EP0027734A1 - Dot matrix printing device - Google Patents
Dot matrix printing device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0027734A1 EP0027734A1 EP80303686A EP80303686A EP0027734A1 EP 0027734 A1 EP0027734 A1 EP 0027734A1 EP 80303686 A EP80303686 A EP 80303686A EP 80303686 A EP80303686 A EP 80303686A EP 0027734 A1 EP0027734 A1 EP 0027734A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- printing
- row
- elements
- central unit
- line
- Prior art date
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- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 71
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 title claims description 14
- 230000015654 memory Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000001095 motoneuron effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000011295 pitch Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007651 thermal printing Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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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
- B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J25/001—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface
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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
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/22—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of impact or pressure on a printing material or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/23—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of impact or pressure on a printing material or impression-transfer material using print wires
- B41J2/235—Print head assemblies
- B41J2/24—Print head assemblies serial printer type
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a dot matrix printing device for accounting, data terminal, telewriting and similar office machines, comprising a row of dot printing elements, the row extending transverse to a direction of relative movement between the printing elements and the medium on which they print.
- a dot matrix printing device for accounting, data terminal, telewriting and similar office machines, comprising a row of dot printing elements, the row extending transverse to a direction of relative movement between the printing elements and the medium on which they print.
- the invention will be described mainly in terms of wire printers in which the printing elements are wires activated for impact printing of the dots by electromagnets it is not restricted to a particlar type of printing element.
- thermal dot matrix printers are known using resistive printing elements heated by current pulses.
- a dot matrix printing device in which, to increase the printing speed, the printing ends of the wires are disposed side by side along two rows, parallel relative to each other and perpendicular to the direction of forward movement of the printing head carrying the wires, referred to as the printing direction.
- the wires are selectively actuated to write at high speed the characters of a line according to a dot matrix which is very readable but with rather low definition.
- the drawback of such a device is that the speed of the movement of the head-carrying carriage is very high, as a result of which the mechanical parts are subjected to considerable wear, and the control circuit is necessarily complex and therefore costly.
- a dot matrix printing device is also known in which, to improve the printing quality, the printing ends of the wires are aligned on a single row which is slanted relative to the printing direction. In this manner the characters are written with high dot definition since the dot spacing in the vertical direction is less than the dot spacing along the row and the printed dots can even overlap in a vertical column of dots.
- This printing device suffers from the drawback of being rather slow, and thus little suited to being used in those machines such a data terminals, where a high writing speed is required.
- a first object of the present invention is that of providing a printing device able to write symbols and characters both at high speed, according to low definition dot matrices, and at low speed according to high definition dot matrices.
- a second object of the present invention is that of providing a device which, though capable of writing at high speed, is very reliable and inexpensive.
- the printing device comprises a base 10 (Fig. 1) provided with four vertical sides 11, 12, 13 and 14 all parallel to each other. Between the sides 12 and 13 a platen 16 is mounted to support a recording medium 17 which, for example, may consist in a sheet of paper, a continuous form, a cheque, a small book or a bank card.
- a printing head 20 with wires which will be described in detail hereinbelow, is mounted on a carriage 21 which is slidable along a front guide 22, fixed to the sides 12 and 13 and parallel with the platen 16.
- An inked ribbon 23 is arranged in between the head 16 and the bar 16.
- the carriage 21 For movement in front of the platen 16, the carriage 21 is in engagement with a lead screw 25, rotatably mounted in the sides 12 and 13 and coupled directly to an electric motor 26, for example of stepping type, which controls its rotation.
- a synchronisation disc 28 is keyed on the screw 25 and has a series of radial notches, angularly equidistant one from the other.
- a photo-transistor 29 is disposed facing the notches and co-operates with a corresponding light source 30.
- the photo-transistor 29 generates a synchronisation pulse FP at each elementary displacement of P of the head 20 along the direction of movement of the carriage 21, which we shall also call the printing direction.
- the displacement P is 0.0529 mm, and has been selected according to criteria which will be described below.
- the printing head 20 (Fig. 2) comprises a frame 33, on the front part of which eighteen control electromagnets 32 are mounted, which are individually joined to an equal number of writing wires 31.
- the wires 31 have a diameter of 0.3 mm and are guided at their front end by a guide 36 which holds them aligned in a single row Z-Z ( F ig. 4).
- the distance between the axes of the wires 31 is 0.423 mm and the total length 1 of the row is 7.491 mm. This is equal to twice the height of h of a line of characters of standard type, plus the space b between two lines. These values have been chosen so as to yield a line pitch of 4.23 mm, which is a standard spacing widely used in printers.
- the head 20 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the carriage 21 in such a manner as to be variably oriented relative to the direction of writing.
- the front or guide 36 of the head 20 is rotatable in a support 37 of the carriage 21.
- a helical gear 39 is fixed to the head 20 and engages with a screw 40, rotatably mounted in the support 37.
- a disc 41, solid with the head 20, is provided with a series of radial notches 42 facing which, on the carriage 21, a photo-transistor 44 is arranged, co-operating with a corresponding light source 43 to generate a synchronisation pulse FT ( F ig. 3) when the head 20 is oriented according to one of the predetermined angles.
- F ig. 3 synchronisation pulse
- a member 46 On the end of the screw 40 (Fig. 2) is one member 46 with front teeth of a dog coupling. When the carriage 21 is at rest at its extreme left position, the member 46 engages with a corresponding member 47 which also has front teeth and is mounted on a shaft 48 rotatable between the sides 11 and 12 of the base 10.
- a toothed gear 50 On the shaft 48, between the sides 11 and 12, a toothed gear 50, is keyed. This gear engages with a toothed gear 51 mounted on the shaft 52 of an electric motor 54, of stepping type.
- the shaft 48 is axially slidable, and a helical spring 55 urges the gear 50 constantly towards the side 12.
- the electro-magnets 32 are of known type, for example as described in our Italian Patent No. 1011721 and have an actuation cycle T of about 1000 psec.
- the circuit used to control the excitation of the electromagnets 32 and the electric motors 26 and 52 is illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises a central unit 60 into which the data of the alphanumerical characters and other symbols to be printed are fed along a first channel 61 from an output device 62. Along a second channel 64, from an operational console 65, the data relating to the type of printing to be effected arrive at the central unit.
- the central unit 60 is connected to two random access memories RAM 66 and 67, by means of two channels 69 and 70 respectively.
- the central unit 60 is also connected, through a channel 71 to a circuit 72 which controls the motor 26 and, through a channel 73, to a circuit 74 which controls the motor 54.
- the control circuits 72 and 74 are of known type, for example of the type described in our Italian Patent No. 1,009,48.
- the signal FT generated by the photo-transistor 44 is sent to the central unit 60, after having been squared by a monostable circuit 75.
- the signal FP issuing from the photo-transistor 29 is fed to a monostable squaring circuit 76 which generates a corresponding square signal FQ, which is fed to a binary counter 77 which generates a print enabling signal FS.
- the signal FQ is also despatched, as a feedback signal, to the control circuit 72 of the motor 26.
- the binary counter 77 is connected to the central unit 60 by means of a channel 80 and can be set to overflow on a variable number, in such a manner that the time interval between two successive pulses of the signal FS may be suitably selected, as will be described hereinbelow.
- the central unit 60 is connected to a multiple switching circuit 81 through two channels 82 and 83.
- the circuit 81 is connected to a plurality of decoding ROM's 83a, 83b, Vietnamese83n, by means of a corresponding plurality of channels 84a, 84b, whil 84n.
- Each ROM 83a, 83b, Vietnamese83n has 18 output lines 85a, 85b,... 85n respectively, connected to 18 NAND gates 86 which generate control signals EL 1 to EL 18 and each have an input connected to the output of the binary counter 77.
- Each control signal EL 1 to EL 18 issuing from the gates 86 is fed to a corresponding monovibrator 87 which, in response, generates a pulse PZ which remains at the logical level 1 for the time actually necessary for controlling the electro-magnets 32 (approximately 500 psec); this pulse PZ is then fed through a driver circuit 88n, to the corresponding electro-magnet 32.
- the carriage 21 (Fig. 1) and the head 20 are stopped at the left end 12, and the toothed members 46 and 47 are coupled together.
- the motor 54 can rotate the head 20 relative to the support 37 of the carriage 21 through the gears 50 and 51, the coupling 46, 47, the screw 40 and the gear 39 disposing it in one of its possible positicns,suitably inclining the row of writing ends of the wires 31 relative to the horizontal direction of movement of the carriage 21.
- three different inclinations of the head 20 relative to the horizontal direction have been assumed for the sake of example.
- a first operating condition (Figs. 4 and 5) the head 20 is positioned in such a manner that the row Z-Z of the printing ends of the wires 31 is vertical.
- the printing device can write either simultaneously two lines of characters of standard height. according to a matrix of 7 x 7 dots (Fig. 4) , or a single line of characters of double height 1 according to a matrix of 18 x 12 dots (Fig. 5), thus effecting, for example, letter heads and titles.
- the head 20 again with the head 20 thus disposed, it is possible to write alpha-numerical characters, graphic symbols, non-Latin characters and ideograms, according to dot matrices with variable definition.
- the definition and sizes of characters in the vertical direction are determined by the number of wires 31 chosen , while the corresponding values, in the horizontal direction, are determined by the pitch between two dots, with a consequent correction of the speed of movement of the carriage 21.
- the speed of movement of the carriage 21 is indeed a determining factor to obtain a predetermined type of writing, account being taken of the time T taken by each electro-magnet 32 to effect a complete printing cycle.
- the distance g between two successive dots in the horizontal direction of writing is equal to ten elementary pitches p and is 0.529 mm; this distance g is moved by the carriage 21 in a time T which is 1000 psec. Therefore, for this type of writing, the speed of travel of the carriage 21 is 529 mm/sec., the head 20 can write 200 characters per second, for each line, and thus have a productivity of 400 characters per second.
- the console 65 is set up in such a manner that the data transmitted by the input device 62 (Fig. 3) to the central unit 60 are first memorised on alternate lines of the two RAM memories 66 and 67, and then despatched in parallel, two lines at a time, to the circuit 81 through the channel 82.
- the central unit 60 through channel 83, conditions the circuit 81 so that the data from channel 82 go to the ROM 83a, through channel 84a, ruling out the other ROM's 83b across83n.
- the central unit 60 in addition, through channel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that every five pulses FQ a pulse FS is generated, enabling printing.
- the central unit 60 controls the circuit 72 controlling the motor 26 in such a manner that the speed of travel of the carriage 21 be as predetermined.
- the console 65 is set in such a manner that the data transmitted from the input device 62 (Fig. 3) to the central unit are memorised line by line in one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and are then despatched serially to the circuit 81, through the channel 82.
- the central unit 60 through channel 83, conditions the circuit 81 in such a manner that the data from channel 82 go to the ROM 83b, through the channel 84b, ruling out the other ROM's 83a,....83n.
- the central unit 60 in addition, through channel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that a pulse FS is generated every six pulses FQ, enabling printing.
- the central unit 60 conditions the circuit 72 controlling the motor 26 in such a manner that the speed of travel of the carriage 21 be as predetermined.
- the console 65 (Fig. 3) is set according to the type of character, ideogram or other symbol to be printed.
- the central unit 60 controls the circuit 74 controlling the motor 54, in such a manner that the head 20 (Fig. 2) rotates, relative to the support 37 of the carriage 21 by an angle r (Fig. 6) predetermined relative to the vertical axis.
- the photo-transistor 44 When the rotation has taken place, the photo-transistor 44 generates a feedback pulse FT which is fed to the central unit 60 to stop the motor 54 and the head 20.
- the distance r between two successive dots in the horizontal direction of writing is equal to 5 elementary pitches p, and is 0.2645 mm.
- the speed of travel of the carriage 21 is 264.5 mm/sec.
- the head 20 can write 35 Kanji characters per second.
- the data transmitted to the central unit 60 are memorised line by line in one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and are then despatched serially, through channel 82, to the circuit 81 which despatches them to another of the n ROM's 83, not shown in order to simplify the drawing.
- the central unit 60 through channel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that every five FQ pulses a FS pulse, enabling printing, is generated.
- the head 20 is inclined to a greater extent relative to the vertical axis, changing its setting and bringing it to a third operating condition.
- the central unit 60 controls the circuit 74 controlling the motor 54 in such a manner that the head 20 (Fig. 2) rotates relative to the support 37 of the carriage 21 until it forms a predetermined angle ⁇ (Fig. 7) relative to the vertical axis.
- the photo-transistor 44 When rotation has taken place, the photo-transistor 44 generates a feedback pulse FT which stops the motor 54 and therefore the head 20.
- the angle ⁇ is 61 0 7'.
- This angle ⁇ also is selected in such a manner that the projection d on to the horizontal axis of the distance between the centres of two adjacent wires 31 should be an exact multiple of the elementary pitch p. In particular, when 61°7', the distance d is equal to 7p and is 0.3703mm.
- the distance s between two successive dots along the horizontal direction of writing is equal to four elementary pitches & and is 0.2116 mm.
- the speed of travel of the carriage 21 is 211.6 mm/sec.
- the head 20 can print about 83 characters per second.
- the data transmitted to the central unit 60 are first memorised one line at a time on one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and then despatched serially to the ROM 83n, through the circuit 81.
- the central unit 60 sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that at each FQ pulse a pulse FS enabling printing is generated.
- the spacing of a character with 1/10" spacing is divided into 48 parts, and the spaces of the characters of 1/12" and 1/15" and proportional ones are subdivided respectively into 40 parts, 32 parts and exact multiples of 8 parts.
- the slanting of the row of printing ends of the wires 31 relative to the direction of writing is selectively variable from a first position in which the wires 31 can write simultaneously a plurality of lines of printing to a plurality of other indications in which the wires 31 can write on a single line symbols and characters with dot matrices with variable definition.
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- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a dot matrix printing device for accounting, data terminal, telewriting and similar office machines, comprising a row of dot printing elements, the row extending transverse to a direction of relative movement between the printing elements and the medium on which they print. As is well known, by selectively operating the individual printing elements during such movement it is possible to print alphanumeric characters and other symbols within the resolution permitted by the dot matrix.
- Although the invention will be described mainly in terms of wire printers in which the printing elements are wires activated for impact printing of the dots by electromagnets it is not restricted to a particlar type of printing element. For example, thermal dot matrix printers are known using resistive printing elements heated by current pulses.
- A dot matrix printing device is known in which, to increase the printing speed, the printing ends of the wires are disposed side by side along two rows, parallel relative to each other and perpendicular to the direction of forward movement of the printing head carrying the wires, referred to as the printing direction. The wires are selectively actuated to write at high speed the characters of a line according to a dot matrix which is very readable but with rather low definition. The drawback of such a device is that the speed of the movement of the head-carrying carriage is very high, as a result of which the mechanical parts are subjected to considerable wear, and the control circuit is necessarily complex and therefore costly.
- A dot matrix printing device is also known in which, to improve the printing quality, the printing ends of the wires are aligned on a single row which is slanted relative to the printing direction. In this manner the characters are written with high dot definition since the dot spacing in the vertical direction is less than the dot spacing along the row and the printed dots can even overlap in a vertical column of dots. This printing device, however, suffers from the drawback of being rather slow, and thus little suited to being used in those machines such a data terminals, where a high writing speed is required.
- A first object of the present invention is that of providing a printing device able to write symbols and characters both at high speed, according to low definition dot matrices, and at low speed according to high definition dot matrices.
- A second object of the present invention is that of providing a device which, though capable of writing at high speed, is very reliable and inexpensive.
- The dot matrix printing device according to the invention is defined below in
Claim 1 and advantageous developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims. - The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a printing device embodying the invention;
- Fig. 2 is a rear left perspective of an enlarged detail of the device of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a diagram of the circuit for controlling the printing device;
- Fig. 4 shows characters printed by the device in a first operating condition;
- Fig. 5 shows a different form of characters which can be printed by the device in the first operating condition;
- Figs 6 & 7 show characters printed in second and third operating conditions; and
- Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of a character printed in the third operating condition.
- The printing device comprises a base 10 (Fig. 1) provided with four
vertical sides sides 12 and 13 aplaten 16 is mounted to support arecording medium 17 which, for example, may consist in a sheet of paper, a continuous form, a cheque, a small book or a bank card. - A
printing head 20 with wires, which will be described in detail hereinbelow, is mounted on acarriage 21 which is slidable along afront guide 22, fixed to thesides platen 16. An inkedribbon 23 is arranged in between thehead 16 and thebar 16. - For movement in front of the
platen 16, thecarriage 21 is in engagement with alead screw 25, rotatably mounted in thesides electric motor 26, for example of stepping type, which controls its rotation. - A
synchronisation disc 28 is keyed on thescrew 25 and has a series of radial notches, angularly equidistant one from the other. A photo-transistor 29 is disposed facing the notches and co-operates with acorresponding light source 30. In particular, the photo-transistor 29 generates a synchronisation pulse FP at each elementary displacement of P of thehead 20 along the direction of movement of thecarriage 21, which we shall also call the printing direction. In the example described here the displacement P is 0.0529 mm, and has been selected according to criteria which will be described below. - The printing head 20 (Fig. 2) comprises a
frame 33, on the front part of which eighteencontrol electromagnets 32 are mounted, which are individually joined to an equal number ofwriting wires 31. Thewires 31 have a diameter of 0.3 mm and are guided at their front end by aguide 36 which holds them aligned in a single row Z-Z (Fig. 4). The distance between the axes of thewires 31 is 0.423 mm and thetotal length 1 of the row is 7.491 mm. This is equal to twice the height of h of a line of characters of standard type, plus the space b between two lines. These values have been chosen so as to yield a line pitch of 4.23 mm, which is a standard spacing widely used in printers. - The head 20 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the
carriage 21 in such a manner as to be variably oriented relative to the direction of writing. For the purpose the front orguide 36 of thehead 20 is rotatable in asupport 37 of thecarriage 21. Ahelical gear 39 is fixed to thehead 20 and engages with ascrew 40, rotatably mounted in thesupport 37. Adisc 41, solid with thehead 20, is provided with a series ofradial notches 42 facing which, on thecarriage 21, a photo-transistor 44 is arranged, co-operating with acorresponding light source 43 to generate a synchronisation pulse FT (Fig. 3) when thehead 20 is oriented according to one of the predetermined angles. - On the end of the screw 40 (Fig. 2) is one
member 46 with front teeth of a dog coupling. When thecarriage 21 is at rest at its extreme left position, themember 46 engages with acorresponding member 47 which also has front teeth and is mounted on ashaft 48 rotatable between thesides base 10. - On the
shaft 48, between thesides toothed gear 50, is keyed. This gear engages with atoothed gear 51 mounted on theshaft 52 of anelectric motor 54, of stepping type. Theshaft 48 is axially slidable, and ahelical spring 55 urges thegear 50 constantly towards theside 12. - The electro-
magnets 32 are of known type, for example as described in our Italian Patent No. 1011721 and have an actuation cycle T of about 1000 psec. The circuit used to control the excitation of theelectromagnets 32 and theelectric motors central unit 60 into which the data of the alphanumerical characters and other symbols to be printed are fed along afirst channel 61 from anoutput device 62. Along asecond channel 64, from anoperational console 65, the data relating to the type of printing to be effected arrive at the central unit. Thecentral unit 60 is connected to two randomaccess memories RAM channels central unit 60 is also connected, through achannel 71 to acircuit 72 which controls themotor 26 and, through achannel 73, to a circuit 74 which controls themotor 54. Thecontrol circuits 72 and 74 are of known type, for example of the type described in our Italian Patent No. 1,009,48. - The signal FT generated by the photo-
transistor 44 is sent to thecentral unit 60, after having been squared by amonostable circuit 75. The signal FP issuing from the photo-transistor 29 is fed to amonostable squaring circuit 76 which generates a corresponding square signal FQ, which is fed to a binary counter 77 which generates a print enabling signal FS. The signal FQ is also despatched, as a feedback signal, to thecontrol circuit 72 of themotor 26. The binary counter 77 is connected to thecentral unit 60 by means of achannel 80 and can be set to overflow on a variable number, in such a manner that the time interval between two successive pulses of the signal FS may be suitably selected, as will be described hereinbelow. - The
central unit 60 is connected to amultiple switching circuit 81 through twochannels circuit 81 is connected to a plurality of decoding ROM's 83a, 83b, .....83n, by means of a corresponding plurality ofchannels 84a, 84b,...... 84n. EachROM 83a, 83b,.....83n has 18output lines NAND gates 86 which generatecontrol signals EL 1 to EL 18 and each have an input connected to the output of the binary counter 77. Eachcontrol signal EL 1 to EL 18 issuing from thegates 86 is fed to acorresponding monovibrator 87 which, in response, generates a pulse PZ which remains at thelogical level 1 for the time actually necessary for controlling the electro-magnets 32 (approximately 500 psec); this pulse PZ is then fed through a driver circuit 88n, to the corresponding electro-magnet 32. - The operation of the printing device so far described is as follows:-
- At rest, the carriage 21 (Fig. 1) and the
head 20 are stopped at theleft end 12, and thetoothed members motor 54 can rotate thehead 20 relative to thesupport 37 of thecarriage 21 through thegears coupling screw 40 and thegear 39 disposing it in one of its possible positicns,suitably inclining the row of writing ends of thewires 31 relative to the horizontal direction of movement of thecarriage 21. In the particular embodiment here described, three different inclinations of thehead 20 relative to the horizontal direction have been assumed for the sake of example. In a first operating condition (Figs. 4 and 5) thehead 20 is positioned in such a manner that the row Z-Z of the printing ends of thewires 31 is vertical. - With the
head 20 thus disposed, the printing device can write either simultaneously two lines of characters of standard height. according to a matrix of 7 x 7 dots (Fig. 4) , or a single line of characters ofdouble height 1 according to a matrix of 18 x 12 dots (Fig. 5), thus effecting, for example, letter heads and titles. In addition, again with thehead 20 thus disposed, it is possible to write alpha-numerical characters, graphic symbols, non-Latin characters and ideograms, according to dot matrices with variable definition. The definition and sizes of characters in the vertical direction are determined by the number ofwires 31 chosen , while the corresponding values, in the horizontal direction, are determined by the pitch between two dots, with a consequent correction of the speed of movement of thecarriage 21. - The speed of movement of the
carriage 21 is indeed a determining factor to obtain a predetermined type of writing, account being taken of the time T taken by each electro-magnet 32 to effect a complete printing cycle. - For a type of writing such as that illustrated in Fig. 4, the distance g between two successive dots in the horizontal direction of writing is equal to ten elementary pitches p and is 0.529 mm; this distance g is moved by the
carriage 21 in a time T which is 1000 psec. Therefore, for this type of writing, the speed of travel of thecarriage 21 is 529 mm/sec., thehead 20 can write 200 characters per second, for each line, and thus have a productivity of 400 characters per second. - For this type of printing, in addition, the
console 65 is set up in such a manner that the data transmitted by the input device 62 (Fig. 3) to thecentral unit 60 are first memorised on alternate lines of the twoRAM memories circuit 81 through thechannel 82. Thecentral unit 60, throughchannel 83, conditions thecircuit 81 so that the data fromchannel 82 go to the ROM 83a, through channel 84a, ruling out the other ROM's 83b.....83n. Thecentral unit 60, in addition, throughchannel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that every five pulses FQ a pulse FS is generated, enabling printing. (Although the horizontal dot spacing g is equal to 10p the dots are printed at intervals of 5p as adjacent dot rows may be staggered in a manner apparent from Fig. 4.) Finally, throughchannel 71, thecentral unit 60 controls thecircuit 72 controlling themotor 26 in such a manner that the speed of travel of thecarriage 21 be as predetermined. - The type of printing such as that illustrated in Fig. 5 the distance f between two successive dots in the horizontal direction of writing is equal to six elementary pitches p, and is 0.3174 mm. As the
