Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus for printing and scoring media in a printing system. In one embodiment a scoring pattern is based upon input by the user on a graphical user interface. The system typically incorporates a controller that drives a scoring printer having a scoring head with one or more pins or wires that impact the surface of media and weaken the media. By creating a predetermined pattern of impacts, the media is weakened along a region or line for subsequent separation.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    (Not applicable)  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    (Not applicable)  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This invention relates to a printer system that prints on a media and additionally scores the media in a pattern chosen by the user.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Printers have been equipped with cutting devices so that a printed media can be cut at the end of the printing operation without removing the media from the printer. A typical system involves passing a rotary or fixed cutting blade across the media after the printing operation has been completed. Examples of these systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,363,123, 5,881,624, 5,296,872, and 5,882,128. These systems are designed to cut along a straight line across the media after the printing operation. However, if a user wishes to cut a line that is curved or angular, or cut out a closed shape from the media, these systems are inadequate. The user must cut the media in a separate operation after removing the media. U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,061 discloses system for printing upon removable portions of a two-dimensional media sheet. The removable portions are removed after printing and folded into three-dimensional shapes. This system, however, requires that the media be first scored or perforated before it is inserted into the printer, so that the removable portions can be removed from the media after printing.  
           [0005]    What the prior-art systems lack is a means integrated with the printer that allows complex shapes to be cut or scored into the media as part of the printing operation.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An aspect of the present invention involves a computer based system and method for scoring media. The system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment comprises a central processing unit, a display, a user manipulatable input device, graphical user interface and a scoring printer. Another aspect of the invention involves a scoring head which may be mounted separately from a printhead, but in some instances may be on a same carriage as the printhead. Some embodiments provide scoring with a moving scoring head that allows scoring of the media such as paper during the printing operation. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a printing and scoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a view of a graphical representation and how it relates to the final document.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a view of graphical interface according to the invention showing a graphical image or representation of a document to be printed on a media, and showing indicia indicating score lines to be formed on the printed media.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a printed media made according to the invention with a printed image and score lines corresponding to the indicia n in FIG. 3.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is the printed media of FIG. 4 with accepted and rejected portions separated along the score lines.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a schematic of a scoring printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a schematic of a scoring printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a carriage with a conventional print head, a scoring head, and carriage drive.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a schematic of another scoring printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a carriage with a conventional print head, a scoring head, and carriage drive.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a schematic of another scoring printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a carriage with a conventional print head, a scoring head, and carriage drive.  
         [0016]    FIGS.  10 A- 10 E are schematic drawings showing exemplary shapes of the tips of perforating pins used in a scoring printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-section showing an exemplary construction of an electromagnetically activated scoring head according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-section showing another exemplary construction of an electromagnetically activated scoring head according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-section showing yet another exemplary construction of an electromagnetically activated scoring head according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-section showing an exemplary construction of a piezoelectically activated scoring head according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 15 is a schematic of the actuator used in the scoring head of FIG. 14  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 16 is a schematic of patterns of perforations created by a perforating scoring printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    Reference is now made to FIG. 1. Using a scoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention  21  a graphical representation  22  of a digital file or files, such as a document, is presented to appear upon a display or monitor  23  that is connected to a computer CPU  24 . One or more input devices  27  can be used to edit the graphical representation  22  prior to generating a hardcopy output on a printer  30 . The edited graphical representation  22  depicts elements and objects  25  of the file as they will appear after printing on a media, such as paper. The CPU  24  is typically a personal-type computer with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) operating system, such as, for example, any of the Microsoft Windows™ operating systems, UNIX, LINUX, Apple Macintosh OS™, and the like. The digital files are any suitable digital files that are stored in any suitable memory device (hard drive, RAM, ROM, etc.) in the CPU and that contain graphical data for generating instructions for a printer. Such graphical data can include, for example, text with font and other formatting information, and bitmapped or vector-based graphics. Such digital files include those produced by WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)-type software applications or programs, which include word processing systems, desktop publishing programs, drawing and paint programs, computer aided drafting programs, digital photo applications, as well as any program or application that produces, opens or displays formatted text and/or graphics for printing.  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 2, a graphical representation  22  may contain text-type  19  and/or graphic-type  18  information which are depicted on the graphical representation as composite displays of printable objects  25 . The representation also shows scoring indicia  26 , which are more fully described below. The printed media or sheet  22 A has corresponding textual and graphical elements  19 A,  18 A, respectively, that correspond to the appearance of the corresponding elements  19 ,  18  in the graphical representation. The printed sheet  22 A also has score lines  26 A at the locations of the corresponding scoring indicia  26  in the graphical representation. The sheet  22 A is separated along the scored lines to create accepted portions of a desired shape containing the printable objects. The remaining rejected portions can then be discarded.  
