Data Products Corporation

Other

Val K Jezbera

A hammer assembly for incorporation in a hammer bank assembly useful in high-speed impact printers of the type generally employed in data processing systems is disclosed to comprise an impact tip carried on a rigid coil structure disposed in a permanent magnet field, a foot member for precisely, removably positioning the hammer assembly with respect to the hammer bank assembly, and first and second conductive spring members supporting the rigid coil structure from the foot member and, concurrently coupling the ends of the coil within the rigid coil structure to electronics associated with that particular hammer located within the impact printer. The first and second spring members serve to provide a restoring force to return a rest position within the hammer bank assembly after impact energization of the coil has been discontinued. The first and second spring members extend through the foot member and are formed to have U-shaped contact terminals on their free ends which may be removably inserted into specially adapted receptacle holes coupled appropriately with the hammer drive electronics. The first and second spring members are appropriately pre-bent to readily enable removal and insertion of the hammer assembly from and to its appropriate position within the hammer bank assembly. Appropriate segments of the extent of each of the first and second spring members are formed to have a reduced cross-sectional dimension in a plane of bending between the foot member and the specially adapted insertion holes. The insertion holes are formed to have two keyways, diametrically opposed, to receive the external shape of the arms of the U-shaped contact terminals of the spring members.

Field replaceable print hammer

A cooling apparatus for a hammer bank assembly of an impact printer. The cooling apparatus directs air onto each hammer and magnet of the hammer bank assembly and maintains the temperature differential of the hammers and magnets within predetermined ranges.

Cooling assembly for hammer bank

A hammer bank assembly for use in line printers. The assembly includes an extruded metal rear frame having a uniform thickness and a plurality of machined mounting surfaces which are machined in accurate relationship with respect to one another. A pair of extruded plastic shoes are mounted to the top and bottom of the frame and also include machined surfaces for accurately aligning them with respect to the frame. The shoes include a plurality of mounting slots which are cut by means of a gang cutter. The slots serve to accurately align a plurality of print hammers in the shoes. The hammers are insulated with respect to the frame and the shoes in order to prevent sliding motion and subsequent wearing of the print hammers. Also disclosed are several methods of simplifying the construction procedure of the hammer bank assembly.

Method of making a hammer bank assembly

A compact band printer system incorporating an inverted character band and a hammer bank assembly in which the hammer bank frame serves as the main support frame for the printer. Ribbon, band pulley and tractor drive assemblies are all supported by the hammer bank frame. A platen is secured to the frame and serves to increase the rigidity of the structure.

Compact band printer

Disclosed is a unique wire coil having flat sides and a maximum packing density. The coil is wound in a hex fashion (i.e., with each interior turn of the coil being in contact with six other turns of the coil) and has a plurality of turns and a plurality of layers of turns. The coil is wound generally perpendicular to a central axis, and each layer of turns is wound at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect to the axis, which results in a coil having flat sides.

Print hammer and coil assembly

An improved print hammer incorporating crossed-spring support wires having a round cross section so as to render the hammer relatively flexible in a direction lateral to hammer travel during printing. The spring wires are connected between a lower body portion and a foot section. The lower body portion and foot section are designed so that the spring wires enter them substantially perpendicularly, thereby reducing stress. The foot section incorporates a pair of mounting pegs which serve to accurately locate the hammers in a hammer bank assembly. A pair of weights can be included on the spring wires in order to dampen recoil motion which occurs after the hammer impacts against a print character. The crossing point of the spring is positioned so that the springs are flexed by a constant bending moment, thereby reducing stress on the springs.

Print hammer

Hammer bank assembly

This print hammer assembly method utilizes an elongated thin metal strip punched to form repetitive flag panels each having a flag region non-symmetrically linked to a surrounding frame, and a connector arm extending obliquely between the frame and flag. All assembly steps are performed while maintaining the panels connected in the strip. A flat coil, centered by a boss on the flag region, is sandwiched between and adhesively bonded to the strip and a second flag panel severed from another like strip. Spring wires are attached to the connector arms of both panels before sandwiching, and the coil leads are subsequently attached to the connector arms. Simultaneous soldering of the coil leads and spring wires to the connector arms is carried out from one side of the assembly strip, advantageously using solder paste and focused infrared heating. After discarding the excess frame portions, the hammers are embedded in a molding compound while still linked together in a strip. After molding, the links are severed to separate the individual hammers.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Val K Jezbera