EP0093389A1 - Mécanisme oscillatoire pour mouvements alternatifs rectilignes et uniformes d'un chariot ou similaire - Google Patents

Mécanisme oscillatoire pour mouvements alternatifs rectilignes et uniformes d'un chariot ou similaire Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0093389A1
EP0093389A1 EP83104110A EP83104110A EP0093389A1 EP 0093389 A1 EP0093389 A1 EP 0093389A1 EP 83104110 A EP83104110 A EP 83104110A EP 83104110 A EP83104110 A EP 83104110A EP 0093389 A1 EP0093389 A1 EP 0093389A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electromagnetic coil
carrier
linear motor
mechanism according
print head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP83104110A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0093389B1 (fr
Inventor
Gordon C. Whitaker
James H. Safford
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Mannesmann Tally Corp
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Mannesmann Tally Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0093389A1 publication Critical patent/EP0093389A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0093389B1 publication Critical patent/EP0093389B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/001—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface
    • B41J25/006—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface for oscillating, e.g. page-width print heads provided with counter-balancing means or shock absorbers
    • 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
    • B41J2/245—Print head assemblies line printer type
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S400/00—Typewriting machines
    • Y10S400/903—Stepping-motor drive for carriage feed

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an oscillation mechanism for rectilinear, uniform back and forth movements of a carrier or the like.
  • a linear drive in particular a carrier for a matrix printing device which can be moved in the line direction in front of a record carrier which can be displaced perpendicular to the line direction.
  • oscillation mechanisms are suitable for moving the print head or a hammer bank of a matrix printer back and forth.
  • matrix line printers comprise a printhead or a hammer bank with a multiplicity of dot printing elements, each printing element forming a dot on the recording medium when it strikes. These dot printing elements lie in a row, which in turn is perpendicular to the direction of the conveyance of the recording medium. Since the conveying direction of the recording medium is normally perpendicular, the dot printing elements are usually in a horizontal row. On the side of the paper facing away from the dot printing elements there is a support, i. H. a roller, and an ink ribbon between the dot printing elements and the recording medium.
  • a support i. H. a roller
  • the dot printing elements are actuated so that one or more dots are formed on the recording medium in the print series described by the dot printing elements.
  • the record carrier usually paper, is moved on step by step after printing a row of dots. Continuous movement of the record carrier is also possible.
  • a series of rows of dots in the direction of the movement of the recording medium horizontally forms a series of characters, such characters being able to consist of alphanumeric characters.
  • the present invention was developed to move the printhead or the hammer bank of a matrix line printer back and forth and is therefore primarily used in printers of this type, the invention can also be used to support other devices that are accurate Moving back and forth at a controlled speed requires moving back and forth.
  • matrix line printers can be divided into two categories.
  • the first category of matrix line printers is based on the system in which only the dot printing elements are moved back and forth.
  • the second category of the matrix line printer contains dot printing elements with which the entire printhead, i. H. the actuators for the point pressure elements are moved back and forth.
  • the individual parts of the dot printing elements, which have to be moved back and forth, are mounted on a carrier, carriage, carriage or the like. It does not matter what type of matrix printers it is.
  • the present invention is suitable for both categories of matrix line printers.
  • a known type includes a stepper motor which is set relative to the carrier in such a way that individual steps of the carrier can be carried out. At the end of each step, the corresponding actuators for the dot printing elements are energized so that dots are imaged on the record carrier. Printing in both directions of movement is made possible in that the carrier or the carriage is first moved gradually in one direction and then gradually moved back in the opposite direction.
  • a main disadvantage when using stepper motors in matrix line printers, in particular in those matrix line printers in which both the actuating device lines as well as the associated dot printing elements to and fro, is the fact that stepper motors of conventional size do not have enough power to move the print head of these matrix line printers.
  • stepper motors of conventional size only have sufficient power to move the dot printing elements back and forth on their own, so that they are only advantageous in borderline cases for matrix printers in which the entire printing head or the hammer bank is moved back and forth.
  • stepper motors are limited in their speed, so that they are not suitable for matrix line printers with a relatively high speed, ie with a printing capacity of 600 or more lines per minute.
  • matrix line printers which are operated at high speed, must be precisely positioned with respect to the print head or the hammer bank when the dot printing elements are actuated.
