Nec Corporation

Kunio Kitagawa

Michio Matsumoto

Tadao Uchikawa

A piezoelectric transducer for a printing pin of a dot-matrix or an armature of a relay drives a mechanical amplification mechanism having a base plate with a reference wall that is to be fixed to a frame. An elongated piezoelectric transducer element extends in the direction of its expansion between the base plate and a lever arm. A lever arm has a first end portion coupled to an end of the piezoelectric transducer element, which is remote from the base plate. The lever arm is fixed to the second portion of the base plate by a fulcrum member located at a position near the first end. A band spring has one end coupled between the second end portion of the lever arm and the base plate. An actuating element is fixed to substantially a central portion of the spring. The actuating element may be either a printing pin of a dot-matrix or the moving contact of a relay.

Mechanical amplification mechanism for electromechanical transducer

A dot-type printer of the type using printing pins or wires is improved by employing a driving system which includes a variable-volume sealed container enclosing a pressure transmitting medium. Electrodes are disposed in the medium and are closely spaced such that the application of a high voltage will cause arc discharge across the same. The discharge energy applied to the medium causes an expansion of the medium, which in turn causes an expansion of the sealed container. The printing pins or wires are abutted against a movable membrane or bellows portion of the container, so that container expansion effects linear movement of the pins or wires.

Printing mechanism for dot matrix printers

A piezoelectrically driven print mechanism for a dot matrix printer includes a piezoelectric element to which is connected a movement amplification member and electrical drive means for causing expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element along a first axis in response to the application of an electric potential. A printing pin is connected to the movement amplification member. The expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element is converted into a much larger movement of the amplification member along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. This amplified movement is transferred to the printing pin. Several embodiments of the movement amplification member are disclosed.

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Tokyo, Japan

Kunio Kitagawa