FR2620654A1 - TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT PRINTER WITH RESPECT TO A FLAT DOCUMENT HAVING A FLEXIBLE FINGER ASSEMBLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PRINT PATH - Google Patents

Abstract

a) Printer with transverse movement relative to a flat document, comprising a set of flexible fingers in the direction of the printing path. b) Printer characterized in that it comprises a set of flexible fingers 60 in the direction of the printing path, each of the fingers 60 having a guide edge 86 in the vicinity of the printing medium 12, the print head scanning the fingers as it moves along the print path and in that the guide edge of each of the fingers 60 has a chamfer 88 cooperating with the leading edge 92 of the document 90 when the document first arrives in the vicinity of the set of fingers 60 and to guide the document against the print support surface 12.

Description

The present invention relates to a printer leaving a support

  readable on the surface of a document presented to it, the printer comprising a print head that traverses transversely

  the document in relation to the direction of progress of the

is lying.

  It is known to produce a printer

  mantle with a print head that moves along a printing path in the vicinity of the surface of the printer.

  document or sheet of paper. The head of impres-

  sion works while moving along the path

  to leave a legible trace on the document

  is lying. The record can be read as is or be optically or magnetically encoded to be machine readable. The document advances between successive print lines. Such machines include printers usual daisy or ball. There are also other printers in this group. Matrix printers use as print media surfaces either

  cylindrical plates, that is a platinum of impres-

flatness.

  The present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to its application to a platen matrix printer. It should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to this application and can be applied to all forms of printers in which a print head travels transversely through an advancing document. In all printers in which a document is introduced under a print head that moves transversely, there is the disadvantage that the leading edge of the document may abut the print head or any other part associated with the print head. the print head or still not coming

  in direct contact with the printing support surface

  if we. As a result, the print head encounters the document thus introduced and drives it along the print path or tears the document or for

  less folds the surface and causes a printing dis-

  keep on going. The document thus folded or crumpled

  that and creates a serious incident especially in the

  case of a large mass of paper continuously.

  The present invention relates to a printer in which the print head moves along a print path to leave a readable inscription on the surface of a document being printed.

  in place and maintained on a support surface of

  pressure, this document advancing during printing, the print path being transverse to

  to the document advance direction, printer

  characterized in that it comprises a set of flexible fingers in the direction of the printing path and rigid both in the direction transverse to the direction of the printing path and in the direction of advancement of the document, each of the fingers having a guide edge in the vicinity of the print medium, the document carrier and the guiding edge cooperating to keep the document thus presented in contact

  with the print media surface, the print head

  pressure sweeping fingers as it moves

along the print path.

  With the fingers, the document is forced to stay in contact with the surface of the print medium. When the first introduction of a document into the printer, so that its front edge is not positioned badly or does not catch, the present invention further provides that the guide edge of each of the different fingers comprises a chamfer which cooperates with the front edge of the document when it is inserted and puts it in the vicinity of the set of fingers so that the front edge

  is brought against the surface of the print medium.

  Although the present invention can operate with a chamfered edge located either at the distal end or at the base of

  fingers, it is preferable according to the invention that the former

  base of each of the fingers is fixed to a support and that the distal end of each of the fingers is removed from the support, the front edge of the introduced document first coming in the vicinity of the ends

  base, so that the fingers held to

  counter the document, have the greatest resistance

efficiency and effectiveness.

  Although the present invention contemplates the use of flexible, flat, distinct sheets and any flexible device for making the fingers, it is preferable according to the invention that

  each of the fingers is formed of a flat sheet,

  folded on itself along a fold line dis-

  tale at the distal end of each finger. This simple structure gives both flexibility and rigidity and that inexpensively and so

very simple.

  Preferably, the sheet is polyester or polyamide with a thickness of about 0.005 cm. Although the present invention also contemplates that the direction of the distal fold line does not necessarily correspond to the direction of maximum finger stiffness, it is preferable according to the invention that the distal fold line has a direction corresponding to the direction of maximum stiffness of the fingers so that the fingers present in this direction the most

  high rigidity or non-elasticity.

