US3774531A - Print chain assembly for high speed printer - Google Patents

Print chain assembly for high speed printer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3774531A
US3774531A US00155003A US3774531DA US3774531A US 3774531 A US3774531 A US 3774531A US 00155003 A US00155003 A US 00155003A US 3774531D A US3774531D A US 3774531DA US 3774531 A US3774531 A US 3774531A
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United States
Prior art keywords
belt
housing
teeth
printing elements
printing
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00155003A
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English (en)
Inventor
R Hansen
C Roshon
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International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Publication date
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J1/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the mounting, arrangement or disposition of the types or dies
    • B41J1/20—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the mounting, arrangement or disposition of the types or dies with types or dies mounted on endless bands or the like

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A print chain structure for a high speed printer, wherein an endless dual timing belt has a series of teeth on an inner surface thereof for engagement with a belt driving mechanism.
  • the belt also has a series of teeth on its outer surface.
  • a series of printing elements include interruptions which mechanically and removably cooperate with interstices of the teeth on the outer surface of the belt so that the belt-driving mechanism may efficiently drive the printing elements and the elements may be readily removed for servicing when the need arises.
  • An improved guiding means is also provided for controlling the high speed movement of the printing elements with the belt.
  • a chain of uniformly spaced apart print elements or type slugs is moved at constant speed in a continuous path.
  • a portion of the path is located on a print line extending transversely of a record receiving web, such as a paper.
  • the paper is fed intermittently, line by line, into registry with the print line, by a feed mechanism that is controlled either manually or electronically.
  • a plurality of hammers located respectively adjacent toprint columns in the print line are operated selectively by computer controlled electronic firing circuits to impress a selected type character of a print element against a ribbon and paper backed by a platen, as that type character moves into registry with a print column near which the selected hammer is located.
  • the aforementioned chain of print elements has most commonly involved the provision of an endless carrier loop, which comprises either a series of interconnected links or a unitary flexible belt.
  • the flexible belt is considerably less expensive than the interconnected links,
  • An important object of this invention is to provide an extremely reliable print chain assembly for high speed chain printers, which includes an endless belt that supports a plurality of readily disassemblable type elements.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved print chain assembly which includes an endless dual timing belt and a plurality of printing mechanisms removably and mechanically coupled to the belt.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved print chain assembly which incorporates a dual timing belt having teeth disposed on its inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of printing elements drivably and removably cooperable with the teeth on the outer surface of the belt.
  • a high speed chain printer which includes a continuous or endless dual timing belt characterized by a series of accurately spaced teeth disposed on each of its inner and outer surfaces'The teeth on the inner surface of the dual timing belt are engaged by a belt driving means for driving the belt in a continuous predetermined fashion.
  • a plurality of printing elements are disposed on the outer surface of the belt. These printing elements each include a supporting shoe having one or more outwardly facing interruptions formed on it. These interruptions cooperate with the teeth on the outer surface of the belt, to provide mechanical coupling between the elements and the belt.
  • each shoe also includes a pair of resiliently operable guiding arms. These arms coact with a guiding shoulder of a printer cartridge to help accurately control the high speed movement of the printing elements.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the print chain assembly, to show in greater detail the interrelationships. of the print elements, belt and sprocket wheel;
  • FIG. 4 is a back view of the printer cartridge of FIG.
  • FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the printing element. r
  • FIG. 6 is a partially broken away, three-dimensional view of the printer cartridge.
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a front printing chain printer having a type carrier 10 which travels in a substantially vertical plane in front of a series of print hammers 12.
