EP0027734B1 - Dot matrix printing device - Google Patents

Dot matrix printing device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0027734B1
EP0027734B1 EP80303686A EP80303686A EP0027734B1 EP 0027734 B1 EP0027734 B1 EP 0027734B1 EP 80303686 A EP80303686 A EP 80303686A EP 80303686 A EP80303686 A EP 80303686A EP 0027734 B1 EP0027734 B1 EP 0027734B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
row
printing elements
characters
elements
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
EP80303686A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0027734A1 (en
Inventor
Francesco Bernardis
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.)
Telecom Italia SpA
Original Assignee
Ing C Olivetti and C SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ing C Olivetti and C SpA filed Critical Ing C Olivetti and C SpA
Publication of EP0027734A1 publication Critical patent/EP0027734A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0027734B1 publication Critical patent/EP0027734B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/22—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of impact or pressure on a printing material or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/23—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of impact or pressure on a printing material or impression-transfer material using print wires
    • B41J2/235—Print head assemblies
    • B41J2/24—Print head assemblies serial printer type

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dot matrix printing device for accounting, data terminal, telewriting and similar office machines, comprising a row of selectively operable printing elements, the row extending transverse to a direction of relative movement between the printing elements and the medium on which they print, and an electric motor which effects the movement of the printing elements along this direction.
  • the inclination of the row of elements relative to the printing direction is variable between a plurality of settings enabling printing in dot matrices of different definitions.
  • by selectively operating the individual printing elements during such movement it is possible to print alphanumeric characters and other symbols within the resolution permitted by the dot matrix.
  • the invention will be described mainly in terms of wire printers in which the printing elements are wires activated for impact printing of the dots by electromagnets it is not restricted to a particular type of printing element.
  • thermal dot matrix printers are known using resistive printing elements heated by current pulses.
  • a dot matrix printing device is known (U.S. Patent No. 4,059,182) in which a printing head has seven printing elements with their free ends oriented in a rectilinear line transversely to the direction of movement of the printing head.
  • the printing head is rotatable about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the printing medium for producing signs with different inclinations.
  • the signs are always produced using all of the seven printing elements. In this manner it is only possible to vary the inclination of the printed characters with respect to the direction of movement; it is not possible also to vary the number of printing dots which form each character, so improving the printing quality.
  • a first object of the present invention is to provide a printing device able to write symbols and characters both at high speed, according to matrices utilizing a small number of printing dots, and at low speed according to matrices utilizing a great number of printing dots, for a better printing quality.
  • a second object of the present invention is to provide a device which, though capable of writing at high speed, is very reliable and inexpensive.
  • the printing device comprises a base 10 (Fig. 1) provided with four vertical sides 11, 12, 13 and 14 all parallel to each other. Between the sides 12 and 13 a platen 16 is mounted to support a recording medium 17 which, for example, may consist in a sheet of paper, a continuous form, a cheque, a small book or a bank card.
  • a printing head 20 with wires which will be described in detail hereinbelow, is mounted on a carriage 21 which is slidable along a front guide 22, fixed to the sides 12 and 13 and parallel with the platen 16.
  • An inked ribbon 23 is arranged in between the head 20 and the bar 16.
  • the carriage 21 For movement in front of the platen 16, the carriage 21 is in engagement with a lead screw 25, rotatably mounted in the sides 12 and 13 and coupled directly to an electric motor 26, for example of stepping type, which controls its rotation.
  • a synchronisation disc 28 is keyed on the screw 25 and has a series of radial notches, angularly equidistant one from the other.
  • a photo-transistor 29 is disposed facing the ' notches and co-operates with a corresponding light source 30.
  • the phototransistor 29 generates a synchronisation pulse FP at each elementary displacement of P of the head 20 along the direction of movement of the carriage 21, which we shall also call the printing direction.
  • the displacement P is 0.0529 mm, and has been selected according to criteria which will be described below.
  • the printing head 20 (Fig. 2) comprises a frame 33, on the front part of which eighteen control electromagnets 32 are mounted, which are individually joined to an equal number of writing wires 31.
  • the wires 31 have a diameter of 0.3 mm and are guided at their front end by a guide 36 which holds them aligned in a single row Z-Z (Fig. 4).
  • the distance between the axes of the wires 31 is 0.423 mm and the total length / of the row is 7.491 mm. This is equal to twice the height of h of a line of characters of standard type, plus the space b between two lines. These values have been chosen so as to yield a line pitch of 4.23 mm, which is a standard spacing widely used in printers.
  • the head 20 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the carriage 21 in such a manner as to be variably oriented relative to the direction of writing.
  • the front or guide 36 of the head 20 is rotatable in a support 37 of the carriage 21.
  • a helical gear 39 is fixed to the head 20 and engages with a screw 40, rotatably mounted in the support 37.
  • a disc 41, solid with the head 20, is provided with a series of radial notches 42 facing which, on the carriage 21, a photo- transistor 44 is arranged, co-operating with a corresponding light source 43 to generate a synchronisation pulse FT (Fig. 3) when the head 20 is oriented according to one of the predetermined angles.
  • a member 46 On the end of the screw 40 (Fig. 2) is one member 46 with front teeth of a dog coupling. When the carriage 21 is at rest at its extreme left position, the member 46 engages with a corresponding member 47 which also has front teeth and is mounted on a shaft 48 rotatable between the sides 11 and 12 of the base 10.
  • a toothed gear 50 On the shaft 48, between the sides 11 and 12, a toothed gear 50, is keyed. This gear engages with a toothed gear 51 mounted on the shaft 52 of an electric motor 54, a stepping type.
  • the shaft 48 is axially slidable, and a helical spring 55 urges the gear 50 constantly towards the side 12.
  • the electro-magnets 32 are of known type, for example as described in our Italian Patent No. 1011721 and have an actuation cycle T of about 1000 fL sec.
  • the circuit used to control the excitation of the electromagnets 32 and the electric motors 26 and 52 is illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises a central unit 60 into which the data of the alphanumerical characters and other symbols to be printed are fed along a first channel 61 from an output device 62.
  • a second channel 64 from an operational console 65, the data relating to the type of printing to be effected arrive at the central unit.
  • the central unit 60 is connected to two random access memories RAM 66 and 67, by means of two channels 69 and 70 respectively.
  • the central unit 60 is also connected, through a channel 71 to a circuit 72 which controls the motor 26 and, through a channel 73, to a circuit 74 which controls the motor 54.
  • the control circuits 72 and 74 are of known type, for example of the type described in our Italian Patent No. 1,009,48.
  • the signal FT generated by the photo-transistor 44 is sent to the central unit 60, after having been squared by a monostable circuit 75.
  • the signal FP issuing from the photo-transistor 29 is fed to a monostable squaring circuit 76 which generates a corresponding square signal FQ, which is fed to a binary counter 77 which generates a print enabling signal FS.
  • the signal FQ is also despatched, as a feedback signal, to the control circuit 72 of the motor 26.
  • the binary counter 77 is connected to the central unit 60 by means of a channel 80 and can be set to overflow on a variable number, in such a manner that the time interval between two successive pulses of the signal FS may be suitably selected, as will be described hereinbelow.
  • the central unit 60 is connected to a multiple switching circuit 81 through two channels 82 and 83.
  • the circuit 81 is connected to a plurality of decoding ROM's 83a, 83b, ... 83n, by means of a corresponding plurality of channels 84a, 84b, ... 84n.
  • Each ROM 83a, 83b, ... 83n has 18 output lines 85a, 85b, ... 85n respectively, connected to 18 NAND gates 86 which generate control signals EL 1 to EL 18 and each have an input connected to the output of the binary counter 77.
  • Each control signal EL 1 to EL 18 issuing from the gates 86 is fed to a corresponding mono- vibrator 87 which, in response, generates a pulse PZ which remains at the logical level 1 for the time actually necessary for controlling the electro-magnets 32 (approximately 5 ⁇ ⁇ sec); this pulse PZ is then fed through a driver circuit 88n, to the corresponding electro-magnet 32.
  • the carriage 21 (Fig. 1) and the head 20 are stopped at the left end 12, and the toothed members 46 and 47 are coupled together.
  • the motor 54 can rotate the head 20 relative to the support 37 of the carriage 21 through the gears 50 and 51, the coupling 46, 47, the screw 40 and the gear 39 disposing it in one of its possible positions, suitably inclining the row of writing ends of the wires 31 relative to the horizontal direction of movement of the carriage 21.
  • three different inclinations of the head 20 relative to the horizontal direction have been assumed for the sake of example.
  • a first operating condition (Figs. 4 and 5) the head 20 is positioned in such a manner that the row Z-Z of the printing ends of the wires 31 is vertical.
  • the printing device can write either simultaneously two lines of characters of standard height according to a matrix of 7x7 dots (Fig. 4), or a single line of characters of double height 1 according to a matrix of 18 x 12 dots (Fig. 5), thus effecting, for example, letter heads and titles.
  • the head 20 thus disposed it is possible to write alpha-numerical characters, graphic symbols, non-Latin characters and ideograms, according to dot matrices with variable definition.
  • the definition and sizes of characters in the vertical direction are determined by the number of wires 31 chosen, while the corresponding values, in the horizontal direction, are determined by the pitch between two dots, with a consequent correction of the speed of movement of the carriage 21.
  • the speed of movement of the carriage 21 is indeed a determining factor to obtain a predetermined type of writing, account being taken of the time T taken by each electro-magnet 32 to effect a complete printing cycle.
  • the distance g between two successive dots in the horizontal direction of writing is equal to ten elementary pitches p and is 0.529 mm; this distance g is moved by the carriage 21 in a time T which is 1000 fL sec. Therefore, for this type of writing, the speed of travel of the carriage 21 is 529 mm/sec., the head 20 can write 200 characters per second, for each line, and thus have a productivity of 400 characters per second.
  • the console 65 is set up in such a manner that the data transmitted by the input device 62 (Fig. 3) to the central unit 60 are first memorised on alternate lines of the two RAM memories 66 and 67, and then despatched in parallel, two lines at a time, to the circuit 81 through the channel 82.
  • the central unit 60 through channel 83, conditions the circuit 81 so that the data from channel 82 go to the ROM 83a, through channel 84a, ruling out the other ROM's 83b ... 83n.
  • the central unit 60 in addition, through channel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that every five pulses FQ a pulse FS is generated, enabling printing.
  • the central unit 60 controls the circuit 72 controlling the motor 26 in such a manner that the speed of travel of the carriage 21 be as predetermined.
  • the console 65 is set in such a manner that the data transmitted from the input device 62 (Fig. 3) to the central unit are memorised line by line in one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and are then despatched serially to the circuit 81, through the channel 82.
  • the central unit 60 through channel 83, conditions the circuit 81 in such a manner that the data from channel 82 go to the ROM 83b, through the channel 84b, ruling out the other ROM's 83a, ... 83n.
  • the central unit 60 in addition, through channel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that a pulse FS is generated every six pulses FQ, enabling printing.
  • the central unit 60 conditions the circuit 72 controlling the motor 26 in such a manner that the speed of travel of the carriage 21 be as predetermined.
  • the console 65 (Fig. 3) is set according to the type of character, ideogram or other symbol to be printed.
  • the central unit 60 controls the circuit 74 controlling the motor 54, in such a manner that the head 20 (Fig. 2) rotates, relative to the support 37 of the carriage 21 by an angle a (Fig. 6) predetermined relative to the vertical axis.
  • the phototransistor 44 When the rotation has taken place, the phototransistor 44 generates a feedback pulse FT which is fed to the central unit 60 to stop the motor 54 and the head 20.
  • the distance r between two successive dots in the horizontal direction of writing is equal to 5 elementary pitches p, and is 0.2645 mm.
  • the speed of travel of the carriage 21 is 264.5 mm/sec.
  • the head 20 can write 35 Kanji characters per second.
  • the data transmitted to the central unit 60 are memorised line by line in one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and are then despatched serially, through channel 82, to the circuit 81 which despatches them to another of the n ROM's 83, not shown in order to simplify the drawing.
  • the central unit 60 through channel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that every five FQ pulses a FS pulse, enabling printing, is generated.
  • the head 20 is inclined to a greater extent relative to the vertical axis, changing its setting and bringing it to a third operating condition.
  • the central unit 60 controls the circuit 74 controlling the motor 54 in such a manner that the head 20 (Fig. 2) rotates relative to the support 37 of the carriage 21 until it forms a predetermined angle f3 (Fig. 7) relative to the vertical axis.
  • the photo-transistor 44 When rotation has taken place, the photo-transistor 44 generates a feedback pulse FT which stops the motor 54 and therefore the head 20.
  • the angle f3 is 61 ° 7'.
  • This angle f3 also is selected in such a manner that the projection d on to the horizontal axis of the distance between the centres of two adjacent wires 31 should be an exact multiple of the elementary pitch p.
  • the distance d is equal to 7 p and is 0.3703 mm.
  • the distance s, between two successive dots along the horizontal direction of writing is equal to four elementary pitches p, and is 0.2116 mm.
  • the speed of travel of the carriage 21 is 211.6 mm/sec.
  • the head 20 can print about 83 characters per second.
  • the data transmitted to the central unit 60 are first memorised one line at a time on one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and then despatched serially to the ROM 83n, through the circuit 81.
  • the central unit 60 sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that at each FQ pulse a pulse FS enabling printing is generated.
  • the spacing of a character with 1/10" spacing is divided into 48 parts, and the spaces of the characters of 1/12" and 1/15" and proportional ones are subdivided respectively into 40 parts, 32 parts and exact multiples of 8 parts.
  • the slanting of the row of printing ends of the wires 31 relative to the direction of writing is selectively variable from a first position in which the wires 31 can write simultaneously a plurality of lines of printing to a plurality of other indications in which the wires 31 can write on a single line symbols and characters with dot matrices with variable definition.

