JPS6025799A - Graphic recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a graphics recording device.

Graphic recording devices typically utilize a pen or similar recording device that is movable relative to a moving recording medium to create a desired recorded display by controlling the combination of movements of the recording medium and recording elements. Let's do it. It is known to use multiple pens as recording elements to perform multi-color slotting.

A device using multiple pens is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,401°40.
It is disclosed in the specification of No. 1. In one embodiment, four pens are used that can be independently selected for each color. However, to select each pen,
It is necessary to operate each pen actuator.

Therefore, the movable support member for the pens must also support and transfer independent pen actuators for each pen. The movable support member must support multiple pens and respective pen actuators for the smaller pens, increasing the overall size and power supply, thus limiting the number of pens to four. Ta.

A means to solve this problem is U.S. Patent No. 4.135.
, No. 245. The device disclosed herein includes a pen container that holds multiple pens and a single pen recording head. The pen to be used for recording is taken from the pen container, and then the recording operation using the pen begins. If a pen needs to be replaced, the recording operation is stopped, the recording head returns the previously used pen to the pen receptacle, and retrieves another pen.

In such devices, the overall weight of the recording head is small because the recording head does not support multiple pens or individual actuators for them.

However, each time a pen is replaced, the user must return the previous pen and bring in a new pen, which takes additional time and unduly increases the overall recording time.

The two devices described above have been commonly used in the United States. Although these devices are typically numerically controlled, the performance of either device is not commensurate with the capabilities of the controller.

For example, if the overall weight is heavy, a heavy mechanism is required to keep it still, making acceleration and accuracy difficult. Also, if time is spent, for example, in retrieving a pen, this will cause an unnecessary time delay in the control device.

An improved version of the two devices described above is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 4.
No. 10,504 specification, book (Japanese Patent Application No. 1984-1s4o
No. 12). The device shown here allows the use of multiple pens without the need for individual actuators for each pen, and without the time delays associated with bringing and returning pens. However, although this device utilizes a single actuator, this actuator is carried along with the movable element, one of which
The amount must be adjusted appropriately. This actuator, in the preferred embodiment, must be movable, electrically coupled to the element, and powered. Additionally, in some embodiments, it may control two positioning devices. Na Lena must be.

The purpose of the present invention is to obtain the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 58-554022.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a graphic recording device that is more compact in use than the device disclosed in the above specification and can use a plurality of pens. Actuation of the pens is by an actuation arm carried on and rotatable with a rod, the rod being supported pivotably about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage for the plurality of pens. ing.

The actuation arm and carriage are selectively interlocked by catch means. Rotation of the rod is controlled by a double-acting linear motion device, such as a solenoid, acting on swing arms mounted on the rod. When the solenoid is in the O position, the actuating arm mechanically engages one of the pens and is interlocked with the carriage via detent means. When the solenoid is in the other position, the detent means is unlocked and the actuation arm does not mechanically engage the pen to actuate it. When the solenoid is in the intermediate position, the catch means interlocks the actuating arm and the carriage, but the actuating arm never mechanically engages the pen to actuate the pen and recording operations are performed. Instead, the actuating arm moves together with the carriage.

The catch means may be formed by a slot provided in the carriage and a key which is held at a 4° angle with the actuating arm so as to be in a resting state or in a disengaged state with the slot.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached figures.

In FIG. 1, a pen carriage 10 has a plurality of pens 11. As shown in FIG. The paint cartridge 7 and 10 may be supported by suitable means so as to be movable in two directions along the path as shown by arrow 12. Typically,
The recording medium is a Benn carriage 10 as is well known.
12 in a direction perpendicular to arrow 12. Movement is transmitted to the carriage 10 via a band 13 which is controlled in a known manner.

The rod 14 has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the passage direction indicated by the arrow 12, and is rotatable about the rod-P axis.
It is supported at an end 15 independently of the carriage 10. A block 16 is supported on the rod 14, and the block 16 is movable in two directions along the direction indicated by the arrow 17.

In the illustrated example, the rod 14 has a rectangular 821 surface and engages with the block 16, so when the iron 2 rod 14 is rotated, rotational force and rotational movement are transmitted to the block 16. Of course, the condo 140 may have a different cross-sectional shape and be engaged with the block 16, but even in that case, when the rod 14 is rotated, rotational force is transmitted to the block 16, and the block 16 is long length 11+
It is desirable to be able to move along the

An actuating arm 18 is carried on the block 16 . The actuating arm 18 extends above the pens 11 of the carriage 1o, and when the rod 14 and block 16 are rotated, the actuating arm 18 engages and depresses one of the pens 11, causing it to move against the recording medium. It is made to work. Block 16 also has 1,000 to 19, which will be discussed in detail later.

