The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 18, 1983
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1981
Robert L Brass, Westport, CT (US);
John F Frega, Holmdel, NJ (US);
Centronics Data Computer Corporation, Hudson, NH (US);
Abstract
A computer controlled impact printer has a replaceable ribbon guide assembly mounted on a printhead. The assembly is movable vertically between at least two stable positions. Each position places a differently colored portion of the ribbon between the printhead and a sheet of paper. Rotation of a pair of opposed cams changes the vertical position of the assembly. One cam is fixed and the other is rotatable by a pawl operating on a ratchet wheel secured to the cam. The pawl is mounted on the assembly for a longitudinal sliding movement. Movement of the printhead to a preselected position at or near one end of its travel path drives the pawl into an abutment surface which displaces the pawl a predetermined distance. The displacement rotates the movable cam from one stable vertical position to another. The mating cam surfaces preferably have matching sawtooth configurations with recesses formed in the tips of the teeth of one cam. The cams are biased towards one another and the pawl is biased towards the abutment surface.