JPS6052359A - Impact color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain clear-cut color printing for each color even when printing is made for long period of time by a method in which printing unit groups are provided by combining plural printing units in such a way that impact printing is made only on a preset one color zone by the wire of one printing wire group. CONSTITUTION:A printing head 6 is provided with a plural set (e.g., three sets) of printing wires 10, and a piezo-electric effect type printing unit for driving each of given numbers of the wires 10 of each set is housed in a case. Each set of the wires 10 is separately provided correspondingly to each of three color zones 3-(1)-3-(3) of each ink ribbon 3. When printing is made, while advancing the printing head 6 in the direction of broken arrow A and also the paper 4 in the direction of broken arrow C, when the designated line position of the paper 4 reaches the line position of the color zone of designated printing color and also the wires 10 of the printing head 6 reach the designated row position, printing is made by giving the impact of designated pattern to the wires 10 of sets corresponding to the color zone.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 本発明はインパクトカラープリンタ、特にドツトインパ
クト方式のインパクトカラープリンタに関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an impact color printer, and particularly to an impact color printer using a dot impact method.

従来のドツトインパクト方式のカラープリンタは、印字
用のワイヤを電磁石で駆動し、多色のインクリボンを所
望の色の位置に設定して、カラー印字を行う。Conventional dot impact type color printers perform color printing by driving printing wires with electromagnets and setting multicolor ink ribbons at desired color positions.

第１図線従来のインパクトカラープリンタの印字部を示
す斜視図である。印字ヘッド１は、複数の印字用ワイヤ
１０をおのおの駆動するための電磁石をケース内に収容
しておシ、各ワイヤ１０の先端部状印字ヘッド１の前端
に設けたワイヤガイドのガイド穴を貫通してインクリボ
ン３との間にギャップを保っている。複数のワイヤ１０
は縦一列に配列されておル、電磁石に印字パターンを指
定するインパクト信号が印加されると、これに応じて電
磁石がワイヤ１０をインパクト駆動して縦−利発の指定
パターンの印字動作を行９ｏ印字ヘッド１は、破線矢印
Ａで示すごとく水平方向に、右方あるいは左方に歩進し
ながら行方向に各縦列の印字を行う。インクリボン３は
、互埴に相異なる色に着色した着色帯３−（１）ないし
３−（３）からなシ、印字ヘッドＩと連動し且つ印字色
指定に応じて破線矢印Ｂで示すごとく上下方向にシフト
してワイヤ１０の位置すなわち印字位置に指定された着
色帯を設定するリボンガイド２に導かれながら右方ある
いは左方に送られる。ワイヤガイド２には、ワイヤｌＯ
がインパクトするだめの開口部が設けられている・ワイ
ヤガイド２とプラテン５との間に送シ込まれた用紙４は
、改行指定に応じて破線矢印Ｃで示すごとく上方に歩進
する。印字時には、まず印字色指定に応じてインクリボ
ン３の着色帯３−（１）ないし３−（３）のうちの指定
されたものがリボンガイド２のシフト動作によシ印字位
置に設定される。このあと、電磁石に印加されるインパ
クト信号に応じて、ワイヤｌＯがプラテン５に向ってイ
ンパクトして指定パターンの印字動作を行う。このよう
にして、印字色指定あるφは改行指定に応じてそれぞれ
リボンガイド２のシフトあるいは用紙４の改行歩進を行
いながら、カラー印字を行うことができる。FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printing section of a conventional impact color printer. The print head 1 houses electromagnets for driving each of a plurality of printing wires 10 in a case, and the tip portion of each wire 10 passes through a guide hole of a wire guide provided at the front end of the print head 1. A gap is maintained between the ink ribbon 3 and the ink ribbon 3. multiple wires 10
are arranged in a vertical line, and when an impact signal specifying a printing pattern is applied to the electromagnet, the electromagnet drives the wire 10 impactly in response to the impact signal to perform printing operation of the specified pattern of vertical and clever. The print head 1 prints in each column in the row direction while stepping horizontally to the right or left as shown by a broken arrow A. The ink ribbon 3 is composed of colored bands 3-(1) to 3-(3) which are colored in different colors, and is linked to the print head I, as shown by the broken line arrow B, according to the print color designation. The ribbon is fed to the right or left while being guided by a ribbon guide 2 that shifts vertically and sets a designated colored band at the position of the wire 10, that is, the printing position. The wire guide 2 has a wire lO
The paper 4 fed between the wire guide 2 and the platen 5 advances upward as shown by the broken line arrow C in response to the line feed specification. At the time of printing, first, in accordance with the print color designation, the designated color band 3-(1) or 3-(3) of the ink ribbon 3 is set at the print position by the shift operation of the ribbon guide 2. . Thereafter, the wire lO impacts toward the platen 5 in response to an impact signal applied to the electromagnet to print a specified pattern. In this way, color printing can be performed while the ribbon guide 2 is shifted or the paper 4 is advanced to a line feed in accordance with the line feed specification for each specified printing color.

このような従来のインパクトカラープリンタには、用紙
４上に多色印字したときに印字結果が印字色指定通シの
鮮明な色別のものにならず多色が混シ合って不鮮明な色
のものになるという欠点が、あり／特に長時間に亘シ印
字を行った場合にこの欠点が著しい。すなわち、−組の
ワイヤ１ｏで多色のインクリボン３にインパクトするの
で、ワイヤ１０の先端には多色のインクが付着する。ワ
イヤｌＯのインパクト時に、その先端に付着したインク
がインクリボン３を浸透して用紙４上に圧着されるため
、印字結果は多色が混シ合ってしまい、印字色指定通シ
の鮮明な色別にはならない。特に長時間に亘って印字を
行った場合には、インクリボン３に着色したインク量が
減るため、印字結果はどの色で印字したのかすら判らな
し程に色が混シ合った不鮮明々ものになる。With such conventional impact color printers, when printing in multiple colors on the paper 4, the print result is not clearly separated by color according to the print color specification rule, but the multiple colors are mixed and the result is unclear. There is a disadvantage that printing becomes difficult, and this disadvantage is particularly noticeable when printing is carried out for a long period of time. That is, since the - set of wires 1o impacts the multicolor ink ribbon 3, multicolor ink adheres to the tips of the wires 10. When the wire IO makes an impact, the ink attached to the tip of the wire permeates the ink ribbon 3 and is pressed onto the paper 4, resulting in a mixture of multiple colors in the print result and the clear colors of the print color specification pattern. It doesn't matter. In particular, when printing is performed for a long time, the amount of colored ink on the ink ribbon 3 decreases, resulting in a blurred print with colors mixed together so that it is difficult to tell which color was printed. Become.

本発明の目的は、上述の欠点を除き長時間に亘シ印字し
た場合でも鮮明な色別の印字結果が得られるインパクト
カラープリンタを提供することにある。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an impact color printer that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and can provide clear printing results for each color even when printing is performed for a long time.

本発明のプリンタは、おのおの相異なる色のインクで着
色した複数の着色帯を有するインクリボンと、印字パタ
ーンを示す駆動電圧に応答して寸法歪を発生する圧電体
の駆動源と前記寸法歪を伝達して所定方向の変位を発生
するための伝達機構と該伝達機構の所定箇所に一端が固
定されておシ前記変位を与えられてインパクト印字を行
う細棒状のワイヤとをそれぞれ設けた印字ユニットを複
数個組合せた印字ユニット組を複数組有し一つの前記印
字ワイヤ組の前記ワイヤが予め定めた一つの前記着色帯
のみにインパクト印字するよう各前記印字ユニット組を
配設した印字ヘッドとを備えている。The printer of the present invention includes an ink ribbon having a plurality of colored bands each colored with a different color of ink, a piezoelectric drive source that generates dimensional distortion in response to a drive voltage indicating a printing pattern, and a piezoelectric drive source that generates dimensional distortion. A printing unit is provided with a transmission mechanism for generating a displacement in a predetermined direction by transmission, and a thin rod-shaped wire having one end fixed to a predetermined location of the transmission mechanism and performing impact printing when the displacement is applied. a print head having a plurality of printing unit sets each of which is a combination of a plurality of printing unit sets, and each of the printing unit sets arranged so that the wires of one printing wire set perform impact printing only on one predetermined colored band; It is equipped with

次に図面を参照して本発明の詳細な説明する〇第２図は
本発明の一実施例を示す斜視図である〇印字ヘッド６は
・複数組（本実施例では三組）の印字用のワイヤ１０を
設けてアシ、各組の所定本数のワイヤ１０をおのおの駆
動するための圧電効果型の印字ユニットがケース内に収
容しである。Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.〇Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.〇The print head 6 is for printing multiple sets (three sets in this embodiment). A piezoelectric effect type printing unit for driving each set of a predetermined number of wires 10 is housed in the case.

ワイヤ１０の各組は、おのおのインクリボン３の複数本
（本実施例では三本）の着色帯３−（１）ないし３−（
３）のそれぞれに対応させ個別に設けてあシ、対応する
着色帯にインパクトして、インクリボン３とプラテン１
９との間に送シ込んだ用紙４に印字を行う。印字時には
、従来のようなインクリボン３のシフト動作は行わず、
印字単位である各縦列について、該縦列の用紙４上での
行および列の位置、該縦列の印字パターンおよび該縦列
の印字色の各指定に応じて、印字ヘッド６の破線矢印Ａ
の向きの歩進および用紙４の破線矢印Ｃの向きの歩進を
行いながら、用紙４０指定行列箇所が指定印字色の着色
帯の行位置に到達し且つ印字ヘッド６のワイヤ１０が指
定列位置に到達しときに・その着色帯に対応する組のワ
イヤ１０に指定パターンのインパクトを与えて印字をイ
ゲう。すなわち、ワイヤ１０の各組はそれぞれ対応する
着色帯だけにインパクト印字を行う◎ 第３図（ａ）および（ｂ）はおのおの、本実施例の印字
ヘッドの一措成例を示す上面断面図および側面部分断面
図である。印字ヘッド６のケース内には複数組（本実施
例では三組）の印字ユニット７を収容してあシ、各組は
更に複数個（本実施例では四個）の印字ユニット７から
成る。これらの印字ユニッ）１０は、スペーサ８を介し
て平らに積重ねてボルト９でケースに取付は固定しであ
る。各印字ユニット７に杜印字用のワイヤｌＯが二本ず
つ設けてあり、各ワイヤ１０をそれぞれ駆動するだめの
駆動源および伝達機構を備えている。各ワイヤ１０の先
端部はワイヤガイド穴を貫通して印字面に導かれている
◎ 第４図は本実施例に用いている印字ユニット７を示す部
分斜視図である。同図は、第３図（ａ）に示す印字ユニ
ット７の半分すなわち一本のワイヤ１０を駆動する部分
を示し、第３図（ａ）の印字ユニット７は第４図に示す
ユニットを二つ一体化して構成したものである。勿論、
第４図に示す部分をおのおの個別に構成して、これらを
印字ヘッド内に平らに積重ねて組込んでも、第３図（ａ
ｔに示す亀のと同様な印字ヘッドが得られる。第４図に
おいて、金属の取付部材１２に下端を固定した圧電体１
２が駆動源であ）、圧電体１２の両側面に設けた一対の
電極間にリード１３を介してインパクト信号の駆動電圧
を印加すると、電歪効果により圧電体１２が長さ方向に
伸びて寸法歪を発生する。圧電体１２の上端線、おのお
の板状部材を介して金属の第１および第２の可動部材１
４および１５の下端に接続しており、更に第１および第
２の可動部材１４および１５の下端は、おのおの板状部
材を介して数句部材１１に接続している。第１および第
２の可動部材１４および１５の上部一端にはそれぞれ金
属板のｔＲｌおよび第２の伝達部材１６および１７の一
端が固着されてお）、第１および第２の伝達部材１６お
よび１７の他端はいずれも金属の第３の可動部材１８に
固着しである０第３の可動部材１８の先端部に社、金夙
丸棒のワイヤｌＯの端部が固着されている。圧電体１２
に寸法歪を生じると、第１および第２の可動部材１４お
よび１５がレバー（てこ）の作用をして、第１および第
２の伝達部拐１６および１７にそれぞれ破線矢印りおよ
びＥで示す向きの変位を与える。この二つの互いに逆向
きの変位が伝達されると、第３の可動部材１８に角変位
を生じ、これに伴ってワイヤｌＯが破線矢印Ｆの向きに
運動してインパクト印字を行う・ 圧電体１２を駆動源として用いた印字ユニット７社、従
来の電磁石を駆動源とする印字ユニットよりも小形（１
でき特に厚さ管薄くできるので、複数組のワイヤ１０を
備えた印字ヘッド６を従来よシも著しく大型化せずに実
現できるＯ不実施例では、複数組のワイヤ１０の各組に
おのおの一色だけのインパクト印字を行わせることによ
シ、従来のような多色が混合し色別の不鮮明な印字を皆
無にすることができる。Each set of wires 10 has a plurality of (three in this embodiment) colored bands 3-(1) to 3-( of the ink ribbon 3).
3).The ink ribbon 3 and the platen 1 are individually provided so as to impact the corresponding colored bands.
Printing is performed on the paper 4 fed between the paper 9 and the paper 9. During printing, the ink ribbon 3 is not shifted as in the conventional method.
For each column, which is a printing unit, the dashed line arrow A of the print head 6 is set according to the row and column positions of the column on the paper 4, the print pattern of the column, and the print color of the column.
While stepping in the direction of , and moving the paper 4 in the direction of the dashed arrow C, the designated matrix location of the paper 40 reaches the row position of the colored band of the designated print color, and the wire 10 of the print head 6 reaches the designated column position. When reaching the color band, a designated pattern is applied to the set of wires 10 corresponding to the colored band to print. In other words, each set of wires 10 performs impact printing only on the corresponding colored band. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are a top sectional view and a top sectional view showing one example of the print head of this embodiment, respectively. It is a side partial sectional view. A plurality of sets (three in this embodiment) of printing units 7 are accommodated in the case of the print head 6, and each set further includes a plurality of (four in this embodiment) printing units 7. These printing units 10 are stacked flat with spacers 8 in between and are fixed to the case with bolts 9. Each printing unit 7 is provided with two wires 10 for printing, and is provided with a drive source and a transmission mechanism for driving each wire 10, respectively. The tip of each wire 10 passes through a wire guide hole and is guided to the printing surface. ◎ FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the printing unit 7 used in this embodiment. This figure shows half of the printing unit 7 shown in FIG. 3(a), that is, the part that drives one wire 10, and the printing unit 7 shown in FIG. 3(a) is composed of two units shown in FIG. It is an integrated structure. Of course,
Even if the parts shown in Fig. 4 are constructed individually and assembled in a flat stack within the print head, the parts shown in Fig. 3 (a)
A printhead similar to the one shown in t is obtained. In FIG. 4, a piezoelectric body 1 whose lower end is fixed to a metal mounting member 12
2 is a driving source), and when a driving voltage of an impact signal is applied via a lead 13 between a pair of electrodes provided on both sides of the piezoelectric body 12, the piezoelectric body 12 stretches in the length direction due to an electrostrictive effect. Generates dimensional distortion. The upper end line of the piezoelectric body 12 connects the first and second metal movable members 1 via respective plate-like members.
Furthermore, the lower ends of the first and second movable members 14 and 15 are connected to the coupler member 11 through respective plate-like members. A metal plate tRl and one end of the second transmission members 16 and 17 are fixed to the upper ends of the first and second movable members 14 and 15, respectively). The other end of the wire is fixed to the third movable member 18, which is made of metal.The end of the wire lO, which is a round bar, is fixed to the tip of the third movable member 18. Piezoelectric body 12
When dimensional distortion occurs, the first and second movable members 14 and 15 act as levers, causing the first and second transmission portions 16 and 17 to move as shown by dashed arrows and E, respectively. Gives a displacement in the direction. When these two mutually opposite displacements are transmitted, an angular displacement occurs in the third movable member 18, and accordingly, the wire IO moves in the direction of the broken line arrow F to perform impact printing. Seven companies have developed a printing unit that uses an electromagnet as a drive source, which is smaller (1
In particular, since the thickness of the tube can be made thinner, the print head 6 equipped with multiple sets of wires 10 can be realized without significantly increasing the size compared to the conventional case. By performing impact printing, it is possible to completely eliminate the conventional printing in which multiple colors are mixed and the colors are unclear.

