JPS63120662A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive a reduction in weight and enable a movable part and an inclinable body to be lightly moved, by forming a main body of a frame, the movable part and the inclinable part in a body from a single metallic plate, and setting the material thickness of the movable part and that of the inclinable body inclusive of hinge parts to be smaller than those of the other parts. CONSTITUTION:When a voltage is applied between both electrodes for a piezoelectric element 5 and the element 5 is extended in the direction of an arrow A, the extension of the element 5 is amplified by an inclining motion of an inclinable body 17 and elastic deformations of leaf springs 18, 19 into curved forms, whereby a stroke of a print wire 21 necessary for printing can be obtained. When the element 5 is contracted to an initial state, each of an interlocked body 14, the inclinable body 17 and the leaf springs 18, 19 is returned to an initial state, whereby the print wire 21 is retracted. The plate thicknesses of both ink parts 8, 9 inclusive of first to fourth hinge parts 10-13, an upper half part of the interlocked body 14 and the inclinable body 17 inclusive of fifth and sixth hinge parts 15, 16 are set to be smaller than those of the other parts. Therefore, at the time of extension or contraction of the piezoelectric element 5, the first to sixth hinge parts 10-13, 15, 16 are elastically deformed smoothly, and the interlocked body 14 and the inclinable body 17 reduced in weight can be lightly moved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a printing device in which a printing wire is moved forward and backward by expanding and contracting a piezoelectric element by applying voltage in a printing head of a wire dot type printer. be.

(Prior art) This type of printing device includes, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-18867
There is something disclosed in the Nitan gazette.

In addition, in such a printing device, a frame body supporting a piezoelectric element, a tilting body tiltably supported by the frame body via a hinge portion, and a tilting body disposed between the piezoelectric element and the tilting body. The printing wire is moved forward and backward by tilting a tilting body via the movable part by expanding and contracting the piezoelectric element by applying a voltage.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, if the frame body, the movable part, and the tilting body are formed separately and these members are assembled, the number of parts will increase and the structure will become complicated, resulting in a loss of 1. -Becomes high.

For this reason, there are some devices in which the frame body, movable portion, and tilting body are integrally formed from a single metal plate of a predetermined thickness.

However, the part that supports the piezoelectric element needs to be thick enough to face the entire end face of the element, and if the frame body, movable part, and tilting body are integrally formed with a single metal plate with that thickness, printing Not only does the tJjQ of the device increase, but also the width of the hinge part that can be processed is limited by the thickness of the plate material, so the width of the hinge part cannot be made sufficiently small, and the nimbleness of the movement of the movable parts and tilting bodies is reduced. This results in problems such as difficulty in coping with higher printing speeds.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, in the present invention, a frame body supporting a piezoelectric element, a tilting body tiltably supported by the frame body via a hinge part, and a structure in which the piezoelectric element and the tilting body are connected to each other are provided. and a movable part disposed between the piezoelectric elements, and a printing wire is moved forward and backward by tilting a tilting body via the movable part by expanding and contracting the piezoelectric element by applying a voltage. , the frame body, the movable part, and the tilting body are integrally formed from a single metal plate, and the movable part and the tilting body including the hinge part are formed to have a thinner wall thickness than other parts. .

(Function) Therefore, the present invention minimizes the number of parts by integrally forming the frame main body, the movable part, and the tilting body from a single metal plate, and the tilting body including the movable part and the hinge part. By making the wall thickness thinner than the other parts, the plate thickness is ensured to be large enough to receive the entire end face of the piezoelectric element, and the piezoelectric element is protected from destruction due to unbalanced partial deformation. While being protected, the weight can be reduced, and the width of the hinge can be made sufficiently small, allowing the movable part and the tilting body to move easily.

(Example 1) Example 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

In FIG. 1, which is a perspective view showing the main parts of the printing device installed in the print head of a dot matrix printer, and FIG. 2, which is shown from the side, a frame main body 1 is shown.
is formed from a metal plate with a predetermined thickness. This frame body 1 is one end surface (lower end surface in Fig. 2) of the piezoelectric element.
A base part 2 having a support surface 2a for supporting the base part 2, a first support hole 3 formed on one side (the left side in FIG. 2) of the base part 2, and a first support part 3 formed on the other side (the left side in FIG. The side surface is formed into a substantially U-shape, with the second support body 4 formed on the right side in FIG. 2 as the main body. A piezoelectric element 5 made of laminated piezoelectric ceramic is supported on the support surface 2a of the base portion 2 by adhesive or the like at its lower end surface.

