JPS6178658A - Driving plate for dot printer head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease power consumption and noise and to make possible high speed printing with being a small size and a light weight by a construction wherein a driving section operates corresponding to the displacement of a bonded piezo electric element, a shock absorbing section operates in a reversed direction of the driving direction, and a connecting fixing section, further by forming the pin hole at the tip of the driving section. CONSTITUTION:The piezo electric elements 7A, 7B disposed at the opposite slides 3A, 3B of a driving section 3 are changed the form thereof when a voltage is impressed on them. The driving section 3 is displaced in the direction of an arrow A, and followed to it, an ink tape is dotted with a dot pin 4 is displaced in B direction suddenly. At this time, the shock absorption section 2 is displaced in an opposite direction relative to that of the driving section 3 by the impression of the reversed voltage to the piezo electric element 7C bonded on a shock absorption section 2 simultaneously, and a vibration in a dot time of the dot pin is canceled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a drive plate used in a dot printer head, particularly an impact type printer head.

[Technical background of the invention]

Various types of dot printer heads of this type are known, each having advantages and disadvantages.

Thermal transfer dot printers operate quietly, but have poor thermal stability after printing, and the thermal tape is rapidly consumed.

Furthermore, inkjet printers are prone to ink clogging, making maintenance difficult.

Electromagnetic dot printers do not have the drawbacks mentioned above.
The most common method is to install as many coils as there are pins, making it large and heavy, making it impossible to reduce power consumption during driving.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in an attempt to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and aims to provide a head that is small and lightweight, consumes little power, can print at high speed, and has low noise.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a drive section to which a piezoelectric element is attached, which is driven in accordance with the displacement of the piezoelectric element, and a drive section that is driven in a direction in which the drive section is driven when the drive section is driven. consists of a shock absorbing part that drives in opposite directions, and a coupling fixing part that serves as a common base for the driving part and the shock absorbing part,
Moreover, a driving plate is provided in which a pin hole for a dot pin is formed at the tip of the driving part.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the same code|symbol shall indicate the same object.

In FIG. 1, ``■'' is a driving plate mainly composed of a shock absorbing section 2 and a driving section 3. As shown in FIG. The drive plate 1 is formed into a plate shape so as to be easily driven, and is made of a thin metal plate with a thickness of about 1.5 mm, for example. The material of the drive plate does not necessarily have to be metal; for example, it may be made of elastic synthetic resin.

Further, the shape of the drive plate l is preferably rectangular as shown in FIG. 1, but it is not necessarily limited to this.
For example, it may be square.

The shock absorbing portion 2 is formed by cutting the drive plate l in the middle in a substantially U-shape. Therefore, a movement different from that of the drive unit 3 is possible. Although the shape of the shock absorber 2 is rectangular like the drive plate 1, it is not necessarily limited to this shape, and may be square, for example.

The drive section 3 consists of a side pack 3B and a connecting part 3C that connects the side pack 3B. Therefore, it has a substantially U-shaped shape. A pin hole 5 through which the dot pin 4 is coupled and fixed or penetrated is formed in the connecting portion 3C. The pin holes 5 are arranged in two rows in a zigzag pattern, but the arrangement is not limited to this, and may be in one row or three rows. The number of pin holes 5 is usually selected between 7 and 24.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a coupling and fixing part located at one end of the drive plate 1, and is a part for coupling and fixing the stacked drive plates 1. This coupling and fixing part 6 is connected to both the shock absorbing part 2 and the driving part 3, and serves as a common base for both, and both of them are driven using this coupling and fixing part 6 as a fulcrum. This is a coupling and fixing hole provided in the 6-piece coupling and fixing part 6, and is coupled and fixed together with other driving plates by a bolt and a nut through this hole.

However, there are various types of coupling and fixing means, and for example, welding may be used as appropriate.

The dot pin 4 prints by hitting the ink tape, and its thickness is 0.251 nm to 0.3 ITLI.
'r1 position is common. One dot pin 4 is connected and fixed to each drive plate l. Therefore, the head unit is constructed by stacking a required number of drive plates 1, and as a result, the dot pins 4 protrude by the number of drive plates 1 stacked. Moreover, the dot pins 4 are connected and fixed to different pin holes 5, respectively. Therefore, one dot pin 4 coupled and fixed to one drive plate 1 projects through the corresponding pin hole 5 of the other drive plate 1. The diameter of the pin hole 5 is made slightly larger than the diameter of the dot pin 4, so that the movement of the dot pin 4 within the pin hole 5 is not hindered. Further, as a means for coupling and fixing the dot pin 4 to the pin hole 5, an appropriate means such as welding may be used.

7A and 7B are plate-shaped piezoelectric elements, each of which drives the drive unit 3.
It is attached to the side parts 3A and 3B that constitute the.

The drive section 3 is driven by the displacement of the piezoelectric elements 7A and 7B. 7C is also a plate-shaped piezoelectric element, and in some cases, it can be used by pasting it on both the front and back sides.

Note that the piezoelectric element 7C does not necessarily need to be attached to the shock absorbing portion 2. This shock absorbing section 2 cancels the shock and vibration that occurs when the drive section 3 is driven, especially the shock and vibration when the dot pin 4 hits, by driving in the opposite direction to the driving direction when the drive section 3 is driven. It is something. In this case, even if the shock absorbing section 2 is not forcibly driven in the opposite direction by the attached piezoelectric element, the shock absorbing section 2 can be moved to the drive section 3.
Since it is separated from the drive unit 3, the shock absorption unit 2 will be driven in the opposite direction by itself due to the reaction when the drive unit 3 is driven.
This will contribute to the cancellation of the filming.

However, if the piezoelectric element 7C is attached, this effect will be even more remarkable. By the way, there are various means for driving the shock absorbing section 2 in the opposite direction. For example, a piezoelectric element 7 is used.
It is sufficient to apply a voltage opposite to that applied to A and 7B.

Figure 2 shows piezoelectric elements 7A, 7B, and 7 attached to the drive plate 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an electrical connection portion for applying voltage to C. 8 is an electrode attached to the piezoelectric element 7. 9 is a lead terminal for voltage application, and 9A is a conductive portion. Reference numeral 10 is solder, and the soldering is done in such a way that it is as thin as possible.

The lead terminal 9 is made of a glass epoxy plate coated with copper to a thickness of 0.15 rrm, and has been etched in advance to match the positions of the piezoelectric elements 7A, 7B, and 7C attached to the drive plate 1.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram schematically showing a printer head unit constructed by laminating an appropriate number of driving plates 1 of the above embodiment. 11 indicates each drive plate 1 in order to allow the drive plate 1 to be driven.
This is a spacer that is interposed in between to maintain a predetermined distance. 12 is a bolt passing through the coupling and fixing hole 3 of each drive plate 1;
3 is Natsu.

Next, we will discuss the effects.

When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 7A and 7B of the three people and 3B on both sides of the drive unit 3, the piezoelectric elements 7A and 7B undergo deformation, and the drive unit 3 moves in the direction shown by arrow A in FIG. As the dot pin 5 is displaced, the dot pin 5 moves to B indicated by the arrow in FIG.
The ink tape will be hit by a sudden displacement in the direction. At this time, a voltage opposite to the above voltage is applied to the shock absorbing section 2 at the same time.
By applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element 7C attached to the piezoelectric element 7C, the shock absorbing part 2 is displaced in the opposite direction to the driving part 3, and the dot pin 4
Cancels the vibration when hitting the point.

FIG. 4 shows the input waveform of one shot to the lead terminal 9. Status ■ indicates that the power switch is off. State ■ indicates that the power switch is on, and both sides 3A of the drive unit 3
A negative voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 7A and 7B of ψ3B, and the dot pin 4 is separated from the ink tape. State ■ shows a state in which a shot signal is input and a dot command is issued to the piezoelectric elements 7A and 7B, and the voltage changes from negative to positive voltage at once, and therefore the piezoelectric elements 7A and 7B
is suddenly displaced, and eventually the dot pin 4 hits the ink tape. As soon as the point is finished, it returns to state ■ and prepares for the next time. Since the piezoelectric elements 7A and 7B are capacitive, positive charging and negative charging are repeated repeatedly. Although it is possible to drive only with a positive voltage without relying on the waveform shown in FIG. 4, in this case, the decrease in the tip amplitude of the dot pin 4 may be covered by the entire length of the piezoelectric element.

FIG. 5 shows the dot state of the tip 4A of the dot pin 4 in a positional relationship corresponding to the state ω→■→■ in FIG. 14 is a paper feed tram, 15 is paper, and 16 is an ink tape, which is usually an endless type and gradually shifts its position while being replenished with ink.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but includes various modifications. For example, as described in the above embodiment, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since a piezoelectric element is used as a driving source, power consumption is reduced, and this is particularly effective in extending battery life for portable printers. In addition, the drive plate can be easily made by punching a thin iron plate, making it inexpensive and durable.Moreover, since the unique resonance frequency of each plate can be increased, high-speed printing is possible. Furthermore, compared to the electromagnetic method, the weight of the head as a whole can be reduced because no coil or iron core is required, making it possible to make the head compact and lightweight.

(2) Since the dot pins are attached to the end of the drive plate, even if there are a large number of dot pins that can be attached, it does not take up much space and can be easily installed in high density. Since the slope when moving is gentle, it is possible to print smoothly and without strain.

(3) Due to the presence of the shock absorbing section, vibrations during operation can be canceled and almost completely eliminated. That is, there is less generation of excess mechanical vibration leaking to the outside from the printer head, and therefore noise during operation can be reduced.

Furthermore, if a piezoelectric element is attached to the shock absorbing part so that the behavior is opposite to that of the driving part, this phenomenon becomes even more noticeable, and a printer that can operate at high speed and has less noise can be provided.

(4) As a method of applying the drive voltage to the piezoelectric element, a P-P drive method is used in which the pulse voltage is changed from a negative potential to a positive potential at once without raising it from zero, thereby reducing the loss due to the hysteresis of the drive piece. Therefore, in order to increase the tip amplitude, this P-P drive method can increase the tip amplitude by about 2.5 to 3 times compared to single-site drive in which the potential is changed from zero to positive potential. Therefore, the length of the drive plate can be shortened by that amount, contributing to miniaturization and increased speed of the head.

(5) When increasing the number of dots to further speed up the process,
By installing multiple heads composed of stacked drive plates, the tips of the dot pins are concentrated in one place, and the dot pins can be printed in 2 or 4 rows at the same time (by rubbing, the printing speed can be doubled or quadrupled at once). It can be increased to

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overview diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing an embodiment of the electrical connection portion. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a head unit constructed by laminating drive plates according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the present invention in detail. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the printing section for explaining the function. 2: Shock absorption part, 3: Drive part, 4: Dot pin, 5: Pin hole, 6: Connection fixing part, 7A and 7B = piezoelectric element.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A drive unit (3) to which piezoelectric elements (7A) and (7B) are attached and which is driven according to the displacement of the piezoelectric elements (7A) and (7B); 3), a shock absorbing part (2) that is driven in a direction opposite to the driving direction of the driving part (3), and a base common to the driving part (3) and the shock absorbing part (2). A drive plate for a dot printer head, comprising a coupling and fixing part (6), and a pin hole (5) for a dot pin (4) is formed at the tip of the drive part (3).