以上の説明から明らかなように、本発明には長時間に亘
シ印字した場合でも多色の混合を全く生じない色別が鮮
明な印字結果が得られるインノくクトカラープリンタを
実現できるという効果がある。As is clear from the above description, the present invention has the advantage of realizing an innocent color printer that can produce clear printing results with no mixing of multiple colors even when printing for a long time. There is.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第１図は従来のインノ（クトカラープリンタを示す斜視
図、第２図および第４図は本発明の一実施例を示す斜視
図、第３図（ａ）および（ｂ）はそれぞれ本発明の一実
施例を示す上面断面図およびＩＩＱ面部分断面図である
。 １．６・・・・・・印字ヘッド、２・・・・・・１Ｊボ
ンガイド、３・・・・・・インクリボン、３−ロ）〜３
−（３）・・・・・着色帯、４・・・・・・用紙、５．
１９・・・・・プラテン、７・・・・・・印字ユニット
、１０・・・・・・ワイヤ、１１・・・・・・取付部材
、１２・・・・・・圧電体、１４，１５．１８・・・・
・・可動部材、１６゜１７・・・・・・伝達部材Ｏ （ｂン 応３閃 方４０FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional Inno color printer, FIGS. 2 and 4 are perspective views showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. They are a top sectional view and a partial sectional view on the IIQ plane showing one embodiment. 1.6... Print head, 2... 1J bone guide, 3... Ink ribbon, 3-b) ~3
-(3)... Colored band, 4... Paper, 5.
19...Platen, 7...Printing unit, 10...Wire, 11...Mounting member, 12...Piezoelectric body, 14, 15 .18...
・・Movable member, 16° 17・・・・Transmission member O

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] おのおの相異なる色のインクで着色した複数の着色帯を
有するインクリボンと、印字パターンを示す駆動電圧に
応答して寸法歪を発生する圧電体の駆動源と前記寸法歪
を伝達して所定方向の変位を発生するための伝達機構と
該伝達機構の所定箇所に一端が固定されておシ前記変位
を与えられてインパクト印字を行う細棒状のワイヤとを
それぞれ設けた印字ユニットを複数個組合せた印字ユニ
ット組を複数組有し一つの前記印字ワイヤ組の前記ワイ
ヤが予め定めた一つの前記着色帯のみにインパクト印字
するよう各前記印字ユニット組を配設した印字ヘッドと
を備えたことを特徴とするインパクトカラープリンタ。An ink ribbon has a plurality of colored bands, each colored with a different color of ink, a piezoelectric drive source that generates dimensional distortion in response to a drive voltage that indicates a printing pattern, and a piezoelectric drive source that transmits the dimensional distortion to move in a predetermined direction. Printing that combines a plurality of printing units, each of which is provided with a transmission mechanism for generating displacement and a thin rod-shaped wire, one end of which is fixed to a predetermined location of the transmission mechanism, and which performs impact printing when the displacement is applied. A print head comprising a plurality of unit sets and each of the print unit sets arranged so that the wires of one print wire set perform impact printing only on one predetermined colored band. An impact color printer.