JPS6322670A - Recording head rocking mechanism of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select the pressing angle of a recording head in the forward and backward movement of a carrier and thereby enable printing in both directions by holding the recording head at any proper interval provided and enabling the recording head to be pressed to a platen by an energization force applied to a tension arm, when a slide fitting part is positioned on a line connecting a rotating arm to the fitting part. CONSTITUTION:If a rotating arm 19 is moved approx. 90 deg. by driving a motor 18 in a forward printing process, a head support 23 rotates at a fixed shaft as a pivot, advancing to a platen 10. A cluster of recording electrodes at the right tip of a recording head 15 are pressed against the platen 10 by the energization force of a tension spring 21 applied to a tension arm 20. After completion of the forward printing process, if a fitting part of the fulcrum shaft 19c of the rotating arm 19 to a fulcrum hole 23d of the head support 23 is positioned on a line connecting the mounting shaft 19b of the rotating arm 19 with the fixed shaft 20a of the tension arm 20, the recording head 15 is separated from the platen 10 to hold the former at an appropriate distance.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention is a printer/typewriter in which a carrier is moved along a platen, and an energized recording head mounted on the carrier sequentially prints on paper set on the platen. It can be applied to printing devices such as In detail, in such an energized recording type serial printing device, bidirectional (reciprocating)
The present invention relates to a recording head swinging mechanism that switches the pressing angle of the recording head against the platen when printing.

Conventional technology Conventionally, in serial printing devices, printing is performed in both the forward path of moving the carrier from the normal thread to the right along the platen and the return path of moving it from right to left, so-called bidirectional (reciprocating) printing.
Printed versions have already been proposed.

On the other hand, in a printing device, a conductive layer is formed on a recording material (printing ribbon or paper), the conductive layer is grounded via a ground electrode, and a group of recording electrodes of a recording head is pressed against the conductive layer to apply a current. A so-called energization recording type in which printing is performed on paper by flowing the conductive layer and appropriately generating heat has also been proposed.

However, in this type of printing device, separate groups of recording electrodes are provided on both sides of the tip of a single-current type recording head, and the pressing angle of the recording head against the platen is changed between the forward and backward passes. Up to now, no proposal has been made regarding a specific configuration of a recording head swinging mechanism that uses a recording electrode group provided on the right side of the tip and a recording electrode group provided on the left side on the return trip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording head swinging mechanism for switching the pressing angle of the recording head against the platen on the forward and backward passes of the carrier in the above-mentioned current recording type serial printing apparatus.

The object of this invention is to enable bidirectional printing by using a current-carrying recording head that has separate recording electrode groups on both sides of its tip.

Structure Therefore, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the recording head swinging mechanism (A) of the printing device according to the present invention includes a motor (18) and a fulcrum such as the mounting shaft (19b) that is moved by the motor (18). A rotating arm (19) that rotates around , and a platen (
Separately, a tension arm (20) that rotates around the base end is provided on the carrier (11) on the side (10),
The rotating arm (19) is provided with a rotating engagement portion such as a fulcrum shaft (19c), and a line connecting the tip of the tension arm (20) to the fulcrum of the rotating arm (19) is a platen axis. A slide engagement portion such as a fixed shaft (20a) is provided at right angles or substantially right angles to the tension arm (20), and the slide engagement portion always moves toward the platen (10). Applying a biasing force and engaging a fulcrum engaging part such as a fulcrum hole (23d) in a mutually rotatable manner with the rotary engaging part;
The head support (23) is slidably engaged with the guide groove (23e) extending toward the fulcrum engagement part, and the head support (23) is mounted on the rotation arm (19) and the tension arm (20). The recording head (15) is removably attached to the support (23), and the rotation arm (19) is placed on a line connecting the fulcrum of the rotation arm (19) and the slide engagement portion of the tension arm (20). When the engaging part (a) between the engaging part and the fulcrum engaging part is positioned, the recording head (15) is held with an appropriate distance between it and the platen (10), and then the rotating arm When the tension arm (19) rotates, the recording electrode groups provided on both sides of the tip of the recording head (15) are connected to the tension arm (20).
The head support member (23) is rotated by moving the rotary arm (19) driven by the motor (18) and rotating the head support member (23). Platen (1
When performing forward printing in which the carrier (11) is normally moved from left to right along the recording head (15), the recording electrode group on the right side of the recording head (15) is pressed against the platen (10). next.

When performing return printing by moving from right to left, the rotary arm (1
9) and rotate the head support (23) in the opposite direction,
This time, press the left recording electrode group against the platen (10). After the return printing is completed, the head support body (23) is rotated after being separated once again.

As in the beginning, the right recording electrode group is pressed against the platen (10), and the process is repeated thereafter.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in one drawing.

