EP0542811B1 - Printing device with adjustable printing head - Google Patents
Printing device with adjustable printing head Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0542811B1 EP0542811B1 EP91914103A EP91914103A EP0542811B1 EP 0542811 B1 EP0542811 B1 EP 0542811B1 EP 91914103 A EP91914103 A EP 91914103A EP 91914103 A EP91914103 A EP 91914103A EP 0542811 B1 EP0542811 B1 EP 0542811B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- print head
- platen
- recording medium
- printing device
- hall voltage
- 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
Links
Images
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
- B41J25/304—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
- B41J25/308—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with print gap adjustment mechanisms
Definitions
- the invention relates to a printing device according to the preamble of claim 1.
- a device for adjusting the section of a print head in a matrix printer in which a sensor intended for contact with the surface of the record carrier is arranged on the print head carrier.
- the print head carrier can be adjusted with the help of an eccentric adjustment mechanism in the direction of the print abutment and away from it.
- To determine the thickness of the recording medium it is first drawn into the printing position.
- the printhead carrier is then moved to a reference position furthest away from the platen, which is determined by means of a light barrier. The distance of the sensor surface from the pressure abutment in this reference position is fixed and known.
- the print head carrier is then moved in the direction of the print abutment, until the sensor rests on the surface of the record carrier that has now been drawn in with a certain contact pressure, the distance covered up to this point being measured by means of a counter. This measured distance is then subtracted from the previously known reference distance in the computing device. The difference corresponds to the thickness of the recording medium. On the basis of the value for the thickness of the record carrier determined in this way, the print head carrier is then moved away from the print abutment again until the desired distance between the print head and the surface of the record carrier is set.
- a sensor has already been proposed in a device of the type known from US Pat. No. 4,676,675 - viewed in the feed direction of the record carrier - to be arranged in front of the print position on a part fixed to the printer frame relative to the platen in such a way that it rests on the platen when the record carrier has not yet been pulled in and can be deflected or deformed by the retracted record carrier, the deflection or deformation of the sensor being proportional electrical quantity is implemented.
- the sensor proposed in this solution comprises moving parts which can become contaminated by the inevitably occurring paper dust and thereby block. Furthermore, these mechanical parts would have to be adjusted.
- a device for controlling the distance of a printhead from a recording medium in which a sensor in the form of a two-armed lever is pivotally mounted on the printhead carrier or the printhead carriage so that it has one free lever end can rest on the record carrier in the area of the respective printing point.
- the sensor is formed from a thin sheet of metal which is pressed against the recording medium by a spring with a very low contact pressure, so that the sensor can slide over the paper almost without resistance.
- the sheet has a recess at its support point, through which the needles of the print head can pass. At its lever end facing away from the support point, this sensor carries a magnet which interacts with a Hall probe arranged on the print head carrier.
- An electronic control circuit moves the print head carrier or the print head carriage perpendicular to the print abutment until a desired voltage corresponding to a predetermined distance of the print head from the recording medium occurs on the Hall probe.
- This solution has considerable disadvantages in practical operation.
- the sensor is only allowed to lightly touch the surface of the record carrier rest, otherwise it could hinder the movement of the print head and damage the record carrier during the movement of the print head.
- it is precisely this low contact pressure that causes the sensor to respond to any unevenness in a record carrier. This is particularly noticeable in the case of multi-layer record carriers, for example form sets or savings books.
- the invention has for its object to further improve a device of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that moving parts of the sensor, which require mechanical adjustment, can be eliminated and that the device is simple in construction and robust in operation.
- the solution according to the invention has the advantage that the sensor works without contact and does not require any mechanical parts that would have to be adjusted and whose function could be impaired by paper dust.
- Both parts of the Hall sensor are arranged on already existing parts of the printing device, namely on the one hand on the pressure element and on the other hand on the print head or print head carriage.
- the pressure element is so tightly clamped against the pressure abutment that it presses the record carriers to be processed flat against the pressure abutment.
- the measurement is not falsified by dents, kinks or folds in the record carrier, since it is flattened in any case.
- the spring which prestresses the pressure element in the direction of the pressure abutment must be relatively strong, slight deviations from the usual spring force also play no role. Adjustment is therefore relatively uncritical.
- Attaching one part of the Hall sensor to the pressure element ensures that the adjustment of the print head spacing can already take place while the recording medium is still being drawn into its printing position. When it has reached this, the print head is also set to the correct distance. This avoids a time delay when setting the print head spacing.
- the pressure abutment can be a platen roller in a manner known per se, the pressure element preferably being an elastically deformable pressure plate which extends over the entire width of the pressure abutment.
- a second Hall probe which is thermally coupled to the first Hall probe, is preferably provided on the pressure element outside the region which the print head traverses as it moves along the pressure abutment.
- the good thermal coupling between the two Hall probes makes it possible to use the output signal of the second probe to compensate for the temperature response of the first probe.
- the invention further relates to a method for setting and maintaining a predetermined distance of a print head of a printing device from a recording medium according to claims 11 and 12.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 one can see a platen roller designated 10 serving as a pressure abutment.
- a print head guide 14 Parallel to the shaft 12 of the platen roller 10, a print head guide 14 is arranged in front of it, which is mounted with eccentric bearings 16, 18 in side plates 20, 22 of a printer frame.
- a pinion 24 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner, with a second pin on the output shaft a step motor 28 combs pinion 26 seated.
- a carrier 30 is mounted axially displaceably on the print head guide 14 and in turn carries a needle print head 32.
- An elastically deformable pressure plate 36 is located below the mouthpiece 34 of the needle print head 32. This extends over the entire writing width of the printer. At its lower edge 38, it is fixedly connected to a crossbar 40 of the printer frame extending between the side plates 20, 22 and, near its upper edge, tangentially touches the platen roller 10 in a line of contact 42 (FIG. 2) immediately below the print head mouthpiece 34. The upper edge 44 of the pressure plate 36 is bent obliquely away from the platen roller 10 above the contact line 42.
- paper guides 46, 48 are arranged on both sides of the print head mouthpiece 34, the upper ends 50 of the print roller 10, which are located at a short distance from each other, are adapted to the contour of the print roller 10 (FIG. 2).
- the arrangement of the pressure plate 36 and the paper guides 46, 48 described above ensures that a recording medium 52 clings closely to the platen roller 10 in the printing area.
- a permanent magnet 54 is inserted into the left paper guide 46.
- a first Hall probe 56 is glued to the pressure plate 36. As can be seen in FIG. 2, this Hall probe 56 is located at the level of the permanent magnet 54, so that these elements face each other when the print head 32 is in a corresponding printing position along the platen roller 10.
- a second Hall probe 58 On the pressure plate 36 is outside the area caused by the movement of the carrier 30 is swept along the print head guide 14 by the permanent magnet 54, a second Hall probe 58. Both Hall probes 56, 58 are thermally well coupled via the pressure plate 36, so that the output signal of the second probe 58 can be used to compensate for the temperature response of the first probe 56 .
- the print head 32 In the automatic setting, the print head 32 must be in the position in which the permanent magnet 54 and the first Hall probe 56 face each other.
- the Hall voltage is dependent on the magnetic induction and thus on the distance d (FIG. 2) between the permanent magnet 54 and the Hall probe 56.
- This distance d is the distance of the print head mouthpiece 34 from the platen roller 10 or the surface of the recording medium 52 guided around the roller proportional.
- the target head spacing is a specific factor for the print head used, which, depending on the head type, is between 0 mm for a thermal print head and 0.5 mm for a wire print head.
- a certain Hall voltage value corresponds to this distance and is permanently stored in the control program for the printer controller 60 (FIG. 1).
- a recording medium 52 is drawn into the printer from the underside of the roller. He pushes himself between the platen roller 10 and the pressure plate 36. This reduces the distance d and the Hall voltage increases.
- the eccentrically mounted print head guide 14 is then rotated via the stepper motor 28 and the pinions 24, 26, as a result of which the Distance d changes until the Hall voltage of Hall probe 56 matches the stored target value.
- the target head spacing is then set again. In order to compensate for the inevitable mechanical play, the head infeed is always carried out in the same direction, as the first three steps in the flow chart in FIG. 3 show.
- the solution according to the invention was explained using an exemplary embodiment with a dot matrix printer.
- the invention is not limited to such a dot matrix printer. Rather, it can be used with all types of printers in which the distance between the print head and platen has to be set depending on the paper thickness.
Landscapes
- Common Mechanisms (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Druckeinrichtung gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The invention relates to a printing device according to the preamble of claim 1.
Aus der US-PS 4 676 675 ist eine Vorrichtung zur Einstellung des Abschnittes eines Druckkopfes in einem Matrix-Drucker bekannt, bei der ein zur Anlage an der Oberfläche des Aufzeichnungsträgers bestimmter Sensor an dem Druckkopfträger angeordnet ist. Der Druckkopfträger kann mit Hilfe eines Exzenterverstellmechanismus in Richtung auf das Druckwiderlager und von diesem weg verstellt werden. Zur Ermittlung der Dicke des Aufzeichnungsträgers wird dieser zunächst in die Druckposition eingezogen. Der Druckkopfträger wird dann in eine vom Druckwiderlager am weitesten entfernt gelegene Referenzstellung bewegt, die mittels einer Lichtschranke ermittelt wird. Der Abstand der Sensorfläche von dem Druckwiderlager in dieser Referenzstellung ist fest vorgegeben und bekannt. Anschließend wird der Druckkopfträger in Richtung auf das Druckwiderlager bewegt, bis der Sensor an der Oberfläche des inzwischen eingezogenen Aufzeichnungsträgers mit einem bestimmten Auflagedruck anliegt, wobei der bis zu diesem Punkt zurückgelegte Weg mittels eines Zählers gemessen wird. Anschließend wird in der Rechenvorrichtung diese gemessene Strecke von der vorbekannten Referenzstrecke abgezogen. Die Differenz entspricht der Dicke des Aufzeich- nungsträgers. Auf der Basis des so ermittelten Wertes für die Dicke des Aufzeichnungsträgers wird nun der Druckkopfträger wieder von dem Druckwiderlager weg bewegt, bis der gewünschte Abstand zwischen dem Druckkopf und der Oberfläche des Aufzeichnungsträgers eingestellt ist.From US Pat. No. 4,676,675, a device for adjusting the section of a print head in a matrix printer is known, in which a sensor intended for contact with the surface of the record carrier is arranged on the print head carrier. The print head carrier can be adjusted with the help of an eccentric adjustment mechanism in the direction of the print abutment and away from it. To determine the thickness of the recording medium, it is first drawn into the printing position. The printhead carrier is then moved to a reference position furthest away from the platen, which is determined by means of a light barrier. The distance of the sensor surface from the pressure abutment in this reference position is fixed and known. The print head carrier is then moved in the direction of the print abutment, until the sensor rests on the surface of the record carrier that has now been drawn in with a certain contact pressure, the distance covered up to this point being measured by means of a counter. This measured distance is then subtracted from the previously known reference distance in the computing device. The difference corresponds to the thickness of the recording medium. On the basis of the value for the thickness of the record carrier determined in this way, the print head carrier is then moved away from the print abutment again until the desired distance between the print head and the surface of the record carrier is set.