  • Mechanical wear is therefore extremely disadvantageous because it affects the accuracy of the positioning of the print head.
  • the accuracy of the printhead positioning deteriorates, defects in the print image arise. The result is distorted and / or blurred lettering and representations.
  • such distortions and blurrings are not acceptable where high quality printing is required or desired.
  • a high quality print requires a matrix line printer in which the dots in each row of dots are located at exactly the same point when the print head or hammer bank is moved back and forth.
  • a coupling system has already been proposed (European patent application 0 044 415) in order to switch off mechanical wear and the non-linear movement-time curve of previous systems when mechanically coupling a motor at a constant speed to the print head or to the hammer bank of a matrix line printer to be used with a pair of elliptical discs or gears.
  • the coupling device described by means of elliptical, second-order wheels provided with two hoops are connected to one another either directly or with a 90 ° phase offset.
  • the speed compensation system which is fully utilized, senses the zero movement of the drive and reverses the direction in which the electromagnetic drive is energized. At the same time, the hammer bank speed during movement is over one Print passport is sensed and additional kinetic energy is applied by the speed assist system to compensate for the frictional losses and braking effects during printing and other changes in the hammer bank speed.
  • the reciprocating linear actuator described in U.S. Patent 4,180,766 has a number of disadvantages.
  • the use of a low power motor which essentially serves to cover the friction and pressure load losses, leads to a system with a short return and return time, so that the printer as a whole works slowly.
  • This non-desirable property is further burdened by the rebound system in contrast to an energy storage system that would improve the oscillation time.
  • the type of device described also requires several oscillating movements before the forward or reverse speed has reached the desired printing speed.
  • the known printer therefore has a disadvantageously long start-up time, which is undesirable.
  • the invention has for its object to provide an oscillation mechanism for a rapid oscillation movement, which is simple in construction, requires little drive energy and whose drive energy can be regulated precisely.
  • the stated object is achieved according to the invention in the above-described oscillation mechanism for rectilinear, uniform back and forth movements of a carrier or the like by means of a linear drive, in particular a carrier for a matrix printing device which can be moved in the line direction in front of a recording medium which can be advanced perpendicular to the line direction.
  • the carrier is supported on a frame, parallel bending elements
  • the linear drive consists of an electrically driven linear motor, which is arranged in a housing, that the linear motor magnetic means and has an electromagnetic coil, the polarity of which can be changed, that the housing is supported on separate, likewise clamped, parallel bending elements, that the resonance vibration frequency of the combination of the linear motor and the housing bending elements is based on the resonance vibration frequency of the combination of the carrier and the bending elements of the carrier is matched, wherein a connecting member is provided between the electromagnetic coil and the carrier and that the electromagnetic coil is electrically connected to power supply means and control means for the polarity and magnitude of the current flow.
  • Such an oscillation mechanism is suitable for rapid movements of the print head or hammer bank, is clearly structured and the movement steps can be precisely positioned, i.e. can be set.
  • the structure is simple and the physical requirements for movements over a short distance are created.
  • the bending elements store energy which can be used to reduce the time for reversing the movement at the end of the stroke.
  • Another advantage is based on the fact that the resonance oscillation frequency of the combinations mentioned can be easily matched to the number of strokes of the movements of the carrier.
  • the swing mechanism is also easy to control and the power supply to the electromagnetic coil is also easy to implement.
  • the linear motor mounted by means of bending elements is advantageously arranged in such a way that the axis of movement (preferably coaxial) is aligned with the axis of movement of the print head or hammer bank.
  • the electromagnetic coil is advantageously coupled directly to the printhead or to the hammer bank, an interaction of the forces of the bending elements with the forces generated by the electromagnetic coil being particularly important.
  • the oscillation mechanism can now be designed particularly quickly in that the spring constant of the bending elements supporting the carrier is selected such that the resonant oscillation frequency of the combination of the carrier and the bending elements largely corresponds to the reciprocating frequency.
  • control means for the polarity and magnitude of the current flow in the electromagnetic coil from a position sensor for the position of the carrier from means for the continuous generation of an actual position signal, from means for the continuous generation of a target position signal, from means for comparing the actual position signals with the target position signals, from means for generating deviation signals of the size of the difference between actual and target values and from means for regulating the current flow exist in the electromagnetic coil according to polarity and size.
