EP0023268A1 - Dot printer comprising a tiltable print head - Google Patents

Dot printer comprising a tiltable print head Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0023268A1
EP0023268A1 EP80103542A EP80103542A EP0023268A1 EP 0023268 A1 EP0023268 A1 EP 0023268A1 EP 80103542 A EP80103542 A EP 80103542A EP 80103542 A EP80103542 A EP 80103542A EP 0023268 A1 EP0023268 A1 EP 0023268A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
head
rotation
print
dots
print head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP80103542A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0023268B1 (en
Inventor
John Mark Choberka
Donald Karl Rex
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International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Publication of EP0023268A1 publication Critical patent/EP0023268A1/en
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Publication of EP0023268B1 publication Critical patent/EP0023268B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/001—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/304—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printer with a printhead with a matrix of threads, and more particularly such a printer comprising a head which can be tilted.
  • Wire matrix dot printers are well known in the prior art. They generally include a print head with a matrix of threads mounted in a carriage which allows its lateral movement. The printer furthermore comprises a paper handling device allowing the paper to be fed, either in sheets or in continuous strip, around the platen. The print head moves laterally in front of the paper, either step by step or at constant speed. It has several thin wires, for example eight. One end of each wire is connected to an actuator which can be energized to drive the wire forward. The other ends of the wires are aligned vertically in the vicinity of the plate.
  • the ink ribbon is disposed between the ends of the wires and the paper so that when an actuator is energized, a wire is driven forward and strikes the ribbon against the paper on which a dot is printed.
  • characters can be printed by the wires on the paper in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.
  • a thread matrix dot print head is described for example in patent FR-A 2 253 629 and means controlling it for printing alpha-numeric characters are presented in patent FR-A 2 374 691.
  • a thread matrix dot printer which controls several passes of its print head on the same line in order to print dots between those previously printed. This eliminates the free spaces existing between the points. It was described in the "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" of May 1978, Vol. 20, No. 12, pages 5097 and 5098, a printer of this type in which the print wires are moved a distance equal to half a spacing measured between the centers of the dots previously printed so that when 'a second pass of the print head on the same line, dots are printed between the dots printed during the first pass. In addition, the printer speed is reduced by half, so that the horizontal distance between the dots is reduced by half and the printed dots overlap.
  • the print head In the printer described in the review "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin” cited above and which includes a tilting print head used for printing dots between dots previously printed on a vertical line, the print head is mounted at rotation in a cradle and a solenoid is excited to cause its rotation.
  • a stop means is provided to limit the rotation of the head so as to arrange the printing threads in an appropriate manner so that the printing of the dots takes place between the previously printed dots.
  • the . second zone where the tolerances must be low or zero consists of the stop means. Means of arrest must therefore be a precision machined part. In addition, the repeated movement of the print head against the stop means will cause the periodic replacement of the latter due to its wear and deterioration.
  • the present invention relates to a printer comprising a dot matrix print head, a matrix of threads, this head comprising several print threads which are actuated to print a series of first dots on a recording medium, while the head is moves laterally in front of said medium, and said head can be tilted to print a series of second dots between the first printed dots.
  • the printing wires are such that the center of the end of each wire is separated from the center of the adjacent wires by a given distance.
  • the printer further comprises a carriage that can move in front of said medium and carrying the print head and rotation means for pivoting the print head relative to the carriage, and this, around an axis of rotation.
  • the rotation means comprise two cylindrical rotation shafts extending on either side of the print head and defining the axis of rotation, two receptacles for rotation shafts fixed to the carriage, each receptacle comprising an element of receiving one end of which defines a concave recess of angular shape in which is housed the rotation shaft associated therewith, flexible means respectively associated with said receptacles, each flexible means holding the rotation shaft in the angular recess, - Means for pivoting the head around the axis of rotation and means for limiting the pivoting of the head so that the printing son print the series of first dots and then the series of second dots.
  • FIG 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1 0 - 12 Printing having a head made according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • the printer 10 comprises a ribbon holder 14 which ensures the passage of the ink ribbon in front of the print head 12.
  • the printer 10 comprises a platen 16 disposed on the side of the ribbon opposite to the print head 12.
  • the printer 10 also includes a paper feeding system 18 comprising two drive elements 20 which feed the paper or any other recording medium around the plate 16 and in front of the print head 12 to allow printing. characters on paper.
  • the recording medium can consist of a continuous strip of paper with perforated marginal strips, entrained in the supply system 18 by the elements 20, or consist of sheets of paper introduced behind the plate 16 and driven by pressure rollers when the plate 16 is rotated.
  • the movement of the paper in the feed system 18 is controlled by stepping motors (not shown) which respond to electrical signals.
  • the printing of the characters on the paper is caused by the actuation of one or more wires of the print head 12 in order to cause their movement forward and the striking of the ribbon against the paper which is held firmly by plate 16. Then the wire is unconditioned and returns to its initial positron, leaving a point printed on the paper.
  • the print head 12 moves from the left margin to the right and the wires are actuated so as to. cause the printing of adjacent dots which form characters on the paper arranged around the plate 16.
  • the print head 12 comprises eight thin wires arranged in a vertical column on the side of the head 12 closest to the platinum 16. One end of the top seven wires in the vertical column are used for printing the characters, while the remaining bottom wire is used for the underlines.
  • the opposite ends of the wires are connected to eight individual actuators mounted in a circle.
  • the actuators of the print head 12 are protected by a cover 22.
  • the print head 12 is described in detail in the patents FR-A 2 253 629 and US-A 3 987 883 cited above.
  • the print head 12 is driven from left to right and from right to left along the plate 16 on two rails 26 and 28 by a stepping motor (not shown) connected to a set of pulleys and belts 24.
  • a single line of characters is printed when the print head 12 moves from the left, as seen in Figure 1, to the right. Then, the plate 16 is rotated to advance the paper by a line spacing and the print head 12 is brought back to the left in its position of FIG. 1. During its movement from right to left, a second line of characters is printed on the paper, and the characters are as shown in Figure 2. Since the threads must be physically separated from each other to avoid wear and tear, the printed dots are also separated from each other. other.
  • the horizontal spacing of the points is determined by the speed of the print head 12 when it travels laterally through the plate 16 and by the rate of excitation printing wire actuators.
  • Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a printhead assembly 12 which comprises the printhead itself 30 similar to that presented in patent FR-A 2 253 629 cited above and which rocks in a cradle 32.
  • the Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively perspective, top and side views of the print head 30 and its cradle 32.
  • the print head 30 comprises eight actuating devices 36 which can be of the type described in the patent FR-A 2 253 629 cited above.
  • the actuating devices 36 each control a particular printing wire 38 and are arranged in a circle behind the print head 30.
  • the wires 38 are guided in vertical alignment in the housing 40 of the print head 30 and open out along a vertical line at the front 42 of the head 30. Each of them must be physically separated at all points from neighboring wires to avoid their wear and deterioration which could be caused by their friction.
  • the printed circuit board 44 is placed between the actuating devices 36 and the housing 40 of the printing head. pressure 30, and the printed wires of this table connect each of the actuating devices 36 to the connector 46.
  • the print head 30 is mounted in the head support or cradle 32 by means of two support elements 48 and 50 and this assembly will be described in more detail later.
  • the head support or cradle 32 comprises an oil reservoir 52, the top of which is extended by an ear 54.
  • the cradle 32 also comprises two pivot axes 56 and 58 fixed in its sides.
  • a finger 60 having a cylindrical section portion 62 and a "diamond" section portion 64, the tips of which at the ends of the long diagonal are truncated, is fixed in the cradle 32 by a locking screw 66.
  • the diamond-shaped section portion 64 of the finger 60 has a vertical axis parallel to the aligned wires 38 of the head, which is longer than its horizontal axis.
  • FIGS 7, 8, 9 and 10 show how the print head 30 is mounted in the cradle 32 via the support elements 48 and 50 which will now be described.
  • the cradle 32 has four legs, three of which, the legs 68, 70 and 72 are shown in the figures.
  • the legs 68 and 70 are lateral legs located on the left side when facing the direction of actuation of the wires and the leg 72 as well as that which is not shown and which is similar to the leg 70, are the two straight lateral legs of the cradle 32.
  • the legs 68 and 72 constitute the two front legs while the leg 70 and the leg not shown, constitute the two rear legs.
  • Each of the legs 68, 70 and 72 has a passage 74.
  • each of the support elements is of cylindrical section with the exception of the support element 50 whose part 76 crossing the passage 74 of the leg 68 has a diamond-shaped section, its long vertical axis being parallel to the line of the wires 38.
  • the part 76 with a diamond section aims to minimize alignment problems during the manufacture of the cradle 32.
  • the support elements 48 and 50 can be arranged in the passages made in the front legs 68 and 72 with a relatively large clearance by compared to what it would be in the case of a part 76 which would be cylindrical.
  • the lateral play of the print head 12 is not as critical as the vertical play since the head 12 only rotates at a very small angle corresponding to half the center to center distance separating the adjacent printed dots.
  • Each of the support elements 48 and 50 has a conical front end 78 which is housed in a corresponding conical recess of an element 80.
  • the element 80 is made integral with the housing 40 by an arm 82.
  • the part of the support elements 48 and 50 between the passages 74 of the side legs such as the legs 68 and 70 of Figures 8 to 10, comprises a stop 84 and a spring 86 which is disposed between the rear legs, such as the leg 70, and the stop 84.
  • the stop 84 is placed on the support elements 48 and 50 so that, when the print head 30 is mounted in the cradle 32, it is applied against the front legs 68 and 72 by the spring 86.
  • the rear end of the support elements 48 and 50 has a cylindrical section 88 of reduced diameter compared to that of the main part, and integral with the latter.
  • the rear end of the support elements 48 and 50 is introduced into a housing provided in the rear receiver block 90 connected to the circuit board 44 which is itself connected to the housing 40.
  • An insulator 92 is provided at the bottom of the housing of the block receiver 90 to isolate the printed circuit panel 44 from the support elements 48 and 50. These are introduced into the receiver block 90 by pressing the spring 94.
  • the length of the support elements 48 and 50 is less than the distance separating on the one hand the bottom of the conical housing of the element 8 0 and, on the other hand, the rear part of the block 90, so that the spring 94, when it is disposed between the insulator 92 and the rear end 96 of the main part of the elements 48 and 50, exerts a force against the housing 40, which keeps the conical end 78 in the conical housing 80.
  • Each of the support elements 48 and 50 further comprises a hole 98 machined in its center so that said hole is disposed in the passage 74 of the rear legs of the cradle 32, for example in the leg 70, when the support elements 48 and 50 abut and rest on the conical housing 80 and that the spring 86 is extended to the maximum.
  • the hole 98 can be exposed by moving the print head 30 and the support elements 48 and 50 rearward relative to the cradle 32, which compresses the spring 86. This operation can be carried out quickly using the handle 97 .
  • the first step consists pushing back the print head 30 and the support elements 48 and 50 while maintaining the cradle 32 in the position of FIG. 9, which compresses the spring 86 and exposes the hole 98. Then a pin 100 is introduced into the hole 98.
  • the housing 40 and the support elements 48 and 50 are then driven forward by the force exerted by the spring 86 and brought into a position such that the pin 100 bears against the rear legs 70 of the cradle 32. Then, as seen in Figure 10, the housing 40 is pushed forward while the support elements 48 and 50 are held in a fixed position by the pin 100 which bears against the rear legs 70; this forward movement is sufficiently large to cause the withdrawal of the conical end 78 of the support elements of the conical housings 80. This position is shown in solid lines in FIG. 10. During this movement, the spring 94 is compressed and the rear end 88 of the support elements 48 and 50 moves towards the insulator 92 located in the rear receiver block 90.
  • the complete housing is moved downwards, as indicated by arrow 102, so that the housing is conical 80 is in position 80A.
  • the spring 94 returns to its normal state, thus driving the housing in the direction indicated by the arrow 104, which causes the conical housing 80 to pass into the position 80B.
  • the support elements 48 and 50 have been released from the rear receiver unit 90 which is now in position 90B and the print head 32 can be removed by lifting the rear side of the housing 40 and releasing it from the cradle 32 while removing the front side 82 from under the support elements 48 and 50.
  • Figure 4 shows the carriage 34.
  • the print head 30 and the cradle 32 assembled by the support elements 48 and 50 as described above, are pivotally mounted in the carriage 34.
  • the front side of the carriage 34 comprises a slide 106 mounted on the rail or shaft 28.
  • the slide 106 comprises the bearing 108 and a support 110 for a second bearing (not shown) disposed under the carriage 34.
  • a third bearing similar to the bearing 108 is also provided on the side of the slide -106 hidden by the shaft 28.
  • the other side of the carriage 34 also has the same bearings.
  • the carriage 34 also includes a second slide 112 mounted on the shaft 26 in a well known manner.
  • the right side of the carriage 34 includes the ribbon drive mechanism 114 which comprises a hub 116 to be introduced into the ribbon holder 14.
  • the ribbon (not shown) is driven from the ribbon holder 14, around the front side 42 of the print head 30 and brought to the rear of the magazine 14 in a manner well known in the prior art.
  • the carriage 34 comprises a set of reception of pivot axes 118 on both sides of the print head 30. In order to simplify the figure, only one of these two reception sets 118 has been shown, it being understood that a similar element is provided on the other side of the print head 30.
  • Figure 6 shows the rotational mounting of the cradle 32 on the carriage 34. As indicated above, it is a pivoting assembly, that is to say that the cradle 32 pivots around the axes 56 and 58.
  • the pivot axis receiving assembly 118 of the carriage 34 is crossed by two passages 152 and 154.
  • the pivot axis receiver 156 is introduced into the passage 152 and comprises a head 158 of large dimension and the base of which comprises a cutout 160.
  • the configuration of the cutout 160 is such that it can receive the head of the screw 162 which is introduced into the passage 154.
  • the other side of the pivot axis receiver 156 has a V-groove 164.
  • the V-groove 164 and the cutout 160 of the head 158 are aligned so that, when the head of the screw 162 is housed in the cutout, the V-groove 164 is in a position allowing it to receive the pivot axis 58 from cradle 32.
  • the pivot holder 166 is fixed to the receiving assembly 118 by the screw 162 and has a horizontal U-shaped groove 168 oriented perpendicular to the view in FIG. 6.
  • the diameter of the circular part of the U-shaped groove 168 is slightly greater than the diameter of the pivot axis 58 so that the latter can be housed in said U-shaped groove.
  • a bore 170 is provided for receiving the spring 172 and it is aligned with the pivot axis receiver 156 when the holder -pivot 166 is fixed by the screw 162.
  • the spring 172 is compressed when the pivot holder 166 is fixed by the screw 162 so that it applies a force against the pivot axis 58 and keeps it in the V-groove 164.
  • the carriage 34 also includes a distance control device 120 arranged on its left side as seen in Figure 4.
  • the plate 122 is fixed to the control device 120 and constitutes an extension thereof.
  • the height of the control device 120 and of the plate 122 is chosen so that the top of the plate 122 is disposed under the ear 54 of the cradle 32.
  • a solenoid 124 is fixed under the plate 122 by the screws 130 and 132 and the piston 126 of the solenoid 124 crosses a passage 128 formed in the plate 122.
  • a locking screw 134 is fixed in the ear 54 in alignment with the point on which the piston 126 comes into contact with the plate 154. The locking screw 134 is adjusted so as to be in light contact with the piston 126 when the solenoid 124 is not excited.
  • the plate 122 is fixed to the device 120 by the screw 136.
  • the plate 122 has a vertical hole 138 and the device 120 a horizontal hole 140 aligned to receive the finger 60 of the cradle 32.
  • the hole 140 receives a socket 142 fixed by a locking screw 144 disposed in the vertical hole 138.
  • the length of the sleeve 142 and that of the diamond-shaped section portion 64 of the finger 60 are approximately equal so that the portion 64 of the finger 60 is movable in the socket 142.
  • the internal diameter of the socket 142 is slightly greater than the longest diameter of the part 64 of the finger 60.
  • the finger 60 also has a flat part 146 aligned with a bore 148 formed in the device 120 (see FIG. 7 ).
  • the spring 150 is housed in the bore 148 and kept compressed against the flat part 146 by the plate 122. In this way the finger is kept in the normal low position as seen in FIG. 7.
  • the angle of rotation of the cradle 32 on the carriage 34 is controlled by the movement of the diamond-shaped section 64 of the finger 60 in the socket 142 and this is shown in Figures 7, 11 and 12.
  • the spring 150 applies a force against the flat part 146 of the finger 60 causing the application of the lower part of the part 64 of the finger 60 against the inner lower part of the sleeve 142 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11.
  • the force applied against the ear 54 is greater than that applied by the spring 150 against the finger 60.
  • the ear 54 therefore moves upwards and carries with it the whole cradle 32, including the finger 60.
  • the difference between the internal diameter of socket 142 and the long axis of the portion 64 of the finger 60, can be chosen to control the movement of the printing wires 38 over a distance corresponding to half the center-to-center distance separating the wires or, in other words, to half the center-to-center distance between the printed dots.
  • This difference between the inside diameter of the sleeve 142 and the long vertical axis of the diamond section 64 of the finger 60 can be easily determined by making the ratio, existing between the distance separating the axis of rotation of the axes 56 and 58, on the front side 42 and the distance separating this axis of rotation of the finger 60, equal to the ratio existing between on the one hand the desired movement wires 38 and on the other hand the difference between the inside diameter of the sleeve 142 and the vertical axis along the diamond section 64 of the finger 60.
  • Figure 13 shows schematically the control circuit of the printer 10 which can be used with a processor 174 delivering signals to control the logic 176 in order to cause the printing of a line of characters.
  • the control logic 176 stores the characters to be printed and delivers the control signals from the tilting solenoid 124 to control the lateral movement of the print head 12, the feeding of the paper by the paper feeding system 18 and the triggering of the eight printing wire actuation devices 36.
  • This control system with the exception of the control of the tilting solenoid 124, is described in detail in patent FR-A 2 374 691.
  • the control of the solenoid tilting requires the conditioning of a rocker at the end or to the right of the movement from left to right of the printhead and the maintenance of this conditioning throughout the movement from right to left of said printhead.
  • the output of the flip-flop can be coupled, by appropriate excitation circuits, to the control solenoid 124.

