EP0310583B1 - Matrix printer and method for printing by means of a matrix printer - Google Patents

Matrix printer and method for printing by means of a matrix printer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0310583B1
EP0310583B1 EP88850322A EP88850322A EP0310583B1 EP 0310583 B1 EP0310583 B1 EP 0310583B1 EP 88850322 A EP88850322 A EP 88850322A EP 88850322 A EP88850322 A EP 88850322A EP 0310583 B1 EP0310583 B1 EP 0310583B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
printing elements
element row
element rows
print
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP88850322A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0310583A1 (en
Inventor
Lars Gunnar Gustafsson
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.)
Facit AB
Original Assignee
Facit AB
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 Facit AB filed Critical Facit AB
Publication of EP0310583A1 publication Critical patent/EP0310583A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0310583B1 publication Critical patent/EP0310583B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • B41J25/003—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface for changing the angle between a print element array axis and the printing line, e.g. for dot density changes

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with the technical field of matrix printers and printing by means of matrix printers. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and matrix printers for printing with different combinations of printing rate and quality of the print. The invention also relates to methods and matrix printers for printing in lines of either one or two lines at the same time. Moreover, the invention relates to methods and matrix printers for printing in lines with either a type height extending over only one line or a type height that may extend over two lines.
  • matrix printers having needles or corresponding printing elements with movable parts desiderata as to a high printing rate
  • a high quality and size of the transcript will mean at least partly conflicting demands on the number of printing elements and their orientation and position relative to one another. Therefore matrix printers are usually embodied so that printing can be made with at least two optional combinations of printing rate and quality.
  • a combination means that printing can be carried out at a comparatively high rate and a comparatively low quality.
  • Another combination means that printing can take place at a comparatively low rate and a comparatively high quality.
  • DE-A1-32 08 104 It is previously known from DE-A1-32 08 104 to have a plurality of printing elements arranged in more than two parallel element rows in the printing head of a matrix printer, for example four or six element rows with six printing elements in each element row.
  • the printing head In connection with printing in a certain printing direction on a paper or another record support the printing head is turnable to two different predetermined angular positions relative to the printing direction. For printing at a high rate but low quality the printing head is turned to one of the predetermined angular positions. For printing at a low rate but high quality the printing head is turned to another of the predetermined angular positions.
  • the angular positions and the mutual positions of the printing elements are such that a print from the printing elements in an arbitrary element row will be substantially interfoliated with or overlapped by print from the printing elements in the other element rows.
  • the rate at which a separate needle or the movable parts of a printing element can be moved will usually be a limiting factor for the printing rate at a definite number and definite positions of the printing elements.
  • the number of needles or printing elements and their mutual positions and orientation relative to the printing direction will be a limiting factor for the quality and size of the print.
  • the number of needles or printing elements and their mutual positions and orientation in printing at different printing rate and quality are also of importance to the cost complexity and cost of a matrix printer.
  • the methods according to which printing can be carried out at different rate and quality are also of importance to the cost and complexity, not the least of the software.
  • a matrix printer according to the invention has a printing head with a plurality of printing elements arranged in two parallel element rows. When printing by means of the printing elements on a record support the element rows can be turned to different predetermined angular positions and can be moved parallelly to the record support maintaining the predetermined angular positions.
  • a matrix printer according to the invention and especially preferred embodiments thereof differ from known matrix printers through special angular positions, distances between the element rows, positions of the printing elements in the element rows relative to one another, different numbers of printing elements in different element rows etc., preferably in certain combinations with each other.
  • a method according to the invention has certain similarities to known printing methods.
  • the method utilizes a matrix printer having a printing head with a plurality of printing elements arranged in two parallel element rows. In connection with printing the element rows are turnable and can be moved parallelly to a record support maintaining predetermined angular positions relative to the direction of parallel motion.
  • a first of the predetermined angular positions is used to print a print by means of the printing elements in one element row which print at least substantially overlaps or is interfoliated with print from the printing elements in the other element row.
  • a method according to the invention and especially preferred embodiments thereof differ from known methods primarily through the difference between a second predetermined angular position and the first predetermined angular position and how the printing elements in the two element rows are utilized in connection with printing in the second angular position.
  • the second predetermined angular position is such that at simultaneous printing with the printing elements in both the element rows the printing elements in one element row can be utilized for printing a print which in the direction of parallel motion is substantially neither interfoliated with nor overlaps a print from the printing elements in the other element row.