The drawing shows a recording head swinging mechanism shown as an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the case where it is applied to an electric transfer recording type serial printer. The cylinder number (10) in the drawing shows a platen, and as is well known, it is a part of the main body of the apparatus. The hook is passed between the left and right side plates (not shown). The carrier (
11), and the platen (10) is provided as is also known in the art.
It can be moved left and right along. The career (11)
A ribbon cassette (12) is mounted on the top, and a guy V roller (14) (14) with a printing ribbon (13) pulled out from the ribbon cassette (12) standing on a carrier (11).
4) and stretch it along the platen (10), and then stretch it along the carrier (11) with the printing ribbon (13) in between.
) on the recording head (15) is pressed against the platen (10), and while moving the carrier (11), press the recording head (15) on the platen (10).
15) to sequentially transfer ink from the printing ribbon (13) onto a sheet of paper (16) set on the platen (10), thereby appropriately printing on the sheet of paper (16). At this time, the carrier (
11) A recording head swinging mechanism according to the present invention provided above (
In A), the recording head (15) is swung according to the moving direction of the carrier (11), and the left and right recording electrodes at the tips thereof are selectively pressed against the platen (10) as appropriate.

By the way, the recording head swing mechanism (
A) includes a motor (18), a rotation arm (19), a tension arm (20), etc. on a carrier (11).

The motor (18) is attached to the carrier (11) and
As shown in the figure, the motor gear (18a) is engaged with the transmission gear (19a) of the rotating arm (19). The rotating arm (19) has a mounting shaft (1) having a transmission gear (19a).
It is rotatably supported by a motor (18) centering on 9b), and a fulcrum shaft (19c), which is a rotary engagement portion in the present invention, is erected at its tip. On the other hand, the tension arm (2
0) is attached to the platen (10) from its rotating arm (19).
It is attached to the side so as to be rotatable about the base end, and a fixed shaft (20a
). The tension arm (20) has a tension spring (
21) Hang one end to give a clockwise rotation habit in the figure. Therefore, the fixed shaft (20a) is always connected to the platen (10).
Applying a biasing force in the direction of movement towards the stopper (
22) and stop. As a result, the fixed shaft (20a)
The tension arm (20) is arranged so that the line connecting the above-mentioned mounting shaft (19b) of the rotating arm (19) is perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the platen axis.

Now, a head support body (23) is placed on the rotation arm (19) and tension arm (20). The head support (23) has a rectangular plate shape, and has a protrusion (23a) for placing the head protruding forward at the lower front side, a hooking hole (23b) in the protrusion, and a protrusion (23a) on the upper surface. A locking portion (23c) is provided. Furthermore, a fulcrum hole (which is the fulcrum engaging portion in this invention) is opened toward the lower surface and is located rearward.
23d), and a guide groove (23e) extending toward the fulcrum hole (23d) at the front.

Then, the fulcrum shaft (L9c) of the rotating arm (19) is inserted into the fulcrum hole (23d) and rotatably engaged with each other, and the fixed shaft of the tension arm (20) is inserted into the guide groove (23e). (20a) and slidably engage the rotation arm (19) and tension arm (20a).
) on which a head support (23) is attached.

The aforementioned protrusion (23) of such a head support (23)
a) There is a lower locking protrusion (15a) in the locking hole (23b) on the top.
) is inserted to place the recording head (15) on it, and its upper locking protrusion (15b) is engaged with the locking part (23c), so that the recording head (15) can be freely attached to and detached from the head support (23). Attach. The recording head (15) is provided with recording electrode groups on the left and right sides of the tip, and the left and right corresponding electrodes of these recording electrode groups are connected to each other by a wiring pattern (24). When attaching such a recording head (15) to the head support (23), the elastic member (2
5) and the flexible printed circuit board (26), completely overlap the connection patterns of the wiring patterns (24) and the connection patterns of the flexible printed circuit board (26), and
6), the elastic force of the elastic member (25) placed on the back side ensures electrical continuity between them.

Therefore, we are now moving the carrier (11) along the platen (10).
) to the right from the normal thread and perform forward printing, drive the motor (18) and move the rotating arm (19) approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise in the figure. Then, the head support (23)
As shown in FIG. 3, it rotates around a fixed shaft (20a) and is guided by the fixed shaft (20a) to move forward toward the platen (lO). and.

The group of recording electrodes on the right side of the tip of the recording head (15) is pressed against the platen (10) by the biasing force of the tension spring (21) applied to the tension arm (20).

After the forward printing is completed, the motor (18) is driven again to return the rotating arm (19). Then, the fulcrum shaft (19c) of the rotating arm (19) and the fulcrum hole (2
3d) is shown in FIG. 4. In particular, the mounting shaft (19b) of the rotating arm (19) and the tension arm (
20) and the fixed shaft (20a).

Then.

The head support (23) is perpendicular to the platen axis, and holds the recording head (15) separated from the platen (10) with an appropriate distance therebetween.

After that, the next step is to move the carrier (10) along the platen (10).
1) from right to left to perform return printing, the motor (18) is driven as it is, and this time the rotation arm (19) is moved from right to left.
) is moved approximately 90 degrees clockwise in the figure. Then, the head support (23) is moved around the fixed shaft (20a) as shown in FIG.
) in the opposite direction from the front, and is guided by its fixed shaft (20a) to move forward toward the platen (10). Then, this time, the recording electrode group on the left side of the tip of the recording head (15) is pressed against the platen (10) by the biasing force of the tension spring (21) applied to the tension arm (20).

After completing the return printing, drive the motor (18) again to return the rotating arm (19), return the head support (23) to the position shown in Figure 4, and move the recording head (15) onto the platen (
10), and then move the motor (18) as it is again.
to move the rotating arm (19) approximately 90 degrees in the opposite direction, rotate the head support (23), and move the recording electrode group on the right side of the tip of the recording head (15) to the platen (1) as before.
0) and repeat the same process thereafter.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an electric transfer recording printer that performs printing using a printing ribbon (13) has been described. However, the recording head swinging mechanism according to the present invention can of course be similarly applied to an energized recording printer that directly prints on recording paper with a single energized recording head without using a printing ribbon.

Further, although the case where the present invention is applied to a printer has been described, it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to a typewriter or the like.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the fulcrum shaft (19c) is connected to the fulcrum hole (23
d) into the rotating arm (19) and the head support (
23) were rotatably engaged. However, it is also possible to conversely insert the protrusions of the head support into the recesses of the rotary arm and engage them in a rotatable manner.

Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the rotating arm (19)
Move the recording head (15) approximately 90 degrees and place the recording head (15) on the platen (
10), but it goes without saying that the rotation angle of the rotation arm is not limited to 90 degrees.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in a single-current recording type serial printing device, a recording head swinging mechanism is provided that switches the pressing angle of the recording head against the platen during the forward and backward passes of the carrier. Printing in one direction can be made possible by using current-carrying recording heads each having a separate group of recording electrodes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show a recording head swinging mechanism shown as an embodiment of the present invention, and show the case where it is applied to an electrical transfer recording type serial printer. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the recording head swinging mechanism, and FIG. FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged perspective views of the carrier portion of a printer equipped with the recording head swinging mechanism, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams of the swinging state of the recording head. FIG. When it is pulled away from the platen, FIG. 5 shows the time of backward printing. (A)... Recording head swing mechanism (10)
......Platen (11)...Carrier (15)...Recording head (18)...
...Motor (19) ...Rotating arm (19b) ...
...Mounting shaft (19c) ...Fulcrum shaft (20) ...Tension arm (20a
)...Fixed shaft (23)...Head support (23d)
...Fulcrum hole

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A carrier that includes a motor, a rotating arm that rotates around a fulcrum by the motor, and a tension arm that rotates around its base end on the platen side of the rotating arm. a rotation engagement portion is provided on the rotation arm, and a slide engagement portion is provided at the tip of the tension arm so that a line connecting the rotation arm to the fulcrum is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the platen axis. and applying a biasing force to the tension arm in a direction in which the slide engagement portion always moves toward the platen, and also engages the fulcrum engagement portion rotatably with the rotation engagement portion, and The slide engaging portion is slidably engaged with a guide groove extending toward the fulcrum engaging portion, a head support is placed on the rotation arm and the tension arm, and the recording head is detachably attached to the head support. Attach the
When the engagement portion between the rotation engagement portion and the fulcrum engagement portion is located on a line connecting the fulcrum of the rotation arm and the slide engagement portion of the tension arm, the recording head is placed between the platen and the rotation engagement portion. When the rotary arm is rotated, the recording electrode groups provided on both sides of the recording head can be pressed against the platen by the biasing force applied to the tension arm.
Recording head swing mechanism of printing device. 2. The rotation engagement part of the rotation arm is a fulcrum shaft set at the tip, and the fulcrum engagement part of the head support is a fulcrum hole bored on the side away from the platen, and the fulcrum shaft is provided in the fulcrum hole. Claim 1 wherein the fulcrum shaft enters and engages.
Recording head swinging mechanism of the printing device described in 2. 3. The slide engagement portion of the tension arm is a fixed shaft erected at the tip, and the fixed shaft is slidably engaged with the guide groove of the head support. Recording head swing mechanism of the described printing device. 4. Approximately 90 degrees to the left and right from where the engagement portion of the rotation engagement portion and the fulcrum engagement portion are located on the line connecting the fulcrum of the rotation arm and the slide engagement portion of the tension arm. Claim 1, wherein the recording head is pressed against the platen when the recording head is rotated once.
Recording head swinging mechanism of the printing device described in 2.