JPH0457520B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field This invention arranges a plurality of writing instruments of different colors and types on a carriage, and selectively uses them to write characters, figures, graphs, etc. on a writing sheet on a platen. Concerning plot printers for writing.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as a plotter printer of this type, there is one that uses a writing instrument such as a ballpoint pen or a felt-tip pen to write on a writing sheet such as plain paper, tracing paper, or plastic film. In this type of plotter printer, a plurality of writing instruments are arranged parallel to each other with their tips facing the platen, and arranged in a plane in the direction of movement of the carriage. For example, as shown in FIG. There is also a structure in which a plurality of stages (two stages in the conventional example shown in FIG. 1) are stacked in the direction of the arrow). However, in this type of plotter printer, each writing instrument 2, 2...
In order to operate the writing instrument, an operating lever 6 and a solenoid 8 must be separately provided for each writing instrument, and all of them are mounted on the carriage 4. Therefore, as the number of writing instruments increases, the carriage 4 becomes larger and heavier, and the plotter printer using it also becomes larger and heavier.

On the other hand, some conventional plotter printers include a rotary holder provided in the carriage, in which a plurality of writing instruments are rotatably arranged, and a desired writing instrument is rotated and selected for use. However, this type of plotter printer has drawbacks such as a complicated writing instrument rotation selection mechanism and a need for a sensor for detecting the initial position of the rotary holder.

Further, some conventional plotter printers have only one writing instrument mounted on the carriage, and other writing instruments are arranged together on one side of the printer. However, with this type of plotter printer, the carriage must be moved to one side of the printer each time the writing instrument is replaced, resulting in a large amount of time loss and the writing instrument exchange mechanism being complicated. It was hot.

Purpose Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks in a plotter printer equipped with a plurality of writing instruments, by reducing the number of parts, and by reducing the number of parts.
In addition to making the entire device smaller and lighter, the mechanism for selecting and exchanging writing instruments is simplified, making it possible to select and exchange writing instruments in a short time.In particular, it eliminates the need for a sensor for detecting the initial position, which is the basis for selecting a writing instrument. It is something to do.

Configuration The present invention will be described in detail below based on an embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a plotter printer according to the invention. Reference numeral 10 in the figure is an outer case. The main body of the plotter printer is housed inside the outer case.
A platen 12 is spanned from side to side at the rear of the main body. In the illustrated embodiment, the platen 12 has a cylindrical shape and is provided with sprockets 14 at each end. The sprockets are arranged at equal intervals with left and right sides corresponding to each other. The platen 12 is rotated by a platen feeding mechanism (not shown). In the present invention, the platen is not limited to a cylindrical shape as shown in the drawings, but may be, for example, a flat plate. Furthermore, the sprockets 14 are not essential to this invention.

Incidentally, in the plotter printer shown in the illustrated embodiment, both continuous sheets and single sheets can be wound around the platen 12 as writing sheets. The continuous sheet has sprocket holes on both side edges, the aforementioned sprockets 14 are inserted into the sprocket holes, and the sheet is wound around the platen 12 from below toward the front. Then, it is wound from the top to the rear and pressed by the weight roller 16. On the other hand, the single sheet is wound around the platen 12 from below toward the front, and further from above toward the rear, and is held down by pinch rollers 18, 18 and weight roller 16. The plotter printer according to the present invention uses plain paper, tracing paper, plastic film, etc. as the writing sheet.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a guide shaft 20 is stretched in front of and parallel to the platen 12.
A guide shaft passes through the carriage 22.
The carriage rides on the rail 26 while its tail end, which includes magnets 24, 24, is attracted, and is supported so as to be slidable left and right facing the platen 12.
And, on both sides of such a carriage 22,
Wire 28 is attached. The wire is stretched along the guide shaft 20 and wrapped around pulleys within each side of the outer case 10. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, a carriage feeding means 30 is provided within one side of the outer case 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage feeding means comprises one pulley 32 around which the wire 28 is wound, and a pulse motor 34 for rotating the pulley. Then, the pulse motor 34 of the carriage feeding means 30 is driven to rotate the pulley 32 to move the carriage 22, and the carriage is moved along the platen 12 while being guided by the guide shaft 20.

Reference numeral 36 in the figure is a home position sensor that detects that the carriage 22 is at the home position. What is on the left side and indicated by the reference numeral 38 in the figure is a left margin sensor that detects that the carriage 22 is at the extreme left position. Also,
What is indicated by the reference numeral 40 in the figure is a carriage 22,
This is a wiring cable that electrically connects a control circuit section (not shown) provided at the bottom of the outer case 10.

Figures 3 to 6 show the carriage 22.
, FIG. 3 is a front view seen from the side of the platen 12 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a plan view seen from above in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a left side view seen from the left side in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a rear view seen from the left side in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view with some parts omitted. The code 44 in the figure is
The main body of the carriage is shown. The main body of the carriage has a tuning fork shape, and has magnets 24, 24 at the tail end as described above. Further, a tongue piece 45 extends downward from the lower surface of the tail end. When the carriage 22 moves to the left in FIG. 2, the tongue cuts the sensors 36 and 38 to detect when the carriage is at the home position or the extreme position on the left.
The front bifurcated portion of the carriage body 44 has through-holes extending left and right, respectively, into which annular bearings 46 are inserted and fixed. The guide shaft 20 is inserted into these bearings as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, and the carriage main body 44 is slidably supported by the guide shaft 20 and the rail 26 as described above.

A front holding piece 48 is extended from side to side in the opening at the distal end of the carriage main body 44, and a mounting plate 50 is stacked on the outside thereof and fixed with mounting screws 52. A plurality of small holes 54 are formed in the front support piece 48. Four small holes are formed in two stages, one above the other, facing the platen 12 and arranged in the direction of movement of the carriage 22. Further, at the lower center of the front support piece 48, a solenoid 6, which will be described later, is provided.
The relief 56 of 6 is cut out. By the way, an integral spring 58 as shown in FIG. 8 is screwed to the front side of the front support piece 48. The integral spring has a hole 60 at a position corresponding to the small hole 54, extends four elastic pieces 62 upward and downward, and bends each elastic piece toward the front side to form a U-shape. Each of the elastic pieces 62 has a notch 64 corresponding to the small hole 54 at the tip thereof.

On the other hand, a part of the clutch control means according to the present invention is attached to the aforementioned mounting plate 50. That is, the solenoid 66 is fixed to the front side of the mounting plate by mounting screws 68, 68. The base end of the operating rod 70 of the solenoid passes through the central hole 72 of the mounting plate 50 and projects forward. The tip of the leaf spring 74 is pressed against its base end. The leaf spring is stacked on the outside of the mounting plate 50, and its base end is fixed to the mounting plate 50 with a mounting screw 76.

On the other hand, a rear support piece 78 is securely attached to the base of the bifurcated portion of the carriage body 44 with screws 79 (see FIG. 5). The lower end of the rear support piece is fitted into the carriage main body 44 and protrudes upward, and a plurality of large holes 80 are formed in the protruding portion. Four large holes are arranged in two stages, one above the other, facing the platen 12 and arranged in the direction of movement of the carriage 22. The holes 54 correspond to the small holes 54 of the front support piece 48 described above. A stop plate 82 is stacked on the front side of the rear support piece 78, and a mounting screw 8
4,84 to hold it down. The stop plate 82 is provided with action holes 86 corresponding to the large holes 80 of the rear support piece 78 described above. The working hole is one size smaller than the large hole 80. And the front support piece 4
Insert the tip into the small hole 54 of No. 8 and insert the rear support piece 78.
Insert the proximal end into the large hole 80 of the front support piece 48.
Eight writing implements 88 are suspended between and the rear support piece 78. These writing instruments pass through the notches 64 of the above-mentioned integral spring 58, and each elastic piece 62...
The tip of the writing instrument 88 hits the shoulder. and,
The writing instrument is urged toward the user, and its base end is normally stopped against the stop plate 82.

Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, four writing instruments 88...
are arranged in parallel with their respective tips facing the platen 12 and in the direction of movement of the carriage 22. Then, the array is arranged in two layers in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage. Therefore, eight writing instruments can be compactly mounted on the carriage main body 44.

In the plotter printer according to the present invention, a water-based or oil-based ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, pencil, iron pen, or the like is used as the writing instrument 88. and,
A plurality of writing instruments of the same type but different colors can be mounted on the carriage 22, or a plurality of writing instruments of different types can be mounted on the carriage 22 at the same time, and these can be selected and used as appropriate.

In front of the above-mentioned rear support piece 78 and below the carriage body 44, there is a common actuation means according to the present invention. That is, two actuating levers 90 and 92 are arranged one on top of the other in front of the rear support and are rotatably supported by the same central shaft 94 that spans the carriage body 44. As shown in FIG.
6, and its engaging portion is connected to the working hole 86 of the stop plate 82.
... to face the base end of the upper writing instrument 88 .... On the other hand, at the base end of the actuating lever 90, an action receiving part 98 is formed with a wide width in the moving direction of the carriage 22, and the action receiving part is used to control the lower solenoid 1, which will be described later.
It is affected by 00. In the illustrated embodiment, the central axis 9
4 to the tip engaging portion 96 and the center axis 94
The ratio of the distance from
Make it. In the center of such an operating lever 90, there are also two engaging protrusions 102, 10 facing forward.
2 protrudes and forms an engaging recess 104 therebetween. Furthermore, an elongated fitting hole 106 is formed in the center of the actuation lever 90, into which the other actuation lever 92 is fitted. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the hole 4 is
5 and insert the central shaft 94 through the hole 91 of one actuating lever 90 as shown by arrow a in the figure, and then passing through the hole 93 of the other actuating lever 92,
Pass through the hole 91 of the operating lever 90 again. After that,
As shown by arrow b in the figure, it penetrates through the hole 47 of the carriage main body 44 and protrudes to the other side, and the central shaft 9
Attach washers 95 and 97 to both ends of 4 to prevent them from coming off. Thereby, the two actuating levers 90 and 92 can be held integrally and movably on the central shaft 94. The other actuating lever is
It is shorter than the actuating lever 90, and is similarly provided with an engaging portion 108 at its tip, which is opposed to the base end of the lower writing instrument 88 through the action hole 86 of the stop plate 82. Similarly, at the base end of the actuating lever 92, there is a wide action receiving portion 1 in the direction of movement of the carriage 22.
10, and receives the action of an upper stage solenoid 112, which will be described later, at its action receiving portion. In the illustrated embodiment, this actuating lever 92 is also
0, from the central axis 94 to the tip engaging portion 1
08 and the distance from the central axis 94 to the proximal end effect receiving part 110, the ratio is set to 1:1.

The solenoids 112 and 100 are attached to a support plate 114 hanging down from the carriage body 44 in a vertically aligned manner. When these solenoids are energized, the respective operating rods 116 and 118 are activated by the action receiving portions 11 of the aforementioned operating levers 90 and 92.
0, 95, rotates those operating levers around the central axis 94, and rotates those operating levers around the central axis 94,
Move the writing instrument 88 with 08, 96 and press platen 1.
It can be pressed against 2. In the illustrated embodiment,
In the two operating levers 90, 92, the central axis 9
Since the ratio of the distance from 4 to the engaging part and the distance from the central axis 94 to the action receiving part is made equal, the solenoids 112 and 100 are made the same, and the pressing pressure of the writing instrument 88 against the platen 12 is made constant. be able to.

Note that the support plate 114 is attached to the carriage body 44 together with the locking pieces 122, 122 using attachment screws 120. Locking pieces 122, 122
are respectively provided with locking holes 124, 124,
Both ends of the aforementioned wires 28 are respectively latched to these latching holes.

By the way, the engagement convex portion 12 of the clutch member 126 is located in the engagement concave portion 104 of the actuating lever 90 mentioned above.
8 fit together. The actuation lever and clutch member then move together. The clutch member has a C-shape, and beak-shaped engagement pieces 130 are formed at the opening on the opposite side of the engagement protrusion 128. The clutch member 126 is attached to the guide shaft 20, and C-shaped springs 132, 132 are fitted into its two outer peripheral structures, respectively, so that the clutch member 126 is elastically attached to the guide shaft 20. At this time, the frictional resistance between the clutch member 126 and the guide shaft 20 is smaller than the torque of the pulse motor 34.

The engagement piece 13 of such a clutch member 126
A protruding piece 136 of the clutch engaging member 134 is inserted between 0 and 130. The clutch engaging member has hanging arms 138, 138 at each end, each of which is bored with a circular hole 140, 140, respectively. and,
Support shaft 142 spanned between the carriage bodies 44
are inserted through these circular holes 140, 140, and the clutch engaging member 134 is rotatably suspended.
At this time, a coil spring 144 is wound around the support shaft 142, and one end of the coil spring 144 is connected to the clutch engaging member 13.
4, and the other end is latched to a locking shaft 146 set up on the carriage body 44. Then, the clutch engaging member is always given a rotational habit in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. However, this clutch engaging member 13
4 always includes the operating rod 7 of the solenoid 66 mentioned above.
0 is pressed by the elastic force of the leaf spring 74. The elastic force of the leaf spring 74 is the same as that of the coil spring 144.
Therefore, the clutch engaging member 134 undergoes a clockwise rotational behavior in FIG.
The protruding piece 136 is the engaging piece 13 of the clutch member 126.
0,130, C type spring 13
2, 132 to release the clutch member from the guide shaft 20. and the clutch member 126 and the actuating lever 90,
92 is movable together with the carriage body 44. Note that the protruding piece 136 of the clutch engaging member 134
Small positioning holes 148 are drilled at regular intervals. The engaging pieces 130, 130 of the clutch member 126 that move left and right along the protrusion 136 enter the positioning holes, and the actuating levers 90, 9
2 can be stopped in accurate correspondence with the position of the writing instrument 88.

The plotter printer according to the present invention is configured, for example, as described above. Therefore, when the power is turned off, the leaf spring 74 pushes the operating rod 70 and rotates the clutch engaging member 134 clockwise in FIG. 7 against the coil spring 144. Then, the protruding piece 136 of the clutch engaging member 134 is inserted between the engaging pieces 130, 130 of the clutch member 126, and the engaging pieces are pushed open against the C-shaped springs 132, 132. Clutch member 126 is therefore unattached to guide shaft 20. At the same time, since the protruding piece 136 and the engaging pieces 130, 130 are engaged, the two are connected, and if you temporarily remove the carriage body 4 by hand,
4, the clutch member 126 and actuating levers 90, 92 will move together with the carriage body 44.

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of the plotter printer shown in FIG. 2. Now, when the power is turned on, a signal from the control circuit is sent to the carriage feeding means 30, which drives the pulse motor 34, rotates the pulley 32, winds up the wire 28, and moves the carriage 22 to the left in FIG. move in one direction (one direction). The carriage is thus guided by the guide shaft 20 and moves along the platen 12. As can be seen from the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, when the sensor 38 detects that the carriage has passed the home position and reached the shortest position on the left side, the solenoid 66 is energized. Then, the operating rod 70 is pulled against the leaf spring 74. The clutch engaging member 134 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 7 by the elastic force of the coil spring 144. As a result, the protruding piece 136 comes out from between the engaging pieces 130, 130, and the clutch member 12
The connection with 6 is released. The clutch member is then attached to the guide shaft 20 by the elastic force of the C-shaped springs 132, 132. At the same time, the carriage main body 44 moves toward the right (+
direction). However, the clutch engaging member 1
34 and the clutch member 126 are disconnected,
Because the clutch member 126 is resiliently attached to the guide shaft 20, the actuating levers 90, 92 that engage the clutch member remain in position. Therefore, the carriage body 44 will eventually come into contact with the operating lever 90. Incidentally, in the illustrated embodiment, the frictional resistance between the guide shaft 20 and the clutch member 126 is set to be smaller than the torque of the pulse motor 34 at this time. Then, the carriage body 44 hits the operating lever 90,
You will move while dragging the operating lever. Then, the sensor 36 indicates that the home position has been reached.
The carriage 22 is stopped at that position.
At the same time, the supply of electricity to the solenoid 66 is stopped.
This reconnects the clutch engagement member 134 to the clutch member 126 and releases the clutch member from the guide shaft 20. Then,
The operating levers 90, 92 are then set at initial positions corresponding to the writing instrument on the left side in FIG. And, it is made movable along with the movement of the carriage main body 44. Therefore, in this state, by energizing the solenoid 100 or 112, rotating the operating lever 90 or 92, and pushing the writing instrument with its engaging portions 96, 108, the carriage can be moved by pressing the tip of the writing instrument against the platen 12. While moving the platen 22, the platen 12 is rotated by a platen feeding means (not shown), and characters, figures, etc. can be written on the writing sheet on the platen.

Now, when changing the writing instrument in the middle of writing, the solenoid 66 is energized and the clutch engaging member 134 and the clutch member 1 are connected as described above.
26 to secure the clutch member to the guide shaft 20. And the operating lever 90,
92 in its position, remove the carriage body 44.
is moved to change the relative position of the operating lever with respect to the carriage body 44, and move the operating lever to the desired writing instrument position. For example, in Fig. 6, the second upper or lower writing implement from the left is being used, but when replacing it with the third upper or lower writing implement from the left (next to the right), the carriage main body 44 is moved leftward in the figure by the unit interval between the left and right adjacent writing instruments. The engaging portions 96 and 108 of the operating levers 90 and 92 are opposed to the base ends of the upper and lower writing instruments that are third from the left.
Furthermore, when replacing the writing instrument above or below the right end, the writing instrument is moved to the left by twice the unit interval of the writing instrument. On the other hand, when replacing the writing instrument with the upper or lower writing instrument on the left, the carriage main body 44 is moved to the right in the figure by the unit interval of the writing instrument. Then, the power to the solenoid 66 is stopped and the clutch engaging member 134 and the clutch member 126 are engaged again,
The clutch member 12 to the guide shaft 20
Unfix 6. This allows the clutch member 126 to engage and move integrally with the clutch engaging member 134. That is, the operating levers 90, 92 are attached to the carriage body 44 so that they cannot move relative to the carriage body 44. Then, the carriage 22 is moved and the platen 12 is rotated to bring the selected writing instrument to the writing starting position on the writing sheet. Thereafter, the solenoid 100 or 112 is energized to select the upper or lower writing instrument, and the tip of the selected writing instrument is pressed against the writing sheet on the platen 12. Thereby, writing can be written on the writing sheet by rotating the platen 12 while moving the carriage 22.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the actuating levers 90, 92 and the solenoid 100 are used as common actuating means.
112 is used. However, instead of an actuating lever,
A cam or the like can be used, and instead of a solenoid, for example, an electromagnet or a motor can also be used.

Further, in the embodiment, four writing instruments 88 are arranged in the direction of movement of the carriage 22, and are stacked in two stages in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. However, when the number of writing instruments is small, it is not necessary to arrange them only in the direction of movement of the carriage and to overlap them in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. If there are a large number of writing instruments, it may be possible to use three or more tiers.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the clutch control means includes a solenoid 66, a clutch engaging member 134, and a clutch engaging member 134.
A plate spring 74, a coil spring 144, a support shaft 142, etc. are used. However, appropriate members can be used instead of these. For example, instead of a solenoid,
Electromagnets, motors, etc. can be used.

Effects In the plotter printer according to the present invention, the operating means for operating the writing instruments arranged in the direction of movement of the carriage can be made common. Therefore, there are advantages such as the carriage can be made smaller and lighter, the entire plotter printer can be made smaller and lighter, and power consumption can be reduced. Further, there is an advantage that the mechanism for selecting and exchanging writing instruments can be simplified, and the selection and exchange of writing instruments can be performed in a short time.

In particular, the present invention has the advantage that a sensor for detecting an initial position, which serves as a reference for selecting a writing instrument, is not required, the configuration is simplified, the cost is reduced, and troublesome adjustments are not required.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the carriage of a conventional plotter printer. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view of a plotter printer according to the present invention. 3 to 6 each show the cartridge of the plotter printer shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 is a front view of the cartridge seen from the platen side in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an upper view in FIG. 3. Figure 5 is a plan view of the carriage seen from
A left side view of the carriage seen from the left side in the figure,
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the carriage seen from the left side in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the same carriage with some parts omitted. Figure 8 shows
It is an enlarged perspective view of an integral spring used in the same carriage. FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of the plotter printer shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart when the plotter printer is turned on. 12... platen, 20... guide shaft,
22... Carriage, 30... Carriage feeding means, 36... Home position sensor, 38...
Left margin sensor, 44... Carriage body, 66... Solenoid, 88... Writing instrument, 9
0,92...Operating lever, 94...Central shaft, 10
0,111... Solenoid, 126... Clutch member, 134... Clutch engaging member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A carriage slidably supported by a guide shaft, a carriage feeding means for moving the carriage along the platen while being guided by the guide shaft, and a distal end of the carriage supported on the platen, respectively. A plotter printer comprising a plurality of writing instruments arranged facing each other, and an operating lever for selectively operating one of the writing instruments to write on a writing sheet on the platen, a first detection means for detecting that the carriage has returned to the extreme end position; a second detection means for detecting that the carriage has reached the home position; and a first detection means for detecting that the carriage has reached the home position; A clutch member that is fixed by an elastic force, a clutch engagement member that engages with the clutch member and releases the fixation to the guide shaft against the elastic force of the clutch member, and a clutch member that drives the clutch engagement member. a clutch control means for controlling engagement with or disengagement from the clutch member; controlling the carriage feeding means so as to return the carriage at the same time as the power is turned on; and the first detection means; The carriage feeding means is controlled to move in the opposite direction to the previous return direction based on the signal from the second detection means, the carriage feeding means is stopped based on the output of the detection signal from the second detection means, and the clutch is engaged. A plotter printer characterized in that the clutch control means is actuated to disengage the member from the clutch member.