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Abstract

1. Printer of the type providing a wire-matrix (38) dot print head (30, 32), said print head providing several print wires actuated to print a series of first dots on a recording medium while the head moves laterally in front of said medium, said head being tilted to print a series of second dots between the first dots printed, said printer comprising : a print head (30, 32) providing several print wires (38) the center of each wire end being separated from the center of the adjacent wires by a given distance, a carrier (34) moving in front of said medium and carrying said print head (1), and rotation means for pivoting the point head with respect to the carrier around a rotation axis which is defined by two cylindrical rotation shafts (56, 58) extending from either side of the print head, said printer being characterized in that said rotation means include : two rotation shafts receiving means (118) affixed to the carrier, each receiving means having a receiving element (156) for the rotation axis one end of which has an angular recess (164) to house its associated rotation shaft (56 or 58), flexible means (172) which are respectively associated with said receiving means, whereby each flexible means maintains the respective rotation shaft in the angular recess (164), said flexible means including a case and a spring device, each case providing a first passage (168) to house its associated rotation shaft (56 or 58) and a second passage (170) which has a common space with said first passage and said rotation shaft (56 or 58), said second passage including, on either side of said shaft, said compressed spring device (172) and said receiving element for the rotation axis (156) in such a way that said spring device maintains said rotation shaft in the angular recess (164) of the receiving element for the axis (156), and means (124) for causing the print head to be pivoted around the rotation axis and means (65, 142) for limiting pivoting of the head in such a way that the print wires print the series of first dots and then the series of second dots.

Description

Domaine techniqueTechnical area

La présente invention concerne une imprimante à tête d'impression par points à-matrice de fils, et plus particulièrement une telle imprimante comportant une tête pouvant basculer.The present invention relates to a printer with a printhead with a matrix of threads, and more particularly such a printer comprising a head which can be tilted.

