damping disc positioned to engage said interposer means on the side away from said type carrying element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 characterized by said interposer means spokes having inclined cam surfaces on the side toward said print hammer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |