DE1253939B - Line printing unit - Google Patents

Description

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

GERMAN

PATENT OFFICE

EDITORIAL

Int. CL:

G06k

German class: 42 m6 -15/10

Number: 1 253 939

File number: R 37497IX c / 42 m6

Filing date: March 19, 1964

Opened on: November 9, 1967

The invention relates to a line printing unit in which the imprint of individual elements of a print mark takes place one after the other and a recording medium to be printed between of print signals controlled actuated pressure cutters and cutting edge-shaped pressure abutments moved transversely to these is arranged.

A printing unit of the type indicated above is known which is parallel to the line direction contains across a sheet-shaped recording medium extending cutting edge with a Pressure abutment cooperates in the form of a helical rib, which on the jacket of a rotating drum is arranged. The pressure cutting edge is at two spaced apart in their longitudinal direction Rods attached, each connected to an armature of a controlled actuated electromagnet are to press the cutting edge against the helical pressure abutment.

It is also a sheet writer for Siemens Hell processes known, which contains a perpendicular to the line direction printing cutting edge that is moved along the line by a link chain when the line is printed. The pressure abutments consist of strips that run parallel to the direction of the line and on a rotating platen are arranged.

A line printing unit of the last-mentioned type is also known, which has several in the longitudinal direction of the lines contains spaced pressure cutting edges that are independent of one another are controllable and movable with one another in the row direction. This printing unit enables a corresponding Specifying different letters in one line to be printed at the same time.

In all known printing units of the type of interest here, the cutting edges that form the pressure and the mechanically moving parts connected to them have a relatively large mass, their inertia limits the printing speed. With the one mentioned at the beginning Printing unit, which contains a relatively long bar forming the pressure cutting edge, also exists the risk that this bar will be deformed by the forces acting on it and the Impact pressure along the line fluctuates accordingly.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a line printing unit of the type mentioned above, which allows high working speeds, provides a clean typeface, simple in construction and is operationally safe. The printing unit should be the desired line printing unit

Applicant:

Radio Corporation of America,

New York, N.Y. (V. St. A.)

Representative:

Dr.-Ing. E. Sommerfeld and Dr. D. v. Bezold,

Patent Attorneys, Munich 23, Dunantstr. 6th

Named as inventor:

Elvin Dean Simshauser, Tucson, Ariz. (V. St. A.)

Claimed priority:

V. St. ν. America March 20, 1963 (266 679)

If necessary, allow a larger number of copies to be made.

A line printing unit in which individual elements of a print mark are printed one after the other takes place and a recording medium to be printed between actuated controlled by print signals Pressure cutting and is arranged transversely to these moving blade-shaped pressure abutments according to the invention characterized in that several juxtaposed and parallel running to the recording medium, extending transversely over this, forming the pressure cutting edges Push rods in each case by legs running obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the push rods with parallel to the recording medium extending holders connected in the manner of a parallelogram joint are and that the push rods by actuating devices coupled to them in their longitudinal direction and are movable in the direction of the recording medium.

In the subject matter of the invention, there are no massive, rigid mountings for the pressure cutting edges required to achieve a uniform impact pressure along a line even with wide recording media to reach. Through the use of several supporting legs, which form a kind of parallelogram or Form pantograph joint between the bracket and the push rod is the subject matter of the invention A uniform impact pressure is achieved at all points along the push rod. For this only needs one in its longitudinal direction on the push rod

709 687/183

directional force to be exerted. Because of the light weight of the push rod assembly it is also permissible that the pressure cutting edges lightly on the surface even in the inactivated state of the recording medium, as this does not generate any markings. Of the when actuated by the push rods to be traversed path can in this way on an absolute Must be kept to a minimum.

As a result of the inclined legs, which are preferably an angle of 45 ° with the push rods and form the fixed bracket, the push rods also move when they are actuated a transverse movement component parallel to the surface of the recording medium, see above that the paper at the stop between the cutting edge and the moving knife-edge pressure abutment is pinched. This results in a particularly sharp typeface in contrast to the hammer-like one Stop in the known case. Another advantage of the subject matter of the invention is that no critical adjustments are necessary to keep the push rods always parallel to the plane, in which the plunger moves to hold. Nor are they complicated joint and lever systems required to ensure a uniform impact pressure along the push rod. Since only very small masses need to be set in motion during actuation, can also the actuating devices must be correspondingly small, and there will still be high operating speeds achieved.

According to a development of the invention, the legs are elastic and exist with the associated One-piece push rod. The brackets can also be made from one leg with the leg Piece.

On the other hand, the legs can also be hinged to the associated bracket and push rod be.

The actuating devices for the push rods contain according to a further embodiment of the Invention at least one rotating drum supported by a flexible part of the associated push rod is wrapped around at a distance, and an electromagnetic arrangement per drum, which the wrapping parts of the push rods in frictional contact with the surface of the circumferential Drum allowed to bring.

When the legs are hinged to the brackets and push rods, the actuating devices each contain an electromagnet that is attached to one with the associated push rod Attacks connected leg. The actuation arrangement can be a permanent magnet included, which counteracts the electromagnet in the return direction.

Another possibility for actuating the push rods is that from the ends the push rods lead away band-shaped elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the push rods, which run around drums rotating in opposite directions, which in pairs at opposite ends of the individual push rods are arranged; the ribbon-shaped elements loosely wrap around the drums and can optionally be turned into frictional contact with the surface of the drums are brought. Furthermore, there is an arrangement provided to cancel the frictional contact after the band-shaped Elements have moved a certain distance in the circumferential direction of the associated drum.

The invention is now to be based on non-restrictive exemplary embodiments in Connection with the drawing will be explained in more detail; it shows

ίο F i g. 1 is a simplified perspective illustration a printing unit according to the invention,

F i g. FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the printhead of the FIG. 1 illustrated printing unit,

F i g. 3 is an enlarged sectional view in a plane 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows,

F i g. 4 is a partial side view of a print head which is different from that in FIG printhead shown is slightly modified,

F i g. 5 is a partial view of a FIG. 2 and 3 corresponding printhead from below with a Operating mechanism for the print head,

F i g. 6 is a simplified view of a printhead such as that shown in FIG. 2 and 3 is shown, from below with another operating mechanism,

F i g. 7 is a schematic view, seen from below, of an arrangement of several actuating mechanisms; similar to that in FIG. 6 shown in a print head as shown in FIG. 2 and 3 is shown, and F i g. 8 is a somewhat simplified partial view of a printhead according to a further embodiment of the invention seen from the side.

In Fig. 1, 10 denotes a recording medium which is guided through the printing unit. Of the Recording medium can comprise a number of blank paper layers, between which in Usually layers of carbon paper are inserted. Like F i g. 1 shows, the carbon paper can be the document paper cover so that the printed record is viewed from above at the exit end of the machine when the carbon paper has been peeled off from the recording paper. if only a single copy is required, one will only use one sheet of document paper that is on top of the The back can be covered with carbon paper. If several copies are required, one becomes more usual Way provide a number of recording media alternating with carbon paper.

The recording medium 10 can be provided with a perforation on one or both edges 12 and be managed in a suitable manner. You can use guides here, as they are for strip-shaped Recording media such as magnetic tapes and motion pictures are common. The recording medium or media can be withdrawn from a supply roll by a sprocket wheel 14 and conveyed through the printing unit, will. The Sprossenrad 14 can either directly or via a transmission, which optionally has a Can contain clutch, by means of an electric motor 16 running at constant speed continuously or driven intermittently.

The recording medium 10 is supported by the flat upper side 20 of a support arrangement 20 supported at an angle 18 and across the width of the recording medium 10 enough. The surface 22 can be longer than the width of the recording medium and wider than the height

of the characters to be printed. An endless belt-like band with a flat outer surface and a corrugated inner surface is guided over the support structure 20 and is secured by a form-fitting, non-slip drive, which includes a pinion 26, driven. The pinion is through a Motor 28 running at constant speed is driven. However, it is also possible for the pinion 26 To be connected via a suitable gear to the motor driving the sprocket 14. In this In this case, successive lines of characters can be printed out with the advance of the recording medium be synchronized.

On the outer surface of the belt 24, a wedge-shaped stop element 30 is attached, which through the tape is guided across the width of the recording medium. If desired, you can contact A plurality of stop elements 30 can also be attached to the band; the band 24 can then correspondingly circulate more slowly.

A print head 32 is located above the recording medium 10 opposite the support element 20 arranged, which is attached to an angle 34 and contains a number of pressure elements 35, the each include a push rod 36. In the illustrated embodiment, there are five of these Printing elements 35 shown side by side. The individual pressure elements 35 have a number provided by legs 40, which protrude laterally at an angle from a push rod 36 and on one fixed bracket 42 are mounted. A housing 44 is attached to the bracket 42 and has an actuating arrangement for the rods 36 receives. The bracket 42 can also be on the opposite side of the angle 34 by a corresponding Angle be supported to make the arrangement more stable. The rods 36 extend longitudinally, i. H. in their longitudinal direction, across the width dimension of the recording medium 10. The push rods 36 present parallel longitudinal edges 38 to the recording medium. These longitudinal edges lie on the sub-support arrangement 20 opposite, and the stop element 30 is perpendicular to them.

When the stop element 30 passes over the top of the support assembly 20, moves it is parallel to the longitudinal edges 38 of the pressure rods 36. So when the rods 36 on the recording medium Hit 10 and press it against the stop 30, corresponding points become printed, which lie in a column, each rod 36 prints one point of a column. At F i g. 1 only five pressure elements 35 are shown, in practice more can be used depending on the application or fewer such elements may be present. The push rods can be used to print a character 36 are actuated successively, while the stop element at constant speed from the right to the left (seen in FIG. 1) across the recording medium 10. A character can be replaced by a certain number, e.g. B. five, column-wise arranged points are formed. While the stop element once the width of the recording medium has been scanned, a line is printed.

For example, the letter "E" can result in the following Way are formed while the stop element 30 is a character width along a line across to the recording medium passes through: If the stop element 30 is at the beginning of for the character is available space, all five pressure elements 35 are actuated. All five push rods 36 then hit the document so that there is a five point vertical column is printed, which forms the vertical bar of the letter "E". After the stop element moved a short distance to the right, the upper, middle and lower rods are actuated, printing a vertical column containing three dots, the beginning of the top, middle and form the lower slash of the letter "E". Then the top, middle and lower rod 36 actuated three more times in succession. The stop element 30 moves between the Actuations always a little to the left. This is how the entire letter "E" is printed. Subsequent letters are formed accordingly by using appropriate combinations operated by push rods to form the various point columns that make up the composed of characters to be printed. When the stop element 30 once the width of the recording medium has passed through, one line is printed.

The stop element 30 is through the belt 24 at a constant speed during the Printing a line required time across the recording medium. It can be two or more stop elements are used, which are arranged so that when a stop element which has reached one end of the printhead, the next stop element the opposite end of the printhead is reached so that the next line can be started. The one driving the belt 24 Motor 28 can be synchronized by the data supplied to the actuating device 44 or by clock pulses that accompany the data in the usual way in data processing systems.

The printhead 32 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 shown in more detail. The pressure elements 35 are relatively thin (for example 0.38 mm) and can consist of a flexible, resilient material. Particularly Metals such as nickel steel, which have a high level of abrasion resistance and are flexible and resilient, are suitable are. The legs 40 and the rods 36 of the individual pressure elements 35 are in one piece and can be made, for example, by punching out of sheet metal. The legs 40 and the rods 36 can be the same thickness. The legs are at an angle to the bars and form one with them acute angle, which can be 45 °, for example. Like F i g. 3 shows the legs and rods arranged next to each other like a stack and by spacers 46 made of a non-adhesive material, z. B. a plastic, separately. The spacers 46 can be made of polytetrafluoroethylene, for example exist. They can be of the same thickness and shape as the parts 35 between which they are However, continuous or substantially uninterrupted films can also be used will.

On the outer sides of the legs 40 of the outermost pressure elements are two opposite one another Clamping pieces 48 arranged. The clamping pieces 48 are at the upper or free ends the legs of the outermost pressure elements 35 and run parallel to the pressure rods 36. The Stack of the pressure elements 35, the spacers 46 and the legs 40 is screwed

7 8

benbolzen 50 held together, which includes a push rod 60, the two. The pressure element 59

Connect clamping pieces 48. The clamp pieces 48, further includes a solid rod 62 which is practical

the legs 40 and the push rods 36 form the same shape as the push rod 60 can have.

Parallelograms. The clamping pieces 48 can be in the fixed rod 62 if desired in longitudinal

the bracket 42 (F i g. 1) housed and fixed with 5 direction slightly shorter and / or slightly wider than the

be connected to her. Be push rod 60. The push rod 60 and the

The push rods 36 are fixed rods 62 at one end thereof are lateral by a number of

each connected to actuating devices 52. extending legs 64 connected. These shen

In Fig. 5 electromagnetic actuating prongs 64 can be inclined with respect to the rods 62, 64

directions 52 shown schematically, it has run for io. The opposite pointed inner

Each one of the five rods 36 has a magnetic coil angle between the legs 64, the push rod

54 provided. The middle rod 36 can be directly 60 or the fixed rod 62 in the case of the

with an armature of the associated coil 54, the embodiment displaced by approximately 45 °. leg

be bound. The other rods can be connected with 64 and rods 60, 62 can be made from one piece

set connecting elements 56 be provided, which consist of 15 and one and the same sheet metal

the rods with the associated coil armatures must be manufactured. The legs 64 and the rods 60,

tie. 62 form parallelograms. The thighs are on

When actuating a certain push rod the connection points with the rods inwards 36 a longitudinal force (i.e. a pull) is applied to it, i.e. its width is reduced, so that to the right, in FIG. 2 seen) exercised. This force 20 makes it easier for them to bend. The printing elements is on the flexible legs 40 of the push rods of FIG. 4 can transmit in conjunction with a pressure, which is then attached to its connection head of the one shown in FIG. 2 and 3 is used points with the rod 36 bend. The legs will then flex, with a number of pressure elements also at the points where they are in between with spacers in between see the clamping pieces 48 are clamped. See- 25 a non-adhesive, low-friction material and rod move in the manner of a stacked one on top of the other and between two clamping pieces allelogram joint mechanism. The rod 36 can be clamped. An end to the lonely can, as described, with the side downwards without being pushed to the push rods 60 bend or twist as shown in FIG. 2 be connected to an actuating mechanism, the is, it also moves lengthways. The 30 forces acting on the rods 60 in the longitudinal direction Longitudinal edge 38 of rod 36 finally takes the exercise allowed. When such forces act in Fig. 2, the lower end position shown in dashed lines, the legs 64 bend at the tapered position runs parallel to the starting position. In the len. The push rods and legs move The longitudinal edge 38 then presses the lower end position like the joint pieces of a parallelogram rod 36 the recording medium 10 against the 35 articulated, and the push rods pivot Edge of the stop element 30 (Fig. 1). Do this down and hit on the record carrier becomes a sharp and clear point on the top.

