SELF-PROPELLED CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY FOR PRINTERS AND THE LIKE

摘要

A reciprocating self-propelled carriage assembly (10) for a printer is slidable along a pair of carriage guide shafts (14, 15), one of which (15) is provided with an elongated rack (16). A small lightweight DC motor (M) of simplified design is mounted upon the carriage for selectively rotating a pinion gear (52b) which meshes with said rack. Registration means for the printer is mounted directly upon the carriage and comprises a Hall effect device (42) for generating pulses by sensing magnetic flux patterns developed by a rotating magnetic member (47) mechanically coupled to the output of said motor to a gear train. A print head mounting bracket (60) is slidably mounted upon said carriage through a dovetail arrangement (61a, 61b, 22b, 22c) and manually operable cam means (98) provided on said carriage positions the print head mounting bracket relative to said carriage for adjusting the position of the print head nose (119) relative to the printer platen (105). Connections to the print head, motor, and Hall effect sensor are obtained through a flat, flexible printed wiring cable (43). The direct drive motor eliminates the need for belts, pulleys, clutches, and conventional power coupling means.