  • the means for the continuous generation of a desired position signal have a main controller for generating the desired position signals in digital form and a digital-to-analog converter and that the actual position signals, which are present in analog form, together with the analog target position signals in analog signal means are compared.
  • a precise control of the electromagnetic coil is also supported in that the means for regulating the current flow in the electromagnetic coil include a pulse width modulator.
  • This precise control of the electromagnetic coil also serves the proposal that the means for regulating the current flow in the electromagnetic coil have a bridge circuit which includes four switches, one switch in each bridge branch and the solenoid in the bridge diagonal and one bridge branch connected to the power source, and that the pulse width modulator generates four output control signals at the four switches.
  • the position sensor for the position of the carrier has a light source, a pair of photocells assigned to the light source and a slide which has a pair of windows and which is connected to the carrier is.
  • the photocells consist of elongated, approximately equally sized photoelectric cells.
  • the determination of the actual values is further favored by the fact that the windows in the photocells are roughly the same size, elongated in shape and offset in the longitudinal direction.
  • the transmission of the actual values determined by the position sensor is also improved in that the position sensor has a differential comparator which is connected to the photoelectric cells, the output signal forming the actual position signal in accordance with the voltage difference.
  • the actual value determination is also advantageous in that the position sensor is connected to a light control circuit which is connected to the outputs of the photoelectric cells and to the light source.
  • Fig. 1 shows the print head 11 or the aforementioned hammer bank of a matrix line printer, which is supported by a pair of bending elements 13 and 15.
  • the print head 11 and the hammer bank are not part of the invention and are therefore not shown in detail.
  • the bending elements 13 and 15 are preferably formed from elongated, flat spring steel pieces which are attached on one side to the frame 16 of the matrix printer. The bending elements 13 and 15 are also aligned parallel and, due to the length of the print head 11, are spaced apart.
  • the print head 11 is mounted between the movable ends of the bending elements 13 and 15 so that it moves at right angles in the direction of the arrow 17.
  • the arrow 17 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the print head 11 and at right angles to the parallel planes of the bending elements 13 and 15.
  • the length of the print head 11 corresponds essentially to the width of the largest record carrier 21, which can be recorded by a matrix printer.
  • the printhead 11 can have, for example, 66 separate dot printing elements, each of which is designed to scan or cover two character positions.
  • the total or maximum character line width of such a printer is therefore 132 dot characters. Since the number of character positions (2) to be scanned is small compared to the number of dot printing elements (66), the movement path is small compared to the length of the print head.
  • FIG. 1 shows the print roller 19 parallel to the print head 11 on the other side of the recording medium 21 as seen from the print head.
  • a suitable ink supply such as an ink ribbon
  • the bending elements 13 and 15 lie next to the edge of the recording medium 21.
  • the linear motor 23 is located on one side of the print head 11, specifically directly next to the bending element 15.
  • the housing 25 of the linear motor 23 is supported by a pair of bending elements 27 and 29.
  • One side of the bending elements 27 and 29 are attached to the frame 16 of the matrix printer.
  • the other sides of the bending elements 27 and 29 support the housing 25 of the linear motor 23.
  • the bending elements 27 and 29 are preferably formed from flat spring steel pieces that run parallel to one another, but also parallel to the planes of the bending elements 13 and 15.
  • the linear motor 23 is arranged so that the perpendicular movement axis of the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the print head 11.
  • the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23 is coupled to the adjacent side of the print head 11 via a connecting member 33.
  • the electromagnet Coil 31 of the linear motor 23 as will be described in more detail below, the print head 11 in the direction of the arrow 17 it reciprocates.
  • matrix line printers can be used as character and plotter printers.
  • a matrix line printer designed in accordance with the invention is suitable for both operating modes. When used as a character printer, the movement of the electromagnetic coil is somewhat larger than the width of the number of character positions to be scanned by the print head 11, as specified in the example with two.
  • Fig. 2 it is shown schematically that the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23 is arranged such that it can be moved back and forth in the housing 25 of the motor.
  • the housing 25 contains a permanent magnet 35, which preferably has a cylindrical shape.
  • One side of the cylindrical permanent magnet 35 is closed by a plate 37 whose magnetic resistance is low (i.e., e.g. ferromagnetic) and which forms a stud 39 in the middle.
  • the electromagnetic coil 31 is sized so that it surrounds the stud 39 with play.
