Interface Mechanisms, Inc.

Precor Incorporated

Tunturi, Inc.

Kenneth G Real

Gary M Bang

Larry P Ellefson

Timothy O Armstrong

Robert J Brooks

James S Birrell

David J Littrell

Jeffrey S Heaton

Gustavo Aramburu

John A Manthey

Recumbent exercise bike

Recumbent exercise cycle

An exercise treadmill (10) includes a self contained lift mechanism (24) extending upwardly from a forward central portion of a frame structure (12) adjacent the forward end of an endless belt (14) supported by an underlying deck (20) and defining a running surface. This mechanism is operated by a hand crank that is rotatable by a user while standing on the treadmill running surface. The frame structure (12) includes a pair of side rails (30,31) each having inside, top and outside wall portions (48,46,52). Each of the wall portions includes an interior groove extending substantially along their entire lengths wherein the interior of the groove is configured to receive hardware members at any location along the groove or directly receive the threaded ends of threaded hardware members used to mount the deck (20) and other components to the frame structure (12).

Exercise treadmill

A guide which maintains an edge surface of a tape, such as an elongated strip of print stock, in contact with a reference surface formed on a base of the guide as the tape is moved in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path. Preferably, the guide includes a first roller which is mounted on the base in proximity to the reference surface and which has an axis of rotation which is inclined, in an imaginary plane parallel to the predetermined direction of tape movement, from a normal drawn to the reference surface. A second roller is also mounted on the base in proximity to the reference surface and has its axis of rotation substantially parallel to that of the first roller, with corresponding portions of the peripheral surfaces of the first and second rollers being in proximity to each other to define a nip therebetween for compressing the tape. A stock sensor is supported in the base and defines a slot which is aligned with the nip of the first and second rollers, with a light source and a light sensor being disposed in portions of the stock sensor defining the slot and opposing each other across the slot.

Tape guide particularly useful as a print stock guide for impact printers

An improved hammer bank assembly includes a plurality of spaced-apart hammers, each of the hammers including a substantially planar hammer body containing an electrical coil, with each hammer body being supported for movement in a predetermined plane. A hammer head is attached to and coplanar with each hammer body. Also included are a plurality of flat permanent magnets interleaved with the plurality of hammers so that adjacent ones of the permanent magnets oppose but are separated from each hammer body. A plurality of hammer guide members are provided, one for each hammer, with each hammer guide member defining therein an elongated groove in which is received at least a portion of each hammer head. The dimensions of each groove in a direction transverse to the predetermined plane of hammer movement, are such that the hammer head contacts the hammer support member upon deflection of the hammer in directions transverse to its predetermined plane of movement before its associated body contacts either of the adjacent, opposing permanent magnets to prevent damage to the coil within the hammer body.

Impact printer including hammer bank assembly

An automated label applicator includes an elongated arm which is rotatable between a first position, in which the label applicator receives an adhesive-backed label as it is being separated from an elongated strip of label stock backing, and a second position, in which the label is removed from the label applicator by progressive engagement of the adhesive backing with a moving surface. In the label-receiving position, the label is directed between a first pin upstanding from the elongated arm, and a second pin supported for rotation about the first pin, by a spring arm which extends transversly from the first pin. The spring arm is normally biased against the second pin, but is deflected therefrom only when the elongated arm is in the label-receiving position. Upon initial rotation of the elongated arm toward the label-applying position, the spring arm is released to press the label against the second pin. A fixed pin coacting with a slot in a member supporting the second pin causes the member, and thus the second pin, to rotate about the first pin upon subsequent rotation of the elongated arm toward the label-applying position. When the elongated arm has reached a position intermediate the label-receiving and label-applying positions, the fixed pin exits from the slot and a cam-actuated rod mounted on the elongated arm enters a second slot in the member to fix the position of the member for subsequent rotation of the elongated arm toward the label-applying position. The thus-fixed position of the member establishes an orientation of the second pin with respect to the first pin, which accordingly orients the label in a position to be applied to the desired surface. Rotation of the elongated arm is provided by a stepping motor under control of a circuit which receives inputs from a label transport apparatus moving the elongated strip of label stock backing, from a sensor detecting when the elongated arm is in the label-receiving position, and from a sensor detecting proximity of the desired surface to the label-applying position. An arrangement is shown in which the elongated arm is also moved to a waiting position, spaced apart from a label-applying position, until such a time as the desired surface is in proximity to the label-applying position.

Automated label applicator

An impact printer is disclosed for imprinting characters in succession on print stock such as that comprising an elongated strip of label stock backing having a lower edge surface, an upper edge surface, a front surface and a back surface and further comprising a plurality of labels removably adhering to and spaced along a front surface of the elongated strip. The impact printer moves the print stock under tension along a predetermined path past a print station including a hammer capable of controllable, reciprocative movement in a predetermined plane to contact the back surface of the print stock. In order to maintain the print stock properly aligned in a vertical direction with respect to the hammer as it moves in its predetermined plane, a first guide includes a planar reference surface normal to the predetermined plane and is located in proximity to the print station and to the predetermined path of print stock movement. A second guide is located in proximity to the print station for urging the lower edge surface of the print stock into contact with the reference surface. The second guide includes a surface, against which the front surface of the label stock is pressed, whose vertical dimension is normal to the reference surface at a location adjacent the print station and which is inclined with respect to that normal at a location adjacent the supply position.

Print stock guide for impact printers

An improved hammer assembly is disclosed for use in impact printers having a print station comprising a continuously rotating print wheel and an adjacent hammer mechanism for selectively impacting print stock and an interposed ink ribbon against a raised element on the print wheel to thereby imprint a character on the print stock. The hammer assembly includes an elongated hammer having a hammer surface at one end and an actuating surface at the other end which is engaged by a hammer actuating device in the hammer mechanism having a controllable, substantially reciprocative movement. The elongated hammer is supported for substantially reciprocative, planar movement with respect to a similarly elongated first support member by a pair of linear leaf springs which extend between the elongated hammer and the first support member in a spaced-apart, parallel manner. A second support member is provided for rigidly securing the hammer assembly to a support means in the hammer mechanism and is connected to the first support member by a flexure which is located on the first support member at a location offset from but adjacent to a first end thereof. A pin is located on the first support member at a location offset from but adjacent to a second end thereof and extends at right angles from the first support member and through an aperture in the support means. A cam is rotatable on the pin and engages the aperture in the support means to permit adjustable rotation of the first support member, and accordingly the elongated hammer, with respect to the fixed second support member to insure that the hammer surface is vertically aligned with respect to the print wheel.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Kenneth G Real