Matrix pin print head with rebound control

A matrix print head comprising

• electromagnetic drive means;
• a clapper armature magnetically associated with and driven by the electromagnetic drive means;
• a print pin for contacting an end of the clapper armature to be advanced from a rearward position to a forward position by the driven clapper armature;
• a spring for contacting the clapper armature and furnished with energy by transforming part of the drive energy of the clapper armature into elastic energy of the spring and storing this energy for providing a recoil energy to the print pin and to the clapper armature;
• a first spherical segment body disposed neighboring to said end of the clapper armature on a side of the clapper armature opposite to the side where the print pin is disposed relative to the clapper armature for receiving the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the recoiling print pin and clapper armature;
• a second spherical segment body contacting the first spherical segment body in a rest position of the first spherical segment body and of the second spherical segment body for receiving linear momentum and kinetic energy from the first spherical segment body upon a recoil of the clapper armature and of the print pin;
• a rear pin attached to the rear of the second spherical segment body.

A matrix pin print head adjustable to a fixed distance (17) relative to a substrate support (2),

• wherein a recording substrate (3) rests on the substrate support (2), wherein an ink ribbon (4) is led in front of the print pins (5) between the matrix pin print head (1) and the recording substrate (3),
• wherein drives (9,10) are furnished contacting the print pins (5) jointly or individually to each print pin (5), wherein an electromagnetic coil (8) and a clapper armature (10) is associated to each drive, wherein each print pin (5) and clapper armature (10) is movable within a stroke path (16) from a rearward position (18) into a forward position (19) and back, wherein the clapper armature is furnished with a spherical segment element near an end of the clapper armature,
• wherein in each case the fed-in drive energy for each print pin (5) is substantially transformed into a recoiling energy by restoring means (13) and
• wherein the recoiling energy is substantially transferred to a first spherical segment body (101) being engaged by the spherical segment element of the clapper armature, wherein the first spherical segment body is furnished with mechanical properties approximating those of the respective print pin (5) and clapper armature (10), wherein the recoiling energy is initially transferred as elastic energy and then the elastic energy in turn is transformed into mechanical energy in the first spherical segment body (101) thereby moving the spherical segment body (101) relative to the printhead.

A matrix pin print head head adjustable to a fixed distance (17) relative to a substrate support (2)

• wherein a recording substrate (3) rests on the substrate support (2), wherein an ink ribbon (4) is led in front of the print pins (5) between the matrix pin print head (1) and the recording substrate (3);
• wherein drives (9,10) are furnished coordinated to the print pins (5) jointly or individually to each print pin (5);
• wherein an electromagnetic coil (8) and a clapper armature (10) is associated to each drive, wherein each print pin (5) and clapper armature (10) is movable within a stroke path (16) from a rearward position (18) into a forward position (19) and back;
• wherein in each case the fed-in drive energy for each print pin (5) is substantially transformed into a recoiling energy by restoring means (13);
• wherein the recoiling energy is substantially transferred to a first spherical segment body (101) with mechanical properties approximating those of the respective print pin (5) and clapper armature (10) initially as elastic energy and then the elastic energy in turn is transformed into mechanical energy in the first spherical segment body (101);
• wherein the clapper armature (10) is furnished with a spherical segment surface (110) at its one end in the neighborhood of a contact section to the print pin (5), on that side of the armature (10) disposed opposite to the position of the print pin (5);
• wherein this spherical segment surface (110) is disposed adjacent to a first spherical segment body such that the linear momentum and the kinetic energy is transferred from a motion of the armature (10) to the first spherical segment body (101);
• wherein a second spherical segment body (102) is present;
• wherein kinetic energy and the linear momentum are transferred from the first spherical segment body (101) to the second spherical segment body (102) upon a recoiling of the print pin (5);
• wherein the first and the second spherical segment body (101, 102) are each supported by a side support rod (121, 126);,
• wherein the side support rod (121, 126) in each case is disposed substantially in a direction parallel to an elongation direction of the clapper armature (10) in the rest position;
• and
• wherein the support rod of the first spherical segment body (101) and of the second spherical segment body (102) are fixed in a direction parallel to the elongation direction of the armature (10).

A matrix pin print head adjustable to a fixed distance (17) relative to a substrate support (2);

• wherein a recording substrate (3) rests on the substrate support (2), wherein an ink ribbon (4) is led in front of the print pins (5) between the matrix pin print head (1) and the recording substrate (3);
• wherein drives (9,10) are furnished coordinated to the print pins (5) jointly or individually to each print pin (5);
• wherein an electromagnetic coil (8) and a clapper armature (10) is associated to each drive, wherein each print pin (5) and clapper armature (10) is movable within a stroke path (16) from a rearward position (18) into a forward position (19) and back;
• wherein in each case the fed-in drive energy for each print pin (5) is substantially transformed into a recoiling energy by restoring means (13);
• wherein the recoiling energy is substantially transferred to a first spherical segment body (101) with mechanical properties approximating those of the respective print pin (5) and clapper armature (10) initially as elastic energy and then the elastic energy in turn is transformed into mechanical energy in the first spherical segment body (101);
• wherein the clapper armature (10) is furnished with a spherical segment body surface (110) at its one end in the neighborhood of a contact section to the print pin (5), on that side of the armature (10) disposed opposite to the position of the print pin (5);
• wherein this spherical segment surface (110) is disposed adjacent to a first spherical segment body such that the linear momentum and the kinetic energy is transferred from a motion of the armature (10) to the first spherical segment body (101);
• wherein a second spherical segment body (102) is present;
• wherein a rod (122) is attached at the second spherical segment body (102) in the direction of motion of a recoiling print pin (5) at that side of the second spherical segment body (102) disposed opposite to a contact point (162) with the first spherical segment body (101).

A method for operating a print pin in a matrix pin printer, comprising:

• driving a clapper armature having a spherical segment element disposed near an end of the clapper armature with an electromagnetic drive;
• advancing a print pin with the clapper armature;
• storing part of the drive energy furnished to the print pin in a spring means;
• impacting a print substrate with the print pin;
• recoiling the print pin and clapper armature with the energy stored in the spring;
• substantially transferring the kinetic energy of the print pin and the clapper armature by impacting a first spherical segment body with the spherical segment element of the clapper armature.

A matrix print head comprising

• electromagnetic drive means;
• a clapper armature magnetically associated with and driven by the electromagnetic drive means and including a spherical segment element disposed near an end of the clapper armature;
• a print pin for contacting an end of the clapper armature to be advanced from a rearward position to a forward position by the driven clapper armature;
• a spring engaged with the print pin and furnished with energy by transforming part of the drive energy of the clapper armature into elastic energy of the spring and storing this energy for providing a recoil energy to the print pin and to the clapper armature;
• a first spherical segment body disposed neighboring to said spherical segment element near said end of the clapper armature for being impacted by the recoiling print pin and clapper armature resulting in an acceleration of the first spherical segment body relative to the print head and for receiving the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the recoiling print pin and clapper armature.