JPH05116494A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable high speed printing to be performed by a method wherein noise is removed in a printer which prints on caper with a printing head based on a printing data. CONSTITUTION:A printing head 11 is so constructed as to make ink (e) flow out by rotation of a rotary ball 21 positioned at its upmost tip to record on paper P. The rotary ball 21 is so supported as to be enclosed with a ring like piezoelectric element 22a provided at a tip part of a support component 22. Besides, by receiving energizing force from an upside with a spring 23, the rotary ball 21 is brought into pressure contact with the paper P. When a control signal conforming to a printing data is applied to the piezoelectric element 22a while the rotary ball 21 is being moved by sliding on the paper P, the piezoelectric element 22a is displaced in a circumferential direction of the rotary ball 21 at timing corresponding to the control signal. Rotation/non-rotation of the rotary ball 21 is controlled, and a data is recorded on the paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a print head for causing ink to flow out by rotation of a ball caused by sliding contact with a paper, and prints on the paper by the print head based on print data output from a host device or the like. The present invention relates to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as in a pen plotter,
2. Description of the Related Art A printing device is known that prints print data output from a host device on a sheet by using a pen, a ballpoint pen, or the like.
FIG. 29 shows the main configuration of such a conventional printing apparatus.
In the figure, a print head 1 having a pen structure for printing on a paper P is attached to a support base 3 by a solenoid 2 so as to be movable in the arrow Z / Z 'direction. The support base 3 is rotated by a motor (not shown). It is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow X / X '(main scanning direction) by the lead screw 4. A roll-shaped platen 5 is arranged parallel to the lead screw 4, and the platen 5 is driven to rotate by a paper feed roll 6 rotated by a motor (not shown). It is appropriately conveyed in the arrow Y direction (sub-scanning direction) while being sandwiched between and. Further, a position detector 7 such as a micro switch is provided at a position where it comes into contact with the side surface portion 3a of the support base 3 when the print head 1 is at the initial position in the main scanning direction. The position detector 7 is turned on by coming into contact with the side surface portion 3a of the support base 3, and outputs a detection signal indicating that the print head 1 is at the initial position.

In the above structure, while the support base 3 moves in the direction of the arrow X at a constant speed, the drive voltage based on the print data is applied to the solenoid 2 as the print head 1 is applied.
Is driven in the direction of arrow Z / Z ', whereby printing is performed by repeating contact / non-contact of the leading end of the print head 1 with the paper P. The printing process on the paper P is performed for each line, and when the printing for one line is completed, the paper feed roll 6 rotates by a predetermined amount, and accordingly the paper P is fed by one line in the arrow Y direction. When the printing of one line is completed, the support base 3 is moved in the direction of the arrow X ′ by the reverse rotation of the lead screw 4 until the position detector 7 is turned on, that is, the print head 1 returns to the initial position. After that, printing of the next line is started.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional printing apparatus described above, an operation of moving the print head 1 in the direction of arrow Z and hitting the paper P according to the print data as described above, and conversely, the operation of moving the print head 1 to the arrow Since the printing is performed on the paper P by repeating the operation of moving in the Z ′ direction and separating from the paper P, the following problems A to D inevitably occur.

A. A large impact sound is generated every time the print head 1 is hit on the paper P, which is considerably offensive to those around the apparatus. B. At the time of printing, the print head 1 needs to be pressed against the paper P to such an extent that the ink can be sufficiently adhered to the paper P, and at the time of non-printing, the print head 1 and the print head 1 are attached to the extent that the ink does not adhere to the paper P. It is necessary to take sufficient intervals.
From this, the amount of movement of the print head 1 in the arrow Z / Z 'direction by the solenoid 2 is usually as long as 2 mm or more in consideration of the amount of distortion and deformation of the platen 5, the thickness of the paper P, and the like. Set to distance. Therefore, the moving time at that time becomes several msec to several tens of msec, which prevents the printing speed from increasing.

In order to deal with this point, it is possible to increase the printing speed by arranging a plurality of print heads 1 so that the print heads are multi-printed. However, each print head is moved. Since it is necessary to provide a large drive source such as the solenoid 2, it is very difficult to make the print head 1 multi-type mainly due to a problem in installation space.

C. Since the movement amount of the print head 1 is large as shown in B above, the energy required for the movement is large, and thus the power consumption of the entire apparatus is large. D. A large drive source such as a solenoid 2 is required to move the print head 1, and as a result, the entire apparatus becomes large and heavy, which in turn leads to an increase in the price of the apparatus.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention, in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, to provide an excellent printing apparatus which is capable of high-speed printing without noise, and has low power consumption and can be miniaturized. And

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, one of the present inventions is an ink storage means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, and the rotating ball. A print head comprising a piezoelectric element for supporting the rotation of the rotary ball in accordance with a control signal, a support means for supporting the print head so that the rotary ball contacts the paper, and print data is stored. Print data storage means, moving means for relatively moving the print head and the paper, and control signal creating means for creating the control signal based on the print data. According to the print data, the control means restrains the rotation of the rotating ball.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the main parts of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a pen-shaped print head 11 for printing on the paper P is supported by a support base 12 as a supporting means so as to contact the paper P.
A female screw having a shape corresponding to the male screw formed on the peripheral surface of the rod-shaped lead screw 13 is formed on the support base 12, and the lead screw 13 is rotated in the arrow C / C ′ direction by a motor (not shown). When it is driven to, the support base 12 is configured to move in the arrow X / X 'direction (main scanning direction) accordingly. Further, a roll-shaped platen 14 is arranged in parallel with the lead screw 13, and the platen 14 is driven to rotate by a paper feed roll 15 rotated by a motor (not shown). The lead screw 13, the platen 14, and the paper feed roll 15 are moving means for relatively moving the print head 11 and the paper P (here, the print head 1
1 and the paper P are moved together), the paper P is appropriately conveyed in the arrow Y direction (sub scanning direction) while being sandwiched between the platen 14 and the paper feed roll 15. Further, the support base 12 when the print head 11 is at the initial position in the main scanning direction
A position detector 16 such as a micro switch as a position detecting means is provided at a position where it abuts against the side surface portion 12a. The position detector 16 is provided on the side surface portion 12 of the support base 12.
It turns on when it comes into contact with a, and outputs a detection signal indicating that the print head 11 is in the initial position. The printing operation of the print head 11 and the rotation of the lead screw 13 and the paper feed roll 15 are controlled by a print control circuit 30 (FIG. 4) described later.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the construction of the print head 11 in detail. The print head 11 is actually attached to the support base 12 so that the tip of the head faces the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 2, but in FIG. The explanation will be given in the state of standing upright.

In FIG. 1, the print head 11 has a structure in which the ink e flows out and is recorded on the paper P by the rotation of the rotary ball 21 positioned at the extreme end.
1, a support member 22, a spring 23, and an ink pipe 24 are included. The rotating ball 21 is a spherical member made of a metal of high hardness such as tungsten, which has very little wear, and its side peripheral surface is a ring-shaped tip portion of the support member 22 that communicates with the ink pipe 24 (piezoelectric described later). It is supported so as to be enclosed by the element 22a). Further, one end of the spring 23 comes into contact with the inner wall 22d of the inverted L-shaped section of the upper portion of the support member 22, and the other end comes into contact with the rotating ball 21, so that the rotating ball 21 is urged from above by the spring 23. When receiving, writing a dotted line, characters, etc., the sheet P is pressed against the sheet P with a predetermined pressing force. Ink pipe 2
4 is filled with ink e, and the ink e reaches the rotating ball 21 through the inside of the support member 22.

The tip of the support member 22 has a ring-shaped piezoelectric element 22 made of a crystal such as barium titanate.
a, and the electrode 22 is formed on the inner circumference of the piezoelectric element 22a.
b is formed, and an electrode 22c is formed on the outer circumference.
The structure of the piezoelectric element 22a (electrodes 22b and 22c) and the rotating ball 21 is specifically shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the electrodes 22b and 22c constitute a so-called horizontal counter electrode with respect to the piezoelectric element 22a, and through the signal lines S ₁ and S ₂ (FIG. 1) extending from a print control circuit 30 described later. When a predetermined voltage is applied between the electrodes 22b and 22c by the piezoelectric element 22a, the piezoelectric element 22a is displaced in the circumferential direction of the rotating ball 21 and the rotating ball 21 is braked, and the rotation of the rotating ball 21 is restricted. In this state, even if the writing head 11 is moved in the arrow X direction while slidingly contacting the rotating ball 11 on the paper, the rotating ball 11 does not rotate, so the ink e in the ink pipe 24 does not flow out and no recording is performed. It becomes a state. On the other hand, when the above-mentioned predetermined voltage is not applied between the electrodes 22b and 22c of the piezoelectric element 22a, the rotating ball 21 can be freely rotated while being loosely supported by the piezoelectric element 22a, and the ink e in the ink pipe 24 is rotated according to the rotation. When the paper flows out, it becomes possible to record on the paper.

Since it is possible to control the presence / absence of ink outflow according to the presence / absence of voltage application to the piezoelectric element 22a in this manner, printing is performed on the piezoelectric element 22a while moving the print head 11 in the main scanning direction while making sliding contact with the paper. By applying a voltage at a predetermined timing according to the data, the data can be printed on the paper.

FIG. 4 shows a print control circuit 30 which is a control signal creating means for creating a control signal for driving the piezoelectric element 22a based on print data and also a means for controlling the rotation of the lead screw 13 and the paper feed roll 15. It is a circuit diagram shown. Here, as an example, one character is composed of 24 x 24 dots, and 64 characters (= 24 x 64 dots) in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) and 94 characters in the vertical direction (sub scanning direction) per page. Consider the case of printing (= 24 x 94 dots).

In the figure, a print control circuit 30 includes a pulse generator 31, counter circuits 32 and 33, a frame memory 34 and a one-line data memory 35 as print data storage means, and a drive circuit 36 for driving the piezoelectric element 22a. , Latch circuits 37, 38, 39, motor control circuits 40, 4 for generating control signals for controlling the motors for rotating the lead screw 13 and the paper feed roll 15, respectively.
1 and drive circuits 42 and 43 for driving the motor based on the control signal, and further includes a chattering prevention circuit 44, a delay circuit 45, an AND gate 46, 4.
7, OR gates 48 and 49, and an inverter 50.

The pulse generator 31 is a circuit for outputting a clock signal a having a constant cycle, and the clock signal a is input to the counter circuit 32 and the AND gate 46. The counter circuit 32 is a circuit that counts the clock signal a, and is 1537, which is one more than the number of print dots for one line, for example, 1536 (= 24 × 64) in the main scanning direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 2). At the time of counting, the high-level count end signal b is output. The count end signal b is input to the reset input terminal R of the other counter circuit 33 and the latch circuit 39, and also to the reset input terminal R of the latch circuit 37 via the OR gate 48.
Further, it is input to the motor control circuit 41 of the paper feed roll 15 via the OR gate 49. The counter circuit 33 is
This is a circuit for counting the count end signal b output from the counter circuit 32, and is the number of print dots (that is, the number of print lines) of one column in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow Y in FIG. 2), for example, 2256 (= When counting 24 × 94), a high-level count end signal c is output. The count end signal c is the reset input terminal R of the latch circuit 38.
Is input to. The counter circuit 32 is cleared by an initial signal e described later, and the counter circuit 33 is cleared by a print start signal f described later, so that each count is newly started.

The latch circuit 37 includes the lead screw 13
Is a circuit for outputting a signal for setting the rotation direction (direction of arrow C / C 'in FIG. 2), and when a later-described initial signal e is input to its set input terminal S, a high-level normal rotation signal d Is a rotation direction control terminal F / R of the motor control circuit 40.
To the reset input terminal R, or on the other hand, the count end signal b or the print start signal (or the print start signal output from the host device) that is output by operating the print start switch provided on the operation unit (not shown). When the signal) f is input, the low-level reverse rotation signal d'is output to the rotation direction control terminal F / R of the motor control circuit 40. The latch circuit 38 is a circuit that outputs a signal for setting rotation / non-rotation (on / off) of the lead screw 13, and is at a high level when the print start signal f is input to the set input terminal S thereof. The rotation signal (ON signal) g is output to the ON / OFF control terminal ON / OF of the motor control circuit 40, while the low-level non-rotation signal (OFF) is input when the count end signal c is input to the reset input terminal R. Signal) g'to the ON / OFF control terminal ON / OF of the motor control circuit 40.

The motor control circuit 40 operates in accordance with the forward / reverse rotation signals d, d'and the rotation / non-rotation signals g, g '.
This is a circuit that outputs a signal for controlling the rotation direction and rotation / non-rotation of the rotation motor of the lead screw 13, and the drive circuit 42 drives the motor based on this control signal to rotate the lead screw 13. Further, the motor control circuit 41 is a signal output from an operation unit (not shown), a host device, or the like when starting printing, and a paper feed signal h for instructing to convey the paper P to a printable position, or the above-mentioned signal. When the count end signal b is input through the OR gate 49, it is a circuit that outputs a signal that controls the rotation / non-rotation of the rotation motor of the paper feed motor 15 according to the input signal, and the drive circuit 43 based on this control signal. Drives the motor to rotate the paper feed roll 15. The paper feed signal h is a signal for carrying the paper P to a printable position as described above, and is continuously output for a predetermined time. Therefore, the paper feed signal h is input to the motor control circuit 41. At this time, a signal for rotating the paper feed roll 15 continuously and at high speed is output. On the other hand, since the count end signal b is, for example, one pulse signal, when the count end signal b is input to the motor control circuit 41, the paper P is 1 dot in the sub operation direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 2). A signal to move by minutes is output. The chattering prevention circuit 44 is a circuit that, when chattering occurs in the detection output of the position detector 16, removes the chattering component and outputs only an appropriate ON signal as the initial signal e. The initial signal e is shown in FIG.
Is a high-level signal that is output when the print head 11 shown in FIG. 1 is at the initial position in the main scanning direction and the position detector 16 is turned on by the side surface portion 12a of the support base 12. This initial signal e is described above. As described above, the set input terminal S of the latch circuit 37 and the clear input terminal CL of the counter circuit 32 are input, and the delay circuit 45 and the inverter 50 are input.
Is also entered. The position detector 16 turns on and the initial signal e
Is output, the low-level signal is input to the AND gate 47 via the inverter 50, so that the output of the AND gate 47 becomes low level. On the other hand, print head 1
1 starts moving in the direction of arrow X, and at the same time the position detector 1
When 6 is turned off and the output of the initial signal e is stopped, the output of the inverter 50 is switched to the high level at that time, and the output of the delay circuit 45 remains at the high level until a predetermined delay time t elapses. And gate 47
Then, a high level signal is output as the print head movement start signal i for a period corresponding to the delay time t. The print head movement start signal i is input to the set input terminal S of the latch circuit 39, whereby the latch circuit 39 outputs a high-level data read enable signal j to the AND gate 46. When the count end signal b is output from the counter circuit 32, the latch circuit 39 is reset to stop the output of the data read enable signal j.

The frame memory 34 is a memory for storing dot pattern data for one page of paper output from a host device or the like, and is output to the one-line data memory 35 for each print data for one line. The data once stored in the 1-line data memory 35 is input to the 1-line data memory 35 via the AND gate 46 as a data feed signal while the latch circuit 39 outputs the data readable signal j. The data for each dot is sequentially read in synchronization with. The read dot data is input to the drive circuit 36, and a low level signal is amplified if the data indicates a print dot, and is amplified to the extent that the piezoelectric element 22a can be displaced if the data indicates a non-print dot. The high level signal is output as the drive signal (control signal) m. This drive signal m is applied to the electrodes 22b and 22c of the piezoelectric element 22a in the print head 11.
(FIG. 1).

In the printing apparatus of this embodiment having the above construction, the control operation for printing the print data on the paper P will be described below in order. First, when the print start signal f is output, this print start signal f is input to the clear input terminal CL of the counter circuit 33, the reset input terminal R of the latch circuit 37, and the set input terminal S of the latch circuit 38 as described above. It As a result, the count data of the counter circuit 33 is cleared, the count of the count end signal b is newly started, and the latch circuit 3
The reverse rotation signal d ′ and the rotation signal g are output from the motors 7 and 38 to the motor control circuit 40, respectively. Therefore, the print head 11
2 is not in the initial position, the lead screw 13 shown in FIG. 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow C ′, and the support base 12 is accordingly rotated.
And the print head 11 is returned in the direction of the arrow X '.

After that, when the print head 11 returns to the initial position, the position detector 16 is turned on by the side surface portion 12a of the support base 12 and the initial signal e is output.
Is input to the set input terminal S of the latch circuit 37, the forward rotation signal d is input to the motor control circuit 40 in place of the reverse rotation signal d '. As a result, the lead screw 13 is rotated in the arrow C direction, and along with this, the support base 12 and the print head 11 start moving in the arrow X direction. In addition, the counter circuit 32 receives the initial signal e.
The count data of is cleared, and then the above-mentioned support 1
2 and the print head 11 start moving in the direction of arrow X, the position detector 16 is turned off and the output of the initial signal e is stopped, so that the counter circuit 32 newly starts counting the clock signal a.

On the other hand, when the print head 11 is returned to the initial position in the arrow X'direction and then starts moving in the arrow X'direction as described above, the position detector 16 is once turned on and then turned off. Since it is turned off (that is, when the print head 11 starts moving in the arrow X direction) from the AND circuit 47 for a period equal to the delay time t of the delay circuit 45, the print head movement start signal i. Is output, whereby the data read enable signal j is output from the latch circuit 39, and the print data is read from the 1-line data memory 35. The delay time t
Is set to a time shorter than the cycle of the clock signal a. By reading the data, the drive signal (control signal) m is output from the drive circuit 36 to the piezoelectric element 22a in the print head 11.

When the drive signal m is applied to the piezoelectric element 22a in this manner, the piezoelectric element 22a is not displaced when the drive signal m is at a low level corresponding to a print dot, and therefore the rotary ball 21 of the piezoelectric element 22a is moved. The supporting force becomes a relatively weak supporting force to the extent that the rotating ball 21 can rotate, and in this state, the rotating ball 21 can freely rotate. On the other hand, when the drive signal m is switched to the high level corresponding to the non-printing dot, the piezoelectric element 22a is displaced in the circumferential direction of the rotating ball 21, and thus the piezoelectric element 22a.
The supporting force of the rotating ball 21 due to a is switched to a strong supporting force that restrains the rotation of the rotating ball 21. Therefore,
When the print head 11 moves in the direction of the arrow X at a constant speed while the rotating ball 21 is always in contact with the paper P, the rotating ball 2 moves when the drive signal m is at a low level.
1 rotates and ink is applied onto the paper P. On the other hand, when the drive signal m is at a high level, the rotation of the rotating ball 21 is restricted and the application of ink onto the paper P is stopped.
In this way, printing corresponding to the low level and high level of the drive signal m according to the print data is performed.

