Typewriting machines – Including control of format by programmed-control-system
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-26
2003-09-23
Evanisko, Leslie J. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Including control of format by programmed-control-system
C400S283000, C400S355000, C101S071000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06623189
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a printing device, in particular to a franking and/or addressing machine, with a print head which is held displaceably on a print-head holder. In order to achieve the relative movement between a print head and a medium to be printed, the print-head holder is configured such that, during printing, it can be moved along a first line with respect to a base element, between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. In addition, a first offsetting device is provided which permits the printing of printed images offset from one another transversely with respect to the first line. The first offsetting device is configured to offset the print head relative to the print-head holder from a first transverse position into at least a second transverse position spaced apart from the first transverse position transversely with respect to the first line. In this case, the first offsetting device contains at least a first guide device with a first guide face and at least a second guide device with a guide element which cooperate, with mutual relative movement, in order to offset the print head from the first into the second transverse position by moving the print-head holder along the first line.
In the sense of the present invention, the term print head designates all types of printing devices which are able to produce a printed image on a medium. In other words, the term includes printing devices using any desired printing techniques. Nor is it intended to be restricted to the component which produces the printed image directly but, in addition, can contain further components which are needed to produce printed images. These may be, for example, ink storage containers, etc.
A generic device is disclosed for example by Published, European Patent Application EP 0 980 761 A1. In the device described there, the print head is disposed displaceably in a holder guided by a guide rod. For the purpose of printing, the holder, and therefore the print head, is moved along a first line, namely parallel to the guide rod.
Once a first printed image has been produced, the print head is offset relative to the holder at right angles to the first line, in order, in a second step, to produce a second printed image while moving the print head in the opposite direction along the first line. The offset of the second printed image in relation to the first printed image is so great that the two printed images overlap at most in the marginal area in which they adjoin each other transversely with respect to the first line. This makes it possible to use one print head to produce an overall printed image whose dimension transversely with respect to the first line, that is to say transversely with respect to the printing direction, corresponds approximately to twice the printing width of the print head.
In the known device, the offsetting device is implemented by a pin which is disposed on the underside of the print head and which, in order to offset the print head transversely with respect to the first line, is guided in a groove in the base element. The groove runs at an angle to the first line, so that in the event of relative movement between the pin and the groove along the first line, the offsetting movement of the print head at right angles to the first line is produced.
This configuration is associated with the disadvantage that the groove is relatively complicated to produce, since particularly close tolerances have to be complied with in order to achieve the desired transverse offset exactly. A further disadvantage resides in the fact that subsequent adjustment is impossible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a printing device with a transverse guide for offsetting a print head transversely with respect to the printing direction which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, which requires little outlay, and permits rapid, high-quality printing.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a printing device. The printing device contains a base element, a print head, and a print-head holder displaceably holding the print head. In order to achieve a relative movement between the print head and a medium to be printed, the print-head holder is configured such that during printing the print-head holder can be moved along an imaginary line between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position positioned above the base element. An offsetting device is provided and permits the printing of printed images offset from one another transversely with respect to the imaginary line. The offsetting device is configured to offset the print head relative to the print-head holder from a first transverse position to a second transverse position spaced apart from the first transverse position, and transversely with respect to the imaginary line. The offsetting device includes a first guide device with a first guide face and a second guide device with a guide element which cooperate, with mutual relative movement, in order to offset the print head from the first transverse position to the second transverse position by moving the print-head holder along the imaginary line. The guide element of the second guide device is disposed on the base element.
The invention is based on the technical teaching that a particularly cost-effective and easily implemented printing device is obtained if the guide element of the second guide device is disposed on the base element. Such a guide element disposed on the base element may be produced considerably more simply than the known guide groove.
For example, it can be formed simply by a simple guide pin with a circularly cylindrical operative face.
Furthermore, it is straightforwardly possible to adjust the guide element subsequently. For example, it can be disposed on the base element such that it can be adjusted transversely with respect to the first line. In addition, in order to achieve the positional adjustment, it is possible to configure the second guide device in the manner of an eccentric. For example, a guide pin with a circularly cylindrical operative face may be fixed such that it can be rotated about an axis located eccentrically.
The term guide device in the sense of the present invention includes any desired devices which, when they cooperate with an opposing part like the guide element according to the invention, influences the direction of the relative movement between the guide device and the opposing part.
In this case, the first guide device acts on the print head. For this purpose, it can be disposed directly on the print head. Alternatively, it can also be disposed on the print-head holder and act on the print head via appropriate operative elements for offsetting the latter.
In variants of the invention which are preferred, because they are simple to configure, the first guide device has at least a first guide face and the second guide device is formed by a guide element which cooperates with the first guide face in order to offset the print head. The first guide face is swept over by the guide element as the guide devices cooperate. In this case, the guide element can have a second guide face, over which the operative partner sweeps during the cooperation of the guide devices. However, it is likewise possible for the guide element to be configured such that a line or point contact with the first guide face results.
Provided that the contact, that is to say the action of a contact force, between the two guide devices is ensured, a defined movement of the print head during offsetting is also ensured. The contact force can be ensured, for example, by a spring acting on the print head.
The first guide device is preferably formed by a guide groove and the second guide device by a guide pin, since in this case the result is a configuration which is particularly simple to produce and provides reliable guidance. In addit
Ansell Iain
Brace Steven Roland
Evanisko Leslie J.
Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co.
Greenberg Laurence A
Mayback Gregory L.
Stemer Werner H.
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