Typewriting machines – Foreign language or braille typewriter – Braille
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-06-05
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Foreign language or braille typewriter
Braille
C341S021000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241405
ABSTRACT:
This application is the national phase of international application PCT/SE98/01900 filed Oct. 21, 1998 which designated the U.S.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer head for a Braille printer that includes a housing with a device to allow the Braille paper to be taken up into the housing, as well as a device arranged in the housing to apply the raised dots onto the said paper. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a printer head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A printer head for a Braille printer is previously known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,516. This printer head includes a rigid frame that is made up of a number of elements that can be displaced along guide rails. The frame supports a number of solenoids that have a needle/small rod at one of their ends that interacts with a counter hole, also supported on the frame, in the form of an indentation/die cushion to form the raised dots on Braille paper positioned between the needle and the counter hole when the solenoid is activated and displaces the needle towards the counter hole.
To make the manufacture of a frame for a printer head for a Braille printer more efficient, a technique has been developed where the said frame has the form of a housing that usually consists of two extrusion moulded parts, preferably extrusion moulded aluminium, that are joined together to form the said housing. One of the frame parts supports the solenoids with the needles while the other frame part supports the counter holes/die cushions. To allow the Braille paper onto which the raised dots are to be introduced to pass through the printer head and past a space formed in the housing in which the needle and the counter hole have their effect, the said parts are usually designed so that between themselves they have opposing slit-shaped openings. However, a major problem with this construction design is the mutual positioning accuracy of the mounting positions that accommodate the solenoids respective die cushions, whereby the mounting of the solenoids and dies respectively, for example by means of screwing, takes place from the sides of the frame parts that, when they are to be joined together, are turned to face one another. When the frame parts have been joined together, it has been shown that it is extremely difficult to obtain sufficiently exact tolerances regarding the above named mutual positioning accuracy between the solenoids and the associated die cushions. Here it should be pointed out that the correct accuracy of this positioning is of crucial importance for the whole construction. If this is not accurate, the Braille paper can be damaged and the result will not be fully acceptable as a raised dot. To try and correct this problem, adjustments have had to be made afterwards, which is time-consuming and costly. In addition, the final result has often not been satisfactory, despite this subsequent adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to achieve a printer head of the type defined in the introduction that does not have the said disadvantages regarding the technology as discussed above. The primary objective with the printer head according to the present invention is to achieve a fully acceptable mutually accurate positioning between the solenoids, or other suitable activating devices, and the associated die cushions, whereby any form of subsequent adjustment should, in principle, not be necessary. A further objective of the present invention is that the mounting of the solenoids and die cushions should be able to be carried out in a simple manner, whereby even service and maintenance of the solenoids and die cushions should also be able to be carried out in a quick and easy manner. The objectives of the invention are accomplished by an arrangement and a method that have the characteristics as stated in the following claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4397573 (1983-08-01), Thiel
patent: 4735516 (1988-04-01), Galarneau
patent: 4741634 (1988-05-01), Nozaki et al.
patent: 5153605 (1992-10-01), Ohara et al.
patent: 5222819 (1993-06-01), Tsududa et al.
patent: 5527117 (1996-06-01), Roy
patent: 5708762 (1998-01-01), Chiba et al.
patent: 6045275 (2000-04-01), Hosoya
patent: 2 419 820 (1979-10-01), None
Burman Par
Lofstedt Bjorn
Cone Darius N.
Hilten John S.
Index Braille Printer Company AB
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
LandOfFree
Printer head for a Braille printer and a method of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Printer head for a Braille printer and a method of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Printer head for a Braille printer and a method of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2545213