JP5959411B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs a recording operation on cut sheets and continuous sheets.

  In a printer that performs a recording operation on a recording medium, when a cut sheet is to be recorded, a leading end of the cut sheet is detected, and a transport roller that transports the cut sheet based on the detected leading end position is used. A recording method in which the conveyance amount of the recording medium is adjusted by adjusting the rotation amount is suitable. In addition, in a printer that performs a recording operation on a recording medium, when continuous paper is to be recorded, the sprocket of the tractor is engaged with sprocket holes provided on both sides of the continuous paper, and the rotation amount of the sprocket is adjusted. Therefore, a recording method for adjusting the conveyance amount of the recording medium is suitable.

  Conventionally, the conveyance roller used for the recording operation on the cut paper is provided on the front side of the printer from the recording position, and the tractor used for the recording operation on the continuous paper is provided on the back side of the recording position. In some printers, the conveying means (conveying roller or tractor) for conveying the recording medium is switched according to the conditions.

  In such a printer, in order to prevent the recording medium from passing through the recording position from interfering with the tractor during the recording operation on the sheet paper, the sheet paper is prevented from being hindered. Have a paper course switching mechanism that switches the paper course between the recording operation and the recording operation for continuous paper (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

JP 2004-17376 A JP 2001-278484 A

  However, the conventional techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above have a problem that the paper course has to be switched according to the recording medium to be recorded. In addition, the provision of the paper course switching mechanism increases the number of parts constituting the printer, which increases the burden on the operator for assembling the printer.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of easily and reliably performing a recording operation regardless of the type of recording medium to be recorded in order to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a printer according to the present invention includes a recording unit that is provided in a conveyance path of a recording medium and performs a recording operation on the recording medium, and the recording unit in the conveyance path Provided on one side of the recording medium, the first conveyance unit conveying the cut sheet to the recording unit, and the other side of the recording unit in the conveyance path, and conveying the continuous sheet to the recording unit A position lower than the recording position by the recording unit with respect to the recording medium that is provided between the recording unit and the second conveying unit in the conveyance path and that has passed through the recording unit. And a third conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium from one side to the other side, and the second conveyance unit and the third conveyance unit in the conveyance path. Passes through the contact position with the transport section And a guide member for guiding the recording medium to a position higher than the contact position between the third transport section and the recording medium, and the recording medium is bent downward at the contact position in the transport path. After passing through the contact position, the guide member guides upward from the contact position.

  In the printer according to the present invention, in the above invention, the guide member includes a guide surface inclined so that the second transport unit side is higher than the third transport unit side, The recording medium that has passed through the contact position with the third transport unit is guided on the guide surface.

  In the printer according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the guide surface is continuous over the entire width direction of the recording medium.

  According to the printer of the present invention, the recording operation can be performed easily and reliably regardless of the type of recording medium to be recorded.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the printer of embodiment concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a printer main body. It is explanatory drawing shown about conveyance of a cut sheet. It is explanatory drawing (the 1) which shows an example of the conventional printer. It is explanatory drawing (the 2) which shows an example of the conventional printer.

  Exemplary embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Printer configuration)
First, the configuration of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 102 that houses a printer main body 101.

  The housing 102 is provided with an operation panel 103 and a power switch 104. The housing 102 includes an upper housing 105 provided with an operation panel 103 and a lower housing 106 provided with a power switch 104. The housing 102 is configured by combining an upper housing 105 and a lower housing 106 in the vertical direction. The housing 102 is provided with a paper supply / discharge tray 107. The paper supply / discharge tray 107 is provided on the front side of the printer 100.

  The housing 102 includes a door member 108. The door member 108 is connected to the housing 102 (upper housing 105) via a support shaft (not shown) provided below the door member 108. The door member 108 closes the inside of the housing 102 so as to be openable by rotating about the support shaft. The door member 108 opens the inside of the housing 102 when rotated to the front side about the support shaft.

  In a state where the door member 108 is rotated to the front side about the support shaft, various maintenance can be performed on a part of the printer main body 101 accommodated inside the housing 102. Specifically, in a state where the door member 108 is rotated to the front side about the support shaft and the inside of the housing 102 is opened, for example, the print head 109 provided in the printer main body 101 can be replaced. .

(Configuration of Printer Main Body 101)
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the printer main body 101. FIG. 2 shows a cross section in a state where the printer main body 101 housed inside the housing 102 is cut along the vertical direction. In FIG. 2, the printer main body 101 includes a conveyance path 201 that conveys a recording medium to be recorded. The conveyance path 201 communicates between a first paper supply / discharge port 202 provided on the front side of the printer main body 101 and a second paper supply / discharge port 203 provided on the back side of the printer main body 101.

  The printer 100 according to this embodiment can use cut paper and continuous paper as a recording medium. The cut sheet is a recording medium that has been cut into a predetermined size in advance, and specifically, can be realized by A4 size paper, B5 size paper, or the like. The continuous paper is a long recording medium, and includes, for example, a form wound in a roll shape along the length direction, and a form folded alternately for each predetermined length. The cut sheet paper and continuous paper are well-known techniques, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  A recording unit 204 that performs a recording operation on the recording medium is provided in the conveyance path 201. The recording unit 204 includes a print head 109 and a platen 205. The print head 109 is detachably attached to the printer main body 101. The recording unit 204 performs a recording operation by an impact method, for example.

  The print head (impact dot print head) 109 in the impact type recording unit 204 includes a plurality of wire pins, and has a structure in which tips of the plurality of wire pins are arranged in a matrix. The plurality of wire pins can protrude independently to the platen 205 side.

  In the recording operation by the impact type recording unit 204, a recording medium is interposed between the print head (impact dot print head) 109 and the platen 205. Then, a plurality of wire pins provided in the print head (impact dot print head) 109 are selectively struck on the platen 205, and small dots (dots) are struck on the recording medium. As the recording medium, for example, a so-called pressure-sensitive recording medium that develops color when a pressure is applied can be used.

  Alternatively, the recording unit 204 that uses the print head (impact dot print head) 109 interposes an ink ribbon between the print head (impact dot print head) 109 and the platen 205, and applies ink on the ink ribbon by the pressure of the wire pin. The recording operation may be realized by performing recording by transferring to a recording medium.

  The impact type recording unit 204 represents characters and the like by continuously ejecting small dots (dots). In the first embodiment, “printing” includes not only the case where characters are represented by small dots (dots) that have been launched, but also the case where characters other than characters such as graphics are represented. Since the print head (impact dot print head) 109 can be easily realized by using a known technique, description thereof is omitted.

  The recording unit 204 is not limited to the impact method, and may perform printing using a non-impact method. The non-impact method recording unit 204 performs printing using, for example, a thermal method, a thermal transfer method, an inkjet method, or the like. In this case, the recording unit 204 includes a printer head 109 corresponding to each printing method, instead of the impact dot print head. Since the heat-sensitive method, the thermal transfer method, and the ink jet method are known techniques, description thereof is omitted.

  In the conveyance path 201, a first roller pair 206 that realizes the first conveyance unit is provided on one side (front side) of the recording unit 204. The first roller pair 206 conveys the cut sheet supported by the paper supply / discharge tray 107 toward the recording unit 204.

  Both of the two rollers 207 and 208 constituting the first roller pair 206 can rotate around the axis centered on an axis parallel to a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Has been. In the first roller pair 206, one roller 207 is connected to a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. In the first roller pair 206, the other roller 208 is in contact with one roller 207 and rotates with the one roller 207 as the one roller 207 rotates.

  When a recording medium is interposed between one roller 207 and the other roller 208, the first roller pair 206 is located at a position where one roller 207 and the other roller 208 abut (hereinafter referred to as “first nip portion”). 209), the recording medium is sandwiched. The other roller 208 rotates due to friction with the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path 201 when one roller 207 rotates in this state.