  • a series of printing elements M are mounted on the type carrier 10.
  • Each of the printing elements 14 resembles a hand having four flexibly movable fingers 16 (FIG. 3).
  • the finger 16 has a type slug 17 secured to one of its faces near the free end thereof, to produce the selected character when each finger 16 is struck by the print hammer 112.
  • the type slug orcharacter is pressed into engagement with a ribbon m and a record member 20 (FIG. I) that is backed by a suitable platen member 22.
  • the character or printing slug 17 of the printing finger 16 selected is aligned before an appropriate protrusion on the face of the print hammer 12 so that the appropriate selected type slug 17 may be printed while the other type slugs 17 are not contacted by the hammer face and are consequently not printed.
  • the signal to energize the bucking coil is generated by a suitable control means.
  • This control means provides stored coded data of the text to be printed for a complete line and this data is compared with the coded data representing the print element in position for printing at each print position.
  • This print element position is established by the combination of a home pulse generated by the appropriate hand, and a column by column emitter at the input drive shaft. An equal compare produces a signal which is coupled to actuate the proper print hammer for printing the designated character at the designated print position.
  • a similar operation is conducted at each time designated characters on the chain reach a print position, until the complete line is printed.
  • the printer comprises a cartridge 24 wherein there is located the type carrier mounted to be driven by a pair of sprocket wheels 26.
  • the wheels 26 are driven from a suitable drive motor.
  • the cartridge 24 includes a front housing portion 28, and a rear housing portion 30, which are suitably fastened together to provide a compact type of removable support for the type carrier 10 and its printing elements 14.
  • Rear housing portion 30 provides a base for supporting the type carrier and printing elements 14, and front housing portion 28 provides a cover for enclosing the carrier mechanism in the housing.
  • Carrier 10 is an endless and flexible belt having on its inner surface a plurality of uniformly spaced internal teeth 32 between which there are locted a series of interruptions 34. Teeth 32 mesh with the external teeth of sprocket wheels 26. In similar manner to the inner surface of carrier 10, on its external surface, there is located a series of uniformly spaced external teeth 36 separated by a series of outwardly facing interruptions As further shown in FIG. 3, the four flexible fingers 16 of each printing element 14 extend upwardly from an integral interconnecting base portion 40. Also attached to base portion 40 of element 14, there is a shoe 42.
  • the shoe 42 is constructed to provide a lower section 44, the bottom 44a of which includes a series of relatively fiat protrusions 48 uniformly spaced apart and separated from each other by interruptions 50.
  • the size and spacing of the protrusions 48 and interruptions 50 of lower section 44 of shoe 42 is such that the profile thereof meshes with the size and'spacing of the external teeth 36 and outside interruptions 38 of the type carrier 10.
  • the shoe 42 which supports each printing element 14, is removably interengageable with the external periphery of the type carrier 10, and may readily drive the printing elements 14 around the wheels 26.
  • the shoe 42 of the printing element 14 has a breadth of generally the same size as the distance between the outer edges of the four fingers of element 14.
  • shoe 42 is considerably thicker than hands 16 and bight section 40.
  • On the rear side of the shoe 42 i.e. the left side of FIG. 2) there is a horizontal ledge 51 for supporting the bottom of bight section 40, and on the front side of shoe 42 (i.e., the right side of FIG. 4) there is an upwardly facing guiding section 52.
  • the guiding section 52 includes a pair of outwardly extensive cantilevered arms 54 and 56 (FIG. 3). From viewing FIG.
  • one side of shoe 42 is positioned vertically relative to the type carrier or belt 10 by means of the engagement of protrusions 48 and interruptions 50 of the shoe with external teeth 36 and interruptions 38 of the carrier 10.
  • the other side of the shoe 42 is generally positioned vertically for movement with the belt by means of the resilient engagement of guiding sections 52, and arms 54, 56 with a loopshaped downwardly facing shoulder 60 formed as part of a guiding groove on the rear housing portion 28. (See FIG. 2)
  • the cartridge 24 comprises front and rear housing portions 28, 30, respectively, which are formed with guide surfaces 62, 64. These surfaces 62, 64 form a continuous slot slightly wider than the thickness of the printing finger l6 and guide the fingers as the type element 14 is driven in an endless path by the carrier or belt 10.
  • the rear housing portion 28 is formed with a loop-shaped channel or groove sized to receive the carrier or belt 10 and the shoe 42 of the printing element 14 engaged therewith.