Das vorstehend beschriebene Verfahren ist relativ umständlich und aufwendig. Nachteilig an dieser Lösung ist ferner, daß die Dickenberechnung und damit auch die Einstellung des Kopfabstandes erst dann erfolgen kann, wenn der Aufzeichnungsträger bereits in Druckposition ist. Dies führt zu einem erheblichen Zeitverlust. Ferner darf der Abstand zwischen dem Druckwiderlager und dem Sensor nicht größer sein als der Abstand zwischen dem Druckwiderlager und dem Druckkopf. Umgekehrt darf er aber auch nicht wesentlich kleiner sein, da sich sonst der Abstand zwischen der Oberfläche des Aufzeichnungsträgers und dem Druckkopf nicht auf einen gewünschten Wert einstellen läßt. Dies erfordert nicht nur eine relative genaue Justage des Sensors relativ zum Druckkopf, sondern kann auch Schwierigkeiten bereiten, wenn Papier mit unterschiedlicher Dicke eingezogen wird.The method described above is relatively cumbersome and complex. Another disadvantage of this solution is that the thickness calculation and thus also the adjustment of the head spacing can only take place when the recording medium is already in the printing position. This leads to a considerable loss of time. Furthermore, the distance between the platen and the sensor must not be greater than the distance between the platen and the printhead. Conversely, however, it must also not be significantly smaller, since otherwise the distance between the surface of the recording medium and the print head cannot be set to a desired value. Not only does this require a relatively accurate adjustment of the sensor relative to the printhead, it can also be difficult if paper of different thickness is fed.
Um die vorstehend beschriebenen Nachteile zu beseitigen wurde bereits bei einer Vorrichtung der aus der US-PS 4 676 675 bekannten Art vorgeschlagen, einen Sensor - in Einzugsrichtung des Aufzeichnungsträgers betrachtet - vor der Druckposition an einem druckerrahmenfesten Teil relativ zum Druckwiderlager derart anzuordnen, daß er bei noch nicht eingezogenem Aufzeichnungsträger am Druckwiderlager anliegt und durch den eingezogenen Aufzeichnungsträger auslenkbar oder verformbar ist, wobei die Auslenkung oder Verformung des Sensors in eine proportionale elektrische Größe umgesetzt wird. Der bei dieser Lösung vorgeschlagene Sensor umfaßt bewegliche Teile, die durch den unvermeidlich anfallenden Papierstaub verschmutzen und dadurch blockieren können. Ferner müßten diese mechanischen Teile justiert werden.In order to eliminate the disadvantages described above, a sensor has already been proposed in a device of the type known from US Pat. No. 4,676,675 - viewed in the feed direction of the record carrier - to be arranged in front of the print position on a part fixed to the printer frame relative to the platen in such a way that it rests on the platen when the record carrier has not yet been pulled in and can be deflected or deformed by the retracted record carrier, the deflection or deformation of the sensor being proportional electrical quantity is implemented. The sensor proposed in this solution comprises moving parts which can become contaminated by the inevitably occurring paper dust and thereby block. Furthermore, these mechanical parts would have to be adjusted.
Aus der DE 26 08 301 C 2 ist ferner eine Vorrichtung zur Regelung des Abstandes eines Druckkopfes von einem Aufzeichnungsträger bekannt, bei der an dem Druckkopfträger oder dem Druckkopfwagen ein Fühler in Form eines zweiarmigen Hebels schwenkbar so gelagert ist, daß er mit dem einen freien Hebelende in Bereich der jeweiligen Druckstelle an dem Aufzeichnungsträger anliegen kann. Der Fühler ist von einem dünnen Blech gebildet, das durch eine Feder mit einem sehr geringen Auflagedruck gegen den Aufzeichnungsträger gedrückt wird, so daß der Fühler nahezu widerstandslos über das Papier gleiten kann. Das Blech weist an seiner Auflagestelle eine Aussparung auf, durch die die Nadeln des Druckkopfes treten können. An seinem der Auflagestelle abgewandten Hebelende trägt dieser Fühler einen Magnet, der mit einer am Druckkopfträger angeordneten Hallsonde zusammenwirkt. Über eine elektronische Regelschaltung wird der Druckkopfträger bzw. der Druckkopfschlitten senkrecht zum Druckwiderlager so lange verfahren, bis eine einem vorgegebenen Abstand des Druckkopfes von dem Aufzeichnungsträger entsprechende Soll-Spannung an der Hallsonde auftritt. Diese Lösung hat im praktischen Betrieb erhebliche Nachteile. Einerseits darf der Fühler nur ganz leicht an der Oberfläche des Aufzeichnungsträgers aufliegen, da er sonst die Bewegung des Druckkopfes behindern und den Aufzeichnungsträger bei der Bewegung des Druckkopfes beschädigen könnte. Zum anderen führt aber gerade dieser geringe Auflagedruck dazu, daß der Fühler auf jede Unebenheit eines Aufzeichnungsträgers anspricht. Dies macht sich insbesondere bei mehrlagigen Aufzeichnungsträgern, beispielsweise Formularsätzen oder Sparbüchern bemerkbar. Momentane Auslenkungen des Fühlers führen aber zu einer dauernden Nachstellung des Druckkopfes, wodurch die Druckleistung der Druckeinrichtung erheblich beeinträchtigt wird. Zudem kann die Einstellung des korrekten Abstandes erst erfolgen wenn der Aufzeichnungsträger bereits das Mundstück des Druckkopfes erreicht hat, d.h. sich in seiner Aufzeichnungstellung befindet. Da der Fühler sich in unmittelbarer Nähe des Druckkopfmundstückes befindet, an dem auch das Farbband vorbeiläuft, besteht die Gefahr, daß der Fühler bei einem Farbbandwechsel beschädigt wird. Diese Gefahr ist umso größer, als der Fühler aus Platzgründen und aus Funktionsgründen sehr dünn und leicht gebaut sein muß. Da ferner der Fühler durch eine Feder an den Aufzeichnungsträger angedrückt wird und die Andruckkraft nur sehr gering sein soll, führt bereits eine geringfügige Veränderung der Andruckkraft dazu, daß der Fühler sich mehr oder weniger in den Aufzeichnungsträger eindrückt, was insbesondere bei mehrlagigen Aufzeichnungsträgern auftritt. Infolgedessen ist es erforderlich, die Andruckfeder sehr genau zu justieren. Dies ist erfahrungsgemäß äußerst schwierig. Gerade bei schwachen Federn genügt in der Regel ein geringfügiges Verbiegen der Feder, um deren Andruckkraft stark zu verändern. Daher ist es außerordentlich schwierig, einen derartigen Fühler zu justieren und die Justage während des Betriebes beizubehalten.From DE 26 08 301 