JPH0330501B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printing device using a typeface having a plurality of typefaces.

In conventional printing devices, it is necessary to place the type bodies close to the platen for printing, and the type bodies are arranged in a narrow space, making replacement very inconvenient. Moreover, all replacement work had to be done manually. Furthermore, when attaching and detaching the device in a narrow space, there is a limit to how easy the operation can be made, so there is a problem that the operation tends to take a long time.

The present invention aims at improving the exchangeability when exchanging typefaces. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device in which the replaceability of type bodies is greatly improved by providing a setting motor for moving a type body housing means that accommodates type bodies.

The details of the present invention will be explained with reference to embodiments shown in the figures.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a type wheel cassette 2 rotatably supporting a petal-shaped type wheel 1, which is a type body having a plurality of type characters, is detachably attached to a cassette holder 3, that is, a type body holding means holding means. ing. The type wheel cassette 2 thus becomes a type storage means for accommodating the type wheel 1.

The cassette holder 3 is linearly movably guided by a cassette holder base 4 fixed to the cassette holder 3 in a guide groove formed in the carriage 5 as a guide means.

A slide groove 6 is formed in the cassette holder base 4, and a motor base 7 is slidably mounted in the slide groove 6. The motor base 7 is provided with a motor holder 9 for fixedly holding a selection motor 8 serving as a type selection means. The motor holder 9 holds the selection motor 8 in a tight manner.

A home position detection element 10 for the type wheel 1 is attached to the motor base 7, and a home position detection arm 1 for detecting the home position of the type wheel 1 is attached to the shaft 11 of the selection motor 8.
2 is installed.

A rotation center hole 14 provided at one end of a lever 13 is pivotally attached to the carriage 5 by a pin or the like. The lever 13 extends into the space between the cassette holder base 4 and the motor base 7, and both ends protrude above the carriage. The lever 13 has a first
An engaging pin 15 and a second engaging pin 16 are provided, the first engaging pin 15 engages with an engaging hole 17 provided in the cassette holder base 4, and the second engaging pin 16
enters the hole 18 provided in the motor base 7,
By moving the lever 13, the motor base 7 and the cassette holder base 4 are moved simultaneously.
The lever 13 therefore acts as a switching means. A nut 19 is mounted near the free end of the lever 13, and the nut 19 is screwed onto a threaded shaft 20.

The screw shaft 20 is attached to a setting motor 21 attached to the carriage 5, and is driven to rotate reversibly by the setting motor 21. In other words, the setting motor 21 drives the lever 13 as a switching means.

The nut 19 is reciprocated by the reversible rotation of the screw shaft 20, and the cassette holder base 4 and selection motor 8 are reciprocated between a set position, which is a printing position, and an offset position, which is a replacement position. In the carriage 5, a set position detecting element 22 and an offset position detecting element 23 detect the amount of movement of the lever 23, that is, the amount of movement of the cassette holder 3, detect that the set position or the offset position has been reached, and activate the setting motor 21. It is provided as a detection means for controlling the When the lever 13 is moved to the set position, the cassette holder 3 and the selection motor 8 are moved to the set position, and when the lever 13 is moved to the exchange position, the first engagement of the lever 13 that engages with the cassette holder base 4 is moved. Since the distance from the rotation center hole 14 of the second engagement pin 16 that engages with the motor base 7 is set larger than the distance from the rotation center hole 14 of the matching pin 15, the cassette holder 3
is moved to an offset position away from platen 24 and selection motor 8 is moved to an offset position away from type wheel 1.

A toggle spring 27 is engaged with a pin 25 fixed to the motor base 7 and a pin 26 fixed to the cassette holder base 4, and acts to hold the selection motor 8 at the set position or offset position. Toggle spring 27 is the carriage 5
It is also possible to engage the lever 13 with the lever 13.

The cassette holder 3 is provided with a cassette detection element 28, for example a micro switch, for confirming that the type wheel cassette 2 is mounted at a predetermined position.

The selection motor 8 and the home position detection element 10 of the type wheel 1 are connected to the terminal 29, and the set position detection element 22 and the offset position detection element 2 are connected to the terminal 29.
3 is connected to a terminal 30, and a setting motor 21, a cassette detection element 28, and an offset operation switch 31 are connected to a terminal 32.

The terminals 29, 30, 32 can also be handled by one connector.

A print hammer unit 33 is used to print the selected type of the type wheel 1 onto the paper wrapped around the platen 24. The printing hammer unit 33 has a frame 34 attached to a motor holder 9 supporting the selection motor 8. The motor holder 9 is inserted into the groove 34a provided in the frame 34.
By inserting the engaging portion 9a formed at the upper end of the motor holder 9, the motor holder 9 is tightened to firmly hold the motor 8, and the frame 34 is supported on the motor holder 9.

A hammer frame 37 having a guide 36 that slidably supports a printing hammer 35 is attached to the frame 34. hammer frame 37
is fastened and held by a fastener 39 via a holder 38 fixed to a frame 34.

The frame 34 is provided with legs 40, and the legs 40
Ribbon cassette 4 that accommodates ink ribbon 41 in
Two legs 43 are pivotally connected by pins 44. The ribbon cassette 42 can be connected to a ribbon drive motor 45.