carriage 21 has to travel through that space f in time T, which is 1000 psec, the speed of travel of thecarriage 21 in front of thebar 16 is 317.4 mm per second. In this case, in addition, theconsole 65 is set in such a manner that the data transmitted from the input device 62 (Fig. 3) to the central unit are memorised line by line in one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and are then despatched serially to thecircuit 81, through thechannel 82. Thecentral unit 60, throughchannel 83, conditions thecircuit 81 in such a manner that the data fromchannel 82 go to theROM 83b, through thechannel 84b, ruling out the other ROM's 83a,....83n. Thecentral unit 60, in addition, throughchannel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that a pulse FS is generated every six pulses FQ, enabling printing. Finally, throughchannel 71, thecentral unit 60 conditions thecircuit 72 controlling themotor 26 in such a manner that the speed of travel of thecarriage 21 be as predetermined. - Let us now assume that we wish to slant the
head 20 to write characters and symbols according to other dot matrices. - When the head 20 (Fig. 1) is in the rest position, with the
engagement members central unit 60, through thecannel 73, controls the circuit 74 controlling themotor 54, in such a manner that the head 20 (Fig. 2) rotates, relative to thesupport 37 of thecarriage 21 by an angler(Fig. 6) predetermined relative to the vertical axis. When the rotation has taken place, the photo-transistor 44 generates a feedback pulse FT which is fed to thecentral unit 60 to stop themotor 54 and thehead 20. For the writing of characters of the Kanji alphabet according to a matrix of 12 x 14 dots, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the angle α is 48°37'. This angle has been selected in such a manner that the projection c on to the horizontal axis of the distance between the centres of twowires 31 which are adjacent is an exact multiple of the elementary pitch p. In particular when 0< = 48037' the distance c is euqal to 6 p and is 0.3174 mm. This is in order to be able to obtain perfectly vertical strokes. - In this second working condition and for this type of printing, the distance r between two successive dots in the horizontal direction of writing is equal to 5 elementary pitches p, and is 0.2645 mm. As the
carriage 21 has to travel through this distance r during the time T which is 1000 µsec, the speed of travel of thecarriage 21 is 264.5 mm/sec. At this speed thehead 20 can write 35 Kanji characters per second. In this case also the data transmitted to thecentral unit 60 are memorised line by line in one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and are then despatched serially, throughchannel 82, to thecircuit 81 which despatches them to another of the n ROM's 83, not shown in order to simplify the drawing. In this case also, thecentral unit 60, throughchannel 80, sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that every five FQ pulses a FS pulse, enabling printing, is generated. - If it is desired to write alphanumerical characters and symbols according to a matrix with higher dot definition, the
head 20 is inclined to a greater extent relative to the vertical axis, changing its setting and bringing it to a third operating condition. - Setting the console 65 (Fig. 3) on the new type of characters to be printed, when the
head 20 is at rest, thecentral unit 60, through thechannel 73, controls the circuit 74 controlling themotor 54 in such a manner that the head 20 (Fig. 2) rotates relative to thesupport 37 of thecarriage 21 until it forms a predetermined angle β (Fig. 7) relative to the vertical axis. When rotation has taken place, the photo-transistor 44 generates a feedback pulse FT which stops themotor 54 and therefore thehead 20. - For high definition printing according to a matrix of 15 x 48 dots, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the angle β is 610 7'. This angle β also is selected in such a manner that the projection d on to the horizontal axis of the distance between the centres of two
adjacent wires 31 should be an exact multiple of the elementary pitch p. In particular, when 61°7', the distance d is equal to 7p and is 0.3703mm. - In this third working condition, and for this type of printing, the distance s between two successive dots along the horizontal direction of writing is equal to four elementary pitches & and is 0.2116 mm. As this distance has to be travelled by the
carriage 21 in time T, the speed of travel of thecarriage 21 is 211.6 mm/sec. At this speed, thehead 20 can print about 83 characters per second, Also in this latter case the data transmitted to thecentral unit 60 are first memorised one line at a time on one of the RAM memories (66 or 67) and then despatched serially to theROM 83n, through thecircuit 81. Thecentral unit 60 sets the binary counter 77 in such a manner that at each FQ pulse a pulse FS enabling printing is generated. - The elementary pitch E. = 0.0529 mm corresponds to 1/480" and has been selected on the basis that the characters are normally printed with constant spacings of 10, 12 or 15 characters per inch, or with different spacing pitches which are multiples of 1/60" (0.423 mm). In accordance with this selection the spacing of a character with 1/10" spacing is divided into 48 parts, and the spaces of the characters of 1/12" and 1/15" and proportional ones are subdivided respectively into 40 parts, 32 parts and exact multiples of 8 parts.
- It will be clear from the present description that the slanting of the row of printing ends of the
wires 31 relative to the direction of writing is selectively variable from a first position in which thewires 31 can write simultaneously a plurality of lines of printing to a plurality of other indications in which thewires 31 can write on a single line symbols and characters with dot matrices with variable definition. - It is clear that in addition to those described so far, other types of printing, with other dot matrices, may be printed by the device according to the invention.
- Among many possible modifications it may be mentioned that there may be more, if need be many more, or less wires than 18, and the lines of characters written simultaneously (Fig. 4) may be more than two. As already mentioned printing elements other than wires can be used. For example, thermal printing elements are known and also ink jet printing elements which project dots of ink on to the recording medium.
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT69015/79A IT1119227B (en) | 1979-10-17 | 1979-10-17 | POINT PRINTING DEVICE FOR TELEWRITING TERMINAL MACHINE AND SIMILAR OFFICE MACHINE |
IT6901579 | 1979-10-17 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0027734A1 true EP0027734A1 (en) | 1981-04-29 |
EP0027734B1 EP0027734B1 (en) | 1984-04-18 |
Family
ID=11311163
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP80303686A Expired EP0027734B1 (en) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-10-17 | Dot matrix printing device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0027734B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS5689564A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3067563D1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1119227B (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0031421A2 (en) * | 1979-12-26 | 1981-07-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Multiple mode printing system and method |
EP0101814A2 (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1984-03-07 | Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. | Automated sign generator |
EP0107502A2 (en) * | 1982-10-27 | 1984-05-02 | Royden C. Sanders, Jr. | Matrix dot printer with printed dot density control |
FR2540043A1 (en) * | 1983-01-27 | 1984-08-03 | Hoffmann Cyklop | DEVICE FOR MARKING OBJECTS |
EP0114989A1 (en) * | 1982-12-23 | 1984-08-08 | Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Thermal printerand thermal-printingmethod |
EP0104628A3 (en) * | 1982-09-27 | 1985-04-24 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method and apparatus for the generation of characters |
EP0146492A2 (en) * | 1983-12-19 | 1985-06-26 | MANNESMANN Aktiengesellschaft | Character seize reduction and shift in a matrix printer, and method |
GB2198992A (en) * | 1986-11-12 | 1988-06-29 | Markpoint System Ab | Dot matrix printers having rotatable print head arrays |
US5310270A (en) * | 1990-09-21 | 1994-05-10 | Nec Corporation | Printing method for dot impact type serial printer |
US5320441A (en) * | 1991-11-15 | 1994-06-14 | Seikosha Co., Ltd. | Wire-dot printer in which printing modes can be changed over from one to another |
WO1999054141A1 (en) * | 1998-04-17 | 1999-10-28 | Elesys, Inc. | Radial printing system and methods |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS58104639U (en) * | 1981-12-31 | 1983-07-16 | 日本レギユレ−タ−株式会社 | marking device |
JPS59198167A (en) * | 1983-04-25 | 1984-11-09 | Tokyo Electric Co Ltd | Dot printer |
JPS59218864A (en) * | 1983-05-26 | 1984-12-10 | Nec Corp | Ink jet recording system |
JPS60159067A (en) * | 1984-01-31 | 1985-08-20 | Tenshiyou Denki Kogyo Kk | Dot printer |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3931761A (en) * | 1970-10-09 | 1976-01-13 | Andre Carrus | Method of continuous printing of documents |
US3945019A (en) * | 1973-03-31 | 1976-03-16 | Kabushiki Kaisha Seikosha | Apparatus and method for recording characters so as to enable reading thereof in a feed direction of a recording sheet therefor |
US3976180A (en) * | 1973-04-09 | 1976-08-24 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Matrix printer comprising one or more stackable groups of printing wires |
US4059182A (en) * | 1973-12-20 | 1977-11-22 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Mosaic printer |
US4153950A (en) * | 1978-07-21 | 1979-05-08 | International Business Machines Corp. | Data bit assembler |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE378922B (en) * | 1973-12-20 | 1975-09-15 | Philips Svenska Ab | |
JPS5117634A (en) * | 1974-08-03 | 1976-02-12 | Sharp Kk | Purintaano injihoshiki |
JPS6016351B2 (en) * | 1977-06-29 | 1985-04-25 | 株式会社精工舎 | Dot printer paper feed motor control circuit |
