Seiko Epson Corporation

Kiyofumi Koike

Minoru Tanaka

Masaki Shimomura

Osamu Koshiishi

Takashi Asada

A serial recording apparatus is disclosed which is capable of continuously printing even if a dot-forming element (or elements) of the element array of the recording head is defective, by substituting for the defective dot-forming element, a substitution dot-forming element. The serial recording apparatus also automatically detects a defective dot-forming element of the element array of the recording head. In operation, print data of the defective dot-forming element, which loses its dot-forming function, is saved in a second print-data storing device, and a first printing pass is carried out. In the second printing pass, a normal dot-forming element is moved to a location on a recording sheet which would otherwise be subjected to printing by the defective dot-forming element, and reads out the print data from the second print-data storing device to print it on that location.

Serial recording apparatus and method

Disclosed are a magnetic circuit component of an impact dot head and a molding method thereof by which the number of parts is reduced, and an excellent magnetic efficiency is exhibited. At least one member among a plurality of members constituting a magnetic circuit component (e.g., a core block 1) of a printing head is injection-molded after kneading a binder with metallic powder of a magnetic substance. The single member is sintered by joining it to another molded member after effecting de-binder processing, thus manufacturing the component.

Component of printing head for wire-impact type dot printer and molding

A serial printer having a dot type printing head for printing on a paper. The printer includes 2N columns of dot forming elements where N is a positive integer equal to 2 or more and a carriage supported on the printer for reciprocal movement across the paper in a carriage direction. The columns of dot forming elements are supported on the carriage for selectively printing dots on a paper. Each column of the dot forming elements is spaced a predetermined distance from adjacent columns of the dot forming elements in the carriage direction. Each dot forming element column includes a plurality of dot forming elements arranged in a line and spaced apart from one another in the column direction by a dot pitch substantially equal to N. A drive system selectively drives selected dot forming elements in each column of dot forming elements by one of an even number timing and an odd number timing. Each column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing is shifted in the column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing. Each column of dot forming elements driven by an odd number timing is shifted in a column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an odd number timing. Each column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing is shifted in the column direction by less than about 1/3 dot pitch with respect to at least one column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing.

Print element arrangement in serial matrix printer

An impact printer having a platen, an impact printing member such as a printing wire, a driver such as a driving coil for driving the impact member, a controller for controlling the driver and a temperature detector. Before printing data is printed, the temperature detector compares the temperature of the printer to a set point. If the temperature is too low, a warm-up signal is provided and the driver displaces the printing member to such an extent that printing does not occur. The warm-up signal can also cause the gap between the platen and the printing member to widen to such an extent that printing cannot occur.

Impact printer

A drive circuit for a wire dot print head including a driving coil, a print lever attracted by the coil in a first direction, a spring for biasing the print lever in a second opposite direction and a damper includes a DC power source connected to a first end of the driving coil. A transistor is connected to the second end of the driving coil. An output circuit provides a gated output to the transistor. The output circuit receives as a first input a print data signal and as a second input a signal from a reference timing signal generator. The reference timing signal generator includes a drive pulse signal generator which provides an output in response to a print timing pulse which causes the output circuit to provide an output for the driving coil to attract the print lever. The reference timing signal generator also includes a brake pulse signal generator which provides an output when the print head temperature falls outside of a predetermined range after a predetermined interval so that current is caused to flow through the driving coil when the print lever is moving in the second direction and the print head temperature falls outside of the temperature range.

Growing community of inventors

Nagano, Japan

Kiyofumi Koike