JPH04173197A - Automatic lead supply mechanism of pencil plotter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the clogging with a lead before a new pencil lead is supplied by providing a removing means pushing out an unnecessary lead from the tip of a pencil pen. CONSTITUTION:When a pencil pen 6 having an unnecessary lead 71 is set at an unnecessary lead removing position by a lead supply carriage 3, a moving base stand 54 is moved toward the pencil pen 6 and the pen contact part 51 thereof comes into contact with the tip of the pencil pen 6. When the moving stand 54 is further moved toward the pencil pen 6, the pen contact part 51 is obstructed by the pencil pen 6 to be not moved and, therefore, a lead removing rod 52 passes through the through-hole 511 of the pen contact part 51 to enter the pencil pen 6 to push out the unnecessary lead 71. The unnecessary lead 71 escapes from the O-ring 61 of the pencil pen 6 to become free. The moving stand 54 returns to the original position in this state and the lead removing rod 52 escapes from the pencil pen 6. The lead supply carriage 3 is moved to a position C to invert the pencil pen 6. Since the unnecessary lead 71 in the pencil pen 6 already escapes from the O-ring 61, said lead 71 falls under its own wt. to be removed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) This invention relates to a pencil plotter that records a desired image using an erasable pencil lead. Furthermore, in detail,
This invention relates to an automatic core feeding mechanism that enables long-term automatic drawing.

(Prior art) As prior art to this invention, the applicant
There is a device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-291929 ``Automatic core feeder for pencil plotter'' filed on May 9th.

The apparatus includes a carriage that holds a pencil pen or other recording pen and moves it over a recording surface to create a desired record; a turret that holds a large number of turrets in an exchangeable manner; and a turret that operates in conjunction with the turret to exchangeably hold the pencil pens held by the turret and transports the pencil pens to a lead supply position; The apparatus was equipped with a lead supply carriage that horizontally supports the pencil pen at the lead supply position, and a pencil lead supply means for supplying new pencil lead to the pencil pen positioned at the lead supply position.

This device is configured to start refilling the pencil pen when the lead of the pencil pen involved in recording is consumed during writing and recording becomes impossible.

First, the carriage stores the pencil pen whose recording rate is 0 in the turret. Then, take out another pencil held in the turret and continue recording.

The pencil pen which has become incapable of recording is then exchanged and held from the turret to the core supply carriage, and is transported to the core supply position by the core supply carriage. Note that during this transfer, the pencil pen is changed to a horizontal state.

At the lead supply position 20, the pencil pen and the pencil lead supply means are arranged in a straight line, and a new pencil lead set at the lead supply position of the pencil lead supply means is pushed by the lead press frame. It is pushed out and core feeding is performed.

In this way, in the prior art of the present invention, it is possible to automatically supply a new pencil lead, and automatic drawing can be performed for a long time.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-mentioned prior art, when removing a pencil lead that has become unrecordable, that is, an unnecessary lead, the problem shown in FIG. 5 may occur.

Conventional methods for removing unnecessary cores include a method of pulling out unnecessary cores as shown in FIG. 5A and a method of pushing out unnecessary cores as shown in FIG. 5B.

The waste lead drawer system shown in FIG. 5A has a waste lead upper holder 8 which is positioned at the tip of the pencil pen 6 as necessary and is openable and closable for drawing out the waste lead 71. However, this method has a drawback in that it is difficult to securely grip the unnecessary core 71.

On the other hand, in the pencil lead extrusion method shown in FIG. 5B, the rear end of the unnecessary lead 71 is pushed out with the tip of a new pencil lead 72, but this method still lacks reliability. That is, the normal pencil lead 7 may have a tapered tip or rear end, and lead jamming may occur as shown in FIG. 5B.

The main purpose of this invention is to improve such inconveniences. Furthermore, it is an improvement on several points of the above-mentioned prior art.

(Means for Improving the Problem) Therefore, in the present invention, a removing means is provided for pushing out the unnecessary lead from the tip of the pencil pen.

(Function) Since the structure is such that unnecessary lead is removed from the tip of the pencil pen before supplying a new pencil lead, lead clogging does not occur.

(Example) Figures 1 to 4 show an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the apparatus of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the unnecessary core removing means. , FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of the structure of a lead storage section constituting the pencil lead supply means, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the structure of a lead supply carriage.

In the figure, 1 is a carriage, 2 is a turret, 3 is a lead supply carriage, 4 is a pencil lead supply means, 5 is an unnecessary lead removal means, and 6 is a pencil pen.

First, the general configuration of the apparatus of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

The carriage 1 holds, for example, a pencil pen 6 in its movable pen holder 11 and moves on a recording surface (not shown) to create a desired figure.

The turret 2 holds pencil pens 6 or other recording pens in its plurality of pen holding sections 21, respectively. Each pen holder 21 of the turret 2 and the carriage 1
The movable pen holder 11 or the pen holding section 31 of the core feeding carriage 3, which will be described later, are configured so that they can perform mutually related operations and hold a desired pen in an exchangeable manner.

The core feeding carriage 3 is configured to be able to move forward and backward along the rail 32. A pen holding portion 31 for holding a pencil pen 6 to be refilled is formed on this core feeding carriage 3,
The pencil pen 6 held by the core feeding carriage 3 is changed into an upright state, a horizontal state, and an inverted state in relation to the forward and backward movement of the core feeding carriage 3. For these state changes, for example, the method described in the prior art of the present invention filed earlier may be used, or a drive source such as a motor may be used. FIG. 3 shows a structure in which the rotation of the pen holding section 31 of the core feeding carriage 3 is controlled using a motor 35.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the core supply carriage 3 is in the position indicated by reference numeral A, the pen holding section 31 holds the pencil pen 6 held therein in an upright state so that it can be exchanged with the turret 2. When the lead feed carriage 3 is in the position indicated by the symbol B, the pencil pen 6 held by it is held in a horizontal state as shown in the figure, and the unnecessary lead 71 is removed and a new pencil lead 72 is inserted.
to enable the supply of Furthermore, in this example,
When the core feeding carriage 3 is transferred to the position shown by symbol C, the pencil pen 6 held by it is in an inverted state and the unnecessary lead 71 is
Make it possible to remove the fall.

The pencil lead supply means 4 holds a large number of pencil leads 7 separately for each type. Then, a desired pencil lead among them is supplied as a new pencil lead 72 to the pencil pen 6 to be refilled. This supply is performed by pushing out a new pencil lead 72 by a core pusher 41 connected to a drive source. The lead storage means 42 for holding a large number of pencil leads 7 of the pencil lead supply means 4 in a manner that separates them according to their type can be constructed as shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a cylindrical structure, and FIG. 4B shows a rectangular structure. The cylindrical lead storage means 42 shown in FIG. 4A has a plurality of lead storage parts (421, 422, 423, and 424) for separately storing a plurality of pencil leads 7.

Then, a lead guide (4212
etc.) are provided. The distal end portions of these core guides are bent at a predetermined angle θ so as to be slightly depressed when each of the core guides is positioned at the core feeding position. The support shaft 43 is connected to a drive source and configured to be rotatable, and the through holes (4211, etc.) of each core storage section are stacked at the core feeding position, and the core stock 4 is connected to the core stock as shown in FIG.
1 to push out the pencil lead 7.

The core storage means 42 shown in FIG. 4B includes a plurality of rectangular core storage sections (451, 452, and 453) connected in series. By rotating in the direction of arrow A, one of the plurality of pencil leads 7 is inserted into each through hole (4
531, etc., are also formed here. )
can lead to. Then, the core storage means 42 is moved left and right by a predetermined amount, one of the through holes is positioned at the core feeding position, and the core is pushed out by the core pushing rod 41. The lead storage means 42 is provided with a slide lid 46 that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction of the drawing, so that the pencil lead 7 can be replenished.

The unnecessary core removing means 5 includes a rail 55 as shown in FIG.
It has a movable base 54 that moves along. On this movable base 54 is a pen contacting part 51 which is coupled to a protruding part thereof by a spring 53 and is slidable in the moving direction.
It has This pen contacting part 51 has a recess formed therein so that its tip matches the shape of the tip of the pencil pen 6, and a through hole that serves as a passage for the lead removal diaphragm 52 attached to the movable base 54. 511 is provided. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of this unnecessary core removing means 5. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the pencil pen 6 having a waste lead 71 is positioned by the lead supply carriage 3 at the waste lead removal position. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the movable base 54 moves toward the pencil pen 6 and its pen contact portion 51 contacts the tip of the pencil pen 6. This state is the same as the state shown in FIG. Core removal offering 5
2 is in contact with the unnecessary core 71. FIG. 2C shows a state in which the movable base 54 has further moved toward the pencil pen 6. Since the pen contact portion 51 is obstructed by the pencil pen 6 and does not move, the lead removal rod 52 enters into the pencil pen 6 through the through hole 511 and pushes out the unnecessary lead 71. When the unnecessary lead 71 comes off the O-ring 61 of the pencil pen 6, it becomes free. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in this state, the movable base 54 returns to its original position, and the lead removing rod 52 is removed from the pencil pen 6. Then, the core feeding carriage 3 moves to the position indicated by the symbol C in FIG.
This pencil pen 6 is turned upside down.

Since the unnecessary lead 71 in the pencil pen 6 has already come off the O-ring 61, in this state it falls and is removed by its own weight. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a core receptacle may be provided at the position corresponding to the symbol C.

Next, the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be explained.

Referring again to FIG.

When the pencil lead 7 associated with recording of the pencil pen 6 held in the movable pen holder 11 of the carriage 1 is worn out and recording becomes impossible, the carriage 1 interrupts recording and transfers this pencil pen 6 to an empty pen holding in the turret 2. It is stored in the section 21.

and the other pencil pen 6 held in the turret 2
to continue recording. The pencil pen 6, which has become incapable of recording, is positioned at a position corresponding to the lead carriage 3 by the rotatable turret 2.

The lead supply carriage 3 moves toward this pencil pen 6 in order to remove the unnecessary lead 71 of this pencil pen 6 and supply a new pencil lead 72, and when it reaches the position indicated by symbol A, the pen retrieval operation starts. Then, the pencil pen 6 is taken into the pen holder 31. The core supply carriage 3 that has taken in the pencil pen 6 moves backward, and when it reaches the position indicated by the symbol B, it holds the pencil pen 6 in a horizontal state. At this stage, the above-mentioned unnecessary core removal operation is performed. Then, at a position indicated by symbol C, the unnecessary core 71 is removed.

Thereafter, this pencil pen 6 is positioned again at the position indicated by the symbol B by the lead carriage 3. At this point, the pencil lead (new pencil lead 72) to be supplied by the pencil lead supply means 4 is positioned at the lead supply position, and by operating the lead pusher 41, a new pencil lead 72 is inserted into the pencil pen 6. can be supplied to Then, the pencil pen 6 that has been completely fed is returned to the turret 2 and stands by for the next recording.

In this embodiment device, the pencil pen is held upside down when removing unnecessary lead, but the length of the lead removal rod that pushes out unnecessary lead is increased, and the lead removal position is set to a different position from the lead supply position. By setting this, it is possible to remove unnecessary cores in a horizontal state.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, unnecessary cores can be reliably removed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the unnecessary core removing means, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an example of the structure of a lead storage section constituting the pencil lead supply means, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an example of the structure of a lead supply carriage, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a conventional pencil lead removing method. In the figure, 1 is a carriage, 2 is a turret, 3 is a lead supply carriage, 4 is a pencil lead supply means, 5 is an unnecessary lead removal means, and 6 is a pencil pen. Patent applicant: Graphic Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In a pencil plotter configured to remove the waste lead of the pencil pen when recording is performed using a pencil pen and the pencil lead involved in the recording is worn out and recording becomes impossible, the waste lead to be removed. means for holding a pencil pen having a stylus and horizontally supporting the pencil pen in a waste lead removal position; The lead removing rod is configured to be able to be inserted into the pencil pen and can move forward and backward, and the lead removing rod is inserted into the pencil pen from the tip to remove unnecessary lead. pencil plotter.