Drawing paper formed because the carbon paper is formed by F i g. 6 shows another electromagnetic

the edge 38 of the push rod 36 against the open actuating mechanism for a push rod 66,

drawing paper is pressed. The push rods 40 which can correspond to the push rods 36 or 60,

need themselves between their initial position and their to opposite ends of the rod 66 are

printing end position only a short distance to the rotating drum in the opposite direction

because of, e.g. B. 0.005 mm. These short deflections my 68, 70 arranged, which are not shown,

can be effected very quickly, so that very separate and constant speed revolving

high print speeds can be achieved. 45 motors can be driven. The ends of the

The rods fed to the actuating coils 54 are approximately half the circumference of the incoming currents. They can be impulses that lead around an aural drums 68, 70 and speak blocks 72 of a magnetically soft work with the code representing the characters to be printed. When the individual impulses have ended, they are bonded together like soft iron. In the idle state, the push rods and the associated 50 do not attack the legs guided around the drums 68, 70 by the ends of the rod 66 created during actuation, since elastic forces spring back into the initial position - they spring away from the drum plane. An unguided. When the recording is hit, the pressure rods do not bounce off the drum carrier, since the surface can be practically completely absorbed by the recorder through shoes (not shown), which is absorbed by the current carrier at a close distance. There are sharp, mel surfaces are arranged. In the blocks 72 clear points are formed because the actuating coils 54 are arranged fixed electromagnets 74,76, or the other actuating cores 78 described later have the cores 78, which are magnetized, mechanisms can be made so large if the coils 79 of the electromagnets Current leads to the pressure rods uniform and large 60 ren. In the magnetized state, the cores pull the pressure forces can be applied. A distortion of the neighboring blocks 72 occurs. The cores 78 also act as fixed stops, characters and letters through oblique dot columns,
practically does not occur because the push rods. That can bend or twist. around the drum 68 guided end of the push rod

F i g. 4 shows part of a pressure element 59, 66 then frictionally engages the surface of the

which corresponds to the pressure element 35 of FIG. 1 corresponds to and drum 68 on, and from drum becomes a

Torque is exerted on the bent end of the rod 66, which is converted into a longitudinal actuating force (to the right in Fig. 6). the Push rod 66 is deflected by this force and strikes a record to be printed supporters on. The electromagnet 74 develops only a relatively small force, but the relatively controls large to be effective for printing force that is exerted by the drum 68 on the printing rod 66 is transmitted.

When the block 72 strikes the core 78, the deflection of the push rod 66 ends Further rotation of the drum 68 then becomes the end of the push rod guided around the drum pushed away from the drum surface, and the positive contact between push rod and Drum is picked up. The electromagnet 74 can be energized by a current pulse. if the pulse ends, the electromagnet releases the block 72 and the rod 66 rises through the at ao spring forces generated by the actuation again from the printed recording medium. One faster and forced return of the push rod to the starting position can thereby be achieved be that one energizes the coil 79 of the other electromagnet 76, which like the electromagnet 74 acts and when tightening the block 72 a displacement of the push rod 66 in the opposite Direction causes.

Instead of the in FIG. The arrangement shown in FIG. 6 can have the ends guided around the drums the band-shaped push rods can be connected directly to magnet coil armatures. The coils included then preferably built-in stops that limit the deflection of the armature. from The drums 68,70 can therefore have intermittent driving forces on the band-shaped pressure elements be transmitted. Instead of looping the free, extended ends of the rod around the drums, you can also use flexible elements, e.g. B. rubber bands, use that at the ends of the push rod attached and guided around the drums 68,70.

F i g. 7 shows how a number of electromagnetic actuators of the type shown in FIG. 6 shown Kinds containing drums 68,70 and electromagnets 74,76 can be arranged. The push rods 66 are formed of different lengths, so that there is enough space for the offset arranged operating mechanisms are available.

