JP6623601B2 - Printing device and medium storage unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a print medium, and a medium storage unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium such as a long tape that is housed in a roll shape and a sheet that is housed in a stacked state. Among such printing apparatuses, there is a printing apparatus including a pair of guide portions that guide a print medium to be conveyed at both ends in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction.

  For example, a pair of L-shaped plate-shaped members provided on the upper surface of a platen located below the ink-jet head that ejects ink are provided. A guide printing device has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Further, there has been proposed a printing apparatus including means for moving a print head in the width direction of a tape-shaped member according to the width of a tape-shaped member accommodated in a tape cartridge (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2014-46461 JP-A-11-309907

FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a printing apparatus according to the reference technology.
As shown in FIG. 12, the inkjet head 51 performs printing on the print medium M by discharging ink droplets 51a downward. Below the ink jet head 51, an ink receiver 52 that accommodates ink droplets 51a ejected in a state where the printing medium M is not at the printing position is arranged.

  The print medium M is located on the upstream side of the ink jet head 51 and the ink receiver 52 in the transport direction which is rightward in FIG. 12 (on the side of the storage unit that stores the print medium M before printing), and the lower drive rollers 53 facing each other. And by the upper driven roller 54. On the downstream side (opposite to the storage unit) of the ink jet head 51 and the ink receiver 52 in the transport direction, the print medium M is a lower drive roller 55 and an upper driven roller 56 which is a spur roller facing each other. Transported by

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the print medium M spreads in a plane without curling, even when the both ends in the width direction of the print medium M are not guided, the distance between the inkjet head 51 and the print medium M is within a desired range. Easy to secure. However, as shown in FIG. 13, in the print medium M-1 in which the front end side, which is the downstream side in the transport direction, is curled upward, the front end of the print medium M-1 may come into contact with the inkjet head 51. When the leading end of the print medium M-1 comes into contact with the inkjet head 51, unintended ink droplets 51a adhere to the print medium M-1, thereby deteriorating printing accuracy. Also, a paper jam occurs in the print medium M-1.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, in the print medium M-2 in which the front end side is curled downward, the front end of the print medium M-2 can enter the inside of the ink receiver 52. When the leading end of the print medium M-2 enters the inside of the ink receiver 52, a paper jam occurs in the print medium M-2. In addition, when the distance between the inkjet head 51 and the print medium M increases, the printing accuracy deteriorates. Note that the printing accuracy also deteriorates due to the ink accumulated in the ink receiver 52 adhering to the print medium M-2.

  The curl of the print media M-1 and M-2 as described above is particularly likely to occur in a print medium accommodated in a rolled state. An example of the print medium accommodated in a state wound in a roll is a long tape used in a label printer or the like.

  As described above, the contact of the print medium M-1 with the inkjet head 51 or the entry of the print medium M-2 into the ink receiver 52 depends on the width direction of the print media M-1 and M-2. For example, the print media M-1 and M-2 can be prevented at both ends by guiding the print media M-1 and M-2 on the front surface (print surface) and the back surface.

  By the way, a printing apparatus can generally perform printing not only on a print medium having a fixed width but also on a plurality of types of print media having different widths. In order to guide each of a plurality of print media having different widths, a pair of guide portions capable of adjusting the interval in the width direction of the print media is required.

  However, when the user himself / herself performs an operation for setting the interval between the pair of guide portions, if the operation is erroneously performed and the guide width is made too large with respect to the width of the print medium, the pair of guide portions will not guide the print medium. A conveyance failure such as skew of the print medium occurs. Also, if the guide width is made smaller than or approximately equal to the width of the print medium by mistake, the print medium comes into contact with portions other than the guide surfaces of the pair of guide portions, causing a paper jam or the like. Transport failure occurs.

  An object of the present invention is to suppress the occurrence of print medium conveyance failure in a printing apparatus that performs printing on a plurality of types of print media having different widths, and a medium storage unit having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium to be stored. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a medium storage unit which can perform the printing.

In one aspect, a printing apparatus includes a printing unit including a print head that prints on a print medium, and a guide unit that guides the print medium at one end in a width direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the print medium, and includes a guide position in the width direction. Comprises a guide portion that moves, the guide portion guides the print medium at a position where at least a portion in the width direction overlaps with a position where printing is performed on the print medium by the print head, the guide portion includes: The guide position in the width direction moves in conjunction with the mounting operation of the medium accommodating portion having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium to be accommodated in the apparatus .

  Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress occurrence of print medium conveyance failure in a printing apparatus that prints on a plurality of types of print media having different widths, and in a medium storage unit having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium to be stored. it can.

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a part of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing a fixed guide part and a movable guide part in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first tape cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a second tape cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view (part 1) for explaining the operation of the connecting member and the movable guide portion when the first tape cartridge is mounted in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining the operation of the connecting member and the movable guide portion when the second tape cartridge is mounted in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining the operation of the connecting member and the movable guide portion when the first tape cartridge is mounted in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a view (part 2) for explaining the operation of the connecting member and the movable guide section when the second tape cartridge is mounted in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the connecting member when the first tape cartridge is mounted in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the connecting member when the second tape cartridge is mounted in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining a state of the connecting member and the movable guide portion when the third tape cartridge is mounted in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining the operation of the connecting member and the movable guide portion when the fourth tape cartridge is mounted in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view (part 2) for explaining a state of the connecting member and the movable guide portion when the third tape cartridge is mounted in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a view (part 2) for explaining the operation of the connecting member and the movable guide portion when the fourth tape cartridge is mounted in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a state of a connecting member when a third tape cartridge is mounted in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an operation of a connecting member when a fourth tape cartridge is mounted in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a reference technology. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state in which a leading end side of a print medium is curled upward in a printing apparatus according to a reference technology. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the leading end side of a print medium is curled downward in a printing apparatus according to a reference technology.

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus and a medium storage unit according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 is, for example, a label printer including an apparatus housing 2, an input unit 3, a display unit 4, an opening / closing lid 5, and a cartridge storage unit 6. The printing device does not require an operation on the input unit 3 or a display on the display unit 4, for example, receives from an external device (for example, a computer) print pattern data of a desired drawing pattern to be printed. It may be a printing device.

On the upper surface of the device housing 2, an input unit 3, a display unit 4, and an opening / closing lid 5 are arranged.
The input unit 3 includes an input key for inputting a desired drawing pattern including characters, pictures, and the like, a print key for instructing start of printing, a cursor key for moving a cursor on a display screen of the display unit 4, setting of a print mode, Any or all of various control keys for performing various setting processes are provided. Note that the above input keys include character input keys for inputting character data.

The display unit 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, and displays an image including characters corresponding to the input from the input unit 3, a selection menu for various settings, messages about various processes, and the like.
The opening / closing lid 5 is disposed above the cartridge storage unit 6 so as to open and close the cartridge storage unit 6.

  The first tape cartridge 100 shown in FIG. 5A or the second tape cartridge 200 shown in FIG. 5B is removably stored in the cartridge storage section 6. The first tape cartridge 100 and the second tape cartridge 200 are examples of a medium storage unit.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes the input unit 3 and the display unit 4, the control unit 5, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 6, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 7, a display unit driving circuit 8, and a head driving unit. A circuit 9, an inkjet head 10, which is an example of an ink ejection unit, a transport motor drive circuit 11, a transport motor 12, a transport roller 13, a cutter motor drive circuit 14, a cutter motor 15, and a cut mechanism 16, which is an example of a cutting unit. Is provided.

  The printing apparatus 1 prints a desired drawing pattern on a printing medium M (M1, M2), which is, for example, a long tape, based on print data, and then cuts the printing medium M to obtain a desired drawing pattern. To create a printed matter. For example, a long tape is cut out as a tape piece (printed matter) after a desired drawing pattern including arbitrary characters, pictures, and the like is printed. Further, the long tape includes, for example, a base material having an adhesive layer, and a release paper that is peelably attached to the base material so as to cover the adhesive layer. However, the printing apparatus 1 may be an apparatus that performs printing on another print medium such as a sheet that is stored in a stacked state.

  The control unit 5 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which responds to a key operation signal from the input unit 3 or a system program stored in the ROM 6 in advance, a control program stored in a memory card, an external A control program or the like read from the device is automatically started, and the operation of each part of the circuit is controlled using the RAM 7 as a work memory.

  The control unit 5 includes an input unit 3, a ROM 6, a RAM 7, a display unit driving circuit 8 for driving the display unit 4, a head driving circuit 9 for driving the inkjet head 10, and a driving unit for driving the transport roller 13. A transport motor drive circuit 11 that drives the transport motor 12 and a cutter motor drive circuit 14 that drives a cutter motor 15 that operates the cutting mechanism 16 are connected.

  The ROM 6 is a program for causing the ink jet head 10 to print a desired drawing pattern on the print medium M by the head driving circuit 9, original data and size information of characters, symbols, pictograms and the like included in the drawing pattern to be printed, and printing. Stores fonts and the like. The ROM 6 also functions as a storage medium in which a program readable by the control unit 5 is stored.

  The RAM 7 serves as an input data memory for storing information for designating characters, symbols, pictograms, sizes thereof, character intervals, and the like included in a desired drawing pattern to be printed, and print information such as the size of a printed matter to be created. Function. The RAM 7 is generated based on the input print information and functions as a print data memory for storing print pattern data representing a desired drawing pattern. The RAM 7 is displayed on the display unit 4 to display the desired drawing pattern. Also functions as a display data memory or the like that stores display pattern data representing the following. Further, the RAM 7 includes a register, a counter, and the like for temporarily storing data necessary for a printing process or the like.