A recess 6 is formed inside the first support rest 3 at a substantially mid-height position. On the inner surface of the four parts 6 are parallel link parts 8 of the same length that face each other vertically across the elongated separation hole 7.
9 are connected at each one end thereof by first and second elastically deformable hinge parts 10 and 11. The other end of each of these link portions 8.9 has a third elastically deformable third
The interlocking body 14 is connected by a fourth hinge part 12.13. And for the first support rest 3, the interlocking body 14
is supported so as to be movable in parallel in the direction of expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element 5 in a state in which its lower surface is joined to the upper end surface of the piezoelectric element 5.

The second support body 3 provided on the other side of the frame main body 1 is the same as the above-mentioned 3! ! It extends to approximately the same height as the upper surface of the sacral body 14. A tilting body 17 is connected to the upper surfaces of the second support body 4 and the interlocking body 14 at their proximal ends by elastically deformable fifth and sixth hinge parts 15.16. When the piezoelectric element 5 expands and contracts, the tilting body 1
7 is adapted to be tilted using the sixth hinge portion 16 on the second support body 4 side as a fulcrum.

The upper end portion of the tilting body 17 extends to approximately the same height as the upper end surface of the first support body 3 .

As shown in FIG. 3, a first leaf spring 18 made of a substantially rectangular leaf spring material is fixed to the upper end surface of the tilting body 17 at its base by welding, brazing, or the like.

A second leaf spring material 19 made of a leaf spring material longer than the first leaf spring 18 is fixed to the upper end surface of the first support body 3 at its base by welding, brazing, etc. . The second leaf spring 19 is superimposed along the lower surface of the first leaf spring 18 so that it can be elastically deformed independently of the first leaf spring 18.
A hole 19a is formed through the hole 19a, into which the upper part of the tilting member 7 is loosely fitted and which is large enough to allow the tilting body 17 to tilt.

Further, the tip of the second leaf spring 19 is connected to the first leaf spring 1.
The end portions of both the first and second leaf springs 18 and 19 are fixed to each other by brazing.

A wire support arm 20 is fixed to the mutually fixed distal ends of the first and second leaf springs by brazing at the bifurcated portions of the M end thereof. The base end of the printing wire 21 is fixed to the tip of the print wire 21 by brazing.

A plate of both link parts 8 and 9 including the first to fourth hinge parts 10 to 13, the upper half of the moving body 14, and the tilting body 17 including the fifth and sixth hinge parts 15 and 16. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the thickness is about half that of the other parts. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the movable parts (first to fourth hinge parts 10 to 13, both link parts 8.9 and interlocking body 14) and the tilting body 17, and also to By smoothing the elastic deformation of 10.11.12.13 and 15.16, it is possible to cope with higher speeds.

Further, in this embodiment, a metal bottom plate of a predetermined thickness is processed by transfer press processing to first pressurize the portions where the movable part, the tilting body 17, and each hinge part are to be formed, and then reduce the thickness of the metal bottom plate. After that, each part is formed by punching. The parts of the interlocking body 14 and the base part 2 that face the piezoelectric element 5 are left to have approximately the same thickness as the piezoelectric element 5, so that the end face of the piezoelectric element 5 is received as a whole.

In this first embodiment configured as described above, when a voltage is applied between both electrodes of the piezoelectric element 5 and the piezoelectric element 5 extends in the six directions of arrows in FIG. In the state supported by the portions 8.9, the piezoelectric element 5 is translated in the direction in which the piezoelectric element 5 extends. The interlocking body 1
4, the tilting body 17 is tilted in the direction of arrow B using the sixth hinge portion 16 on the second support body 4 side as a fulcrum.

As the tilting body 17 is tilted in the direction of arrow B, the first leaf spring 18 of the first and second leaf springs 18 and 19 whose base is fixed to the tip surface of the tilting body 17 is first moved. When it is extruded, it is elastically deformed into a curved shape at its middle portion, as shown in FIG.

