Printer mechanism

Claim 2

A record material feed mechanism comprising: a. means engaging a record member for moving the record member when operated; b. a first drive member for operating said moving means to move the record material a distance commensurate with the movement of said first drive member; c. a second drive member mounted for movement adjacent said first drive member for engaging and moving said first drive member a first predetermined distance when actuated; d. a third drive member mounted for movement adjacent said first drive member for engaging and moving said first drive member a second predetermined distance when actuated, said second and third drive members mounted in a side-by-side relationship; e. means engaging said second and third drive members for normally urging said drive members towards an overlapped position; f. and actuating means engaging said second and third drive members for reciprocally moving said drive members between a first and second actuated position, said actuating means moving the second and third drive members into a tandem position against the action of said engaging means when moving the drive members from said first to said second actuated position whereby the first drive member will move the record material a distance equal to the sum of said first and second predetermined distances, said actuating means further moving the second and third drive members into an overlapped position when moving the drive members from said second position to said first position whereby the record material will be moved a distance less than the sum of said first and second predetermind distances.

Claim 3

The feed mechanism of claim 1 in which said actuating means includes: a. cam members each engaging one of said second and third drive members; b. and means for operating said cam members whereby said second and third drive members are simultaneously moved by said cam members between said first and second actuated position and between an overlapped and tandem position thereby varying the length of movement of said first drive member.

Claim 4

The feed mechanism of claim 1 in which said urging means comprises a spring member engaging each of said second and third drive members for normally urging said drive members towards an overlapped position.

Claim 5

A record material feed mechanism comprising: a. means engaging a record material for moving the record material when operated; b. a rotatably mounted gear member for operating said moving means to move the record material a distance commensurate to the rotation of said gear member; c. a first gear segment rotatably mounted adjacent said gear member for engaging and rotating said gear member, when actuated, a first predetermined distance; d. a second gear segment rotatably mounted adjacent said gear member for engaging and rotating said gear member, when actuated, a second predetermined distance, said first and second gear segments mounted in a side-by-side relationship; e. means engaging said first and second gear segments for normally urging said segments towards an overlapped position; f. and actuating means engaging said gear segments for reciprocally rotating said gear segments between a first and second actuated position, said actuating means simultaneously rotating said gear segments into engagement with said gear member for moving the record material a distance commensurate with the rotation of the gear member and positioning said segments under the action of said urging means in a tandem position during movement of the gear segments from said first to said second actuated position and in an overlapped position during movement of the gear segments from said second to said first actuated position whereby the movement of the record material to said first actuated position is less than the movement to said second actuated position.

Claim 6

A record material feed mechanism comprising: a. means engaging a record material for moving the record material when operated; b. a rotatably mounted gear member for operating said moving means to move the record material a distance commensurate to the rotation of said gear member; c. a first gear segment rotatably mounted adjacent said gear member for engaging and rotating said gear member, when actuated, a first predetermined distance; d. a second gear segment rotatably mounted adjacent said gear member for engaging and rotating said gear member, when actuated, a second predetermined distance, said first and second gear segments mounted in a side-by-side relationship; e. means engaging said first and second gear segments for normally urging said segments towards an overlapped position; f. and actuating means engaging said gear segments for reciprocally rotating said gear segments between a first and second actuated position, said actuating means simultaneously rotating said gear segments into engagement with said gear member for moving the record material a distance commensurate with the rotation of the gear member and positioning said segments under the action of said urging means in a tandem position during movement of the gear segments from said first to said second actuated position and in an overlapped position during movement of the gear segments from said second to said first actuated position whereby the movement of the record material to said first actuated position is less than the movement to said second actuated position.

Claim 7

The feed mechanism of claim 4 in which said gear segments each have a predetermined number of gear teeth on their peripheral edge which engage and rotate said gear member upon movement of the gear segments between said first and second actuated position, the number of gear teeth which engage the gear member being changed between an overlapped and tandem position whereby the length of movement of the record material is changed when moved between said first and second actuated positions.

Claim 8

The feed mechanism of claim 4 in which a. said urging means comprises a spring member engaging each of said gear segments for normally moving said gear segments toward an overlapped position; b. said actuating means includes cam members each engaging one of said gear segments; c. and means for operating said cam members whereby the gear segments are simultaneously moved between said first and second actuated position by said cam members to rotate said gear member and to position said gear segments in an overlapped and tandem position thereby varying the length of rotation of said gear member.