Landscapes

  • Character Spaces And Line Spaces In Printers (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
EP80303686A 1979-10-17 1980-10-17 Dot matrix printing device Expired EP0027734B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT6901579 1979-10-17
IT69015/79A IT1119227B (it) 1979-10-17 1979-10-17 Dispositivo di stampa a punti per macchina contabile terminale telescrivente e simile macchina per ufficio

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0027734A1 EP0027734A1 (en) 1981-04-29
EP0027734B1 true EP0027734B1 (en) 1984-04-18

Family

ID=11311163

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80303686A Expired EP0027734B1 (en) 1979-10-17 1980-10-17 Dot matrix printing device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0027734B1 (it)
JP (1) JPS5689564A (it)
DE (1) DE3067563D1 (it)
IT (1) IT1119227B (it)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5693559A (en) * 1979-12-26 1981-07-29 Ibm Printer
JPS58104639U (ja) * 1981-12-31 1983-07-16 日本レギユレ−タ−株式会社 マ−キング装置
US4467525A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-08-28 Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. Automated sign generator
DE3235676A1 (de) * 1982-09-27 1984-03-29 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Verfahren und anordnung zum darstellen von zeichen
EP0107502A3 (en) * 1982-10-27 1985-08-07 Royden C. Sanders, Jr. Matrix dot printer with printed dot density control
US4524367A (en) * 1982-12-23 1985-06-18 Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. Thermal printer
DE3302616A1 (de) * 1983-01-27 1984-08-02 Cyklop International Emil Hoffmann KG, 5000 Köln Vorrichtung zum signieren von gegenstaenden
JPS59198167A (ja) * 1983-04-25 1984-11-09 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd ドツトプリンタ
JPS59218864A (ja) * 1983-05-26 1984-12-10 Nec Corp インクジエツト記録方式
DE3346297A1 (de) * 1983-12-19 1985-06-20 Mannesmann AG, 4000 Düsseldorf Verfahren und matrixdrucker zum verkleinern und/oder hoehenverschieben von schriftzeichen
JPS60159067A (ja) * 1984-01-31 1985-08-20 Tenshiyou Denki Kogyo Kk ドツトプリンタ
SE455397B (sv) * 1986-11-12 1988-07-11 Markpoint System Ab Anordning for uppteckning av information i form av tecken eller symboler pa en informationsberare, varvid forhallandet hojd/bredd pa tecknen kan stellas in genom vridning av skrivhuvudet
JP3001244B2 (ja) * 1990-09-21 2000-01-24 日本電気株式会社 ドットインパクトプリンタの印字方式
JP2522231B2 (ja) * 1991-11-15 1996-08-07 株式会社精工舎 印字モ―ドを切換え可能なワイヤドットプリンタ
US6264295B1 (en) 1998-04-17 2001-07-24 Elesys, Inc. Radial printing system and methods

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US3931761A (en) * 1970-10-09 1976-01-13 Andre Carrus Method of continuous printing of documents
JPS535785B2 (it) * 1973-03-31 1978-03-02
FR2224995A5 (it) * 1973-04-09 1974-10-31 Sodern
US4059182A (en) * 1973-12-20 1977-11-22 U.S. Philips Corporation Mosaic printer
SE378922B (it) * 1973-12-20 1975-09-15 Philips Svenska Ab
JPS5117634A (en) * 1974-08-03 1976-02-12 Sharp Kk Purintaano injihoshiki
JPS6016351B2 (ja) * 1977-06-29 1985-04-25 株式会社精工舎 ドットプリンタの紙送りモ−タ制御回路
US4153950A (en) * 1978-07-21 1979-05-08 International Business Machines Corp. Data bit assembler
JPS55156078A (en) * 1979-05-25 1980-12-04 Canon Inc Dot recording device

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Title
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN vol. 21, no. 1, June 1978, ARMONK (US), J.R. PIVNICHNY: "Matrix scan printing method" pages 103-104 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0027734A1 (en) 1981-04-29
DE3067563D1 (en) 1984-05-24
IT1119227B (it) 1986-03-03
JPS5689564A (en) 1981-07-20
IT7969015A0 (it) 1979-10-17

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