Then, the second leaf spring 19 whose base is fixed to the upper end surface of the first support body 3 of the frame body 1 is attached to the first leaf spring 18.
With the deformation of , it is elastically deformed into a curved shape. As a result, the wire support arm 20 fixed to the tips of the first and second leaf springs 18, 19 is tilted forward, and the printing wire 21 is guided by a predetermined number of guide members 22. The leading edge is advanced to the printing position.

That is, the elongation of the piezoelectric element 5 is significantly expanded by the tilting movement of the tilting body 17 and the curved elastic deformation by both the first and second leaf springs 18 and 19, so that the printing wire 21 necessary for printing is expanded. You get a stroke.

When the piezoelectric element 5 is shortened to its original state, the interlocking body 14
, the tilting body 17 and both the first and second leaf springs 18, 19 are returned to their original states, and the printing wire 21 is retracted.

The thickness of both link parts 8 and 9 including the first to fourth hinge parts 10 to 13 and the upper half of the interlocking body 14, and the thickness of the tilting body 17 including the fifth and sixth hinge parts 15 and 16. Since the plate thickness is thinner than other parts, when the piezoelectric element 5 expands and contracts, the first to sixth hinge parts 10, 11, 12, 13, 15
．． 16 is smoothly elastically deformed, and the interlocking body 14 and the tilting body 17, which are lighter in weight due to their thinner walls, can move easily.

Furthermore, in this embodiment 1, when the piezoelectric element 5 expands and contracts, the interlocking body 14 is supported by the link portion 8.9 with respect to the first support portion 3 of the frame body 1. The piezoelectric element 5 is moved in parallel in the direction of expansion and contraction. This prevents bending moment from acting on the piezoelectric element 5, and prevents the piezoelectric element 4 from being affected by tensile load.
damage can be prevented. Furthermore, although the tilting body 17, each movable part, and each hinge part are made thin, the entire surfaces of both ends of the piezoelectric element 5 are supported by the interlocking body 14 and the base part 2, so that the piezoelectric element 5 partially It is possible to prevent damage due to unbalanced deformation.

(Example 2) Next, Example 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 6, a frame body 1 made of a metal plate with a predetermined thickness includes a base portion 2 having a support surface 2a that supports one end surface (lower end surface in FIG. 6) of a piezoelectric element 5. , and the support body 3 formed on one side (the left side in FIG. 6) of the base portion 2 as the main body, the side surface is formed in an abbreviated shape. A piezoelectric element 5 made of laminated piezoelectric ceramic is supported on the support surface 2a of the base portion 2 by adhesive or the like at its lower end surface.

Inside the support body 3 at approximately the middle height position, there are first and second links 8.9 of the same length and parallel, vertically opposing each other with a long separation hole 7 in between, at one end of each. , are connected by first and second elastically deformable hinge parts 10.11. A moving body 14 is connected to the other ends of the first and second links 8 and 9 by elastically deformable third and fourth hinge parts 12 and 13. And for support 3,
The interlocking body 14 is supported so as to be movable in parallel in the expansion and contraction direction of the piezoelectric element 5 in a state where its lower surface is joined to the upper end surface of the piezoelectric element 5.

A tilting body 17 is formed on the first link 8 so as to be integral with the link 8 and parallel to the support body 3 and having the same width as the length of the link.

The upper end of the tilting body 17 extends to a position higher than the upper end surface of the support 3 by a predetermined height, and is located on one side (the side facing the inner surface of the support 3) of the tip of the tilting body 17. for,
A notched holding groove 17a is formed.

A first plate spring 18 is fixed at its base to the holding groove 17a of the tilting body 17 by welding, brazing, or the like. In this embodiment, the first leaf spring 18 is formed of a substantially rectangular leaf spring material, and has a square hole 18a through which the tilting body 17 can be inserted into the center thereof. The first plate spring 18 has its hole 18
In a, it is inserted into the upper end of the tilting body 17, and the base piece 18e is fixed by welding, brazing, etc. with the base piece 18e being inserted into the holding groove 17a.

A second leaf spring 19 made of a leaf spring material longer than the first leaf spring 18 is fixed to the upper end surface of the support body 3 at its base by welding, brazing, or the like. The second leaf spring 19 is superimposed along the lower surface of the first leaf spring 18 so that it can be elastically deformed independently of the first leaf spring 18, and the tilting body 17 is located in the center of the plate surface. The upper part is loosely fitted and a hole 19aIfi of a size that allows the tilting body 17 to tilt is provided through the hole 19aIfi.

