Printer having plural type wheel assembly

Claim 2

A printer comprising a carriage adapted to be shifted along a line to be printed and carrying a plurality of type wheels each having a plurality of type elements spaced around respective areas of its circumference, selection means connected with said type wheels for rotating them and shifting them laterally within said carriage for bringing a respective area of any one of said type wheels into a printing position, impact means including a hammer movable along a line to be printed to bring said hammer into a printing position opposite the selected area for impacting a record medium between said hammer and any type element in said printing position, carry means interconnecting said impact means and said carriage for moving them unitarily along the line to be printed, return means for returning said carriage and said impact means to their initial position for the start of printing of the next line, and control means responsive to a particular rotary position of at least one of said type wheels for operating said return means by the actuation of said carry means with said at least one type wheel being placed in said particular rotary position.

Claim 3

A printer according to claim 1, said particular rotary position being a blank portion formed free of any type element.

Claim 4

A printer according to claim 1, said carry means including a rack having a plurality of teeth extending along the line to be printed and a cam member carried by said impact means and having a helical projection adapted to engage said teeth to move said impact means and said carriage upon rotation of said cam.

Claim 5

A printer according to claim 3, including a unidirectional drive motor, and said selection means, said impact means, said carry means and said return means each receiving its motive power from said motor.

Claim 6

A printer according to claim 1, including a unidirectional drive motor, and said selection means, said impact means, said carry means and said return means each receiving its motive power from said motor.

Claim 7

A printer according to claim 1, further comprising feed means for feeding said record member for printing of a new line upon actuation of said return means.

Claim 8

A printer according to claim 6, including a unidirectional drive motor, and said selection means, said impact means, said carry means, said return means and said feed means each receiving its motive power from said motor.

Claim 9

A printer comprising a carriage adapted to be shifted along a line to be printed and carrying a plurality of type wheels each having a plurality of type elements spaced around respective areas of its circumference, selection means connected with said type wheels for rotating them and shifting them laterally within said carriage for bringing a respective area of any one of said type wheels into a printing position, impact means including a hammer movable along a line to be printed to bring said hammer into a printing position opposite the selected area for impacting a record medium between said hammer and any type element in said printing position, carry means interconnecting said impact means and said carriage for moving them unitarily along the line to be printed, return means for returning said carriage and said impact means to their initial position for the start of printing of the next line, and control means responsive to a particular rotary position of at least one of said type wheels for operating said return means by the actuation of said carry means with said at least one type wheel being placed in said particular rotary position, said carry means including a rack having a plurality of teeth extending along the line to be printed and a cam member carried by said impact means and having a helical projection adapted to engage said teeth to move said impact means and said carriage upon rotation of said cam, said return means including a spring urging said impact means and said carriage towards their initial position, and means connected to said rack for rotating it into a dis-engaged position out of engagement with said helical projection to enable said spring to return said impact means and said carriage to their initial position upon actuation of said carrying means with said at least one type wheel being placed in said particular rotary position.

Claim 10

A printer comprising a carriage adapted to be shifted along a line to be printed and carrying a plurality of type wheels each having a plurality of type elements spaced around respective areas of its circumference, selection means connected with said type wheels for rotating them and shifting them laterally within said carriage for bringing a respective area of any one of said type wheels into a printing position, impact means including a hammer movable along a line to be printed to bring said hammer into a printing position opposite the selected area for impacting a record medium between said hammer and any type element in said printing position, carry means interconnecting said impact means and said carriage for moving them unitarily along the line to be printed, return means for returning said carriage and said impact means to their initial position for the start of printing of the next line, and control means responsive to a particular rotary position of at least one of said type wheels for operating said return means by the actuation of said carry means with said at least one type wheel being placed in said particular rotary position, said carry means including a rack having a plurality of teeth extending along the line to be printed and a cam member carried by said impact means and having a helical projection adapted to engage said teeth to move said impact means and said carriage upon rotation of said cam, said return means including a spring urging said impact means and said carriage towards their initial position, and means connected to said rack for rotating it into a dis-engaged position out of engagement with said helical projection to enable said spring to return said impact means and said carriage to their initial position upon actuation of said carrying means with said at least one type wheel being placed in said particular rotary position.

Claim 11

A printer according to claim 8, said return means including a hold means for holding said rack in said dis-engaged position until a command is given to begin the printing of another line.

Claim 12

A printer according to claim 9, said hold means including a receiving tooth formed on said rack and a rack returning member located adjacent said initial position and adapted to return said rack from its dis-engaged position to engage said helical portion and said cam member only when said impact means is in its initial position.

Claim 13

A printer according to claim 8, including a unidirectional drive motor, and said selection means, said impact means, said carry means and said return means each receiving its motive power from said motor.