  • the other side of the cylindrical permanent magnet 35 is covered by the plate 41 (also included with low magnetic resistance), which has a central opening 43 through which the electromagnetic coil 31 extends.
  • the magnetic flux generated by the cylindrical permanent magnet 35 has the flow directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.
  • This magnetic flux interacts with the magnetic flux which is generated by the electromagnetic coil 31 when, as a result of the application of current to the electromagnetic coil 31, electrical current flows therein.
  • the electromagnetic effect is such that the electromagnetic coil 31 is either pulled into the housing 25 or pushed out of it.
  • the current direction of current thus controls the current direction of movement of the electromagnetic coil 31 and thus the current direction of movement of the print head 11.
  • the size of the current flow regulates the size of the coil attraction or recoil force.
  • the spring constants of the bending elements 27 and 29 are chosen so that the vibration mechanism acts in a vibration-balanced manner. This means that the resonance oscillation frequency of the linear motor 23 and its bending elements 27 and 29 is matched to the resonance oscillation frequency of the carrier 11 and its bending elements 13 and 15. In addition, the resonance frequency is at or near the reciprocating speed. The energy requirement for the oscillation mechanism is therefore low.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the preferred embodiment of a linear motor oscillating mechanism according to the invention in connection with the printhead 11 of a matrix line printer.
  • FIG. 3 also contains a position sensor 51, a main controller 53, a tilt controller 55, a tilt comparator 57 and a switching amplifier 59 , a print hammer trigger controller 61, a print hammer trigger comparator 63, and a print hammer trigger circuit 65.
  • the position sensor 51 is connected to the print head 11 so as to continuously scan the position of the print head 11. Based on the information received, the position sensor 51 generates an actual position signal, which is applied to an input of the tilt comparator 57 and to an input of the print hammer trigger comparator 63.
  • the main controller 53 generates control signals which are applied to the second input of the tilt comparator 57, specifically via the tilt controller 55 and via the print hammer trigger controller 61 to the second input of the print hammer trigger comparator 63.
  • the output of the tilt comparator 57 is connected to the control input of the switching amplifier 59.
  • the switching amplifier 59 is connected to the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23 and regulates the size and direction of the current flow. Thus, the output signal generated by the tilt comparator 57 controls the operation of the linear motor 23.
  • the output of the print hammer release comparator 63 is connected to the print hammer release circuit 65 for the purpose of controlling the point in time for the triggering process of the actuating devices for the individual dot print elements in the print head 11 and thus the point in time of the printing process on the recording medium 21.
  • the main controller 53 In operation, the main controller 53 generates control signals suitable for controlling the printhead position and the printhead position in which the actuators for printing the dots are released. More specifically, the main controller 53 generates print head position control signals, ie, target position signals in digital form.
  • the toggle controller 55 converts the digital signals into analog signals and applies the analog signals to the toggle comparator 57.
  • the toggle comparator 57 compares the analog signal generated by the toggle controller 55 (the desired position signal) with the actual position signal generated by the position sensor 51. As a result, the tilt comparator 57 generates a deviation signal, which is fed to the switching amplifier 59.
  • the switching amplifier 59 then applies a current to the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23, the size and polarity of which moves the electromagnetic coil 31 in a direction which brings the print head 11 into the desired position.
  • the print hammer trigger controller 61 receives digital signals from the main controller 53 with the position of the print head 11 in which the print hammers are to be set. An analog signal is generated accordingly. This analog signal passes through a leading circuit, before it is compared with the actual position signal in the print hammer trigger comparator 63.
  • the print hammer trigger comparator 63 When the printhead 11 reaches the position where the print actuators are to be energized, the print hammer trigger comparator 63 generates a trigger pulse.
  • the trigger pulse enables the print hammer trigger circuit 65 to transmit actuation signals to the corresponding actuators. More specifically, the print hammer trip circuit is given 65 In addition to the trigger pulse, signals indicating which of the (e.g. 66) actuators are to be energized when the position is reached, which is determined by the position of the control signals generated by the main controller 53 and is implemented by the print hammer trigger controller 61.
  • the trigger pulse occurs through the pre-circuit before the point pressure position is reached.
  • the lead time is chosen so that it corresponds to the time that the dot printing elements need to get from their rest position to the dot printing position on the recording medium 21.
  • Which of the actuating devices are to be energized first of course depends on the type of characters or the image to be created.
  • the devices to be actuated are selected by the main controller 53 or another data source, for example a character generator.
  • the corresponding actuators are only energized when the print hammer trigger comparator 63 generates a trigger pulse.
  • the print hammer trigger comparator 63 generates a signal which merely indicates that the print head 11 is in the position in which the actuators for the pressure point elements are to be energized - but not which pressure point elements have to be fired.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the essential components of the swing mechanism shown in FIG. 3.
  • the position sensor 51 preferably comprises two signal amplifiers, namely A1 and A2; four operational amplifiers, namely OA1, OA2, OA3 and OA4; a light source L (light emitting diode); two photoelectric cells A and B and a slide V with two windows W1 and W2.
  • the slider V is connected to the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23 by a broken line which indicates that the slider V is moving with the electromagnetic coil 31 and thus the position of the slider V follows the position of the print head 11.
  • the light source L, the slider V and the photoelectric cells A and B are all positioned so that light from the light source L shines through the windows W1 and W2 and strikes the light detector surfaces of the photoelectric cells A and B.
  • the windows W1 and W2 lie between the light source L and the photoelectric cells A and B, so that one window, namely W1, regulates the amount of light impinging on the photosensitive surface of the photoelectric cell A and the other window W2 regulates the amount on the photosensitive surface the photoelectric cell B regulates the amount of light.
  • the photoelectric cells are elongated, of the same size and are parallel to one another, as can be seen from FIG. 4.
  • the windows W1, W2 are also elongated, of the same size and are parallel to each other.
  • While the windows W1, W2 are the same size, only the length of the windows W1, W2 is the same as the length of the photoelectric cells A, B.
  • the windows W1, W2 are somewhat wider than the photoelectric cells A, B.
  • the windows W1, W2 are also offset from one another and not laterally aligned like the photoelectric cells A, B, so that each window W1, W2 at the end of the other window begins and extends outwards in the opposite longitudinal direction.
  • the signal amplifiers A1 and A2 are each connected to one of the photoelectric cells A and B.
  • the signal amplifiers A1 and A2 amplify the signals generated by the photoelectric cells.
  • the operational amplifier OA1 works as a differential amplifier and generates an output voltage whose magnitude corresponds to the difference between the voltage of the signals which are applied to the inverting and non-inverting outputs.
  • the output of signal amplifier A1 is connected to the non-inverting input of differential amplifier OA1 and the output of signal amplifier A2 is connected to the inverting input of differential amplifier OA1. Accordingly, the output of differential amplifier OA1 is mathematically equal to the value of the voltage generated by photoelectric cell A minus the value of the voltage generated by photoelectric cell B (in Fig. 4, lower left part labeled A-B).
  • the output of the differential amplifier OA1 is connected to an input of the tilt comparator 57 and to an input of the pressure hammer trigger comparator 63.
  • the summator 0A2 generates an output voltage whose magnitude corresponds to the sum of the partial voltages applied to the two inputs, both of which can be described as non-inverting.
  • the differential amplifiers 0A3 and 0A4 are components of the position sensor 51.
  • the output of the signal amplifier A1 is connected to the input of the summer 0A2 and the output of the signal amplifier A2 is connected to the second input of the summer OA2.
  • the output of the summator 0A2 (labeled A + B in Fig. 4) is connected to the inverting input of the differential amplifier 0A3.
  • a reference voltage VR is present at the non-inverting input of the differential amplifier OA3.
  • the differential amplifier OA3 thus forms a trimming amplifier, which raises or lowers the output of the summator 0A2 to a suitable voltage level.
  • the output of the differential amplifier 0A3 is connected to the inverting input of the differential amplifier OA4.
  • the base voltage source VB is connected to the non-inverting input of the differential amplifier OA4.
  • the output of the differential amplifier OA4 is connected to ground via the light source L.
  • the circuit formed by the summator OA2, the differential amplifiers OA3 and OA4 is an intensity control which regulates the illuminance generated by the light source L so that it is always constant.
  • This control circuit compensates for fluctuations in the illuminance generated by the light source L, as well as gain fluctuations that occur equally in the two photoelectric cells A and B.
  • the two photoelectric cells A and B should advantageously be identical, ie matched to one another, so that most long-term Fluctuations are the same and are canceled by the control loop explained. The best way to match is by building the two photoelectric cells on the same plate and doping the adjacent surfaces of the common plate.
