Abstract:
Wire matrix dot printing apparatus is disclosed in which a plurality of wire impact members are driven by electromagnetic means arranged in a circular pattern at the rear of a wire matrix print head. The wires are caused to converge following the arc of free bending in the wire from the circular array at the driver end to a parallel and colinear alignment at the printing or output end of the print head. The individual wires are continuously guided from the end where the drivers are located to a point where they are nearly parallel and colinear by utilizing an improved two-piece wire guide consisting of an inner cone with grooves on its surface and an outer shell which confines the wires to the grooves in the inner cone. The shape of the inner cone is such that the paths of the wires converge from a circular array at the driver end of the print head to a nearly colinear and parallel array at the output end of the print head.