Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6192793
-
Patent Number
6,192,793
-
Date Filed
Thursday, December 23, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 27, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 101 114
- 101 116
- 101 117
- 101 118
- 101 119
- 101 120
- 101 129
- 101 248
- 101 481
- 101 485
- 101 486
- 101 DIG 36
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A printing drum (12) is supported by a first frame (36) to be rotatable around its central axis (38). The first frame (36) is supported by a second frame (52) to be movable relative to the second frame (52) along the central axis (38) for at least a distance corresponding to a maximum value of an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image. The second frame (52) is removably mounted to a machine frame (10), wherein the first frame (36) is moved relative to the second frame (52) only for a distance required for an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drum type printer, and more particularly, to a drum type printer having a mechanism for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 2542489 issued Oct. 9, 1996, there is described a device for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image for a stencil printer having a drum unit rotatably supporting a cylindrical printing drum and slidably mounted in a body of the printer along the longitudinal axis of the printing drum, so as to be manually dismountable out of the printer body at the end of the sliding drawout movement, wherein the printed image transverse position adjustment device comprises guide means provided in the printer body for guiding the drum unit in the sliding direction, a movement transmission system for moving the drum unit in the sliding direction along the guide means for a minute distance, a motor for driving the movement transmission system, and clutch means for optionally connecting or disconnecting the movement transmission system to or from the drum unit.
In the printed image transverse position adjustment device for a stencil printer described in the above-mentioned patent publication, the drum unit is slid as a whole for an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image along the guide means for dismountably mounting the drum unit in the printer body.
The drum unit of this type, when it is the drum unit of a stencil printer, incorporates therein an ink container to serve as a source of a printing ink and an ink pump for transporting the ink from the ink container to the inside of the printing drum, so that the weight of the drum unit as a whole is substantial such as about 10 kg or more. Further, such a drum unit has a length such as about 40 cm or more and a diameter such as about 20 cm. Therefore, for the drum unit of such weight and size to be inserted into a drum unit bore of the printer body or drawn out of the drum unit bore by the hands of a man or woman, what is required for the guide means for guiding the drum unit relative to the printer body for the insertion and the drawout thereof into and out of the printer body is a strength rather than a fineness.
On the other hand, an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image provided on a print sheet is of the order of 10 mm at the largest, and often requires a fineness smaller than 1 mm, so as to be more desirable as the fineness is higher.
In view of the above points, it will not be rational to conduct such an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image that is in a range of 10 mm at the largest and is more desirable when it is more fine, by such macro-structural guide means for guiding the drum unit, a heavy article, over a guide distance extending so long as about 40 cm for the insertion and the drawout thereof into and out of the printer body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above matters, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a drum type printer equipped with a device for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image suitable for the purpose of adjusting a transverse position of a printed image and the performance required therefor.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned primary object is accomplished by a drum type printer comprising:
a machine frame;
a printing drum;
a back press roller rotatably mounted in the machine frame for selectively pressing a print sheet to the printing drum;
first frame means for supporting the printing drum to be rotatable around a central axis thereof; and
second frame means for supporting the first frame means to be movable along the central axis of the printing drum for at least a distance corresponding to a maximum value of an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image;
the machine frame having means adapted to removably engage a part of the second frame means for supporting and guiding the second frame means, so as to drawably receive the second frame means, the first frame means supported by the second frame means and the printing drum supported by the first frame means; and
actuation means for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image, the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means being adapted to selectively move the first frame means relative to the machine frame when the second frame means are mounted in the machine frame.
According to the above-mentioned construction of the drum type printer, an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image is available by the first frame means rotatably supporting the printing drum is made movable relative to the second frame means along the central axis of the printing drum within a distance corresponding to the maximum value of the printed image transverse position adjustment, so that the construction for movably supporting the first frame means relative to the second frame means can be made optionally fine and high precision as required, regardless of the easiness and toughness for the handling of the second frame means in the mounting and dismounting thereof relative to the machine frame.
In more detail, the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means may be adapted to act between the first frame means and the machine frame.
In such a construction that the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means act between the first frame means and the machine frame, the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means may comprise a shaft portion provided in the first frame means to extend in a direction of extension of the central axis of the printing drum, a shift block supported and guided by the machine frame to be movable along the direction of extension of the central axis of the printing drum and having a bore for selectively receiving the shaft portion of the first frame means, drive source means for selectively driving the shift block along the movable direction thereof, and means for selectively holding the shaft portion of the first frame means in the bore of the shift block when the shaft portion was inserted in the bore.
Or, alternatively, the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means may be adapted to act between the first frame means and the second frame means.
In both of the construction that the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means act between the first frame means and the machine frame and the construction that the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means act between the first frame means and the second frame means, the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means may comprise a screw portion provided in the first frame means to extend in the direction of extension of the central axis of the printing drum, a nut member having a tapped bore and mounted on the second frame means to be rotatable around a central axis of the tapped bore, and drive source means for selectively rotating the nut member.
In such a construction, the nut member may be stationarily positioned relative to the second frame means with respect to an axial position thereof, or the nut member may be stationarily positioned relative to the machine frame with respect to an axial position thereof when the second frame means have been mounted in the machine frame.
In both of such constructions, the printing drum may have a bearing bore aligned with the central axis thereof at a first end thereof and an annular track along an inner periphery of a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof,
the first frame means having a first shaft portion at a first end thereof, the first shaft portion extending along the central axis of the printing drum while engaging the bearing bore of the printing drum therethrough so as to rotatably support the first end of the printing drum, second and third shaft portions at a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof, the second and third shaft portions extending in parallel with the central axis of the printing drum, and at least three rollers engaging the annular track for rotatably supporting the second end of the printing drum, and
the second frame means having a first slide guide bore at a first end thereof for receiving the first shaft portion of the first frame means to be slidable along the central axis of the printing drum, and second and third slide guide bores at a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof for receiving the second and the third shaft portions of the first frame means, respectively, to be slidable in parallel with the central axis of the printing drum.
In such a construction, the first frame means may be elastically biased by spring means relative to the second frame means in a direction of moving from the second end to the first end of the second frame means, and the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means may include means for acting at the first shaft portion of the first frame means so as to restrict an axial movement of the first frame means biased by the spring means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings,
FIG. 1
is a diagrammatical plan view showing a first embodiment of the drum type printer having a mechanism for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image according to the present invention embodied as a stencil printer;
FIG. 2
is a diagrammatical sectional view of the printer of
FIG. 1
taken along section II—II in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a diagrammatical plan view showing a second embodiment of the drum type printer having a mechanism for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image according to the present invention embodied as a stencil printer;
FIG. 4
is a diagrammatical sectional view of the printer of
FIG. 3
taken along section IV—IV in
FIG. 3
; and
FIG. 5
is a diagrammatical plan view showing a third embodiment of the drum type printer having a mechanism for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image according to the present invention embodied as a stencil printer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, reference numeral
10
designates a part of the machine frame providing a so called housing of the printer, and therefore, these portions are all stationary portions with regard to a movement of the printing drum described hereinbelow.
A printing drum generally designated by
12
has a rigid dish-like member
14
forming a first end thereof, a rigid annular member
16
forming a second end thereof opposite to the first end, a rigid transverse bridge member
18
(
FIG. 2
) extended between the members
14
and
16
and firmly connecting these two members, and a perforated sheet
20
having a rectangular shape in development and rolled in a cylindrical shape with opposite edges thereof being laid around the outer peripheral surfaces of the dish-like member
14
and the annular member
16
. Although not shown in detail in the figures, a leading end portion
20
a
of the perforated sheet
20
as viewed in the peripheral direction of the printing drum is fixed to a side edge portion of the transverse bridge member
18
therealong, while a trailing edge portion
20
b
of the perforated sheet is held by the transverse bridge member
18
along the other side edge portion thereof to be movable relative thereto in the peripheral direction. A gear wheel member
22
having gears therearound is fixed to the dish-like member
14
. Bores
24
and
26
are formed through the dish-like member
14
and the gear wheel member
22
in alignment along the central axes thereof so as to provide a through bore in the first end of the printing drum along the central axis thereof. The annular member
16
is formed with an annular track
28
having a smooth surface along an inner peripheral surface thereof.
The printing drum
12
is supported by first frame means
36
to be rotatable about the central axis
38
. The first frame means
36
has a first shaft portion
30
passed through the central bore
24
of the dish-like member
14
and the central bore
26
of the gear wheel member
22
, and second and third shaft portions
32
and
34
branched from a root portion of the first shaft portion so as to extend out of the printing drum through the annular member
16
. The printing drum is rotatably supported at the dish-like member
14
from the first shaft portion
30
via a radial/thrust bearing
40
against radial and thrust movements and also at the annular member
16
from the second and third shaft portions
32
and
34
via an end plate
42
fixed to the second and third shaft portions and four rollers
44
,
46
,
48
and
50
rotatably mounted to the end plate
42
so as to engage and roll along the annular track
28
of the annular member
16
.
The dish-like member
14
and the annular member
16
are formed with annular gears
15
and
17
along their inner peripheral surfaces of their axially opposing inside edges, respectively. Pinions
21
and
23
connected with one another by a shaft
19
mesh with the annular gears
15
and
17
, respectively. The shaft
19
is rotatably supported from the third shaft portion via arms
35
and
37
. By such an arrangement, a rotational power transmitted to the dish-like member
14
from the gear wheel member
22
as described in detail hereinbelow is further transmitted from the annular gear
15
through the pinion
21
, the shaft
19
, the pinion
23
and the annular gear
17
to the annular member
16
, so that the printing drum
12
constructed by the dish-like member
14
, the annular member
16
, the transverse bridge member
18
and the perforated sheet
20
is rotated by the rotational power supplied to the gear wheel member
22
without causing a twisting.
The first frame means
36
are supported by second frame means
52
so as to be movable along the central axis
38
as much as a distance corresponding to a maximum value for an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image.
The second frame means
52
have a frame body of a rectangular shape as shown in FIG.
1
. An end portion
54
of the frame body along the central axis
38
has a bore
56
for passing the first shaft portion
30
of the first frame means and supports at the bore
56
the first shaft portion
30
via slide guide element
58
so as to be movable along the central axis
38
. Another edge portion
60
of the second frame means
52
has bores
62
and
54
at positions for passing the second and third shaft portions
32
and
34
of the first frame means
36
and supports at these bore portions the second and third shaft portions
32
and
34
via slide guide elements
66
and
68
, respectively, so as to be movable in parallels with the central axis
38
.
Opposite side edge portions
70
and
72
of the second frame means
52
bear rollers
74
,
76
,
78
and
80
so as to be rotatable around respective central axes. The rollers
74
and
76
are engaged in a longitudinal groove
84
of a guide rail member
82
fixed to the machine frame
10
. Similarly, the rollers
78
and
80
mounted to a side edge portion
72
are engaged in a longitudinal groove
88
of a guide rail member
86
fixed to the machine frame
10
. By these rollers
74
-
80
rolling along the corresponding longitudinal grooves
84
and
88
of the rail members
82
and
86
, the second frame means
52
are movable along the central axis
38
between a final mount position in the machine frame such as shown in
FIG. 1 and a
drawout position moved leftward in
FIG. 1
relative to the machine frame.
The mounting state of the second frame means
52
to the mount position shown in
FIG. 1
along the guide members
82
and
86
is held by lock members
94
and
96
pivotably supported from the machine frame
10
via pivot shafts
90
and
92
to be pivotable therearound engaging opposite edge portions of the end portion
60
of the second frame means under a biasing applied by springs
98
and
100
, respectively. The lock members
94
and
96
are releasable from the engagement with the second frame means
52
by their lever portions
102
and
104
being turned around the pivot shafts
90
and
92
against the spring forces of the springs
98
and
100
, respectively.
A tray member diagrammatically shown by
106
is integrally mounted to the second frame means
52
for supporting an ink container and an ink pump not shown in the figure. Further, in the inside of the printing drum
12
, an inking roller
108
is mounted to the first frame means
36
to be rotatable around its central axis by bearing means not shown in the figure, and is adapted to be driven to rotate around the central axis thereof in synchronization with a rotation of the printing drum
12
by drive force transmission means not shown in the figure. Further, a doctor rod
110
is mounted as supported from the first frame means
36
by mounting means not shown in the figure.
The first frame means
36
are elastically biased to move rightward in
FIG. 1
relative to the second frame means
52
by compression coil springs
112
and
114
mounted around the second and third shaft portions
32
and
34
, respectively, to act between the end plate
42
and the end portion
60
of the second frame means, so that unless the first shaft portion
30
engages print image transverse position adjustment actuation means at its tip portion as described hereinbelow, the first frame means
36
are moved rightward in
FIG. 1
relative to the second frame means
52
until an annular end surface
116
of the gear wheel member
22
mounted at the first end of the printing drum
12
abuts against an annular rib portion
118
formed at the inside of the end portion
54
of the second frame means
52
.
The tip end portion of the first shaft portion
30
of the first frame means
36
has an end surface
120
and an annular groove
122
formed before the end surface and is adapted to be engaged into a bore
128
formed in a slide block
126
for the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means generally designated by
124
. The slide block
126
is guided by a guide rib
130
provided in the machine frame
10
to be movable along the central axis
38
.
The engagement of the tip end portion of the shaft portion
30
into the bore
128
of the slide block
126
is proceeded by the first frame means
36
being elastically biased rightward in
FIG. 1
relative to the second frame means
52
by the compression coil springs
112
and
114
until the end surface
120
of the shaft portion
30
abuts against an annular bottom surface of the bore
128
, and when the tip end portion of the shaft portion
30
has been engaged into the bore
128
up to the predetermined insertion position, an actuator
132
mounted to the slide block
128
pushes out a pin
134
so that the pin engages in the annular groove
122
of the shaft portion
30
, thereby locking the shaft portion
30
to the slide block
126
at the final insertion position.
The slide block
126
is formed with a tapped bore
136
aligned with the central axis
38
. A screw member
138
engages in the tapped bore at its threaded portion. The screw member
138
has a disk portion
140
and a gear wheel portion
142
, and is held at the disk portion
140
against an axial movement relative to the machine frame
10
, while rotating around the central axis
38
. The screw member
138
is rotated for each controlled small angle by an actuation of a step motor
145
via a gear
143
meshing with the gear wheel portion
142
.
A gear wheel
144
meshes with the gear wheel member
22
of the printing drum
12
while the printing drum
12
is moved from the axial position shown in
FIG. 1
leftward or rightward in the figure along the central axis
38
within a range for adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image. The gear wheel
144
is adapted to be driven to rotate by means for driving the printing drum not shown in the figure. When the printing drum
12
is within the range for adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image, the peripheral surface of the printing drum formed by the perforated sheet
20
is closely opposed by an outer circumferencial surface of a back press roller
148
adapted to rotate around its central axis
146
. In printing, the inking roller
108
is moved radially outwardly of the printing drum by a radial drive mechanism not shown in the figure, so as to push a portion of the outer circumferencial wall of the printing drum made of the perforated sheet
20
radially outward toward the outer circumferencial surface of the back press roller
148
, thereby applying a printed image on a print sheet introduced into a nip region
150
between the printing drum and the back press roller with its leading edge being clamped onto the outer circumferencial surface of the back press roller with an ink extruded by the inking roller
108
through perforations formed in a stencil sheet mounted around the outer circumferencial surface of the printing drum.
Such a construction of the stencil printer that the circumferencial wall of the printing drum has a flexible construction to be pushed radially outward by the inking roller
108
, with the back press roller
148
having the same diameter as the printing drum being rotated in synchronization with the printing drum in a direction opposite thereto, so that the central axes of the printing drum and the back press roller are fixed relative to one another, while the pressing together and the releasing of the outer circumferencial surfaces of the printing drum and the back press roller are controlled by the pressing out and releasing thereof of the outer circumferencial surface of the printing drum by the inking roller, is described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 1-204781, and further, it is described in Japanese Patent laid-open Publication 5-330224 to obtain a stencil print free of a back ink staining by fastening the leading edge of the print sheet to the back press roller.
In the above-mentioned construction, with the printing drum
12
, the first frame means
36
supporting the printing drum and the second frame means
52
supporting the first frame means being set at the respective working positions shown in
FIG. 1
, when a transverse position of a printed image is desired to be adjusted, the step motor
145
is rotated under a control of a controller for an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image not shown in the figure, so as to adjust an axial position of the printing drum
12
relative to a print sheet brought to the printing position as mounted on the back press roller
148
adapted to rotate at a fixed axial position relative to the machine frame
10
. Then the rotation of the step motor
145
is transmitted through the gear wheel
143
and the gear portion
142
of the screw member
138
, and the rotation of the screw member
138
causes a corresponding movement of the slide block
126
along the central axis
38
, with the first frame means
36
being correspondingly moved relative to the second frame means
52
along the central axis
38
as slidably supported by the engagement of the shaft portions
30
,
32
and
34
in the slide guide elements
58
,
66
and
68
, respectively, thereby moving the printing drum
12
supported by the first frame means
36
relative to the second frame means
52
, and therefore relative to the machine frame
10
, along the central axis
38
.
When the printing operation of the printer is stopped and the printing drum is drawn out of the machine frame for changing the ink color or a maintenance, starting from the set position shown in
FIG. 1
, first the actuator
132
is operated so as to withdraw the pin
134
out of the annular groove
122
of the shaft portion
30
. Then, by operating the levers
102
and
104
, the clamps
94
and
96
are retracted from the locking engagement with the second frame means
52
. Then the second frame means
52
can be moved leftward in
FIG. 1
toward outside of the machine frame as guided at the opposite side edge portions by the rail members
82
and
86
via the rollers
74
-
80
. In the meantime, in an initial stroke of the leftward movement, the first frame means
36
are moved together with the printing drum
12
rightward in the figure relative to the second frame means
52
by the action of the compression coil springs
112
and
114
until the annular end surface
116
of the gear wheel member
22
abuts against the annular rib portion
118
of the second frame means, and thereafter the first frame means
36
and the printing drum
12
are drawn out of the machine frame together with the second frame means
52
as integrally supported therein.
When such an assembly of the printing drum and the first and second frame means once drawn out of the machine frame or a different assembly of the same type charged with a different ink of a different color is mounted into the machine frame, the assembly may only be inserted into the mounting bore of the machine frame so as to be moved rightward in
FIG. 1
with the rollers
74
-
80
provided at the opposite side edge portions of the second frame means
52
being engaged in the grooves
84
and
88
of the rail members
82
and
86
. When it is assumed that the screw member
138
of the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means
124
is positioned at the position shown in
FIG. 1
, a little before the second frame means
52
reach the final mounting position shown in
FIG. 1
, the end surface
120
of the shaft portion
30
of the first frame means
36
abuts against the bottom surface of the bore
128
, and thereafter the first frame means
36
and the printing drum
12
remain in the shown position, while the second frame means
52
only are moved rightward in the figure by compressing the compression coil springs
112
and
114
until the end portion
60
of the second frame means
52
is automatically engaged by the clamps
94
and
96
by the action of the springs
98
and
100
, respectively, to accomplish the final drum mounting state shown in FIG.
1
. Therefore, when such a drum assembly is once drawn out of the machine frame and is again returned into the machine frame with no adjustment of the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means
124
in the meantime, the adjustment of the printed image transverse position before the drawing out of the drum assembly is regained. When a separate drum assembly is mounted for a color change, if the respective drum assemblies are manufactured within a predetermined dimensional allowance of manufacture, the adjustment of the transverse position of a printed image is held unchanged before and after an exchange of the drum units for a color change or the like. In any event, the axial position of the first frame means
36
relative to the machine frame
10
, that is the axial position of the printing drum
12
relative to the back press roller
148
, is determined without intermediacy of the second frame means
52
, so that the requirement for the manufacturing accuracy with regard to the final mount position of the second frame means
52
relative to the machine frame
10
depending upon the slide guide means for the withdrawal and insertion of the drum assembly extending over a distance such as about 40 cm is lessened.
FIG. 3
is a plan view showing diagrammatically the essential portions of a second embodiment of the drum type printer having a mechanism for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image according to the present invention, and
FIG. 4
is a sectional view along section IV—IV in FIG.
3
. In
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the portions corresponding to those shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
are designated by the same reference numerals as in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
In this second embodiment, a nut member
59
is rotatably mounted with its shaft portion
61
being received in the bore
56
formed in the end portion
54
of the second frame means
52
in alignment with the central axis
38
via a bearing element
57
. The nut member
59
has a tapped bore
63
aligned with the central axis
38
, and the tip end of the first shaft portion
30
of the first frame means
36
is engaged therein with a thread formed therearound. The nut member
59
has a gear wheel portion
65
, and a pinion
67
meshing with the gear wheel portion
65
is rotatably mounted to the end portion
54
. The pinion
67
is meshed with another pinion
69
rotatably mounted to the end portion
57
and adapted to be driven by a step motor
145
.
According to this construction, the transverse position of a printed image is adjusted by an adjustment of the transverse position of the first frame means
36
and the printing drum
12
supported thereby relative to the second frame means
52
. Therefore, when the second frame means
52
are correctly set relative to the machine frame
10
with respect to the transverse position thereof, the adjustment of the transverse position of the printing drum
12
relative to the machine frame
10
is conducted by the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means
124
provided only on the side of the assembly of the printing drum and the first and second frame means. Therefore, in this embodiment, the mechanism for the adjustment of the transverse position of a printed image is not affected at all by a temporal dismounting of the drum assembly out of the machine frame. The constructions of the other portions bearing the same reference numerals as in
FIGS. 1 and 2
are the same as described with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
and operate in the same manner. In this connection, the electrical connection for the pulse motor
145
may be made by an appropriate electrical connector not shown in the figure including mating elements separately mounted to the machine frame
10
and the second frame means
52
. Such an electrical connector may be one such as shown in Japanese Patent Publication 62-28757.
FIG. 5
is a diagrammatical plan view similar to
FIGS. 1 and 3
, showing a third embodiment modified principally from the second embodiment shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
but operating according to the same operation principle as the first embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. In
FIG. 5
, the portions corresponding to those shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
are designated by the same reference numerals as in those figures.
In this embodiment, the shaft portion
61
of the nut member
59
extends out of the bearing element
57
so as to be selectively locked at its tip portion in a bore
128
of a stationary block
127
by a pin
134
of an actuator
132
in a manner similar to the corresponding portion of the first embodiment shown in
FIG. 1
, except, however, that the stationary block
127
is fixed to the machine frame
10
. In this case, therefore, when the drum assembly is mounted in the machine frame, the standard position for the transverse positioning of a printed image is determined based upon the nut member
59
being fixed to a predetermined position relative to the machine frame
10
. Therefore, in this embodiment, the axial position of the second frame means
52
relative to the machine frame
10
at the mounting position thereof need not be so strictly set as in the second embodiment, so that the requirement for the manufacturing accuracy with regard to the final mount position of the second frame means
52
relative to the machine frame
10
depending upon the slide guide means for the withdrawal and insertion of the drum assembly extending over a distance such as about 40 cm is also lessened as in the first embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
In this third embodiment also, the constructions of the other portions corresponding to those described in the first and second embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
by referring to the reference numerals are the same as those of the first and second embodiments and operate in the same way.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to the three embodiments in the above, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible with respect to these embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A drum type printer comprising:a machine frame; a printing drum; a back press roller rotatably mounted in the machine frame for selectively pressing a print sheet to the printing drum; first frame means for supporting the printing drum to be rotatable around a central axis thereof; and second frame means for supporting the first frame means to be movable along the central axis of the printing drum for at least a distance corresponding to a maximum value of an adjustment of a transverse position of a printed image; the machine frame having means adapted to removably engage a part of the second frame means for supporting and guiding the second frame means, so as to drawably receive the second frame means, the first frame means supported by the second frame means and the printing drum supported by the first frame means; and actuation means for adjusting a transverse position of a printed image, the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means being adapted to selectively move the first frame means relative to the machine frame when the second frame means are mounted in the machine frame.
- 2. A drum type printer according to claim 1, wherein the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means are adapted to act between the first frame means and the machine frame.
- 3. A drum type printer according to claim 2, wherein the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means comprise a shaft portion provided in the first frame means to extend in a direction of extension of the central axis of the printing drum, a shift block supported and guided by the machine frame to be movable along the direction of extension of the central axis of the printing drum and having a bore for selectively receiving the shaft portion of the first frame means, drive source means for selectively driving the shift block along the movable direction thereof, and means for selectively holding the shaft portion of the first frame means in the bore of the shift block when the shaft portion was inserted in the bore.
- 4. A drum type printer according to claim 1, wherein the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means are adapted to act between the first frame means and the second frame means.
- 5. A drum type printer according to claim 1, wherein the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means comprise a screw portion provided in the first frame means to extend in the direction of extension of the central axis of the printing drum, a nut member having a tapped bore and mounted on the second frame means to be rotatable around a central axis of the tapped bore, and drive source means for selectively rotating the nut member.
- 6. A drum type printer according to claim 5, wherein the nut member is stationarily positioned relative to the second frame means with respect to an axial position thereof.
- 7. A drum type printer according to claim 5, wherein the nut member is stationarily positioned relative to the machine frame with respect to an axial position thereof when the second frame means have been mounted in the machine frame.
- 8. A drum type printer according to claim 1, whereinthe printing drum has a bearing bore aligned with the central axis thereof at a first end thereof and an annular track along an inner periphery of a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof, the first frame means have a first shaft portion at a first end thereof, the first shaft portion extending along the central axis of the printing drum while engaging the bearing bore of the printing drum therethrough so as to rotatably support the first end of the printing drum, second and third shaft portions at a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof, the second and third shaft portions extending in parallel with the central axis of the printing drum, and at least three rollers engaging the annular track for rotatably supporting the second end of the printing drum, and the second frame means have a first slide guide bore at a first end thereof for receiving the first shaft portion of the first frame means to be slidable along the central axis of the printing drum, and second and third slide guide bores at a second end thereof opposite to the first end thereof for receiving the second and the third shaft portions of the first frame means, respectively, to be slidable in parallel with the central axis of the printing drum.
- 9. A drum type printer according to claim 8, wherein the first frame means are elastically biased by spring means relative to the second frame means in a direction of moving from the second end to the first end of the second frame means, and the printed image transverse position adjustment actuation means include means for acting at the first shaft portion of the first frame means so as to restrict an axial movement of the first frame means biased by the spring means.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-000676 |
Jan 1999 |
JP |
|
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3572240 |
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|
4911069 |
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Mar 1990 |
|
5507225 |
Noguchi et al. |
Apr 1996 |
|
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