Etat de la technique antérieureState of the prior art

Les imprimantes par points à matrice de fils sont bien connues dans l'art antérieur. Elles comportent généralement une tête d'impression à matrice de fils montée dans un chariot qui permet son mouvement latéral. L'imprimante comporte en outre un dispositif de manipulation du papier permettant l'alimentation du papier, soit en feuilles, soit en bande continue, autour de la platine. La tête d'impression se déplace latéralement devant le papier, soit pas à pas, soit à vitesse constante. Elle comporte plusieurs fils minces, par exemple huit. Une extrémité de chaque fil est raccordée à un dispositif d'actionnement qui peut être excité pour entraîner le fil vers l'avant. Les autres extrémités des fils sont alignés verticalement au voisinage de la platine. Le ruban encreur est disposé entre les extrémités des fils et le papier si bien que lorsqu'un dispositif d'actionnement est excité, un fil est entraîné vers l'avant et frappe le ruban contre le papier sur lequel un point est imprimé. Par un mouvement latéral approprié de la tête d'impression et une excitation sélective des solé- noides, des caractères peuvent être imprimés par les fils sur le papier d'une manière bien connue de l'homme de l'art. Une tête d'impression par points à matrice de fils est décrite par exemple dans le brevet FR-A 2 253 629 et des moyens la commandant pour imprimer des caractères alpha-numériques sont présentés dans le brevet FR-A 2 374 691.Wire matrix dot printers are well known in the prior art. They generally include a print head with a matrix of threads mounted in a carriage which allows its lateral movement. The printer furthermore comprises a paper handling device allowing the paper to be fed, either in sheets or in continuous strip, around the platen. The print head moves laterally in front of the paper, either step by step or at constant speed. It has several thin wires, for example eight. One end of each wire is connected to an actuator which can be energized to drive the wire forward. The other ends of the wires are aligned vertically in the vicinity of the plate. The ink ribbon is disposed between the ends of the wires and the paper so that when an actuator is energized, a wire is driven forward and strikes the ribbon against the paper on which a dot is printed. By suitable lateral movement of the print head and selective excitation of the solenoids, characters can be printed by the wires on the paper in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. A thread matrix dot print head is described for example in patent FR-A 2 253 629 and means controlling it for printing alpha-numeric characters are presented in patent FR-A 2 374 691.

En outre, on peut trouver dans le brevet US-A 3 987 '883, la description du montage de la tête d'impression dans l'imprimante.In addition, one can find in the patent US-A 3 987 ' 883, the description of the mounting of the print head in the printer.

L'un des problèmes rencontrés dans les imprimantes par points à matrice de fils de l'art antérieur, réside dans la qualité des caractères imprimés. En raison du fait que les fils de la matrice de la tête d'impression doivent être physiquement séparés les uns des autres pour éviter qu'ils ne s'usent ou se détériorent par frottement, les points qu'ils impriment sont également séparés. Bien que les points imprimés tendent quelque peu à se fondre les uns dans les autres, le caractère final n'a cependant pas la qualité des caractères obtenus par les imprimantes à caractères d'impression monobloc gravés. Ceci est particulièrement vrai dans le cas des caractères comportant des lignes non verticales et non horizontales tels que A ou X.One of the problems encountered in thread matrix dot printers of the prior art lies in the quality of the printed characters. Due to the fact that the threads of the matrix of the print head must be physically separated from each other to prevent them from wearing out or deteriorating by friction, the dots which they print are also separated. Although the printed dots tend to merge into each other, the final character does not however have the quality of the characters obtained by printers with engraved monoblock print characters. This is particularly true in the case of characters with non-vertical and non-horizontal lines such as A or X.

Pour améliorer la qualité des caractères imprimés, il est possible d'utiliser une imprimante par points à matrice de fils qui commande plusieurs passages de sa tête d'impression sur le même ligne afin d'imprimer des points entre ceux imprimés précédemment. On supprime de cette manière les espaces libres existant entre les points. On a décrit dans le "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" de Mai 1978, Vol. 20, No. 12, page 5097 et 5098, une imprimante de ce type dans laquelle les fils d'impression sont déplacés sur une distance égale à la moitié d'un espacement mesuré entre les centres des points précédemment imprimés de-façon que lors d'un deuxième passage de la tête d'impression sur la même ligne, des points soient imprimées entre les points imprimés au cours du.premier passage. En outre, la vitesse de l'imprimante est réduite de moitié, de telle sorte que la distance horizontale entre les points est réduite de moitié et que les points imprimés se chevauchent. On pourrait également obtenir les mêmes résultats en déplaçant la platine d'une distance égale à la moitié de l'espace mesuré entre les centres des points précédemment imprimés et en effectuant un passage de la tête d'impression avant puis arpès le déplacement de la platine. De plus, plutôt que de diminuer de moitié la vitesse de la tête d'impression, il serait possible de provoquer des passages supplémentaires de celle-ci pour imprimer des points dans les espaces laissés libres au cours des passages précédents de façon à provoquer le chevauchement effectif de points imprimés sur une ligne horizontale.To improve the quality of the printed characters, it is possible to use a thread matrix dot printer which controls several passes of its print head on the same line in order to print dots between those previously printed. This eliminates the free spaces existing between the points. It was described in the "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" of May 1978, Vol. 20, No. 12, pages 5097 and 5098, a printer of this type in which the print wires are moved a distance equal to half a spacing measured between the centers of the dots previously printed so that when 'a second pass of the print head on the same line, dots are printed between the dots printed during the first pass. In addition, the printer speed is reduced by half, so that the horizontal distance between the dots is reduced by half and the printed dots overlap. The same results could also be obtained by moving the platen by a distance equal to half of the space measured between the centers of the previously printed dots and by passing the print head before then ar p s the stage movement. In addition, rather than halving the speed of the print head, it would be possible to cause additional passages of the latter to print dots in the spaces left free during previous passages so as to cause overlap. number of dots printed on a horizontal line.

Dans l'imprimante décrite dans la revue "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" citée précédemment et qui comporte une tête d'impression basculante utilisée pour l'impression de points entre des points précédemment imprimés sur une ligne verticale, la tête d'impression est montée à rotation dans un berceau et un solénoïde est excité pour provoquer sa rotation. Un moyen d'arrêt est prévu pour limiter la rotation de la tête de façon à disposer les fils d'impression d'une manière appropriée pour que l'impression des points se fasse entre les points précédemment imprimés.In the printer described in the review "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" cited above and which includes a tilting print head used for printing dots between dots previously printed on a vertical line, the print head is mounted at rotation in a cradle and a solenoid is excited to cause its rotation. A stop means is provided to limit the rotation of the head so as to arrange the printing threads in an appropriate manner so that the printing of the dots takes place between the previously printed dots.

L'un des problèmes posés par les têtes d'impression basculantes est celui des tolérances. En raison d'un espacement centre à centre des fils d'impression d'approximativement 0,38mm, il est nécessaire de déplacer l'extrémité de la tête d'impression de 0,19mm avec une tolérance de plus ou moins 0,01mm. Avec un déplacement aussi faible, les tolé-' rances des éléments mécaniques, commandant ce déplacement, sont très étroites.En ce qui concerne les tolérances, le point de rotation et les moyens d'arrêt sont des zones critiques. L'axe de rotation doit rester fixe. Ainsi, il est peu pratique d'utiliser un montage pivotant classique dans lequel un axe de pivotement cylindrique est introduit dans un trou cylindrique étant donné que pour permettre la rotation de l'axe, il est nécessaire que le diamètre du trou soit supérieur a celui de l'axe de pivotement. Cette exigence provoque un mouvement axial trop important ne permettant pas un déplacement suffisamment précis des fils d'impression sur une distance suffisamment faible. La . deuxième zone où les tolérances doivent être faibles ou nulles consiste dans les moyens d'arrêt. Les moyens d'arrêt doivent donc être une pièce usinée avec précision. En outre, le mouvement répété de la tête d'impression contre les moyens d'arrêt entraînera le remplacement périodique de ceux-ci en raison de son usure et de sa détérioration.One of the problems with tilting printheads is that of tolerances. Due to a center to center spacing of the print wires of approximately 0.38mm, it is necessary to move the end of the print head by 0.19mm with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.01mm. With such a small displacement, the tolerated 'rancid mechanical elements controlling this displacement, are very étroites.En regards tolerances, the point of rotation and the stop means are critical areas. The axis of rotation must remain fixed. Thus, it is impractical to use a conventional pivoting assembly in which a cylindrical pivot axis is introduced into a cylindrical hole since to allow the rotation of the axis, it is necessary that the diameter of the hole is greater than that of the pivot axis. This requirement causes excessive axial movement which does not allow sufficiently precise displacement of the printing wires over a sufficiently short distance. The . second zone where the tolerances must be low or zero consists of the stop means. Means of arrest must therefore be a precision machined part. In addition, the repeated movement of the print head against the stop means will cause the periodic replacement of the latter due to its wear and deterioration.

Exposé de l'inventionStatement of the invention

La présente invention concerne une imprimante comprenant une tête d'impression par points, à matrice de fils, cette tête comportant plusieurs fils d'impression qui sont actionnés pour imprimer une série de premiers points sur un milieu d'enregistrement, tandis que la tête se déplace latéralement devant ledit milieu, et ladite tête pouvant être basculée pour imprimer une série de seconds points entre les premiers points imprimés. Les fils d'impression sont tels que le centre de l'extrémité de chaque fil est séparé du centre des fils adjacents par une distance donnée. L'imprimante comporte en outre un chariot pouvant se déplacer devant ledit milieu et portant la tête d'impression et des moyens de rotation pour faire pivoter la tête d'impression par rapport au chariot, et ce, autour d'un axe de rotation. Les moyens de rotation comportent deux arbres cylindriques de rotation s'étendant de part et d'autre de la tête d'impression et définissant l'axe de rotation, deux réceptacles d'arbres de rotation fixés au chariot, chaque réceptacle comportant un élément de réception dont une des extrémités définit un évidement concave de forme angulaire dans lequel est logé l'arbre de rotation qui lui est associé, des moyens flexibles respectivement associés auxdits réceptacles, chaque moyen flexible maintenant l'arbre de rotation dans l'évidement angulaire, des- moyens pour faire pivoter la tête autour de l'axe de rotation et des-moyens pour limiter le pivotement de la tête de telle sorte que les fils d'impression impriment la série de premiers points puis la sériée de seconds points.The present invention relates to a printer comprising a dot matrix print head, a matrix of threads, this head comprising several print threads which are actuated to print a series of first dots on a recording medium, while the head is moves laterally in front of said medium, and said head can be tilted to print a series of second dots between the first printed dots. The printing wires are such that the center of the end of each wire is separated from the center of the adjacent wires by a given distance. The printer further comprises a carriage that can move in front of said medium and carrying the print head and rotation means for pivoting the print head relative to the carriage, and this, around an axis of rotation. The rotation means comprise two cylindrical rotation shafts extending on either side of the print head and defining the axis of rotation, two receptacles for rotation shafts fixed to the carriage, each receptacle comprising an element of receiving one end of which defines a concave recess of angular shape in which is housed the rotation shaft associated therewith, flexible means respectively associated with said receptacles, each flexible means holding the rotation shaft in the angular recess, - Means for pivoting the head around the axis of rotation and means for limiting the pivoting of the head so that the printing son print the series of first dots and then the series of second dots.

D'autres objets, caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de l'exposé qui suit, fait en référence aux dessins annexés à ce texte, qui représentent un mode de réalisation préféré de celle-ci.Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, made with reference to the drawings appended to this text, which represent a preferred embodiment thereof.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

  • La Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une imprimante par points à matrice de fils utilisant la tête d'impression améliorée de la présente invention.Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire matrix dot printer using the improved print head of the present invention.
  • La Figure 2 représente les lettres H et A imprimées par une imprimante à matrice de fils de l'art antérieur.Figure 2 shows the letters H and A printed by a wire matrix printer of the prior art.
  • La Figure 3 représente les lettres H et A imprimées par une imprimante à matrice de fils selon la présente invention.Figure 3 shows the letters H and A printed by a wire matrix printer according to the present invention.
  • La Figure 4 est une vue en perspective de la tête d'impression de l'imprimante de la Figure 1.Figure 4 is a perspective view of the print head of the printer in Figure 1.
  • La Figure 5 est une vue de dessus de la tête d'impression et de son berceau représenté à la Figure 4.Figure 5 is a top view of the print head and its cradle shown in Figure 4.
  • La Figure 6 est une vue de côté de la tête d'impression de la Figure 4, le porte-pivot étant représenté en coupe partielle.Figure 6 is a side view of the print head of Figure 4, the pivot holder being shown in partial section.
  • La Figure 7 est une vue en coupe du dispositif de la Figure 6 pris selon la ligne 7-7.Figure 7 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 6 taken along line 7-7.
  • Les Figures 8, 9 et 10 sont des vues de côté en coupe partielle de la tête d'impression montrant son montage dans son berceau et son démontage.Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side views in partial section of the print head showing its mounting in its cradle and its disassembly.
  • Les Figures 11 et 12 montrent en détail comment le moyen d'arrêt limite l'angle de rotation de la tête d'impression de la Figure 4, etFigures 11 and 12 show in detail how the stop means limits the angle of rotation of the print head of Figure 4, and
  • La Figure 13 est une représentation schématique du système électrique commandant l'imprimante de la Figure 1.Figure 13 is a schematic representation of the electrical system controlling the printer in Figure 1.
Description d'un mode de réalisation de la présente inventionDescription of an embodiment of the present invention

La Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une imprimante 10 - comportant une tête d'impression 12 réalisée selon les enseignements de la présente invention. L'imprimante 10 comporte un porte-ruban 14 qui assure le passage du ruban encreur devant la tête d'impression 12. En outre, l'imprimante 10 comporte une platine 16 disposée du côté du ruban opposé à la tête d'impression 12.Figure 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1 0 - 12 Printing having a head made according to the teachings of the present invention. The printer 10 comprises a ribbon holder 14 which ensures the passage of the ink ribbon in front of the print head 12. In addition, the printer 10 comprises a platen 16 disposed on the side of the ribbon opposite to the print head 12.

L'imprimante 10 comporte également un système d'alimentation de papier 18 comprenant deux éléments d'entraînement 20 qui alimentent le papier ou tout autre milieu d'enregistrement autour de la platine 16 et devant la tête d'impression 12 pour permettre l'impression des caractères sur le papier. Le milieu d'enregistrement peut consister en une bande de papier continu à bandes marginales perforées, entraînée dans le système d'alimentation 18 par les éléments 20, ou consister en feuilles de papier introduites derrière la platine 16 et entraînées par des galets presseurs lorsque la platine 16 est entraînée en rotation. Le mouvement du papier dans le système d'alimentation 18 est commandé par des moteurs pas à pas (non représentés) qui répondent à des signaux électriques.The printer 10 also includes a paper feeding system 18 comprising two drive elements 20 which feed the paper or any other recording medium around the plate 16 and in front of the print head 12 to allow printing. characters on paper. The recording medium can consist of a continuous strip of paper with perforated marginal strips, entrained in the supply system 18 by the elements 20, or consist of sheets of paper introduced behind the plate 16 and driven by pressure rollers when the plate 16 is rotated. The movement of the paper in the feed system 18 is controlled by stepping motors (not shown) which respond to electrical signals.

L'impression des caractères sur le papier est provoquée par l'actionnement d'un ou de plusieurs fils de la tête d'impression 12 afin de provoquer leur mouvement vers l'avant et la frappe du ruban contre le papier qui est maintenu fermement par la platine 16. Puis le fil est déconditionné et revient dans sa positron initiale, laissant un point imprimé sur le papier. La tête d'impression 12 se déplace de la marge gauche vers la droite et les fils sont actionnés de façon à. provoquer l'impression de points adjacents qui forment des caractères sur le papier disposé autour de la platine 16. La tête d'impression 12 comprend huit fils minces disposés-en une colonne verticale sur le côté de la tête 12 le plus- proche de la platine 16. Une extrémité des sept fils supérieurs de la colonne verticale est utilisée pour imprimer les caractères tandis que le fil inférieur restant est utilisé pour le soulignement. Les extrémités opposées des fils sont connectées à huit dispositifs d'actionnement individuels montés en cercle. Les dispositifs d'actionnement de la tête d'impression 12 sont protégés par un capot 22. La tête d'impression 12 est décrite en détail dans les brevets FR-A 2 253 629 et US-A 3 987 883 cités précédemment.The printing of the characters on the paper is caused by the actuation of one or more wires of the print head 12 in order to cause their movement forward and the striking of the ribbon against the paper which is held firmly by plate 16. Then the wire is unconditioned and returns to its initial positron, leaving a point printed on the paper. The print head 12 moves from the left margin to the right and the wires are actuated so as to. cause the printing of adjacent dots which form characters on the paper arranged around the plate 16. The print head 12 comprises eight thin wires arranged in a vertical column on the side of the head 12 closest to the platinum 16. One end of the top seven wires in the vertical column are used for printing the characters, while the remaining bottom wire is used for the underlines. The opposite ends of the wires are connected to eight individual actuators mounted in a circle. The actuators of the print head 12 are protected by a cover 22. The print head 12 is described in detail in the patents FR-A 2 253 629 and US-A 3 987 883 cited above.

La tête d'impression 12 est entraînée de gauche à droite et de droite à gauche le long de la platine 16 sur deux rails 26 et 28 par un moteur pas à pas (non représenté) raccordé à un ensemble à poulies et courroies 24.The print head 12 is driven from left to right and from right to left along the plate 16 on two rails 26 and 28 by a stepping motor (not shown) connected to a set of pulleys and belts 24.

Dans les imprimantes de l'art antérieur, une seule ligne de caractères est imprimée lorsque la tête d'impression 12 se déplace de la gauche, comme on le voit dans la Figure 1, vers la droite. Puis, la platine 16 est entraînée en rotation pour avancer le papier d'un interligne et la tête d'impression 12 est ramenée vers la gauche dans sa position de la Figure 1. Pendant son mouvement de droite à gauche, une deuxième ligne de caractères est imprimée sur le papier, et les caractères sont tels que représentés à la Figure 2. Etant donné que les fils doivent être physiquement séparés les uns des autres pour éviter leur usure et leur déterio- ration, les points imprimés sont également séparés les uns des autres. L'espacement horizontal des points, par exemple dans les parties horizontales des lettres H et A de la Figure 2, est déterminé par la vitesse de la tête d'impression 12 lorsqu'elle parcourt latéralement la platine 16 et par la cadence d'excitation des dispositifs d'actionnement des fils d'impression. On notera que la distance entre les points devient particulièrement importante dans le cas des lignes inclinées, comme dans la partie supérieure de la lettre A de la Figure 2. Dans le "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" de Mai 1978, -Vol. 20, No. 12, pages 5097 et 5098, on décrit des moyens qui commandent l'impression des caractères au cours d'un passage de la tête d'impression 12 de gauche à droite sur la platine 16. Cependant, la vitesse de la tête d'impression 12 est réduite de 50% et, au cours du ` passage de droite à gauche, la tête d'impression 12 est basculée de façon que la deuxième impression se fasse entre les points verticaux. Les caractères imprimés apparaissent alors tels que montrés sur la Figure 3. On voit, d'après la Figure 3, que les caractères ont une forme plus continue et plus régulière que celle des caractères imprimés par les machines de l'art antérieur de ce type. La forme des caractères de la Figure 3 se rapproche plus de celle des caractères imprimés par les machines à écrire du type à caractères d'impression monobloc gravés.In prior art printers, a single line of characters is printed when the print head 12 moves from the left, as seen in Figure 1, to the right. Then, the plate 16 is rotated to advance the paper by a line spacing and the print head 12 is brought back to the left in its position of FIG. 1. During its movement from right to left, a second line of characters is printed on the paper, and the characters are as shown in Figure 2. Since the threads must be physically separated from each other to avoid wear and tear, the printed dots are also separated from each other. other. The horizontal spacing of the points, for example in the horizontal parts of the letters H and A in FIG. 2, is determined by the speed of the print head 12 when it travels laterally through the plate 16 and by the rate of excitation printing wire actuators. It will be noted that the distance between the points becomes particularly important in the case of inclined lines, as in the upper part of the letter A in Figure 2. In the "IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin" of May 1978, -Vol. 20, No. 12, pages 5097 and 5098, means are described which control the printing of characters during a passage of the print head 12 of left to right on the stage 16. However, the speed of the print head 12 is reduced by 50% and, during the passage from right to left, the print head 12 is tilted so that the second print between the vertical points. The printed characters then appear as shown in Figure 3. It can be seen from Figure 3 that the characters have a more continuous and regular shape than that of the characters printed by machines of the prior art of this type . The shape of the characters in Figure 3 is closer to that of the characters printed by typewriters of the type with one-piece engraved printing characters.

