Raymond D Mathews

US Patent:

43458467, Aug 24, 1982

Filed:

Oct 3, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/193879

Inventors:

Raymond D. Mathews - Round Rock TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B41J 132

US Classification:

400157

Abstract:

An impact printer is provided with a print member which comprises a first helical element having a first font of type characters arranged around its periphery; this first helical element is rotatably mounted so as to be linearily movable along an axis adjacent to a print medium. The print member further includes a second helical element having a second font of type characters arranged around its periphery, and this second helical element is rotatably mounted along the same axis in a position interspaced with the first helical element so as to be rotatable and linearily movable along the axis independent of the first helical element. The print member further includes means for rotating the first and second helical elements.

US Patent:

42642248, Apr 28, 1981

Filed:

Mar 19, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/021405

Inventors:

Raymond D. Mathews - Round Rock TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B41J 3110
B41J 3324
B41J 3340
B41J 3308

US Classification:

400235

Abstract:

In order to maintain constant tension on a relatively long expanse of ribbon stretched along the carrier path in impact printer apparatus having off-the-carrier ribbon drive and feed, apparatus is provided for driving a first and a second reel in forward and reverse directions, each reel being adapted to support a portion of an inventory of a ribbon web running along said carrier path from one of said reels to the other at a constant speed differential between the portion of the web being taken up on one of the reels and the portion of the web being supplied on the other of said reels irrespective of the drive direction which comprises a first inelastic drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the web portion on the first reel and a second inelastic drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the web portion on the second reel. A first drive means provided for selectively engaging and driving the first and second belts in the forward direction wherein the first reel takes up the ribbon; in this case, the second drive belt is driven at a speed slower than the first drive belt wherein the ribbon between the reels is maintained under a constant strain. Second drive means to provide for selectively engaging and driving the first and second belts in the reverse direction wherein the second reel takes up the web; the first drive belt in this case is driven at a speed slower than the second belt whereby the ribbon between the reels is also maintained under a constant strain.