JP2003127444A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Here, the shuttle is reciprocated by, for example, a linear motor having a magnet and an electromagnetic coil, but the electromagnetic coil consumes energy in the high-speed mode because the exciting current amount is larger than that in the normal printing mode. It is easy to generate heat. On the contrary, in the high-quality mode, since the exciting current amount of the electromagnetic coil is smaller than that of the high-speed mode, energy is less consumed and heat is generated less.

As shown in FIG. 5, the print head 11 of the shuttle 1 includes pin blocks 24 arranged in an appropriate number along the traveling direction of the shuttle 1 (see arrow A in FIG. 5), and each pin block 24 has a shuttle. A plurality of printing pins 25 are arranged at a predetermined pitch at predetermined intervals in a direction inclined with respect to both the traveling direction of 1 and the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction, that is, substantially diagonally of the pin block 24. .. The print pin 25 is driven by a coil 49 for a print head , which will be described later, and prints by pressing the recording paper P against the platen roller 12 via the ink ribbon.

Also, the print head controller 41 receives print data from the print data control unit 37, based on the detection signal from the beauty position置検detection sensor 4 Oyo control signal from the engine control unit 36, the print head driver 47 A control signal is supplied to control the operation of the print head 11.

Shuttle driver 42, based on a control signal from the engine control unit 36 supplies a drive signal to the shuttle driving coil 19 in the linear motor 3 for dynamic driving the Shuttle.

The temperature sensors 44 to 46 are made of, for example, a thermistor or bimetal, and are arranged in the vicinity of the shuttle drive coil 19, the transfer motor 48, and the print head coil 49, and the temperatures in the respective parts 19, 48, 49 of these drive systems are arranged. It is a sensor for detecting. The temperature data detected by these temperature sensors 44 to 46 is supplied to the engine control unit 36.

When the CPU 32 of the main control unit 31 receives the data to be printed from the host computer (S1), the CPU 32 supplies the data to be printed to the print data control unit 37 and gives an instruction to create predetermined print data. Is given (S2). The print data control unit 37 creates predetermined print data based on the data to be printed, and transfers the created predetermined print data to the print head control unit 41.

If the moving speed of the shuttle 1 substantially matches the target printing speed in the high-speed mode, the engine control unit 36 gives an instruction to the print head control unit 41 to print. As a result, the print head control unit 41 supplies a control signal to the print head driver 47 , drives the print pin 25 at a predetermined print timing by passing a current through the print head coil 49, and starts printing. (S5). In the high-speed mode, in this case, printing is performed by thinning out the printing dots.

When the temperature detected by each of the temperature sensors 44 to 46 does not exceed the predetermined first threshold value (S7: NO), it is determined whether or not all the print data has been printed (S8). When all the print data has been printed (S8: YES), the engine control unit 36 controls the shuttle driver 42 to eliminate the current applied to the shuttle drive coil 19 and stop the movement of the shuttle 1 (S9). ..

[Explanation of symbols]
1 Shuttle 3 Linear motor 4 Position detection sensor 11 Print head 31 Main control unit 36 Engine control unit
19 Shuttle drive coil (electromagnetic coil)
44-46 Temperature sensor 48 Conveyor motor 49 Print head coil