Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~Z~34g~9
1 PRINT PACKAGE
DESCRIPTION
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
Canadian patent application serial number 338,288,
filed October 2~, 1979, entitled "Print Element" and having
A.B. Habich et al as inventors.
Canadian patent application serial number 338,287,
filed October 24, 1979, entitled "Print Element Cartridge",
and having A.B. Habich et al as inventors.
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generall~ relates to print elements for
daisy wheel printers. More specifically, this invention
relates to a daisy wheel printer print package including a
daisy wheel print element housed in a cartridge for printing
and storage.
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2. Description of the Prior Art
Representing other work in this same area is U. S.
patent number 4,127,335~ issued November 28, 1978
having Bogert et al. as inventors and entitled "Impact
Printer With Cartridge Print Whee:L". Disclosed therein
are a cartridge and a daisy wheel print element or wheel
for use in a daisy wheel printer.
In considering the referenced application in
conjunction with the instant application, there are a
number of notable similarities. In both applications
there are generally disclosed 1) a print element and a
cartridge for housing the print element during printing
and storage, 2) a leaf spring for acting against a
centered bearing projection on the central hub of the
print element, 3) a print hammer slot in the upper
portion of the front of the cartridge, 4) a centralized
opening in the front of the cartridge for accepting a
selection motor drive hub and a portion of the central
hub, 5) locating and driving means associated with
both the print element central hub and drive hub, and
6) the displacement of the print element from the
front of the cartridge during printing.
Even though these similarities exist, important
distinctions are present. To begin with, the cartridge
of the instant application substantially encloses the
print element to prevent print element damage and
soiled hands. In the referenced application, the
cartridge does not include a back and a relatively
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large print hammer slot is provided. Thus, large
areas of the print element remain exposed to an
operator or other objects. The leaf spring in each
application serves the purposes of 1) providing a
bearing surface for a print element projection, and
2) urging the print element -toward the front of the
cartridge. In the instant application though, the
leaf spring is structured, located, and oriented to
facilitate removal and insertion of the print element
with great ease. Also, elaborate mounting apparatus
for the leaf spring is eliminated in the instant
application. The centralized opening in the front of
the cartridge of the referenced application apparently
has nothing to do with latching the print wheel in a
desired rotational position. In the same light, the
print element apparently has no means for insuring
its proper orientation within the cartridge.
Prior art consisting cf U. S. patents 3,793,951,
3,805,698, 3,730,602, 4,074,798, Des. 229,427, 3,860,248,
20 3,797,035, and Igar discs has also been considered
relative to this application. U. S. patents 3,793,951
and 3,805,698 disclose enclosed chain or belt print
elements. U. S. patents 3,860,248, 3,730,602 and
Des. 229,427 disclose a cartridge for a magnetic
recording disc such as that shown in U. S. patent
3j797,035. The disc of U. S. patent 3,797,035 can be
stored in one of the cartridges of U. S. patents
3,860,248, 3,730,602, and Des. 229,427 prior to and
following recording. U. S. patent 4,074,798 discloses
a daisy wheel print element having substantial central
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hub structure unassocia-ted with a cartridge. An Igar
disc is simply a circular magnetic recording medium
housed in a folder during recording use and non-use.
Of the art mentioned in this paragraph, none is
considered particularly pertinent. In fact, the
majority of this art falls in an area non-analogous
to printing.
Other distinctions between the two applications,
and the advantages thereof as related to the instant
application, will become more readily apparent when
reference is made to the accompanying drawing and the
following description of the preferred embodiment.
Summary of the Invention
A print package is provided for a daisy wheel
printer. The print package is made up of a daisy
wheel print element and a cartridge for housing the
print element during both printing and storage. The -
cartridge is structured to substantially enclose the
print element and is adapted to have the print element
readily inserted thereinto and removed therefrom.
The print element has a dish shaped central hub from
which character petals radially extend. On the
protruding side of the central hub is an orientation -
protrusion. A matching orientation opening is pro-
vided in the cartridge for accepting l) the orienta-
tion protruslon on the print element prior to and
following printing and 2) a selection motor drive hub
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utilized for rota-ting the print element during
printing. A leaf spring is included in the cartridge
for urging the orientation protrusion toward the
orientation opening. During storage or shipping -the
orientation protrusion and orientation opening are in
engagement and the print element is latched in a
desired rotational position. During printing, the
print element is displaced from the orientation
opening by the drive hub and the print element is
unlatched for rotation within the cartridge.
