Imprinting means for a computer access terminal

Claim 1

In a computer access terminal having a keyboard means for entering data into said terminal, and an imprinting means for printing data on a record medium inserted in said terminal in response to data entered on said keyboard means and an imprint signal from said terminal; said imprinting means comprising: a frame means for securing said imprinting means to said terminal; a plurality of amount wheel means rotatably mounted in said frame means for representing a multi-digit number; indexing means for each amount wheel means for incrementally indexing the associated said amount wheel means one digit position relative to a print line each time the indexing means is actuated so that each amount wheel means is successively indexed a predetermined number of times to effect a predetermined number of digit positions of indexing corresponding to an associated digit entered on said keyboard means; and actuating means for each said indexing means to actuate each said indexing means the associated said predetermined number of times upon the occurrence of said imprint signal; said indexing means for each said amount wheel means comprising: teeth means having a plurality of teeth on each amount wheel means; a pawl means having first and second ends, and means for mounting said pawl means in said frame means at a point between its said first and second ends but close to said second end for pivotal movement between first and second positions relative to the associated said amount wheel means; and a spring means; the associated said actuating means, when energized, being effective to pivot said pawl means to said second position against the bias of the associated said spring means to enable said second end of said pawl means to enter a space between two adjacent said teeth of the associated said amount wheel means to thereby enable said second end to partially index said associated amount wheel means one digit position in an indexing direction upon said pawl means reaching said second position, and with said spring means being effective to pivot said pawl means to said first position to enable said first end to engage a next succeeding said tooth to rotate said amount wheel means in said indexing direction to complete the indexing of said amount wheel means one digit position as said pawl means is returned to said first position by the associated said spring means upon each momentary energization of the associated said actuating means; each said amount wheel means having a lug on the periphery thereof, and a switch means cooperating with said lug to close said switch means when said lug contacts said switch means to thereby deactivate the associated said actuating means to thereby align said amount wheel means in a home position with reference to said printing line prior to indexing each said amount wheel means said predetermined number of times to effect a predetermined number of digit positions of indexing corresponding to an associated digit entered on said keyboard means; said teeth on each said amount wheel means being arranged on a side thereof in the form of a gear and each tooth having straight sides converging in a point and with the sides of two adjacent teeth being substantially perpendicular to each other; each said pawl means being U-shaped with said first and second ends thereof being substantially parallel to each other and with said first end being substantially parallel to and contacting one side of a tooth on the associated saiD amount wheel means to align the associated said amount wheel means in an aligned position with reference to said printing line; each said amount wheel means having a plurality of digits around a portion of the periphery thereof and also having a flat portion on said periphery; said terminal having slot therein to guide a credit card over said plurality of amount wheel means; each said amount wheel means having its associated flat portion aligned with said printing line when in said home position to enable said credit card to be moved in said slot over said plurality of amount wheel means when each said amount wheel means is in said home position; and each said pawl means having a connection point located thereon between its associated first and second ends and being displaced from said point at which said pawl means is pivotally mounted; said indexing means for each said amount wheel means including link means connecting each said pawl means at said connection point with its associated said actuating means.