JP5694828B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs printing on an endless recording medium.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a printer (for example, a label printer) that prints and outputs a loaded roll paper (an example of an endless recording medium) is known. Such a printer is provided with a holder mechanism for holding the roll paper. As an example, there is a printer that holds the roll paper between two opposing holding members. When setting the roll paper in such a holder mechanism, the user manually opens the two holding members, hooks the inner diameter (cavity) of the paper tube to the convex portion of each holding member, and adjusts the width of the roll paper to 2 A manual roll paper setting operation such as manually closing two holding members is required. Therefore, there is a problem for the user that setting the roll paper is troublesome or setting the roll paper takes time.

JP 2009-198115 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when setting a roll-shaped recording medium, a printer that can be easily set without the need to manually open and close a holder mechanism for holding the recording medium The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve this object, a printer according to the present invention includes a rib for preventing jamming due to back feed of a roll-shaped recording medium, and a holder mechanism for sandwiching the roll-shaped recording medium by two opposing holding members. The rib is configured to move downward from a predetermined arrangement position when pressed by a user, and move upward to return to the arrangement position when the pressing is stopped. The two holding members are configured to move away from each other in conjunction with the downward movement of the rib, and to move closer to each other in conjunction with the upward movement of the rib. And

  According to the present invention, when a roll-shaped recording medium is set, it is possible to easily set the holder mechanism for holding the recording medium without having to manually open and close the holder mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an example in which roll paper is set. It is a perspective view showing an example of composition for realizing interlocking of a holder mechanism and a center rib which a printer concerning one embodiment of the present invention has. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating an operation example of a holder mechanism included in a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a perspective view illustrating an example of roll paper. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating an example of a configuration of a lock mechanism and a center rib included in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the operation example of the holder mechanism which the printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention has. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and illustrating an example in which fanfold paper is set.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an example of the main configuration of the printer of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer of this embodiment includes a center rib 1, a holder mechanism 32, a platen roller 4, a thermal head 5, a take-up ink ribbon 6, a supply-side ink ribbon 7, a paper discharge port 8, and a fan fold. A paper insertion slot 9 is provided. Further, FIG. 1 shows an example in which an outer roll paper 10 (an example of a roll recording medium) is set in the printer.

  In FIG. 1, the roll paper 10 set in the holder mechanism 32 is conveyed on a predetermined conveyance path, and printing is performed by the thermal head 5 at a position carried by the platen roller 4. Ink used for printing is supplied to the thermal head 5 by the supply side ink ribbon 7 and the take-up side ink ribbon 6. The printed roll paper 10 is discharged from the paper discharge port 8 to the outside of the apparatus.

  Moreover, in FIG. 1, the center rib 1 exists in the predetermined arrangement position. When in this arrangement position, the center rib 1 functions to prevent jamming caused by the back feed of the roll paper 10.

  Next, in the printer shown in FIG. 1, a configuration for realizing the interlocking of the center rib 1 and the holder mechanism 32 so that the roll paper 10 can be easily set will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG.

  FIG. 2A is an external perspective view showing a configuration example of the holder mechanism 32. The holder mechanism 32 has two holding members 2L and 2R facing each other. Convex portions 13L and 13R are provided on the opposing surfaces of the holding members 2L and 2R, respectively. The convex portions 13L and 13R are inserted into the hollow portion 30 of the roll paper 10 shown in FIG. Moreover, although the convex parts 13L and 13R are in a state of projecting to the outside in FIG. 2A, when the holding members 2L and 2R come close to each other, they are housed inside the holding members 2L and 2R, respectively ( (See FIG. 3A described later).

  Further, notch portions 31L and 31R and spring support portions 3L and 3R are provided below the holding members 2L and 2R, respectively. The cutout portions 31L and 31R are spaces for allowing the rack 3R or 3L and the pinion 16 to pass through when the holding members 2L and 2R are in a state of being close to each other (see, for example, FIG. 3A described later). is there. The spring support portions 3L and 3R are portions that fix and support the spring 15 that connects the holding members 2L and 2R. The spring 15 expands when the holding members 2L and 2R move away from each other (movement in the direction indicated by the arrow e), and moves when the holding members 2L and 2R move closer to each other (in the arrow l). Movement in the direction shown) contracts. The movement in which the holding members 2L and 2R move away from each other can be referred to as “opening movement” because the holding members 2L and 2R open, whereas the movement in which the holding members 2L and 2R approach each other is Since the holding members 2L and 2R are closed, this can be referred to as “closing movement”.

  As an example of means for realizing the opening and closing movements of the holding members 2L and 2R, a rack and pinion is adopted in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the holding members 2L and 2R are provided with racks 14L and 14R. Further, a pinion 16 that meshes with the racks 14L and 14R is provided. In the illustration of FIG. 2A, the racks 14L and 14R and the pinion 16 are separated from each other, but in reality, the racks 14L and 14R and the pinion 16 are in contact with each other and are engaged with each other. Yes.

  A shaft 19 is fixedly provided below the pinion 16 as shown in FIG. A circular member 20 is fixed to the shaft 19 below the shaft 19. That is, the pinion 16, the shaft 19, and the circular member 20 are integrally rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows d and k.

  The circular member 20 is in contact with the worm gear 24. The worm gear 24 is provided on the shaft 23. The shaft 23 is supported at both ends by shaft support members 21 and 22 and is rotatable in the directions indicated by arrows c and j. The shaft 23 is provided with a pinion 25. The pinion 25 meshes with the rack 26. Coil springs 27 are provided above and below the rack 26, respectively. As the coil spring 27 contracts, the rack 26 moves downward (in the direction indicated by the arrow b). Further, after the contraction, the rack 26 moves upward (in the direction indicated by the arrow i) by the extension of the coil spring 27.

  A center rib 1 is disposed above the rack 26. In FIG. 2B, the center rib 1 and the coil spring 27 located immediately below the center rib 1 are illustrated as being separated from each other. However, in actuality, the bottom surface of the center rib 1 and the coil directly below the center rib 1 are illustrated. The upper surface of the spring 27 is in contact.

  An upper surface of the center rib 1 is a pressing portion 18 that is pressed by a user with a finger or the like. Further, the center rib 1 is provided with a concave portion 17 which is a part of a lock mechanism described later on the front surface thereof. The center rib 1 is provided with stoppers 12L and 12R protruding downward from the side surfaces. Further, members 33L and 33R having shapes capable of being caught by the stoppers 12L and 12R are provided at or near a predetermined arrangement position of the center rib 1 (not shown in FIG. 1). . The stoppers 12L and 12R have a hook shape, and when the center rib 1 moves upward (in the direction indicated by the arrow h) by extension of the coil spring 27, the stoppers 12L and 12R are caught by the members 33L and 33R and stopped. . In this way, the center rib 1 is prevented from going excessively upward and is stopped at a predetermined arrangement position.

  Next, an operation example when the roll paper 10 is set in the holder mechanism 32 in the configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  2A, when the roll paper 10 is not set in the holder mechanism 32 and the center rib 1 is at a predetermined arrangement position (the coil spring 27 is extended, and the stoppers 12L and 12R are Shows the state of the holding members 2L and 2R). This state can be referred to as “the initial state of the holding members 2L and 2R”.

  In FIG. 2A, the opposing surfaces of the holding members 2L and 2R are in contact with each other, and accordingly, 13L and 13R are housed in the holding members 2L and 2R, respectively. Further, the rack 14R of the holding member 2R is in a state of protruding to the rear (back side) of the holding member 2L through the notch 31L of the holding member 2L. Similarly, the rack 14L of the holding member 2L passes through the notch 31R of the holding member 2R and protrudes to the rear (back side) of the holding member 2R. Although not shown in FIG. 2A, the most contracted spring 15 is below the pinion 16 (the spring support portions 3L and 3R are not shown).

  A user who wants to set the roll paper 10 exposes the inside of the printer by opening a predetermined part of the printer, and presses the pressing portion 18 of the center rib 1 with a finger or the like in FIGS. The center rib 1 located at a predetermined arrangement position is pushed downward (in the direction indicated by arrow a). By this depression, the bottom surface of the center rib 1 depresses the coil spring 27 located immediately below it. Each of the coil springs 27 contracts and pushes the rack 26 downward (in the direction indicated by the arrow b).

  At this time, in FIG. 2B, the pinion 25 engaged with the rack 26 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow c. With this rotation, the shaft 23 and the worm gear 24 also rotate in the same direction. The circular member 20 receiving the rotational force of the worm gear 24 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow d. Thereby, the shaft 19 and the pinion 16 integrated with the circular member 20 also rotate in the same direction.

  When the pinion 16 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow d, in FIG. 2A, the racks 14L and 14R engaged with the pinion 16 move in directions away from each other (direction indicated by the arrow e). With this movement, the spring 15 expands.

  As described above, when the user performs an operation of pushing down the center rib 1 at a predetermined arrangement position, the holding members 2L and 2R move in a direction away from each other in conjunction with the downward movement of the center rib 1. An “opening exercise” is performed. In addition, the movement distance of the center rib 1 pushed down does not correspond with the movement distance of the holding members 2L and 2R. Adjustment is made by the worm gear 24 so that the moving distances of the holding members 2L and 2R are larger than the moving distance of the center rib 1 (the ratio of the moving distances is predetermined).

  FIG. 3B shows an example of a state in which the holding members 2L and 2R are moved away to some extent by the pressing of the center rib 1 by the user. When the user wants to set the roll paper 10 shown in FIG. 3D, the user presses the center rib 1 until the distance x between the holding members 2L and 2R becomes larger than the paper width y of the roll paper 10. When x> y, the hollow portions 30 at both ends of the roll paper 10 are respectively inserted into the convex portions 13L and 13R exposed to the outside along with the opening movement. At the time of this insertion, the user is in a state where the pressing unit 18 is pressed.

  When the user inserts the hollow portion 30 of the roll paper 10 into the convex portions 13L and 13R, the user releases the finger pressing the pressing portion 18 and stops pressing the center rib 1. As a result, the contracted coil spring 27 in FIG. 2B expands and pushes the center rib 1 upward (in the direction indicated by the arrow h). Then, as described above, the stoppers 12L and 12R are hooked on the 33R and 33L, respectively, and the upward movement of the center rib 1 is stopped and returned to the predetermined arrangement position.

  Further, due to the extension of the coil spring 27, the rack 26 also moves upward (in the direction indicated by the arrow i). As a result, the pinion 25 engaged with the rack 26 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow j. With this rotation, the shaft 23 and the worm gear 24 also rotate in the same direction. The circular member 20 that receives the rotational force of the worm gear 24 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow k. Thereby, the shaft 19 and the pinion 16 integrated with the circular member 20 also rotate in the same direction.

  When the pinion 16 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow k, in FIG. 2A, the racks 14L and 14R meshing with the pinion 16 move in directions toward each other (direction indicated by the arrow 1). With this movement, the spring 15 contracts.

  As described above, when the user stops the operation of pushing down the center rib 1 at the predetermined arrangement position, the holding members 2L and 2R move in a direction approaching each other in conjunction with the upward movement of the center rib 1. “Closed movement” is performed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3C, the holding members 2 </ b> L and 2 </ b> R press and hold both ends of the roll paper 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the holding members 2L and 2R are in contact with each other in the initial state, but a predetermined distance may be provided between the holding members 2L and 2R. However, if a predetermined distance exists between the holding members 2L and 2R in the initial state, the spring does not shrink when a roll paper having a paper width equal to or shorter than the distance is set, and therefore the holding member 2L And the clamping force against the roll paper by 2R does not work, and there is a possibility that stable clamping cannot be performed. Therefore, in order to deal with roll paper having various paper widths, as shown in FIG. 3A, the holding members 2L and 2R are in contact with each other in the initial state, and the contraction force of the spring (holding members 2L and 2R). It is preferable that the tightening force on the roll paper is increased.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the holder mechanism 32 opens in conjunction with the downward movement of the center rib 1, and the holder mechanism is interlocked with the upward movement of the center rib 1. Since the mechanism 32 is closed, a manual operation for opening and closing the holder mechanism, which is conventionally performed when the user sets the roll paper in the holder mechanism (the user touches and holds the holding member with his / her hand). There is no need to perform operations such as closing or closing. Therefore, the roll paper can be easily set for the user, and the time required for setting the roll paper can be shortened.

  Next, an example in which fanfold paper is used instead of roll paper in the printer of this embodiment will be described below.

  Conventionally, when fanfold paper (an example of an endless recording medium) is used instead of roll paper, the center rib protrudes on the transport path of the fanfold paper and the transport is hindered by the user. In advance, it was necessary to change to another center rib (for example, a shape having a low height). Therefore, there is a problem for the user that the replacement of the center rib is troublesome or that the replacement takes time. Therefore, the printer according to the present embodiment has a configuration that does not require replacement of the center rib even when fanfold paper is used.

  The user performs an operation of pushing down the center rib 1 when using the fanfold paper. That is, the user presses down the pressing portion 18 of the center rib 1 located at a predetermined arrangement position and pushes down the center rib 1 in the same manner as when the roll paper is set. In conjunction with this depression, the holding members 2L and 2R in the state of FIG. 3A are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow e by the mechanism described above.

  Here, although not shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a convex portion 28 is in contact with the front lower side of the center rib 1 as shown in FIG. The projection 28 is in a state in which a force is applied in the direction indicated by the arrow f due to the extension of the spring 29 and the front surface of the center rib 1 is pressed. When the center rib 1 moves downward (in the direction indicated by arrow a) by being pushed down by the user, the convex portion 28 is fitted into the concave portion 17 by the extension of the spring 29 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the center rib 1 will be in the locked state. The locked center rib 1 does not move upward or downward. Therefore, the position where the convex portion 28 is provided is the limit position (lowermost end) at which the center rib 1 can move downward.

  When the center rib 1 is thus locked, the distance z between the holding members 2L and 2R becomes the longest distance z (however, the racks 14L and 14R are in a state where at least a part of the racks 14L and 14R is engaged with the pinion 16). . Thus, the holder mechanism 32 is also locked while maintaining the distance z. This distance z is assumed to be larger than the paper width of the fanfold paper to be conveyed. Therefore, the fanfold paper inserted from the fanfold paper insertion slot 9 can pass between the holding members 2L and 2R without being blocked by the holding members 2L and 2R during conveyance.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the center rib 1 in a locked state at the lowermost end exists at a position that does not hinder the conveyance of the fanfold paper.

  As described above, the center rib 1 itself and the holder mechanism 32 are fixed at positions that do not hinder the conveyance of the fanfold paper by pushing down the center rib 1 to the lowest end and locking it. Therefore, fanfold paper can be used without having to replace the center rib 1.

  In addition, after using the fanfold paper, when releasing the lock, for example, the user operates a lever (not shown) connected to the spring 29. By this operation, in FIG. 4B, the spring 29 contracts in the direction indicated by the arrow g, and the convex portion 28 at the tip thereof is pulled out from the concave portion 17. As a result, the center rib 1 that has received the extension of the coil spring 27 moves upward (in the direction indicated by the arrow h), and returns to a predetermined arrangement position by the action of the stoppers 12L and 12R described above.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the fanfold paper is used, since it has a configuration that does not require replacement of the center rib, it is possible to eliminate complexity and time associated with replacement of the center rib. .

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, it is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center rib 2R, 2L Holding member 3R, 3L Spring support part 4 Platen roller 5 Thermal head 6 Winding side ink ribbon 7 Supply side ink ribbon 8 Paper discharge port 9 Fanfold paper insertion port 10 Roll paper 11 Fanfold paper 12R, 12L stopper 13R, 13L convex part 14R, 14L rack 15 spring 16 pinion 17 concave part 18 pressing part 19 shaft 20 circular member 21, 22 shaft support member 23 shaft 24 worm gear 25 pinion 26 rack 27 coil spring 28 convex part 29 spring 30 cavity part 31R, 31L Notch 32 Holder mechanism 33R, 33L Member

Claims (4)

A printer comprising a rib for preventing jamming due to back feed of a roll-shaped recording medium, and a holder mechanism for sandwiching the roll-shaped recording medium by two opposing holding members,
The ribs,
While moving from a predetermined position by being made as push downward, the pressing is configured to return to the position moves upward by being stopped,
The two holding members are
While moving away from each other in conjunction with the downward movement of the ribs, moving closer to each other in conjunction with the upward movement of the ribs ,
When the rib moves downward and reaches a predetermined lower end, the lock mechanism is provided so that the rib is locked so as not to move upward.
The locked rib is in a position that does not hinder the conveyance of the fanfold paper, and the rib is locked at the lowermost end so that the two holding members are furthest away from each other to prevent the conveyance of the fanfold paper. A printer characterized by no position . The two holding members are
When the rib is in said position, according to claim 1 Symbol placement printer, wherein the opposing surfaces to each other is in a state of contact. The interlocking movement of the ribs move the two holding members of the printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is realized by the ribs and the two rack and pinion provided on the holding member. The rib is
When moving upward, the printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a stop for stopping the movement in the position.

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