  • the loop-shaped channel is partially formed by a shoulder 60, whose surface is in sliding contact with the guiding section 52 of the shoe 42 as the print element 14 moves along the channel.
  • the cantilevered arms 54 and 56 also come into sliding contact with the shoulder 60.
  • the resilient cantileveredarms 54 and 56 engage in'cam-like fashion with the facing surface of shoulder 60 so that the flexible fingers 16 are maintained in a direction generally perpendicular or normal to the direction of movement of the carrier 10.
  • the printing elements 14 are continuously maintained in a desired position of vertical alignment relative to the flexible belt while the printer is in operation.
  • a guiding surface 62 of cover housing portion 30 and guiding surfaces 64 of the base housing portion 28 are positioned in contiguity with adjacent front and rear faces of base portion 40 of the type element 14.
  • an access doorway 70 (FIG. 4) is provided in the rear housing portion 30.
  • Doorway 70 is constructed so that it is disposed opposite the lower horizontal path of the print elements 14 so that any print element may be readily removed from the access doorway 70.
  • the doorway 70 is suitably closed by a door (not shown).
  • an economical dual timing belt may be conveniently used for the type carrier 10.
  • Such a belt which is of well known standard construction, is also readily available on the market and is low in cost.
  • the type elements may be readily removed for convenient servicing through an individual access doorway without removing the printer chain from its housing.
  • the actual print hammer actuator arrangement used may be of any particular type.
  • the type hammer actuator shown in FIG. 2 is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,469, entitledPrint Hammer Actuator, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.
  • Such a hammer actuator assembly involves a plurality of print actuators 72 mounted in a side-by-side array.
  • Each of the actuators 72 comprises a magnetic core structure 74 forming a substantially closed path shaped to form two laterally offset pole pieces 76, 78.
  • the resilient hammer 12 is mounted with one point 80 fixed relative to the magnetic core structure 74 and another point 81 coupled to a movable magnetic member 82.
  • the point 81 secured to the movable magnetic member is positioned so that the generation of a magnetic flux within the magnetic core structure 74 attracts the movable member 82 to complete a magnetic circuit and position the hammer 14 in a ready position.
  • the bucking coils 25 are provided for selective energization to release the movable magnetic member 82 so that the hammer 12 produces one cycle of movement.
  • FIG. 5 shows a modification of the present invention wherein theprinting element and its supporting shoe are integrally constructed, such as for example, from a plastic material such as Delrin.
  • type element 114 includes a plurality of flexible fingers 116 and an integral shoe 142 that has a series of protrusions 148 and interruptions 150.
  • the type slugs 117 may be integral, inserted mechanically, or molded in place.
  • the type element 114 operates in substantially the same fashion as the type element 14, in cooperation with the dual belt carrier as previously described.
  • a print chain assembly for high speed chain printers comprising:
  • said print chain including an endless belt having uniformly spaced internal teeth on the inner surface thereof to mesh with the teeth of said wheels;
  • said belt also having a series of external teeth on the outer surface thereof;
  • each printing element including a base portion which meshes with at least one of said external teeth of the belt, so that the printing element engages said belt, thereby enabling said element to be driven by the belt along the belt path and yet is removable normal to the belt path;
  • each printing element of the print chain includes at least one resilient finger having a type slug affixed to the free end thereof,
  • said portion including a shoe portionhaving a series of teeth structured to mesh with the teeth of the outer surface of said belt.
  • a print chain assembly comprising:
  • driving means disposed in said housing and engageable with one sideof said belt for driving said belt at high speed, the other side of the belt having a plurality of teeth;
  • a plurality of printing elements in contact with said belt, each having a shoe portion with teeth engaging and meshing with the teeth of the belt such that the printing elements are driven in a direction along the path of the belt, but are removable normal to the belt path;
  • loop-shaped guiding means located in said housing and adjacent said belt and essentially parallel to said belt path for maintaining said printing elements in engagement with said belt when said belt is driven by said driving means;
  • said access and removal means housing includes a doorway located on one side of the housing in facial alignment with one of said printing elements coupled to said belt; said doorway being larger than and facing one of said ment with said doorway.

