A driver mechanism for a dot matrix printhead, including an electromagnet, an armature, and a print impact element connected to the armature by a cantilever spring, energization of the electromagnet and consequent movement of the armature to closed position driving the impact element to impact a record sheet supported on a platen; a concentrated mass load is mounted on the spring, sufficient to maintain the impact element essentially in its rest position during a substantial portion of the armat...

A thermal printhead according to the present invention includes an insulating head substrate (8) having an obverse surface (8a), a reverse surface (8b), a first longitudinal edge surface (8c) and a second longitudinal edge surface (8d). The surface (8a) of the head substrate (8) is formed with an array of heating dots (10a) along the first longitudinal edge surface (8c), a common electrode pattern (11) electrically connected to the array of heating dots (10a) adjacent to the first longitudinal e...

A thermal printhead is provided which comprises an insulating head substrate, a conductor pattern formed on the head substrate, a row of heating dots formed on the head substrate in electrical conduction with the conductor pattern, an array of drive ICs mounted on the head substrate and spaced from the row of heating dots, a resin body enclosing the array of drive ICs, and a protective coating covering the conductor pattern together with the row of heating dots. The protective coating comprises ...

A printhead assembly includes an elongate ink reservoir arrangement that defines a plurality of ink reservoirs, particular inks being received in respective ink reservoirs. A plurality of printhead modules are releasably engaged with the ink supply. Each printhead module includes a plurality of ink chambers in fluid communication with respective ink reservoirs. A micro-electromechanical printhead chip is mounted on each respective printhead module and has inlets in fluid communication with the i...

A print member of the printhead of a ballastic type wire matrix printer terminates in an impression end and in an activation end. A cap is formed at the activation end for contact by the blade-like armature of an activating electromagnet. A tip is formed at the activating end of the member with a first layer of a relatively stiff plastic material affixed to and surrounding the tip and a second layer of relatively tough and abrasion resistive plastic material is affixed to the first layer and pos...

A device for biasing at least one thermal printhead into uniform, tangential contact with the printing media includes a shaft supported by a housing, an assembly rotatable about the shaft for supporting at least one thermal printhead, and at least one biasing spring for establishing and maintaining adequate torsion on the supporting assembly so as to substantially minimize or eliminate positional instability of the printhead. In the event a plurality of thermal printheads are utilized, the biasi...

Disclosed is a mechanism for mounting a print head or like device to the shuttle of a printer. The mechanism includes means for securely fastening the print head to the shuttle and is designed to facilitate easy removal and replacement of the print head. The print head includes a cylindrical head section and a generally tapering guide section and has a pair of wedge-shaped locking fins integrally molded on opposite side of the guide sections. In addition, a pair of bosses are molded on the guide...

A printhead alignment mechanism is used in a non-impact type printer, such as a thermal printer for use, typically, in an electronic calculator. The printhead may pivot in a direction around an axis that is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the print roller over which the printing medium is driven. The printhead may also pivot in a direction around an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the print roller. This enables the printhead to follow small irregularities in the printing medium an...

An impact printer is described having a control circuit for varying the location at which the printing elements of a printhead are actuated in order to compensate for flight time of the elements and other mechanical characteristics of the printer.

A printhead module for a printhead assembly incorporating a number of modules spaced across a pagewidth in a drop on demand ink jet printer includes a first micro-molding and a second micro-molding separated by a mid-package film layer. The mid-package film layer has laser ablated holes and an adhesive layer on both faces providing adhesion between the first micro-molding, the mid-package film layer and the second micro-molding. The first and second micro-moldings are held in alignment by pins p...