EP0023269B1 - Printer comprising removable dot print head - Google Patents

Printer comprising removable dot print head Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0023269B1
EP0023269B1 EP80103543A EP80103543A EP0023269B1 EP 0023269 B1 EP0023269 B1 EP 0023269B1 EP 80103543 A EP80103543 A EP 80103543A EP 80103543 A EP80103543 A EP 80103543A EP 0023269 B1 EP0023269 B1 EP 0023269B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
support member
print head
yoke
receiving
receiving means
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.)
Expired
Application number
EP80103543A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0023269A3 (en
EP0023269A2 (en
Inventor
Thomas Franklin Shelton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0023269A2 publication Critical patent/EP0023269A2/en
Publication of EP0023269A3 publication Critical patent/EP0023269A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0023269B1 publication Critical patent/EP0023269B1/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
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/02—Framework
    • 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
    • B41J25/316—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with tilting motion mechanisms relative to 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
    • B41J25/34—Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printer with a print head by dot matrix with a wire matrix and more particularly such a printer comprising a print head removably mounted on the support of the printer head.
  • 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 wire ends 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.
  • patent US-A-3 987 883 the description of the mounting of the print head in the printer.
  • a problem encountered in wire matrix printers is that of removing the printhead from the device holding it in place in the printer. After a period of use, the print head becomes unusable due, for example, to the breakage of one of the print wires, and the entire head must be replaced.
  • printers of the prior art such as that presented in patent US-A-4,987,883
  • the print head is fixed to a cradle. If the print head itself needs to be replaced, it is necessary to remove the complete assembly formed from the head and the cradle. It would be better to be able to remove the head alone and replace it, which would save the cost of replacing the cradle.
  • a solution to such a problem is already described in US-A-3,960,255.
  • FIG 1 is a perspective view of a printer 10 having a print head 12 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 threads 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 position, leaving a dot 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 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 plate 16.
  • One end of the seven upper wires of the vertical column is used to print the characters while the remaining lower wire is used for underlining.
  • 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 deterioration, the printed dots are also separated from each 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.
  • FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a printhead assembly 12 which includes the printhead itself 30 similar to that presented in the patent FR-A-2 253 629 cited above and which rocks in a cradle or support 32.
  • FIGS. 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 arrangements actuating elements 36 which can be of the type described in 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 panel 44 is placed between the actuating devices 36 and the housing 40 of the printhead 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 the one which is not shown and which is similar to the leg 70, are the two straight side 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 diamond-shaped 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 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 a first receiving element 80.
  • the element 80 is made integral with the housing 40 by an arm 82.
  • the part of the elements of support 48 and 50 included between the passages 74 of the lateral legs such as the legs 68 and 70 of Figures 8 to 10, comprises a stop 84 and a spring 86 which is arranged 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 a flexible means in the form of spring 86.
  • the rear end of the support elements 48 and 50 has a cylindrical section 88 of reduced diameter relative 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 formed in the rear receiver block 90 constituting a second reception element and, 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 receiver block 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 a flexible spring-shaped element 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 80 and, on the other hand, the bottom or the rear part of the block 90, so that the spring 94, when it is placed 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 is to push 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 situated in the rear receiver block 90.
  • the complete housing is moved downwards, as indicated by arrow 102, so that the housing 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 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 has a slide 106 mounted on the rail or shaft 28.
  • the slide 106 includes 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 hidden slide 106 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 comprises 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 receiving pivot axes 118 on both sides of the cradle 32 holding the print head 30. In order to simplify the figure, only one of these two receiving 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 disposed 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 passes through a passage 128 formed in the plate 122.
  • a locking screw 134 is fixed in the ear 54 in alignment with the point where the piston 126 comes into contact with the ear 54. 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 socket 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 sleeve 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 Figure 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 14 2 and the long axis of the part 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 the 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-shaped section 64 of the finger 60 can be easily determined by rendering the ratio existing between the distance separating the axis of rotation from 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 of the wires 38 and on the other hand the difference between the internal diameter of the sleeve 142 and the axis vertical along the diamond section 64 of 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 actuation devices of the printing wires 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.

Description

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 d'impression montée de façon amovible, sur le support de tête de l'imprimante.The present invention relates to a printer with a print head by dot matrix with a wire matrix and more particularly such a printer comprising a print head removably mounted on the support of the printer head.

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 dès 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 solénoïdes, 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. 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.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 wire ends 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. 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.

Un problème rencontré dans les imprimantes à matrice de fils est celui posé par l'enlèvement de la tête d'impression du dispositif la maintenant en place dans l'imprimante. Après un certain temps d'utilisation, la tête d'impression devient inutilisable en raison, par exemple, de la rupture de l'un des fils d'impression, et toute la tête doit être remplacée. Dans les imprimantes de l'art antérieur telle celle présentée dans le brevet US-A-4 987 883, la tête d'impression est fixée à un berceau. Si la tête d'impression elle-même doit être remplacée, il est nécessaire de retirer l'ensemble complet formé de la tête et du berceau. Il serait préférable de pouvoir retirer la tête seule et de la remplacer, ce qui économiserait le coût du remplacement du berceau. Une solution d'un tel problème est déjà décrite dans le brevet US-A-3 960 255.A problem encountered in wire matrix printers is that of removing the printhead from the device holding it in place in the printer. After a period of use, the print head becomes unusable due, for example, to the breakage of one of the print wires, and the entire head must be replaced. In printers of the prior art such as that presented in patent US-A-4,987,883, the print head is fixed to a cradle. If the print head itself needs to be replaced, it is necessary to remove the complete assembly formed from the head and the cradle. It would be better to be able to remove the head alone and replace it, which would save the cost of replacing the cradle. A solution to such a problem is already described in US-A-3,960,255.

La présente invention concerne une autre solution de ce problème et consiste en un dispositif qui se distingue d'une manière nouvelle de l'état de la technique. Ce dispositif comprend un berceau ou support de tête qui comporte au moins un élément de support et une tête d'impression qui comporte des éléments de réception, qui coopèrent avec ledit ou lesdits éléments de support. Le support de tête comporte deux paliers espacés en ligne droite dans lesquels peut coulisser l'élément de support de forme allongée et de longueur prédéterminée. La tête comporte des premier et second éléments de réception, qui reçoivent respectivement les extrémités opposées dudit élément de support qui font saillies par rapport aux extrémités opposées des paliers, et ce, afin d'assurer le montage de la tête d'impression sur le support de tête. Chaque élément de réception comporte un évidement ayant une entrée et un fond arrière, lesdits éléments de réception étant disposés l'un en face de l'autre et distants l'un de l'autre de telle sorte que la distance séparant le fond du premier élément du fond du second élément soit plus grande que ladite longueur et que la distance séparant les entrées des premier et second éléments soit plus petite que ladite longueur. Lesdits paliers du support de tête comportent des moyens permettant de bloquer le déplacement de l'élément de support. Ledit second élément de réception comporte un élément flexible, placé entre le fond de cet élément de réception et l'extrémité de l'élément de support qui lui est associé, cet élément flexible maintenant l'extrémité de l'élément de support éloignée du fond du second élément de réception et, cet élément flexible pouvant être comprimé par le mouvement de la tête contre ledit élément de support, ce dernier étant alors maintenu bloqué contre ledit support de tête par lesdits moyens de blocage, pour permettre à l'autre extrémité de l'élément de support d'être dégagée du premier élément de réception. Ledit élément de support comporte en outre des moyens flexibles qui le sollicitent vers l'avant pour le maintenir dans le premier élément de réception. 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.

