US5190382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Print element arrangement in serial matrix printer
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1990-10-24
•
Granted: 1993-03-02
•
Expires: 2010-10-24
Abstract
Abstract 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Koshiishi
- 👤 Takashi Asada
- 👤 Kiyofumi Koike
- 👤 Masaki Shimomura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/485; B41J2/505; B41J2/5056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A serial printer having a dot type printing head for printing on a paper, including only 2N columns of dot forming elements where N is a positive integer equal to 2 or more, said printer further including a carriage supported on said printer for reciprocal movement across said paper in a carriage direction, said columns of dot forming elements being supported on said carriage for selectively printing dots on said paper, each column of said dot forming elements being spaced a predetermined distance from adjacent columns of said dot forming elements in the carriage direction, each said dot forming element column including a plurality of dot forming elements arranged in a line, drive means for selectively driving selected dot forming elements in each column of dot forming elements by one of an even numbered timing and an odd numbered timing, each column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing being shifted in the column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing, each said column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing being shifted in the column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing, each said column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing corresponding to a column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing and being shifted in the column direction by less than about 1/3 dot pitch with respect to its corresponding column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
A serial printer having a dot type printing head for printing on a paper, including only 2N columns of dot forming elements where N is a positive integer equal to 2 or more, said printer further including a carriage supported on said printer for reciprocal movement across said paper in a carriage direction, said columns of dot forming elements being supported on said carriage for selectively printing dots on said paper, each column of said dot forming elements being spaced a predetermined distance from adjacent columns of said dot forming elements in the carriage direction, each said dot forming element column including a plurality of dot forming elements arranged in a line, drive means for selectively driving selected dot forming elements in each column of dot forming elements by one of an even numbered timing and an odd numbered timing, each column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing being shifted in the column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing, each said column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing being shifted in the column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing, each said column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing corresponding to a column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing and being shifted in the column direction by less than about 1/3 dot pitch with respect to its corresponding column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The serial printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing is shifted in the column direction by between about 1/9 and 1/3 dot pitch with respect to its corresponding column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The serial printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein N =2 providing four columns of dot forming elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The serial printer as claimed in claim 2, wherein N =2 providing four columns of dot forming elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The serial printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing is shifted in the column direction by 1/4 dot pitch with respect to its corresponding column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The serial printer as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said column of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing is shifted in the column direction by 1/4 dot pitch with respect to its corresponding column of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The serial printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said dot forming element includes a wire, said driving means including electromagnetic means for selecting driving said wires.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The serial printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dot type printing head is a wire dot print head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
274 words
A serial printer having a dot type printing head for printing on a paper, including only 2N chains of dot forming element where N is a positive integer equal to 2 or more, said printer further including a carriage supported on said printer for reciprocal movement across said paper in a carriage direction, said chains of dot forming elements being supported on said carriage for selectively printing dots on said paper, each chain of said dot forming elements being spaced a predetermined distance from adjacent chains of said dot forming elements in the carriage direction, each said dot forming element chain including a plurality of dot forming elements arranged in an array, drive means for selectively driving selected dot forming elements in each chain of dot forming elements by one of an even numbered timing and an odd numbered timing, each chain of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing being shifted in the paper feeding direction by one dot with respect to each other chain of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing, each chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing being shifted in the paper feeding direction by one dot with respect to each other chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing, each said chain of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing corresponding to a chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing and being shifted in the paper feeding direction by less than about 1/3 dot pitch with respect to its corresponding chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
274 words
A serial printer having a dot type printing head for printing on a paper, including only 2N chains of dot forming element where N is a positive integer equal to 2 or more, said printer further including a carriage supported on said printer for reciprocal movement across said paper in a carriage direction, said chains of dot forming elements being supported on said carriage for selectively printing dots on said paper, each chain of said dot forming elements being spaced a predetermined distance from adjacent chains of said dot forming elements in the carriage direction, each said dot forming element chain including a plurality of dot forming elements arranged in an array, drive means for selectively driving selected dot forming elements in each chain of dot forming elements by one of an even numbered timing and an odd numbered timing, each chain of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing being shifted in the paper feeding direction by one dot with respect to each other chain of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing, each chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing being shifted in the paper feeding direction by one dot with respect to each other chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing, each said chain of dot forming elements driven by an even numbered timing corresponding to a chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing and being shifted in the paper feeding direction by less than about 1/3 dot pitch with respect to its corresponding chain of dot forming elements driven by an odd numbered timing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4279521A
Cited
US4400101A
Cited
US4431319A
Cited
DE3208104A1
Cited
GB2198391A
Cited
JPS63252757A
Cited
JPS6440345A
Cited
JPH01113256A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-03-01 | 1996-08-31 | 1997-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-01 | 2000-08-31 | 2001-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-01 | 2004-08-31 | 2005-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |