GB2078616A

GB2078616A - Hand held printing device

Info

Publication number: GB2078616A
Application number: GB8020393A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Fujitsu Services Ltd
Current assignee: Fujitsu Services Ltd
Priority date: 1980-06-21
Filing date: 1980-06-21
Publication date: 1982-01-13
Also published as: GB2078616B

Abstract

A hand holdable printing device including a body unit with a hand grip 2 and which houses wire printer wires, whose operative ends lie in a line, and which are displaced by electromagnetic actuators 6 also mounted from the body. A shoe 8 for engaging the medium 3 on which printing is required correctly positions the operative ends of the printing wires relative to the medium. An inking ribbon 10, carried by spools 9 is operationally fed between the printer wires and the medium 3 under the control of a wheel 12 which runs on the medium 3 and which is also part of arrangements provided for generating clocking signals for controlling the timing of selective actuation of the actuators 6 by a data input device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to printing devices This invention relates to printing devices and in particular to hand held printing devices.

According to the invention a printing device includes a body member; a hand grip formed on or secured to the body member; a plurality of printing wires supported by the body member for longitudinal movement, the printing wires having operative ends arranged in.a line; a plurality of electromagnetic actuators secured to the body member, each actuator being operatively associated with a different one of the printing wires respectively; a guide secured to the body member to maintain the body member at a desired position relative to a recording medium in which position the operative ends of the wires are spaced from the recording medium; means for feeding an inking ribbon between the recording medium and the operative ends of the wires; means responsive to movement of the printing device relative to the recording medium in a direction along a line of characters to be printed thereon to generate clocking signals to control the timing of selective actuation of the actuators by a data input device.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a hand held printing device in use.

Referring to the drawing a hand held printing device has a body member 1 formed with a hand grip 2 projecting therefrom to enable the.device to be held and manipulated over a recording medium 3 by a user's hand 4. Preferably the grip 2 is shaped to accommodate the fingers and thumb of the user's hand. The body member 1 is of hollow tubular form and is provided in the interior thereof with suitable bearing plates for a plurality of printing elements in the form of wires. One of the bearing plates is positioned adjacent the end 5 of the body member so as to support operative ends of the wires in a desired configuration. In this embodiment the ends of the wires are arranged in a line extending in the direction of the height of characters to be printed.A further bearing plate is positioned to support the wires towards their opposite ends, remote from the operative ends, so that the opposite ends are in a spaced circular formation. A plurality of electromagnet actuators 6 are mounted in a circular formation on a circular extension 7 of the body member 1. The actuators have armatures extending radialiy inwards to cooperate with said opposite ends of the wires.

When a seiected actuator is energised, its armature moves to engage the opposite end of the corresponding wire to cause longitudinal movement of the wire toward the record medium 3.

A guide shoe 8 is secured to the body member 1 to provide a surface to engage the recording medium 3 and thereby maintain the end 5 of the body member 1 spaced from the record medium and to ensure that the device is so oriented that the wires extend substantially perpendicular to the record medium.

Spools 9 for an inking ribbon 10 are rotatably mounted on the exterior of the body member 1.

The ribbon extends from one spool across the end 5 of the body member to the other spool 10.

Means are provided to feed the ribbon during the course of printing.

The printing device is connected to a data input device by means of a multi way cable 11 which provides signals to energise the actuators so as to cause selected ones of the wires to impact, through the ribbon 10, with the record medium 3.

Each operation of a wire results in the printing of a dot whereby selective energisation of the actuators together with movement of the device by the user along a line in which printing is to be effected results in the printing of characters on the record medium. In order to ensure that the dots are printed at uniformly spaced intervals along the line, means are provided to generate clocking signals in response to each increment of movement of the printing device along the line.

This means may comprise a wheel 12 effective to engage the record medium 3 through a slot in the guide shoe 8 and to operate a pair of electrical contacts, or a shutter between a light source and a photo transistor, to generate electrical clocking signals which are utilised to initiate the transmission of energising signals to the actuators.

The means to feed the ribbon may be connected mechanically to the wheel 12 so that the ribbon is fed in response to movement of the printing device on the record medium.

Alternatively the ribbon may be fed by an electromagnetic actuator energised by the data input device, the actuator being operated in correspondence to operation of the printing sires.

If desired a switch may be incorporated in the hand grip so that the user can generate a start or ready signal for the data input device to indicate that the user is ready to start printing. The start or ready signal may be generated by a switch operated by the guide shoe being pressed onto the record medium or the commencement of generation of clocking signals by movement of the printing device may be utilised as a start or ready signal.

The construction of the printing device may differ from that shown in the drawing. The body member 1, the grip 2 and extension 7 may be formed integrally of a single moulding or they may be a number of separate parts secured together.

The guide shoe, in addition to providing a support for the device, may be provided with a window through which printing is effected or may have a guide edge to indicate the position in which printing will be effected. The printing device may be housed in a cover to protect its operating parts.

1. A printing device including a body member; a hand grip formed on or secured to the body member; a plurality of printing wires supported by

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to printing devices This invention relates to printing devices and in particular to hand held printing devices. According to the invention a printing device includes a body member; a hand grip formed on or secured to the body member; a plurality of printing wires supported by the body member for longitudinal movement, the printing wires having operative ends arranged in.a line; a plurality of electromagnetic actuators secured to the body member, each actuator being operatively associated with a different one of the printing wires respectively; a guide secured to the body member to maintain the body member at a desired position relative to a recording medium in which position the operative ends of the wires are spaced from the recording medium; means for feeding an inking ribbon between the recording medium and the operative ends of the wires; means responsive to movement of the printing device relative to the recording medium in a direction along a line of characters to be printed thereon to generate clocking signals to control the timing of selective actuation of the actuators by a data input device. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a hand held printing device in use. Referring to the drawing a hand held printing device has a body member 1 formed with a hand grip 2 projecting therefrom to enable the.device to be held and manipulated over a recording medium 3 by a user's hand 4. Preferably the grip 2 is shaped to accommodate the fingers and thumb of the user's hand. The body member 1 is of hollow tubular form and is provided in the interior thereof with suitable bearing plates for a plurality of printing elements in the form of wires. One of the bearing plates is positioned adjacent the end 5 of the body member so as to support operative ends of the wires in a desired configuration. In this embodiment the ends of the wires are arranged in a line extending in the direction of the height of characters to be printed.A further bearing plate is positioned to support the wires towards their opposite ends, remote from the operative ends, so that the opposite ends are in a spaced circular formation. A plurality of electromagnet actuators 6 are mounted in a circular formation on a circular extension 7 of the body member 1. The actuators have armatures extending radialiy inwards to cooperate with said opposite ends of the wires. When a seiected actuator is energised, its armature moves to engage the opposite end of the corresponding wire to cause longitudinal movement of the wire toward the record medium 3. A guide shoe 8 is secured to the body member 1 to provide a surface to engage the recording medium 3 and thereby maintain the end 5 of the body member 1 spaced from the record medium and to ensure that the device is so oriented that the wires extend substantially perpendicular to the record medium. Spools 9 for an inking ribbon 10 are rotatably mounted on the exterior of the body member 1. The ribbon extends from one spool across the end 5 of the body member to the other spool 10. Means are provided to feed the ribbon during the course of printing. The printing device is connected to a data input device by means of a multi way cable 11 which provides signals to energise the actuators so as to cause selected ones of the wires to impact, through the ribbon 10, with the record medium 3. Each operation of a wire results in the printing of a dot whereby selective energisation of the actuators together with movement of the device by the user along a line in which printing is to be effected results in the printing of characters on the record medium. In order to ensure that the dots are printed at uniformly spaced intervals along the line, means are provided to generate clocking signals in response to each increment of movement of the printing device along the line. This means may comprise a wheel 12 effective to engage the record medium 3 through a slot in the guide shoe 8 and to operate a pair of electrical contacts, or a shutter between a light source and a photo transistor, to generate electrical clocking signals which are utilised to initiate the transmission of energising signals to the actuators. The means to feed the ribbon may be connected mechanically to the wheel 12 so that the ribbon is fed in response to movement of the printing device on the record medium. Alternatively the ribbon may be fed by an electromagnetic actuator energised by the data input device, the actuator being operated in correspondence to operation of the printing sires. If desired a switch may be incorporated in the hand grip so that the user can generate a start or ready signal for the data input device to indicate that the user is ready to start printing. The start or ready signal may be generated by a switch operated by the guide shoe being pressed onto the record medium or the commencement of generation of clocking signals by movement of the printing device may be utilised as a start or ready signal. The construction of the printing device may differ from that shown in the drawing. The body member 1, the grip 2 and extension 7 may be formed integrally of a single moulding or they may be a number of separate parts secured together. The guide shoe, in addition to providing a support for the device, may be provided with a window through which printing is effected or may have a guide edge to indicate the position in which printing will be effected. The printing device may be housed in a cover to protect its operating parts. CLAIMS

1. A printing device including a body member; a hand grip formed on or secured to the body member; a plurality of printing wires supported by the body member for longitudinal movement, the printing wires having operative ends arranged in a line; a plurality of electromagnetic actuators secured to the body member, each actuator being operatively associated with a different one of the printing wires respectively; a guide secured to the body member to maintain the body member at a desired position relative to a recording medium in which position the operative ends of the wires are spaced from the recording medium; means for feeding an inking ribbon between the recording medium and the operative ends of the wires; means responsive to movement of the printing device relative to the recording medium in a direction along a line of characters to be printed thereon to generate clocking signals to control the timing of selective actuation of the actuators by a data input device.

2. A printing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the guide means includes a shoe which provides a surface for engagement with the recording medium so that the body is so oriented that the wires extend substantially perpendicular to the record medium.

3. A printing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the means responsive to the movement of the printing device relative to the medium on which it is desired to print includes a wheel or other rotatable device which is effective to engage with the medium, and to generate the electrical clocking signals.

4. A printing device as claimed in claim 3 as appendent to claim 2, in which the wheel or other rotatable device engages the medium by way of a siot in the guide shoe.

5; A printing device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the wheel or other rotatable device is arranged to operate electrical contacts, or actuate a shutter between a light source and a light detector means.

6. A printing device as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the rotation of the wheel or other rotatable device is arranged to control the operational feed of the inking ribbon with respect to the operative ends of the wires.

7. A printing device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, in which the operational feed of the inking ribbon is effected by means of an electromagnetic actuator which is arranged to be energised by the data input device, and in which the actuator is arranged to be operated in correspondence with the operation of the printing wires.

8. A printing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a start or ready to print signal for the data input device is indicated by operation of a switch or the hand group, by contact of the guide means with the recording medium, or by the commencement of the production of the clocking signal.

9. A printing device constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.