JP2003165252A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer in which a manual cutter member can coexist with a separation mechanism of a cutter and a sheet feed roller pair in a limited branch region. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 1 comprises a separation mechanism 30 having a first sheet passage P10 for slip sheet and a second sheet passage P2 for roll sheet and arranged to feed a recording sheet by means of a drive roller 21 and a driven roller 22 and to cut the recording sheet by means of a fixed cutter 24 and a movable cutter 25 with the driven roller 22 and the fixed cutter 24 being arranged integrally separably in a branch region defined by the first sheet passage P10 and the second sheet passage P20 branched in the different downstream side directions, and a cutter member 40 comprising a part 41 for guiding a slip sheet on the first sheet passage P1 and a manual cutter 42 facing the second sheet passage P2 constituted integrally. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer that prints both slip paper and roll paper that pass through different paper paths with a single print head, and more particularly to a paper path for slip paper and a roll paper on the paper discharge side. The present invention relates to a technique for arranging various mechanisms associated with the use of roll paper in a branch area where the paper path branches.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, slip paper such as sheet paper or check paper, or roll paper around which a series of recording papers are wound,
Printers capable of printing with one print head are known. In such a printer, a first paper path for slip paper and a second paper path for roll paper are prepared separately, but these first and second paper paths are Each of the first and second paper introduction paths in different directions passes through a common paper path on the print head, and branches into first and second paper discharge paths in different directions.

By the way, the roll paper has peculiar properties such as a weak paper strain and the need to cut a series of recording papers as compared with the slip paper.
On the second paper discharge path, a paper feed roller pair including a driving roller and a driven roller and an automatic cutter device including a fixed blade and a movable blade are provided. When the roll paper is loaded into the printer, the drive roller and the driven roller are separated from each other in the second paper discharge path, and
The fixed blade and the movable blade were separated.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional printer, from the viewpoint of downsizing of the printer and the like, in the space portion occupied between the first paper discharge path and the second paper discharge path, Although it is preferable to make the defined branching area small, in such a small branching area, either the driving roller or the driven roller is arranged in the branching area and separated from the other,
It was technically difficult to arrange either the fixed blade or the movable blade in the branch area and separate it from the other, because complicated mechanisms accompanied by movements were concentrated in a narrow area.

Moreover, in the case of adding a cutter member for manually cutting the recording paper protruding when the roll paper is loaded, it is necessary to add other parts densely packed in the narrowed branch area. However, there was a technical problem of higher difficulty.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a manual cutter member in a narrowed branch region and a cutter device and a cutter device. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can coexist with a separation mechanism for a pair of paper feed rollers.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, provides a first paper path through which slip paper passes when the slip paper is fed through a print head, and a roll paper. A second paper path through which the recording paper passes when the recording paper pulled out from the paper is fed through the print head, and the recording paper on the second paper path is sandwiched by a driving roller and a driven roller. In the printer configured to feed the paper in the first state, the recording sheet on the second sheet path is cut in a state where the fixed blade and the movable blade intersect, A separation mechanism in which the driven roller and the fixed blade are integrally separable from the drive roller and the movable blade, respectively, in a branch region defined between the two paper paths branched in different downstream directions; It can work with the separation mechanism A blade portion opposite the first slip on the paper path in the paper guide section and the second paper path to paper guides is the printer being characterized in that a cutter member that is integrally formed.

According to the present invention, the first paper discharge path and the second paper discharge path
Even if you narrow the branch area that occupies the paper discharge path of
In the branch area, the driven roller and the fixed blade are integrally separated by the separating mechanism, and the manual cutter member is integrally linked with the separating mechanism to reduce the size of the cutter member. It can coexist with the separation mechanism in the segmented branch region. Further, according to the present invention,
In addition to the original function of cutting the roll paper, the cutter member has another function of guiding the slip paper on the first paper path. In, various functions having different purposes can be exerted.

In the present invention, it is also effective that the cutter member is rotatable around a support shaft on which the separating mechanism is supported. According to the present invention, by rotating the cutter member on the same axis as the support shaft of the separating mechanism, the moving ranges of both the cutter member and the separating mechanism are substantially matched, and the cutter member is housed in the branching region together with the separating mechanism. be able to.

In the present invention, the cutter member is arranged such that the paper guide portion covers the portion on the first paper path side of the separating mechanism, and the blade portion covers the spindle between the paper guide portion. It is also effective to be placed in. According to the present invention, by disposing the cutter member so that the paper guide portion and the blade portion cover the outer shape of the separation mechanism, the integrated volume of the cutter member and the separation mechanism occupied in the branch region is not increased so much. In addition, the cutter member can be arranged in the branch area.

In the present invention, the separating mechanism is constructed such that the driven roller and the fixed blade are biased in the directions of approaching the driving roller and the movable blade, respectively, while the cutter member is separated from the supporting shaft. It is also effective that the mechanism is biased in the same direction as the biasing direction. According to the present invention, by urging the cutter member in the same direction as the urging direction of the separation mechanism, the cutter member can be interlocked with the separation mechanism that moves during separation.

In the present invention, the fixed blade is provided in the separating mechanism.
It is also effective to be arranged at a position that can be substantially orthogonal to the second paper path. According to the present invention, even when the angle of the second paper path with respect to the first paper path changes due to the narrowing of the branching region, the fixed blade in the separating mechanism is substantially orthogonal to the second paper path. By arranging in such a manner that the fixed blade can retain its original cutting function.

The present invention also provides a continuous sheet (roll paper).
In a printer having a print head that prints on a cut sheet (slip paper) and a branching body that is provided at a position downstream of the print head and branches the continuous sheet and the cut sheet, the branching body is a continuous sheet. A fixed blade unit of an automatic cutter for cutting a sheet and a manual cutter unit for cutting a continuous sheet are detachably provided independently of each other.
It is characterized in that it has a character shape, a cutter blade is formed at an end portion of one surface thereof, and a part of a conveyance path along which the cut sheet is conveyed, at the other surface. As a result, in addition to the automatic cutter for continuous sheets, the manual cutter can be arranged in a space-saving manner. In addition, a part of the manual cutter also serves as a conveyance path for a single-cut sheet, which allows efficient arrangement. Furthermore, the auto cutter and manual cutter can be attached and detached independently, so they are easy to maintain.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a right side view showing a schematic configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the printer, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a left side view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the printer. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is
For printing on slip paper (for example, sheet or check paper) 2 sent along the first paper path P1 and recording paper pulled out from the roll paper 3 along the second paper path P2 Then, it has one print head 4 commonly used for both the slip paper 2 and the roll paper 3. The print head 4 ejects ink droplets by an inkjet method and is configured to reciprocate in the paper width direction by being fixed on a carriage 7 supported by a carriage shaft (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, a platen mechanism 5 is provided at a portion facing the print head 4. The platen mechanism 5 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the print head 4 to form a print paper path P0 commonly used for both the slip paper 2 and the roll paper 3. ing. The platen mechanism 5 is configured to rotate about a support shaft 6 in a direction away from the print head 4 in conjunction with a roll paper cover (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, a paper guide member 10 for the slip paper 2 is provided below the print head 4. The paper guide member 10 has a pair of upper paper guide 11 and lower paper guide 12 arranged at a predetermined interval, and is a paper path for guiding the slip paper 2 inserted from the paper insertion opening 9 to the print paper path P0. Are formed.

The first paper path P1 for the slip paper 2 connects the paper path in the paper guide member 10 and the print paper path P0 and is curved, but is downstream from the print paper path P0. For the first paper discharge path P10 of
It is formed so as to extend in the same plane as the printing paper path P0.

On the first paper path P1, although not shown, a magnetic head for reading MICR characters recorded on a check paper, a front-back paper path or a back-up paper path by forward / reverse rotation of a paper feed roller. A paper reversing mechanism and the like for selecting one of the paths and reversing the check sheet is provided. Further, a paper discharge port for discharging the slip paper 2 is provided at the downstream side portion of the first paper path.

As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, a roll paper holder 13 capable of accommodating the roll paper 3 is provided below the platen mechanism 5. A first paper feed roller pair 14 for feeding the recording paper pulled out from the roll paper in the roll paper holder 13 is provided at the bottom of the platen mechanism 5, and the first paper feed roller pair 14 is provided. Comprises a first drive roller 15 and a first driven roller 16 in contact therewith.

Here, in the second paper path P2 for the roll paper 3, the recording paper pulled out from the roll paper 3 is the first paper path P2.
It is configured to be nipped and conveyed by the driving roller 15 and the first driven roller 16 and pass through the print paper path P0, but the second paper discharge path P2 downstream from the print paper path P0.
Regarding 0, the platen mechanism 5 side is inclined by a predetermined branch angle α with respect to the first paper discharge path P10.

From the viewpoint of, for example, downsizing of the printer 1, the branch angle α is narrowed in the branch area defined by the space occupied between the first paper discharge path P10 and the second paper discharge path P20. And the arrangement of the separating mechanism 30 described later, the minimum value is set.

The first driven roller 16 is pivotally supported by a part of the platen mechanism 5 so that the first driven roller 16 is separated from the first driving roller 15 in cooperation with the platen mechanism 5 and opens the second paper path P2. It is supposed to do.

At a portion above the platen mechanism 5, the recording paper on the second paper discharge path P20 is placed on the second drive roller 2
The second paper feed roller pair 20 for feeding the paper while sandwiched between the first and second driven rollers 22 and the recording paper on the second paper discharge path P20 are crossed by the fixed blade 24 and the movable blade 25. Automatic cutter device 2 for cutting in the cut state
3 is provided, but in the case of the present embodiment, the second driven roller 22 and the fixed blade 24 are included in the separation mechanism 30 that integrally configures these.

The separating mechanism 30 has a supporting member 31 which is large enough to fit in the branch area. This support member 3
1 is a bearing portion 31a on a support shaft 32 arranged in the branch region.
The fixed blade 24 is a member that is rotatable around the support shaft 32 by being pivotally supported by, and supports the fixed blade 24 in a portion that is bent in a substantially L-shape, and the second driven portion in the lower portion thereof. It is configured to support the roller 22.

The separating mechanism 30 is provided with a torsion coil spring (not shown) mounted on the support shaft 32,
The second driven roller 22 comes into contact with the second drive roller 21 by rotating in the direction of arrow A, and the fixed blade 24 moves the movable blade 2.
It is arranged at a position where it can intersect with 5. On the other hand, the separation mechanism 30 rotates in the direction of arrow B in conjunction with the roll paper cover to separate the second driven roller 22 from the second drive roller 21 and the fixed blade 24 from the movable blade 25. It is like this.

Here, in the support member 31 in the state where the second driven roller 22 is in contact with the second driving roller 21, the fixed blade 24 has the second direction in the direction in which the blade portion crosses the movable blade 25. It is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the paper discharge path P20.

The first drive roller 21 is rotatably supported by the same supporting shaft 6 as the supporting shaft 6 on which the platen mechanism 5 is rotatably supported, and the movable blade 25 is movable in the printing area in the paper width direction. While being configured to slide on the fixed blade 24, it is arranged at a position where it does not come into contact with the fixed blade 24 that separates outside the printing area.

In the case of the present embodiment, a manual cutter member 40 is supported on the same support shaft 32 as the support shaft 32 on which the separation mechanism 30 is supported. The cutter member 40 includes a paper guide portion 41 for guiding the slip paper 2 on the first paper path P1 and a blade portion 43 having a manual cutter blade (blade portion) 42 at the tip thereof. It is integrally formed so as to have a substantially L-shaped cross section.

Here, from the viewpoint that the cutter member 40 does not make the volume occupied in the branch region as large as possible with respect to the volume occupied in the branch region of the separating mechanism 30, the paper guide portion 41 has the first portion for the separating mechanism 30. Is formed to have a size that covers the entire side surface of the paper path P1 side, and the blade portion 43 includes the bearing portion 3 of the separating mechanism 30.
The manual cutter blade 42 is formed in such a size that it slightly protrudes while covering 1a.

Then, such a cutter member 40 is biased in the same arrow A direction as the biasing direction of the separating mechanism 30 by another torsion coil spring (not shown) mounted on the support shaft 32. , In the branch area, is integrated with the separating mechanism 30 and is arranged at a position substantially along the outer shape of the separating mechanism 30 on the first paper path P1 side.
In this case, the paper guide portion 41 is arranged toward the first paper discharge path P10 side, and the blade portion 43 is arranged so that the manual cutter blade 42 is directed toward the second paper discharge path P20 side. .

A paper ejection port (not shown) for ejecting the recording paper pulled out from the roll paper 3 is provided at the downstream side portion of the second paper ejection path P20.

FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the separating mechanism and the cutter member of the present embodiment in an open state, and FIG. 5 is a left side view showing the separating mechanism and the cutter member in a closed state. In the present embodiment having such a configuration, when the roll paper cover is opened when the roll paper 3 is loaded into the printer 1, the platen mechanism 5 is separated from the print head 4 in conjunction with the roll paper cover, and the platen mechanism is opened. 5
The first driven roller 16 separates from the first drive roller 15 in accordance with the movement of the second roller, and the separation mechanism 30 rotates in the direction of arrow B in conjunction with the roll paper cover, so that the second driven roller 22 moves. The fixed blade 24 moves away from the second drive roller 21 and the position where the fixed blade 24 can cross the movable blade 25 (see FIG. 4). As a result, the entire second paper path P2 is opened, so that the recording paper is pulled out from the roll paper 3 via the second paper path P2.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the separating mechanism 3
0 rotates within a range that does not protrude from the branch area,
Along with this, the cutter member 40 is integrated with the separating mechanism 30 by the urging force of the torsion coil spring and is separated from the separating mechanism 3.
It rotates within the moving range of 0. Then, when the roll paper cover is closed, the platen mechanism 5 and the first driven roller 16 operate in the opposite manner to the case where the roll paper cover is opened, and the separation mechanism 30 is integrated with the cutter member 40. While still in the state, it is rotated in the direction of arrow A by the urging force of the torsion coil spring. As a result, the second paper path P2
Is closed, and the recording paper pulled out from the roll paper 3 is arranged on such a second paper path P2.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
The part of the recording paper that sticks out is pulled toward the manual cutter blade 42 of the cutter member 40, and is cut while pressing against the manual cutter blade 42 to align the positions of the leading ends of the recording paper.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
With the narrowing of the branch area occupying between the first paper discharge path P10 and the second paper discharge path P20, the separation mechanism 30 causes the second paper feed roller pair 20 and the cutter in the branch area. After the device 23 is integrally separated, the manual cutter member 40 is attached to the separating mechanism 3.
Since the cutter member 40 is integrated with 0, the separating mechanism 3 is provided in the narrowed branch region.
It can coexist with 0.

Particularly, in the case of the present embodiment, the cutter member 4
0 has an original function of cutting the roll paper 3 and another function of guiding the slip paper 2 on the first paper path P1. Therefore, the branch is performed with the minimum required number of parts. Various functions having different purposes can be exhibited in the region.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the cutter member 40 is biased in the same direction as the biasing direction of the separating mechanism 30, the separating mechanism accompanied by movement when separating the cutter member 40. Can be linked with.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the cutter member 40 is formed so that the paper guide portion 41 and the blade portion 43 cover the outer shape of the separating mechanism 30, the cutter member 40 and the separating member occupying the branch area are separated. The cutter member 40 can be placed in the bifurcation region without significantly increasing the integral volume of the mechanism 30.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the cutter member 40 is rotated on the same axis as the support shaft 32 of the separating mechanism 30, the cutter member 40 and the separating mechanism 30 are rotated.
The cutter members 40 can be housed in the branch area together with the separating mechanism 30 by making the moving ranges of the two substantially coincide with each other.

Particularly, in the case of the present embodiment, the cutter member 4
Regarding the connection between 0 and the separation mechanism 30, a method of rotatably fitting the both to the same support shaft 32 is adopted without adopting a method of fixing both with a screw or the like. 40 and the separating mechanism 30 can be moved integrally, and can also be moved independently of the separating mechanism 30 in order to exert the unique function of the cutter member 40. On the other hand, the cutter member 40 can be moved independently. When the manual cutter blade 42 of 40 is damaged, the separating mechanism 30
Since only the cutter member 40 needs to be removed from the support shaft 32 while keeping the above, the maintainability of the cutter member 40 can be improved.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even when the branch angle α of the second paper discharge path P20 changes due to the narrowing of the branch area, the fixed blade 24 is separated in the separating mechanism 30. By arranging the fixed blade 24 so as to be substantially orthogonal to the second paper discharge path P20, the original cutting function of the fixed blade 24 can be maintained.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first
Even if the branch area occupying between the paper discharge path and the second paper discharge path is narrowed, the driven roller and the fixed blade are integrally separated by the separation mechanism in the branch area, By integrally interlocking the manual cutter member with the separation mechanism, such a cutter member can coexist with the separation mechanism in the narrowed branch region.

Further, according to the present invention, the cutter member has an original function of cutting the roll paper and another function of guiding the slip paper on the first paper path. With the minimum required number of parts, various functions with different purposes can be performed in the branch area.

Further, according to the present invention, by rotating the cutter member on the same axis as the support shaft of the separating mechanism, the moving ranges of both the cutter member and the separating mechanism are made to substantially coincide with each other so that the cutter member together with the separating mechanism. It can fit in the branch area.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, by disposing the cutter member so that the paper guide portion and the blade portion cover the outer shape of the separating mechanism, the cutter member and the separating mechanism occupying the branch area are integrated. The cutter member can be arranged in the bifurcation region without making the volume too large.

In addition, according to the present invention, by biasing the cutter member in the same direction as the biasing direction of the separating mechanism, the cutter member can be interlocked with the separating mechanism which moves during separation. .

Further, according to the present invention, even when the angle of the second paper path with respect to the first paper path changes due to the narrowing of the branch area, the fixed blade is moved to the second position in the separating mechanism.
By arranging the fixed blade so as to be substantially orthogonal to the paper path, the original cutting function of the fixed blade can be maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a right side view showing a schematic configuration of a printer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a left side view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a left side view showing an opened state of the separating mechanism and the cutter member of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a left side view showing a state in which the separation mechanism and the cutter member are closed.

[Explanation of symbols]

P1 ... First paper path P2 ... second paper path 4 ... Print head 21 ... Second drive roller 22 ... Second driven roller 24 ... Fixed blade 25 ... Movable blade 30 ... Separation mechanism 40 ... Cutter member 41 ... Paper guide section 42 ... Manual cutter blade (blade)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first paper path through which slip paper passes when the slip paper is fed through the print head, and a recording paper pulled out from roll paper is fed through the print head. A second paper path through which the recording paper passes, and the recording paper on the second paper path is configured to be fed while being sandwiched by a driving roller and a driven roller. In a printer configured to cut a recording sheet on a second paper path in a state where a fixed blade and a movable blade cross each other, while the first paper path and the second paper path are branched in different downstream directions. In the branch area defined by, the driven roller and the fixed blade, respectively, a separation mechanism configured to be separable integrally from the drive roller and the movable blade,
A cutter member that can be interlocked with the separating mechanism and that is integrally configured with a paper guide portion that guides the slip paper on the first paper path and a blade portion that faces the second paper path. A printer characterized by that. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the cutter member is configured to be rotatable about a support shaft on which the separation mechanism is supported. 3. The cutter member is arranged such that the paper guide portion covers a portion of the separating mechanism on the side of the first paper path, and the blade portion supports the paper guide portion between the cutter member and the paper guide portion. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the printer is arranged so as to cover the shaft. 4. The separation mechanism is configured such that the driven roller and the fixed blade are biased about the support shaft in a direction approaching the drive roller and the movable blade, respectively, while the separation mechanism is provided. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the cutter member is configured to be urged in the same direction as the urging direction of the separating mechanism. 5. The separating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fixed blade is arranged at a position that can be substantially orthogonal to the second paper path. Printer. 6. A printer having a print head for printing on a continuous sheet and a single-cut sheet, and a branching body provided at a position downstream of the print head, for branching the continuous sheet and the single-cut sheet, The branch body includes a fixed blade unit of an auto cutter for cutting the continuous sheet, and a manual cutter unit for cutting the continuous sheet, which are independently detachable, and the manual cutter unit Is substantially L-shaped, a cutter blade is formed on one end of the surface, and the other surface forms a part of a conveyance path along which the cut sheet is conveyed. .