A printer employing a steel band having type and control indicia etched along one surface. A variable reluctance transducer senses the control indicia to properly time the operation of the printer. The transducer contains an axial pole and a concentric cylindrical pole, in which are located a coil and a cylindrical magnet.
This invention relates to a system for positioning a high-speed endless loop printing band of the type used on impact band printers. The band positioning apparatus includes a first sensor for being placed adjacent the edge of the endless loop band for detecting the drift of the edge to one side of a reference line. A second sensor is provided adjacent an area of the endless loop printing band for detecting the drift of the edge to the other side of the reference line. A microprocessor is coupled to the first and second sensors for generating a correcting output signal to a step motor. The step motor is coupled to a pulley in guiding communication with the endless loop printing band for displacing the pulley toward the reference line, thereby correcting the undesired movement of the edge of the endless loop printing band.