On notera qu'en réduisant la vitesse de la tête d'impression sur la platine de 50% environ, on provoque l'impression des points horizontaux entre les points horizontaux imprimés par les machines de l'art antérieur.It will be noted that by reducing the speed of the print head on the platen by approximately 50%, the horizontal dots are printed between the horizontal dots printed by the machines of the prior art.

Les Figures 4, 5 et 6 représentent un ensemble tête d'impression 12 qui comprend la tête d'impression elle-même 30 semblable à celle présentée dans le brevet FR-A 2 253 629 cité précédemment et qui bascule dans un berceau 32. Les Figures 4, 5 et 6 sont respectivement des vues en perspective, de dessus et de côté de la tête d'impression 30 et de son berceau 32.Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a printhead assembly 12 which comprises the printhead itself 30 similar to that presented in patent FR-A 2 253 629 cited above and which rocks in a cradle 32. The Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively perspective, top and side views of the print head 30 and its cradle 32.

La tête d'impression 30 comprend huit dispositifs d'actionnement 36 qui peuvent être du type décrit dans le brevet FR-A 2 253 629 cité précédemment. Les dispositifs d'actionnement 36 commandent chacun un fil d'impression particulier 38 et sont agencés en cercle à l'arrière de la tête d'impression 30. Les fils 38 sont guidés en alignement vertical dans le boîtier 40 de la tête d'impression 30 et débouchent selon une ligne verticale à l'avant 42 de la tête 30. Chacun d'eux doit être physiquement séparé en tous points des fils voisins pour éviter leur usure et leur détérioration qui pourraient être provoquées par leur frottement. Le panneau à circuits imprimés 44 est placé entre les dispositifs d'actionnement 36 et le boîtier 40 de la tête d'impression 30, et les fils imprimés de ce tableau connectent chacun des dispositifs d'actionnement 36 au connecteur 46.The print head 30 comprises eight actuating devices 36 which can be of the type described in the patent FR-A 2 253 629 cited above. The actuating devices 36 each control a particular printing wire 38 and are arranged in a circle behind the print head 30. The wires 38 are guided in vertical alignment in the housing 40 of the print head 30 and open out along a vertical line at the front 42 of the head 30. Each of them must be physically separated at all points from neighboring wires to avoid their wear and deterioration which could be caused by their friction. The printed circuit board 44 is placed between the actuating devices 36 and the housing 40 of the printing head. pressure 30, and the printed wires of this table connect each of the actuating devices 36 to the connector 46.

La tête d'impression 30 est montée dans le support de tête ou berceau 32 par l'intermédiaire de deux éléments de support 48 et 50 et ce montage sera décrit plus en détail ultérieurement. Le support de tête ou berceau 32 comprend un réservoir d'huile 52 dont le haut est prolongé par une oreille 54. Le berceau 32 comprend également deux axes de pivotement 56 et 58 fixés dans ses côtés. En outre, un doigt 60 présentant une partie à section cylindrique 62 et une partie à section "en losange" 64, dont les pointes aux extrémités de la diagonale longue sont tronquées, est fixée dans le berceau 32 par une vis de blocage 66. La partie à section en forme de losange 64 du doigt 60 comporte un axe vertical parallèle aux fils alignés 38 de la tête, qui est plus long que son axe horizontal.The print head 30 is mounted in the head support or cradle 32 by means of two support elements 48 and 50 and this assembly will be described in more detail later. The head support or cradle 32 comprises an oil reservoir 52, the top of which is extended by an ear 54. The cradle 32 also comprises two pivot axes 56 and 58 fixed in its sides. In addition, a finger 60 having a cylindrical section portion 62 and a "diamond" section portion 64, the tips of which at the ends of the long diagonal are truncated, is fixed in the cradle 32 by a locking screw 66. The diamond-shaped section portion 64 of the finger 60 has a vertical axis parallel to the aligned wires 38 of the head, which is longer than its horizontal axis.

Les Figures 7, 8, 9 et 10 montrent comment la tête d'impression 30 est montée dans le berceau 32 par l'intermédiaire des éléments de support 48 et 50 que l'on va maintenant décrire. Le berceau 32 comporte quatre jambes, dont trois, les jambes 68, 70 et 72 sont représentées sur les figures. Les jambes 68 et 70 sont des jambes latérales situées du côté gauche lorsque l'on fait face au sens d'actionnement des fils et la jambe 72 ainsi que celle qui n'est pas représentée et qui est similaire à la jambe 70, sont les deux jambes latérales droites du berceau 32. Les jambes 68 et 72 constituent les deux jambes avants tandis que la jambe 70 et la jambe non représentée, constituent les deux jambes arrières. Chacune des jambes 68, 70 et 72 comporte un passage 74. Les deux éléments de support 48 et 50 sont introduits dans les passages 74 des jambes latérales comme représenté dans les Figures 8, 9 et 10 sur lesquelles on voit que l'élément de support 50 est introduit dans les passages 74 des jambes 68 et 70. Les éléments de support 48 et 50 sont identiques à. une exception près. En général, chacun des éléments de support est de section cylindrique à l'exception de l'élément de support 50 dont la partie 76 traversant le passage 74 de la jambe 68 présente une section en forme de losange, son axe vertical long étant parallèle à la ligne des fils 38. La partie 76 à section en losange a pour but de réduire au minimum les problèmes d'alignement lors de la fabrication du berceau 32. Grâce à l'axe horizontal plus court de la partie à section en losange 76, les éléments du support 48 et 50 peuvent être disposés dans les passages ménagés dans les jambes avants 68 et 72 avec un jeu relativement important par rapport à ce qu'il serait dans le cas d'une partie 76 qui serait cylindrique. Le jeu latéral de la tête d'impression 12 n'est pas aussi critique que le jeu vertical étant donné que la tête 12 ne tourne que sur un angle très faible correspondant à la moitié de la distance centre à centre séparant les points imprimés adjacents.Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show how the print head 30 is mounted in the cradle 32 via the support elements 48 and 50 which will now be described. The cradle 32 has four legs, three of which, the legs 68, 70 and 72 are shown in the figures. The legs 68 and 70 are lateral legs located on the left side when facing the direction of actuation of the wires and the leg 72 as well as that which is not shown and which is similar to the leg 70, are the two straight lateral legs of the cradle 32. The legs 68 and 72 constitute the two front legs while the leg 70 and the leg not shown, constitute the two rear legs. Each of the legs 68, 70 and 72 has a passage 74. The two support elements 48 and 50 are introduced into the passages 74 of the side legs as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 on which it can be seen that the support element 50 is introduced into the passages 74 of the legs 68 and 70. The support elements 48 and 50 are identical to. one exception. In general, each of the support elements is of cylindrical section with the exception of the support element 50 whose part 76 crossing the passage 74 of the leg 68 has a diamond-shaped section, its long vertical axis being parallel to the line of the wires 38. The part 76 with a diamond section aims to minimize alignment problems during the manufacture of the cradle 32. Thanks to the shorter horizontal axis of the diamond-shaped section 76, the support elements 48 and 50 can be arranged in the passages made in the front legs 68 and 72 with a relatively large clearance by compared to what it would be in the case of a part 76 which would be cylindrical. The lateral play of the print head 12 is not as critical as the vertical play since the head 12 only rotates at a very small angle corresponding to half the center to center distance separating the adjacent printed dots.

Chacun des éléments de support 48 et 50 présente une extrémité avant conique 78 se logeant dans un évidement conique correspondant d'un élément 80. L'élément 80 est rendu solidaire du boîtier 40 par un bras 82. La partie des éléments de support 48 et 50 comprise entre les passages 74 des jambes latérales telles que les jambes 68 et 70 des Figures 8 à 10, comprend une butée 84 et un ressort 86 qui est disposé entre les jambes arrières, telle que la jambe 70, et la butée 84. La butée 84 est placée sur les éléments de support 48 et 50 de façon que, lorsque la tête d'impression 30 est montée dans le berceau 32, elle soit appliquée contre les jambes avants 68 et 72 par le ressort 86. L'extrémité arrière des éléments de support 48 et 50 présente une section cylindrique 88 de diamètre réduit par rapport à celui de la partie principale, et solidaire de cette dernière. L'extrémité arrière des éléments de support 48 et 50 est introduite dans un logement ménagé dans le bloc récepteur arrière 90 raccordé au tableau de circuits 44 qui est lui-même raccordé au boîtier 40. Un isolant 92 est prévu au fond du logement du bloc récepteur 90 pour isoler le panneau à circuits imprimés 44 par rapport aux éléments de support 48 et 50. Ceux-qi sont introduits dans le bloc récepteur 90 en pressant le ressort 94. La longueur des éléments de support 48 et 50 est inférieure à la distance séparant d'une part le fond du logement conique de l'élément 80 et, d'autre part, la partie arrière du bloc 90, si bien que le ressort 94, lorsqu'il est disposé entre l'isolant 92 et l'extrémité arrière 96 de la partie principale des éléments 48 et 50, exerce une force contre le boîtier 40, ce qui maintient l'extrémité conique 78 dans le logement conique 80.Each of the support elements 48 and 50 has a conical front end 78 which is housed in a corresponding conical recess of an element 80. The element 80 is made integral with the housing 40 by an arm 82. The part of the support elements 48 and 50 between the passages 74 of the side legs such as the legs 68 and 70 of Figures 8 to 10, comprises a stop 84 and a spring 86 which is disposed between the rear legs, such as the leg 70, and the stop 84. The stop 84 is placed on the support elements 48 and 50 so that, when the print head 30 is mounted in the cradle 32, it is applied against the front legs 68 and 72 by the spring 86. The rear end of the support elements 48 and 50 has a cylindrical section 88 of reduced diameter compared to that of the main part, and integral with the latter. The rear end of the support elements 48 and 50 is introduced into a housing provided in the rear receiver block 90 connected to the circuit board 44 which is itself connected to the housing 40. An insulator 92 is provided at the bottom of the housing of the block receiver 90 to isolate the printed circuit panel 44 from the support elements 48 and 50. These are introduced into the receiver block 90 by pressing the spring 94. The length of the support elements 48 and 50 is less than the distance separating on the one hand the bottom of the conical housing of the element 8 0 and, on the other hand, the rear part of the block 90, so that the spring 94, when it is disposed between the insulator 92 and the rear end 96 of the main part of the elements 48 and 50, exerts a force against the housing 40, which keeps the conical end 78 in the conical housing 80.

