Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
An assembly of electromagnetic actuators forming a hammer bank of an impact printer, said actuators arranged side by side and extending along a line, in which each actuator comprises: a first stator part formed with at least one pole piece, a second stator part having a substantially planer central portion formed with at least one pole piece thereon and positioned relative to said first stator part so that said pole pieces are spaced apart so as to form a gap therebetween, a single coil associated with said actuator, mounted on said first stator part, said coil being substantially wider than said second stator part, all of said first stator parts and said second stator parts in said side by side arrangement lying alongside said line, said coil of one actuator engaging said second stator part of an adjacent actuator in said side by side arrangement so that the overall length of the assembly along said line is less than the sum of the widths of the coils in the assembly, an armature member formed with a body of non-magnetizable material, at least one armature element of magnetizable material and a hammer head, and means for supporting said armature member between said stator parts so that said armature element is located adjacent to said gap, whereby energization of said coil causes the generation of a flux which passes across said gap and through said armature element tending to move said armature element into said gap and to cause said hammer head to move into a print position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
An assembly of electromagnetic actuators forming a hammer bank of an impact printer, said actuators arranged side by side and extending along a line, in which each actuator comprises: a first stator part formed with at least one pole piece, a second stator part having a substantially planer central portion formed with at least one pole piece thereon and positioned relative to said first stator part so that said pole pieces are spaced apart so as to form a gap therebetween, a single coil associated with said actuator, mounted on said first stator part, said coil being substantially wider than said second stator part, all of said first stator parts and said second stator parts in said side by side arrangement lying alongside said line, said coil of one actuator engaging said second stator part of an adjacent actuator in said side by side arrangement so that the overall length of the assembly along said line is less than the sum of the widths of the coils in the assembly, an armature member formed with a body of non-magnetizable material, at least one armature element of magnetizable material and a hammer head, and means for supporting said armature member between said stator parts so that said armature element is located adjacent to said gap, whereby energization of said coil causes the generation of a flux which passes across said gap and through said armature element tending to move said armature element into said gap and to cause said hammer head to move into a print position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second stator part has a substantially Y-shaped cross section with a lower leg and a pair of side portions constructed of non-magnetizable material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body of each armature member has a rib extending longitudinally along said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of said stator parts comprises a plurality of grooves, each of said grooves adapted to receive said rib on said armature member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body of each armature member is coated with a layer of low friction material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each armature element extends across the width of the associated armature member and is rectangular in cross section.