  The head drive circuit 9 controls the inkjet head 10 based on the print pattern data stored in the RAM 7. The inkjet head 10 prints a desired drawing pattern on the print medium M by discharging ink according to this control.

  The transport motor drive circuit 11 controls the transport roller 13 by controlling the stepping motor based on the print pattern data stored in the RAM 7, and controls a desired speed during printing on the print medium M by the inkjet head 10. To transport the print medium M.

  The cutter motor drive circuit 14 controls the operation of the cutting mechanism 16. The cutting mechanism 16 separates the created printed matter from the print medium M by cutting the print medium M in the width direction. Note that when the print medium M has a plurality of layers (for example, a base material, release paper, etc.), the cut mechanism 16 may cut only some of the layers (for example, the base material) in the width direction. Good.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a partial configuration of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
In the first tape cartridge 100 shown in FIG. 3, the above-described print medium M1 is accommodated in a state wound in a roll shape.

  The transport rollers 13-1 and 13-2 as drive rollers and the transport rollers 18-1 and 18-2 as driven rollers are arranged to face each other. The transport rollers 13-1, 13-2, 18-1, and 18-2 transport the print medium M1 stored in the first tape cartridge 100 toward the inkjet head 10 (transport direction D1).

The connecting member 17 has an arm portion 17a, a pressed portion 17b, and an engaging projection 17c.
The arm portion 17a has, for example, a cylindrical rod shape, and is arranged in parallel with the transport direction D1 of the print medium M1 (M) (hereinafter, the “transport direction D1 of the print medium M” is simply referred to as “transport direction D1”). ing.

  The pressed portion 17b protrudes in a rectangular plate shape in the radial direction of the arm portion 17a from the end of the arm portion 17a on the upstream side in the transport direction D1 (on the side of the medium container such as the first cartridge 100). The pressed portion 17b is pressed by a pressing portion 111 provided on the housing 110 of the first cartridge 100. When the pressed portion 17b is pressed by the pressing portion 111 in this manner, the connecting member 17 rotates integrally.

  The engagement projection 17c protrudes in a rectangular plate shape in the radial direction of the arm 17a from the end of the arm 17a on the downstream side (the side opposite to the first cartridge 100) in the transport direction D1. The engagement protrusion 17c is engaged with an engagement recess 35a of the connection block 35 of the movable guide 30 described later. When the connecting member 17 rotates in a state in which the engaging projections 17c and the engaging recesses 35a are engaged, the movable guide unit 30 is moved in the width direction D2 (hereinafter, referred to as a width direction) of the print medium M1 (M) orthogonal to the transport direction D1. , "The width direction D2 of the print medium M" is simply referred to as "the width direction D2."

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the fixed guide section 20 and the movable guide section 30 in the first embodiment.
The fixed guide section 20 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of a first guide section, and guides the print medium M at one end in the width direction D2. The movable guide portion 30 is an example of a second guide portion whose guide position in the width direction D2 is variable, and guides the print medium M at the other end in the width direction D2. Note that the first guide section may be a movable guide section in which the guide position in the width direction D2 is variable similarly to the movable guide section 30 instead of the fixed guide section 20.

  It is desirable that the fixed guide unit 20 and the movable guide unit 30 guide the print medium M at least at a position where printing is performed by the inkjet head 10. In the example of FIG. 3, the fixed guide portion 20 and the movable guide portion 30 guide the print medium M from the upstream side in the transport direction D1 with respect to the inkjet head 10 to the downstream side in the transport direction D1 with respect to the inkjet head 10. I do.

The fixed guide portion 20 includes a rectangular plate 21, an L-shaped plate 22, an ink receiver 23, upper positioning space forming portions 24 and 25, and lower positioning space forming portions 26 and 27.
The rectangular plate 21 has a rectangular plate shape whose thickness direction is parallel to the width direction D2. The upper surface 21b of the rectangular plate 21 guides the bottom surface, which is the back surface of the print medium M. The end of the upper surface 21b on the upstream side in the transport direction D1 is a curved surface portion 21b-1 that is rounded.

  The rectangular plate 21 is provided with a side guide protruding portion 21a that protrudes from the curved surface portion 21b-1 to the side opposite to the movable guide portion 30 in the width direction D2 of the print medium M, and then protrudes upward. The upwardly projecting portion of the side guide protrusion 21a has a rectangular plate shape whose thickness direction is parallel to the width direction D2, and guides the side surface of the print medium M in the width direction D2.

  The L-shaped plate 22 is, for example, a sheet metal having an L-shaped plate shape. In the L-shaped plate 22, an upper surface guide portion 22a extending in the transport direction D1 and the width direction D2, and a side guide portion 22b extending in the transport direction D1 and a vertical direction (an example of a direction orthogonal to the transport direction D1 and the width direction D). Is vertical. The portion of the fixed guide portion 20 other than the L-shaped plate 22 is made of, for example, a resin material. However, the material of each part of the fixed guide part 20 is not particularly limited.

  The upper surface guide portion 22a is located above the upper surface 21b of the rectangular plate 21. The upper surface guide portion 22a guides the upper surface (print surface) which is the front surface of the print medium M on the bottom surface. The upper surface guide portion 22a is provided with a receiving port side protrusion 22a-1 that projects obliquely upward toward the upstream side in the transport direction D1. Due to the receiving port side protruding portion 22a-1 and the above-described curved surface portion 21b-1 of the upper surface 21b, the receiving port of the printing medium M entering the fixed guide section 20 becomes larger in the vertical direction as it approaches the upstream side in the transport direction D1. Open.

The side guide portion 22b is disposed along a surface of the rectangular plate 21 opposite to the movable guide portion 30 in the width direction D2.
The ink receiver 23 is provided to protrude from the surface of the rectangular plate 21 on the movable guide portion 30 side in the width direction D2 toward the movable guide portion 30 side. The ink receiver 23 stores ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 10 in a state where the print medium M is not at the print position.

The upper positioning space forming portions 24 and 25 each have an L-shaped plate shape that protrudes from the upper end of the ink receiver 23 to the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction D1, and then bends downward.
The lower positioning space forming portions 26 and 27 each have an L-shaped plate shape that protrudes from the lower end of the ink receiver 23 to the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction D1, and then bends upward.

The upper positioning space forming part 24 and the lower positioning space forming part 26 on the upstream side in the transport direction D1 form a space in which a positioning plate 33 of the movable guide part 30 described later is inserted.
The upper positioning space forming part 25 and the lower positioning space forming part 27 on the downstream side in the transport direction D1 form a space into which a positioning plate 34 of the movable guide part 30 described later is inserted.

The movable guide portion 30 includes a rectangular plate 31, an L-shaped plate 32, positioning plates 33 and 34, and a connection block 35.
The rectangular plate 31 has a shape symmetrical in the width direction D2 with respect to the upper half of the rectangular plate 21 of the fixed guide portion 20. The L-shaped plate 32 has a shape symmetrical to the L-shaped plate 22 of the fixed guide portion 20 in the width direction D2.

  Therefore, the rectangular plate 31 has a side guide protruding portion 31a and an upper surface 31b provided with a curved surface portion 31b-1. In addition, the L-shaped plate 32 has an upper surface guide portion 32a provided with the receiving port side protrusion 32a-1 and a side surface guide portion 32b.

  The positioning plates 33 and 34 have a rectangular plate shape whose thickness direction is parallel to the transport direction D1, and protrude from the surface of the rectangular plate 31 on the fixed guide portion 20 side in the width direction D2 toward the fixed guide portion 20 side. Is provided. The positioning plate 33 on the upstream side in the transport direction D1 is inserted into the space formed by the upper positioning space forming part 24 and the lower positioning space forming part 26 as described above. The positioning plate 34 on the downstream side in the transport direction D1 is inserted into the space formed by the upper positioning space forming part 25 and the lower positioning space forming part 27 as described above.

  The positioning plates 33 and 34 are formed with an L-shaped notch 33a which is hollowed out vertically from the upper surface and then bent and hollowed out in the width direction D2 toward the rectangular plate 31 side. The L-shaped notch does not appear because it is hidden by the rectangular plate 31). The L-shaped notch 33a is formed above the portion of the positioning plates 33 and 34 that is hollowed out in the width direction D2 of the L-shaped notch 33a, thereby forming an arm-shaped portion. This arm-shaped portion can be slightly bent in the vertical direction by exhibiting an arm shape. A sliding protrusion 33b (not shown because the sliding protrusion of the positioning plate 34 is also hidden by the rectangular plate 31) is provided so as to protrude upward from the free end of the arm-shaped portion. Each of the sliding protrusions 33b of the positioning plates 33, 34 slides along the upper positioning space forming portions 24, 25 so as to suppress rattling when the movable guide portion 30 moves in the width direction D2.

  The connection block portion 35 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that protrudes from the surface of the rectangular plate 31 opposite to the fixed guide portion 20 in the width direction D2 to the opposite side to the fixed guide portion 20. An engagement recess 35a that engages with the engagement protrusion 17c of the connection member 17 is provided on the bottom surface of the connection block 35. The engagement recess 35a is formed over the entirety of the connection block 35 in the transport direction D1.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the first tape cartridge 100 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the second tape cartridge 200 according to the first embodiment.

  The first tape cartridge 100 contains, for example, a print medium M1 having a width of 15 mm. Further, the second tape cartridge 200 accommodates, for example, a print medium M2 having a width of 18 mm. The pressing portion 111 provided on the first tape cartridge 100 and the pressing portion 211 provided on the second tape cartridge 200 are used for the printing medium accommodated in the tape cartridges 100 and 200 provided with the pressing portions 111 and 211 respectively. It has a shape corresponding to the width of M1 and M2. It can be said that the shapes of the first tape cartridge 100 and the second tape cartridge 200 have a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium M to be accommodated, because at least the shapes of the pressing portions 111 and 211 are different from each other. Note that the shape of the first tape cartridge 100 and the shape of the second tape cartridge 200 may be changed, if necessary, since the shape of the first tape cartridge 100 and the second tape cartridge 200 may be different if necessary. May be common.