  • a first predetermined turning position can be utilized when printing in lines for printing at a comparatively low rate and a comparatively high quality.
  • a second predetermined turning position can be utilized for printing at a comparatively high rate and a comparatively low quality. This is previously known per se.
  • the second predetermined angular position can moreover be utilized when printing in lines for either simultaneous printing of normally big characters in two separate lines or printing of extra big characters extending over two lines.
  • the hardware and the software required to activate the separate printing elements can be made particularly simple and cheap.
  • printing of lowered or raised characters, underlining etc. can moreover be carried out in a particularly simple and rapid way.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates in a much simplified form a plurality of printing elements arranged in two parallel element rows which are moved in printing parallelly to a record support maintaining a first predetermined turning position relative to the direction of parallel motion.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates in a much simplified form a plurality of printing elements arranged in two parallel element rows which are moved in printing relative to a record support maintaining a second predetermined turning position relative to the direction of parallel motion.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates printing in lines of characters with the element rows in a first predetermined angular position.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates printing in lines of characters with the element rows in a second predetermined angular position differing 90° from the angular position in Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates in a much simplified form a printing head 1 of a matrix printer.
  • the printing head has a plurality of needles or corresponding printing elements of another kind.
  • the needles or the printing elements 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are equally spaced in a first needle bank or element row 12.
  • the needles or printing elements 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 are equally spaced in a second needle bank or element row 25.
  • the needles or printing elements are mutually similar and the needle banks or element rows are parallel, i.e. a line through the centre of the needles or printing elements 3-11 is parallel to a line through the centre of the needles or printing elements 13-24.
  • the distance between a line through the centre of the printing elements 3-11 in the first element row 12 and a line through the centre of the printing elements 13-24 in the second element row 25 is about as great as the centre distance between the printing elements 3 and 9 or the centre distance between the printing elements 13 and 19. This can also be expressed so that the distance between the element rows is several times as great as the centre distance between two adjacent printing elements in one element row.
  • the distance between the element rows can also be said to be less than the whole distance between the first printing element 3 and the last printing element 11 in the element row 12 and can also be said to be less than the whole distance between the first printing element 13 and the last printing element 24 in the element row 25.
  • the distance between the element rows will also be greater than half the distance between the printing elements 3 and 11 but approximately as great as half the distance between the printing elements 13 and 24. If the number of printing elements in the element row 25 had been less, e.g. eleven, the distance between the element rows should also have been considerably larger than half the distance between the first and the last printing element in the element row 25.
  • the first printing element 3 in the first element row 12 is not located right opposite the first printing element 13 in the second element row 25 but about right opposite the printing element 19 or 20.
  • the last printing element 24 in the second element row 25 located right opposite the last printing element 11 in the first element row 12 but about right opposite the printing element 7 or 8.
  • the midway printing element 7 in the first element row 12 is not located right opposite any one of the two midway printing elements 18 or 19 in the second element row 25 but about right opposite the printing elements 23 or 24. Therefore the printing elements 3-11 in one element row 12 can be said to be displaced a distance in the common direction of the element rows relative to the printing elements 13-24 in the second element row.
  • the displacement will be different as there are more printing elements in the element row 25 than in the element row 12.
  • the displacement will be at least three times as great as the centre distance between adjacent printing elements in an element row.
  • the displacement measured between the first printing elements in the respective element row it will be about six times as great as the centre distance between adjacent printing elements in an element row.
  • the matrix printer has means for activating individually at selected times the separate printing elements to generate separate printing dots on the record support, the positions of the separate printing points on the record support and relative to one another depending on the position and orientation of the element rows relative to the record support.
  • printing dots having a size and positions in accordance with one or more of the size and position of the printing elements in Fig. 1 can be printed on the record support.
  • the matrix printer has turning means capable of turning the printing head so that the element rows are turned synchronously about a common pivotal centre c.
  • the matrix printer has moving means to move the printing head so that the element rows can be moved with maintained orientation parallelly to the record support in a first direction of parallel motion parallel to the arrow H in Fig. 1 and in an opposite direction. This direction of parallel motion is sometimes called horizontal direction or line direction at printing in lines on the record support.
