International Business Machines Corporation

Lexmark International, Inc.

Iraj D Shakib

Thomas R Field

Ashok Murthy

James Philip Harden

Alexander D Meade

Frank Marion Hughes

William A Abell, Jr

Selahattin A Okcuoglu

Krikor Yosmali

Ralph A Haus

William E Mott

William F Voit, Jr

Ignatius L Britto

Robert S Samson

Kevin L Bobart

Edward J Vitek, Jr

Thomas D Souder

Preston O Robards, Jr

A compact printer for liquid toning having a second transfer roller (19) located above a larger, first transfer roller (15). Paper is stored in an lower internal tray (23), moved vertically past the transfer roller (15), and then imaged and fixed at the nip of the second transfer roller and a fixing roller (21) as it is delivered to the top (39) of the printer.

Top delivery liquid toner imaging apparatus

An electrophotographic printer with fixing of the final image on paper (27) by first preheating the image side of the paper on a plate (25) which is in a straight path with the nip of a heated transfer roller (17) and a heated backing roller (21). This permits high temperatures need for fixing liquid toners and avoids paper curling.

Imaging apparatus with straight path fixing

An LED/photodetector structure is disclosed positioned to cooperate with a daisy wheel print element of a daisy wheel printer and a light interrupter such that under microprocessor control, a stepping motor will rotate and home the daisy wheel print element, sense the escapement pitch corresponding to that element, sense the font weight or impact force level associated with that print element and then cause the carrier to be translated to the left frame, thereby engaging the light beam interrupter with the left frame and forcing it into the light beam indicating the presence or the carrier at a known spacial position for homing of the carrier position. The data carried by the print element in the form of apertures formed in the hub thereof and are all spacially positioned within one semicircular portion of the print element hub.

Initializing apparatus for daisy wheel printer

Print wheel cartridge

A print mechanism is described which has a constant current driven solenoid acting against an arch-shaped hammer to power the hammer through an arc of powered flight followed by an arc of free flight. The solenoid/hammer engagement point removes the solenoid to a position which does not obstruct print line visibility and the hammer rest position is withdrawn to improve print line visibility.

Solenoid actuated pivotal printer hammer mechanism

A replaceable font module for a printer includes an interrogable storage containing information representing graphic patterns and is connected to cooperate with a printer upon insertion within a corresponding receptacle. The module and receptacle are configured to allow insertion without intense operator attention by virtue of a camming surface on the module that cooperates with a hook-like latch of the receptacle to provide an undulating but positive latching motion in response to a simple operator insertion motion. As a part of the latching motion, a wiping action to assure a high quality contact with conductor pads on the module that provide a transfer point for the communication path to the storage.

Font module for matrix printer

A feed roll/paper deflector assembly for a printer or typewriter having a platen is described. The feed roll assembly is fabricated in such a way as to allow simple insertion into the printer or typewriter assembly and the retention of the feed roll assembly in a proper position within the typewriter by a hooking engagement with a paper release bail. Movement of the paper release bail will compress a spring allowing the paper deflector and feed rolls to be withdrawn from the periphery of the platen. The device allows automated assembly of the paper feed roll assembly into a machine and, in addition, provides complete self-alignment capability for the feed rolls with respect to the periphery of the platen.

Paper feed roller assembly for a typewriter or printer

A powered gear driven paper insert and line feed mechanism capable of rotating a platen through one half line spacing increments and which is both power operated and disconnectable for manual operation is disclosed. The platen of the typewriter or printer may be manually rotated using platen or may be electronically rotated by energizing the control magnet, thus engaging the clutch assembly to connect the drive motor to the platen. The clutching assembly is such that two separate clutches are operable to disconnect the platen and gear train from the overall clutch apparatus and also to disconnect the drive motor belt and other related hardware which is driven by the drive motor and belt.

Paper insert and line feed mechanism

Disclosed is a mechanism for shifting the rack of a selection mechanism for a single element printer from one position to another in timed relationship to the translation of a barrel cam which provides the necessary mechanical input to control the amount of rotation of the typehead. The control of the rack shift mechanism is a cam arrangement operated in timed relationship with the translating barrel cam to provide for the shifting of the rack at the beginning of each print cycle, if necessary, and the retaining of the rack in its shifted position at the completion of the cycle, thereby eliminating the necessity to provide for the time required to shift the rack back to its home position at the end of the cycle. The elimination of the restore operation of the rack provides more time during the cycle to operate the selection mechanism and accomplish printing or conversely provides for a smaller amount of time being required for the necessary functions thereby providing the capability of operating the remainder of the mechanism at a faster rate.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Iraj D Shakib