JPS55156078A (en) * | 1979-05-25 | 1980-12-04 | Canon Inc | Dot recording device |
-
1979
- 1979-10-17 IT IT69015/79A patent/IT1119227B/en active
-
1980
- 1980-10-17 JP JP14554680A patent/JPS5689564A/en active Pending
- 1980-10-17 EP EP80303686A patent/EP0027734B1/en not_active Expired
- 1980-10-17 DE DE8080303686T patent/DE3067563D1/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3931761A (en) * | 1970-10-09 | 1976-01-13 | Andre Carrus | Method of continuous printing of documents |
US3945019A (en) * | 1973-03-31 | 1976-03-16 | Kabushiki Kaisha Seikosha | Apparatus and method for recording characters so as to enable reading thereof in a feed direction of a recording sheet therefor |
US3976180A (en) * | 1973-04-09 | 1976-08-24 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Matrix printer comprising one or more stackable groups of printing wires |
US4059182A (en) * | 1973-12-20 | 1977-11-22 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Mosaic printer |
US4153950A (en) * | 1978-07-21 | 1979-05-08 | International Business Machines Corp. | Data bit assembler |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, Vol. 16, No. 5, October 1973, Armonk (US) F. TSUI: "Arrangement for data merging and line splitting in printers" pages 1594-1595 * |
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, Vol. 21, No. 1, June 1978, Armonk (US) J.R. PIVNICHNY: "Matrix scan printing method" pages 103-104 * |
Cited By (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0031421A2 (en) * | 1979-12-26 | 1981-07-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Multiple mode printing system and method |
EP0031421A3 (en) * | 1979-12-26 | 1982-09-22 | International Business Machines Corporation | Multiple mode printing system and method |
EP0101814A2 (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1984-03-07 | Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. | Automated sign generator |
EP0276026A3 (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1988-10-26 | Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. | Automated sign generator |
EP0276027A3 (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1988-10-19 | Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. | Apparatus for cutting sheet material |
EP0276026A2 (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1988-07-27 | Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. | Automated sign generator |
EP0101814A3 (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1985-04-03 | Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. | Automated sign generator |
EP0276027A2 (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1988-07-27 | Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. | Apparatus for cutting sheet material |
EP0104628A3 (en) * | 1982-09-27 | 1985-04-24 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method and apparatus for the generation of characters |
EP0107502A3 (en) * | 1982-10-27 | 1985-08-07 | Royden C. Sanders, Jr. | Matrix dot printer with printed dot density control |
EP0107502A2 (en) * | 1982-10-27 | 1984-05-02 | Royden C. Sanders, Jr. | Matrix dot printer with printed dot density control |
US4524367A (en) * | 1982-12-23 | 1985-06-18 | Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Thermal printer |
EP0114989A1 (en) * | 1982-12-23 | 1984-08-08 | Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Thermal printerand thermal-printingmethod |
FR2540043A1 (en) * | 1983-01-27 | 1984-08-03 | Hoffmann Cyklop | DEVICE FOR MARKING OBJECTS |
EP0146492A2 (en) * | 1983-12-19 | 1985-06-26 | MANNESMANN Aktiengesellschaft | Character seize reduction and shift in a matrix printer, and method |
EP0146492A3 (en) * | 1983-12-19 | 1986-07-16 | Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft | Character seize reduction and shift in a matrix printer, and method |
GB2198992A (en) * | 1986-11-12 | 1988-06-29 | Markpoint System Ab | Dot matrix printers having rotatable print head arrays |
GB2198992B (en) * | 1986-11-12 | 1991-05-01 | Markpoint System Ab | A device for recording of information |
US5310270A (en) * | 1990-09-21 | 1994-05-10 | Nec Corporation | Printing method for dot impact type serial printer |
US5320441A (en) * | 1991-11-15 | 1994-06-14 | Seikosha Co., Ltd. | Wire-dot printer in which printing modes can be changed over from one to another |
WO1999054141A1 (en) * | 1998-04-17 | 1999-10-28 | Elesys, Inc. | Radial printing system and methods |
US6264295B1 (en) | 1998-04-17 | 2001-07-24 | Elesys, Inc. | Radial printing system and methods |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT7969015A0 (en) | 1979-10-17 |
JPS5689564A (en) | 1981-07-20 |
EP0027734B1 (en) | 1984-04-18 |
IT1119227B (en) | 1986-03-03 |
DE3067563D1 (en) | 1984-05-24 |
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