The swinging arm 20, which is attached to the a-rad 14, extends to the output shirt 21 of the linear motion device 22. In the preferred embodiment, the linear motion device 22 has the shaft 21 in the extended position; It is a double-acting solenoid that can be placed in a shortened position and in a neutral position.The connection between the shaft 21 and the swinging arm 20 may be based on known techniques.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, when shaft 21 is extended, rod 14 and actuating arm 18 are rotated so that actuating arm 18 does not engage any of the pens 11 of carriage 10. When the shaft 21 is shortened, the rod 14 and the actuating arm 18 are
1 rotates so that it engages the actuating arm 18 and is pushed down. One of the depressed pens 11 is urged to contact the recording medium below the carriage 10. The arrangement between rod 14 and block 16, and the arrangement between actuating arm 18 and key 19 is shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the pen removed to illustrate the function of the key 19. The carriage 10 is provided with a fixed number of slots 25, one slot per pen in the illustrated example. When the rod 14 and block 16 are rotated,
The keys 19 are in one slot 2 where they align with each other.
5 or come out of the slot 25. When the key 19 is inserted into one of the slots 25, the key 19 acts as a catch to interlock the carriage 10 and the screen 16. Once interlocking is achieved, block 16
and the actuating arm 18 moves together with the carriage 10. The slot 25, the key 19 and the actuation arm 18 are
The positions relative to each other are determined such that when the key 19 is positioned in one slot 25, the actuating arm 18 is positioned over one pen 11 carried by the carriage 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the cooperation between the key 19 and the slot 25, with the pen 11 in FIG. 3 taken in section at the slot 25. block 1
6. The positions of the actuating arm 18 and the key 19 shown in solid lines are the positions when the shaft 21 is in the extended state (see FIG. 1).

When the shaft 21 is in the neutral position, the key 19 is positioned in the matching slot 25 and the actuation arm 18 is positioned on the pen 11. In the neutral position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, when the carriage 10 is moved, the block 16 moves in response to the carriage 10 because the key 19 is located in the slot 25. In this manner, carriage 10 and actuating arm 18 move relative to the recording medium without recording it.

When the shaft 21 is moved from the neutral position to the retracted position, the actuating arm 18 engages the pen 11 and depresses the pen 11, causing the recording medium to be recorded as the recording medium and/or the carriage move. It will be done.

Many variations on the invention are possible. For example, block 16 may include one or more keys 19 for engagement in a plurality of slots 25 associated with pen 11. Other means of stopping may also be used. - Furthermore, although the above-described embodiments of the present invention utilize mechanical engagement to actuate the recording element, other than ('lr'%)
44 engagement may also be used. In addition, the linear motion device 22
Alternatively, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder may be used instead of the solenoid, and the rod 14 may have a cross section other than a rectangular cross section.

According to the invention, in selectively activating one of the plurality of recording elements, the actuating device 4 is supported independently of the carriage for the recording element.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the interaction of elements forming one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a side part 1 of a part of the embodiment shown in FIG.
i, i7 view. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the central portion of FIG. 1, with the pen removed for clarity. FIG. 4 is for illustrating the interaction between the parts shown in FIG. 2 of one embodiment of the invention, the carriage of the pen shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the pen shown in FIG. Side cross section l\L 10 Carriage 11 ... Recording element (pen) 14
Rondo 18 Actuation arm 19 Key-20 Swing arm 22-linear movement device 25...Thron 1・'1'
4r Applicant Hisashi Nikolette Instrument Corporation Agent Roshi I, Kyozo Yuasa (4 others)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A carriage carrying m + x number of recording elements, capable of moving in two directions with respect to a recording medium along a path and recording on the recording surface. A graphics recording device of the type comprising a carriage having selective actuation means for selectively actuating said recording elements by mechanical engagement, said selective actuation means extending along a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said path. a rond having a shaft and supported separately and independently from the carriage so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal length 11+; 1. A graphics recording apparatus comprising: actuating means movable by the actuating member; and detent means for selectively interlocking the actuating means and said carriage in predetermined relative positions. (2) The stopper means has a plurality of slots provided in the carriage 7 so as to be in a predetermined relationship with the recording element, and may be in an engaged shaft with the slots or in a non-engaged state. 2. The graph ink recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a key that is carried by said actuating means and is rotatable together with said actuating means. (3) The selection actuation means includes means for determining the rotational position of the rond, which is supported separately and independently of the carriage and the actuation means. Graph ink recording device as described in section. (4) The selection actuation means includes means supported separately and independently of the carriage and the actuation means for selectively rotating the rond to a first or second angular position. The graph ink recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that: (5) The stopper means engages or disengages with a plurality of slots provided in the carriage so as to have a predetermined relationship with the recording element. 5. The graph ink recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a key carried by said actuating means and rotatable together with said actuating means. (6) When the rond is in the first angular position, one recording element is mechanically engaged with the actuating means and is operable, and when the rond is in the second angular position, one recording element is operable. Neither recording element is mechanically engaged and inoperable with the actuating means, and when the rond is in the first angular position, the key engages the slot and the rond is inoperable. 7. The graph ink recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the key is not engaged with the slot when the key is in the second angular position. said means for selectively rotating said rond comprises means for selectively rotating said rond to a third angular position intermediate said first and second angular positions. and when the rond is in the third angular position, the key is engaged with the slot and neither recording element is engaged with the actuating means. The graphic recording device according to item 6 of the Patent characterized by: (8) The patent characterized in that the actuation means includes an actuation arm that can be mechanically engaged with the recording element. The graph ink recording device according to claim 7. (9) The means for selectively rotating the rond comprises a swinging art attached to the rond, and the swinging arm. 9. The graphic recording device according to claim 8, further comprising: a double-acting linear motion device that can operate the device and take a neutral position. (10) The actuating means: The graph ink recording device according to claim 1, wherein the graph ink recording device is movable along the rond by a force transmitted by the lining means.