  Although the present invention also contemplates making the fingers one by one, it is preferable that all the fingers are made in a continuous flat strip. Each finger has a pair of basic fold lines, one on each side of the distal fold line and each line of

  folding is in the vicinity of the fixing part

  respectively of the continuous sheet. In fact, the attachment part is not part of it properly

  fingers but serves to fix the ban-

continuous plane.

The support element according to the

  vention preferably has a plurality of slots and each slot receives one of the fingers, the strip or continuous flat sheet for performing in one piece all the fingers. It is preferable that the web or continuous web is attached to the support member by means of the above fastening portions the dimensions and spacing of which coincide at the distance between the successive slits of the support member. The preferred method of fixing the

  flat strip on the backing is to stick.

  When the print head is running, it follows a printing program that allows all the fingers to return to their undirected position under their own elasticity to avoid jamming. The print head moves to a first end position at the first end of the print path; this first end position is sufficiently distant from the first end finger so that all the fingers can

  back elastically in their undisrupted position.

  The print program consists of browsing the

  fingers back to a second end position

  mity at the second end of the print path,

  sufficiently distant position of the second finger of ex-

  tremité so that all the fingers can return elastically in their undisrupted position. In this way, the fingers are never bent or damaged by the change of direction of movement of the head

  when it is still

calf of the fingers.

  Preferably for the present application, the print head is a matrix print head and the support surface is

a printing plate.

  The present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter by way of example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer.

  flat matrix mantle embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-section following the

  line XX 'of Figure 1 seen in the direction of the arrows

  the lid (not shown in FIG.

put in place.

  FIG. 3 shows the contents of the mechanism casement

of Figure 2.

  FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of

  print path without the printer head in

trice between the fingers.

  FIG. 5 shows how the finger assembly comprises a slotted support member and how the fingers are made in a continuous, planar polyester strip. - Figure 6 shows the assembly of the fingers in the mounted state in side elevation; this figure indicates the relationship between the fingers and the document that advances

  as well as the flat printing plate.

  FIG. 7 shows how the support portions of the continuous flat sheet are glued to the face

back of the support member.

  FIGS. 8A to 8D show how the head of

  primante moves between the fingers during a

  printing operation from a first posi-

  extreme position at a second extreme position

print path.

Figure 1 is a view in

  for a flat platinum matrix printer

  (without the cover or the printing mechanism) cor-

  corresponding to the preferential embodiment of the

present invention.

  The printer 10 consists of a flat printing plate 12 between first document feed rollers 14 and second document feed rollers 16. A document conveyor belt 18 passes the document presented or the sheet of paper as indicated by the arrow

  20 to pass from the tablecloth 22 to the printing plate

  12. The first drive rollers 14 cooperate with the document due to a solenoid 24

  acting through a lever arm 26.

  The second document drive rollers 16 com-

  carry a similar solenoid (not shown) which can be selectively implemented so that

  the second document drive rollers 16

  with the document or the sheet of paper

than presented.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the printer of FIG.

  both the cover and the printing device.

The cover 28 carries a box

  of printing mechanism 31 which as subsequently described

  Secondly, a dot matrix printing head is movable along a path delimited between the first document feed rollers 14 and the second document feed rollers 16 along the flat printing plate 12. The conveyor 18 is driven by a drive pulley 30. A barrier solenoid 32 is selectively controlled

  to raise a barrier 24 in the path of the document

  presented. The first and second pebbles of

  document driving 14, 16 respectively cooperate with the first document driving wheels 36 and with the second document driving wheels 38 for moving the document or paper sheet, as presented through the printer. Once the document printed, it comes out on the tablecloth

  40 to be distributed by the exit slot 42.

The printer has a set

  44 fingers placed above the printing plate.

flat plane 12.

Figure 3 shows the content of the

  housing 31 of the printing mechanism.

  A controlled stepper motor 46 housed in the frame 48 drives a toothed belt around the pulleys 52 to accurately position the dot matrix print head 54.

  along a print path 56. When a document

  when it is introduced on the flat printing plate 12, the print head 54 is moved across the document to form the printing lines,

  the document advancing between each print line.

During operation, one places

  a document on a web 22; barrier 34 is raised

  and neither the first document feed rollers 14 nor the second document feed rollers 16

do not come into contact.

  The conveyor belt 18 is then implemented for a predetermined period, so that the front edge of the document comes into contact with the raised barrier 34. The conveyor belt slides under the surface of the document and the document turns from

  align its front edge with the lifting barrier

  34. Then, the conveyor belt 18 stops and the first document feed rollers 14 lower to cooperate with the first wheels

  training 36 of the document; Barrier 34 lowers

  se and the document is propelled by the implementation of the first drive wheels 36 to pass under the printing mechanism 31. The printing begins at this time. When the document passes thus below, the second document drive rollers 16 lower and come into contact with the second drive wheels 38; the first and second

  drive wheels 36, 38 are implemented simultaneously.

  to move the document line by line

  under the printing mechanism. 31. When printing

  sion is over, the second training wheels

  38 evacuate the document through the exit slot 42.

  Then, the first and second drive rollers 14, 16 rise and the barrier rises to prepare

  receiving a new document.

Figure 4 shows a view in

  partial perspective of finger assembly 44.

  A support member 58 carries a set of fingers 60. The presented document advances during printing as indicated by the arrow 62. The support member is fixed in the printing mechanism of FIG. (by any conventional means not described but obvious for men of

  profession) in connection with the first rollers of

  The fingers (60) are fixed by their base 64 to the support 58 and the distal end 66 of the fingers 60 extends 90 relative to the axis of the support member 58 which is itself parallel. to the path

  56. The fingers 60 are regularly es-

  paced across the width of the document to be printed.

  The fingers 60 generally fill the

  plane of printing 12 above which

  is the 54 matrix print head.

The fingers have a double

  elasticity. They are practically rigid or non-elastic

  ticks in the direction indicated by the double arrow 68. The fingers are less rigid or more elastic

  in the direction indicated by the double arrow 70.

  The role of this double elasticity is explained below.

after.

Figure 5 shows an exploding view

  The support member 58 has an inverted L-shaped section with a horizontal attachment bar 72 and a vertical support bar 74. The attachment bar 72 serves to hold the assembly together. fingertips 44 in place of the support member 58 is shown in phantom, so that the finger support bar 74

appear more clearly.

  The fingers 60 are made in a continuous flat sheet or strip 76. The continuous flat sheet or strip 76 is preferably a strip of

  transparent polyester or polyamide with a thick

  around 0.005 cm. Each finger has a distal fold line 78 at its far end; at this level the continuous flat strip is folded back on itself. The fingers 60 are separated by attachment portions 80. The fingers 60 include a pair of basic fold lines 82 between the distal fold line 72. The attachment portion 80 is between the adjacent fingers. The finger support bar 74 of the support member 58 is formed of a set of

  slots 84 and each finger 60 passes into one of the slots

  84. Each slot 84 is wide enough to allow slight separation of the lines.

  of basic folding 82 to provide sufficient rigidity

  60 to 90 degrees relative to the plane of the printing plate 12. The fixing parts 80 are on the opposite side of the support bar

  fingers 74 relative to the fingers 60.

Figure 6 is a elevational view

  side assembly of the finger assembly 44, in the assembled state for use. The fingers 60 are each formed of a guide edge 86 which is in the vicinity

  immediate without contact with the platen 12.

  The guide edge 86 has a chamfer 88. When

  that a document 90 is introduced by the first document drive rollers 14 in the gap between the guide edge 86 and the printing plate 12, if the document 90 is raised or is deformed, the front edge 92 of the document document 90 meets the chamfer 88 and is pushed against the platen 12. From the

  same way, if the document 90 is corrugated or is

  formed in any other way after passing under the first document drive rollers 14, the chamfer 88 gently guides the bent, curved or deformed portion to come flat on the plate

printing 12.

  Figure 7 shows how the continuous flat strip 76 is attached to the edge support bar 74 of the support member 58.

  80 have the same width in the range

  between the slots 84 of the finger support bar 74. The fingers 60 simply slide into the slots 84. There is provided a layer of glue 94 on the rear face of the finger support bar 74; this layer of adhesive keeps the entire continuous flat strip 76 in contact with the support member 58 over any

the length of the plane sheet.

  Fig. 8A shows the first position during the printing program followed by the printer 10. The print head of the die 54

  (represented here schematically by a rectan-

  gle) is in a first extreme position 96

  at the first end of the print path 56.

  As will appear later, the first end finger 98 of the set of fingers 60 returns to

  unbuckled position as indicated by the arrow

che 100.

Figure 8B shows the next step

  boasts of the printing program. The print head 54 begins to move as indicated by the arrow 102 to move in reverse the print path 56. On moving, the print head 54 spreads the fingers 60. The elasticity of the fingers 60 in the direction of the print path allows the print head 54 to travel the print path 56 by moving the fingers 60 a little like a cow or a large animal that passes through the print path 56. tall grass. The fingers 60 that were

  released by the print head 54 return simply

  1.2 in their non-deflected position while the fingers still in contact with the print head 54 and the fingers 60 which are spaced apart by the print head 54

  curl to one side to allow the head to impress

  sion 54 to pass. Figure 8C shows the third step of the print program. The print head

  54 is in his second extreme position

  away from the second end finger 106 of

  the set of fingers 60 so that this second finger of ex-

  tremity 106 returns elastically back into its

  position not deviated as indicated by the arrow

che 108.

Figure 8D shows the final step

  of the print program. The print head 54 re-

  comes along the print path 56 as indicated by the arrow 110 by again bending the fingers 60 in front of the head and allowing the fingers 60 released from the head to return to the non-position

  deviated as indicated by the arrow 112.

  The fingers described above are extremely rigid in the perpendicular direction

  on the plane of the sheet to be printed and those fingers

  hold the document against the printing surface.

  This corresponds to the direction of maximum rigidity or non-elasticity and for reinforcement purposes, it is preferred that the distal fold lines 78 be 90 degrees from the plane of the document 90 or platen 12 According to the invention, it is possible that the folding line

  distal 78 is at an angle other than 90 degrees

  document 90 or platinum

  12. In the same way, it is preferable that

  the basic fold lines are also perpendicular

  on the plane of the document or platinum of im-

  In the same way, the present invention allows the basic folding lines 64 of the fingers 60 to make an angle different from 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the printing plate 12. However, it is preferable to have the greatest resistance

  and the greater rigidity that this direction

  90 degrees from the surface of the document or platen 12 so that

  basic fold lines 64 are 90 degrees

  on the surface of the document or the printing plate.

sion 12.

The fingers 60 are shown as

  passing through the slots 84 open end.

  It should be noted that slots 84 could also

  be closed-end slots that would be

  poured from behind by the fingers 60 instead of the fingers 60 being introduced through the base of the open slots 84. Similarly, the fingers 60 are shown as regularly spaced along the width of the document to be printed. It should be noted that the present invention also encompasses irregular spacings for the fingers 60 as well as

  regular spacings like those shown.

  It should also be noted that the present invention allows fingers 60 made separately by folding a thin sheet of polymer instead of being formed in one piece from

  of a polymer band. The present invention

  also wise fingers formed from single sheets unfolded and which would be fixed separately

  to the support member 58 and ensure the double pro-

  of elasticity and rigidity, as has been the case

described above.

The invention has been described above.

  above with reference to a matrix printer board. It should be noted that the print head 54 can be replaced by any type of print head capable of running through the fingers

  60. Following a non-restrictive example, the head of

  pressure 54 may be a thermal print head or a daisy print head, a

  printing wheel or ball-head.

  Similarly, the platen 12 can be replaced

  formed by a cylindrical surface such as in a printing machine or a conventional typewriter in which case the guide edge 86 is curved so as to

  adapt to the general contour of the cylinder or plates.

Although the description of

  This invention concerns the introduction of a document

  under the print head using a trans-

  carrier and a raised barrier, these means are not limiting for the invention and other ways of introducing the document under the print head

  54 can be envisaged. Thus in the mode of

  As shown, the conveyor belt 18 can be replaced by a gravity tray. In the same way, the barrier 34 is not essential to the present invention.

R E V E N D I CA T I 0 N S

1) Printer in which the

  print head moves along a path of im-

  pressing to leave a readable inscription on the surface of a document set up and held on a print medium surface, this document advancing during printing, the printing path being transverse to the advancing direction of

  document, a printer characterized in that it

  carries a set of flexible fingers (60) in the di-

  rection of the print path (56) and rigid both in the direction transverse to the direction of the print path and in the advancing direction (62) of the document, each of the fingers (60) having a guide edge adjacent the print medium (12), the document carrier and the guide edge cooperating to hold the document thus presented in contact with the printing medium surface (12), the print head (54) scanning the fingers while she

  moves along the print path (56).

2) Printer according to the claim

  1, characterized in that the guide edge of

  each of the fingers (60) has a cooperating chamfer (88)

  with the leading edge (92) of the document (90) when

  that the document first arrives in the neighborhood of the

  fingers (60) and to guide the document

* be the printing support surface (12).

3) Printer according to some

  of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that

  that the base end (80) of each of the finger assemblies (60) is attached to a support member (74) parallel to the print path, the distal end

  (78) of each of the fingers (60) being remote from the

  (74) and a document presented to the

  pressure, when it advances, first comes close

  from the first base end.

) Printer according to some

  conque of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

  each of the fingers (60) is formed of a flat strip

  folded on itself around the distal fold line (78) at the distal end of each of the fingers (60). A printer according to claim 4, characterized in that the direction of the distal fold line (78) of each of the individual fingers (60) coincides with the direction of maximum rigidity

fingers (60).

6) Printer according to some

  of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that

  that the set of fingers (60) is formed in a

  continuous plane, each finger (60) having a pair of basic folding lines (82) on each side of the distal fold line (78) and each line of

  folding base (82) being adjacent to the fixing portion

  respectively (80) of the continuous flat strip, this fixing portion not forming part of any of the fingers (60).

7) Printer according to some

  any of claims 4, 5 or 6 taken in dependence

  with claim 3, characterized in that the base end (80) of each of the finger assemblies (60) is glued to the support member (74), said support member (74) having a set of slots (84) for receiving each of the fingers (60).

8) Printer according to the claim

  according to claim 6, characterized in that

  in that the continuous flat strip is fastened to the support member (74) by fastening parts, these parts coinciding in size with the spacing

slots (84).

9) Printer according to some

  one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that

  that the print head (54) follows a first program

  printing method comprising the steps of: moving to a first extreme position at the first end of the print path (56),

  being far enough away from the first finger of the

  mity (98) so that the fingers have returned to

  position, then move the head

  extreme position at the second end of the

  printing time (56) sufficiently far from the se-

  end needle count (106) of all

  fingers (60) so that all the fingers (60) are

naked in their restored position.

10) Printer according to some

  one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that

  that the print head (54) is a print head

matrix.

 ) Printer according to some

  shell of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that

  that the printing support surface (12) is a

platinum printing.