JPH024899B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a printing apparatus that uses continuous paper, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that is provided with a buffer mechanism that adjusts the length of the paper travel path.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, printing paper used in printing devices such as computers and the like is generally continuous paper having perforations formed at predetermined intervals. A schematic block diagram of such a printing device, such as an electrostatic printing device, is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is continuous paper 3
2 is an end detector that detects the near end of the continuous paper 3; 4 is a paper feed roller that causes the continuous paper 3 to run; 5 is a transfer unit that transfers a toner image corresponding to print information onto the continuous paper 3; A drum 6 is a fixing unit for fixing the transferred output information, and 7 is a stacker for folding and stacking the printed continuous paper 3.

Now, in such a configuration, the continuous paper 3 stored in the hopper 1 is moved by the paper feed roller 4 and comes into contact with the transfer drum 5 on which a latent image of output information from a computer or the like is formed. Therefore, the powder toner adhering to the electrostatic latent image on the drum 5 is transferred onto the continuous paper 3. Thereafter, the continuous paper 3 is fixed in a fixing section 6, and the continuous paper 3 that has been fixed is sequentially stacked on a stacker 7 while being folded.

By the way, when the near end of the continuous paper 3 stored in the hopper 1 is detected by the end detector 2 made of light or the like, the printing device enters a stop operation, but prior to this operation, the transfer drum 5 is The information written on the paper must be transferred to paper and fixed. And the stop position is paper feed roller 4
Paper feed control will not be possible unless it is before . As a means for this purpose, an end detector 2 detects the running path length of the paper.
If A is the near-end detection point detected by A, and D is the stopping point at the end of the paper, it may be >, but it may be < due to structural constraints. In this case, there is a problem that special control or mechanism is required for fixing.

Further, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional printing apparatus equipped with a paper connector, and reference numeral 8 designates the paper connector. However, even in this device, the stopping position of the paper 3 after near-end detection is D.
Since the end of the paper at point D does not reach the connection point D' of the paper connector 8, it is therefore impossible to connect the end of the paper to the start of a new paper (the paper is In order to make the connection, that is, to position the point D to the point D', the paper 3 must take the position shown by the dotted line. It should be noted that it is not possible to provide the paper connector 8 corresponding to the point D because the space becomes narrow and the connection work becomes difficult.

In addition, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end of the paper 3 is expressed as a point D in order to show the conveyance course of the paper 3, but if this point D is actually the end of the paper 3, There is no subsequent sheet 3.

The present invention was developed in view of the above problems, and focuses on extending the length of the paper travel path between the paper hopper and the printing section. Briefly stated, the present invention provides a printing apparatus that uses continuous paper, in which the running path length of the continuous paper is extended between a point A where a paper end detector is disposed and a point D where the end of the paper is stopped. A buffer mechanism is provided to determine the paper running path length AD from point A to point D, and the paper running path from toner transfer position B, where a toner image is transferred to the continuous paper, to fixing position C, where this toner image is fixed. The present invention is characterized in that the relationship with the length BC always satisfies AD>BC, and the stopping position D of the paper end is adjustable. Embodiments of the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the printing apparatus of the present invention is equipped with continuous paper, a transfer drum, a fixing section, a stacker, etc., as in FIG.
It is characterized by the addition of multiple buffer rollers. Therefore, parts other than the paper buffer roller are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, and explanations of these parts will be omitted here.
9 is a paper buffer roller.

A plurality of buffer rollers 9 characterizing the present invention
are the near-end detection point A and the stopping point D at the end of the paper in the paper travel path between the hopper 1 and the feed roller 4.
The length of the paper is longer than the length of the paper of the transfer drum B and the fixing unit 6C, that is, at a position >. And with this configuration,
The print data transferred to the continuous paper 3 after the near-end detection until the printing device stops is automatically fixed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 2. In such an embodiment, in FIG.
The paper connector 8 is characterized in that a paper buffer roller 9 is provided between the paper connector 8 and the paper connector 8. Therefore, the parts other than the paper buffer roller 9 are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2, and the explanation of these parts will be omitted here. That is, by attaching a plurality of paper buffer rollers 9 between the hopper 1 and the paper connector 8, the paper running path from the hopper 1 to the paper connector 7 is extended, and the near end of the continuous paper 3 is connected to the paper. The driving of the printing device enters a stop operation in response to a detection signal from the trailing edge detector 2, and when the transferred data finishes fixing, the trailing edge of the paper 3 travels to point D and stops. Then, when the terminal end is moved onto the paper connector 8 in order to connect a new paper to this terminal end, the terminal end of the paper 3 becomes like a dotted line, and the terminal end becomes like a dotted line.
Point D' is reached and connection with the starting end of the new sheet 3 can be easily made.

Although the buffer mechanism of this embodiment has been described as having two rollers, it is not limited to this, and may be composed of one or more rollers, and the roller may or may not rotate. I do not care. Further, the buffer mechanism is not limited to rollers, and may be provided by bending a metal plate into a semicircular shape.

As is clear from the above description, according to the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the length of the paper running path can be easily and easily adjusted, so that the apparatus can be expected to be downsized.
It can also be applied to other printing devices and copying machines that use continuous paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic configuration diagrams for explaining a conventional printing device, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic configuration diagrams for explaining an embodiment of a printing device according to the present invention. . In the figure, 1 is a hopper, 2 is a paper end detector, 3 is continuous paper, 4 is a paper feed roller, 5 is a transfer drum, 6 is a fixing section, 7 is a stacker, 8 is a paper connector, and 9 is a buffer roller. show.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In the process of transporting the continuous paper 3 stored in the hopper 1 to the stacker 7, a toner image is transferred and fixed onto the continuous paper 3 to perform printing, and the hopper 1
In a printing apparatus configured to stop the end of the continuous paper 3 at a position in front of the paper feed mechanism 4 based on the output of the paper end detector 2 when the continuous paper 3 runs out, the paper end detector 2 A paper buffer mechanism 9 for extending the feeding path length of the continuous paper 3 is provided between the installation position A and the stop position D at the paper end, and the paper buffering mechanism 9 extends the paper feeding path length AD from the A position to the D position.
and the paper transport path length BC from the transfer position B where the toner image is transferred to the continuous paper 3 to the fixing position C where the toner image is fixed are always AD/BC. A printing device characterized in that a terminal stop position D is configured to be adjustable.