  • the matrix printer has also means for moving the record support relative to the printing head in a second moving direction in parallel with the arrow V in Fig. 1 or in an opposite direction, maintaining the orientation of the element rows. This moving direction is sometimes called vertical direction.
  • Fig. 1 the printing head with the element rows enters a first predetermined turning position relative to the directions of motion.
  • Each of the element rows forms an anti-clockwise angle of 45° to the direction H of parallel motion, also called the line direction or printing direction in printing of lines along parallel lines 26.
  • a print consisting of printing dots from the printing elements 3-11 in the element row 12 in the direction of the arrow H will be interfoliated with or overlapped by a print consisting of printing dots from the printing elements 13-22 in the element row 25.
  • the element row 25 has three more printing elements than the element row 12 this print consisting of printing dots from the printing elements in the element row 25 will however only be partly overlapped by or interfoliated with print consisting of printing dots from the printing elements 3-11 in the element row 12. Therefore a print consisting of printing dots from the printing elements 23 and 24 will not be interfoliated with or overlapped by print from any printing element in the element row 12.
  • Fig. 2 the printing head with the element rows enters a second predetermined turning position relative to the directions of motion.
  • Each of the element rows forms a clockwise angle of 45° to the direction H of parallel motion.
  • L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, L10, L11, L13, L14, L15, L16, L17, L18, L19, L20, L21, L22, L23 and L24 illustrate the lines along which the printing elements 3-11 and 13-24 can print printing dots when the element rows are moved parallelly in the direction of the arrow H maintaining the first predetermined turning position according to Fig. 1. It is apparent from Fig. 3 that the line L3 is straight between the lines L13 and L14, that the line L14 is straight between the lines L3 and L4, that the line L4 is straight between the lines L14 and L15, that the line L15 is straight between the lines L4 and L5 etc.
  • the line L11 is straight between the lines L21 and L22.
  • the lines L3-L11 are interfoliated with the lines L13-L22.
  • the printing elements of both the element rows can be used during one single movement in the direction of the arrow H to print with printing dots overlapping each other in the direction of the arrow H as well as in the direction of the arrow V.
  • a print of a comparatively high quality can be printed in this way along a line during only one movement in the direction of the arrow H or during only one movement in a direction contrary to the arrow H.
  • Printing dots from printing elements in one single row can then overlap each other in the direction of the line or in the direction of the arrow H but not in the direction of the arrow V or the vertical direction.
  • a print having a comparatively high quality that can be printed in this way with the element rows in the first predetermined turning position the letter N built of a number of circular dots is illustrated.
  • the lines L3, L4, ..., L11, L13, L14, ..., L23 and L24 illustrate the lines along which the printing elements 3-11 and 13-24 can print printing dots when the element rows are moved parallelly in the direction of the arrow H maintaining the second predetermined turning position according to Fig. 2 relative to the record support.
  • the distance between two arbitrary adjacent lines of L3 - L24 is as great.
  • the distance between the lines L24 and L3 is as great as the distance between the lines L23 and L24 and as great as the distance between the lines L3 and L4.
  • the lines L3 - L11 and L13 - L24 form together a line screen of a regular spacing.
  • this regular line screen consisting of 21 lines when the element rows are oriented in the second predetermined angular position according to Figs. 2 and 4
  • the printing elements can be utilized in printing in different ways illustrated by means of the five letters P in Fig. 4.
  • One way of printing with the printing elements in the second predetermined angular position is to print one character line, when printing in lines, by means of only the printing elements 3-11 in one element row 12 and substantially simultaneously to print another character line by means of only the printing elements 13-24 in the second character line.
  • Lowered characters can be printed by means of the printing elements 22-24 or the line distance between adjacent character lines can be changed.
  • Another way of printing with the element rows in the second predetermined angular position is to print extra big characters having a height extending over two lines by means of printing elements in both the element rows. Either merely big characters or alternately small characters extending over only one line and big characters extending over two lines can be printed. If small characters are printed the printing rate can be high as two lines of characters can be printed during one single movement of the element rows in the direction of the arrow H or in the opposite direction. The quality of the print will then be comparatively low.
  • the angle between the element rows and the printing direction is as great in both the predetermined turning positions. Therefore the signals to adjacent printing elements in one element row must be delayed as much relative to one another in both the turning positions in order to print for instance one line of dots perpendicular to the printing direction. This involves essential advantages when designing the delay means and the embodiment of the printing method.
  • the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above in connection with Figs. 1-4 but it is possible to modify a method and a matrix printer within the scope of the claims. For instance, it is not absolutely necessary to have a different number of printing elements in the element rows and definitely not necessary to have just nine printing elements in one element row and twelve printing elements in the other element row. The number of printing elements, the spacing within one element row and the distance between the element rows can deviate from those illustrated in Figs. 1-4. It is possible but definitely not to be preferred that both the predetermined turning positions differ somewhat less than 90° from one another.

Landscapes

  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Impact Printers (AREA)
  • Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)
EP88850322A 1987-09-30 1988-09-28 Matrix printer and method for printing by means of a matrix printer Expired - Lifetime EP0310583B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE8703772A SE457340B (sv) 1987-09-30 1987-09-30 Matrisskrivare och foerfarande foer att skriva med en matrisskrivare
SE8703772 1987-09-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0310583A1 EP0310583A1 (en) 1989-04-05
EP0310583B1 true EP0310583B1 (en) 1992-04-01

Family

ID=20369717

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88850322A Expired - Lifetime EP0310583B1 (en) 1987-09-30 1988-09-28 Matrix printer and method for printing by means of a matrix printer

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0310583B1 (sv)
JP (1) JPH01113256A (sv)
DE (1) DE3869718D1 (sv)
SE (1) SE457340B (sv)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2890542B2 (ja) * 1989-10-26 1999-05-17 セイコーエプソン株式会社 シリアルプリンタ用ドット型印字ヘッド
JPH05269985A (ja) * 1992-01-31 1993-10-19 Citizen Watch Co Ltd インクジェットヘッド及びその駆動方法
IL128521A (en) * 1999-02-14 2003-05-29 Aprion Digital Ltd Bi-axial staggered printing array

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4010835A (en) * 1975-08-01 1977-03-08 International Business Machines Corporation Matrix print head
DD128153A1 (de) * 1976-08-26 1977-11-02 Volker Flechtner Mosaikdruckkopf
DE3041877A1 (de) * 1980-11-06 1982-05-13 Mannesmann AG, 4000 Düsseldorf Matrixdrucker und zugehoeriger nadeldruckkopf
DE3208104A1 (de) * 1982-03-06 1983-09-08 Philips Patentverwaltung Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg Druckkopf fuer einen matrixdrucker

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, JP A 52 006 418; 18.01.1977 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 8, nr. 108 (M297); JP A 59 019 170; 31.01.1984 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 9, nr. 213 (M408); JP A 60 072 746; 24.04.1985 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE457340B (sv) 1988-12-19
JPH01113256A (ja) 1989-05-01
EP0310583A1 (en) 1989-04-05
DE3869718D1 (de) 1992-05-07
SE8703772D0 (sv) 1987-09-30

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