  • 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.
  • Les Figures 2 et 3 représentent les lettres H et A imprimées par des imprimantes à matrice de fils de l'art antérieur.
  • La Figure 4 est une vue en perspective de la tête d'impression de l'imprimante de la Figure 1.
  • La Figure 5 est une vue de dessus de la tête d'impression et de son berceau représenté à la 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.
  • La Figure 7 est une vue en coupe du dispositif de la Figure 6 pris selon la ligne 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.
  • 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, et
  • La Figure 13 est une représentation schématique du système électrique commandant l'imprimante de la Figure 1.
The present invention relates to another solution to this problem and consists of a device which is distinguished in a new way from the state of the art. This device comprises a cradle or head support which comprises at least one support element and a print head which comprises reception elements, which cooperate with said one or more support elements. The head support has two bearings spaced in a straight line in which the elongate support element of predetermined length can slide. The head comprises first and second receiving elements, which respectively receive the opposite ends of said support element which project relative to the opposite ends of the bearings, in order to ensure the mounting of the print head on the support of head. Each receiving element has a recess having an inlet and a rear bottom, said receiving elements being arranged one opposite the other and distant from each other so that the distance separating the bottom from the first element of the bottom of the second element is greater than said length and the distance between the entries of the first and second elements is less than said length. Said bearings of the head support comprise means making it possible to block the movement of the support element. Said second receiving element comprises a flexible element, placed between the bottom of this receiving element and the end of the support element associated therewith, this flexible element keeping the end of the support element away from the bottom of the second receiving element and, this flexible element being able to be compressed by the movement of the head against said support element, the latter then being kept blocked against said head support by said locking means, to allow the other end to the support member to be released from the first receiving member. Said support element further comprises flexible means which urge it forward to hold it in the first receiving element. 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.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire matrix dot printer using the improved print head of the present invention.
  • Figures 2 and 3 show the letters H and A printed by prior art wire matrix printers.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of the print head of the printer in Figure 1.
  • Figure 5 is a top view of the print head and its cradle shown in Figure 4.
  • Figure 6 is a side view of the print head of Figure 4, the pivot holder being shown in partial section.
  • Figure 7 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 6 taken along line 7-7.
  • Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side views in partial section of the print head showing its mounting in its cradle and its disassembly.
  • Figures 11 and 12 show in detail how the stop means limits the angle of rotation of the print head of Figure 4, and
  • Figure 13 is a schematic representation of the electrical system controlling the printer in Figure 1.

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 10 having a print head 12 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 position 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 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 threads 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 position, leaving a dot 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 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 plate 16. One end of the seven upper wires of the vertical column is used to print the characters while the remaining lower wire is used for underlining. 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 détérioration, 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 selon la Figure 2. 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 deterioration, the printed dots are also separated from each 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 the characters during a passage of the print head 12 from left to right on the platen 16. However, the speed of the print head 12 is reduced by 50% and, during the passage from right to left, print head 12 is tilted so that the second print is made between the vertical dots. 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 according to Figure 2. 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 verticaux entre les points verticaux 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 vertical dots are printed between the vertical 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 ou support de tête 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 includes the printhead itself 30 similar to that presented in the patent FR-A-2 253 629 cited above and which rocks in a cradle or support 32. FIGS. 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 arrangements actuating elements 36 which can be of the type described in 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 panel 44 is placed between the actuating devices 36 and the housing 40 of the printhead 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 fixé 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 avant tandis que la jambe 70 et la jambe non représentée, constituent les deux jambes arrière. Chacune des jambes 68, 70 et 72 comporte un passage 74. Ces passages constituent des paliers pour les deux éléments de support 48 et 50 qui 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 avant 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 the one which is not shown and which is similar to the leg 70, are the two straight side 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. These passages constitute bearings for the two support elements 48 and 50 which are introduced into the passages 74 of the side legs as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 on which sees 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 with 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 diamond-shaped section aims to minimize alignment problems during the manufacture of the cradle 32. Thanks to the shorter horizontal axis of the part with 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 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 premier élément de réception 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 arrière, 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 avant 68 et 72 par un moyen flexible en forme de 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 constituant un second élément de réception et, 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-ci sont introduits dans le bloc récepteur 90 en pressant un élément flexible en forme de 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, le fond ou 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 a first receiving element 80. The element 80 is made integral with the housing 40 by an arm 82. The part of the elements of support 48 and 50 included between the passages 74 of the lateral legs such as the legs 68 and 70 of Figures 8 to 10, comprises a stop 84 and a spring 86 which is arranged 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 a flexible means in the form of spring 86. The rear end of the support elements 48 and 50 has a cylindrical section 88 of reduced diameter relative 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 formed in the rear receiver block 90 constituting a second reception element and, 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 receiver block 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 a flexible spring-shaped element 94. 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 80 and, on the other hand, the bottom or the rear part of the block 90, so that the spring 94, when it is placed 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 arrière 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 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 supports 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 son 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.We will now describe the removal or removal of the print head 30 from the cradle 32. This operation is facilitated by the fact that the spring 86 pushes the support elements 48 and 50 forward while the spring 94 pushes the housing 40 backward, which holds the conical housings 80 against the conical ends 78 of the support members 48 and 50 as seen in Figure 8. To remove the print head 30 from the cradle 32, the first step is to push 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 situated in the rear receiver block 90. Then, the complete housing is moved downwards, as indicated by arrow 102, so that the housing 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 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 has a slide 106 mounted on the rail or shaft 28. The slide 106 includes 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 hidden slide 106 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 comprises 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 du berceau 32 maintenant 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 receiving pivot axes 118 on both sides of the cradle 32 holding the print head 30. In order to simplify the figure, only one of these two receiving 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 le 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 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 solénoïde 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 où le piston 126 entre en contact avec l'oreille 54. La vis de blocage 134 est ajustée de façon à être en contact léger avec le piston 126 lorsque le solénoïde 124 n'est pas excité.The carriage 34 also includes a distance control device 120 disposed 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 passes through a passage 128 formed in the plate 122. A locking screw 134 is fixed in the ear 54 in alignment with the point where the piston 126 comes into contact with the ear 54. 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 socket 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 sleeve 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 Figure 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 solénoïde 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 montrent les Figures 7 et 11. Lorsque le solénoïde 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, égal 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 14 2 and the long axis of the part 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 the 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-shaped section 64 of the finger 60 can be easily determined by rendering the ratio existing between the distance separating the axis of rotation from 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 of the wires 38 and on the other hand the difference between the internal diameter of the sleeve 142 and the axis vertical along the diamond section 64 of 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 emmagasine 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 actuation devices of the printing wires 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.

Claims (4)

1. A printer comprising a removable print head (30) mounted in a yoke means (32), of the type in which the yoke means comprises at least a support member (48, 50) and the print head comprises receiving means (89, 90) cooperating with said support member (1), characterized in that :
yoke means (32) comprises two bearing means (74) spaced apart in straight line holding slideable support member (48, 50) which has an elongated shape and a predetermined length,
the head comprises first and second receiving means (80, 90) respectively receiving the opposite ends of the support member which protude from the opposite ends of the bearing means for allowing the print head to be mounted into the yoke means,
each receiving means comprises a hole with an opening and a bottom, said receiving means being installed facing each other and separated so that the distance between the bottom of first means (80) and the bottom of second means (90) exceeds said length and the distance between the openings of first (80) and second (90) elements is smaller than said length,
means (98, 100) for locking the support member (48, 50) in said bearings (74) of said yoke means (32),
the second receiving means comprises a spring means (94) installed between the bottom of this receiving means and the end of the support member associated thereto, said spring means holding the end of the support member away from the bottom of the second receiving means and said spring means being compressed by the movement of the head against said support member which is, then, locked against said yoke means by said locking means (98, 100), to allow the other end of the support member to be removed from the first receiving means,
the support member forther comprises spring means (86) urging it forwards to hold it in the first receiving means.
2. Printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the print head comprises a second pair of receiving means similar to the first pair receiving means (80, 90) and yoke means (32) comprises a second support member (50) similar to said support member (48) and slideably mounted in a second pair of bearings similar to said two bearings (74), the two support members (48, 50) being parallel to each other.
3. Printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means provided for locking the support member (48, 50) in yoke means (32) comprise, on the one hand, a hole (98) provided in the support member, said hole being hidden when the head is maintained by the yoke means and exposed when said spring means (94) is compressed and, on the other hand, a pin (100) which is pinned into said hole when said hole is exposed, said pin bearing against the yoke means for locking the same.
4. Printer according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that support member (48, 50) comprises a stop (84), said spring means (86) being located between said stop, and the yoke means, said stop stopping the forward movement of the support member beyond a determined position.
EP80103543A 1979-07-30 1980-06-24 Printer comprising removable dot print head Expired EP0023269B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/062,256 US4256408A (en) 1979-07-30 1979-07-30 Dot matrix print head
US62256 1979-07-30