As described above, printing for one line (1536
When the printing of dots is completed, the counter circuit 3
2 counts the clock signal a by 1536, and the count end signal b is output when the clock signal a counts by 1 more. Then, the latch circuit 39 is reset to stop the output of the data readable signal j,
The drive signal m is fixed at the high level, the latch circuit 37 is reset, and the reverse rotation signal d'is output to the motor control circuit 40. Therefore, the lead screw 13 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C ', and the support is performed accordingly. While the table 12 and the print head 11 are in the non-printing state (the rotating ball 21 is fixed), the table 12 and the print head 11 are returned in the direction of the arrow X '. At this time, since the count end signal b is also input to the motor control circuit 41, the paper feed roll 15 is rotated and the paper P is fed by one line in the arrow Y direction.

After that, the print head 11 returns to the initial position, and printing for another line is performed in the same manner as described above. By repeating the printing for each line in this way, printing according to the print data is performed on the paper P as shown in FIG. 2, for example. Then, every time the printing of each line is completed, the count end signal b of the counter circuit 32 is output.
Is counted by the other counter circuit 33, and when the printing of the last line (2256th line) of one page is completed and the count end signal b is output, the counter circuit 33 outputs the count end signal b. Ends counting 2256, and the count end signal c is output. Then,
Since the latch circuit 38 is reset and the non-rotation signal g'is output to the motor control circuit 40, the rotation of the lead screw 13 is stopped and the printing operation is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The tip of the print head 11 (the rotating ball 21) is always attached to the paper P.
Since printing can be performed with the print head kept in contact with the print head, it is possible to realize an extremely quiet printing device without generating a large impact sound due to the hitting of the print head on the paper as in the conventional case. In addition, since the printing is not disturbed by hitting, dots (lines) having the same printing width can always be formed, and uniform printing quality can be obtained.

Further, as described above, conventionally, it is necessary to move the entire print head in the direction of arrow Z / Z 'by more than 2 mm, which requires a long time of several msec to several tens msec. In the present embodiment, the piezoelectric element 22a may be displaced by a very small amount while the print head 11 is in contact with the paper P, and the response speed thereof is very fast, for example, about several tens of nanoseconds. Is possible.

Further, as described above, since the displacement amount of the piezoelectric element 22a is extremely small, the energy required for the displacement is also extremely small, so that the power consumption of the entire device can be greatly reduced.

Moreover, in order to displace the piezoelectric element 22a, it is only necessary to apply a minute voltage, and a large drive source such as a solenoid is not required as in the conventional case. Therefore, the price of the device can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, the rotating ball 2
A horizontal counter electrode is provided on the piezoelectric element 22a for rotating / non-rotating 1, but instead of this, electrodes 22b 'and 22c' are provided above and below the piezoelectric element 22a as a vertical counter electrode as shown in FIG. Good. In this case, the crystal structure of the piezoelectric element 22a also uses a material having a structure corresponding to the vertical counter electrode.

Next, FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a print head 60 is provided instead of the print head 11 in the first embodiment,
The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. In FIG. 6 as well, the print head 60 is shown in an upright state as in FIG.

The print head 60 causes the ink e to flow out due to the rotation of the rotary ball 21 located at the leading edge of the paper P.
The structure recorded above. The rotating ball 21 is the first
Similar to the one shown in the embodiment, it is a spherical member made of a metal of high hardness such as tungsten, which is extremely less worn, and is rotatably supported so as to be wrapped by a shell 61 as a supporting means. Inside the shell 61, a pipe portion 61a for guiding the ink contained in the ink pipe 62 to the rotating ball 21 is formed. Inside the pipe portion 61a and the ink pipe 61, the pin 6 is formed.
3 is inserted, and the upper end of the pin 63 is an arm 64.
And the lower end reaches the upper part of the rotating ball 21.

The arm 64 is a member for pushing down the pin 63, and has a so-called cantilever structure in which a part of the right end of the arm 64 is integrally formed with the arm frame 65. Above the arm 64, a part of the left end is located on the arm frame 65.
Another arm 66 having a cantilever structure integrally formed with is provided, and a convex portion 66a protruding downward is in contact with the upper surface 64a of the arm 64. A push block 67 is provided above the arm 66 so as to come into contact with the upper surface 66b of the arm 66. When the push block 67 is pushed downward, the arm 66 is displaced downward with the integral forming portion 66c of the arm frame 65 as a fulcrum. Then, along with this, the arm 64 is integrally formed with the arm frame 65.
It is configured to be displaced downward with 4b as a fulcrum. A laminated piezoelectric actuator 68 as a piezoelectric element is adhered to the upper surface of the push block 67, and the upper surface of the piezoelectric actuator 68 is fixed to the push plate 69. The above-mentioned pin 62, arms 64, 66 and push block 67 act as transmission means for transmitting the displacement amount of the piezoelectric actuator 68 to the rotating ball 21, and the piezoelectric actuator 68 and push plate 6 are provided.
It is housed in the arm frame 65 together with 9. The outer shape of the push block 67 is the arm frame 65.
Since the push block 67 is formed to be slightly smaller than the inner shape thereof, the push block 67 can move up and down in the arm frame 65.

FIG. 7 shows the transmission means (pin 62, arms 64, 6) according to the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator 68.
6 is a diagram showing a displacement state of the push block 67). In the same figure, the voltage is not applied to the piezoelectric actuator 68, which is drawn by a dotted line, and since the piezoelectric actuator 68 is not displaced downward (in the direction of the arrow) in this state, the arms 66 and 64 are also It is not displaced downward, and accordingly, a proper gap is created between the pin 63 and the rotating ball 21. Therefore, in this state, the rotating ball 21 can freely rotate, and the ink in the ink pipe 62 flows out in accordance with the rotation, so that recording on the paper becomes possible.

On the other hand, in FIG. 7, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 68 from the state of the dotted line, its shape is displaced (extended) in the direction of the arrow, and accordingly, the push block 67, the arms 66, 64 and the pin. 63 is displaced to the state shown by the solid line. That is, the push block 67 is also displaced downward by the displacement amount of the piezoelectric actuator 68, whereby the upper surface of the arm 66 is pushed and the arm 66 is displaced downward with the integrally forming portion 66c as a fulcrum, whereby the upper surface of the arm 64 is displaced. When pushed, the arm 64 is displaced downward with the integrally formed portion 64b as a fulcrum, whereby the upper end of the pin 63 is pushed and the pin 63 is also displaced downward. Here, with respect to the position of the integrally formed portion 66c serving as a fulcrum when the arm 66 is displaced, the distance a to the position where the arm 66 presses the arm 64 is larger than the distance a to the position where the push block 67 presses the arm 66. Since b is several times longer, the displacement amount of the push block 67 is enlarged and transmitted to the arm 64. Similarly, with respect to the position of the integrally formed portion 64b that serves as a fulcrum when the arm 64 is displaced, the arm 6
Since the distance b ′ to the position where the arm 64 presses the pin 63 is several times longer than the distance a ′ to the position where 6 presses the arm 64, the displacement amount transmitted from the arm 66 is further expanded. It is transmitted to the pin 63. That is, the two arms 66, 64 also act as displacement magnifying means for magnifying the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator 68 and transmitting it to the pin.
As a result, the pin 63 moves downward by the expanded displacement amount, the lower end of the pin 63 pushes down the rotating ball 21, and the rotating ball 21 is sandwiched between the pin 63 and the shell 61. Therefore, the rotating ball 21 is in a braked state, and the rotation is restricted. In this state, even if the writing head 60 is moved while slidingly contacting the rotating ball 21 on the paper, the rotating ball 21 does not rotate, so that ink does not flow out and a non-recording state is set.

Since it is possible to control the presence / absence of ink outflow according to the presence / absence of voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 68 in this manner, the print head 60 is printed on paper by using a circuit similar to the print control circuit 30 shown in FIG. Data can be printed on the paper by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric actuator 68 at a predetermined timing according to the print data while moving in the main scanning direction while making sliding contact. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

As the means for transmitting the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator 68 to the pin 63, various means other than the means using the arms 64, 66 as described above can be adopted.

Next, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment corresponds to the print head 1 in the first embodiment.
A print head 70 is provided in place of 1, and other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Note that in FIG. 8 as well, as in FIG. 1, the print head 70 is shown in an upright state.

The print head 70 has a structure in which the ink is caused to flow out by the rotation of the rotary ball 21 positioned at the leading end thereof and recorded on the paper P. The rotating ball 21 is a spherical member made of a highly hard metal such as tungsten, which has very little wear like the above-mentioned one, and the side peripheral surface thereof is wrapped by the tip of the shell 72 as a holding means. It is pinched. The shell 72 has a hollow structure capable of accommodating an ink pipe 73 as an ink accommodating means therein, and has a structure in which a cylinder is vertically divided into two parts, leaving only a hinge part 72a located at an upper part in the longitudinal direction. The lower end portions 72b 'and 72c' of the two shell pieces 72b and 72c obtained by the two divisions serve as a holding portion for holding the rotating ball 21. Ink pipe 7
3 is filled with ink, the tip of which is in contact with the upper surface of the rotating ball 21 and also serves as a receiving seat for pressing the rotating ball 21 onto the paper P.

