US 5,664,895 A · Printing apparatus and a control method therefor

Abstract

A printing apparatus comprises a platen, a dot impact print head (23) opposite to the platen, a mask plate (40) between the platen and the print head with a paper passage between the platen and the mask plate (40), and an ink ribbon (31) between the print head and the mask plate. Transport mechanisms are provided to move the mask plate (40) in a direction substantially perpendicular to said paper passage between a first position on the print head side and a second position on the platen side, the transport mechanisms being responsive to the position of the print head along the platen. In the first position of the mask plate a relatively wide gap between the platen and the mask plate enables easy paper insertion, while in the second position a relatively wide gap between the mask plate and the print head facilitates replacement of the ink ribbon without problems.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A printing apparatus comprising:

a platen;
an impact print head, arranged opposite to said platen for a reciprocating movement along said platen;
a mask plate disposed between said platen and said print head;
a sheet passage for a recording sheet being defined between said platen and said mask plate;
a carrier member having an exposed marking medium portion extending substantially in parallel to said platen between said print head and said mask plate;
a guide member arranged in a fixed relation to and in a lengthwise direction of said platen, wherein said guide member has a first portion and a second portion;
and
moving means for displacing said mask plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said sheet passage between a first position when the print head is positioned opposite the first portion of said guide member and a second position when the print head is positioned opposite the second portion of said guide member.

5 more elements

A printing apparatus comprising:

an impact print head for printing a line of information on a recording sheet by impacting a carrier member containing a marking medium against the recording sheet while moving in a direction along a platen;
a mask plate for pressing the recording sheet against the platen from said impact print head side and for guiding said carrier member;
a guide plate arranged in a fixed relation to and in a lengthwise direction of the platen, said guide plate guiding said mask plate as said impact head is moved, said guide plate having a guiding portion, a part of said guiding portion being recessed, said guide plate varying a distance between said mask plate and said impact print head in accordance with a position of said impact head with respect to said guide plate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Printing apparatus and a control method therefor

Life of this patent

Printing apparatus and a control method therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22