C 2 a device for controlling the distance of a printhead from a recording medium is also known, in which a sensor in the form of a two-armed lever is pivotally mounted on the printhead carrier or the printhead carriage so that it has one free lever end can rest on the record carrier in the area of the respective printing point. The sensor is formed from a thin sheet of metal which is pressed against the recording medium by a spring with a very low contact pressure, so that the sensor can slide over the paper almost without resistance. The sheet has a recess at its support point, through which the needles of the print head can pass. At its lever end facing away from the support point, this sensor carries a magnet which interacts with a Hall probe arranged on the print head carrier. An electronic control circuit moves the print head carrier or the print head carriage perpendicular to the print abutment until a desired voltage corresponding to a predetermined distance of the print head from the recording medium occurs on the Hall probe. This solution has considerable disadvantages in practical operation. On the one hand, the sensor is only allowed to lightly touch the surface of the record carrier rest, otherwise it could hinder the movement of the print head and damage the record carrier during the movement of the print head. On the other hand, it is precisely this low contact pressure that causes the sensor to respond to any unevenness in a record carrier. This is particularly noticeable in the case of multi-layer record carriers, for example form sets or savings books. However, momentary deflections of the sensor lead to a permanent readjustment of the printhead, which considerably impairs the printing performance of the printing device. In addition, the correct distance can only be set when the record carrier has already reached the mouthpiece of the print head, ie is in its record position. Since the sensor is in the immediate vicinity of the print head mouthpiece, which the ribbon also runs past, there is a risk that the sensor will be damaged when the ribbon is changed. This danger is all the greater since the sensor must be very thin and light for reasons of space and function. Furthermore, since the sensor is pressed against the recording medium by a spring and the pressure force should only be very low, even a slight change in the pressure force leads to the sensor being more or less pressed into the recording medium, which occurs particularly in the case of multilayer recording media. As a result, it is necessary to adjust the pressure spring very precisely. Experience has shown that this is extremely difficult. In the case of weak springs in particular, a slight bending of the spring is usually sufficient in order to change its pressure force significantly. It is therefore extremely difficult to adjust such a sensor and to maintain the adjustment during operation.
Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Vorrichtung der in Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 angegebenen Art weiter dahingehend zu verbessern, daß bewegliche Teile des Sensors, die eine mechanische Justage erfordern, entfallen können und daß die Vorrichtung einfach im Aufbau und robust im Betrieb ist.The invention has for its object to further improve a device of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that moving parts of the sensor, which require mechanical adjustment, can be eliminated and that the device is simple in construction and robust in operation.
Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch die im kennzeichnenden Teil des Anspruchs 1 angegebenen Merkmale gelöst.This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.
Die erfindungsgemäße Lösung hat den Vorzug, daß der Sensor berührungslos arbeitet und keine mechanischen Teile erfordert, die justiert werden müßten und deren Funktion durch anfallenden Papierstaub beeinträchtigt werden könnte.The solution according to the invention has the advantage that the sensor works without contact and does not require any mechanical parts that would have to be adjusted and whose function could be impaired by paper dust.
Beide Teile des Hallsensors sind an ohnehin vorhandenen Teilen der Druckeinrichtung angeordnet, nämlich einerseits am Andruckelement und andererseits an dem Druckkopf oder Druckkopfwagen. Das Andruckelement wird so fest gegen das Druckwiderlager gespannt, daß es die zu verarbeitenden Aufzeichnungsträger flach an das Druckwiderlager andrückt. Somit wird die Messung nicht durch Beulen, Knicke oder Falten in dem Aufzeichnungsträger verfälscht, da dieser in jedem Falle flachgedrückt wird. Da die Feder, welche das Andruckelement in Richtung auf das Druckwiderlager vorspannt, relativ kräftig sein muß, spielen geringfügige Abweichungen von der üblichen Federkraft auch keine Rolle. Eine Justierung ist daher relativ unkritisch. Das Anbringen des einen Teiles des Hallsensors an dem Andruckelement sorgt dafür, daß die Einstellung des Druckkopfabstandes bereits erfolgen kann, während noch der Aufzeichnungsträger in seine Druckposition eingezogen wird. Wenn er diese erreicht hat, ist auch der Druckkopf auf den richtigen Abstand eingestellt. Damit wird eine Zeitverzögerung beim Einstellen des Druckkopfabstandes vermieden.Both parts of the Hall sensor are arranged on already existing parts of the printing device, namely on the one hand on the pressure element and on the other hand on the print head or print head carriage. The pressure element is so tightly clamped against the pressure abutment that it presses the record carriers to be processed flat against the pressure abutment. Thus, the measurement is not falsified by dents, kinks or folds in the record carrier, since it is flattened in any case. Since the spring which prestresses the pressure element in the direction of the pressure abutment must be relatively strong, slight deviations from the usual spring force also play no role. Adjustment is therefore relatively uncritical. Attaching one part of the Hall sensor to the pressure element ensures that the adjustment of the print head spacing can already take place while the recording medium is still being drawn into its printing position. When it has reached this, the print head is also set to the correct distance. This avoids a time delay when setting the print head spacing.
Das Druckwiderlager kann in an sich bekannter Weise eine Schreibwalze sein, wobei das Andruckelement vorzugsweise ein sich über die gesamte Breite des Druckwiderlagers erstreckendes elastisch verformbares Andruckblech ist.The pressure abutment can be a platen roller in a manner known per se, the pressure element preferably being an elastically deformable pressure plate which extends over the entire width of the pressure abutment.
Vorzugsweise ist an dem Andruckelement außerhalb des Bereiches, den der Druckkopf bei seiner Bewegung entlang dem Druckwiderlager überstreicht, eine mit der ersten Hallsonde thermisch gekoppelte zweite Hallsonde vorgesenen. Die gute thermische Kopplung zwischen den beiden Hallsonden ermöglicht es, das Ausgangssignal der zweiten Sonde zur Kompensation des Temperaturganges der ersten Sonde heranzuziehen.A second Hall probe, which is thermally coupled to the first Hall probe, is preferably provided on the pressure element outside the region which the print head traverses as it moves along the pressure abutment. The good thermal coupling between the two Hall probes makes it possible to use the output signal of the second probe to compensate for the temperature response of the first probe.
Die Erfindung betrifft ferner ein Verfahren zum Einstellen und Einhalten eines vorgegebenen Abstandes eines Druckkopfes einer Druckeinrichtung von einem Aufzeichnungsträger gemäß den Ansprüchen 11 und 12.The invention further relates to a method for setting and maintaining a predetermined distance of a print head of a printing device from a recording medium according to
Vorteilhafte Ausführungsformen der Erfindung sind in den weiteren Unteransprüchen beschrieben. Weitere Merkmale und Vorteile der Erfindung ergeben sich aus der folgenden Beschreibung, welche in Verbindung mit den beigefügten Zeichnungen die Erfindung anhand eines Ausführungsbeispieles erläutert. Es zeigen:
- Figur 1
- eine schematische Frontansicht der zur Erläuterung der Erfindung wesentlichen Teile eines Nadeldrukkers,
- Figur 2
- eine schematische Schnittansicht senkrecht zur Schreibwalzenachse durch die Anordnung gemäß Figur 1 und
- Figur 3
- ein Flußdiagramm zur Erläuterung der Arbeitsweise der erfindungsgemäßen Druckeinrichtung.
- Figure 1
- 2 shows a schematic front view of the parts of a needle printer essential for explaining the invention,
- Figure 2
- a schematic sectional view perpendicular to the platen axis through the arrangement of Figure 1 and
- Figure 3
- a flowchart to explain the operation of the printing device according to the invention.
In den Figuren 1 und 2 erkennt man eine mit 10 bezeichnete als Druckwiderlager dienende Schreibwalze. Parallel zur Welle 12 der Schreibwalze 10 ist vor dieser eine Druckkopfführung 14 angeordnet, die mit Exzenterlagern 16, 18 in Seitenplatinen 20, 22 eines Druckerrahmens gelagert ist. An dem in der Figur 1 rechten Ende der Druckkopfführung 14 ist ein Ritzel 24 drehfest angeordnet, das mit einem zweiten auf der Ausgangswelle eines Schrittmotors 28 sitzenden Ritzel 26 kämmt. Auf der Druckkopfführung 14 ist ein Träger 30 axial verschiebbar gelagert, der seinerseits einen Nadeldruckkopf 32 trägt.In FIGS. 1 and 2 one can see a platen roller designated 10 serving as a pressure abutment. Parallel to the
Unterhalb des Mundstückes 34 des Nadeldruckkopfes 32 befindet sich ein elastisch verformbares Andruckblech 36. Dieses erstreckt sich über die gesamte Schreibbreite des Druckers. Es ist an seiner Unterkante 38 fest mit einer sich zwischen den Seitenplatinen 20, 22 erstreckenden Traverse 40 des Druckerrahmens verbunden und berührt nahe seiner Oberkante in einer Berührungslinie 42 (Figur 2) tangential die Schreibwalze 10 unmittelbar unterhalb des Druckkopfmundstückes 34. die Oberkante 44 des Andruckbleches 36 ist oberhalb der Berührungslinie 42 schräg von der Schreibwalze 10 wegweisend umgekantet.An elastically
Auf dem Träger 30 sind beiderseits des Druckkopfmundstückes 34 Papierführungen 46, 48 angeordnet, deren jeweils oberes, der Schreibwalze 10 mit geringem Abstand gegenüberstehendes Ende 50 der Kontur der Schreibwalze 10 angepaßt ist (Figur 2). Durch die vorstehend beschriebene Anordnung des Andruckbleches 36 und der Papierführungen 46, 48 ist sichergestellt, daß sich einen Aufzeichnungsträger 52 in Druckbereich eng an die Schreibwalze 10 anschmiegt.On the
In die linke Papierführung 46 ist ein Permanentmagnet 54 eingesetzt. Auf das Andruckblech 36 ist eine erste Hallsonde 56 aufgeklebt. Wie der Figur 2 zu entnehmen ist, befindet sich diese Hallsonde 56 auf Höhe des Permanentmagneten 54, so daß sich diese Elemente gegenüberstehen, wenn sich der Druckkopf 32 in einer entsprechenden Druckposition entlang der Schreibwalze 10 befindet. Auf dem Andruckblech 36 befindet sich außerhalb des Bereiches, der durch die Bewegung des Trägers 30 entlang der Druckkopfführung 14 von dem Permanentmagneten 54 überstrichen wird, eine zweite Hallsonde 58. Beide Hallsonden 56, 58 sind über das Andruckblech 36 thermisch gut gekoppelt, so daß das Ausgangssignal der zweiten Sonde 58 zur Kompensation des Temperaturganges der ersten Sonde 56 herangezogen werden kann.A
Die soweit beschriebene Anordnung arbeitet zur Einstellung des Abstandes des Druckkopfes 32 von der Oberfläche des Aufzeichnungsträgers 52 wie folgt, wobei auch auf das Flußdiagramm in Figur 3 verwiesen wird.The arrangement described so far works for setting the distance of the
Bei der automatischen Einstellung muß sich der Druckkopf 32 in der Stellung befinden, in der sich der Permanentmagnet 54 und die erste Hallsonde 56 gegenüberstehen. Die Hallspannung ist abhängig von der magnetischen Induktion und damit vom Abstand d (Figur 2) zwischen dem Permanentmagneten 54 und der Hallsonde 56. Dieser Abstand d ist dem Abstand des Druckkopfmundstükkes 34 von der Schreibwalze 10 bzw. der Oberfläche des um die Walze geführten aufzeichnungsträgers 52 proportional.In the automatic setting, the
Der Soll-Kopfabstand ist eine für den verwendeten Druckkopf spezifische Kostante, die je nach Kopftyp zwischen 0 mm bei einem Thermodruckkopf und 0,5 mm für einen Nadeldruckkopf liegt. Diesem Abstand entspricht ein bestimmter Hallspannungswert, der im Steuerprogramm für die Druckersteuerung 60 (Figur 1) fest abgespeichert ist.The target head spacing is a specific factor for the print head used, which, depending on the head type, is between 0 mm for a thermal print head and 0.5 mm for a wire print head. A certain Hall voltage value corresponds to this distance and is permanently stored in the control program for the printer controller 60 (FIG. 1).
Zunächst wird ein Aufzeichnungsträger 52 von der Walzenunterseite her in den Drucker eingezogen. Er schiebt sich dabei zwischen die Schreibwalze 10 und das Andruckblech 36. Dadurch verringert sich der Abstand d und die Hallspannung steigt an. Über den Schrittmotor 28 und die Ritzel 24, 26 wird daraufhin die exzentrisch gelagerte Druckkopfführung 14 gedreht, wodurch sich der Abstand d verändert, bis die Hallspannung der Hallsonde 56 mit dem abgespeicherten soll-Wert übereinstimmt. Damit ist dann wieder der soll-Kopfabstand eingestellt. Um das unvermeidliche mechanische Spiel auszugleichen, wird die Kopfzustellung immer aus der gleichen Richtung durchgeführt, wie dies die ersten drei Schritte in dem Flußdiagramm der Figur 3 zeigen.First, a
Für dickere Papiersorten ist bei Nadeldruckern bisweilen eine Verringerung des Soll-Kopfabstandes erforderlich. Dies kann bei der erfindungsgemäßen Lösung leicht vorgenommen werden, da die Anzahl der Motorschritte während des Einstellvorganges proportional der Papierdicke ist. Damit ist auch die tatsächliche Papierdicke bestimmbar, so daß eine Kopfabstandseinstellung abhängig von der Papierdicke möglich ist.For thicker types of paper, a reduction in the nominal head clearance is sometimes necessary for dot matrix printers. This can easily be done in the solution according to the invention, since the number of motor steps during the setting process is proportional to the paper thickness. The actual paper thickness can thus also be determined, so that a head gap adjustment is possible depending on the paper thickness.
Die erfindungsgemäße Lösung wurde anhand eines Ausführungsbeispieles mit einem Nadeldrucker erläutert. Die Erfindung ist aber nicht auf einen solchen Nadeldrucker beschränkt. Vielmehr ist sie bei allen Druckertypen einsetzbar, bei denen der Abstand zwischen Druckkopf und Druckwiderlager papierdickenabhängig eingestellt werden muß.The solution according to the invention was explained using an exemplary embodiment with a dot matrix printer. However, the invention is not limited to such a dot matrix printer. Rather, it can be used with all types of printers in which the distance between the print head and platen has to be set depending on the paper thickness.
Claims (12)
- Printing device having a frame (20, 22), a platen (10) retained therein for supporting a recording medium (52), a print head (32) which is mounted on the frame (20, 22) so as to be movable relative to the platen (10) in the direction of the lines, an actuating drive (28, 26, 24) for setting the print head distance relative to the platen (10), and a pressing-on element (36) which is fixed to the frame, presses the recording medium (52) onto the platen (10) and can be deflected substantially perpendicular to the surface of the platen in accordance with the thickness of the recording medium (52), characterised in that a magnet (54) is arranged on the pressing-on element (36) and at least one Hall probe (56) is arranged on a part (46) fixed to the print head or at least one Hall probe (56) is arranged on the pressing-on element (36) and a magnet (54) is arranged on the part (46) fixed to the print head, in such a way that the magnet (54) and the Hall probe (56) can be brought into congruence with one another in a predetermined print head position corresponding to a measurement position, and in that a circuit arrangement (60) is provided to measure the Hall voltage and to regulate the latter to a predetermined intended Hall voltage, which circuit arrangement controls the actuating drive (28, 26, 24) of the print head (32) as a function of a difference between the actual Hall voltage and the intended Hall voltage.
- Printing device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the platen is a cylindric platen (10) and the pressing-on element is an elastically deformable metal pressing-on sheet (36) extending over the entire axial length of the platen (10).
- Printing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the print head (32) is attached to a carrier (30) which is adjustable parallel to the platen, and in that the part fixed to the print head is a guide element (46) for the recording medium (52), the guide element being firmly connected to the print head carrier (30).
- Printing device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the print head carrier (30) is mounted on an eccentrically mounted shaft (14) which is rotatable by means of the actuating drive (28, 26, 24).
- Printing device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a second Hall probe (58), which is thermally coupled to the first Hall probe (56). is provided on the pressing-on element (36) outside the region over which the print head (32) brushes during its movement along the platen (10).
- Printing device according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that means (60) are provided by means of which the distance of the print head (32) from the recording medium (52) can be set as a function of the thickness of the latter.
- Printing device according to Claim 6, characterised in that the circuit arrangement (60) comprises a memory for storing a plurality of intended Hall voltage values corresponding to different thicknesses of the recording medium (52).
- Printing device according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the print head (32) is a needle print head.
- Printing device according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the print head is a thermal print head.
- Printing device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the print head is an ink jet print head.
- Method of setting and maintaining a predetermined distance of a print head (32) of a printing device from a recording medium (52), the printing device comprising a frame (20, 22), a platen (10) retained thereon, an actuating drive (28, 26, 24) for adjusting the print head (32) substantially perpendicular to the platen (10), a pressing-on element (36) for pressing the recording medium (52) onto the platen (10), and a distance sensor (54, 56) for registering the distance of the print head (32) from the platen (10) or the recording medium (52), characterised in that, prior to the recording medium being drawn into the printing device, the print head (32) is moved parallel to the platen (10) into a measuring position in which a sensor element, magnet (54) or Hall probe (56) is brought into congruence on the pressing-on element (36) with a corresponding sensor element, Hall probe (56) or magnet (54) fixed to the print head for the distance measurement, in that the print head (32) is adjusted perpendicular to the platen (10) until an actual Hall voltage generated at the distance sensor is equal to a predetermined intended Hall voltage, in that the print head (32) is moved over a predetermined path section out of this alignment position away from the platen (10), in that the recording medium (52) is drawn in, and in that the print head (32) is moved toward the platen until the actual Hall voltage once more corresponds to the intended Hall voltage, the path section thereby covered by the print head (32) being registered.
- Method according to Claim 11, characterised in that the thickness of the recording medium is determined from the difference between the predetermined path section covered by the print head and the path section covered by the print head (32) until the alignment position is reached with the recording medium (52) having been drawn in and the intended Hall voltage is set as a function of the thickness of the recording medium.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE4025483 | 1990-08-10 | ||
| DE4025483A DE4025483C2 (en) | 1990-08-10 | 1990-08-10 | Printing device |
| PCT/EP1991/001484 WO1992002370A1 (en) | 1990-08-10 | 1991-08-06 | Printing device with adjustable printing head |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0542811A1 EP0542811A1 (en) | 1993-05-26 |
| EP0542811B1 true EP0542811B1 (en) | 1994-04-20 |
Family
ID=6412062
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP91914103A Expired - Lifetime EP0542811B1 (en) | 1990-08-10 | 1991-08-06 | Printing device with adjustable printing head |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5360276A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0542811B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH06500274A (en) |
| DE (2) | DE4025483C2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1992002370A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2880627B2 (en) * | 1993-06-25 | 1999-04-12 | 東芝テック株式会社 | Print gap adjustment device |
| US5570959A (en) * | 1994-10-28 | 1996-11-05 | Fujitsu Limited | Method and system for printing gap adjustment |
| US5746519A (en) * | 1996-05-06 | 1998-05-05 | Oyo Instruments, Inc. | Bi-directional thermal print head alignment apparatus and method |
| KR100186611B1 (en) * | 1996-06-26 | 1999-05-15 | 김광호 | Paper thickness sensing device of image recording apparatus and recording head auto-controlling apparatus of inkjet recording apparatus and method thereof |
| US6578276B2 (en) * | 1998-01-27 | 2003-06-17 | Eastman Kodak Company | Apparatus and method for marking multiple colors on a contoured surface having a complex topography |
| DE19813899A1 (en) * | 1998-03-28 | 1999-09-30 | Psi Printer Systems Internatio | Printers, especially dot matrix printers |
| US6561607B1 (en) | 2000-10-05 | 2003-05-13 | Eastman Kodak Company | Apparatus and method for maintaining a substantially constant closely spaced working distance between an inkjet printhead and a printing receiver |
| US6428135B1 (en) | 2000-10-05 | 2002-08-06 | Eastman Kodak Company | Electrical waveform for satellite suppression |
| US6450602B1 (en) | 2000-10-05 | 2002-09-17 | Eastman Kodak Company | Electrical drive waveform for close drop formation |
| US20030110644A1 (en) * | 2001-12-18 | 2003-06-19 | Miller Michael D. | Universal fork |
| KR100636135B1 (en) * | 2003-12-31 | 2006-10-19 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Image aligning method of duplex image forming printer |
| JP6291854B2 (en) * | 2014-01-17 | 2018-03-14 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Printer and control method thereof |
| WO2019143339A1 (en) * | 2018-01-18 | 2019-07-25 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Printer carriage with sensor |
| WO2021216069A1 (en) * | 2020-04-23 | 2021-10-28 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Adjusting distance between print media and printhead |
| CN115157871B (en) * | 2022-08-12 | 2023-11-21 | 厦门汉印电子技术有限公司 | Method for determining distance between printing head and printing substrate, printing apparatus and storage medium |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2608301C2 (en) * | 1976-02-28 | 1986-02-20 | Ncr Corp., Dayton, Ohio | Device for regulating the distance between a print head and a recording medium |
| US4676675A (en) * | 1984-05-09 | 1987-06-30 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Media thickness compensating device for a printer |
| JPS62212180A (en) * | 1986-03-14 | 1987-09-18 | Nec Corp | Printer |
| EP0240460A3 (en) * | 1986-04-02 | 1987-12-16 | Ciba-Geigy Ag | Mixture of polyfunctional aliphatic glycidyl ethers curable at room temperature |
| EP0292102B1 (en) * | 1987-03-24 | 1991-07-17 | Fujitsu Limited | Device for monitoring the thickness of printing sheets in a printer |
| US5087135A (en) * | 1988-04-14 | 1992-02-11 | Dataproducts Corporation | Printer paper thickness detector |
| DE3816367A1 (en) * | 1988-05-13 | 1989-11-23 | Philips Patentverwaltung | ARRANGEMENT FOR POSITION DISPLAY OF AN EDGE OF A SHEET-SHAPED DATA CARRIER |
| JPH0259378A (en) * | 1988-08-24 | 1990-02-28 | Brother Ind Ltd | Printer |
| DE3830880A1 (en) * | 1988-09-08 | 1990-03-15 | Mannesmann Ag | PRINTER, IN PARTICULAR MATRIX NEEDLE PRINTER, WITH A PRINT HEAD SPACER ADJUSTMENT DEVICE |
-
1990
- 1990-08-10 DE DE4025483A patent/DE4025483C2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1991
- 1991-08-06 JP JP3513161A patent/JPH06500274A/en active Pending
- 1991-08-06 EP EP91914103A patent/EP0542811B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-08-06 WO PCT/EP1991/001484 patent/WO1992002370A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1991-08-06 DE DE59101459T patent/DE59101459D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-08-06 US US07/971,982 patent/US5360276A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH06500274A (en) | 1994-01-13 |
| WO1992002370A1 (en) | 1992-02-20 |
| DE4025483C2 (en) | 1995-03-16 |
| DE59101459D1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| US5360276A (en) | 1994-11-01 |
| DE4025483A1 (en) | 1992-02-13 |
| EP0542811A1 (en) | 1993-05-26 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| EP0542811B1 (en) | Printing device with adjustable printing head | |
| EP0360728B1 (en) | Print head gap adjusting device for a printer, in particular for a matrix needle printer | |
| DE4423703C2 (en) | Method for adjusting the printing distance in a printer and device for carrying out such a method | |
| DE4041985C2 (en) | ||
| DE2434786C2 (en) | Device for detecting the deflection of drops of ink ejected from a nozzle of an ink jet printer | |
| DE3138865C2 (en) | Device for checking the exact register clamping of printing plates on the plate cylinder of an offset printing machine | |
| DE19749596C1 (en) | Tractor-less paper web feed control method for electrographic printer | |
| DE2651884A1 (en) | DEVICE FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL DISTANCE REGULATION OF A PRINT HEAD FROM THE PRINTING PLATE | |
| EP2092991B1 (en) | Die for a bending press, in particular a press brake and method for bending a workpiece | |
| EP0393759B1 (en) | Print gap adjustment mechanism in a printer | |
| DE3314041A1 (en) | Hand-held dot matrix printer | |
| DE60200107T2 (en) | Inkjet printer equipped to align printheads | |
| DE2829827A1 (en) | GUIDE DEVICE FOR RECORDING CARRIERS AT PRINTING WORKS | |
| DE2749976C2 (en) | Recording device | |
| DE4023411A1 (en) | Automatic head position adjuster for dot-matrix printer - uses contact sensor to measure paper thickness before paper reaches printing position | |
| DE2321017A1 (en) | PAPER THICKNESS SENSING DEVICE | |
| DE4306677A1 (en) | Register punch for printing plates | |
| EP0134258B1 (en) | Hammer flight time control for an impact printer | |
| EP0413102B1 (en) | Method and device for the positioning of an object and of a machine head | |
| EP0269976B1 (en) | Supporting device for matrix printing head | |
| DE102010016857A1 (en) | Measuring arrangement for determination of thickness of paper web in inkjet color printing apparatus, has computing unit for providing radii of roller and side bending positions of neutral fiber based on thickness of trajectory | |
| EP0919391B1 (en) | Method for adjusting and maintaining the distance between a printing surface and a printhead and printing device for carrying out the method | |
| DE4221265C2 (en) | Printer with a printhead gap adjuster | |
| DE3922992C2 (en) | ||
| DE19857450C1 (en) | Printer with print head gap setting device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19921124 |
|
| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT SE |
|
| 17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19930921 |
|
| GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT SE |
|
| REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 59101459 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19940526 |
|
| ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed |
Owner name: STUDIO JAUMANN |
|
| GBT | Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977) |
Effective date: 19940627 |
|
| ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
| EAL | Se: european patent in force in sweden |
Ref document number: 91914103.6 |
|
| PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
| 26N | No opposition filed | ||
| PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Payment date: 19980819 Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY Effective date: 19990830 |
|
| EUG | Se: european patent has lapsed |
Ref document number: 91914103.6 |
|
| PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20000822 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
| PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20000823 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
| PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20000831 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
| REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: 732E |
|
| REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: TP |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20010806 |
|
| GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20010806 |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20020430 |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20020501 |
|
| REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED. Effective date: 20050806 |