  • the toggle controller 55 shown in FIG. 4 contains the following components: a counter 71, a flip-flop module 73 in which data can be temporarily stored, a read-only memory 75 (ROM) and a digital-to-analog converter 77
  • Main controller 53 generates a plurality of output signals which are applied to the toggle controller 55.
  • These control signals include reset pulses applied to the reset input of the counter 71, flip-flop pulses applied to the pulse counter input of the counter 71 and a parallel, selected, digital flip profile signal which is applied to the signal input of the flip-flop assembly 73 in the data stored temporarily.
  • the input of the flip-flop module 73 is connected to the output of one of the stages of the counter 71.
  • the address inputs of the read-only memory 75 are connected to the parallel outputs of the stages of the counter 71 and to the output of the flip-flop module 73.
  • the signal outputs of the read-only memory 75 are connected to the digital signal inputs of the digital-to-analog converter 77 .
  • the analog output of converter 77 is at the input of flip-flop comparator 57, as shown in FIG. 3 and described above.
  • the counter 71 Whenever a reset pulse occurs during operation, the counter 71 is reset to the starting position (for example zero). Thereafter, the counter 71 advances by 1 for each pulse when a toggle pulse is generated by the main controller 53.
  • the selected digital tilt profile signal determines the tilt profile to be followed by the print head 11 during the movement by the linear motor 23.
  • the main controller 53 generates tilt profile selection signals which represent the profile (triangular, sinusoidal, sawtooth-shaped and the like) determine that must be followed when moving the print head 11 back and forth.
  • the selected tilting profile signals are read into the flip-flop module 73 and stored there.
  • the pulse generated by the counter 71 can occur, for example, when the counter 71 has been reset to zero.
  • the selectable tilting profile signal stored in the flip-flop module 73 in conjunction with the counter stage output signals, forms the address to be applied to the read-only memory 75 at any time. Since the counter 71 is continued each time a toggle pulse is generated by the main controller 53, the read-only memory address changes as the toggle pulses are generated by the main controller 53. Thus, the master controller 53 also controls the read-only memory address change rate by regulating the toggle pulse speed, which in turn controls the rate of change of the read-only memory output signals. As a result, both the printhead tilt profile and the speed at which the tilt profile is followed are controlled by the main controller 53.
  • the parallel digital output signals generated by the read-only memory 75 are converted by the digital-to-analog converter 77 from the digital form into the analog form.
  • the signal applied by the toggle controller 55 to the toggle comparator 57 is an analog signal, the shape and rate of change of which is determined by the address on the read-only memory 75, which in turn is controlled by the main controller 53.
  • the tilt comparator 57 has a differential amplifier OA5.
  • the output of differential amplifier 0A1 is connected to the inverting input of differential amplifier 0A5 and the output of digital-to-analog converter 77 of toggle regulator 55 is connected to the non-inverting input of differential amplifier 0A5.
  • the differential amplifier 0A5 compares its two inputs in a conventional manner and generates a corresponding differential output signal.
  • the switching amplifier 59 consists of the following assemblies: two differential amplifiers OA6 and OA7, a filter 81, a current limiter 83, a pulse width modulator 85, two PNP transistors Q1 and Q2, two NPN transistors Q3 and Q4 and two resistors R1 and R2.
  • the voltage source + V is connected via the filter 81 to the emitter connections of the transistors Q1 and Q2 and to the voltage input of the current limiter 83.
  • the collector of the transistor Q1 is connected to the collector Q3 and the collector of the transistor Q2 to the collector of the transistor Q4 .
  • the emitters of transistors Q3 and Q4 are connected to ground via resistors R1 and R2.
  • the branch between the transistors Q1 and Q3 is on one side of the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23 and the branch between the transistors Q2 and Q4 on the other side of the electromagnetic coil 31.
  • the output of the differential amplifier 0A5 is connected to the inverting input of the differential amplifier OA6.
  • the branch between the emitter of transistor Q3 and resistor R1 is connected to the inverting input of differential amplifier 0A7 and the branch between the emitter of transistor Q4 and resistor R2 is connected to the non-inverting input of differential amplifier OA7.
  • the output of the differential amplifier OA7 is connected to the non-inverting input of the differential amplifier 0A6 and to the control input of the current limiter 83.
  • the output of the differential amplifier 0A6 is connected to the control input of the pulse width modulator 85 and the output of the current limiter 83 to the switch-off control input of the pulse width modulator 85.
  • the pulse width modulator 85 produces four outputs, one of which is at the base of transistors Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.
  • the transistors Q1 to Q4 form the branches of a bridge circuit that the polarity of the current flow through the Elektromag netspule 31 of the linear motor 23 controls.
  • the transistors Q1 and Q4 as well as Q2 and Q3 form switch pairs which are each in opposite operating states at a time (ie the transistors Q1 and Q4 are switched on when the transistors Q2 and Q3 are switched off and vice versa), unless that all four transistors Q1 to Q4 are turned off. If a pair of transistors, i.e.
  • the respectively open or closed switching states of the transistors Q1 to Q4 are regulated by the high-low states of the outputs of the pulse width modulator 85.
  • the HL states of the outputs of the pulse width modulator 85 are in turn regulated by the polarity of the output of the differential amplifier OA6.
  • the outputs of the pulse width modulator 85 are switched such that one pair of transistors (Q1 and Q4 or Q2 and Q3) is switched on and the other pair is switched off.
  • the outputs of the pulse width modulator 85 are switched such that the second pair of transistors is switched on and the first pair is switched off.
  • the polarity of the output of differential amplifier 0A6 depends on whether the current feedback signal developed by differential amplifier 0A7 (that by the difference of the of the voltage drops across the resistors R1 and R2) is greater or smaller than the output of the differential amplifier OA5, the ratio between these two voltages determines the polarity of the current flow through the electromagnetic coil 31 of the linear motor 23.
  • the position deviation voltage, which occurs at the output of the differential amplifier OA5 above the voltage at the output of the differential amplifier 0A7, the direction of current flow is such that the electromagnetic coil 31 drives the slide V in a direction which changes the voltage value AB in such a way that the output of the differential amplifier changes 0A5 increased.
  • the current flow direction is such that the coil moves the slide V (and thus the print head 11) in one direction so that the voltage value moves AB changes in such a way that the output pulse at the differential amplifier OA5 decreases.
  • the output of the differential amplifier OA6 not only regulates the direction of the current flow through the electromagnetic coil 31 in the manner just described, but also the size of the current flow. More specifically, the size of the output on differential amplifier OA6 controls the width of the switching pulses that are applied to the pair of transistors that are turned on. Since the width or switch-on time of the transistor switches determines the size of the current applied to the electromagnetic coil 31, the size of the output at the differential amplifier OA6 regulates the size of the current applied to the electromagnetic coil 31.
  • the current limiter 83 is provided in order to maximally determine the amount of current that can be applied to the electromagnetic coil, so that destruction of the electromagnetic coil and / or the transistors Q1 to Q4 is prevented.
  • the print hammer trigger controller 61 consists essentially of the following modules: the flip-flop module 91, in which data can be temporarily stored, and a digital-to-analog converter 93.
  • the main controller 53 generates digital signals in parallel which indicate the print hammer trigger positions.
  • the digital signals are read into the flip-flop module 91 and stored there, whenever the main controller 53 generates a memory signal.
  • the digital output of the flip-flop module 91 is connected to the digital input of the digital-to-analog converter 93 and is converted there from digital form to analog form.
  • the analog form of the print hammer trigger position signals are applied to the second input of the print hammer trigger comparator 63.
  • the print hammer trigger comparator 63 comprises the following essential elements: a guide circuit 95 and a differential amplifier OAB.
  • the signals A-B generated by the position sensor 51 are applied via the guide circuit 95 to the non-inverting input of the differential amplifier OA8.
  • the analog signals generated by the digital-to-analog converter 93 of the print hammer trigger controller 61 are applied to the inverting input of the differential amplifier OA8.
  • the differential amplifier 0A8 compares its two input signals by differentiation and generates another output signal, which is connected to the print hammer release circuit 65 shown in FIG. 3 and already described.
  • the guide circuit 95 forms part of the path for the actual position signal to compensate for the print hammer flight time.
  • a time advance of the actual print hammer position signal is compared to a signal representing the desired print hammer trigger position. In the event that the two signals match, the state of the output on the differential amplifier OA8 changes and forms a print hammer trigger pulse for the print hammer trigger circuit 65.
  • the invention represents a highly precise oscillation mechanism which is particularly suitable for matrix line printers and which precisely controls the movement of the print head 11 and the triggering of the print actuation devices.
  • the invention uses a relatively rigid, tuned flexure system that operates near its resonant vibration frequency and a relatively strong linear motor with a vibrating solenoid to minimize printhead travel time.
  • the invention is therefore ideally suited for use in matrix line printers which operate at high speed.
  • the electromagnetic coil 31 is preferably completely reversed when the last point position is reached.
  • the full excitation of the linear motor 23 in connection with the energy stored in the bending elements 13, 15 and 27, 29 leads to extremely short cycle times. In one embodiment of the invention, the cycle time is 3 milliseconds.
  • printhead movement increases to operating speed within a quarter.

Landscapes

  • Character Spaces And Line Spaces In Printers (AREA)
  • Linear Motors (AREA)
EP83104110A 1982-05-03 1983-04-27 Mécanisme oscillatoire pour mouvements alternatifs rectilignes et uniformes d'un chariot ou similaire Expired EP0093389B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US373802 1982-05-03
US06/373,802 US4461984A (en) 1982-05-03 1982-05-03 Linear motor shuttling system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0093389A1 true EP0093389A1 (fr) 1983-11-09
EP0093389B1 EP0093389B1 (fr) 1986-01-29

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EP83104110A Expired EP0093389B1 (fr) 1982-05-03 1983-04-27 Mécanisme oscillatoire pour mouvements alternatifs rectilignes et uniformes d'un chariot ou similaire

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4461984A (fr)
EP (1) EP0093389B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS58192461A (fr)
CA (1) CA1196528A (fr)
DE (1) DE3361982D1 (fr)

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US4573363A (en) * 1983-10-17 1986-03-04 Mannesmann Tally Corporation Vibration isolating coupling
US4599007A (en) * 1984-10-09 1986-07-08 Hossein Khorsand Reciprocating drive mechanism
US4683818A (en) * 1984-10-25 1987-08-04 Genicom Corporation Print element control
US4772838A (en) * 1986-06-20 1988-09-20 North American Philips Corporation Tri-state switching controller for reciprocating linear motors
US4698576A (en) * 1986-06-20 1987-10-06 North American Philips Corporation Tri-state switching controller for reciprocating linear motors
EP0352397B1 (fr) * 1988-07-26 1993-01-07 MANNESMANN Aktiengesellschaft Appareil pour commander la vitesse des moteurs électriques à modulation d'impulsion en durée, notamment des moteurs à courant continu
US4987526A (en) * 1989-02-02 1991-01-22 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology System to provide high speed, high accuracy motion
JPH0470642A (ja) * 1990-07-06 1992-03-05 Konica Corp 光学系制御機構
JPH04312868A (ja) * 1991-04-12 1992-11-04 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd プリンタのキャリア駆動方法
JP2948419B2 (ja) * 1992-07-27 1999-09-13 富士通株式会社 ワイヤドット印字ヘッド
US5551304A (en) * 1995-10-27 1996-09-03 Motorola, Inc. Method for setting sensing polarity of a sensor device
AU2100597A (en) * 1996-03-06 1997-09-22 Babymate Limited Movement actuator
US6262553B1 (en) * 1999-04-13 2001-07-17 M. P. Menze Research & Development Inc. Control for material spreaders
US6609781B2 (en) 2000-12-13 2003-08-26 Lexmark International, Inc. Printer system with encoder filtering arrangement and method for high frequency error reduction
US6630825B2 (en) * 2001-08-23 2003-10-07 Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. Electromechanical drive for magnetometers
US6885116B2 (en) * 2002-05-06 2005-04-26 Jeffrey G. Knirck Moving coil linear motor positioning stage with a concentric aperture
FR2854959B1 (fr) * 2003-05-16 2005-07-08 Eastman Kodak Co Dispositif d'exposition pour l'ecriture de donnees mixtes sur un support photosensible
US8895239B2 (en) * 2006-09-20 2014-11-25 American Sterilizer Company Genetically engineered biological indicator

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1196528A (fr) 1985-11-12
DE3361982D1 (en) 1986-03-13
JPS58192461A (ja) 1983-11-09
US4461984A (en) 1984-07-24
EP0093389B1 (fr) 1986-01-29

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