Claim 9

The feed mechanism of claim 6 in which said cam member operating means includes a. a rotatably mounted shaft member to which is secured said cam member for rotating said cam members when operated; b. a constantly operating drive means; c. a shaft member drive means engaging said shaft member and positioned adjacent said constantly operating drive means; d. selectively operative clutch means engaging both of said drive means for interconnecting said drive means when operated; e. and selectively operated actuating means engaging said clutch means for operating said clutch means whereby said shaft member is operated by said constantly operating drive means to rotate said cam members.

Claim 10

In a data terminal device constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on print lines located on a record member, a mechanism for feeding a record member between a home position and a printing position including: a. a drive roller engaging the record member for moving the record member a distance commensurate with the rotation of the drive roller; b. gear means engaging said drive roller for rotating said drive roller when operated; c. a first rotatably mounted gear segment positioned adjacent said gear means, said gear segment engaging said gear means, when actuated, to operate said gear means to move the record member a predetermined distance between the home position and the printing position; d. a second rotatably mounted gear segment positioned adjacent said first gear segment, said second gear segment engaging said gear means, when actuated, to operate said gear means to move the record member a predetermined distance between the home position and the printing position; e. means engaging said gear segments for normally urging said gear segments towards an overlapped position; f. cam members engaging each of said gear segments for reciprocally actuating said segments between a first and second actuated position and moving said segments between an overlapped and tandem position when operated; g. and means for operating said cam members whereby said cam members will simultaneously rotate said gear segments into engagement with said gear means for moving the record member a predetermined length and positioning said gear segments under the action of said urging means in a tandem position during movement of the gear segments from said home position to said printing position and in an overlapped position during movement from said printing position to said home position to position a different portion of the record member adjacent the printing position during each succeeding printing operation.

Claim 11

In a data terminal device constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on print lines located on a record member, a mechanism for feeding a record member between a home position and a printing position including: a. a drive roller engaging the record member for moving the record member a distance commensurate with the rotation of the drive roller; b. gear means engaging said drive roller for rotating said drive roller when operated; c. a first rotatably mounted gear segment positioned adjacent said gear means, said gear segment engaging said gear means, when actuated, to operate said gear means to move the record member a predetermined distance between the home position and the printing position; d. a second rotatably mounted gear segment positioned adjacent said first gear segment, said second gear segment engaging said gear means, when actuated, to operate said gear means to move the record member a predetermined distance between the home position and the printing position; e. means engaging said gear segments for normally urging said gear segments towards an overlapped position; f. cam members engaging each of said gear segments for reciprocally actuating said segments between a first and second actuated position and moving said segments between an overlapped and tandem position when operated; g. and means for operating said cam members whereby said cam members will simultaneously rotate said gear segments into engagement with said gear means for moving the record member a predetermined length and positioning said gear segments under the action of said urging means in a tandem position during movement of the gear segments from said home position to said printing position and in an overlapped position during movement from said printing position to said home position to position a different portion of the record member adjacent the printing position during each succeeding printing operation.

Claim 12

The feed mechanism of claim 8 in which said gear segments each have a predetermined number of gear teeth on their peripheral edge which engage and rotate said gear means upon movement of the gear segments between said first and second actuated positions, the number of gear teeth which engage the gear means being changed between an overlapped and tandem position whereby the length of movement of the record material is changed when moved between said first and second actuated positions.

Claim 13

The feed mechanism of claim 8 in which said urging means comprises a spring member engaging each of said gear segments for normally urging said gear segments towards an overlapped position.

Claim 14

The feed mechanism of claim 8 in which said cam member operating means includes a. a rotatably mounted shaft member to which is secured said cam member for rotating said cam members when operated; b. a constantly operating drive means; c. a cam shaft member drive means engaging said shaft member and positioned adjacent said constantly operating drive means; d. selectively operated clutch means engaging both of said drive means for interconnecting said drive means when operated; e. and selectively operated actuating means engaging said clutch means for operating said clutch means whereby said shaft member is operated by said constantly operating drive means to rotate said cam members.