US3955049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing head
Assignee: Florida Data Corp
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Filing: 1974-12-04
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Granted: 1976-05-04
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Expires: 1994-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A printing head provides an array of stylii and stylii drivers for forming characters in accordance with a desired matrix of dots. Each driver comprises a flat piezoelectric ceramic wafer and a levered beam having a stylus secured to one end and providing at the stylus end a multiplication of the movement of the wafer of approximately 4 to 1 to 7 to 1. The wafers and supporting structure are circular and structured to nest preferably coaxially, with each levered beam lying at a small angle relative to its adjacent beams so that the printing ends of the stylii may be constrained to lie along a straight line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the head.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. MacNeill
- 👤 James E. Bellinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:52
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/22; B41J2/23; B41J2/235; B41J2/25; B41J2/26; B41J2/27; B41J2/295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A driver for a stylus, needle or the like comprising a piezoelectric element, means for constraining said element such that in response to an exciting voltage one part of said element moves with respect to other parts thereof, a bean, first means securing a first location on said beam for substantially pivotal movement only relative to an unflexed part of said element, means for connecting a second location on said beam closely adjacent said first location to said one part of said element and an elongated stylus secured to said beam at a location remote from said first and second locations for movement parallel to the elongated dimension of said stylus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A driver for a stylus, needle or the like comprising a piezoelectric element, means for constraining said element such that in response to an exciting voltage one part of said element moves with respect to other parts thereof, a bean, first means securing a first location on said beam for substantially pivotal movement only relative to an unflexed part of said element, means for connecting a second location on said beam closely adjacent said first location to said one part of said element and an elongated stylus secured to said beam at a location remote from said first and second locations for movement parallel to the elongated dimension of said stylus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
A driver for a stylus, needle or the like comprising a thin, flat, piezoelectric element, means for constraining said element such that in response to an exciting voltage a part of said element flexes in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said element to move a stylus between printing and non-printing positions, a beam, flexure means for securing one end of said beam for substantially pivotal movement only relative to an unflexed region of said element, means securing a location on said beam displaced from said one end thereof to the approximate center of said element, and an elongated stylus secured to an end of said beam remote from said one end thereof for movement parallel to the elongated axis of said stylus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
A driver for a stylus, needle or the like comprising a thin, flat, piezoelectric element, means for constraining said element such that in response to an exciting voltage a part of said element flexes in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said element to move a stylus between printing and non-printing positions, a beam, flexure means for securing one end of said beam for substantially pivotal movement only relative to an unflexed region of said element, means securing a location on said beam displaced from said one end thereof to the approximate center of said element, and an elongated stylus secured to an end of said beam remote from said one end thereof for movement parallel to the elongated axis of said stylus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said first means comprises crossed-flexures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination according to claim 2 further comprising a pulse source for producing generally square voltage waves of alternate printing and spacing half cycles, means for applying said pulses to said element whereby during spacing pulse intervals said element is flexed to a non-printing position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein the magnitude of the voltage pulses of said pulse source are asymmetrical and are of greater magnitude on a given surface of the piezoelectric element when the same is flexed in the direction of printing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein the ratio of the distance from said end of said beam to which said stylus is secured to said location on said beam, to the distance from said one end of said beam to said location on said beam lies in the range of 4:1 to 7:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said piezoelectric element is circular and further comprising means for restraining said element such that the center thereof flexes to the maximum extent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination according to claim 7 comprising a support for said element, said support having a thin circular skirt slotted to provide a plurality of upstanding fingers, said element lying in a plane generally perpendicular to said fingers and scured to said fingers at the periphery of said element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A printer head comprising a plurality of stylii drivers according to claim 6, means for stacking said drivers such that at least some of said piezoelectric elements are coaxial, said beams of said coaxial stylii drivers being rotated relative to each other such that said stylii lie closely adjacent one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein at least some of said drivers are arranged side by side with said beams angled toward each other to provide close spacing between said stylii.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination according to claim 9 further comprising means for aligning such stylii in a straight line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said beam includes said flexure means as an integral part thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said stylus consists of a thin hollow needle-like member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said beam comprises two identical members secured back-to-back, each said member being shallow C-shaped in cross section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein said flexure means comprises a separate flexure each integral with a different one of such C-shaped member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination according to claim 15 wherein each said C-shaped member includes a main side and two edge members, each said separate flexure comprising a flexible tab inclined at less than 90° toward the plane of the other edge member, said flexible member of each said C-shaped member extending in generally opposite directions from adjacent edge members located on opposite sides of said beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
The combination according to claim 15 wherein each said C-shaped member includes a main side and two edge members, each said separate flexure comprising a flexible tab extending from one of said edge members adjacent one end of said C-shaped member, a further flexible tab integral with said first flexible tab and inclined at less than 90° toward the plane of the other edge member and another flexible tab extending from said other of said edge members adjacent said one end of said C-shaped member and secured to the junction of said first and further tabs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein said first and flexible tab of each of said C-shaped members is secured to said fixed location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a driver for a stylus, needle or the like a substantially rigid, elongated member having a longitudinal axis; a stylus having a longitudinal axis, said stylus secured to said elongated member adjacent one end of said elongated member such that said axes are mutually transverse and co-planar; a support member; and means for securing the other end of said elongated member to said support member for movement substantially only in a plane including said axes, said means for securing providing for movement substantially only about a pivot transverse to said plane and comprising crossed-flexure means extending from adjacent said other end of said elongated member to said support member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a driver for a stylus, needle or the like a substantially rigid, elongated member having a longitudinal axis; a stylus having a longitudinal axis, said stylus secured to said elongated member adjacent one end of said elongated member such that said axes are mutually transverse and co-planar; a support member; and means for securing the other end of said elongated member to said support member for movement substantially only in a plane including said axes, said means for securing providing for movement substantially only about a pivot transverse to said plane and comprising crossed-flexure means extending from adjacent said other end of said elongated member to said support member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said crossed-flexure means include first and second flexible members extending from adjacent opposite edges of said other end of said elongated member to said support member in crossing pattern.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2800551A
Cited
US3839652A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-04 | 1979-11-03 | 1980-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-04 | 1983-11-03 | 1984-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-04 | 1987-11-03 | 1988-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |