ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING HEAD OF PRINTING MACHINE

An actuating mechanism for a printing head of a printing machine in which a printing head is movable to be pressed against a platen roller and an information recording medium is passed between the platen roller and the printing head. The printing head is swingable around a pivot. A set spring is interlocked with the printing head to move the same toward the platen. The set spring is also connected with an actuating lever that is pivotable between first and second detented positions. To avoid the strong banging of the printing head against the platen roller during setting in of the information medium, also connected with the actuating lever is a suppressing member link which holds the printing head off the platen roller and against the force of the set spring when the actuating lever, also connected with the suppressing member link, is pivoted to move the suppressing member link to raise the printing head. Upon movement of the actuating lever to its other detented position, the suppressing member link is raised, which permits the printing head to move toward the platen roller. In an alternate embodiment, the suppressing member link is replaced with a tension spring which also acts to prevent the printing head from moving to bump against the platen roller when the actuating lever is moved to the position at which it should cause the printing head to lift off the platen roller.