JPS6211673B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in train cartridges used in printers and the like, and more particularly to a new oil supply structure that makes the starting and running operations of the type slug smoother.

This type of train cartridge arranges a plurality of type slugs in an annular shape on an endless track consisting of circular arc parts and straight parts provided on the surface of the board, and pushes the slug row from one end along the track. It is configured to run and print at a predetermined position. However, with this train cartridge,
An oiler mechanism is provided to periodically supply lubricating oil to the sliding surface of the track to facilitate the running of the type slug. In this way, the sliding surface of the track maintains an oil film with lubricating oil from the Euler mechanism, and the type slug runs on the oil film at high speed. It is very difficult to set the amount of oil supplied to the sliding surfaces; for example, if the amount of oil supplied is too large, the frictional resistance will increase and the running speed of the type slug at startup will decrease, while if it is too little, the sliding surface will wear out and seize up. occurs, making it impossible to drive. Therefore, the current setting is to replenish the oil every 12 minutes during printing.

Incidentally, in order to improve the abrasion resistance of the sliding surface and the durability of the oil film, such a cartridge employs a driving method in which the type slug is run only during printing operations, thereby reducing operating time as much as possible. However, in the drive sequence of the type slug that repeats running→stop→running→stop, the following problem arises in conjunction with the above-mentioned refueling situation. In other words, when the printing slug is stopped shortly after refueling, a relatively large amount of lubricating oil remains on the sliding surface, and the residual oil spreads over the entire sliding surface due to surface tension and capillary action. As a result, the frictional resistance of the lubricating oil against the type slug increases, resulting in a decrease in the running speed of the slug when it is next started. This problem is particularly noticeable in the winter, as the viscosity of the lubricating oil increases. Also, just before the next refueling, only a small amount of lubricating oil remains on the sliding surface.
Moreover, the lubricating oil changes color due to the frictional heat of 80° to 100°C caused by the running of the type slug, and its original lubricating function has deteriorated, making it impossible for the type slug to run smoothly and, in the worst case, causing sliding problems. This causes surface wear and seizure, making it impossible to drive.

In view of the conventional situation as described above, the present invention aims to provide a new oil supply structure that enables smooth startup and running of the type slug. Briefly stated, the present invention provides a train car for a printer in which a plurality of type slugs are arranged in an annular manner along an endless track formed on a substrate, and a row of type slugs is pushed from one end to run along the track. In the trige, a sintered plate impregnated with lubricating oil is placed close to the sliding surface of the track between a pair of gears that are arranged inside both ends of the endless track and drive the annular type slug row. and hold it on the substrate together with the type slug by a holding plate,
Based on the temperature change of the sliding surface during running and stopping operations of the type slug, lubricating oil flows out from the sintered plate and is supplied to the sliding surface when running, and remains on the sliding surface when stopped. It is characterized by having lubricating oil absorbed into the sintered plate.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line shown in FIG. 1.
In these figures, 1 is a substrate, 2 is an endless track provided on the surface of the substrate, and 3 is a type slug mounted astride the track 2 and arranged annularly along the track. Also, 4 and 5 are gears,
These teeth mesh with a rack 31 formed on the back surface of the type slug 3, and one gear, for example 4, is driven by a motor (not shown) to drive (travel) the type slug row. Note that the other gear 5 is
It is an idle gear. The above configuration is no different from the conventional configuration. According to the present invention, the sintered plate 6 is provided close to the sliding surface 21 inside the raceway 2. The sintered plate 6 has its many holes impregnated with a small amount of lubricating oil in advance. Although the material of the sintered plate is not limited to this, a corrosion-resistant copper-based material is preferable. Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 7 denotes a holding plate fixed to the substrate 1 to prevent the type slugs 3 and the sintered plate 6 from falling off.

Now, according to the structure of the present invention described above, the sintered plate 6 has a sliding surface 21 on which the type slug 3 moves and stops,
In response to the temperature change of 22, the impregnated lubricating oil flows out and once it has flowed out, it works to absorb it. That is, during running, the sliding surfaces 21 and 22 generate heat up to about 100°C due to frictional heat, as described above.
Therefore, since the sintered plate 6 also generates heat due to its conduction heat, the impregnated lubricating oil expands thermally and at the same time the viscosity of the oil decreases, so that it flows out of the sintered plate and flows into the sliding surface 21 at any time. A portion of the lubricating oil that has flowed in is also injected into the outer sliding surface 22 through the raceway joints and the like. Note that the other part is scattered by the centrifugal force caused by the running of the type slug 3. During running, an oil film is maintained on the sliding surfaces 21 and 22 of the track 2 by the lubricating oil from the sintered plate 6, so that the type slug 3 can run smoothly on the track without seizure or the like. That will happen.

On the other hand, when the sliding surfaces 21 and 22 are stopped, the temperature of the sliding surfaces 21 and 22 decreases, so the lubricating oil present there shrinks due to heat, and the viscosity of the oil increases. It is absorbed, that is, collected, into each pore of the In this way, since no lubricating oil is allowed to remain on the sliding surface during the stoppage, the type slug 3 will start smoothly when the next step is started.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention utilizes the temperature change of the sliding surface of the track during running and stopping operations of the type slug, and arranges a sintered oil-impregnated plate near the sliding surface. The main structure of the system is to supply lubricating oil to the sliding surfaces as needed while running, and to recover the lubricating oil resident on the sliding surfaces when the sliding surface is stopped. It is possible to smooth start-up and running operations, etc. Moreover, its structure is extremely simple and inexpensive compared to the conventional Euler mechanism. Therefore,
If the train cartridge of the present invention is applied to a train type line printer, the practical effects will be extremely large.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of a train cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. 1. 1: Substrate, 2: Raceway, 3: Type slug, 4 and 5: Gear, 6: Sintered plate, 7: Holding plate, 21 and 22: Sliding surface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer in which a plurality of type slugs 3 are arranged in an annular manner along an endless track 2 formed on a substrate 1, and a row of the slugs is pushed from one end to run along the track. In the train cartridge, a sintered plate 6 impregnated with lubricating oil is placed between a pair of gears 4 and 5 that are arranged inside both ends of the endless track 2 and drive the annular type slug row 3. It is placed close to the sliding surface 22 of the track and is held on the substrate 1 together with the type slug by a pressing plate 7, and based on the temperature change of the sliding surface 22 during the running and stopping operation of the type slug 3. When the vehicle is running, lubricating oil flows out from the sintered plate 6 and is supplied to the sliding surface, and when the vehicle is stopped, the lubricating oil that resides on the sliding surface 22 is absorbed into the sintered plate 6. Train cartridge.