GB1306703A - High speed matrix printer - Google Patents

Abstract

1306703 Selective printing MOHAWK DATA SCIENCES CORP 13 March 1970 [1 April 1969] 12305/70 Heading B6F A matrix printer for printing alpha/numeric characters along the edge of a punched tape (1, Fig. 1) comprises: electrically energizable coils 25, Fig. 3, and (Fig. 5) spaced along and wound around a centre pole 23; styli wires 22 of different lengths which are attached to the coils and extend substantially parallel to the centre pole; and permanent magnets 11 and pole members 13 and 14 for providing paths for the magnetic lines of force from the magnets across the sides of the coils in direction substantially perpendicular to their axes. Selectively operable circuit means (Fig. 8), controlled by a reader for the tape (1), energizes selected coils 25 in alternate directions, thereby causing each selected coil to move along the centre pole 22 and return to its original location, whereby the styli wires are selectively moved to and from the print position. The styli wires 22 are closely spaced along the are of a circle having its centre at the axis of the coils, so that they extend effectively in a straight line and protrude through a line of apertures 21 in a print head 19, Figs. 3 and (2). To lessen mechanical inertia, the wires 22 are hollow (Fig. 2a). Replaceable tips (not illustrated) are put on the printing ends of the wires, and are adjustable so that they consistently strike the ink ribbon (2) and tape (1) against the platen (3, Fig. 1) with equal force. The centre pole 23 has an axial bore 23a and radial branch passages 23b for supplying cooling gas to the coils 25 from a hose (10, Fig. 1).