  The housings 110 and 210 of the first tape cartridge 100 and the second tape cartridge 200 have a substantially disk shape whose central axis is parallel to the width direction D2. Pressing portions 111 and 211 are provided at lower ends of the housings 110 and 210. The pressing portions 111 and 211 are provided so as to protrude downward from the lower ends of the housings 110 and 210. For example, when the pressing portions 111 and 211 are provided in a concave portion provided at the lower end of the housings 110 and 210, There may be a mode that does not protrude from 110 and 210.

  The pressing portions 111 and 211 protrude downward from the lower ends of the housings 110 and 210 so as to have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, inclined surfaces 111a and 211a that contact the pressed portions 17b of the connecting member 17 are provided on the lower end side. Has a wedge shape. The inclined surface 111a of the first tape cartridge 100 and the inclined surface 111a of the second tape cartridge 200 intersect with each other so that the angle formed by the inclined surface 111a and the inclined surface 211a of the second tape cartridge 200 intersect each other. Of these, the inclined surface 211a of the second tape cartridge 200 is provided on the movable guide portion 30 side in the width direction D2 of the pressing portion 211. The inclined surface 211a of the second tape cartridge 200 is provided on the fixed guide portion 20 side in the width direction D2.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when the first tape cartridge 100 and the second tape cartridge 200 are mounted will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B. . Here, the print medium M has two widths: a print medium M1 (for example, 15 mm) contained in the first tape cartridge 100 and a print medium M2 (for example, 18 mm) contained in the second tape cartridge 200. However, when the print medium M having three or more widths is used, the medium accommodating portion (the first tape cartridge 100) is moved so that the movable guide portion 30 is moved to three or more positions. Alternatively, a configuration in which the pressed portion 17b is pressed by the second tape cartridge 200) may be employed.

FIGS. 6A and 7A are diagrams for explaining the operation of the connecting member 17 and the movable guide portion 30 when the first tape cartridge 100 is mounted in the first embodiment.
FIGS. 6B and 7B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the connecting member 17 and the movable guide unit 30 when the second tape cartridge 200 is mounted in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a view for explaining the operation of the connecting member 17 when the first tape cartridge 100 is mounted in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8B is a diagram for explaining the operation of the connecting member 17 when the second tape cartridge 200 is mounted in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A, 7A, and 8A, when the first tape cartridge 100 is mounted downward after the second tape cartridge 200 is removed from the printing apparatus 1, the first tape cartridge 100 The pressing portion 111 of the pressing member 100 is pressed at a second position P2 (a position corresponding to the width of the print medium M2 accommodated in the second tape cartridge 200, that is, a position at which the print medium M2 is guided). The portion 17b is pressed to a first position P1 (a position corresponding to the width of the print medium M1 stored in the first tape cartridge 100, that is, a position when the print medium M1 is guided).

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 7A, when the pressed portion 17b is pressed by the pressing portion 111, the connecting member 17 rotates (counterclockwise in FIGS. 6A and 7A). With the rotation of the coupling member 17, the engagement protrusion 17c also rotates, so that the movable guide portion 30 that engages with the engagement protrusion 17c in the engagement recess 35a becomes a fixed guide portion in the width direction D2. 20 to the first position P1. The guide width of the print medium M1 after the movement in this way, that is, the side guide protrusions 31a and 32b of the movable guide portion 30 at the first position P1, and the side guide protrusions of the fixed guide portion 20. The space between the portion 21a and the side guide portion 22b (see FIG. 4) has a length L1 as shown in FIG. 7A. The length L1 is set to a value slightly larger than the width so as to correspond to the width of the print medium M1 stored in the first tape cartridge 100.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6B, 7B, and 8B, when the second tape cartridge 200 is mounted downward after the first tape cartridge 100 is removed from the printing device 1, The pressing portion 211 of the tape cartridge 200 presses the pressed portion 17b at the first position P1 to the second position P2.

  As shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B, when the pressed portion 17b is pressed by the pressing portion 211, the connecting member 17 rotates (clockwise in FIGS. 6B and 7B). With the rotation of the coupling member 17, the engagement protrusion 17c also rotates, so that the movable guide portion 30 that engages with the engagement protrusion 17c in the engagement recess 35a becomes a fixed guide portion in the width direction D2. 20 to the second position P <b> 2, away from the position 20. The guide width of the print medium M2 after the movement, that is, the side guide protrusions 31a and 32b of the movable guide portion 30 at the second position P2, and the side guide protrusions of the fixed guide portion 20. The distance between the portion 21a and the side guide portion 22b (see FIG. 4) is a length L2 larger than the length L1 as shown in FIG. 7B. The length L2 is set to a value slightly larger than the width so as to correspond to the width of the print medium M2 accommodated in the second tape cartridge 200.

  Note that the first position P1 and the second position P2 of the pressed portion 17b are not only positions corresponding to the width of the print medium M as described above, but also other tape cartridges (the first tape cartridge 100 or the first tape cartridge 100). This can be said to be a shielding position that blocks the mounting path of the second tape cartridge 200).

  In the first embodiment described above, the fixed guide section 20, which is an example of the first guide section, guides the print medium M on one end side in the width direction D2 orthogonal to the transport direction D1. A movable guide section 30 which is an example of a second guide section having a variable guide position in the width direction D2 guides the print medium M on the other end side in the width direction D2. As described above, the guide portions (the fixed guide portion 20 and the movable guide portion 30) guide the print medium M at one end in the width direction D2 orthogonal to the transport direction D1, and the guide position in the width direction D2 moves. . Further, the guide unit is linked to the mounting operation of the first tape cartridge 100 or the second tape cartridge 200, which is an example of a medium storage unit having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium M to be stored, to the own apparatus. Thus, the guide position in the width direction D2 moves. Further, in the first embodiment, the pressed portion 17b is moved to a position corresponding to the width of the print medium M by an operation of mounting the first tape cartridge 100 or the second tape cartridge 200 on the own device. Further, the guide portion moves in the width direction D2 in conjunction with the movement of the pressed portion 17b by the pressing. In the first embodiment, the first tape cartridge 100 or the second tape cartridge 200, which is an example of the medium storage unit, has a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium M to be stored. In addition, the first tape cartridge 100 or the second tape cartridge 200 guides the print medium M at one end in the width direction D2 orthogonal to the transport direction D1, and moves the guide position in the width direction D2. The pressing unit 111 moves the guide position in the width direction D2 of the guide unit in conjunction with the mounting operation of the tape cartridges 100 and 200 to the printing apparatus 1 including the units (the fixed guide unit 20 and the movable guide unit 30). 211 is provided.

  Therefore, when the width of the print medium M to be printed in the printing apparatus 1 is not constant, the guide width of the print medium M by the fixed guide unit 20 and the movable guide unit 30 is changed to the first tape cartridge 100 or the second tape cartridge. It can be adjusted by the mounting operation of the 200. Here, in a printing apparatus in which the user himself / herself performs an operation for setting the guide width of the print medium M, if the operation is erroneously performed and the guide width is made too large with respect to the width of the print medium M, the fixed guide unit 20 and the movable guide The unit 30 does not guide the print medium M, and a conveyance failure such as skew of the print medium M occurs. Further, if the guide width is made smaller than the width of the print medium M or made substantially the same size by mistake, the print medium M comes into contact with portions other than the guide surfaces of the fixed guide portion 20 and the movable guide portion 30. As a result, a conveyance failure such as a paper jam occurs. However, in the first embodiment, the guide width of the print medium M by the fixed guide unit 20 and the movable guide unit 30 can be adjusted by the mounting operation of the first tape cartridge 100 or the second tape cartridge 200. It is possible to set a desired guide width in which a conveyance failure such as skew or a paper jam as described above does not easily occur. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, in the printing apparatus 1 that performs printing on a plurality of types of print media M (M1, M2) having different widths, it is possible to suppress occurrence of conveyance failure of the print media M.

  In the first embodiment, the pressed portion 17 b is provided on the housing 110 or 210 of the first tape cartridge 100 or the second tape cartridge 200 and has a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium M. Pressed by the parts 111 and 211. Therefore, the pressed portion 17b can be moved to a desired position only by setting the shapes or positions of the pressing portions 111 and 211, so that the guide width of the print medium M can be adjusted with a simple configuration.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the arm portion 17a is connected to the movable guide portion 30 via, for example, the engaging convex portion 17c and the engaging concave portion 35a. The arm portion 17a moves integrally with the pressed portion 17b by being provided integrally with the pressed portion 17b, for example. Further, the arm portion 17a moves the movable guide portion 30 in the width direction D2 in conjunction with the operation of pressing the pressed portion 17b. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the guide position of the movable guide unit 30 can be adjusted by the mounting operation of the first tape cartridge 100 and the second tape cartridge 200 located at a distance from the movable guide unit 30.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the inkjet head 10, which is an example of an ink ejection unit, performs printing on the print medium M by ejecting ink. The fixed guide unit 20 and the movable guide unit 30 guide the print medium M at least at a position where printing is performed by the inkjet head 10. Therefore, for example, when the print medium M is curled due to a curl caused by being accommodated in a roll state or being conveyed in a curved state on a conveyance path, the print medium is curled. M can be prevented from coming into contact with the ink jet head 10 or entering the ink receiver 23. When the print medium M comes into contact with the inkjet head 10, unintended ink droplets adhere to the print medium M, so that the printing accuracy is deteriorated or a paper jam occurs in the print medium M. Further, when the print medium M enters the ink receiver 23, a paper jam occurs in the print medium M, or the printing accuracy deteriorates due to the ink accumulated in the ink receiver 23 adhering to the print medium M. Note that the printing accuracy is particularly deteriorated by increasing the distance between the inkjet head 10 and the print medium M.

  In the first embodiment, the fixed guide unit 20 and the movable guide unit 30 guide the front surface and the back surface of the print medium M at least at a position where printing is performed by the inkjet head 10. Therefore, it is possible to further prevent the print medium M from curling and coming into contact with the ink jet head 10 or entering the ink receiver 23.

<Second embodiment>
In the present second embodiment, a point that a connecting member 41 is disposed in place of the connecting member 17, a point that a compression spring 42 is newly disposed as an elastic body which is an example of an urging mechanism, and The tape cartridge 300 and the fourth tape cartridge 400 are different from the first embodiment in that the shapes of the tape cartridge 300 and the fourth tape cartridge 400 are different from those of the first tape cartridge 100 and the second tape cartridge 200. It can be similar to the form. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the description of the same items as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIGS. 9A and 10A are diagrams for explaining the state of the connecting member 41 and the movable guide unit 30 when the third tape cartridge 300 is mounted in the second embodiment.
FIGS. 9B and 10B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the connecting member 41 and the movable guide unit 30 when the fourth tape cartridge 400 is mounted in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a diagram for explaining a state of the connecting member 41 when the third tape cartridge 300 is mounted in the second embodiment.
FIG. 11B is a diagram for explaining the operation of the connecting member 41 when the fourth tape cartridge 400 is mounted in the second embodiment.

  The connection member 41 has an arm portion 41a, a pressed portion 41b, and an engagement protrusion 41c, similarly to the connection member 17 in the first embodiment. The connecting member 41 differs from the connecting member 17 (pressed portion 17b) only in the shape of the pressed portion 41b.

  The pressed portion 41b protrudes from the arm 41a at the upstream end of the arm 41a in the transport direction D1. The base end portion 41b-1 on the arm portion 41a side of the pressed portion 41b projects substantially in the radial direction of the arm portion 41a. The distal end portion 41b-2 located on the distal end side, which is the free end side of the pressed portion 41b, from the proximal end portion 41b-1 bends and extends from the distal end of the proximal end portion 41b-1, and has a rectangular plate shape.

  The pressed portion 41b is moved to a third position P3 (a printing position accommodated in the third tape cartridge 300), which is a shielding position at which the transport path of the fourth tape cartridge 400 is blocked by the compression spring 42 at the distal end portion 41b-2. The print medium M3 is urged toward a position corresponding to the width of the medium M3, that is, a position at which the print medium M3 is guided. In addition, in order to urge the pressed portion 41b toward the shielding position, an elastic body other than the compression spring 42 or another urging mechanism such as a driving unit that drives the pressed portion 41b may be used.

  The pressed portion 41b at the third position P3 is opposed to the urging force of the compression spring 42 by the housing 410 of the fourth tape cartridge 400 mounted downward as shown in FIGS. 9B and 11B. To the fourth position P4 (a position corresponding to the width of the print medium M4 accommodated in the fourth tape cartridge 400, that is, a position when the print medium M4 is guided). On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 11A, the pressed portion 41b at the third position P3 is not pressed by the housing 310 of the third tape cartridge 300 mounted downward. When the pressed portion 41b is pressed by the housing 410 of the fourth tape cartridge 400, the connecting member 41 rotates as shown in FIGS. 9B, 10B, and 11B (see FIGS. 9B, 10B, and 10B). Clockwise in 11B).

  With the rotation of the coupling member 41, the engagement protrusion 41c also rotates, so that the movable guide portion 30 that engages with the engagement protrusion 41c in the engagement recess 35a is fixed in the width direction D2. 20 to the fourth position P <b> 4, away from 20.

  When the pressed portion 41b is at the third position P3, the guide width of the print medium M3 is the length L3 as shown in FIG. 10A. The length L3 is set to a value slightly larger than the width so as to correspond to the width of the print medium M3 accommodated in the third tape cartridge 300.

  On the other hand, when the pressed portion 41b is at the fourth position P4 after being pressed by the housing 410 of the fourth tape cartridge 400, the guide width of the print medium M4 is smaller than the length L3 as shown in FIG. 10B. The length L4 is large. The length L4 is set to a value slightly larger than the width so as to correspond to the width of the print medium M4 accommodated in the fourth tape cartridge 400.

After the fourth tape cartridge 400 is removed from the printing apparatus, the pressed portion 41b is moved from the fourth position P4 to the third position P3 by the urging force of the compression spring 42.
In the second embodiment described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. For the sake of simplicity, the details are omitted here.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the compression spring 42 as an elastic body which is an example of the urging mechanism urges the pressed portion 41b toward the third position P3 which is the shielding position. The pressed portion 41b is pressed at the third position P3 by the housing 410 of the fourth tape cartridge 400, which is an example of the medium storage portion. Therefore, even if a pressing portion having a shape for pressing the pressed portion 41b is not provided on the housing 410, for example, the width in the width direction D2 of the housing 410 that increases in proportion to the width of the print medium M The pressed portion 41b can be pressed by the housing 410 up to the position corresponding to. Therefore, the configuration of the fourth tape cartridge 400 can be simplified.

  In the above-described embodiment, only one of the pair of guide portions (the fixed guide portion 20 and the movable guide portion 30) is used to move the pressed portions 17b and 41b due to the pressing. Although the case where the guide positions P1, P2, P3, and P4 in the width direction relatively move in conjunction with each other has been described as an example, the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is not limited thereto. That is, the pair of guide portions are configured so that both can move in the width direction, and the guide position in the width direction relatively moves in conjunction with the movement of the pressed portion by the pressing. Is also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the pair of guide portions (the fixed guide portion 20 and the movable guide portion 30) guides the print medium at both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. However, the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this. That is, at least one end side in the width direction is guided by the guide portion, while the other end side has the upper surface guide portions 22a and 32a, the side guide protrusions 21a and 31a, and the upper surface 21b of the rectangular plate 21. , 31b, etc., the guide may be performed by the inner wall surface of the fixed guide portion 20 (the surface facing the movable guide portion 30) or the inner wall surface of the movable guide portion 30 (the surface facing the fixed guide portion 20). Good.

  As described above, the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention includes the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. Hereinafter, the invention described in the claims at the time of filing the application of the present application is additionally described.

[Appendix 1]
Guide the print medium at one end in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction thereof, and include a guide portion in which the guide position in the width direction moves,
The guide unit is configured such that the guide position in the width direction moves in conjunction with the mounting operation of the medium storage unit having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium to be stored in the own device.
A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned.

[Appendix 2]
Further, a pressed portion that moves to a position corresponding to the width of the print medium by a mounting operation of the medium storage unit to the own apparatus,
The guide portion, in conjunction with the movement of the pressed portion by pressing, the guide position in the width direction moves,
3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein

[Appendix 3]
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressed portion is provided on a housing of the medium storage portion and is pressed by a pressing portion having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium.

[Appendix 4]
Further comprising an urging portion for urging the pressed portion toward the shielding position,
The pressed portion is pressed by the housing of the medium storage unit at the shielding position,
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

[Appendix 5]
An arm unit connected to the guide unit and moving integrally with the pressed unit;
The arm section moves the guide section in the width direction in conjunction with an operation of pressing the pressed section,
5. The printing device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein:

[Appendix 6]
A medium storage portion having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium to be stored,
The print medium is guided at one end side in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the printing apparatus includes a guide unit in which the guide position in the width direction moves, in conjunction with the mounting operation of the medium storage unit. A pressing portion for moving the guide position of the guide portion in the width direction is provided.
A medium accommodating section characterized by the above-mentioned.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 10 Ink jet head 10
Reference Signs List 17 connecting member 17a arm portion 17b pressed portion 17c engaging convex portion 20 fixed guide portion 30 movable guide portion 21, 31 rectangular plate 22, 32 L-shaped plate 35 connecting block portion 35a engaging concave portion 41 connecting member 41a arm portion 41b Pressed portion 41c Engagement convex portion 42 Compression spring 100, 200, 300, 400 First tape cartridge, second tape cartridge, third tape cartridge, fourth tape cartridge 110, 210, 310, 410 111, 211 Pressing part M (M1, M2, M3, M4) Print medium

Claims (5)

A printing unit including a print head that prints on a print medium;
The print medium is guided at one end side in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and includes a guide portion in which the guide position in the width direction moves.
The guide unit guides the print medium at a position where at least a portion of the print head performs printing on the print medium in the width direction, and
The guide unit is configured such that the guide position in the width direction moves in conjunction with the mounting operation of the medium storage unit having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium to be stored in the own device.
A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. Further, a pressed portion that moves to a position corresponding to the width of the print medium by a mounting operation of the medium storage unit to the own apparatus,
The guide portion, in conjunction with the movement of the pressed portion by pressing, the guide position in the width direction moves,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pressed portion is provided on a housing of the medium storage unit and is pressed by a pressing unit having a shape corresponding to the width of the print medium. Further comprising an urging portion for urging the pressed portion toward the shielding position,
The pressed portion is pressed by the housing of the medium storage unit at the shielding position,
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: An arm unit connected to the guide unit and moving integrally with the pressed unit;
The arm section moves the guide section in the width direction in conjunction with an operation of pressing the pressed section,
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: