Patent US4015699A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4015699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alphanumeric serial printer with a flexible membrane printing element
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1975-10-16
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Granted: 1977-04-05
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Expires: 1995-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A serial printer is provided with a multi-position flexible membrane printing element with columns and rows of print characters disposed coplanarly in spaced apart relationship therein, the flexible printing element being differentially positionable along an X and a Y axis to bring selected print characters into printing alignment with an actuatable hammer, the differential positioning of the printing element being effectuated by a rotatable crank and quadrilateral linkage means in association with a pair of position sectors and a pair of spur gears coupled to the quadrilateral linkage, the pair of position sectors being variably positionable by a first and second plurality of actuatable sector limit stops.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas Kondur, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:45
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J1/00; B41J1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
In a printing device including a supporting frame structure having keyboard input means, a rotatable drive shaft, an actuatable hammer, and means for carrying and transversely moving a web medium relative to said hammer, the improvement comprising: a. rotatable crank means associated with said drive shaft and rotatable therewith in response to said keyboard input means, b. a multi-position printing element operably associated with said hammer and with the web medium carried by said carrying and moving means and having type characters arranged in columns and rows therein, said columns corresponding to a first axis of said printing element and said rows corresponding to a second axis thereof, c. quadrilateral linkage means operably coupled to said crank means and to said printing element and effective in response to said keyboard input means for moving said printing element along its said first and second axes, said linkage means comprising a first and second terminal link connected to said printing element and pivotally coupled together, a first and second drive link pivotally coupled together and coupled also to said crank means, a rotatably mounted first spur gear pivotally coupled to said first terminal link and to said drive link, and a rotatably mounted second spur gear pivotally coupled to said second terminal link and to said second drive link, d. first positioning means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said keyboard input means to selectively position said printing element relative to its said first axis, said first spur gear being mounted at the innermost extremity of said first positioning means, and e. second positioning means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said keyboard input means to selectively position said printing element relative to its said second axis, said second spur gear being mounted at the innermost extremity of said second positioning means, said selective positioning of said printing element relative to said first and second axes occurring concurrently during each rotation of said crank means, whereby individual type characters of said printing element may be selectively positioned relative to said actuatable hammer for serially printing characters on said web medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
In a printing device including a supporting frame structure having keyboard input means, a rotatable drive shaft, an actuatable hammer, and means for carrying and transversely moving a web medium relative to said hammer, the improvement comprising: a. rotatable crank means associated with said drive shaft and rotatable therewith in response to said keyboard input means, b. a multi-position printing element operably associated with said hammer and with the web medium carried by said carrying and moving means and having type characters arranged in columns and rows therein, said columns corresponding to a first axis of said printing element and said rows corresponding to a second axis thereof, c. quadrilateral linkage means operably coupled to said crank means and to said printing element and effective in response to said keyboard input means for moving said printing element along its said first and second axes, said linkage means comprising a first and second terminal link connected to said printing element and pivotally coupled together, a first and second drive link pivotally coupled together and coupled also to said crank means, a rotatably mounted first spur gear pivotally coupled to said first terminal link and to said drive link, and a rotatably mounted second spur gear pivotally coupled to said second terminal link and to said second drive link, d. first positioning means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said keyboard input means to selectively position said printing element relative to its said first axis, said first spur gear being mounted at the innermost extremity of said first positioning means, and e. second positioning means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said keyboard input means to selectively position said printing element relative to its said second axis, said second spur gear being mounted at the innermost extremity of said second positioning means, said selective positioning of said printing element relative to said first and second axes occurring concurrently during each rotation of said crank means, whereby individual type characters of said printing element may be selectively positioned relative to said actuatable hammer for serially printing characters on said web medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 1 wherein said printing element is flexible in structure and substantially diamond-shaped in configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 1 wherein each of the columns and rows of said printing element in which said type characters are arranged is comprised of ten character positions for operatively locating a like number of type characters, a total of 100 character positions and type characters being thereby provided by said printing element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 1 wherein said printing element is comprised of a membrane-like base member having a plurality of equally spaced apart apertures formed therein, said apertures serving to operatively support said type characters arranged in said columns and rows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 4 wherein said membrane-like base member is constructed of polyurethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 4 wherein said type characters operatively supported in said apertures formed in said membrane-like base member are type slugs formed of a phenolic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 1 wherein the rotatable mounting of said first spur gear is effectuated by a first positioning link rotatably supported by the frame structure of said printing device, and the rotatable mounting of said second spur gear is effectuated by a second positioning link also rotatably supported by the frame structure of the printing device, said first and second spur gears being mounted on pins disposed at the innermost extremities of said first and said second positioning links, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 7 wherein said first positioning means comprises: a. a first position sector rotatably mounted on said frame structure in coaxial and yieldably coupled relationship relative to said first positioning link, said first position sector being provided with a plurality of teeth disposed in cooperating relationship relative to the teeth of said first spur gear, and b. a first plurality of activatable sector limit stops disposed in limitable relationship relative to said first position sector, said plurality corresponding in number to the number of character positions in each column and row of said printing element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 7 wherein said second positioning means comprises: a. a second position sector rotatably mounted on said frame structure in coaxial and yieldably coupled relationship to said second positioning link, said second position sector being provided with a plurality of teeth disposed in cooperating relationship relative to the teeth of said second spur gear, and b. a second plurality of activatable sector limit stops disposed in limitable relationship relative to said second position sector, said plurality corresponding in number to the number of character positions in each column and row of said printing element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 1 wherein the pivotal coupling of said first and second spur gears to said first and second terminal links and drive links is such that said drive links are concentrically coupled to said spur gears and said terminal links are eccentrically coupled thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 1 wherein said connection of said printing element to said first and second terminal links is effectuated by the attachment of a projection of said printing element to said second terminal link at a point thereof proximate said pivotal coupling of said second terminal link and said first terminal link, and said coupling of said first and second drive links to said crank means is effectuated by a connecting link pivotally connected at one end thereof to an elongated pin of said crank means and pivotally connected at the other end to the pivotal coupling between said first and second drive links.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a printing device including a supporting frame structure having keyboard input means and an actuatable hammer and effective for serially printing alphabetic and numeric characters on a record medium, the improvement comprising: a. rotatable crank means responsive to said keyboard input means, b. a printing element operably associated with said hammer and said record medium and having a plurality of type characters arranged in columns and rows thereon in coplanar relationship, c. linkage means operably coupled to said crank means and to said printing element, said linkage means comprising a first and second terminal link connected to said printing element and pivotally coupled together, a first and second drive link pivotally coupled together and coupled also to said crank means, a rotatably mounted first spur gear pivotally coupled to said first terminal link and to said first drive link, and a rotatably mounted second spur gear pivotally coupled to said second terminal link and to said second drive link, and d. positioning means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said keyboard input means for selectively positioning said printing element relative to said actuatable hammer such that a type character disposed in a selected column and row thereof is cooperably positioned relative to said hammer to be serially printed thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a printing device including a supporting frame structure having keyboard input means and an actuatable hammer and effective for serially printing alphabetic and numeric characters on a record medium, the improvement comprising: a. rotatable crank means responsive to said keyboard input means, b. a printing element operably associated with said hammer and said record medium and having a plurality of type characters arranged in columns and rows thereon in coplanar relationship, c. linkage means operably coupled to said crank means and to said printing element, said linkage means comprising a first and second terminal link connected to said printing element and pivotally coupled together, a first and second drive link pivotally coupled together and coupled also to said crank means, a rotatably mounted first spur gear pivotally coupled to said first terminal link and to said first drive link, and a rotatably mounted second spur gear pivotally coupled to said second terminal link and to said second drive link, and d. positioning means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said keyboard input means for selectively positioning said printing element relative to said actuatable hammer such that a type character disposed in a selected column and row thereof is cooperably positioned relative to said hammer to be serially printed thereby.