Chacun des éléments de support 48 et 50 comporte en outre un trou 98 usiné en son centre de telle façon que ledit trou soit disposé dans le passage 74 des jambes arrières du berceau 32, par exemple dans la jambe 70, lorsque les éléments de support 48 et 50 butent et s'appuient sur le logement conique 80 et que le ressort 86 est allongé au maximum. Le trou 98 peut être exposé en déplaçant la tête d'impression 30 et les éléments de support 48 et 50 vers l'arrière par rapport au berceau 32, ce qui comprime le ressort 86. Cette opération peut être effectuée rapidement en utilisant la poignée 97.Each of the support elements 48 and 50 further comprises a hole 98 machined in its center so that said hole is disposed in the passage 74 of the rear legs of the cradle 32, for example in the leg 70, when the support elements 48 and 50 abut and rest on the conical housing 80 and that the spring 86 is extended to the maximum. The hole 98 can be exposed by moving the print head 30 and the support elements 48 and 50 rearward relative to the cradle 32, which compresses the spring 86. This operation can be carried out quickly using the handle 97 .

On décrira maintenant le retrait ou enlèvement de la tête d'impression 30 du berceau 32. Cette opération est facilitée par le fait que le ressort 86 pousse les éléments de support 48 et 50 vers l'avant 42 tandis que le ressort 94 pousse le boîtier 40 vers l'arrière, ce qui maintient les logements coniques 80 contre les extrémités coniques 78 des éléments de support 48 et 50 comme on le voit dans la Figure 8. Pour retirer la tête d'impression 30 du berceau 32, la première étape consiste à repousser la tête d'impression 30 et les éléments de support 48 et 50 tout en maintenant le berceau 32 dans la position de la Figure 9, ce qui comprime le ressort 86 et expose le trou 98. Puis une goupille 100 est introduite dans le trou 98. Le boîtier 40 et les éléments de support 48 et 50 sont alors entraînés vers l'avant par la force exercée par le ressort 86 et amenés dans une position telle, que la goupille 100 porte contre les jambes arrière 70 du berceau 32. Puis, comme on le voit dans la Figure 10, le boîtier 40 est poussé vers l'avant tandis que les éléments de support 48 et 50 sont maintenus en position fixe par la goupille 100 qui porte contre les jambes arrière 70; ce mouvement vers l'avant est suffisamment important pour provoquer le retrait de l'extrémité conique 78 des éléments de support des logements coniques 80. Cette position est représentée en trait pleins dans la Figure 10. Pendant ce mouvement, le ressort 94 est comprimé et l'extrémité arrière 88 des éléments de support 48 et 50 se déplace vers l'isolant 92 situé dans le bloc récepteur arrière 90. Puis, le boîtier complet est déplacé vers le bas, comme indiqué par la flèche 102, afin que le logement conique 80 se trouve dans la position 80A. Ensuite, le ressort 94 revient dans sont état normal, entraînant ainsi le boîtier dans le sens indiqué par la flèche 104, ce qui provoque le passage du logement conique 80 dans la position 80B. A cet instant, les éléments de support 48 et 50 ont été dégagés du bloc récepteur arrière 90 qui se trouve maintenant dans la position 90B et la tête d'impression 32 peut être retirée en soulevant le côté arrière du boîtier 40 et en le dégageant du berceau 32 tout en retirant le côté avant 82 de sous les éléments de support 48 et 50.The removal or removal of the print head 30 from the cradle 32 will now be described. This operation is facilitated by the fact that the spring 86 pushes the support elements 48 and 50 forwards 42 while the spring 94 pushes the housing. 40 backwards, which holds the conical housings 80 against the conical ends 78 of the support elements 48 and 50 as seen in Figure 8. To remove the print head 30 from the cradle 32, the first step consists pushing back the print head 30 and the support elements 48 and 50 while maintaining the cradle 32 in the position of FIG. 9, which compresses the spring 86 and exposes the hole 98. Then a pin 100 is introduced into the hole 98. The housing 40 and the support elements 48 and 50 are then driven forward by the force exerted by the spring 86 and brought into a position such that the pin 100 bears against the rear legs 70 of the cradle 32. Then, as seen in Figure 10, the housing 40 is pushed forward while the support elements 48 and 50 are held in a fixed position by the pin 100 which bears against the rear legs 70; this forward movement is sufficiently large to cause the withdrawal of the conical end 78 of the support elements of the conical housings 80. This position is shown in solid lines in FIG. 10. During this movement, the spring 94 is compressed and the rear end 88 of the support elements 48 and 50 moves towards the insulator 92 located in the rear receiver block 90. Then, the complete housing is moved downwards, as indicated by arrow 102, so that the housing is conical 80 is in position 80A. Then, the spring 94 returns to its normal state, thus driving the housing in the direction indicated by the arrow 104, which causes the conical housing 80 to pass into the position 80B. At this time, the support elements 48 and 50 have been released from the rear receiver unit 90 which is now in position 90B and the print head 32 can be removed by lifting the rear side of the housing 40 and releasing it from the cradle 32 while removing the front side 82 from under the support elements 48 and 50.

La Figure 4 représente le chariot 34. La tête d'impression 30 et le berceau 32 assemblés par les éléments de support 48 et 50 comme décrit précédemment, sont montés à pivot dans le chariot 34. Le côté avant du chariot 34 comporte un coulisseau 106 monté sur le rail ou arbre 28. Le coulisseau 106 comprend le palier 108 et un support 110 pour un deuxième palier (non représenté) disposé sous le chariot 34. Un troisième palier similaire au palier 108 est aussi prévu sur le côté du coulisseau -106 caché par l'arbre 28. L'autre côté du chariot 34 comporte également les mêmes paliers. Le chariot 34 comporte aussi un deuxième coulisseau 112 monté sur l'arbre 26 d'une manière bien connue.Figure 4 shows the carriage 34. The print head 30 and the cradle 32 assembled by the support elements 48 and 50 as described above, are pivotally mounted in the carriage 34. The front side of the carriage 34 comprises a slide 106 mounted on the rail or shaft 28. The slide 106 comprises the bearing 108 and a support 110 for a second bearing (not shown) disposed under the carriage 34. A third bearing similar to the bearing 108 is also provided on the side of the slide -106 hidden by the shaft 28. The other side of the carriage 34 also has the same bearings. The carriage 34 also includes a second slide 112 mounted on the shaft 26 in a well known manner.

Le côté droit du chariot 34 comporte le mécanisme d'entraînement du ruban 114 qui comprend un moyeu 116 à introduire dans le porte-ruban 14. Le ruban (non représenté) est entraîné à partir du porte-ruban 14, autour du côté avant 42 de la tête d'impression 30 et ramené à l'arrière du magasin 14 d'une manière bien connue dans l'art antérieur.The right side of the carriage 34 includes the ribbon drive mechanism 114 which comprises a hub 116 to be introduced into the ribbon holder 14. The ribbon (not shown) is driven from the ribbon holder 14, around the front side 42 of the print head 30 and brought to the rear of the magazine 14 in a manner well known in the prior art.

Le chariot 34 comporte un ensemble de réception d'axes de pivotement 118 des deux côtés de la tête d'impression 30. Afin de simplifier la figure, on n'a représenté qu'un seul de ces deux ensembles de réception 118, étant entendu qu'un élément similaire est prévu de l'autre côté de la tête d'impression 30.The carriage 34 comprises a set of reception of pivot axes 118 on both sides of the print head 30. In order to simplify the figure, only one of these two reception sets 118 has been shown, it being understood that a similar element is provided on the other side of the print head 30.

La Figure 6 montre le montage à rotation du berceau 32 sur le chariot 34. Comme indiqué précédemment, il s'agit d'un montage pivotant, c'est-à-dire que le berceau 32 pivote autour des axes 56 et 58. L'ensemble de réception d'axes de pivotement 118 du chariot 34 est traversé par deux passages 152 et 154. Le récepteur d'axes de pivotement 156 est introduit dans le passage 152 et comporte une tête 158 de grande dimension et dont la base comporte une découpe 160. La configuration de la découpe 160 est telle qu'elle peut recevoir la tête de la vis 162 qui est introduite dans le passage 154. L'autre côté du récepteur d'axes de pivotement 156 comporte une rainure en V 164. La rainure en V 164 et la découpe 160 de la tête 158 sont alignées de façon que, lorsque la tête de la vis 162 est logée dans la découpe la rainure en V 164 se trouve dans une position lui permettant de recevoir l'axe de pivotement 58 du berceau 32.Figure 6 shows the rotational mounting of the cradle 32 on the carriage 34. As indicated above, it is a pivoting assembly, that is to say that the cradle 32 pivots around the axes 56 and 58. L the pivot axis receiving assembly 118 of the carriage 34 is crossed by two passages 152 and 154. The pivot axis receiver 156 is introduced into the passage 152 and comprises a head 158 of large dimension and the base of which comprises a cutout 160. The configuration of the cutout 160 is such that it can receive the head of the screw 162 which is introduced into the passage 154. The other side of the pivot axis receiver 156 has a V-groove 164. The V-groove 164 and the cutout 160 of the head 158 are aligned so that, when the head of the screw 162 is housed in the cutout, the V-groove 164 is in a position allowing it to receive the pivot axis 58 from cradle 32.