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  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Character Spaces And Line Spaces In Printers (AREA)
US00155003A 1971-06-21 1971-06-21 Print chain assembly for high speed printer Expired - Lifetime US3774531A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15500371A 1971-06-21 1971-06-21

Publications (1)

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US3774531A true US3774531A (en) 1973-11-27

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US00155003A Expired - Lifetime US3774531A (en) 1971-06-21 1971-06-21 Print chain assembly for high speed printer

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3774531A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5223289B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2227085C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2143009B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1375776A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3921784A (en) * 1974-03-15 1975-11-25 Pitney Bowes Inc Printing disc having bifurcated type arms
US4124312A (en) * 1977-02-10 1978-11-07 Xerox Corporation Impact printer with print wheel cartridge
US4127335A (en) * 1977-02-10 1978-11-28 Xerox Corporation Impact printer with cartridge print wheel
US4209262A (en) * 1978-11-15 1980-06-24 Xerox Corporation Print wheel loading apparatus
US4736679A (en) * 1987-04-22 1988-04-12 L. James Hubbard Band printer and print band

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2222333A (en) * 1939-01-20 1940-11-19 Walter E Wenzel Rubber bed and type holder therefor
US2643609A (en) * 1951-04-07 1953-06-30 Gottscho Inc Adolph Holder for rubber type
US2936704A (en) * 1958-01-21 1960-05-17 Olympia Werke Ag High speed printing apparatus
US3209682A (en) * 1962-08-30 1965-10-05 Ibm Type carrier for high speed printer
US3379125A (en) * 1967-01-25 1968-04-23 Potter Instrument Co Inc Type slug impact control in high speed chain printers
US3402657A (en) * 1965-11-24 1968-09-24 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed belt printer with printing slug supporting means
US3416442A (en) * 1967-06-20 1968-12-17 Ibm Selective hammer actuating means in chain printers
US3577919A (en) * 1969-03-13 1971-05-11 Monsanto Co Method and apparatus for positioning articles
US3621778A (en) * 1970-03-10 1971-11-23 Potter Instrument Co Inc Type slug mounting for high speed chain printer
US3638565A (en) * 1969-04-29 1972-02-01 Ibm Print type carrier
US3663501A (en) * 1970-06-11 1972-05-16 Johnson & Johnson Adhesive cement

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2222333A (en) * 1939-01-20 1940-11-19 Walter E Wenzel Rubber bed and type holder therefor
US2643609A (en) * 1951-04-07 1953-06-30 Gottscho Inc Adolph Holder for rubber type
US2936704A (en) * 1958-01-21 1960-05-17 Olympia Werke Ag High speed printing apparatus
US3209682A (en) * 1962-08-30 1965-10-05 Ibm Type carrier for high speed printer
US3402657A (en) * 1965-11-24 1968-09-24 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed belt printer with printing slug supporting means
US3379125A (en) * 1967-01-25 1968-04-23 Potter Instrument Co Inc Type slug impact control in high speed chain printers
US3416442A (en) * 1967-06-20 1968-12-17 Ibm Selective hammer actuating means in chain printers
US3577919A (en) * 1969-03-13 1971-05-11 Monsanto Co Method and apparatus for positioning articles
US3638565A (en) * 1969-04-29 1972-02-01 Ibm Print type carrier
US3621778A (en) * 1970-03-10 1971-11-23 Potter Instrument Co Inc Type slug mounting for high speed chain printer
US3663501A (en) * 1970-06-11 1972-05-16 Johnson & Johnson Adhesive cement

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol. 13 No. 11 April 1971 Pages 3366 3367. *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3921784A (en) * 1974-03-15 1975-11-25 Pitney Bowes Inc Printing disc having bifurcated type arms
US4124312A (en) * 1977-02-10 1978-11-07 Xerox Corporation Impact printer with print wheel cartridge
US4127335A (en) * 1977-02-10 1978-11-28 Xerox Corporation Impact printer with cartridge print wheel
US4209262A (en) * 1978-11-15 1980-06-24 Xerox Corporation Print wheel loading apparatus
US4736679A (en) * 1987-04-22 1988-04-12 L. James Hubbard Band printer and print band

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2143009B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-07-13
FR2143009A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-02-02
GB1375776A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-11-27
DE2227085B2 (de) 1974-08-01
DE2227085C3 (de) 1975-03-20
DE2227085A1 (de) 1972-12-28
JPS5223289B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-06-23

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