The holder 38, hammer frame 37, guide 36, and printing hammer 35 of the printing hammer unit 33 fit into the space 4 provided in the ribbon cassette 42.
6 protrudes upward from the bottom of the ribbon cassette 42. Printing hammer 3 when set
The ribbon cassette 42 is pressed by a set spring 47 so that the ribbon 41 is located between the platen 24 and the printing type that is struck by the ribbon cassette 42. The set spring 47 can be easily attached and detached if the end portion 47a is formed in a shape that clamps a part of the leg 44. A set spring 47 attached to the leg 44 of the frame 34 pushes up the end of the ribbon cassette 42 on the side opposite to the printing side.
To prevent the position of the ribbon 41 from fluctuating due to wobbling.

The operation of this device will be explained.

During operation, the printing hammer unit 33 is attached to the motor holder 9, and the ribbon cassette 4 is
2 is attached to the printing hammer unit 33.

Prior to starting printing, a type wheel cassette 2 containing a desired type wheel 1 is mounted on a cassette holder 3. At this time, the output shaft 8a of the selection motor 8 is stopped at the home position due to the action of the home position detection arm 12 and the home position detection element 10. On the other hand, inside the cassette 2, the type wheel 1 is held at the home position.

When the cassette 2 is installed in a predetermined position, the cassette detection element 28 is activated and the setting motor 21 is driven in the setting direction. The screw shaft 20 is rotated by the driving of the setting motor 21, and the nut 19 is moved toward the cassette 2. The lever 13 is rotated by the movement of the nut 19. The rotation of the lever 13 causes the first engagement pin 15 and the second engagement pin 16 to engage the cassette holder base 4 and the motor base 7, respectively.
is advanced toward the platen 24. Since the amount of movement of the motor base 7 is greater than the amount of movement of the cassette holder base 4, the shaft 8a of the selection motor 8 is mounted on the type wheel 1 at the set position.
The cassette holder 3 is also set at the set position. When the set position detection element 22 detects that the set position has been reached, the set motor 2
1 is stopped. At the set position, the lever 13 is held at the set position by the action of the toggle spring 27 regardless of the backlash between the nut 19 and the screw shaft 20, so that the cassette 2 and selection motor 8 are reliably held at the set position. The work of each part at the time of setting is clearly shown in FIG. 3a, which shows a time chart.

When it is necessary to remove the cassette for type wheel replacement or inspection, use offset operation. At this time, the offset operation switch 31 is activated. Turning on the offset operation switch 31
As a result, the setting motor 21 is driven in the reverse direction, and the screw shaft 20 is rotated in the reverse direction, thereby moving the nut 19 backward. The setting motor 21 is electrically controlled by an offset operating switch 31. Lever 1 is moved backward by nut 19.
3 is rotated in a direction opposite to that when set, and the selection motor 8 and type wheel cassette 2 are moved backward in a direction opposite to that when set. When the offset position detection element 23 detects that the lever 13 has reached the offset position, the setting motor 21 is stopped. In the offset position, the type wheel 1 and the selection motor 8 are disengaged and the cassette holder 3 is separated from the platen 24, so that the type wheel cassette 2 can be easily removed. When the type wheel cassette 2 is removed, the cassette detection element 28 is deactivated. The operation of each part during the offset operation is clearly illustrated by the time chart shown in FIG. 3b.

According to the present invention, when replacing type bodies, the type body accommodating means holding means that holds the type body accommodating means for accommodating the type bodies is moved to an offset position further away from the platen from the set position, that is, the printing position, using the setting motor. It is now possible to move to the exchange position, greatly improving the exchangeability of typefaces.

Since the type body accommodating means holding means and the setting motor are provided on a common carriage, and the type body accommodating means holding means is moved and guided linearly on the carriage, the setting motor can be used with a simple drive mechanism. It became possible to move around.

In particular, in printing devices in which the printing hammer, ribbon, and type are placed close to the platen, there is little space and it is difficult to replace the type. It is extremely convenient because it can be replaced at any position.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of the printing device according to the present invention with the ribbon cassette removed; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the printing device excluding the printing hammer unit; This is a time chart during operation, where a shows the set time and b shows the offset time. 1...Type wheel (typeface), 2...Type wheel cassette (typeface storage means), 3...
cassette holder (type storage means holding means),
5...Carriage, 7...Motor base, 8...
Selection motor (type selection means), 13...Lever (switching movement means), 21...Motor for setting, 22
...Set position detection element (detection means), 23...
Offset position detection element (detection means), 24...
Platen, 33... Printing hammer unit, 35
...Printing hammer, 41...Ink ribbon.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 a platen, a type body having type, a type body housing means for accommodating the type body, a type selection means provided on a carriage for selecting the type of the type body, and a type selected by the type selection means. a printing hammer provided on the carriage for printing printed type on paper wrapped around a platen; an ink ribbon located between the type and the platen; and a guide on the carriage for holding the type body storage means. a printing position for printing, and a printing position for printing, a type body storage means holding means linearly movably guided by a means, and a printing position for printing, and a type body holding means holding means and the type selection means for exchanging the type body. Furthermore, the amount of movement of the switching means provided on the carriage for switching between a replacement position remote from the platen, the setting motor that drives the switching means, and the type body storage means holding means is controlled. and a detection means for detecting and controlling the setting motor,
The amount of movement of the type selection means is set to be larger than the amount of movement of the type body accommodating means holding means by the switching movement means, and when the type body accommodating means is at an exchange position further away from the platen than the printing position. A printing device characterized in that said type body is formed so as to be disengaged from said type selection means.