Le porte-pivot 166 est fixé à l'ensemble de réception 118 par la vis 162 et présente une rainure en U horizontale 168 orientée perpendiculairement à la vue de la Figure 6. Le diamètre de la partie circulaire de la rainure en U 168 est légèrement supérieur au diamètre de l'axe de pivotement 58 de façon que ce dernier puisse être logé dans ladite rainure en U. Un alésage 170 est prévu pour recevoir le ressort 172 et il est aligné avec le récepteur d'axes de pivotement 156 lorsque le porte-pivot 166 est fixé par la vis 162. Le ressort 172 est comprimé lorsque le porte-pivot 166 est fixé par la vis 162 si bien qu'il applique une force contre l'axe de pivotement 58 et la maintient dans la rainure en V 164.The pivot holder 166 is fixed to the receiving assembly 118 by the screw 162 and has a horizontal U-shaped groove 168 oriented perpendicular to the view in FIG. 6. The diameter of the circular part of the U-shaped groove 168 is slightly greater than the diameter of the pivot axis 58 so that the latter can be housed in said U-shaped groove. A bore 170 is provided for receiving the spring 172 and it is aligned with the pivot axis receiver 156 when the holder -pivot 166 is fixed by the screw 162. The spring 172 is compressed when the pivot holder 166 is fixed by the screw 162 so that it applies a force against the pivot axis 58 and keeps it in the V-groove 164.

Bien qu'on ne l'ait pas représenté, il est évident qu'une structure identique comprenant l'ensemble de réception d'axes de pivotement 118, le récepteur de pivotement 156, la vis 162 et le porte-pivot 166, est prévu sur le côté opposé du chariot 34 pour recevoir l'axe de pivotement 56 à la place de l'axe 58. Monté de cette manière, le berceau 32 peut pivoter autour des axes 56 et 58. L'avantage présenté par l'utilisation de la structure de cette invention par rapport à une structure plus classique qui comporte un passage cylindrique pour recevoir les axes de pivotement 56 et 58, réside tout d'abord dans le fait qu'une friction moindre est rencontrée lorsque les axes 56 et 58 tournent dans une rainure en V plutôt que dans un passage cylindrique et, encore plus important, l'importance des problèmes d'alignement est réduit par le fait qu'il n'y a que deux zones de jonction entre la partie de la rainure en V 164 et les axes de pivotement 56 et 58.Although it has not been shown, it is obvious that an identical structure comprising the pivot pin receiving assembly 118, the pivot receiver 156, the screw 162 and the pivot holder 166, is provided. on the opposite side of the carriage 34 to receive the pivot axis 56 in place of the axis 58. Mounted in this way, the cradle 32 can pivot around the axes 56 and 58. The advantage presented by the use of the structure of this invention compared to a more conventional structure which comprises a cylindrical passage for receiving the pivot axes 56 and 58, resides first of all in the fact that less friction is encountered when the axes 56 and 58 rotate in a V-groove rather than in a cylindrical passage and, more importantly, the importance of alignment problems is reduced by the fact that there are only two junction zones between the part of the V-groove 164 and the pivot axes 56 and 58.

Le chariot 34 comprend également un dispositif de commande de distance 120 disposé sur son côté gauche comme on le voit sur la Figure 4. La plaque 122 est fixée au dispositif de commande 120 et constitue un prolongement de celui-ci. La hauteur du dispositif de commande 120 et de la plaque 122 est choisie de façon que le haut de la plaque 122 soit disposée sous l'oreille 54 du berceau 32. Un solénoïde 124 est fixé sous la plaque 122 par les vis 130 et 132 et le piston 126 du solénolde 124 traverse un passage 128 ménagé dans la plaque 122. Une vis de blocage 134 est fixée dans l'oreille 54 en alignement avec le point on le piston 126 entre en contact avec la plaque 154. La vis de blocage 134 est ajustée de façon à être en contact léger avec le piston 126 lorsque le solénolde 124 n'est pas excité.The carriage 34 also includes a distance control device 120 arranged on its left side as seen in Figure 4. The plate 122 is fixed to the control device 120 and constitutes an extension thereof. The height of the control device 120 and of the plate 122 is chosen so that the top of the plate 122 is disposed under the ear 54 of the cradle 32. A solenoid 124 is fixed under the plate 122 by the screws 130 and 132 and the piston 126 of the solenoid 124 crosses a passage 128 formed in the plate 122. A locking screw 134 is fixed in the ear 54 in alignment with the point on which the piston 126 comes into contact with the plate 154. The locking screw 134 is adjusted so as to be in light contact with the piston 126 when the solenoid 124 is not excited.

La plaque 122 est fixée au dispositif 120 par la vis 136. En outre, la plaque 122 comporte un trou vertical 138 et le dispositif 120 un trou horizontal 140 aligné pour recevoir le doigt 60 du berceau 32. Le trou 140 reçoit une douille 142 fixée par une vis de blocage 144 disposée dans le trou vertical 138. La longueur de la douille 142 et celle de la partie à section en losange 64 du doigt 60, sont approximativement égales si bien que la partie 64 du doigt 60 est mobile dans la douille 142. Le diamètre intérieur de la douille 142 est légèrement supérieur au diamètre le plus long de la partie 64 du doigt 60. Le doigt 60 comporte également une partie plate 146 alignée avec un alésage 148 ménagé dans le dispositif 120 (voir Figure 7). Le ressort 150 est logé dans l'alésage 148 et maintenu comprimé contre la partie plate 146 par la plaque 122. De cette manière le doigt est maintenu en position basse normale comme on le voit dans la Figure 7.The plate 122 is fixed to the device 120 by the screw 136. In addition, the plate 122 has a vertical hole 138 and the device 120 a horizontal hole 140 aligned to receive the finger 60 of the cradle 32. The hole 140 receives a socket 142 fixed by a locking screw 144 disposed in the vertical hole 138. The length of the sleeve 142 and that of the diamond-shaped section portion 64 of the finger 60 are approximately equal so that the portion 64 of the finger 60 is movable in the socket 142. The internal diameter of the socket 142 is slightly greater than the longest diameter of the part 64 of the finger 60. The finger 60 also has a flat part 146 aligned with a bore 148 formed in the device 120 (see FIG. 7 ). The spring 150 is housed in the bore 148 and kept compressed against the flat part 146 by the plate 122. In this way the finger is kept in the normal low position as seen in FIG. 7.

L'angle de rotation du berceau 32 sur le chariot 34 est commandé par le mouvement de la partie à section en losange 64 du doigt 60 dans la douille 142 et ceci est montré dans les Figures 7, 11 et 12. Lorsque le solénoide 124 n'est pas excité, le ressort 150 applique une force contre la partie plate 146 du doigt 60 provoquant l'application de la partie inférieure de la partie 64 du doigt 60 contre la partie inférieure intérieure de la douille 142 comme le montre les Figures 7 et 11. Lorsque le solénoide 124 est excité, la force appliquée contre l'oreille 54 est supérieure à celle appliquée par le ressort 150 contre le doigt 60. L'oreille 54 se déplace donc vers le haut et entraîne avec elle tout le berceau 32, y compris le doigt 60. Ce mouvement est brusquement stoppé lorsque la partie supérieure de la partie 64 du doigt 60 entre en contact avec la partie supérieure intérieure de la douille 142 comme on le voit à la Figure 12. La différence entre le diamètre intérieur de la douille 142 et l'axe long de la partie 64 du doigt 60, peut être choisie pour commander le mouvement des fils d'impression 38 sur une distance correspondant à la moitié de la distance centre à centre séparant les fils ou, autrement dit, à la moitié de la distance centre à centre séparant les points imprimés. Cette différence entre le diamètre intérieur de la douille 142 et l'axe vertical long de la section en losange 64 du doigt 60 peut être facilement déterminée en rendant le rapport, existant entre la distance séparant l'axe de rotation des axes 56 et 58, du côté avant 42 et la distance séparant cet axe de rotation du doigt 60, égale au rapport existant entre d'une part le mouvement désiré des fils 38 et d'autre part la différence entre le diamètre intérieur de la douille 142 et l'axe vertical long de la section en losange 64 du doigt 60.The angle of rotation of the cradle 32 on the carriage 34 is controlled by the movement of the diamond-shaped section 64 of the finger 60 in the socket 142 and this is shown in Figures 7, 11 and 12. When the solenoid 124 n is not excited, the spring 150 applies a force against the flat part 146 of the finger 60 causing the application of the lower part of the part 64 of the finger 60 against the inner lower part of the sleeve 142 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. When the solenoid 124 is excited, the force applied against the ear 54 is greater than that applied by the spring 150 against the finger 60. The ear 54 therefore moves upwards and carries with it the whole cradle 32, including the finger 60. This movement is abruptly stopped when the upper part of the part 64 of the finger 60 comes into contact with the upper internal part of the sleeve 142 as seen in FIG. 12. The difference between the internal diameter of socket 142 and the long axis of the portion 64 of the finger 60, can be chosen to control the movement of the printing wires 38 over a distance corresponding to half the center-to-center distance separating the wires or, in other words, to half the center-to-center distance between the printed dots. This difference between the inside diameter of the sleeve 142 and the long vertical axis of the diamond section 64 of the finger 60 can be easily determined by making the ratio, existing between the distance separating the axis of rotation of the axes 56 and 58, on the front side 42 and the distance separating this axis of rotation of the finger 60, equal to the ratio existing between on the one hand the desired movement wires 38 and on the other hand the difference between the inside diameter of the sleeve 142 and the vertical axis along the diamond section 64 of the finger 60.

La Figure 13 représente schématiquement le circuit de commande de l'imprimante 10 qui peut être utilisé avec un processeur 174 délivrant des signaux pour commander la logique 176 afin de provoquer l'impression d'une ligne de caractères. La logique de commande 176 emmmagasine les caractères à imprimer et délivre les signaux de commande du solénoïde de basculement 124 pour commander le mouvement latéral de la tête d'impression 12, l'entraînement du papier par le système d'alimentation du papier 18 et le déclenchement des huit dispositifs d'actionnement des fils d'impression 36. Ce système de commande, à l'exception de la commande du solénoïde de basculement 124, est décrit en détail dans le brevet FR-A 2 374 691. La commande du solénoïde de basculement requiert le conditionnement d'une bascule à la fin ou à la droite du mouvement de gauche à droite de la tête d'impression et le maintien de ce conditionnement pendant tout le mouvement de droite à gauche de ladite tête d'impression. La sortie de la bascule peut être couplée, par des circuits d'excitation appropriés, au solénoïde de commande 124.Figure 13 shows schematically the control circuit of the printer 10 which can be used with a processor 174 delivering signals to control the logic 176 in order to cause the printing of a line of characters. The control logic 176 stores the characters to be printed and delivers the control signals from the tilting solenoid 124 to control the lateral movement of the print head 12, the feeding of the paper by the paper feeding system 18 and the triggering of the eight printing wire actuation devices 36. This control system, with the exception of the control of the tilting solenoid 124, is described in detail in patent FR-A 2 374 691. The control of the solenoid tilting requires the conditioning of a rocker at the end or to the right of the movement from left to right of the printhead and the maintenance of this conditioning throughout the movement from right to left of said printhead. The output of the flip-flop can be coupled, by appropriate excitation circuits, to the control solenoid 124.

Bien que l'on ait décrit dans ce qui précède et représenté sur les dessins les caractéristiques essentielles de l'invention appliquées à un mode de réalisation préféré de celle-ci, il est évident que l'homme de l'art peut y apporter toutes modifications de forme ou de détail qu'il juge utiles, sans pour autant sortir du cadre de ladite invention.Although the essential characteristics of the invention applied to a preferred embodiment of the invention have been described in the foregoing and represented in the drawings, it is obvious that a person skilled in the art can provide all of them. modifications of form or detail which he judges useful, without departing from the scope of said invention.

Claims (8)

1.- Imprimante du genre comportant une tête d'impression par points, à matrice de fils, cette tête comportant plusieurs fils d'impression qui sont actionnés pour imprimer une série de premiers points sur un milieu d'enregistrement, tandis que la tête se déplace latéralement devant ledit milieu, et ladite tête pouvant être basculée pour imprimer une série de seconds points entre les premiers points imprimés, l'imprimante comprenant: une tête d'impression (30, 32) comportant plusieurs fils d'impression, le centre de l'extrémité de chaque fil étant séparé du centre des fils adjacents par une distance donnée, un chariot (34) pouvant se déplacer devant ledit milieu et portant la tête d'impression, et des moyens de rotation pour faire pivoter la tête d'impression par rapport au chariot, et ce, autour d'un axe de rotation, ladite imprimante étant caractérisée en ce que les moyens de rotation comportent: deux arbres cylindriques de rotation (56, 58) s'étendant de part et d'autre de la tête d'impression et définissant l'axe de rotation, deux réceptacles d'arbres de rotation (118) fixés au chariot, chaque réceptacle comportant un élément de réception dont une des extrémités définit un évidement concave de forme angulaire dans lequel est logé l'arbre de rotation qui lui est associé, des moyens flexibles respectivement associés auxdits réceptacles, chaque moyen flexible maintenant l'arbre de rotation dans l'évidement angulaire, des moyens pour faire pivoter la tête autour de l'axe de rotation et des moyens pour limiter le pivotement de la tête de telle sorte que les fils d'impression impriment la série de premiers points puis la série de seconds points. 1 .- Printer of the kind comprising a dot print head, with a matrix of threads, this head comprising several print threads which are actuated to print a series of first dots on a recording medium, while the head is moves laterally in front of said medium, and said head can be tilted to print a series of second dots between the first printed dots, the printer comprising: a print head (30, 32) comprising several print wires, the center of the end of each wire being separated from the center of the adjacent wires by a given distance, a carriage (34) able to move in front of said medium and carrying the print head, and rotation means for pivoting the print head relative to the carriage, and this around an axis of rotation, said printer being characterized in that the rotation means comprise: two cylindrical rotation shafts (56, 58) extending on either side of the print head and defining the axis of rotation, two rotation shaft receptacles (118) fixed to the carriage, each receptacle comprising a reception element, one of the ends of which defines a concave recess of angular shape in which the rotation shaft associated therewith is housed, flexible means respectively associated with said receptacles, each flexible means holding the shaft of rotation in the angular recess, means for pivoting the head about the axis of rotation and means for limiting the pivoting of the head so that the printing threads print the series of first dots then the series of second dots. 2.- Imprimante selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la série de premiers points est imprimée lorsque la tête se déplace le long du milieu d'enregistrement dans un premier sens et la série de seconds points est imprimée lorsque la tête se déplace dans le sens opposé.2.- Printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the series of first dots is printed when the head moves along the recording medium in a first direction and the series of second dots is printed when the head moves in the opposite direction. 3.- Imprimante selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que chacun des moyens flexibles comporte un boîtier et un élément à ressort, chaque boîtier comprenant un premier passage dans lequel est logé l'arbre de rotation qui lui est associé et un second passage traversé par le premier passage et l'arbre de rotation, le second passage contenant, de part et d'autre de l'arbre, l'élément à ressort comprimé et ledit élément de réception de sorte que l'élément à ressort maintient ledit arbre dans l'évidement concave de l'élément de réception.3.- Printer according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the flexible means comprises a housing and a spring element, each housing comprising a first passage in which is housed the rotation shaft associated therewith. and a second passage traversed by the first passage and the rotation shaft, the second passage containing, on either side of the shaft, the compressed spring element and said receiving element so that the element spring maintains said shaft in the concave recess of the receiving element. 4.- Imprimante selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que le second passage est de forme circulaire et que le premier passage comporte une rainure en forme de U située entre l'élément à ressort comprimé et ledit arbre, lé diamètre de la partie circulaire de la rainure étant légèrement supérieur à celui de l'arbre.4. Printer according to claim 3, characterized in that the second passage is circular in shape and that the first passage comprises a U-shaped groove located between the compressed spring element and said shaft, the diameter of the circular part. of the groove being slightly higher than that of the shaft. 5.- Imprimante selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ledit réceptable et ledit boîtier sont fixés au chariot par un élément de fixation commun.5.- Printer according to claim 4, characterized in that said receptable and said housing are fixed to the carriage by a common fixing element. 6.- Imprimante selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que ledit élément de réception est constitué par un doigt dont une des extrémités comporte ledit évidement concave et dont l'autre extrémité comporte une tête ayant une encoche et en ce que l'élément de fixation commun est une vis qui fixe ledit boîtier au chariot, une partie de la tête de la vis recouvrant ladite encoche pour fixer l'élément de réception au chariot.6.- Printer according to claim 5, characterized in that said receiving element consists of a finger one end of which comprises said concave recess and the other end of which comprises a head having a notch and in that the common fixing element is a screw which fixes said housing to the carriage , a part of the head of the screw covering said notch to fix the receiving element to the carriage. 7.- Imprimante selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que la forme de l'encoche est telle qu'elle permet la réception de ladite partie de la tête de vis, et en ce que la position de l'encoche dans la tête du doigt et la position angulaire de l'évidement concave sont alignés de telle sorte que l'évidemment concave est positionné pour recevoir l'arbre de rotation lorsque ladite vis vient s'adapter et recouvrir l'encoche pour la fixer au chariot.7.- Printer according to claim 6, characterized in that the shape of the notch is such that it allows the reception of said part of the screw head, and in that the position of the notch in the head of the finger and the angular position of the concave recess are aligned so that the obviously concave is positioned to receive the rotation shaft when said screw comes to fit and cover the notch to fix it to the carriage. 8.- Imprimante selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que les moyens pour faire pivoter la tête autour de l'axe de rotation comportent d'une part un solénoide fixé au chariot et qui, lorsqu'il est excité, entraîne la tête dans un sens et un élément à ressort qui entraîne la tête dans le sens oppposé lorsque le solénoïde n'est plus excité.8.- Printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for pivoting the head around the axis of rotation comprise on the one hand a solenoid fixed to the carriage and which, when it is excited, drives the head in one direction and a spring element that drives the head in the opposite direction when the solenoid is no longer energized.
EP80103542A 1979-07-30 1980-06-24 Dot printer comprising a tiltable print head Expired EP0023268B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6225779A 1979-07-30 1979-07-30
US62257 1979-07-30

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EP0023268A1 true EP0023268A1 (en) 1981-02-04
EP0023268B1 EP0023268B1 (en) 1983-11-16

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EP80103542A Expired EP0023268B1 (en) 1979-07-30 1980-06-24 Dot printer comprising a tiltable print head

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EP (1) EP0023268B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS5621873A (en)
AU (1) AU530234B2 (en)
BR (1) BR8004722A (en)
CA (1) CA1153244A (en)
DE (1) DE3065600D1 (en)
ES (1) ES8105636A1 (en)
IT (1) IT1149808B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0031948B1 (en) * 1979-12-26 1986-10-15 Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha A hydrogen-evolution electrode

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1928717B1 (en) 2005-09-08 2012-02-08 Volvo Lastvagnar AB Selective anti-lock braking system

Citations (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4086997A (en) * 1977-03-07 1978-05-02 Wang Laboratories, Inc. Adjustable support for print head assembly

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4086997A (en) * 1977-03-07 1978-05-02 Wang Laboratories, Inc. Adjustable support for print head assembly

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, Vol. 20, No. 12, Mai 1978, pages 5097-5098 Armonk, U.S.A. J.E. LISINSKI et al.: "Print Head Dipper" * En entier * *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0031948B1 (en) * 1979-12-26 1986-10-15 Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha A hydrogen-evolution electrode

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5908580A (en) 1981-02-05
IT8022713A0 (en) 1980-06-11
ES493792A0 (en) 1981-06-16
DE3065600D1 (en) 1983-12-22
CA1153244A (en) 1983-09-06
ES8105636A1 (en) 1981-06-16
IT1149808B (en) 1986-12-10
AU530234B2 (en) 1983-07-07
JPS6228753B2 (en) 1987-06-22
BR8004722A (en) 1981-02-10
EP0023268B1 (en) 1983-11-16
JPS5621873A (en) 1981-02-28

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