  In the first roller pair 206, one roller 207 connected to the drive source is provided below the conveyance path 201, and the other roller 208 not connected to the drive source is provided above the conveyance path 201. ing. The first roller pair 206 is provided at a position where the first nip portion 209 is substantially horizontal with the recording position (the upper surface position of the platen 205) in the recording portion 204.

  In the conveyance path 201, a tractor 210 that realizes a second conveyance unit is provided on the other side (back side) of the recording unit 204. The tractor 210 conveys continuous paper to the recording unit 204. The tractor 210 includes a pin belt (not shown). The pin belt has an endless belt shape and is stretched around a pair of rollers (not shown). One roller of the roller pair constituting the tractor 210 is connected to a drive source such as a motor via a drive shaft 211.

  One roller of the pair of rollers constituting the tractor 210 rotates when a driving force of a driving source such as a motor is transmitted. The pin belt rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of one of the roller pairs constituting the tractor 210 as the roller rotates. Of the pair of rollers around which the pin belt is stretched, a roller that is not connected to a drive source such as a motor is rotated by the rotation of the pin belt accompanying the rotation of the roller.

  The pin belt is provided with a plurality of pins that protrude in the outer peripheral direction and mesh with conveyance holes (sprocket holes) provided on both sides of the continuous paper. The pin belt can convey the continuous paper to the recording unit 204 by rotating with the rotation of the roller in a state where the pin is inserted into the hole for transportation (sprocket hole).

  The tractor 210 includes a holding member 212 that faces the pin belt from above. The restraining member 212 is biased in a closing direction (a direction in contact with the pin belt) by a biasing force of a biasing member such as a spring (not shown). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the continuous paper conveyed by the pin belt from floating from the pin belt.

  In the conveyance path 201, a second roller pair 213 that realizes a third conveyance unit is provided between the recording unit 204 and the tractor 210. The second roller pair 213 conveys a continuous sheet from the back side to the recording unit 204 and also conveys a recording medium (cut sheet) that has passed through the recording unit 204 from the front side to the back side.

  Each of the two rollers 214 and 215 constituting the second roller pair 213 is rotatable around the axis centered about the axis parallel to the width direction of the recording medium. In the second roller pair 213, one roller 214 is connected to a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. In the second roller pair 213, the other roller 215 is in contact with one roller 214, and rotates together with the one roller 214 as the one roller 214 rotates.

  When the recording medium is interposed between the one roller 214 and the other roller 215, the second roller pair 213 is in a position where the one roller 214 and the other roller 215 contact each other (hereinafter referred to as “second nip portion”). )) At 216, the recording medium is sandwiched. The other roller 215 rotates due to friction with the recording medium conveyed through the conveyance path 201 when the one roller 214 rotates in this state.

  In the second roller pair 213, one roller 214 connected to the driving source is provided on the upper side of the conveying path 201, and the other roller 215 not connected to the driving source is provided on the lower side of the conveying path 201. ing. The second roller pair 213 is provided below the position where the second nip portion 216 is substantially horizontal with the recording position (the upper surface position of the platen 205) in the recording unit 204.

  In the conveyance path 201, a guide member 217 is provided between the tractor 210 and the second roller pair 213. The guide member 217 includes a guide surface 217a that is opposed to the conveyance path 201 from below and is inclined so that the rear side is higher than the front side. The guide surface 217a is continuous over the entire width direction of the recording medium.

  In this embodiment, the guide member 217 is integrated with the lower housing 106. The lower housing 106 can be formed by, for example, injection molding. By integrating the guide member 217 with the lower casing 106, the guide member 217 is provided to prevent the number of parts of the printer 100 from increasing, and the number of work steps for the assembly work of the printer 100 can be reduced, and assembly can be performed. It is possible to reduce the burden on the operator.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the conveyance of the cut sheet. FIG. 3 shows the shape that the cut sheet takes when the cut sheet is conveyed from the front side to the back side. In FIG. 3, the printer 100 according to this embodiment, when performing a recording operation on a cut sheet, transfers the cut sheet from the front side of the printer 100 to the transport path 201 via the first paper supply / discharge port 202. Feed paper.

  Then, the cut sheet fed to the conveyance path 201 is conveyed to the recording unit 204 by the first roller pair 206. The recording unit 204 performs the above-described recording operation on the recording medium when the recording medium passes the recording position 218 between the print head 109 and the platen 205.

  The cut sheet paper is conveyed toward the second nip portion 216 by the second roller pair 213 after passing the recording position 218 in the recording portion 204. Since the second nip portion 216 is provided below the recording position (upper surface position of the platen 205) 218 in the recording portion 204, the cut sheet paper is provided with the second nip portion 216. When passing, it is curved downward from the recording position in the recording unit 204 and further conveyed toward the back side.

  Since the guide member 217 is provided on the back side of the second nip portion 216, the cut sheet paper that has passed through the second nip portion 216 further moves to the back side along the guide surface 217a of the guide member 217. Be transported. The guide surface 217a of the guide member 217 is higher on the back side than the second nip portion 216, and higher on the tractor 210 side than on the second roller pair 213 side. It is inclined to become. For this reason, the recording medium that has passed through the second nip portion 216 by the second roller pair 213 is guided to a contact position between the second roller pair 213 and the recording medium, that is, a position higher than the second nip portion 216. The

  As described above, in the printer 100 of this embodiment, in the recording operation on the cut sheet, the recording medium (cut sheet) conveyed from the front side to the back side is transferred to the second roller pair 213. After being bent downward at the nip portion 216 of the second, the guide member 217 can be guided upward from the contact position before the tractor 210.

  Therefore, the position where the leading edge of the cut sheet conveyed from the front side to the back side in the conveyance path 201 hangs down due to its own weight can be set to the back side as compared with the case where the guide member 217 is not provided. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the leading edge of the cut sheet conveyed from the front side to the back side in the conveyance path 201 from dropping due to its own weight before the tractor 210 and interfering with the tractor 210. As a result, it is possible to prevent troubles in conveying the recording medium (cut sheet paper) due to the leading edge of the cut sheet paper interfering with the tractor 210.

  4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of a conventional printer. 4 and 5, the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 4 and 5, a conventional printer 400 includes roller pairs 401 and 402 on the front side and the back side of the recording unit 204, respectively.

  Each roller pair 401, 402 is composed of one roller 401a, 402a connected to a drive source such as a motor, and the other roller 401b, 402b rotated by the one roller 401a, 402a. It is configured. In the roller pair 401, 402, one of the rollers 401a, 402a connected to the drive source is provided below the conveyance path 201. In the roller pair 401, 402, the other roller 401b, 402b not connected to the drive source is provided on the upper side of the transport path 201.

The conveyance path 201 of the conventional printer 400 includes a paper course switching member 403 that swings with respect to the conveyance path. The paper course switching member 403 is selectively positioned, for example, manually at either the position shown in FIG. 4 or the position shown in FIG. The paper course switching member 403 is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 5 when the cut paper is transported from the front side to the back side during the recording operation on the cut paper. Further, the paper course switching member 403 is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 4 when the continuous paper is conveyed from the back side to the front side during the recording operation on the continuous paper.

  As described above, in the conventional printer 400, the position of the paper course switching member 403 must be switched according to the type of recording medium to be recorded, which is troublesome. Further, in the conventional printer 400, since the paper course switching member 403 is configured to be switchable, the number of parts constituting the printer 400 increases, and the burden on the work of assembling the printer 400 is large.

  On the other hand, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the leading edge of the cut sheet from interfering with the tractor 210 without using the paper course switching member 403. Regardless of the type of medium, the recording operation can be performed easily and reliably.

  As described above, the printer 100 according to this embodiment includes the recording unit 204, the first roller pair 206 serving as the first transport unit, the tractor 210 serving as the second transport unit, and the third transport. A second roller pair 213 as a portion and a guide member 217. The recording medium is curved downward in the second nip portion 216 in the conveyance path 201 and passes through the second nip portion 216. Thereafter, the guide member 217 guides the second nip portion 216 upward.

  According to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the recording medium conveyed from one side to the other side is bent downward at the second nip portion 216 that is a contact position with the second roller pair 213. After that, the guide member 217 can guide the second nip portion 216 upward before the tractor 210.

  Thus, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, in the printer 100 including the tractor 210 on the other side of the recording unit 204, the state of the printer 100 (conveyance path 201) is switched according to the recording medium. The leading edge of the recording medium, that is, the cut sheet paper conveyed from one side to the other side in the conveyance path 201 does not interfere with the tractor 210 without complicating the configuration in order to realize the complicated operation and the switching. This prevents the leading edge of the cut sheet from interfering with the tractor 210, thereby preventing troubles in conveying the recording medium.

  As described above, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the recording operation can be performed easily and reliably regardless of the type of the recording medium to be recorded.

  Further, the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a guide surface 217a in which the guide member 217 is inclined so that the tractor 210 side is higher than the second roller pair 213 side. The recording medium that has passed through the second nip portion 216, which is the contact position with the roller pair 213, is guided on a guide surface 217 a.

  According to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the leading end of the cut sheet paper can be reliably guided upward by being guided by the guide surface 217a. As a result, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the leading edge of the cut sheet paper is reliably prevented from interfering with the tractor 210, and the leading edge of the cut sheet paper is caused to interfere with the tractor 210. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the conveyance of the recording medium from being hindered.

  The printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the guide surface 217a is continuous over the entire width direction of the recording medium.

  According to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, by guiding the recording medium over the entire width direction of the recording medium, it is possible to more reliably guide the front end of the conveyed cut sheet upward. As a result, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the leading edge of the cut sheet paper is more reliably prevented from interfering with the tractor 210, and the leading edge of the cut sheet paper interferes with the tractor 210. Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the recording medium from being hindered.

  As described above, the printer according to the present invention is useful for a printer that performs a recording operation on a recording medium, and is particularly suitable for a printer that performs a recording operation on both cut paper and continuous paper. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printer 109 Print head 201 Conveyance path 204 Recording part 205 Platen 206 1st roller pair 210 Tractor 213 2nd roller pair 216 2nd nip part 217 Guide member 217a Guide surface

Claims (3)

A recording unit that is provided in the conveyance path of the recording medium and performs a recording operation on the recording medium;
A first conveyance unit that is provided on one side of the recording unit in the conveyance path and conveys a single-sheet recording medium among the recording media to the recording unit;
A second conveyance unit that is provided on the other side of the recording unit in the conveyance path and conveys a continuous recording medium among the recording mediums to the recording unit;
Provided between the recording unit and the second transport unit in the transport path, contact the recording medium of the single sheet that has passed through the recording unit at a position lower than the recording position by the recording unit, a third conveying unit that conveys the recording medium of the single-cut from the one side to the other side,
The single-sheet recording medium provided between the second transport unit and the third transport unit in the transport path and passing through the contact position with the third transport unit is transferred to the third transport unit. A guide member that guides to a position higher than the contact position between the recording section and the recording medium;
With
The one end of the second transport unit and the other end of the guide member are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval between them,
Transporting the continuous recording medium from the other side to the one side via the third transport unit by the guide member;
Wherein the recording medium of the single-cut sheet in the transport path, the third curving downwardly at the contact position by the conveying section of, after passing through the contact position, a position higher than the contact position by the guide member A printer that guides to a space that does not interfere with the second transport unit .   The guide member includes a guide surface that is inclined so that the second transport unit side is higher than the third transport unit side, and the recording medium passes through a contact position with the third transport unit. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is guided on the guide surface.   The printer according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface is continuous over the entire width direction of the recording medium.

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