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0023269A2 EP0023269A2 (en) 1981-02-04
EP0023269A3 EP0023269A3 (en) 1982-01-06
EP0023269B1 true EP0023269B1 (en) 1984-06-13

Family

ID=22041262

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EP80103543A Expired EP0023269B1 (en) 1979-07-30 1980-06-24 Printer comprising removable dot print head

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US4256408A (en)
EP (1) EP0023269B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6042034B2 (en)
AU (1) AU530020B2 (en)
BR (1) BR8004721A (en)
CA (1) CA1126575A (en)
DE (1) DE3068180D1 (en)
ES (1) ES493790A0 (en)
IT (1) IT1148841B (en)

Families Citing this family (9)

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JPS5738165A (en) * 1980-08-18 1982-03-02 Seiko Epson Corp Serial dot printer
US4381896A (en) * 1980-10-20 1983-05-03 Centronics Data Computer Corporation Print head mounting assembly with form adjustment
DE3041877A1 (en) * 1980-11-06 1982-05-13 Mannesmann AG, 4000 Düsseldorf MATRIX PRINTER AND RELATED NEEDLE PRINT HEAD
US4484825A (en) * 1982-03-29 1984-11-27 Wilczewski Robert H Transport system for a dot matrix printing mechanism
CH667618A5 (en) * 1986-03-21 1988-10-31 Hermes Precisa International SWITCHABLE WRITING HEAD.
US4773772A (en) * 1986-06-13 1988-09-27 Ncr Corporation Printing apparatus
JPH02182641A (en) * 1988-12-30 1990-07-17 Canon Inc Image forming device
EP0583016B1 (en) * 1988-12-30 1997-09-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus
EP2320309B1 (en) * 2009-10-13 2014-02-12 BlackBerry Limited Portable electronic device including touch-sensitive display and method of controlling same

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2973237A (en) * 1957-04-25 1961-02-28 F L Moseley Co Graphical recorder marking pen
DE2248262C3 (en) * 1972-10-02 1978-12-21 Walther-Bueromaschinen Gmbh, 7921 Gerstetten Automatic material thickness sensing device for the recording medium for high-speed printing units in office machines
US3983803A (en) * 1973-09-27 1976-10-05 Sperry Rand Corporation Automatic print gap adjustment arrangement
IT1050504B (en) * 1974-05-10 1981-03-10 Olivetti C E C S P A DEVICE FOR PUSITIONING AND LOCKING OF AN ELECTROTHERMAL HEAD
US4059182A (en) * 1973-12-20 1977-11-22 U.S. Philips Corporation Mosaic printer
US3987883A (en) * 1975-04-17 1976-10-26 International Business Machines Corporation Ribbon lifting mechanism for a wire matrix printer
US4134695A (en) * 1977-07-13 1979-01-16 Teletype Corporation Printer carriage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT8022711A0 (en) 1980-06-11
EP0023269A3 (en) 1982-01-06
EP0023269A2 (en) 1981-02-04
IT1148841B (en) 1986-12-03
CA1126575A (en) 1982-06-29
JPS5621871A (en) 1981-02-28
US4256408A (en) 1981-03-17
JPS6042034B2 (en) 1985-09-19
ES8104949A1 (en) 1981-05-16
AU5908380A (en) 1981-02-05
ES493790A0 (en) 1981-05-16
BR8004721A (en) 1981-02-10
AU530020B2 (en) 1983-06-30
DE3068180D1 (en) 1984-07-19

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