Dot matrix print head
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorHideo Nagasawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A moving piezoelectric type crystal element drives a print wire in the direction of a platen and against the resilience of return spring and a rebound spring. A voltage pulse is applied through a conductor and across the piezoelectric element to cause displacement or elongation strain thereof to drive the print wire into impact with the platen and upon impact of the print wire a voltage pulse is generated across the piezoelectric element which generated pulse is recovered through the conductor.
Claims15
A dot matrix print head operable with a platen and comprising a
- first cylindrical portion, a
- second cylindrical portion threaded into said first portion, a
- cavity defined within said second portion, a
- first guide member and a second guide member positioned within the cavity in opposing manner, an
- actuating member contained and secured to said first and second guide members, a
- print wire secured to said actuating member and movable thereby to a printing position,
- first resilient means engageable with said second guide member for returning the print wire to a non-printing position,
- movable base means engageable with said first guide member for absorbing rebound energy upon return of the print wire to the non-printing position, and
- means for applying a voltage pulse across the actuating member for driving the print wire into impact with said platen.
An actuating mechanism for a print element operable in impact manner against a platen, said mechanism comprising
- first and second cylindrical housing portions, said second housing portion being threaded onto said first housing portion and said second housing portion defining an elongated cavity therein,
- first and second guide members positioned within the cavity in opposing manner, an
- actuating member contained by and secured to said first and second guide members for axial movement in said second housing portion, said print element being secured to said actuating member,
- first and second resilient means positioned on opposite sides of said actuating member, and
- means for applying a voltage pulse across said actuating member for driving the print element into impact with said platen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.