The lower ends 72b 'and 72c' of the two shell pieces 72b and 72c sandwiching the rotating ball 21 are located on the opposite side of the hinge 72a.
A laminated piezoelectric actuator 74 as a piezoelectric element is provided between the upper ends 72b ″ and 72c ″ of the shell pieces 72b and 72c.
Is attached. The piezoelectric actuator 74 applies a predetermined voltage to the piezoelectric actuator 74, so that the shell pieces 72b, 72b
The upper end portions 72b ″ and 72c ″ of c are displaced so as to extend in a direction (arrow A, A ′ direction) in which the distance between them is increased. Although this displacement amount is small, since the hinge portion 72a of the shell 72 is provided at a position closer to the piezoelectric actuator 74 than the rotating ball 21, the displacement is enlarged by the lever principle with the hinge portion 72a as a fulcrum. Is transmitted to the rotating ball 21. Thus, the shell 72 is the piezoelectric actuator 7
It also serves as a mechanism for magnifying the displacement of 4. This displacement magnifying mechanism will be specifically described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 9, what is drawn by a dotted line is a state in which no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 74. In this state, the piezoelectric actuator 74 does not extend, so the rotary ball 21 and the lower end 72b of the shell 72 are formed. ', 7
There is a proper gap with 2c '. Therefore, in this state, the rotating ball 21 can freely rotate, and the ink in the ink pipe 73 flows out in accordance with the rotation, so that recording on the paper becomes possible.

On the other hand, what is drawn by a solid line in FIG. 9 is a state in which a predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 74. In this state, the piezoelectric actuator 74 has an arrow A,
Since the shell pieces 72b, 72c are displaced in the A'direction, the intervals between the upper ends 72b ", 72c" of the shell pieces 72b, 72c are widened. Then, the shell pieces 72b, 7 holding the rotating ball 21 therebetween.
The displacement is magnified and transmitted to the lower ends 72b 'and 72c' of 2c, the distance between the lower ends 72b 'and 72c' is greatly narrowed, and a strong clamping force is applied to the rotating ball 21. Therefore, the rotating ball 21 is braked by the lower ends 72b 'and 72c' of the shell pieces 72b and 72c, and the rotation is restricted. In this state, even if the print head 70 moves while the rotating ball 21 is in contact with the paper, the rotating ball 21 does not rotate, so that ink does not flow out and a non-recording state is set.

Since it is possible to control the presence / absence of ink outflow according to the presence / absence of voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 74 in this manner, the print head 70 is printed on the paper by using a circuit similar to the print control circuit 30 shown in FIG. Data can be printed on the paper by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric actuator 74 at a predetermined timing according to the print data while moving in the main scanning direction while making sliding contact. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

As means for holding the rotating ball 21 and transmitting the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator 74 to the rotating ball 21, various means other than the means using the shell 72 having the above-mentioned structure are adopted. It is possible.

Next, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a print head 80 is provided instead of the print head 11 in the first embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Note that FIG.
0 also shows the state in which the print head 80 is erected in the vertical direction as in FIG.

The print head 80 has a structure in which the ink is flowed out and recorded on the paper P by the rotation of the rotary ball 21 located at the forefront. The rotating ball 21 is a spherical member made of a metal of high hardness such as tungsten, which has very little wear like the one described above, and is sandwiched so as to be wrapped by the tip of the shell 81 as a sandwiching means. The shell 81 has a hollow structure capable of accommodating the ink pipe 82 therein, and has a structure in which a lower end portion thereof is vertically divided into two, and two lower end portions 81a obtained by the two divisions, 81b serves as a pair of sandwiching parts for sandwiching the rotating ball 21. Ink pipe 82
Is filled with ink, and the lower end of the
It also serves as a receiving seat that contacts the upper surface of the sheet 1 and presses the rotating ball 21 onto the sheet P.

Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 11, flat plate type piezoelectric actuators 83a and 83b are attached to the outer surfaces of the pair of lower ends 81a and 81b, respectively. By applying a predetermined voltage to the piezoelectric actuators 83a and 83b, the surface directions (arrows B,
It is displaced so as to extend in the B'direction and the arrows C, C'directions. FIG. 11A shows the piezoelectric actuators 83a and 83b.
In this state, the piezoelectric actuators 83a and 83b do not extend,
An appropriate gap is formed between the rotating ball 21 and the lower ends 81a and 81b. Therefore, in this state, the rotating ball 21 can freely rotate, and the ink in the ink pipe 82 flows out in accordance with the rotation, so that recording on the sheet becomes possible.

On the other hand, FIG. 11B shows a state in which a predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuators 83a and 83b. In this state, the piezoelectric actuators 83a and 83b are in the directions of arrows B and B'and arrows C and C ', respectively. Since it extends in the direction, the lower end portions 81a and 81b are displaced so as to warp inward and closely contact with the rotating ball 21. Therefore, the rotating ball 21 is braked by the lower end portions 81a and 81b, and the rotation is restricted. In this state, even if the print head 80 is moved while slidingly contacting the rotating ball 21 on the paper, the rotating ball 21 does not rotate, so that ink does not flow out and a non-recording state is set.

In this way, the piezoelectric actuators 83a, 8a
Since it is possible to control the presence / absence of ink outflow according to the presence / absence of voltage application to 3b, a circuit similar to the print control circuit 30 shown in FIG. 4 is used to slide the print head 80 against the paper in the main scanning direction. Piezoelectric actuator 83 while moving
By applying a voltage to a and 83b at a predetermined timing according to the print data, the data can be printed on the paper. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Although the shell 81 has a structure in which the tip portion of the shell 81 is divided into two in the fourth embodiment, it is also possible to use a structure in which the shell 81 is divided into three (or more). In this case, the rotating ball 21 is made up of all the three (or more) divided lower ends.
The piezoelectric actuator may be attached to each of the lower end portions while sandwiching.

Next, FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a print head 90 is provided instead of the print head 11 in the first embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Note that FIG.
2 is a diagram in which the internal structure of the print head 90 is vertically cut by 1/4 so that it can be easily understood, and the print head 90 is shown in a state of standing in the vertical direction as in FIG.

The print head 90 has a structure in which ink is made to flow out and recorded on the paper P by the rotation of the rotary ball 21 located at the forefront. The rotating ball 21 is a spherical member made of a highly hard metal such as tungsten, which has very little wear like the one described above.
Is a receiving seat 91 serving as a first holding portion which is joined to the lower end of the ink pipe 97 and has a pipe shape so that ink can pass through, and a longitudinal direction of the receiving seat 91 while surrounding the outer periphery of the receiving seat 91. It is sandwiched from above and below by a ball retainer 92 as a second sandwiching portion that is slidable along the (arrow D direction). A hollow spring retainer 93, which is integrated with the ball retainer 92 and is slidable in the arrow D direction together with the ball retainer 92, is provided above the ball retainer 92. A push plate 94 fixed to the ink pin 97 is provided inside the spring retainer 93. The push plate 94 and the upper end portion 93 a of the spring retainer 93 are provided.
In between, the spring retainer 93 is urged in the direction away from the push plate 94 (that is, the ball retainer 92).
A spring 95 serving as a biasing means is disposed around the ink pipe 97 so as to bias the receiving seat 91.
Further, inside the ball retainer 92, a hollow cylindrical laminated piezoelectric actuator 96 laminated in the direction of arrow D is attached, and the upper end thereof is pressed against the lower end of the push plate 94 by the urging force of the spring 95. .

In the above structure, the piezoelectric actuator 9
When the voltage is not applied to 6, the ball retainer 92 is pushed up toward the receiving seat 91 by the biasing force of the spring 95. Therefore, the rotating ball 21 is clamped by the receiving seat 91 and the ball retainer 92, and the rotation is restricted. In this state, even if the print head 90 is moved while slidingly contacting the rotating ball 21 on the paper, the rotating ball 21 does not rotate, so that ink does not flow out and a non-recording state occurs.

On the other hand, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 96, the piezoelectric actuator 96 pushes the push plate 94 while extending in the direction of arrow D, so that the ball retainer 92 resists the urging force of the spring 95 from the receiving seat 91. It is displaced in the direction of moving away, and an appropriate gap is formed between the ball retainer 92 and the rotating ball 21. Therefore, in this state, the holding state of the rotating ball 21 by the biasing force of the spring 95 is released, the free rotation of the rotating ball 21 is allowed, and the ink in the ink pipe 97 flows out according to the rotation, so that the paper It is possible to record upwards.

Since it is possible to control the presence / absence of ink outflow according to the presence / absence of voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator 96 in this way, a circuit similar to the print control circuit 30 shown in FIG. 4 (however, in the case of the present embodiment). However, unlike the previous embodiments, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 96, recording is possible, so the control signal of the piezoelectric actuator 96 is the high level or the low level of the drive signal m output from the print control circuit 30. Use the inverted one.
As a means for this, it is only necessary to slightly change the circuit configuration, for example, to arrange an inverter at the output end of the 1-line data memory 35. ) Is used to move the print head 90 in the main scanning direction while slidingly contacting the paper, and a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 96 at a predetermined timing according to the print data, whereby data can be printed on the paper. It will be possible. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The structures of the receiving seat 91, the ball retainer 92, the spring retainer 93, etc. shown in FIG. 12 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these structures. Next, FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a print head 100 and a print control circuit 110 (FIG. 16) are provided instead of the print head 11 and the print control circuit 30 in the first embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Same as the example.

As shown in detail in FIG. 14, a plurality of print heads 100 (n print controls) can be independently and independently print-controlled.
Printing sections 100 ₁ , 100 ₂ , 100 ₃ , ..., 10
0 _n is integrally arranged in one line along the direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 13), and the arrangement interval between adjacent printing units is the sub-scanning direction. The distance between adjacent print dots in the same direction (that is, the distance between adjacent print lines) is set. Each printing unit has a rotating ball 101 ₁ , 101 located at the forefront.
_2, ..., a structure for recording on the paper P by discharging the ink e by rotation of 101 _n. Therefore, the print head 100 simultaneously prints n lines, which is equal to the number n of the printing units forming the print head 100.

