Matrix printing head

Claim 1

A printing head comprising a plurality of flat, straight printing elements of equal length, a plurality of pot-shaped electromagnetic driving elements, each printing element being connected with a different one of said driving elements to be driven in a printing direction upon activation of that driving element to which it is connected, said driving elements being aligned and each having a central opening registering with the central openings of the others of said plurality of driving elements, and each printing element extending through the central opening of each driving element, a carrier supporting said plurality of driving elements and having a front piece and a rear piece, said front and rear pieces each having an opening registering with said central openings of said driving elements, each of said printing elements extending into said openings of said front and rear pieces, spring elements disposed in the openings of the front and rear pieces and engaging and guiding said plurality of printing elements, each driving element comprising a body, coil means, electrical connector means projecting from the body, a tubular armature, a connector element movable with the armature, return spring means associated with said armature, each said connector element constituting means connecting an associated printing element with said driving element, pedestal means comprising a pair of clamping elements disposed on opposite sides of the carrier movable toward each other to clamp an assembly of carrier, driving elements and printing elements therebetween, said clamping elements constituting heat sink means, said pedestal including electrical contact means for cooperation with said electrical connector means of said driving elements.