Furthermore, the tip of the second leaf spring 19 extends to the tip of the leaf spring 18, and both the first and second leaf springs 1
The tips of 8.19 are fixed together by brazing.

A wire support arm 20 is fixed to the mutually fixed distal ends of the first and second leaf springs 18 and 19 by brazing at the forked portion of the proximal end thereof. The base end of a printing wire 21 is fixed to the tip of the support arm 20 by brazing.

Also, in the second embodiment, the first to sixth hinge portions 10.11.12.13.15 are substantially similar to the first embodiment.
, 16, the plate thickness of the first and second links 8°9, the tilting body 17, and the interlocking body 14 is formed by press working to be about half thinner than the other parts, as shown in FIG. .

In this second embodiment configured as described above, when a voltage is applied between both electrodes of the piezoelectric element 5 and the piezoelectric element 5 extends in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7, 3! I! Moving object 1
4 is moved in parallel in the direction in which the piezoelectric element 5 extends while being supported by both the first and second links 8 and 9. As the interlocking body 14 moves, the first link 8 is tilted about the first hinge portion 10, and the tilting body 17 is tilted in the direction of arrow B together with the first link 8.

When the tilting body 17 is tilted in the direction of arrow B, the bases of the first and second leaf springs 18 and 19 whose tips are fixed to each other are first fixed to the upper end surface of the tilting body 17. The first leaf spring 18 is tensioned. Then, the second leaf spring 19 whose base is fixed to the upper end surface of the first support body 3 of the frame body 1 is elastically deformed into a curved shape as the first leaf spring 18 is pulled, and thereby the first leaf spring 19 is elastically deformed into a curved shape. The spring 18 is also elastically deformed into a curved shape in the same direction. Then, the wire support arm 20 fixed to the tips of the first and second leaf springs 18, 19 is tilted forward, and the printing wire 21 is guided by a predetermined number of guide members (not shown). , its leading edge is advanced to the printing position.

That is, in this second embodiment, the first to sixth hinge parts 10.11, 12.13, and 15°16 smoothly elastically deform when the piezoelectric element 5 expands and contracts in substantially the same manner as the first embodiment described above. At the same time, the movement of the interlocking body 14 and the tilting body 17, which are lighter due to the thinner walls, becomes easier.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the frame body,
By integrally forming the movable part and the tilting body from one fully bent plate, the number of parts can be minimized.

In particular, by forming the wall thickness of the movable part and the tilting body including the hinge part to be thinner than other parts, the plate thickness is ensured to be large enough to receive the entire end surface of the piezoelectric element, and can be protected from destruction due to imbalance of local deformation, weight can be reduced, and the width of the hinge can be made sufficiently small. This has the effect that the movable portion and the tilting body can be moved easily, and that it is possible to cope with high-speed printing.

Furthermore, the wall thickness of the movable part and the tilting body including the hinge part can be easily reduced by press working,
Another advantage is that it can be provided at a low price.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 of the drawings show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printing device, FIG. 2 is a side view of the printing device, FIG. 3 is a plan view, and FIG. Figure 4 shows rV-I in Figure 2.
The fifth factor is a side view showing the state in which the tilting body is tilted due to the elongation of the piezoelectric element. Figures 6 and 7 show Example 2 of the present invention. Figure 6 is a printed image. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the device, and a side view showing a state in which the tilting body is tilted due to the expansion of the piezoelectric element. 1... Frame body 5... Piezoelectric element 8... Link part 9... Link part 10... First hinge part 11... Second hinge part 12... Third hinge part 13 ...Fourth hinge part 14...Interlocking body 15...Fifth hinge part 16...Sixth hinge part 17...Tilt body 21...Printing wire

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A frame body supporting a piezoelectric element, a tilting body tiltably supported by the frame body via a hinge part, and a movable part disposed between the piezoelectric element and the tilting body. A printing device comprising: the frame main body, the movable part, and a printing wire that moves forward and backward by tilting a tilting body via the movable part by expanding and contracting the piezoelectric element by applying a voltage; , and the tilting body are integrally formed from a single metal plate, and the movable part and the tilting body including the hinge part are formed to have a thinner wall thickness than other parts.