JPH0712683B2 - Displacement magnifying mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Outline] Regarding a displacement magnifying mechanism suitable for increasing the speed of a print head, etc., an aim is to provide a low-cost displacement magnifying mechanism that can operate at high speed and has high displacement magnifying efficiency. A thin plate-shaped first hinge whose one end is fixed to one end of the arm, one end of which is fixed to the other end of the first hinge via a joining member, and the other end of which is A piezoelectric element fixed to a fixing member; and a thin plate-shaped second hinge having one end fixed to the arm at a position parallel and close to the first hinge and the other end fixed to the fixing member. In the displacement magnifying mechanism, the first and second hinges are fixed to the arm with a spacer having a predetermined thickness interposed therebetween.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a displacement magnifying mechanism suitable for increasing the speed of a print head.

In recent years, it has been desired to increase the printing speed in a printing device. In order to meet this demand, a piezoelectric element is used as a drive source, but an efficient displacement magnifying mechanism is required to realize higher speed.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a conventional displacement magnifying mechanism 10. The displacement magnifying mechanism 10 includes an arm 1 and thin plate-shaped first and second hinges.
2, 3 and the piezoelectric element 4 are provided.

One end (upper end) of the first hinge 2 is fixed to one end (right end) of the arm 1 and the other end (lower end) thereof is connected to one end (upper end) of the piezoelectric element 4 with the joining member 5. It is fixed through.

The second hinge 3 has one end fixed to the arm 1 in parallel and close to the first hinge 2 and the other end fixed to the fixing member 6.

The other end (lower end) of the piezoelectric element 4 is fixed to the fixing member 6.

The operation of the displacement magnifying mechanism having such a configuration is as follows.

When the piezoelectric element 4 is charged by energization, the displacement of the piezoelectric element 4 causes the joining member 5 to move upward by a predetermined amount, and a compressive force acts on the first hinge 2. As a result, the hinges 2 and 3 are deformed like chain lines by the bimetal effect, and the arm 1
Rotates clockwise to the position of the chain line. When this displacement magnifying mechanism is applied to the print head, the print wire 7 is fixed to the other end (left end) of the arm 1 to form the print head. Is printed. In this case, the printing wire 7 is given an enlarged displacement, and a sufficient printing stroke is obtained. Then, when the energization of the piezoelectric element 4 is stopped at a predetermined time (in the case of a print head, immediately before the completion of printing), the piezoelectric element 4 starts to be discharged, and the arm 1 returns to each hinge as the piezoelectric element 4 which has completed the discharge returns. It returns to the original position with a few. In this case, the displacement and return of the piezoelectric element 4 are performed quickly, so
When the displacement magnifying mechanism is applied to the print head, the printing speed can be increased.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In such a conventional structure, when fixing the hinges 2 and 3 to the arm 1, the two grooves 8 and 8 are formed in the arm 1 as shown in FIG.
9 was formed, and the upper ends of the hinges 2 and 3 were fitted in the grooves 8 and 9, respectively, and fixed by adhesion or the like.

By the way, in order to improve the displacement expansion efficiency, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the hinges 2 and 3, that is, the distance between the grooves 8 and 9.

However, it is difficult to process such a groove with a small interval with high accuracy, and the cost is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost displacement magnifying mechanism that can operate at high speed and has high displacement magnifying efficiency.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, an arm, a thin plate-shaped first hinge having one end fixed to one end of the arm, and one end of the other end of the first hinge. A piezoelectric element fixed to the fixing member via a joining member and the other end fixed to the fixing member, and one end fixed to the arm at a position parallel and close to the first hinge, and the other end fixed to the fixing member. In the displacement magnifying mechanism including the thin plate-shaped second hinge, the first and second hinges are fixed to the arm with a space having a predetermined thickness interposed therebetween.

[Action]

The operation principle of this displacement magnifying mechanism is the same as that of the conventional one described above, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

The first and second hinges are fixed to the arm with a space of a predetermined thickness sandwiched between them, and the distance between the first and second hinges is determined by the thickness of the spacer, so the accuracy of the distance is fixed. The improvement is easy, and the displacement magnifying efficiency can be improved by reducing the plate thickness of the spacer. Moreover, since the groove on the arm side required for fixing the first and second hinges is only one, and the machining accuracy is not so required, the machining can be performed at low cost.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the displacement magnifying mechanism of this embodiment, and the same members as in the prior art are designated by the same reference numerals.

This displacement magnifying mechanism differs from the conventional ones in the first and second hinges.
It is the structure of a few fixed parts. To fix the first and second hinges 2 and 3, a groove 11 is formed in the arm 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and the first and second hinges 2 and 3 are fixed to a predetermined thickness. Spacer 1
2 is inserted into the groove 11 and is fixed by adhesion or the like. In this case, if the first and second hinges 2 and 3 and the spacer 12 are previously integrated by spot welding or the like and then inserted into the groove 11, the fixing work becomes easy.

Thus, the first and second hinges 2 and 3 are fixed to the arm 1 with the spacer 12 having a predetermined thickness interposed therebetween, and the distance between the first and second hinges 2 and 3 is Since the thickness of the spacer 12 determines the plate thickness of the spacer 12, it is easy to improve the accuracy of the distance. By reducing the plate thickness of the spacer 12, the displacement magnifying efficiency can be improved. Further, the groove 11 on the arm 1 side required for fixing the first and second hinges 2 and 3 need only be one, and the machining accuracy is not so required, so that the machining can be performed at low cost.

When the displacement magnifying mechanism having such a structure is applied to the print head (the print wire 7 is fixed to the left end of the arm 1), a print head having a high displacement magnifying efficiency and capable of operating at high speed can be obtained.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a displacement magnifying mechanism that has high displacement magnifying efficiency, can operate at high speed, and is inexpensive.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a displacement magnifying mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the groove shape of an arm, FIG. 3 is a side view showing a conventional displacement magnifying mechanism, and FIG. In the same figure, 1 is an arm, 2 and 3 are first and second hinges, 4 is a piezoelectric element, 5 is a joining member, 11 is a groove, and 12 is a spacer. .

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An arm (1), a thin plate-shaped first hinge (2) having one end fixed to one end of the arm (1), and one end of the first hinge (2). ) Is fixed to the other end of the arm via a joining member (5) and the other end of the arm is fixed to the piezoelectric member (4) in parallel and close to the first hinge (2). 1) A displacement magnifying mechanism having a thin plate-shaped second hinge (3) having one end fixed to the fixing member and the other end fixed to a fixing member, wherein the first and second hinges (2, 3) are A displacement magnifying mechanism, characterized in that it is fixed to the arm (1) with a spacer (12) having a predetermined thickness interposed therebetween.