US 4,279,519 AGranted

Dot matrix printing device employing novel image transfer technique for printing on single ply or multiple ply print receiving media

AssigneeCentronics Data Computer Corp.

InventorJohn Shiurila

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Abstract

A dot matrix impact printer having print wires reciprocating within a print head. A bearing guides printing tips in the nose of the print head. Liquid printing material stored within a container adjacent to the print head is delivered by a wick from the container to the sides of the print wires by capillary action. The liquid printing material works its way through the jewel bearing of the print head and on to the printing tips of the print wires whereupon it is transferred to the print receiving medium when impacted by the print wires. Porous absorbent members, adapted to expand upon wetting, engage the print wires at a location between said wick and said jewel bearing to regulate the flow of liquid printing material toward the printing tips to prevent dripping or dribbling of the liquid printing material from the print head and to prevent the liquid printing material from travelling along the print wires away from said jewel bearing and toward the print wire actuating means. The wick is mounted within a removable holder slidably inserted into the nose of the print head greatly facilitating assembly and disassembly of the apparatus for replacement of the disposable wick and facilitating removal of the porous absorbent members. A separator tool retains the wick in proper position preparatory to insertion of the holder. The disposable container is releasably mounted on a support adjacent to the print head nose and is easily removed and replaced.

Claims30

Dependent claims

Printing means for forming a pattern upon a print-receiving medium comprising:

a reciprocally-mounted elongated printing member and driving means normally maintaining said printing member in a first position with the printing tip of said printing member displaced from said print-receiving medium and for urging said printing member in a first direction to cause said printing tip to engage said print-receiving medium when said driving means is activated;
guiding means guiding the forward end of said elongated printing member to freely enable the reciprocating action of said printing member, said guiding means having a bore, said bore having a contour substantially conforming to the cross-sectional configuration of the printing member which is guided by said bore;
ink supply means removably mounted below said printing member;
slender elongated wick means comprising at least one wicking member extending between said ink supply means and said elongated printing member for supplying ink from said ink supply means upwardly by capillary action through said wick means and upon a longitudinal surface of said elongated printing member which slidably engages said wick means as the elongated printing member undergoes said reciprocating action, whereby ink is transferred to a portion of the longitudinal surface of the printing member which enters into said bore when said driving means is actuated;
and
slender elongated absorber means formed of a porous, highly absorbent material positioned between said wick means and said guiding means and displaced from said ink supply means;
said absorber means being slidably engaged by said elongated printing member as the elongated printing member experiences said reciprocating action, said absorber means being arranged to absorb ink derived from said wicking means and transferred thereto by said elongated printing member to regulate the flow of ink along said elongated printing member delivered by said wick means toward the printing tip thereof and to provide intermediate storage for ink which enables printing to occur even after said ink supply means is exhausted.

4 more elements

A print head of the dot matrix type comprising:

a plurality of reciprocally-mounted elongated resilient slender print wires having forward and rearward ends;
resilient means for normally urging said print wires in a first direction toward a rest position;
solenoid driving means for each of said print wires adapted to urge their associated print wires in a first direction away from said rest position and toward a print-receiving medium;
a print wire housing for housing and reciprocally mounting said print wires;
print wire guiding means arranged in the forward end of said housing for maintaining the forward ends of said print wires in a predetermined alignment and including a plurality of guide holes, each hole being adapted to slidably receive and guide an associated reciprocating print wire, the shape of each hole substantially conforming to the cross-sectional configuration of the print wire received and guided therein;
a hollow wick receiving bore extending through said housing, the longitudinal axis of said hollow bore being aligned substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said print wires;
a pair of slender elongated wick members being arranged in said bore on opposite sides of said print wires;
a pair of slender elongated absorber members being arranged in said bore between said wick members and said guiding means and being positioned on opposite sides of said print wires and being wipingly engaged by said print wires;
removable holder means extending into said bore and being adapted to maintain said wick members and said absorber members in substantially spaced, parallel alignment and cooperating with said bore for maintaining the sides of said wick members in sliding engagement with said print members and for maintaining the sides of said absorber members in sliding engagement with said print wires;
and
liquid ink supply means removably positioned beneath said print head housing and means in said ink supply means communicating with the lower ends of said wicks for delivering ink to the lower ends of said wicks, whereby said wicks deliver ink to the engaging surfaces of said print wires by capillary action.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.