F i g. 8 shows another embodiment of a printhead. This printhead includes a number of printing elements each including a push rod 80 and a fixed rod 82. These two rods 80, 82 are connected by articulated connecting straps 84. Continuous bearing pins 86 can optionally be used to connect the tabs 84 to the fixed rods 82. The tabs 84 can be connected to the push rods 80 via rivets or sleeve connections 88. Corresponding fixed rods 82, pressure rods 80 and connecting tabs 84 form parallelograms. Thus, when longitudinal forces act on the rods 80, they move like the rods 36 (FIG. 2) both in the longitudinal direction and in the lateral direction with respect to a recording medium.
In the case of the in FIG. 8, the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 is actuating elements 90 which are each assigned to different groups of legs 84 which connect corresponding push rods 80 and fixed rods. The actuating devices 90 contain electromagnets 92 and permanent magnets 94. A connecting link 84 of each group can be provided with an extension 96 which consists of a magnetically soft material or carries a part made of such a material (e.g. soft iron). The permanent magnets 94 attract these extensions 96 and hold the push rods 80 in their rest position in which they do not touch the recording medium. When an electromagnet 92 of a desired actuator assembly 90 is energized, for example by a current pulse, the extensions 96 are attracted to the energized electromagnet 92. The legs or connecting tabs 84 then pivot in a counterclockwise direction, and the push rods 80 move both in the longitudinal and in the transverse direction with respect to the element to be printed on, on which they finally strike in printing.

You can also instead of the support structure described with the parts 20,24 and 30 a Use helical rib on a cylinder, albeit of the construction described first is preferred, since in the last-mentioned alternative construction a progressive deceleration of the The signals applied to the various actuators are required to create vertical columns of points to be able to form.

Claims (8)

Patent claims: 1. Line printing unit, in which the imprint of individual elements of a print mark one after the other takes place and a recording medium to be printed is controlled between print signals actuated pressure cutting edges and cutting edge-shaped pressure abutments moved transversely to these is arranged, characterized in that that several arranged side by side and running parallel to the recording medium, pressure rods (38, 80) extending across these and forming the pressure cutting edges, respectively by legs (40, 84) running obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the push rods with parallel holders (42, 82) extending to the recording medium in the manner of a parallelogram joint are connected and that the push rods by actuating devices coupled to them (54,90) in their longitudinal direction and in the direction of the recording medium are movable. 2. Printing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the legs (40, 64) are elastic and are made in one piece with the associated push rod (36, 60). 3. Printing unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining rings (62) with the Legs (64) consist of one piece (Fig. 4). 4. Printing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the legs (84) on the associated Bracket (82) and push rod (80) are articulated (Fig. 8). 5. Printing unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the 709 687/183 Actuating devices for the push rods each have at least one rotating drum (68, 70) wrapped around by a flexible part of the associated push rod (66) at a distance is and contains an electromagnetic arrangement (72 to 79) per drum, which the looping parts of the push rods in allowed to bring frictional contact with the surface of the rotating drums. 6. Printing unit according to claim 4, characterized ge ίο indicates that the actuating devices each contain an electromagnet (92), which acts on a leg (84) connected to the associated push rod (80). 7. Printing unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the actuating arrangement contains a permanent magnet (94) which counteracts the electromagnet in the return direction. 8. Printing unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the ends of the printing lead away rod-shaped elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the push rod, which run around drums rotating in opposite directions, which in pairs are arranged at opposite ends of the individual push rods that the band-shaped Elements loosely wrap around the drums and through an actuating device optionally to be brought into frictional contact with the surface of the drums and that an arrangement is provided to cancel the frictional contact after the band-shaped elements a certain distance in the circumferential direction of the associated Have moved the drum. Considered publications:
German Auslegeschrift No. 1138 265;
German utility model No. 1793 137;
U.S. Patent No. 1,848,862 (reissue 20 152); VDE technical reports, 1951, pp. 215 to 219. 1 sheet of drawings 709 687/183 1D. 67 © Bundesdruckerei Berlin