         [0025]    Reference is now also made to FIG. 3, which is a detailed view of another graphical representation  22 . The graphical presentation  22  on the monitor  23  the file represents the appearance of the file when it is printed. The graphical representation  22  can be generated by customized software or the application software used to create the file. In most software applications, this is accomplished using its Print Layout or Print Layout feature, or equivalent. Score indicia  26  (See FIG. 2) are then added to the graphical representation  22  using the user manipulatable input device  27 , which may be, for example, a mouse, graphics tablet, joystick, touch pad, or keyboard (see FIG. 1). The score indicia  26  represent locations where scores will occur on the final document. Customized drawing-type software can be used for this function, or, alternately, “drawing” tools in the main application can be used. Using Microsoft Word 2000 as an example, while in Print Layout mode the Line tool is selected from the Draw toolbar and a line drawn over the display where a score line is desired. Other suitable tools, such as the Rectangle and Oval, could also be selected. The requirement is that a distinctive indicia indicating the position of the scores on the printed document be added to the graphic image, which indicia can be interpreted for the printer  30  as score lines or regions.  
         [0026]    To differentiate indicia indicating a score  26  from other indicia and objects, such as those that are to be printed, the score indicia  26  can be given a distinct property, such as color or style, that isn&#39;t otherwise used in the file to identify indicia or objects. Using suitable software, that distinctive property is interpreted for the printer as a score line. Implementation of such software is straightforward, and could be accomplished much the same way colors or other properties are handled by printing subroutines. For example in certain prior-art printers, colors on a print preview display are interpreted for the printer by the print driver as a printable color or a printable shade of gray. In the present invention, instead of a printable color, the displayed color can be interpreted for a scoring printer of the invention as a score. The scoring printhead or apparatus in the printer is then activated by the software and the CPU in the same way a color printhead is activated. This could be done in the application by an add-on module to the main application or in a separate module from the main application, such as in a print driver. Using a print driver accessible to all applications, the invention could be used universally for any graphical application on the CPU if, for example, the driver is configured to score whenever a certain color or property in an application is displayed. Any application displaying that color or property for printing will activate the scoring mechanism of the printer. Print subroutines in the applications that create the digital files can also be suitably modified. In certain high-end graphic applications several existing indicia properties may be available. For example, in a high-end graphics application like AutoCad™ or CorelDraw™, the score indicia could be distinguished by any one of or a combination of layer, line width, line style, and line color of the indicia. With the multitude of colors and properties supported by most applications, a distinctive “score” property visible as a contrasting color or style in the displayed graphical representation  22  would be practical to achieve. This system would also allow a user to create an unscored draft copy on a media where the score regions are represented by printing. This could be done by using a non-scoring printer to print or by selectively disabling the scoring feature in the scoring printer of the invention. The score indicia may also be added by a software module that is entirely separated from the main application where the score indicia are distinguished by a new software “score” property, label or flag that can be interpreted as a score for the scoring printer.  
         [0027]    In any event, the digital file or files represented on the graphical interface are modified by adding digital data for the score indicia. These files are then used by appropriate printer software routines to determine the location of graphical data and scores on the final printed document to send the appropriate data to the scoring printer. The files can then be saved and otherwise manipulated as provided by the operating system.  
         [0028]    A score in the media, as used herein, is any region in the media that is sufficiently weakened such that under tensile, torsional, folding and/or shear forces that would tend to tear the media, the media will preferentially part or tear at the score. The score may be, for example, in the form a cut partially through the thickness of the media, or a series of perforations through the media. In paper, the score is usually characterized as a region, most often in the form of a line, where paper fibers have been fully or partially cut, or at least damaged.  
         [0029]    A score also includes lines or regions where the media is weakened sufficiently to form a fold line, i.e., wherein upon a folding force the media preferentially folds along the fold line. Fold lines can be created by fiber displacement or minor damage to fibers (e.g., see FIG. 5) resulting from a sparse or widely spaced score pattern (e.g. see FIGS. 16A, 16D),  
         [0030]    Since the score indicia  26  indicate where the printed sheet or media will be scored, the indicia are usually formed as lines to correspond to media scores, which are usually in curved or straight lines. Points, solid shapes, multiple lines, and the like, would usually not be used, but are contemplated by the invention if special circumstances require the same. For example, if the score lines define a complex, convoluted or closely spaced region to be removed, it may be easier to remove a discarded portion if it is entirely weakened by scores in the form of multiple score lines or a completely perforated area. In addition, a score line may be made weaker by double or overlapping lines of scores.  
         [0031]    Reference is now made again to FIG. 3. The graphical representation  22  shows graphical or printable objects  25  depicted as they will appear in the printed document. At locations determined by the user through the user interface  27 , score indicia  26 , here in the form of dotted lines, are added, which indicate where the final document is to be scored. The score indicia  26  define regions  28  which represent accepted portions of the media, and regions  29  which represent portions that will be rejected by the user. These regions  28 ,  29  may be any shape desired by the user, including regular geometric shapes and irregular open or closed shapes, which may include straight, curved, and convoluted lines.  
         [0032]    After the scoring indicia  26  have been added in the graphical representation and the indicia data added to the digital files or files, the files are processed by the CPU and suitable printing data is sent to a scoring printer  30  of the invention. The printing may be initiated from the software application in the conventional manner by using the normal print or plot commands and routines. Alternately, customized printing/scoring software routines may be used.  
         [0033]    Reference is now made to FIG. 4. The scoring printer  30  applies printed images  28 A to the media sheet  22 A and applies scoring lines  26 A to the print media as represented on the graphical representation  22 . It is preferred that the scoring operation not require additional intervention by the user beyond the adding the graphical scoring indicia. Accordingly, both the printing and scoring are done on the printer without user manipulation of the media. The scoring should be seen by the user as part the “printing” operation. Scoring systems that are incorporated into the printing mechanism and score the media essentially concurrently with the printing are preferred. These may operate in much the same way as in color printers where a second color is printed concurrently with the first color of the image. A scoring head used in tandem with a moving printhead, as described in detail below, is preferred.  
         [0034]    Reference is again made to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. When the document is printed, the printable objects  25  and score indicia  26  represented on the graphical representation are respectively formed on a blank media as printed image elements  25 A and score lines or elements  26 A, forming the final printed and scored sheet  22 A. Referring also to FIG. 5, the printed and scored sheet  22 A can be separated along the score elements  26 A into accepted portions  28 A and rejected portions  29 A by manually tearing the sheet along the score elements  26 A.  
         [0035]    While any media is contemplated by the invention, properties of the media must be considered with the design of the scoring apparatus since the scoring apparatus must physically alter the media. Accordingly, for certain scoring printer designs, a thick media, or a media with a dense or hard surface may be unsuitable. Suitable plastic media are contemplated using a scoring printhead design with pins that cut, rather than tear, the media. However, it is within the skill of a practitioner to adapt the scoring apparatus to any media.  
         [0036]    In general, it is contemplated that the main use of the invention is in integration with low volume printer systems used in home and business environments, such as moving head inkjet printer systems used for monochrome and multicolor printing. The scoring apparatus should be designed to successfully score paper media usually used in these types of printers, such as the common 20 to 24 lb inkjet and copier papers, as well as heavier papers up to about 40 lb, and papers with gloss or matte finishes.  
         [0037]    Scoring Printer Construction.  
         [0038]    One aspect of the invention is now illustrated with reference to FIG. 6, which is a schematic of an imaging section  90  of a scoring printer of the invention, showing the media  91 , media path  92 , printing head  93 , and scoring head  94 . The imaging section  90  is of the moving-head type with a scoring head  94  and a printing head  93  mounted in tandem on a moving carriage  95  that moves, for example, on a horizontal rod  96 . The carriage  95  transports both heads  93 ,  94  across the media surface along a transverse axis. Separate carriages for each head  93 ,  94  are also contemplated. A media transport  97  moves the media between the heads  93 ,  94  and respective media supports  98 ,  99  in a longitudinal direction along the media path. The printing head  93 , the media support  98 , the moving carriage  95 , the media transport system  97  and other supporting structures and systems may be essentially the same as that found on known moving head printers. The moving printhead  93  is of any suitable construction, including inkjet (piezo- or thermal), thermal, and impact dotmatrix. There may also be additional printheads, such as for color printing. For color printing there may be 3 or 4 print heads mounted on the carriage, or a single multichambered print head in the case of an inkjet printer.  
         [0039]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with a moving-head printer, it is understood that the scoring head could be used together with other imaging systems, such a moving paper plotter, or a flat bed plotter, with the scoring head mounted with or in a similar manner to the printing head. In addition, the invention could be applied to any imaging system where a scoring head module could be added before or after the imaging step. For example, in a laser imaging system a scoring system according to the invention could be added at the output of the laser imaging system to score printed pages as they come from the imaging system.  
         [0040]    The scoring head  94  is mounted on the carriage  95  with the print head  93 . The scoring head  94  has a scoring mechanism that comprises selectively activated scoring pins. The mechanism of the scoring head is similar to that of a dot-matrix impact printer, except the pins function to perforate the media rather than impact and form an image. Accordingly, the ends of the pins are constructed differently, and there is no ink ribbon or ink transfer associated with the scoring head. In addition, the media support  99  under the impact area is designed to endure repeated impacts from the scoring pins without serious functional deterioration. Suitable materials for the media support include, but are not limited to, elastomers and plastics, self-healing mat material, neoprene, rubber and polyurethane.  
         [0041]    Reference is now made to FIG. 7 is a schematic showing a portion of a scoring printer of the invention. The scoring printer of FIG. 7 includes a housing  11 , shown in part. A roller  15  holds and transports a sheet  22 A, on which printed elements  25 A are formed. Within the housing  11  is the codestrip  32  which extends along its major portion across the media between points  33 ,  34  near its ends where the codestrip  32  is wrapped ninety degrees around each of two respective stanchions  41 ,  51 .  
         [0042]    The codestrip  32  is threaded through a carriage  61 , which carries a printhead  93  that comprises a transducer holder  62  and transducer  71  (such as a thermal-inkjet pen). The carriage is driven to left and right by a drive train  81 - 85 .  
         [0043]    The drive train includes a servomotor  81 , which powers a small endless belt  82 . That belt rotates a driven idler  83 , which in turn powers a long carriage-connected endless belt  84 . The latter also encircles an undriven idler  85 .  
         [0044]    Any system is suitable that provides sufficient positional precision for effective coordination of the printhead  93  and the scoring head  94 , each positioned in respective locations on the single carriage  61 . Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,970, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Suitable systems include transmission-type sensors mounted on the carriage  61  and work in association with the code strip  31  as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,970, which is also incorporated by reference.  
         [0045]    As the media sheet  22   a  is transported under the carriage  61  by the media transport  15 , the carriage is moved to appropriately position the printhead  93  for application of the printed elements  25 A and the scoring head  94  for application of the score elements  26 A. The scoring head  94  is mounted on the front edge of the carriage, and the media support  99  under the scoring head  94  is of a resilient material to withstand impact from the perforating pins of the scoring head.  
         [0046]    Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which shows a scoring printer similar to that shown in FIG. 7 except the printhead  93  is shown on the front of the carriage and the scoring head  94  is shown on the rear edge of the carriage  61 . In addition, the media sheet is shown in partial section to better show the resilient media support  99  under the path of the scoring head  94 .  
         [0047]    Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which shows a scoring printer similar to that shown in FIG. 7 except the printhead  93  and the scoring head  94  are shown on the front edge of the carriage  61 .  
         [0048]    Perforating Pins for Scoring Printer  
         [0049]    The perforating pins are activated in a manner similar to impact printing pins with sufficient force to push the pins through the media. With reference to FIGS.  10 A-F, which show pin ends from perspective views, the points of the pins are designed to weaken the media. In design of the pins and the print head there is a balance, for the less damage caused by the pins, the more closely the pin penetrations must be to achieve a score line. Thus a penetration that causes only a dimpling is contemplated where the dimples are spaced close enough together to sufficiently weaken the media. For some media-types, such as plastic media, cutting may be required for a tear-line, although dimpling may be sufficient for a fold line.  
         [0050]    Accordingly, the pin may have any suitable tip that weakens the media.  
         [0051]    As example, FIG. 10A, shows a pointed end. FIG. 10B shows a pointed end associated with cutting edges to cut the media. FIG. 10C shows a cutting pin tip shaped like a screwdriver tip. FIG. 10D is similar to FIG. 10C, but with a slanted and widened cutting chisel-like end. FIGS. 10E and 10F show radiating cutters. Symmetrical designs are preferred to avoid bending forces that could deform the pin during penetration or cause premature pin failure.  
         [0052]    As described, above, the perforated pins are activated in a manner similar to impact printing pins. In other aspects the operation and construction of the scoring head are essentially the same for an impact printing head. Prior-art color printers have been constructed with two or more print heads mounted in tandem on a moving carriage, and the operation and activation of the print head and scoring head can be accomplished by adapting known tandem print head technology.  
         [0053]    Although, there are similarities between impact printing heads and the scoring head of the invention, some considerations must be made in light of the different function of the scoring head. A prior-art impact printing head usually has 9 or 24 impact pins arranged in a linear matrix. The scoring head of the invention may not require as many pins since the “print” resolution requirement of the scores may not be as high as for a printed image. Any head with at least one pin is contemplated. However, sufficient pins should be present so that all of the score perforations in a raster line can be accomplished with one pass of the scoring head. Preferably the scoring head is activated in the same pass that printer heads are activated. The speed of the carriage and timing of pin activations should be adjusted to permit pin penetration of the media while avoiding breakage of the pins. It should be noted that speed is not as high a consideration for the scoring head of the invention as it is for impact printing heads, because scoring usually represents a small portion of the document, and slowing the print carriage to accommodate scoring will not seriously slow the overall printing operation.  
         [0054]    The diameter of the perforating wire or pins may also be larger than impact wires to increase strength, where resolution of perforations is not as critical as for printing. The number of wires may optionally be decreased or the wires in the array may be staggered to accommodate the larger diameter. The latter solution also has the advantage that the individual perforations in the media will be closer or overlapping, which increases the weakness of the score.  
         [0055]    Impact print heads usually comprise impact pins driven by an electromagnetic coil operably connected to the pin by a lever. For a scoring head the printer, the construction is similar except perforating pins are used in place of the impact pins. For a scoring head the dimensions of the coil and lever may be adjusted to achieve a proper perforating pin throw length, and sufficient penetrating force to allow the perforating pin to penetrate a media. Electromagnetic activated pin systems are common constructions that are suitable for the present invention. Examples of such systems are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,540,508, 5,518,327, 5,449,239, 5,213,423, 4,767,227, and 5,039,235, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Other systems, using electrodistortion or piezoelectric elements to activate the perforating pin are also suitable. Suitable systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,005,994, 5,292,201, which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0056]    Scoring Head A  
         [0057]    Reference is now made to FIG. 11. An exemplary scoring head comprises a plurality of levers  114  mounted for rotation about axis  115 , two such levers being illustrated in the figure. Levers  114  are mounted on rotational axis  115  via a bearing (not shown) in order that lever  114  will rotate as indicated by arrow  115 A. The forward end  114 A of levers  114  are each respectively secured to perforating pins or wires  103  which are moveably supported in one or more guides  105  in head nose  104 . Plungers  116  and  117  are mounted on either side or opposite sides of axis  115  of each lever  114  in alignment with their respective cores  110  and  111 . Plungers  116  and  117  comprise soft magnetic material, i.e., a high magnetic permeable material such as pure iron, silicon steel, etc. Electric coils  101  and  102  are respectively mounted on cores  110  and  111 . In the illustration two plungers are shown, but one plunger on either side of the fulcrum may also be used. For two plungers, magnetic influencing means comprises two magnetic circuits which are employed relative to each lever  114  at opposite sides of rotation center  115 , one circuit comprising core  110  and its yoke, plunger  116  and coil  101  and the other circuit comprising core  111  and its yoke, plunger  117  and coil  102 .  
         [0058]    Lever  114  illustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 11 is shown in its activated position with its perforating wire  103  extended from nose  104 . Lever  114  in the lower portion of FIG. 11 is shown in its deactivated, rest or standby position wherein perforating wire  103  is retracted in nose  104 . In its standby position, lever  114  is held against abutment  119  by means of compression spring  108 .  
         [0059]    In operation, plungers  116  and  117  of lever  114  are attracted respectively to cores  110  and  111  under the influence of the magnetic flux generated by coils  101  and  102 . As a result, lever  114  is rotated so that its connected wire  103  extends to a perforating position illustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 11 with the cutting or penetrating end of wire  103  striking and penetrating paper media  22 A and striking media support  99  before plungers  116  and  117  contact their respective cores  110  and  111 . The magnetic attraction supplied by the magnetic circuit of coils  101  and  102  is sufficient to overcome the compression force of spring  108  and move lever  114  away from abutment  119 . Release of lever  114 , to return the lever to its standby position against abutment  119  as illustrated in the lower portion of FIG. 11, is accomplished by termination of current flow in coils  101  and  102  and the compression force of spring  108 .  
         [0060]    Besides the employment of two plungers for each lever  114 , the distance between rotational axis  115  and lever end  114 A secured to perforating wire  103  on one side of lever  114  is longer than the distance between rotational axis  115  and plunger  117  secured on the other side of lever  114 . This results in greater displacement of lever end  114 A relative to smaller displacement at plunger  117  upon rotational movement of lever  114  to its activated position. These lengths can be adjusted to achieve the proper displacement for penetration of the tip  103 A of the penetrating wire into the media  22 A. Since there are two plungers  116  and  117  for each lever affixed on opposite sides of rotational axis  115 , angular movement at lever end  114 A will be comparatively greater and, in combination with increased striking acceleration of perforating wire  103 .  
         [0061]    Scoring Head B  
         [0062]    Another suitable construction of a perforating or scoring head is shown with reference to FIG. 12, which shows the basic operation of the perforating head and the basic construction of parts of a perforating head  712 . The perforating head includes a plurality of perforating pins such as wires  742 , each coupled to an electromagnet  740  by a lever  738  pivotable about member  739  and held securely in position by spring member  737 . Lever  738 A is shown in a raised position biased upwardly by spring  741  thereby holding its attached perforating wire in a retracted position so long as its associated electromagnet is not activated. Electromagnets  740  are energized at appropriate times by a driving current applied through circuit board  743  and an electromagnetic attracting force generated thereby pulls lever  738  downwardly to cause its attached perforating wire  742  to project in the direction indicated by arrow C. Each wire  742  is preferably supported by one or more guides. Particularly, a tip  742 A of each wire  742  is supported by a front end guide member  744 , which is held in place by a nose  746  which serves as a guide holding member. A lubricant  750  is injected into and preferably stays in a portion of the scoring head located behind the front end guide  744 . Lubricant  750  may include, for example, naphthene oil, paraffin oil and olefin oil. When perforating wires  742  are energized, they project in the direction of the print sheet media  22 A. The print sheet  22 A is supported by compliant support  99 .  
         [0063]    Scoring Head C  
         [0064]    Another suitable design for a scoring head is now described with reference to FIG. 13. A plurality of perforating wires  330  disposed in a wire dot head in a generally radial arrangement. In FIG. 13 the view is from the side and only two perforating wires are shown. Front cover  331  has a guide hole  331   a , which guides the perforating wires  330 . An armature  332  composed of a magnetic substance is supported by a leaf spring  333 . Electromagnet  335  has a head coil  335 B wound around a core  335 A. A printed circuit board  336  has printed lines and connector terminals (not shown) that supply a current to the electromagnet  335 .  
         [0065]    The armature  332  is supported on a free end  333   a A side of the leaf spring  333 . A base portion  330 A of each of the perforating wires  330  is secured to an edge of the armature  332 . The pointed end  330 B of each of the perforating wires  330  is guided to a guide hole  331 A of the front cover  331  so that the perforating end  330 B is directed on the media (not shown) to penetrate the media when current is supplied to the electromagnet.  
         [0066]    Scoring Head D  
         [0067]    Reference is now made to FIG. 14 describing an electrodistortion or piezoelectric scoring head design. A scoring head  210  is comprises a cylindrical housing  212  and a plurality of actuators  214  arranged in the cylindrical housing  212 . Each actuator  214  is constituted of a base member  216 , a movable member  218 , and a piezoelectric device assembly  220 . A perforating wire or pin  222  is fixed to an end of the movable member  218 .  
         [0068]    A detailed structure of the actuator  214  will now be described with reference to FIG. 15. The movable member  218  is constituted of an armature  230  and a beam  232  brazed to the armature  230 . The perforating wire  222  is fixed to an end of the beam  232 . A displacement enlarging mechanism  224  is constituted of the movable member  218  and a pair of leaf springs  226  and  228  disposed in substantially parallel relationship to each other. The piezoelectric or electrodistortion device assembly  220  is constituted of a block  236  fixed to the base member  216 , a electrodistortion or piezoelectric device  234  fixed at its one end to the block  236 , a block  237  fixed to the other end of the piezoelectric device  234 , and a movable block  238  bonded to the block  237 . One end of the leaf spring  226  is brazed to the movable block  238  of the piezoelectric device assembly  220 , and the other end of the leaf spring  226  is brazed to the armature  230 . On the other hand, one end of the leaf spring  228  is brazed to the base member  216 , and the other end of the leaf spring  228  is brazed to the armature  230 . The piezoelectric device may have any suitable construction, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,201.  
         [0069]    Suitable Score Patterns from Perforating Pin Scoring Heads  
         [0070]    Reference is now made to FIG. 16. As indicated above, the function of the scoring head is to create regions of weakness or scores on the media. With the penetrating pin scoring heads of the invention, this may be by any suitable dot pattern. Usually the print head of an inkjet or impact dot-matrix type is constructed with a linear matrix of jet or impact pins with the direction of the matrix generally perpendicular to the movement of the carriage. However, it is contemplated to mount the printing head with the matrix mounted in line with carriage movement. In such a case, the media transport could move or pass the media under the head while print elements are applied.  
         [0071]    The scoring head, which preferably has a matrix of linearly mounted penetrating pins, can be mounted in a similar manner to that of the print head. The “image” or pattern of penetrations in the media is made to provide sufficient weakening of the media to create a score. Suitable exemplary patterns are shown in FIGS.  16 A- 16 D as follows: FIG. 16A is simple line of penetrations; FIG. 16B is a line of overlapping penetrations; FIG. 16C is a double line of penetrations; and FIG. 16D is a sparse or widely spaced score pattern that may be suitable for forming a fold line. Here some of the score pattern lines are shown with penetrations staggered (see FIG. 16C), and all the penetrations are shown as evenly spaced. But penetrations in line and/or randomly spaced are also contemplated.  
         [0072]    While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of this invention, and that the invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1