EP0295102A2 — Device for magnifying displacement of piezoelectr…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

A device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a frame extending substantially parallel to a direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element and mounting said piezoelectric element thereon; a movable member fixed to one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to the direction of displacement; a first mount surface formed on said frame and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second mount surface formed on said movable member and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement, said second mount surface being opposed to said first mount surface; a first leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said first mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said second mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said first and second leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said second leaf spring is displaced along said first leaf spring through said movable member to rotate said deflecting member.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 195 words

A device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a frame extending substantially parallel to a direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element and mounting said piezoelectric element thereon; a movable member fixed to one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to the direction of displacement; a first mount surface formed on said frame and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second mount surface formed on said movable member and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement, said second mount surface being opposed to said first mount surface; a first leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said first mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said second mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said first and second leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said second leaf spring is displaced along said first leaf spring through said movable member to rotate said deflecting member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second leaf springs face in entire contact with each other under an inoperative condition.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

The device as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said first mount surface is located at an end portion of an end surface of said frame, and said second mount surface is located on an end surface of said movable member offset from a center line of said piezoelectric element to said frame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 115 words

The device as defined in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein said frame has a substantially L-shaped configuration as viewed from a side thereof such that said substantially L-shaped configuration is comprised of a vertical portion extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element and a base portion projecting laterally from said vertical portion for supporting one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to the direction of displacement, and wherein said first leaf spring is fixed to an end surface of said vertical portion of said frame, and said second leaf spring is fixed to the end surface of said movable member opposed to said end surface of said vertical portion.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The device as defined in claim 1,2, 3 or 4 wherein said first and second leaf springs include respective deformable portions facing to each other, and said deformable portions are formed at their facing surfaces with respective non-contact portions for inhibiting intercontact between said deformable portions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device as defined in claim 5, wherein said deformable portions of said first and second leaf springs are formed with recesses on opposite surfaces to said facing surfaces.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 59 words

The device as defined in claim 5 or 6, wherein said first and second leaf springs are integrally connected with each other at one end portion thereof on said rolling member side, and are formed at their portions from said deformable portions to the other end portion with respective non-contact portions for separating said leaf springs from each other.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 155 words

A device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a frame extending along said piezoelectric element and having a base portion for supporting one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to a direction of displacement; a movable member fixed to the other end of said piezoelectric element; a pair of first and second leaf springs fixed to their one end portions to said frame and said movable member; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said leaf springs are deformed to rotate said deflecting member; wherein said leaf springs are form from a single spring member to define a split groove therein extending from one end of said spring member toward the other end thereof, and said deflecting member is integrally connected to the other end of said spring member.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 155 words

A device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a frame extending along said piezoelectric element and having a base portion for supporting one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to a direction of displacement; a movable member fixed to the other end of said piezoelectric element; a pair of first and second leaf springs fixed to their one end portions to said frame and said movable member; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said leaf springs are deformed to rotate said deflecting member; wherein said leaf springs are form from a single spring member to define a split groove therein extending from one end of said spring member toward the other end thereof, and said deflecting member is integrally connected to the other end of said spring member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device as defined in claim 8, wherein said split groove comprises a cutout formed from the one end of said spring member toward the other end thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The device as defined in claim 8 or 9, wherein a head portion of said spring member formed at the other end thereof without said split groove forms at least a part of said deflecting member, thus integrally forming the leaf springs with said at least a part of said deflecting member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The device as defined in claim 8, wherein said split groove comprises a space defined by bending said spring member into a U-shaped configuration.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 169 words

A device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a frame extending along said piezoelectric element and having a base portion for supporting one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to a direction of displacement; a movable member fixed to the other end of said piezoelectric element; a pair of first and second leaf springs fixed to their one end portions to said frame and said movable member; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said leaf springs are deformed to rotate said deflecting member; wherein said first and second leaf springs are formed with a small sectional area portion at a portion except the fixed ends of said leaf springs, said small sectional area portion having a small sectional area in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element smaller than a sectional area of said fixed ends.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 169 words

A device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a frame extending along said piezoelectric element and having a base portion for supporting one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to a direction of displacement; a movable member fixed to the other end of said piezoelectric element; a pair of first and second leaf springs fixed to their one end portions to said frame and said movable member; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said leaf springs are deformed to rotate said deflecting member; wherein said first and second leaf springs are formed with a small sectional area portion at a portion except the fixed ends of said leaf springs, said small sectional area portion having a small sectional area in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element smaller than a sectional area of said fixed ends.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 66 words

The device as defined in claim 8 or 12, wherein said first leaf spring is fixed to an end surface of said frame extending substantially parallel to said piezoelectric element, and said second leaf spring is fixed to an end surface of said movable member opposed to said end surface of said frame and offset from a center line of said piezoelectric element to said frame.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The device as defined in claim 12, wherein said first and second leaf springs are formed on their opposite surfaces with grooves to form thin-walled portions opposed to each other at positions of said grooves.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device as defined in claim 14 wherein said grooves are arranged at intervals in the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device as defined in claim 12, 14 or 15, wherein said small sectional area portion comprises a narrow portion of said spring member having a width smaller than that of said fixed ends.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 92 words

The device as defined any one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising an elastically deformable connecting member extending along said piezoelectric element on an opposite side of said frame with respect to said movable member and connecting said movable member with a base portion of said frame, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said movable member is displaced substantially parallel to the direction of displacement against the elasticity of said connecting member to curve said second leaf spring relative to said first leaf spring and thereby rotate said deflecting member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The device as defined in claim 17 wherein said connecting member is formed independently of said frame and said movable member, and is fixed to said frame and said movable member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 46 words

The device as defined in claim 17 or 18, wherein said connecting member is formed by a plate-like member having a width substantially parallel to a direction of thickness of said leaf springs and having a small sectional area in a direction perpendicular to the width.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 43 words

The device as defined in claim 19, wherein a sectional area at end portions of said connecting member to be fixed to said movable member and said frame is larger than a sectionai area at an intermediate portion between said fixed end portions.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The device as defined in claim 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein said connecting member normally applies a compression force to said piezoelectric element.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 47 words

The device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7 or 17 to 21 further comprising a quadri-hinged parallel link mechanism provided between said frame and said movable member for maintaining parallelism of said movable member to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 79 words

The device as defined in claim 22, wherein said quadri-hinged parallel link mechanism comprises a pair of first and second link plates each comprising a pair of vertical parallel link portions fixed to a side surface of said frame and a side surface of said movable member, a pair of horizontal parallel link portions extending between said vertical parallel link portions, and four elastically deformable hinge portions connecting said vertical parallel link portions with said horizontal parallel link portions.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

The device as defined in claim 23 further comprising a connecting portion for connecting one of said vertical parallel link portions of said first link plate with opposite one of said vertical parallel link portions of said second link plate.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 276 words

A method of producing a device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, said device comprising: a frame extending substantially parallel to a direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element; a movable member fixed to one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to the direction of displacement; a first mount surface formed on said frame and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second mount surface formed on said movable member and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement, said second mount surface being opposed to said first mount surface; a first leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said first mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said second mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said first and second leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said second leaf spring is displaced along said first leaf spring through said movable member to rotate said deflecting member, said method comprising: a first step of forming said movable member integrally with said frame through a connecting portion in such a manner as a space for inserting therein said piezoelectric element is defined between said movable member and a base portion of said frame; a second step of fixing said leaf springs to said frame and said movable member; and a third step of forming a separation groove in said connecting portion to separate said movable member from said frame.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 276 words

A method of producing a device for magnifying displacement of a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, said device comprising: a frame extending substantially parallel to a direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element; a movable member fixed to one end of said piezoelectric element with respect to the direction of displacement; a first mount surface formed on said frame and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second mount surface formed on said movable member and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement, said second mount surface being opposed to said first mount surface; a first leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said first mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; a second leaf spring mounted at its one end portion on said second mount surface and extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement; and a deflecting member fixed to the other end portions of said first and second leaf springs, wherein when said piezoelectric element is displaced, said second leaf spring is displaced along said first leaf spring through said movable member to rotate said deflecting member, said method comprising: a first step of forming said movable member integrally with said frame through a connecting portion in such a manner as a space for inserting therein said piezoelectric element is defined between said movable member and a base portion of said frame; a second step of fixing said leaf springs to said frame and said movable member; and a third step of forming a separation groove in said connecting portion to separate said movable member from said frame.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said second step includes fixing said deflecting member to said leaf springs.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as defined in claim 25 or 26, wherein said second step includes fixing said leaf springs formed independently of each other to said frame and said movable member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said second step includes fixing a single spring member to said frame and said movable member, and said third step includes forming a split groove extending from an end of said spring member on said connecting portion side toward said deflecting member to thereby form said first and second leaf springs.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 193 words

An impact dot printing head of a type to be driven by a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a plurality of printing units each having a printing wire for printing dots onto a printing medium, a displacement transmitting mechanism for transmitting displacement of said piezoelectric element to said printing wire, and a frame for supporting said piezoelectric element and said displacement transmitting mechanism, said frame extending in a direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element; a first base plate for fixedly supporting one end of said frame with respect to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element; a second base plate for fixedly supporting the other end of said frame with respect to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element, said second base plate having a nose portion for supporting said printing wire; a first fixing means for fixing said first base plate to said frame; and a second fixing means for fixing said second base plate to said frame, at least one of said first and second fixing means is so arranged as to intersect the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 193 words

An impact dot printing head of a type to be driven by a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a plurality of printing units each having a printing wire for printing dots onto a printing medium, a displacement transmitting mechanism for transmitting displacement of said piezoelectric element to said printing wire, and a frame for supporting said piezoelectric element and said displacement transmitting mechanism, said frame extending in a direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element; a first base plate for fixedly supporting one end of said frame with respect to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element; a second base plate for fixedly supporting the other end of said frame with respect to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element, said second base plate having a nose portion for supporting said printing wire; a first fixing means for fixing said first base plate to said frame; and a second fixing means for fixing said second base plate to said frame, at least one of said first and second fixing means is so arranged as to intersect the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 39 words

The impact dot printing head as defined in claim 29 further comprising a plurality of support posts each for connecting said first base plate with said second base plate, each of said support posts extending parallel to said frame.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 72 words

The impact dot printing head as defined in claim 29 or 30, wherein said second base plate comprises a plate portion arranged along a direction of arrangement of said printing units and a projecting portion projecting from said plate portion in the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element, said second fixing means being inserted into said projecting portion from a direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of said piezoelectric element.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 81 words

The impact dot printing head as defined in claim 29, 30 or 31, wherein said displacement transmitting mechanism comprises a pair of leaf springs fixed at respective one end to said piezoelectric element and said frame, and an arm fixed to the respective other end to said leaf springs and connected to said printing wire, and wherein said plurality of printing units are circularly arranged in such a manner that said arm is directed inside, and said frame is directed outside.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 43 words

The impact dot printing head as defined in claim 32, wherein said second base plate comprises a plurality of radially extending partition walls each located between the adjacent frames of said printing units and a plurality of guide pins for guiding said arms.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 126 words

An impact dot printing head of a type to be driven by a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a displacement transmitting mechanism for transmitting displacement of said piezoelectric element to a printing wire for printing dots onto a printing medium; a base plate for supporting said piezoelectric element; a wiring board fixed to said base plate for supporting a feeder line to be electrically connected to a lead wire connected to said piezoelectric element; and a holder having a cylindrical portion to be engaged with an outer periphery of said piezoelectric element and a leg portion extending from one end of said cylindrical portion toward said wiring board, said leg portion having a through-hole for inserting said lead wire.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 126 words

An impact dot printing head of a type to be driven by a piezoelectric element adapted to be displaced by application of voltage thereto, comprising: a displacement transmitting mechanism for transmitting displacement of said piezoelectric element to a printing wire for printing dots onto a printing medium; a base plate for supporting said piezoelectric element; a wiring board fixed to said base plate for supporting a feeder line to be electrically connected to a lead wire connected to said piezoelectric element; and a holder having a cylindrical portion to be engaged with an outer periphery of said piezoelectric element and a leg portion extending from one end of said cylindrical portion toward said wiring board, said leg portion having a through-hole for inserting said lead wire.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 27 words

The impact dot printing head as defined in claim 34, wherein said leg portion of said holder is formed with a channel for receiving said lead wire.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 67 words

The impact dot printing head as defined in claim 34 or 35, wherein said base plate is of an annular shape having a central hole, and a plurality of said piezoelectric element are arranged circularly along said base plate, and said leg portion of said holder is arranged inside of said piezoelectric element and extends near said wiring board through said central hole of said base plate.

Device for magnifying displacement of piezoelectric element or the like

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