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 12 said printing element is flexible in structure and substantially diamond-shaped in configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 12 wherein each of the columns and rows of said printing element in which said characters are arranged is comprised of ten character positions for operatively locating a like number of type characters, a total of 100 character positions and type characters being thereby provided said printing element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 12 wherein said printing element is comprised of a membrane-like base member having a plurality of equally spaced apart apertures formed therein, said apertures serving to operatively support said type characters arranged in said columns and rows.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 15 wherein said membrane-like base member is constructed of polyurethane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement is a printing device defined in claim 15 wherein said type characters operatively supported in said apertures formed in said membrane-like base member are type slugs formed of a phenolic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 12 wherein the rotatable mounting of said first spur gear is effectuated by a first positioning link rotatably supported by the frame structure of said printing device, and the rotatable mounting of said second spur gear is effectuated by a second positioning link also rotatably supported by the frame structure of the printing device, said first and said second spur gears being mounted on pins disposed inward of and adjacent said first and said second positioning links, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
181 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 18 wherein said positioning means comprises: a. a first position sector rotatably mounted on said frame structure in coaxial and yieldably coupled relationship to said first positioning link, said first position sector being provided with a plurality of teeth disposed in cooperating relationship with the teeth of said first spur gear, b. a second position sector rotatably mounted on said frame structure in coaxial and yieldably coupled relationship to said second positioning link, said second position sector being provided with a plurality of teeth disposed in cooperating relationship with the teeth of said second spur gear, c. a first plurality of activatable limit stops disposed in limitable relationship with said first position sector, said plurality corresponding in number to the number of character positions in each column and row of said printing element, and d. a second plurality of activatable limit stops disposed in limitable relationship with said second position sector, said plurality likewise corresponding in number to the number of character positions in each column and row of said printing element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 12 wherein the pivotal coupling of said first and second spur gears to said first and second terminal links and drive links is such that said drive links are concentrically coupled to said spur gears and said terminal links are eccenrically coupled thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
The improvement in a printing device defined in claim 12 wherein said connection of said printing element to said first and second terminal links is effectuated by the attachment of a projection of said printing element to said second terminal link at a point thereof proximate said pivotal coupling of said second terminal link and said first terminal link, and said coupling of said first and second drive links to said crank means is effectuated by a connecting link pivotally connected at one end thereof to an elongated pin of said crank means and pivotally connected at the other end to the pivotal coupling between said first and second drive links.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
309 words
An alphabetic and numeric serial printer including a supporting frame structure keyboard input means, a drive shaft, an actuatable hammer, and means for transversely moving said hammer relative to a paper medium, said printer additionally comprising: a. a crank rotatable by said drive shaft in response to said keyboard input means, b. a printing element operably associated with said hammer and said paper medium and having a plurality of type characters arranged in columns and rows thereon in coplanar relationship, said columns corresponding to a Y axis of said printing element and said rows corresponding to an X axis thereof, and c. positioning means associated with said crank means and with said printing element and responsive to said keyboard input means to selectively and concomitantly activate said printing element along its said Y and X axes to thereby position a selected type character located in a selected column and row of said printing element in impact-receiving relationship with said hammer, whereby said selected type character may be serially printed on said paper medium, said positioning means being comprised of linkage means coupled to said crank, first selective means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said input means to selectively activate the printing element along said Y axis thereof, and second selective means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said input means to selectively activate the printing element along said X axis thereof, said linkage means comprising a first and second terminal link connected to said printing element and pivotally coupled together, a first and second drive link pivotally coupled together and coupled also to said crank, a rotatably mounted first spur gear pivotally coupled to said first terminal link and to said first drive link, and a rotatably mounted second spur gear pivotally coupled to said second terminal link and to said second drive link.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
309 words
An alphabetic and numeric serial printer including a supporting frame structure keyboard input means, a drive shaft, an actuatable hammer, and means for transversely moving said hammer relative to a paper medium, said printer additionally comprising: a. a crank rotatable by said drive shaft in response to said keyboard input means, b. a printing element operably associated with said hammer and said paper medium and having a plurality of type characters arranged in columns and rows thereon in coplanar relationship, said columns corresponding to a Y axis of said printing element and said rows corresponding to an X axis thereof, and c. positioning means associated with said crank means and with said printing element and responsive to said keyboard input means to selectively and concomitantly activate said printing element along its said Y and X axes to thereby position a selected type character located in a selected column and row of said printing element in impact-receiving relationship with said hammer, whereby said selected type character may be serially printed on said paper medium, said positioning means being comprised of linkage means coupled to said crank, first selective means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said input means to selectively activate the printing element along said Y axis thereof, and second selective means coupled to said linkage means and responsive to said input means to selectively activate the printing element along said X axis thereof, said linkage means comprising a first and second terminal link connected to said printing element and pivotally coupled together, a first and second drive link pivotally coupled together and coupled also to said crank, a rotatably mounted first spur gear pivotally coupled to said first terminal link and to said first drive link, and a rotatably mounted second spur gear pivotally coupled to said second terminal link and to said second drive link.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The serial printer defined in claim 22 wherein said printing element is flexible in structure and substantially diamond-shaped in configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
The serial printer defined in claim 22 wherein each of the columns and rows of said printing element in which said type characters are arranged is comprised of ten character positions for operatively locating a like number of type characters, a total of 100 character positions and type characters being thereby provided said printing element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The serial printer defined in claim 22 wherein said printing element is comprised of a membrane-like base member having a plurality of equally spaced apart apertures formed therein, said apertures serving to operatively support said type characters arranged in said columns and rows.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The serial printer defined in claim 25 wherein said membrane-like base member is constructed of polyurethane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The serial printer defined in claim 25 wherein said type characters operatively supported in said apertures formed in said membrane-like base member are type slugs formed of a phenolic material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
76 words
The serial printer defined in claim 22 wherein the rotatable mounting of said first spur gear is accommodated by a first positioning link rotatably supported by said frame structure of said printer, and the rotatable mounting of said second spur gear is accommodated by a second positioning link also rotatably supported by said frame structure, said first and second spur gears being mounted on pins inward of and adjacent said first and said second positioning links.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
100 words
The serial printer defined in claim 28 wherein said first selective means of said positioning means comprises: a. a first position sector rotatably mounted on said frame structure in coaxial and yieldably coupled relationship with said first positioning link, said first position sector being provided with a plurality of teeth disposed in cooperating relationship with the teeth of said first spur gear, and b. a first plurality of activatable limit stops disposed in limitable relationship to said first position sector, said plurality corresponding in number to the number of character positions in each column and row of said printing element.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
100 words
The serial printer defined in claim 28 wherein said second selective means of said positioning means comprises: a. a second position sector rotatably mounted on said frame structure in coaxial and yieldably coupled relationship with said second positioning link, said second position sector being provided with a plurality of teeth disposed in cooperating relationship with the teeth of said second spur gear, and d. a second plurality of activatable limit stops disposed in limitable relationship with said second position sector, said plurality corresponding in number to the number of character positions in each column and row of said printing element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
The serial printer defined in claim 22 wherein the pivotal coupling of said first and second spur gears to said first and second terminal links and drive links is such that said drive links are concentrically coupled to said spur gears and said terminal links are eccentrically coupled thereto.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
106 words
The serial printer defined in claim 22 wherein said connection of said printing element to said first and second terminal links is accommodated by the attachment of a projection of said printing element to said second terminal link at a point thereof proximate said pivotal coupling of said second terminal link and said first terminal link, and said coupling of said first and second drive links to said crank is accommodated by a connecting link pivotally connected at one end thereof to an elongated pin of said crank and pivotally connected at the other end to the pivotal coupling between said first and second drive links.
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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) | 1980-04-04 | 1980-10-04 | 1981-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-04 | 1984-10-04 | 1985-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-04 | 1988-10-04 | 1989-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |