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Title: Impact printer including hammer bank assembly
Claims: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. An improved hammer bank assembly for use in impact printers, said hammer bank assembly comprising: (a) a plurality n of magnet modules, each of said plurality of magnet modules including at least one substantially flat permanent magnet; (b) an assembly support member; (c) first means securing said plurality of magnet modules to said assembly support member in a spaced-apart manner so that said permanent magnets are parallel to each other and define a plurality of air gaps, each said air gap being located between adjacent ones of said plurality of permanent magnets; (d) a plurality of n-1 of hammer modules, each of said plurality of hammer modules including a substantially flat body containing an electrical coil, said body having first and second ends, a hammer head attached to said first end and coplanar with said body, said hammer head having a first portion, of substantially elongated, rectangular configuration, and a second portion integral with and tapering outwardly from said first portion, and a hammer face projecting from said second portion; a base attached to said second end, and a pair of electrically-conductive spring members secured to and extending from said base, said pair of electrically-conductive spring members being interconnected with said electrical coil; (e) a plurality of n-1 of hammer support members, each of said plurality of hammer support members receiving a corresponding said pair of electrically-conductive spring members of one of said plurality of hammer modules to thereby support one of said plurality hammer modules for pivotal movement in a predetermined plane; (f) second means securing said plurality of hammer support members to said assembly support member in a spaced-apart manner so that said bodies of said plurality of hammer modules are parallel to each other and so that said bodies are located in corresponding ones of said plurality of air gaps, whereby each of said hammer modules is free to pivot in its predetermined plane upon application of an electrical signal to said electrical coil via said pair of electrically-conductive spring members; (g) a plurality n-1 of hammer guide members, each of said plurality of hammer guide members defining therein an elongated, substantially rectangular groove complementary to said first portion of each said hammer head; and (h) third means securing said plurality of hammer guide members to said assembly support member in a spaced-apart manner so that said first portion of said head of each of said plurality of hammer modules is received in a corresponding one of said grooves, the dimension of each said groove in a direction transverse to the predetermined plane of hammer movement being larger than a corresponding dimension of said first portion but small enough so that said first portion contacts said hammer support member upon deflection of said hammer module in directions transverse to its predetermined plane before the associated body contacts either of said adjacent ones of said plurality of permanent magnets. 2. A hammer bank assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said assembly support member comprises a support plate; wherein said second means comprises: a plurality of bars, one for each of said plurality of hammer support members, and means for compressing said support plate between each of said plurality of hammer support members and a corresponding one of said plurality of bars. 3. A hammer bank assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said support plate defines a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel slots therein, and wherein said means for compressing includes a plurality of fastener means, each of said plurality of fastener means passing through one of said plurality of bars, through said plurality of slots, and being received in a corresponding one of said plurality of hammer support members. 4. A hammer bank assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said assembly support member comprises a support plate; wherein said first means comprises: a plurality of L-shaped members, one for each of said plurality of magnet modules, each of said plurality of L-shaped members having a first leg, and means for compressing said support plate between each of said magnet modules and a corresponding one of said first legs; wherein said third means comprises a second leg of n-1 ones of said plurality of each said L-shaped members, each said second leg being integral with and extending perpendicularly from its associated first leg and being offset therefrom so as to be substantially coplanar with and extending toward said head of a corresponding one of said plurality of hammer modules in assembly; and wherein each of said hammer guide means includes a first rectangular portion secured to a corresponding one of said second legs, and a second, integral portion having defined therein said groove. 5. A hammer bank assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising a plurality of n-1 of stop means for adjustably determining rest positions for said plurality of hammer modules, each of said stop means including an aperture defined by and extending through said second leg of n-1 ones of said plurality of L-shaped members, and a stop screw received in and rotatable in said aperture and having a tip protruding from said second leg for engaging said first portion of said hammer head of a corresponding one of said plurality of hammer modules. 6. A hammer bank assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said hammer heads and said stop screws are formed from a plastic material. 7. A hammer bank assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said support plate defines a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel slots therein and wherein said means for compressing includes a plurality of fastener means, each of said plurality of fastener means passing through said second leg of one of said pluraity of L-shaped members, through said plurality of slots, and being received in a corresponding one of said plurality of magnet modules. 8. A hammer bank assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said hammer heads are formed from a plastic material. 9. In a hammer bank assembly inculding a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel hammers, each of the hammers including a substantially planar, hammer body containing an electrical coil, each hammer body being supported for movement in a predetermined plane, and a hammer head attached to and coplanar with each hammer body, the hammer bank assembly further including 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, whereby each of the hammers is caused to move in its predetermined plane upon application of an electrical signal to the electrical coil within the corresponding hammer body and a resultant magnetic interaction with the adjacent permanent magnets, the improvement comprising hammer guide means for preventing damage to the electrical coils, said hammer guide means having a pair of opposing, spaced-apart surfaces associated with each hammer, said pair of surfaces being located in proximity to each hammer head and being positioned so that the hammer head contacts one of said pair of surfaces before the attached hammer body contacts either of the adjacent permanent magnets upon deflection of the hammer in directions transverse to the predetermined plane of hammer movement. 10. The improvement as recited in claim 9, wherein each said pair of surfaces includes first and second, opposing, longitudinally-extending surfaces which lie in planes parallel to but separated from the predetermined plane of hammer movement, and wherein each of the hammer heads is provided with a substantially rectangular, elongated portion for contacting either of said first and said second surfaces upon deflection of the hammer. Other info: Inventors: Ellefson, Larry P. (Seattle, WA, US) Brooks, Robert J. (Woodinville, WA, US) Real, Kenneth G. (Redmond, WA, US) Manthey, John A. (Kirkland, WA, US) Application Number: 837829 Filing Date: 1977-09-29 Publication_date: 1979-08-14 Assignee: Interface Mechanisms, Inc. (Mountlake Terrace, WA) Primary Class(es): 101/93.34 101/93.48 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Coven, Edward M. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Christensen, O'Connor, Johnson & Kindness |
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