EP0265418B1 - Paper web guide for a printer - Google Patents

Abstract

An arrangement with a printer (1) and a support structure carrying the latter, for example a printer table (2), and with a paper web (5), which is fed from a supply source to the printer (1) carried by the support structure and led from this, after printing, to a stacking station. <??>In order to facilitate a simple and speedy change-over or introduction of the paper web into the printer, a paper web guide (60) is provided, consisting of at least two guide elements (7, 8; 7', 7"; 8', 8"), arranged at least partially parallel to one another and preferably rigid, which at one end form a slit (13) facing the printer (1) and at the other end a slit (12) freely accessible and permitting entry or exit of the paper web (5); if appropriate, one of the two guide elements (7, 8;, 7',7"; 8',8") is formed at least partially by a wall of the printer (1) and/or by the table (2). <IMAGE>

Description

Through WO publication 85/01697, an arrangement with a printer and a support supporting it, for example a printer table, and with a paper web was fed from a supply to the printer carried by the support and fed from the latter to a tray, one of which Paper web guide made of at least two, at least partially parallel to one another, preferably rigid guide parts, for example in the form of a J, which form a slot facing the printer at one end and a slot allowing the paper web to enter or exit, are known. The slot that allows the paper web to enter is located below the support that supports the printer and is covered by the support. The height of the exit slot of the paper web guide above the base can be changed, for which purpose the length of the vertical section of the paper web guide is changed in order to adapt to the different height of the entry slot for the paper web in different printers. It can also be created by arranging paper web guides in different levels, to feed the paper web from the front or from the rear, depending on whether the paper web guide having the feed slot at the front or the paper web guide having the feed slot at the back is used. Frictional forces act on the paper web, which has to be moved through the space between the paper web guides and fed to the feed elements of the printer during threading, and are exacerbated when the paper web is deflected from the horizontal direction of movement. If the feed forces, which are transferred from the operator's fingers to the paper web, are introduced at a relatively large distance from the insertion slot of the paper web guide, the paper web undulates between the point of application of the feed forces and the insertion slot into the paper web guide, which leads at least to transportation difficulties, if not to a prevention of transportation and to a crumpling of the paper web. In the arrangement according to the aforementioned publication, the feed forces must be applied at a relatively large distance from the insertion slot, since this is covered by the base of the printer.

From US Pat. No. 3,753,483, it has already been known to design the arrangement mentioned at the outset in such a way that simple and rapid changing or insertion of the paper web is made possible without the aforementioned inconveniences occurring. For this purpose, the US document proposes to allow the guide parts to end freely with their slot, which allows the paper web to enter or exit, so that the slot is freely accessible by the operator's fingers when inserting a sheet. In order to ensure that the free accessibility of the slot which allows the paper web to enter or exit can also be ensured if documents of different lengths are to be provided for the printer with paper web guides of the aforementioned design, an arrangement with a printer and a this supporting base, for example a printer table, and with a paper web which is fed from a supply to the printer carried by the base and fed from there to a tray, a paper web guide consisting of at least two, at least partially parallel, preferably rigid guide parts, for example in the form of a J, which at one end form a slot facing the printer and at the other a slot that allows the paper web to enter or exit, the guide parts ending freely with their slot that allows the paper web to enter or exit, so that the Slit through the operator's fingers during insertion nes sheet is freely accessible, it is proposed that, according to the invention, the guide parts are adjustable in length, for example by telescoping into one another, usable intermediate parts or the like. With this arrangement it can be achieved that the guide can be adapted to practically any length of the support for the printer, thereby ensuring that the insertion slot is actually freely accessible, preferably at the end, ie to lie in the area of the free edge of the support comes, so that it is sufficient to insert the end of the paper web into the insertion slot of the guide facing the operator, preferably at working height (sitting position), and to advance it by means of forces applied by the operator's fingers near the insertion slot until the free end of the Paper web protrudes at the other end of the guide and thereby already enters the feed area of the printer in order to be then pulled further by it.

In order to prevent excessive frictional force from being transmitted to the paper web during its movement between the guide parts, which could prevent threading of the paper web, it is proposed in a further embodiment of the invention that the light distance between the guide parts by adjusting means such as adjusting screws, cam levers or the like. is adjustable.

In a special embodiment of the invention it can also be provided that the guide parts or openings or the like are formed parallel to the feed direction of the paper web. for manual paper web transport. In this way the threading of the paper web between the guide parts and the transport to the printer can be further improved. The security that can be achieved by the measure according to the invention when feeding the paper web to the printer table also allows, in a further embodiment of the invention, to arrange a plurality of guide parts, essentially parallel to one another, in order to be able to guide one of different paper webs to the printer in each guide thus formed, each of which Guide with retaining elements, e.g. clamps, clamps or the like. is provided for the end of the paper web not required.

Since the printer is always supplied with only one paper web, this also ensures that the paper web that is not required in each case does not slide out of the guide and has to be threaded again.

In order to be able to ensure that in an arrangement in which a plurality of paper web guides are arranged one above the other, the paper web already threaded in the uppermost paper web guide is not a hindrance to the introduction of a further paper web into an underlying paper web guide, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the the guide lying under the top paper web guide or the guides lying there are laterally open. This configuration enables a new paper web to be inserted from the side, so that the uppermost paper web guide does not constitute an obstacle to the insertion of paper webs located below.

In order to further facilitate the introduction of new paper webs in the case of several paper web guides, it can be provided that the guide located under the top paper web guide or the top paper guide or the bottom guides is or are arranged so that they can be moved laterally around a new paper web next to the to be able to insert a stationary paper web from the side.

In order to be able to bring the exit slot from the guide parts into a position that is favorable for the insertion of the paper web into the printer, it can be provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the guide parts are mounted on the table in a height-adjustable manner, in order to - as is known per se - the Bring the printer-facing slot to different heights. As soon as the slot has reached the correct height, the guide is fixed opposite the printer table or the surface on which the printer is standing.

The height adjustability can be achieved in that the guide parts in the area of the paper insertion slot in a pivot bearing on Table stored and can be locked in any angular position relative to the table level, for example by clamping.

The introduction of a new paper web can also be further improved by the fact that a mechanical drive, e.g. in the form of drivable rollers, grippers or the like. is provided for transporting the paper web, the drive having a freewheel position, e.g. in such a way that the drive is brought into and out of engagement with the paper web in order to carry out the paper transport through the printer, or the drive for the transport of the paper web can be switched off so that the paper web can also be pulled out of the paper web guide by hand. With such a design, it is then only necessary to advance the paper web into the slot until it is reached by the mechanical drive, which then moves the paper web between the guide parts further towards the printer. The additional drive should only be effective for pulling or threading a new paper web, etc. until the paper web has reached the printer's feed rollers.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it can also be provided that, in order to guide the printed paper web upwards, guide parts leave the printer which have a viewing opening which is preferably covered with transparent material. In this way, a perfect control of the paper web is also possible behind the printer, i.e. after printing has taken place.

When designed in the form of a J, the guide parts can preferably be arranged with their longer legs in a recess in the table. In this way, a simple and also elegant accommodation of the guide parts is possible, through which the guide parts are also arranged to be protected against damage.

• die Fig. 1 bis 10 schematische Darststellungen verschiedener Ausbildungen der Papierbahnzuführung zum Drukker im Längsschnitt,
• Fig. 11 ein Schaubild einer weiteren Ausführung,
• die Fig. 12 und 13 schematische Darstellungen eines Antriebes für die Papierbahn in der Führung,
• Fig. 14 einen Längsschnitt durch eine Mehrfachführung,
• Fig. 15 einen Längsschnitt durch eine Führung für die vom Drucker abgehende Papierbahn,
• Fig. 16 einen Einzelheiten veranschaulichenden Längsschnitt durch eine Führung nach Fig. 1, und
• Fig. 17 die zugehörige Teildraufsicht.

Further details and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of various Exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings; show it:

• 1 to 10 are schematic representations of various designs of the paper web feed to the printer in longitudinal section,
• 11 is a diagram of a further embodiment,
• 12 and 13 are schematic representations of a drive for the paper web in the guide,
• 14 is a longitudinal section through a multiple guide,
• 15 shows a longitudinal section through a guide for the paper web leaving the printer,
• 16 shows a longitudinal section through a guide according to FIG. 1, which illustrates the details, and
• Fig. 17 the associated partial top view.

In the arrangement according to FIG. 1, the printer 1 stands on a table 2, specifically on its upper side 3, in which a slit-like opening 4 is formed. The paper web 5 is fed vertically upwards from a supply (not shown) to the guide 6, consisting here of an upper and lower guide part 7, 8, each in an angular form. The longer angle legs 9 are fixed on the underside 10 of the table; the shorter legs 11 pass through the opening 4 of the table 2 and end in the area of the paper web feed opening in the bottom of the printer 1. The guide 6 forms a slot 12 or 13 at each of its ends, one of which for feeding and the other for delivering the paper web 5 serves. The guide 6 can be closed laterally.

In the arrangement according to FIG. 2, the guide 6 is similar to that in FIG. 1, but lies between the underside of the printer 1 and the top 3 of the table 2. The longer legs 9 end flush with the front wall of the printer.

The arrangement according to FIG. 3 has the guide 6 as in FIG. 1, but here it lies in a recess 14 in the table top 2.

The arrangement according to FIG. 4 shows a printer 1 with the feed opening at the rear, in the case of a table 2 with an opening 4 as in FIG. 1. Here, the guide 6 with its parts 7, 8 is each in the form of a J; the longer legs 9, which are fixed on the underside of the table 10, are connected to the shorter legs 11 via web parts 15.

The arrangement of Figure 5 corresponds to that of Figure 4, with the difference that the table 2 has no opening 4, so that the longer legs 9 of the guide 6 extend along the entire bottom 10 of the table 1; furthermore, the shorter legs 11 are longer here than those in FIG. 4.

In this arrangement, the guide 6 can have a pivot bearing 16 at the free end of the legs 9 in order to adapt the guide, namely its exit slot, to different heights of the feed opening of the printer 1. The other end of the legs 9 can be fixed in the height position required in each case by means of locking elements, in the example shown a screw spindle.

A guide according to FIG. 4 is also provided in the arrangement according to FIG. 6, the longer legs 9 of the guide 6 extending between the upper side 3 of the table 2 and the lower side of the printer 1 and ending with the front wall thereof.

Similarly, in the arrangement according to FIG. 7, the guide 6 can be provided in a recess 14 in the table 2, analogously to FIG. 3.

A guide corresponding to the guide 6 according to FIG. 7 can also be used in the arrangement according to FIG. 8 if the feed opening of the printer 1 lies on its upper side.

If the printer 1 - as shown in FIG. 9 - has a feed opening on the front, a guide 6 can be provided in an angular shape with legs of the guide parts 7, 8 of equal length.

A printer 1, which optionally works with one of two paper webs, is used in the arrangement according to FIG a guide 6, which has a third guide part 17 parallel to the guide parts 7, 8 formed according to FIG. 1. In this way, the guide 6 forms two channels, one for the paper web 5 and another for the web 18. The web that is not required in each case (not to be printed) can be clamped, clamped or clamped (not shown) at the end of the guide 6. Like. Be held so as not to slip back.

FIG. 11 shows a guide 6 for an arrangement according to FIG. 4, in which openings 19 are formed in the guide parts 7, 8 in the transport direction of the paper web (arrow 5) in order to be able to bring about a movement of the paper web by hand .

Instead of an embodiment according to FIG. 11, a mechanical drive for moving the paper web through the guide 6 can also be provided, for example a drive roller 20 which, according to FIG. 12, passes through a corresponding recess 21 in the guide part 8 and by means of a crank 22 in rotation can be moved; a motor (not shown) can also be used for this.

According to FIG. 13, a gripper 23 which can be moved back and forth (in the direction of the arrow) is provided for advancing the web 5 and works through the opening 21 of the part 8 of the guide 6.

In the arrangements according to FIGS. 12 and 13 it should be provided that the drives 20, 23 assume a freewheeling position when the printer 1 moves the web 5 further during the printing process. Furthermore, these drives must also allow web 5 to run back when changing or renewing the same.

14 shows an arrangement with multiple webs according to FIG. 10 within the space under the table 2, the supplies for the paper webs 5, 18 in the form of zigzag folded stacks 24, 25 resting on documents 26 stored in the table frame. The channel formed between the parts 7, 8 of the guide 6 receives the path 5, and the path 18 between the parts 8 and 17. The channel for the web 18, in order to be able to insert it from the side when renewing or replacing it without hindrance by the web 5 which remains stationary, along the side edges of the parts 8 and 17 running in the transport direction, for example on the right, i.e. on one side of the guide 6, open design; these side edges therefore lie unconnected next to one another, at the same distance as the other regions of the guide parts 17, 8.

Instead of such guide channels which are open on one side, provision can also be made for the guide part 17 to be arranged in the frame of the table 2 so that it can move entirely laterally transverse to the transport direction of the web 18. In the laterally extended position, the web 5 can then be exchanged or renewed without being impeded by the web 5.

A guide to be arranged according to the invention can also be provided at the discharge end of the printer 1, as can be seen from FIG. 15. This guide 6 also consists of two guide parts 7, 8, of which the part 7 located here on the right expediently has a viewing opening 27 at the beginning, that is to say in the area above the output opening of the printer 1, or is made of transparent material.

An embodiment of a constructive realization of the guide 6 according to FIG. 1 will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

In this arrangement, the sheet metal parts 7, 8 of the guide 6 are kept at a desired distance from one another by edge strips 28 arranged between their side edges, allowing the smooth passage of the paper web 5. These parts 7, 8 and 28 can be held together by threaded head screws 29 which penetrate elongated holes in parts 8 and 28 and whose threads engage in corresponding counter threads of part 7. This connection of the parts 7, 8 and 28 can also take place with the interposition of a plate spring (not shown), for the purpose of adjusting any distances between the guide parts 7, 8 by turning the screw, in order to be able to adapt the arrangement to different thicknesses of required form paper webs 5. Furthermore, these edge strips 28 can also be designed to be adjustable parallel to the direction of movement of the paper web 5 in order to enable adaptation to different widths of such webs 5.

In order to be able to further adapt the device to different lengths of the guide parts 7, 8 in the direction of movement of the web, these can be extended by telescopically inserted parts 7ʹ, 7ʺ, 8ʹ, 8ʺ. The parts 7ʹ, 7ʺ are provided approximately in the middle with a crank 30, and their ends provided with elongated holes 31, left in Figures 16 and 17 protrude between the parts 7, 8; Nut head screws 32 pass through the elongated holes 30 and corresponding bores in the parts 7, 8. Likewise, the parts 7ʺ, 8ʺ, which have elongated holes 33, protrude between the parts 7ʹ, 8ʹ and can be fixed to them by screws 32.

The edges of the parts 7ʺ, 8ʺ delimiting the entry slot 12 are designed to widen in a funnel-like manner in order to facilitate the threading and running in of the web 5 indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 16.

Instead of telescopically interlocking parts, it is also possible to provide extensions which can be fixed in place on the guide parts 7, 8.

As can be seen, many modifications to the exemplary embodiments described are possible within the scope of the invention. The guide parts 7, 8 can, for example, also consist of, in particular, transparent plastics in order to be able to see the path at any point on the guide 6. The guide parts 7, 8 could also consist of elastically flexible materials, in particular plastics. The geometrical design and design of the guide 6, which leads off the printed web 5 according to FIG. 15, can of course be adapted to the existing structural conditions and also vary widely.

To adjust the light distance between the guide parts 7, 8, cam levers and the like can also. be provided.

Within the scope of the invention, versions are also encompassed in which one or both guide parts 7, 8 of the guide 6 are replaced, in whole or in part, by the underside of the printer 1 or the top 3 or bottom 10 of the table 2. For example, (Not shown) recognizable that one can do without the upper guide part 7 in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and can use it for the assigned area of the table underside 10. The same applies analogously to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, where one can dispense entirely with the upper guide part 7 and with the straight part of the lower guide part 8, so that the latter only has to form an upward deflection as a short leg 11.

Claims (11)

1. Arrangement with a printer and a supporting means, e.g. a printer table, carrying said printer and with a paper web which is supplied from a paper supply to the printer carried by said supporting means and guided by said printer to a stacker, whereby a paper web guide consists at least of two guiding parts which are preferably rigid and arranged at least partially parallel to each other, for example in the shape of a J, said guiding parts forming at the one end a slot showing towards the printer and at the other end a slot for allowing the paper web to enter or to exit, wherein said guiding parts end freely with the slot for allowing the paper to enter or exit, so that said slot is freely accessible by the user's fingers when inserting a sheet of paper, characterized in that the guiding parts (7, 8; 7', 7"; 8', 8") are adjustable by length, e.g. by telescopic insertion, insertable intermediate parts and the like.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that adjusting means such as locking screws (29), cam levers or the like are provided for setting the clearance between the guiding parts (7, 8).
3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guiding parts (7, 8) are provided with openings (19), slots or the like parallel to the direction of advancement of the paper web (5) for the manual transport of the paper web.
4. Arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that several guiding parts (7, 8, 17) are arranged essentially parallel to one another in order to guide to the printer one each of various paper webs (5, 18) in each of the guiding means (6) thus formed, wherein each guiding means (6) is provided with retaining members, for example clamps, clips or the like, for the end of the each paper web (5, 18) that is not required.
5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the guiding means lying under the uppermost paper web guide is/are open on the side(s) in order to allow the insertion of a new paper web.
6. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the guiding means lying either under the uppermost paper web guide or over the lowermost paper web guide is/are arranged laterally displaceable in order to insert a new paper web (18) next to the stationary guided paper web (5).
7. Arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that between the guiding parts (7, 8) adjustable lateral guiding means for the paper web (5), e.g., side strips (28), are provided.
8. Arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the guiding parts (7, 8) are held adjustable by height on the table (2) in order to bring, as is well known, the slot showing towards the printer to different positions in a vertical sense.
9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the guiding parts (7, 8) are swivellably held in a pivot bearing (16) on the table (2) in the area of the paper guide slot and may be set to any angle with regard to the table plane, e.g. by clamps.
10. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for feeding the paper web (5) a mechanical driving means, e.g. drivable rollers (20), claws (23) or the like, are provided, in known manner, at the guiding parts (7, 8), wherein said driving means (20, 23) comprise a free-wheel position, which is, for example, engagable or disengagable with the paper web (5), so that the paper transport may be effected by the printer, or the driving means (20, 23) can be switched off, so that the paper web can be manually withdrawn.
11. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding parts (7, 8) extend from the printer for upwardly guiding the printed paper web (5) away, said guiding parts comprising an inspection opening (27) preferably covered by a transparent material.

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