One print head 100 is provided for each print unit.
A total of n rotating balls 101 provided₁, 101
₂, ..., 101_nIn addition to the
Piezoelectric element 102 (provided that the electrodes are
(Separate for each character part) and common for all print parts.
And an ink chamber 103 as a stored ink storage means.
Is made. Spinning ball 101₁~ 101_nIs the above
As with the rotating ball 21
A spherical member made of high-hardness metal such as stainless steel.
The peripheral surface of each of these is enclosed by the piezoelectric element 102.
It is supported to be lost. And the rotating ball 10
1₁~ 101_nThe inner peripheral surface of the piezoelectric element 102 that is in contact with
Each electrode 104₁~ 104_nIs formed, and the piezoelectric element
The outer peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower ends of the child 102 are electrically charged, respectively.
Pole 104₀And electrode 104_{n + 1}Are formed. Sanawa
The area I surrounded by the dotted line is taken as an example and detailed in FIG.
As shown, the electrode 104₀And electrode 104₁By these
A vertical pair with respect to a part 102a of the sandwiched piezoelectric element 102
And the electrode 104₁And electrode 104₂Hako
In the part 102b of the piezoelectric element 102 sandwiched by these
On the other hand, a vertical counter electrode is formed. Piezoelectric element 102
Is composed of crystals such as barium titanate, for example
For example, the electrode 104 described above₀, 104₁Between and electrode 104₁,
104₂When a predetermined voltage is applied between the piezoelectric elements 1
The parts 102a and 102b of 02 are rotating balls 101.₁of
Displaces in the circumferential direction and rotates on the same principle as the first embodiment.
Ball 101₁Restrain the rotation of. In addition, other rotating bow
Le 101₂~ 101_nAlso the piezoelectric element that holds these
A predetermined voltage is applied to each part of the child 102 between the corresponding electrodes.
By applying
it can. The electrode 104 ₀~ 104_{n + 1}To each
A signal line (not shown) is connected, and the following print control
A control signal is supplied from the circuit 110 to each corresponding electrode.
It

FIG. 16 shows a control signal generating means for generating a control signal for driving a portion of the piezoelectric element 102 corresponding to each of the rotating balls 101 _{1 to} 101 _n based on the print data, and the lead screw shown in FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a print control circuit 110 which is also a means for controlling the rotations of the sheet feeding roller 13 and the paper feed roll 15. FIG. Here, as an example, one character is composed of 24 x 24 dots, and 64 characters (= 24 x 64 dots) in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) and 94 characters in the vertical direction (sub scanning direction) per page. Consider the case of printing (= 24 × 94 dots), and n = 24
It is assumed that the print head 100 is composed of the individual print units 100 _{1 to} 100 ₂₄ and prints 24 lines (one character) at the same time.

In FIG. 16, the print control circuit 110 is
Pulse generator 111, counter circuits 112, 113, 1
14. Frame memory 11 as print data storage means
5 and n line data memory 116, the piezoelectric element 102
Drive circuit 117, latch circuit 118, and
19, 120, motor control circuits 121 and 122 that generate control signals for controlling the motors that rotate the lead screw 13 and the paper feed roll 15, and a drive circuit 12 that drives the motors based on the control signals.
3, 124, and further, the chattering prevention circuit 12
5, delay circuit 126, AND gates 127 and 128, OR gates 129 and 130, and inverters 131 and 1
32 are provided.

The pulse generator 111 is a circuit for outputting a clock signal a having a constant cycle.
Is input to the counter circuits 112 and 114 and the AND gate 127. When the counter circuit 112 counts the clock signal a and counts 1537, which is one more than 1536 (= 24 × 64), which is the number of print dots for one line in the main scanning direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 13). Is a circuit that outputs a high-level count end signal b. The count end signal b is input to the reset input terminal R of the other counter circuit 113 and the latch circuit 120, and also to the reset input terminal R of the latch circuit 118 via the OR gate 129. The counter circuit 113 counts the count end signal b output from the counter circuit 112, and prints the number of print dots 2256 (= 24 × 94) for one row in the sub-scanning direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 13) on the printing unit. 100 ₁ to 10
This is a circuit that outputs a high-level count end signal c when 94, which is the number of 0 ₂₄ divided by 24 (that is, the number of characters in one column in the sub-scanning direction) is counted. The count end signal c is the reset input terminal R of the latch circuit 119.
Is input to. The counter circuit 114 uses the clock signal a
Is a circuit that outputs a high-level count signal d each time counting, counts 24 corresponding to the number of printing units 100 _{1 to} 100 ₂₄ , and then stops outputting the count signal d. The counter circuit 112 is cleared by an initial signal f described later, the counter circuit 113 is cleared by a print start signal g described later, and the counter 114 is cleared by a reverse rotation signal e ′ described later, and each newly starts counting. To be done.

The latch circuit 118 is the lead screw 1
3 is a circuit for outputting a signal for setting the rotation direction of 3 (arrow C / C 'direction in FIG. 13), and when a set input terminal S receives an initial signal f described later, it is a high-level normal rotation signal. e is output to the rotation direction control terminal F / R of the motor control circuit 121, while it is output to the reset input terminal R by operating the count end signal b or a print start switch provided in an operation unit (not shown). When a print start signal (or a print start signal output from the host device) g is input, a low-level reverse rotation signal e ′ is output to the rotation direction control terminal F of the motor control circuit 121.
/ R and output to the inverter 132. Latch circuit 1
19 is the rotation / non-rotation of the lead screw 13 (ON /
Is a circuit for outputting a signal for setting OFF), and when the print start signal g is input to the set input terminal S thereof, a high level rotation signal (ON signal) h is turned ON / OFF of the motor control circuit 121. When the count end signal c is input to the reset input terminal R, the low-level non-rotation signal (OFF signal) h'is output to the control terminal ON / OF, and the ON / OFF control terminal ON of the motor control circuit 121 is turned ON. Output to / OF.

The motor control circuit 121 controls the rotation direction and rotation / non-rotation of the rotation motor of the lead screw 13 in accordance with the forward / reverse rotation signals e, e'and the rotation / non-rotation signals h, h '. A circuit that outputs a signal, and the drive circuit 123 drives the motor based on the control signal to rotate the lead screw 13. In addition, the motor control circuit 122 is a signal output from an operation unit (not shown), a host device, or the like when starting printing, and a paper feed signal i for instructing to convey the paper P to a printable position, or the above-mentioned paper feed signal i. When the count signal d is input through the OR gate 130, it is a circuit that outputs a signal for controlling the rotation / non-rotation of the rotation motor of the paper feed motor 15 according to the input signal, and the drive circuit 124 is based on this control signal. The paper feed roll 15 is rotated by driving the motor. Note that the paper feed signal i
Is a signal for transporting the paper P to a printable position as described above, and is continuously output for a predetermined time. Therefore, when the paper feed signal i is input to the motor control circuit 122, the paper feed roll 15 A signal that continuously and rapidly rotates is output. On the other hand, since the count signal d is one pulse signal (clock signal), when the count signal d is input to the motor control circuit 122, the paper P is set to 1 in the sub-operation direction (direction of arrow Y in FIG. 13). A signal to move the dots is output.

The chattering prevention circuit 125 is a circuit which, when chattering occurs in the detection output of the position detector 16, removes the chattering component and outputs only an appropriate ON signal as the initial signal f. The initial signal f is as shown in FIG.
3 is a high level signal output when the print head 100 shown in FIG. 3 is at the initial position in the main scanning direction and the position detector 16 is turned on by the side surface portion 12a of the support base 12,
The initial signal f is input to the set input terminal S of the latch circuit 118 and the clear input terminal CL of the counter circuit 112 as described above, and also to the delay circuit 126 and the inverter 131. While the position detector 16 is turned on and the initial signal f is output, the low level signal is input to the AND gate 128 via the inverter 131, so that the output of the AND gate 128 becomes low level. On the other hand, when the print head 100 starts moving in the direction of the arrow X, the position detector 16 is turned off, and the output of the initial signal f is stopped, the output of the inverter 131 switches to a high level at that time, and Since the output of the delay circuit 126 remains at the high level until the predetermined delay time t elapses,
A high level signal is output from the AND gate 128 as the print head movement start signal j for a period corresponding to the delay time t. The print head movement start signal j is input to the set input terminal S of the latch circuit 120, whereby the latch circuit 120 outputs a high level data read enable signal k to the AND gate 127. When the count end signal b is output from the counter circuit 112, the latch circuit 120 is reset, so that the output of the data read enable signal k is stopped.

The frame memory 115 is a memory for storing dot pattern data for one page of paper output from a host device or the like, and an n-line data memory 116 for each print data for n lines (here, n = 24). Is output to. The data once stored in the n-line data memory 116 is read from the latch circuit 120 by a data read enable signal k.
Is output, the data for each line is 1 in synchronization with the clock signal a input as a data feed signal to the n-line data memory 116 via the AND gate 127.
The dots are sequentially read in parallel. The read dot data for each line is input to the drive circuit 117, and if the data indicates a print dot, a low level signal is output, and if the data indicates a non-print dot, the piezoelectric element 102.
A high-level signal amplified to the extent that it can be displaced is output as a drive signal (control signal) m. The drive signal m is applied to the electrodes 104 _{0 to} 104 in the print head 100.
Of _{n + 1,} is applied between the electrodes corresponding to each rotational ball 100 ₁ to 100 _n (e.g., electrode 104 to correspond to the rotating ball 101 _{1 0,} 104 ₁ between the electrodes 104 _1, 104 ₂ while) .

In the printing apparatus of the present embodiment having the above configuration, the control operation when printing the print data on the paper P will be described below in order. First, when the print start signal g is output, the print start signal g is output to the clear input terminal CL of the counter circuit 113, the reset input terminal R of the latch circuit 118, and the latch circuit 119 as described above.
Is input to the set input terminal S of. As a result, the count data of the counter circuit 113 is cleared and the count of the count end signal b is newly started, and the reverse signals e ′ and the rotation signal h are output from the latch circuits 118 and 119 to the motor control circuit 121, respectively. It Therefore,
When the print head 100 is not in the initial position, the lead screw 13 shown in FIG. 13 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C ′, and the support base 12 and the print head 100 are accordingly moved to the arrow X ′.
It will be returned to the direction.

After that, when the print head 100 returns to the initial position, the position detector 16 is turned on by the side surface portion 12a of the support base 12 to output the initial signal f, and this initial signal f is set to the set input terminal of the latch circuit 118. Since it is input to S, the forward rotation signal e is input to the motor control circuit 121 in place of the reverse rotation signal e ′ used so far. As a result, the lead screw 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and along with this, the support base 12 and the print head 100 start moving in the direction of arrow X. Further, the count data of the counter circuit 112 is cleared by the initial signal f, and then the support base 12 and the print head 100 start moving in the arrow X direction, whereby the position detector 16 is turned off and the initial signal f of Since the output is stopped, the counter circuit 112 newly starts counting the clock signal a.

On the other hand, as described above, when the print head 100 is returned to the initial position in the direction of the arrow X'and subsequently starts to move in the direction of the arrow X, the position detector 16 is once turned on and then turned off. Since it is turned off (that is, when the print head 100 starts moving in the arrow X direction), the AND circuit 128 outputs the print head movement start signal j for a period equal to the delay time t of the delay circuit 126. Is output, whereby the data read enable signal k is output from the latch circuit 120, and the print data is read from the n-line data memory 116. The delay time t is set to a time shorter than the cycle of the clock signal a. By reading the data, the drive circuit 117 outputs the drive signal (control signal) m for each line to the corresponding electrodes 104 _{0 to} 104 _{n + 1} in the print head 100.

In this way, the corresponding electrodes 104 ₀ to
When the drive signal m is applied to 104 _{n + 1,} when the drive signal m is at a low level corresponding to a print dot, a part of the piezoelectric element 102 corresponding to the drive signal m is not displaced, so that the rotation ball of the piezoelectric element 102 does not move. The supporting force becomes a relatively weak supporting force that allows the rotating ball to rotate, and in this state, the rotating ball can freely rotate. On the other hand, when the drive signal m is switched to the high level corresponding to the non-printing dot, a part of the piezoelectric element 102 corresponding thereto is displaced in the circumferential direction of the rotating ball, and the supporting force of the rotating element by the piezoelectric element 102 is increased. It switches to a strong supporting force that restrains the rotation of the rotating ball. Therefore, the left printhead 100 in a state of constantly contacting the rotating ball 101 ₁ to 101 _n on the sheet P is gradually moved at a constant speed in the arrow X direction,
For each printing unit, when the drive signal m is at the low level, the rotating ball rotates and ink is applied onto the paper P. On the other hand, when the drive signal m is at the high level, the rotation of the rotating ball is restricted and the paper P is retained. The application of ink to the ink is stopped. In this way, printing corresponding to the low level and high level of the drive signal m according to the print data is performed for each printing unit.

When the printing of 24 lines (1536 dots per line) is completely completed as described above, the counter circuit 112 counts the clock signal a by 1536, and when it counts by 1 more, the counting ends. The signal b is output. Then, the latch circuit 120 is reset, the output of the data readable signal k is stopped, the drive signal m is fixed to the high level, the latch circuit 118 is reset, and the reverse rotation signal e ′ is controlled by the motor. Since it is output to the circuit 121, the lead screw 13 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C ', and accordingly, the support base 12 and the print head 100 are reversely moved in the direction of the arrow X'while the printing is not performed (the rotation of the rotating ball is restricted). Will be returned. At this time, the reverse signal e ′ is output from the inverter 132.
Is switched to a high level by the counter circuit 114
Since the counter circuit 114 starts counting the clock signal a, the count signal d synchronized with the clock signal a is also input to the motor control circuit 122 by 24 counts. The paper feed roll 15 is rotated to feed the paper P by 24 lines (one character) in the arrow Y direction.

Thereafter, the print head 100 returns to the initial position, and another 24 lines are printed in the same manner as described above. By repeating the printing for every 24 lines in this manner, printing according to the print data is performed on the paper P as shown in FIG. 13, for example. Then, each time the printing for every 24 lines is completed, the count end signal b of the counter circuit 112 is counted by the other counter circuit 113, so that the printing of the last (94th) 24 lines of one page is completed. Then, when the count end signal b is output,
The counter circuit 113 completes 94 counts by the count end signal b, and the count end signal c is output. Then, the latch circuit 119 is reset and the non-rotation signal h'is output to the motor control circuit 121, so that the rotation of the lead screw 13 is stopped and the printing operation is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Each printing unit 100 ₁ to 100 that constitutes the print head 100
_{Since n} does not require a large drive source such as a solenoid,
It becomes possible to arrange in one row at relatively small intervals,
Therefore, the printing of n lines can be simultaneously performed by the plurality of printing units 100 _{1 to} 100 _n , and as a result, the printing speed can be dramatically improved as compared with the first embodiment.
Further, in terms of points other than the printing speed, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a print head 140 is provided instead of the print head 100 in the sixth embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those in the sixth embodiment.

The print head 140 is composed of a plurality of (n) print units 140 ₁ and 14 which can perform print control independently.
0 _2, 140 _3, ..., consist configuration integrally arranged in a row along a direction (sub scanning direction) perpendicular to the main scanning direction 140 _n, the arrangement of the printing portions thereof adjacent The interval is set to the interval between adjacent print dots in the sub-scanning direction (that is, the interval between adjacent print lines), and printing is performed for n lines, which is equal to the number n of print units, at the same time. Each printing unit rotates the ball 101 _1, 101 ₂ located at the cutting edge, ..., a structure to be recorded onto 101 _n sheets P to flow out the ink e by rotation of the. The print head 140 has a total of n rotating balls 101 ₁ , 101 ₂ , ...
In addition to 101 _n , a total of n pins 141 ₁ , 141 ₂ , ...
And 141 _n, is configured to include a shell 142 as a support means for supporting to wrap freely rotating each rotating ball 101 ₁ to 101 _n is provided as one body with all of the printing unit. In addition, each of the pins 141 _{1 to} 141
_n is the rotational ball 101 _1-101 having one end corresponding
It is extended to the vicinity of the peripheral surface of _n , and the other ends thereof extend to the corresponding arms described later.

The plurality of printing units 140 _{1 to} 140 _n all have the same structure, and as an example, the structure of _one printing unit 140 ₁ is shown in more detail in FIG. 18 (note that the dotted line in the drawing shows the structure). The surrounded area J corresponds to the area J surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. As shown in the figure, in addition to the rotating ball 101 ₁ and the shell 142 as a supporting unit, the printing unit 140 ₁ includes an ink pipe 143 as an ink storing unit, a laminated piezoelectric actuator 144 as a piezoelectric element, and a transmission unit. The above-mentioned pin 141 as means
₁ , arms 145, 146 and push block 14
It is composed of 7 etc. This configuration is the same as that of the print head 60 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, and therefore each printing unit operates on the same principle as the print head 60. Therefore, a detailed description of the configuration and operation will be given here. Omit it.

As described above, each of the printing units 140 _{1 to} 140 _n
Since the outflow of ink can be controlled for each time depending on the presence or absence of voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator similarly to the print head 60, the print head 140 is slid on the paper by using a circuit similar to the print control circuit 110 in FIG. By applying a voltage to each piezoelectric actuator at a predetermined timing according to the print data while moving them in the main scanning direction while making contact with each other, it is possible to simultaneously print data for n lines on the paper. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the sixth
The same effect as the embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the print head 100 in the sixth embodiment is used.
Instead of the above, a print head 150 is provided, and other configurations are the same as those in the sixth embodiment. Note that the print head 150 is actually attached to the support base 12 so that the tip of the head faces the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 13, but in FIG.
50 is shown vertically.

The print head 150 is composed of a plurality of (n) print units 150 ₁ and 15 that can perform print control independently.
0 _2, 150 _3, ..., the main scanning direction 150 _n consists configuration integrally arranged in a row along a direction (sub scanning direction) perpendicular, arrangement of the printed portions thereof adjacent The interval L is set to the interval between the adjacent print dots in the sub-scanning direction, and the printing of n lines equal to the number n of printing units is simultaneously performed.

The plurality of printing units 150 _{1 to} 150 _n all have the same structure. As an example, the structure of _one printing unit 150 ₁ is shown in detail in FIG. As shown in the figure, the printing unit 150 _1, the ink of the ink storage means whose rotational ball 101 ₁ at the forefront, the shell 152 as the clamping means, shared by all of the printing unit 150 ₁ to 150 DEG _n Chamber 153, an ink pipe 153 extending from the ink chamber 153 toward the rotating ball 101 ₁ .
a, a laminated piezoelectric actuator 15 as a piezoelectric element
It is configured to include 4 and the like. This configuration is the same as that of the print head 70 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 9, and therefore each printing unit operates on the same principle as the print head 70, so a detailed description of the configuration and operation will be given here. Omit it.

As described above, each printing unit 150 _{1 to} 150 _n
Since the outflow of ink can be controlled for each time depending on the presence or absence of the voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator similarly to the print head 70, the print head 150 is slid on the paper by using a circuit similar to the print control circuit 110 in FIG. By applying a voltage to each piezoelectric actuator at a predetermined timing according to the print data while moving them in the main scanning direction while making contact with each other, it is possible to simultaneously print data for n lines on the paper. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the sixth
The same effect as the embodiment can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a print head 160 is provided instead of the print head 100 in the sixth embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those in the sixth embodiment. Note that, also in FIG. 21, the print head 160 is shown in a state of standing in the vertical direction as in FIG.

The print head 160 includes a plurality of (n) print units 160 ₁ and 16 that can be independently and individually print controlled.
0 _2, 160 _3, ..., consist configuration integrally arranged in a row along a direction (sub scanning direction) perpendicular to the main scanning direction 160 _n, the arrangement of the printing portions thereof adjacent The interval is set to the interval between adjacent print dots in the sub-scanning direction, and printing for n lines equal to the number n of printing units is simultaneously performed.

The plurality of printing units 160 _{1 to} 160 _n all have the same configuration, and as an example, the configuration of _one printing unit 160 ₁ is shown in detail in FIG. As shown in the figure, the printing unit 160 ₁ includes a rotating ball 1011 located at the frontmost end, a shell 162 as a sandwiching means for the rotating ball 101 ₁ , and an ink as an ink storing unit shared by all the printing units 160 _{1 to} 160 _n. Chamber 163, an ink pipe 163 extending from the ink chamber 163 toward the rotating ball 101 ₁ .
a, a flat plate type piezoelectric actuator 16 as a piezoelectric element
4a, 164b and the like. This structure is the same as that of the print head 80 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 11, and therefore, each printing unit operates on the same principle as the print head 80. Therefore, a detailed description of the structure and operation will be given here. Omit it.

As described above, the printing units 160 _{1 to} 160 _n
Since the outflow of ink can be controlled for each time depending on the presence or absence of voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator as in the print head 80, the print head 160 is slid on the paper using a circuit similar to the print control circuit 110 in FIG. By applying a voltage to each piezoelectric actuator at a predetermined timing according to the print data while moving them in the main scanning direction while making contact with each other, it is possible to simultaneously print data for n lines on the paper. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the sixth
The same effect as the embodiment can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are a perspective view and a sectional view showing in detail the construction of the print head in the printing apparatus of the tenth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a print head 170 is provided in place of the print head 100 in the sixth embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those in the sixth embodiment.
Same as the embodiment. 23 and 24,
As in FIG. 19, the print head 170 is shown in a vertical state.

The print head 170 is composed of a plurality of (n) print units 170 ₁ and 17 that can perform print control independently.
0 _2, 170 _3, ..., consist configuration integrally arranged in a row along a direction (sub scanning direction) perpendicular to the main scanning direction 170 _n, the arrangement of the printing portions thereof adjacent The interval is set to the interval between adjacent print dots in the sub-scanning direction, and printing for n lines equal to the number n of printing units is performed simultaneously.

All of the plurality of printing units 170 _{1 to} 170 _n have the same structure. As an example, the structure of _one printing unit 170 ₁ is shown in detail in FIG. As shown in the figure, the printing unit 170 ₁ includes a rotating ball 101 ₁ located at the leading edge of the printing unit 170 ₁ , and a receiving seat 171 (first
Pinching part) and a ball retainer 172 (second pinching part), a spring 173 as a biasing means, a spring retainer 17
4, push plate 175, all printing units 170 ₁ ~
Ink chamber 1 as an ink storage means shared by 170 _n
76, Multilayer Piezoelectric Actuator 1 as Piezoelectric Element
It is configured to include 77 etc. This configuration is the same as that of the print head 90 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 12, and therefore the individual printing units operate on the same principle as the print head 90, so a detailed description of the configuration and operation will be given here. Omit it.

As described above, each of the printing units 170 _{1 to} 170 _n
Since the outflow of ink can be controlled for each time depending on the presence or absence of voltage application to the piezoelectric actuator similarly to the print head 90, a circuit similar to the print control circuit 110 of FIG. 16 (however, in the case of the present embodiment, Different from the previous embodiments, recording is possible when voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator 177, so the control signal of the piezoelectric actuator 177 inverts the high level and low level of the drive signal m output from the print control circuit 110. As a means for that, it suffices to slightly change the circuit configuration, for example, by disposing an inverter at the output end of the n-line data memory 116.) and sliding the print head 170 on the paper. While moving in the main scanning direction while making contact with each other, voltage is applied to each piezoelectric actuator at a predetermined timing according to the print data. By, it is possible to print the data of the n lines onto the paper at the same time. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the sixth embodiment can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 26 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, only the print head 11 is moved without moving the paper P. The structure other than the moving mechanism of the print head 11 is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2), and therefore, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, the print head 11 is fixedly mounted on the support base 12 as in the first embodiment (however, in this embodiment, the tip of the print head 11 faces downward).
The rotation of the lead screw 13 causes the main scanning direction (arrow X
/ X 'direction). Both sides of the lead screw 13 are the lead screw holding member 1
It is rotatably held by 81a and 181b, and one end thereof is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 182. The motor 182 is the motor control circuit 40 shown in FIG.
It is driven by the drive circuit 42 according to the control signal of.

Further, the lead screw holding member 181
a and 181b are lead screws 1 which are provided in a direction penetrating therethrough in a direction orthogonal to the lead screw 13.
It is configured to be movable in the sub-scanning direction (arrow Y / Y 'direction) by rotating 83 and 184 in conjunction with each other. The lead screws 183 and 184 are connected by a belt 185, and one end of one of the lead screws 183 is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 186.
Two lead screws 183 and 184 by rotation of 6
Is configured to rotate in conjunction with each other. The motor 186 is driven by the drive circuit 43 according to the control signal of the motor control circuit 41 shown in FIG.

Although omitted in FIG. 26, position detection is performed at a position where the print head 11 comes into contact with the side surface of the support base 12 when the print head 11 is at the initial position in the main scanning direction, as in the first embodiment. A container 16 is provided. The print control circuit 30 shown in FIG. 4 can be applied to this embodiment almost as it is, only by reconnecting so as to drive the motor 186 by the drive circuit 43 as described above.

In this embodiment, every time one line of printing is completed while the print head 11 is moved in the arrow X direction by the rotation of the motor 182, the print head 11 is moved by one line in the arrow Y direction by the rotation of the motor 186. Printing on the entire sheet P becomes possible by moving only by the amount. Therefore, according to this embodiment, not only the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, but also since the paper P is fixed and printing is performed,
It is possible to print with higher accuracy, and it is possible to further improve the printing quality.

The eleventh embodiment is provided with the print head 11 according to the first embodiment.
The same effect can be obtained with any of the print heads of the fifth embodiment.

Next, FIG. 27 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is the same as the eleventh embodiment.
Instead of the single print head 11 in the embodiment, a print head 10 including a plurality of printing units according to the sixth embodiment.
0, and the other structure is the same as that of the 11th embodiment (FIG. 26). This embodiment can be similarly driven by the print control circuit 110 shown in FIG.
In that case, the motor 182 is driven by the drive circuit 123 according to the control signal of the motor control circuit 121, and the motor 186 is driven by the drive circuit 124 according to the control signal of the motor control circuit 122.

In this embodiment, every time the print head 100 is moved in the arrow X direction by the rotation of the motor 182 and printing of n lines is completed, the motor 186 is rotated to move the print head 100 in the arrow Y direction by n lines. Printing on the entire sheet P becomes possible by moving only by the amount. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, not only the same effect as the sixth embodiment can be obtained, but also as in the eleventh embodiment, more accurate printing can be performed, and the printing quality can be further improved. realizable.

The twelfth embodiment is provided with the print head 100 according to the sixth embodiment, but any of the print heads of the seventh to tenth embodiments may be provided. , A similar effect is obtained.

In the embodiment described above, in which the print head is composed of a plurality of printing units, the plurality of printing units are arranged in a row and in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction (sub-scanning direction). However, various arrangement configurations other than the above can be adopted in the present invention.
For example, as shown in FIG.
Arrangement direction when _{1 to} 100 _n are arranged in one row (arrow M
Direction) with respect to the main scanning direction (arrow X direction) by an angle θ (<
90 degrees) it is also possible to have a, or drawing (s printing unit 100 ₁ to 100 as shown in b)
It is also possible to arrange _n in two rows in a staggered pattern. By doing so, the interval between the print lines can be substantially narrowed, and therefore higher density printing can be realized. In the case of FIG. 7A, the printing density becomes higher as the angle θ becomes smaller, and in the case of FIG. 6B, the array configuration has three or more rows, or the arrangement of a plurality of rows is shown in FIG. ), The print density can be further increased by arranging at an angle θ. In addition, when the angle θ is provided or arranged in a plurality of columns as described above, it is necessary to control the printing start timing in each printing unit to be different according to the arrangement position so that all the printing start positions are aligned. However, such control is easy.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the ink is filled in the ink chamber or the ink pipe as the ink storing means provided in the print head. The ink may be stored in a container provided and the ink may be guided from there to the ink chamber or the ink pipe through some ink guiding means.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the paper P and the print head are moved together (first to tenth embodiments),
Also, although the paper P is fixed and only the print head is moved (the eleventh and twelfth embodiments), the print head may be fixed and only the paper P may be moved.

[0102]

According to the present invention, printing can be performed by simply displacing the piezoelectric element while the tip (rotating ball) of the print head is always in sliding contact with the paper, so that the print head is struck on the paper. Not only does the conventional noise not occur, but uniform print quality can be obtained. Further, since the time required for displacing the piezoelectric element is extremely short, high-speed printing which has never been possible becomes possible. Further, in the case where the print head is composed of a plurality of printing units, a plurality of lines can be printed at the same time, so that printing can be performed at a higher speed.

Moreover, since the energy required for the displacement of the piezoelectric element is extremely small, the power consumption can be greatly reduced, and a large drive source such as a solenoid for driving the entire print head is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the entire device and further reduce the price.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing in detail a configuration of a print head in a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship among a rotating ball, a piezoelectric element, and an electrode thereof in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a print control circuit in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the positional relationship between the rotating ball, the piezoelectric element, and its electrodes shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a displacement state of a push block, an arm and a pin according to displacement of a piezoelectric actuator in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the displacement state of the shell according to the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a displacement state of a shell lower end portion according to displacement of a piezoelectric actuator in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship among a rotating ball, a piezoelectric element, and electrodes thereof in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram of a print control circuit in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of one printing unit in the printing apparatus of the embodiment in more detail.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of one printing unit in the printing apparatus of the embodiment in more detail.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of one printing unit in the printing apparatus of the same embodiment in more detail, and showing the displacement state of the lower end of the shell according to the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator.

FIG. 23 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing in detail the configuration of the print head in the printing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of one printing unit in the printing apparatus of the embodiment in more detail.

FIG. 26 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a diagram schematically showing an arrangement configuration of a plurality of printing units in a printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional printing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 print head 12 support base 13 lead screw 14 platen 15 paper feed roll 16 position detector 21 rotating ball 22 support member 22a piezoelectric element 23 spring 24 ink pipe 30 print control circuit 60 print head 61 shell 62 ink pipe 63 pin 64, 66 arm 67 Push Block 68 Piezoelectric Actuator 70 Print Head 72 Shell 73 Ink Pipe 74 Piezoelectric Actuator 80 Print Head 81 Shell 82 Ink Pipe 83a, 83b Piezoelectric Actuator 90 Print Head 91 Receptacle 92 Ball Presser 93 Spring Presser 94 Push Plate 95 Spring 96 Piezoelectric Actuator 97 ink pipe 100 print head 100 ₁ to 100 _n printing unit 101 ₁ to 101 _n rotational ball 102 piezoelectric element 103 Ink chamber 110 print controller 140 print head 140 ₁ to 140 _n printing unit 141 ₁ ~141 _n pin 142 shell 143 ink pipe 144 piezoelectric actuator 145 arm 147 push block 150 the print head 150 ₁ to 150 DEG _n printing section 152 shell 153 Ink chamber 154 Piezoelectric actuator 160 Printing head 160 _{1 to} 160 _n Printing unit 162 Shell 163 Ink chamber 164a, 164b Piezoelectric actuator 170 Printing heads 170 _{1 to} 170 _n Printing unit 171 Receiving seat 172 Ball retainer 173 Spring 174 Spring retainer 175 Push plate 176 Ink chamber 177 Piezoelectric actuators 181a, 181b Lead screw holding member 182 Motors 183, 184 Lead screw 185 Belt 1 6 Motor

Continuation of the front page (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 3-130058 (32) Priority date No. 3 (1991) May 31 (33) Country of priority claim Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 3-227457 (32) Priority Day No. 3 (1991) September 6 (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 3-227458 (32) Priority Day No. 3 (1991) September 6 (33) Japan claiming priority (JP)

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink storage means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, a support for the rotating ball, and restraining the rotation of the rotating ball according to a control signal. A print head including a piezoelectric element, support means for supporting the print head so that the rotary ball contacts the paper, print data storage means for storing print data, the print head and the paper And a control signal creating means for creating the control signal based on the print data, the rotating ball being moved by the control means in accordance with the print data during movement by the moving means. A printing device characterized by restraining the rotation of the printer. 2. An ink storing means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, a supporting means for supporting the rotating ball, and a piezoelectric element displaced by a control signal. And a transmission means for transmitting the displacement amount of the piezoelectric element to the rotating ball and restraining the rotation by urging the rotating ball to the supporting means, and the printing head for the rotating ball. Supporting means for contacting the paper with the paper, print data storing means for storing print data, moving means for relatively moving the print head and the paper, and the control signal based on the print data. Controlling the rotation of the rotating ball by the control means in accordance with the print data during movement by the movement means. Printing apparatus according to symptoms. 3. An ink storing means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, a holding means having a holding portion for holding the rotating ball, and the holding portion. By narrowing the holding means to switch the holding force of the holding means to a strong holding force, and a print head comprising a piezoelectric element that restrains the rotation of the rotating ball and operates according to a control signal; Support means for supporting the print head and the print data storage means for storing print data, moving means for relatively moving the print head and the paper, and creating the control signal based on the print data. Control signal generating means, and restraining the rotation of the rotating ball by the control means in accordance with the print data during movement by the moving means. Printing apparatus according to symptoms. 4. An ink storing means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, and a holding means provided with a holding portion for holding the rotating ball at a tip thereof. A print head, which is provided on a side portion of the sandwiching portion, is provided with a piezoelectric element that expands in response to a control signal to displace the sandwiching portion inward and restrains the rotation of the rotating ball; and Support means for supporting the paper so as to abut, print data storage means for storing print data, moving means for relatively moving the print head and the paper, and the control signal based on the print data. A control signal generating means for generating the control signal, wherein the control means restrains the rotation of the rotating ball according to the print data during movement by the moving means. Apparatus. 5. An ink storage means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, and a holding means for holding the rotating ball by the first and second holding portions. An urging means for urging the second holding part toward the first holding part to restrain the rotation of the rotating ball; and a piezoelectric element for releasing the urging force of the urging means by energization. A print head comprising: a print head; a support means for supporting the print head so that the rotating ball contacts the paper; a print data storage means for storing print data; and a print head and the paper relative to each other. And a control signal creating means for creating the control signal based on the print data, and the control means creates the control signal according to the print data while moving by the moving means. Printing apparatus characterized by allowing rotation of Lumpur. 6. An ink storage means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation due to sliding contact with a sheet, a rotating ball supported for restraining the rotation of the rotating ball according to a control signal. A print head having a plurality of printing units arranged with a piezoelectric element, a support unit for supporting the print head so that the rotary ball contacts the paper, and a print data storage for storing print data. Means, moving means for moving the print head and the paper sheet relative to each other, and control signal creating means for creating the control signal based on the print data, the print data being moved during the movement by the moving means. A printing device, wherein the rotation of the rotating ball is restricted by the control means according to the above. 7. An ink accommodating means for accommodating ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation due to sliding contact with a sheet, a supporting means for supporting the rotating ball, and a piezoelectric element displaced by a control signal. And a transmission means for transmitting the displacement amount of the piezoelectric element to the rotating ball and restraining the rotation by urging the rotating ball to the supporting means. Head, support means for supporting the print head so that the rotating ball contacts the paper, print data storage means for storing print data, and moving means for relatively moving the print head and the paper. And a control signal creating unit that creates the control signal based on the print data, and the control unit creates the control signal according to the print data during movement by the moving unit. Printing apparatus characterized by constraining the rotation of Lumpur. 8. An ink storing means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, a holding means having a holding portion for holding the rotating ball, and the holding portion. A print head comprising a plurality of printing units arranged to switch the holding force of the holding means to a strong holding force by narrowing, and a piezoelectric element that restrains the rotation of the rotating ball and operates according to a control signal; Support means for supporting the print head so that the rotary ball contacts the paper; print data storage means for storing print data; moving means for relatively moving the print head and the paper; A control signal generating means for generating the control signal based on the print data, and the rotation is performed by the control means according to the print data during movement by the moving means. Printing apparatus characterized by constraining the rotation of Lumpur. 9. An ink storage means for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, and a holding means provided with a holding portion for holding the rotating ball at a tip thereof. A print head formed by arranging a plurality of printing units, the piezoelectric unit being provided on a side portion of the holding unit and extending according to a control signal to displace the holding unit inward to restrain rotation of the rotating ball. Support means for supporting the print head so that the rotating ball contacts the paper, print data storage means for storing print data, and moving means for relatively moving the print head and the paper. A control signal generating means for generating the control signal based on the print data, wherein the control means rotates the rotating ball according to the print data during movement by the moving means. Printing apparatus characterized by restraining. 10. An ink storage unit for storing ink, a rotating ball for controlling the outflow of the ink by rotation by sliding contact with a sheet, and a holding unit for holding the rotating ball by the first and second holding units. An urging means for urging the second holding part toward the first holding part to restrain the rotation of the rotating ball; and a piezoelectric element for releasing the urging force of the urging means by energization. A print head having a plurality of printing sections arranged, a support means for supporting the print head so that the rotary ball contacts the paper, and a print data storage means for storing print data, A moving unit that relatively moves the print head and the paper, and a control signal creating unit that creates the control signal based on the print data are provided. According to the print data while moving by the moving unit. A printing apparatus, wherein the control means allows the rotating ball to rotate. 11. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an arrangement direction of a plurality of printing units forming the print head is tilted by less than 90 degrees with respect to a main scanning direction of printing. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of printing units that constitute the print head are arranged in a staggered pattern. 13. The position detecting means for detecting the position of the print head is provided, and the print position on the paper is set based on the output of the position detecting means.
The printing device described in 3.