Brief Description of the Drawing
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the
print package according to this invention with the
print element removed from the cartridge. Also
illustrated is a selection motor drive hub for
causing rotation of the print element.
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the print
element shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the
cartridge portion of the print package shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side view of the drive hub illustrated
in Figure 1.
Figure S is a front face view of the drive hub
illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a vertical diameter cross-sectional
view of the print element shown in Figures 1 and 2.
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Description of the Preferred Embodiment
For a detailed understanding of the invention,
reference.is ~irst made to Figure 1. In this figure
there is shown a cartridge generally designated by
reference numeral 1, a daisy wheel printer print element
generally designated by reference numeral 2, and a
selection motor drive hub generally designated by refer-
ence numeral 3. Cartridge 1 and print element 2 ~lake up
the print package of this invention. During actual
printing operations, element 2 is housed and rotated
within cartridge 1 by hub 3.
Before further discussing each of elements 1-3, the
following additional background information is deemed in
order. In a normal daisy wheel printer arrangement, the
mounting of a daisy wheel print element on a selection
motor drive hub requires substantial operator interaction
in terms of apparatus manipulation. Also, the mounting
apparatus is often elaborate. For example, in one common
embodiment a knob is secured to the center of the print
side of the print element to provide an operator with a
handle. On the opposite side of the print element is an
opening for accepting a selection motor drive hub or
shaft. The operator procedure is to grasp the print
element knob, rotationally orient the print element, and
force the print element onto the drive shaft. Forcing
is required since there is a press or interference fit
between the print element opening and the drive shaft.
Prior to this operation though, the motor must be with-
drawn or tilted to provide sufficient room in the print
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mechanism area for an operator to gain access to change
or install the print element. Even at this, space is
tight and the chance of soiled hands is great. After
both operations have been completed, the mere handling of
the removed print element often results in soiled hands.
The print package of this invention aids in sub-
stantially minimi~ing the above noted problems. Ignoring
motor withdrawal which is improved in a manner to be
described in a later copending application, working space
is not a consideration. This is since the instant print
package is adapted to be vertically inserted into an
accepting printer from a location exterior of the limited
space print mechanism area. Also, since the print
element is substantially totally enclosed in the cart-
ridge, the mere changing of the package for a printelement change all but eliminates the possibility of
soiled hands.
With the above in mind, reference is again made to
Figure 1 and specifically to cartridge 1. Cartridge 1 is
essentially made up of a shell 4 and a back cover 5.
Shell 4 has a front 6 having an orientation opening 7 and
a print hammer slot 8. Front 6 faces a print mechanism
including a selection motor and a print hammer carried by
a printer carrier. Slot 8 is for accommodating the print
hammer which is used in a well known manner to facilitate
printing. ~rientation opening 7 is somewhat arrowhead in
~ shape and generally centralized within front 6. Opening
7 is for cooperating with print element 2 to maintain
print element 2 properly oriented during non-use as will
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be described later herein. Integral with front 4 are
sides 9 and 10. Sides 9 and 10 have recesses 11 and 12,
respectively, which accommodate an operator's thumb and
finger for grasping cartridge 1. The lower portion of
front 6 has converging tapered edqes 13 and 14 which
terminate with bottom edge 15. Shell 4 has no side walls
along either tapered edges 13 and 14 or bottom edge 15.
The outer periphery of back 5 is symmetrical with the
periphery of front 6 from recesses 11 and 12 of sides 9
and 10 to bottom 15. Thus, when shell 4 is connected to
back 5, cartridge 1 is provided with an open bottom which
serves as a loading opening for the insertion and removal
of print element 2.
Tapered edges 13 and 14 and the matching portion of
bac~ 5 serve two useful purposes. One is that the
corners thus eliminated reduce the mass of the cartridge
which is carried by a printer carrier during printing
operations. The other is that guides are provided for
inserting the cartridge into an accepting receptacle on
the carrier.
The upper portion of shell 4 has ramps 16 and 17
which e~tend from adjacent recesses ll and 12 to near the
top center of shell 4 and terminate in slot 8. Slot 8
has sides 18 and 19 and a bottom 20. Slot 8 is large
enough to permit clear passage of a print hammer during
printing, yet small enough to reduce the chances of an
operator having thumb or finger access to print element
2. That is, operator access to print element 2 is
restricted by the size of slot 8. Ramps 16 and 17 are to
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provide enclosure of the upper portion of print element 2
when housed in cartridge 1, and permit as much operator
writing line viewing as possible.
Shell 4 carries ribbon guide 21 which can be made up
of a metallic wire rod shaped as shown. Referring for a
moment to Figure 3, the interior of shell 4 has integral
internal abutments 22 and 23 having openings therein for
accepting the ends of ribbon guide 21. Ribbon guide 21
is for guiding a typewriter ribbon in lifted and lowered
positions relative to slot 8 during printing.
A cardholder 24 is carried on the upper end of back
5 as an integral portion thereof. Horizontally centered
within cardholder 24 is a type opening 25 which is
generally aligned with slot 8. The requirements for the
dimensions of opening 25 and slot 8 are somewhat differ-
ent. That is, opening 25 must be 1) located such that it
can be properly aligned with a printer platen, and 2) of
sufficient width when on-the-fly printing is considered
to permit rebound of a print element petal in time to
avoid contact with a side of opening 25. While accom-
modating these requirements, opening 25 is also to be
small enough to restrict operator access -to print element
2. Also, front 6 and back 5 are spaced sufficiently
close together to restrict operator access through either
the top or bottom of cartridge 1. Therefore, when print
element 2 is housed in cartridge 1, the only area of
print element 2 readily contactable by an operator during
normal handling of cartridge 1 is that accessible through
opening 7.
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Reference is still to Figure 1 and now specifically
print element 2. As pointed out above, element 2 is to
be housed and rotated within cartridge 1 during printing
operations. Element 2 is located intermediate the
insides of front 6 and back 5 during rotation thereof.
Print element 2 is generally daisy wheel in shape and has
a central hub 26. Connected to hub 26 are radially
extending petals 27. Adjacent the outer extremities of
petals 27 are types or character slugs 28 which are
utilized in a printing process in a well known manner.
Types 28 on petals 27 are located on the prin-ting side of
element 2. The opposi.te side of element 2 is the impact
side. On the impact side, petals 27 are structured to be
impacted by a print hammer. Referring also to Figures 2
and 6, central hub 26 is circular and generally dish
shaped in that it has a flanged periphery 55 to which are
connected petals 27. Hub 26 carries orientation protru-
sion 29 on its protruding side as shown. Thus, protru-
sion 29 is on the impact side of element 2. Protrusion
29 engulfs the axis of rotation of element 2, and has a
peripheral arrowhead shape corresponding to opening 7 in
cartridge 1. Stated alternatively, opening 7 is a
- matching opening for protrusion 29. The arrowhead shapes
of protrusion 29 and opening 7 are symmetrical with
respect to a radius extending vertically and perpen-
dicularly from the axis of rotation of print element 2.
Taken as a whole though, these shapes are both asym~
metrical and insure one desired orientation of element 2
within cartridge 1.
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Within protrusion 29 is a skillet shaped depression
30 also engulfing the axis o rotation of element 2 and
having the protruding side of hub 26 as a bottom.
Withln depression 30 is a cylindrical extension 31
having an opening 32. Opening 32 is axially aligned with
the axis of rotation of element 2, and has a bottom 33-
below the bottom of depression 30. Opening 32 is for
accepting a selection motor drive shaft which extends
through hub 3 for centering, and preventing wobble of,
element 2 as will be described in greater detail later
herein.
Reference is now made specifically to drive hub 3
illustrated in Figures l, 4 and 5. Drive hub 3 is made
up of a cylinder 34 connected to a cupped flange 35.
Axiaily centered within cylinder 34 and flange 35 is D-
shaped opening 36 extending therethrough. Opening 36 is
for accepting a matching selection motor drive shaft 37
having a D-shaped cross-section. D-shaped opening
36 insures a positive rotational connection between
shaft 37 and hub 3. Hub 3 is connected along shaft 37
as shown, and may be bonded thereto. If the fit
between shaft 37 and opening 32 is sufficiently close,
opening 32 is relatively deep, and shaft 37 extends
relatively far into opening 32, element 2 is stabilized
in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of
rotation of element 2 and shaft 37. That is, any
tendency for element 2 to wobble is significantly
reduced. Since front 6 and back 5 are to be closely
spaced, any wobble of print element 2 on shaft 37 would
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be particularly undesirable from wear, breakage and
free rotation standpoints.
Carried on the periphery of flange 35 is radially
e~Ytending arm 39. Adjacent the outer end of arm 39 is
drive pin 40 structured to communicate with opening 41
(Figure 2) in element 2. Opening 41 is located in the
end of handle 43 of skillet shaped depression 30 and
e~tends through element 2. Pin 40, when inserted into
opening 41, is utilized to cause element 2 to rotate
upon rotation of shaft 37. Pin 40 and opening 41 have
similar peripheries. That is, both have flat sides and
arcuate ends.
The width of opening 41 is only slightly larger
than the width of pin 40. This is to reduce play
between element 2 and hub 3 during rotation of element
2 by hub 3. To accommodate varying tolerances though,
the length of opening 41 is somewhat greater than the
length of pin 40. Therefore, with the overall size of -
opening 41 being greater than pin 40, the flat sides
provide sufficient driving contact areas to reduce wear
and indentation problems. Added support for arm 39 is
provided by rib 42. Handle 43 is sufficiently wide to
freely accept rib 42.
The outer periphery of flange 35 is greater in
diameter than the inner periphery 44 of depression 30.
As such, face 45 of flange 35 abuts the face of protru-
sion 29 for radially aligning and stabilizing element 2
to further aid in reducing print element wobble. A
flush fit between face 45 and the stabilizing face of
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protrusion 29 is aided by spring 48 which urges element 2
toward hub 3. The part played by spring 48 will be more
fully discussed later in the specification. An important
point to note at this time is that hub 3 is not to be
displaced from end 38 of shaft 37 sufficiently for end 38 to
completely bottom in opening 32 of element 2. Otherwise,
a complete mating of face 45 and the face of protrusion
29 may be prevented. Also, even though the outer peri-
phery of flange 35 is greater than the inner periphery
44, flange 35 is still small enough for hub 3 to be
freely passed through opening 7 when properly orientated
relative to print element 2 when print element 2 is
latched in cartridge 1.
The reason for the pan portion of skillet shaped
depression 30 is to reduce the mass of element 2. In
like manner, flange 35 is cup shaped to reduce mass.
Any reduction in mass results in improved response time
in starting and stopping rotation of element 2.
Refer next to Figures 2 and 6. In th:ese figures is
shown the back or printing side 56 of print element 2.
Carried on back 56 is a protruding bearing stud 46
centered within the dished side 47 of central hub 26.
Stud 46 extends beyond the dish and is adapted to
~ communicate with spring 48 located in cartridge 1 shown
25 in Figure 1. Stud 46 is made up of a cylinder 49
carrying a bullet extension 50 having an arcuate cross-
section. Bullet 50 acts as a bearing for element 2
against spring 48 during rotation of element 2. Spring
48 in turn acts as a bearing surface for bullet 50. `
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When element 2 is housed in cartridge 1 and not being
utilized in a prin-ting process, spring 48 provides a
thrust against bullet 50 to bias and maintain element 2
latched in cartridge 1.
Before further discussing the relationship of
element 2 and spring 48, several specific details of
spring 48 and cartridge 1 will be brought out. Refer-
ring to Figure 3, spring 48 is a :Leaf spring having a
bowed center portion 51 extending toward and located
adjacent opening 7. In fact, front 6 and back 5 are
spaced, and spring 48 is bowed, such that portion 51
acts against the inside of front 6. Back 5 has an
inside rectangular depression 52 for accepting and
aiding in retaining spring 48 in a desired position
relative to opening 7. That is, spring 48 is to be held
in place and remain properly oriented both when bowed as
shown and when somewhat extended during the time element
2 is located within cartridge 1 and between spring 48 :
and front 6. Ends 57 and 58 are located in depression :~
52 and act against the inside of back 5. Depression 52
is sufficiently long to accommodate spring 48 when
extended. Spring 48 is sufficiently long to provide a ~-
gradual ramp. Ends 57 and 58 are maintained in depres-
sion 52 by front 6 acting against bow 51. Thus, the
orientation and length of spring 48, and the extent of
bow 51 are such that spring 48 serves as a ramp for
bullet 50 of element 2 for camming protrusion 29 toward . -
opening 7 during insertion of element 2 into cartridge ~ ;
1.
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When element 2 is inserted into cartridge l Erom
the bottom of cartridge l, the force of spring 48 must
be overcome. As alluded to above, this is because of
the proximity of the insides of back 5 and front 6 and
the bowed portion 51 acting against the inside of front
6 adjacent opening 7. During insertion of element 2
into cartridge 1, bullet 50 will ride up bow 51. With
end 57 seated in depression 52, there will be no snag-
ging of bullet 50 on end 57. When protrusion 29 and
opening 7 are aligned, spring 48 will urge and cam
protrusion 29 into opening 7 for engagement therewith.
Upon engagement of protrusion 29 and opening 7, element
2 is latched in a properly oriented or desired rota-
tional position within cartridge 1. At this time, the
print package made up of element 2 and cartridge 1 is
available for either printing use or non-use. For
printing use, the print package is inserted into an
accepting printer. For printing non-use, the print
package can be stored, shipped, etc.
Referring again to the relationship of spring 48
and element 2, the width of spring 48 is of great
importance when a print element is to be inserted into
an empty cartridge. The horizontal width of spring 48
must be sufficient to eliminate the possibility of a
print element petal 27 extending through opening 7
during insertion of element 2 into cartridge 1. If
spring 48 is made relatively narrow compared to opening
7, a few petals will be forced out of the plane of the
remaining petals. To eliminate this possibility,
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spring ~8 in the illustrated embodiment is made wider
than opening 7. This xesults in all pe-tals adjacent
opening 7 remaining in the same plane. The vertical
orientatio~ of spring 48 is also important relative to
petals 27. That is, slnce petals 27 are radially
extending, there will be no snagging on spring 48 if
vertically oriented.
When print element 2 is to be used for printing,
cartridge 1 having element 2 latched therein is inserted
into an accepting hopper in a daisy wheel printer.
Thereafter, drive hub 3 and attached selection motor and
shaft are translated toward central hub 26. Shaft 37
will mate with opening 32, pin 40 will mate with opening
41, and face 45 will contact the face of protuberance
29. Further translation of hub 3 in the same direction
will result in bullet 50 of element 2 causing ends 57
and 58 of spring 48 to extend in the vertical direction.
Ul`timately, protrusion 29 will clear opening 7 and
element 2 will be unlatched for rotation within cart-
ridge 1. During rotation of element 2 for selection andprinting, arm 39 and pin 40 will be located within
cartridge 1 and spring 48 will act as a bearing surface
for bullet 50.
Referring again to print element 2 in Figures 1, 2,
and 6, the dish shaped central hub 26 has a number of
advantages. One is that due to the structural arrange-
ment disclosed, print element 2 taken as a whole can be
made relatively thin and still resist warp. In fact,
the thickness of central hub 26, excluding protuberance
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29 and stud 46, can be essentially the same as the
overall thickness of element 2. Another is that pro-
tuberance 29 is brought closer to orientation opening 7.
This reduces the chances of interference between the
remainder of print element 2 and cartridge 1 Further,
due to the relationship of the bow in leaf spring 48 to
stud 46, the remainder of print element 2 is spaced from
the greater part of spring 48 during rotation of element
For removal of print element 2 from cartridge 1,
the operator procedure is to contact protrusion 29 with
a thumb and then press in and down. This action results
in an unlatching of print element 2 and a downward dis-
placement thereof. If the lower outer periphery of
element 2 is relatively close to bottom 15 when element
2 is latched in cartridge 1, very little downward dis-
placement of element 2 is required to supply a suffi-
cient area of element 2 for an operator to grasp. To
avoid soiled hands, the operator can simply use a tissue ;
when grasping element 2.
In summary, a prlnt package is provided for a daisy
wheel printer. The print package is made up of a daisy
wheel print element and a cartridge for housing the
print element during both printing and storage. The
cartridge is structured to substantially enclose the
print element and is adapted to have the print element
readily inserted thereinto and removed therefrom. The
print element has a dish shaped central hub from which
character petals radially extend. On the protruding
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side of the central hub is an orientation protrusion. A
matching orientation opening is provided in the cart-
ridge for accepting 1) the orientation protrusion on the
print element prior to and following printing and 2) a
selection motor drive hub utilized For rotating the
print element during printing. A leaf spring is in-
cluded in the cartridge for urging the orientation
protrusion toward the orientation opening. During
storage or shipping the orientation protrusion and
orientation opening are in engagement and the print
element is latched in a desired rotational position.
During printing, the print element is displaced from the
orientation opening by the drive hub and the print
element is unlatched for rotation within the cartridge.
While the invention has been particularly shown and -~-
described with reference to a particular embodiment, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes in form and detail may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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