EP2455224A1 - Method for printing on both sides of paper, paper feeding apparatus, and printer paper - Google Patents
Method for printing on both sides of paper, paper feeding apparatus, and printer paper Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2455224A1 EP2455224A1 EP10799551A EP10799551A EP2455224A1 EP 2455224 A1 EP2455224 A1 EP 2455224A1 EP 10799551 A EP10799551 A EP 10799551A EP 10799551 A EP10799551 A EP 10799551A EP 2455224 A1 EP2455224 A1 EP 2455224A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- pin
- pins
- drive roller
- tractors
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 31
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 25
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 11
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 11
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 3
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003550 marker Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 2
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003796 beauty Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012067 mathematical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005498 polishing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- OGIDPMRJRNCKJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N titanium oxide Inorganic materials [Ti]=O OGIDPMRJRNCKJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangementsĀ of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/26—Pin feeds
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/60—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for printing on both faces of the printing material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H20/00—Advancing webs
- B65H20/16—Advancing webs by web-gripping means, e.g. grippers, clips
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H20/00—Advancing webs
- B65H20/20—Advancing webs by web-penetrating means, e.g. pins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/10—Selective handling processes
- B65H2301/13—Relative to size or orientation of the material
- B65H2301/132—Relative to size or orientation of the material single face or double face
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/20—Belt drives
- B65H2403/21—Timing belts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
- B65H2801/12—Single-function printing machines, typically table-top machines
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for performing printing on both sides of a sheet, a sheet feeder of a printer, and a print sheet used therein.
- Silver-halide color films have been widely used in the past as image display media such as lit advertising signs and lit signboards. In recent years, however, an image display medium provided by printing an image onto a print sheet with an inkjet printer has often been used.
- an image for transmitted light is required to have a density higher than that of an image for reflected light.
- the silver-halide technology has a long history.
- the silver-halide technology involves using a pigment (coupler) having good transparency, so that improved color reproduction can be achieved even in a high density.
- the inkjet technology has a short history.
- quality is ignored in order to increase the density of an image. For example, the density of ink consisting of a pigment with poor transparency is increased simply, or, ink is applied repeatedly a few times.
- Double-sided printing using the inkjet technology presents a problem that there is misregistration between an image on the obverse and an image on the reverse.
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-335183 .
- the following methods have been used to correct the misregistration: a method for automatically detecting image misregistration to correct an error manually; and a method for reading an error with a CCD camera to correct a print position automatically. Even when these methods are employed to correct the misregistration, however, it is still difficult to sufficiently correct the misregistration.
- the misregistration is not so apparent when a large sheet is used and the images are viewed from far away. However, in the case of a medium or small sheet, the misregistration is apparent, which still remains as an unsolved problem.
- Examples of a recording sheet for transmitted light used in an inkjet printer are: recording material formed by providing a porous structured ink accepting layer containing titanium oxide therein (Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-167706 ); and a film material having an ink receiving layer containing therein water-containing silica particles and a water-retaining material (Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-135859 ).
- Patent Document 4 Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-312131 .
- Patent Document D2 When the sheet disclosed in Patent Document D2, D3, or D4 is used for double-sided printing of images, the sheet positioning is difficult, which makes it impossible to register images with high accuracy.
- double-sided printing of images on such a conventional sheet after an image is printed onto the obverse of the sheet, the sheet is turned inside out and is placed in a correct position as much as possible, and an image is printed onto the other side (reverse) of the sheet. If misregistration occurs after printing is started, position correction is performed on an as-needed basis.
- a continuous form has been conventionally used which is provided with perforations at both ends thereof for sheet feed. Since such a conventional continuous form is small like B5 size or A3 size and lightweight, it can be fed by a conventional pin tractor feed mechanism. In addition, the sheet positioning accuracy required is approximately 1 mm or less because the conventional continuous form is primarily used for letter printing.
- the ideal lit signboard has a structure in which a backlight is provided on the rear of an image, and the illumination on the obverse of the image by the backlight is higher than that on the obverse of the image by outside light. Such a condition is satisfied easily indoors while the condition is not satisfied easily outdoors.
- the reason for this is as follows. Environment light within doors is artificial lighting, and the illumination on the obverse by the artificial lighting is not so high. Accordingly, if the light source of lighting from the reverse satisfies a predetermined condition, lightness on the reverse can be higher than the lightness on the obverse. In contrast, environment light outside is the sunlight, and the illumination on the obverse by the sunlight is very high. Accordingly, it is very difficult that lightness on the reverse is higher than the lightness on the obverse.
- the ideal lit advertising sign has a structure in which images are created on both surfaces of a reflectable material, the images have appropriate brightness for viewing even if environment light on the obverse of the image is the sunlight or artificial light, and the images are visible with backlight at night. While salver-halide color films are not perfect as an image display medium for an image for the ideal lit advertising sign, there has been no material for lit advertising sign serving as substitutes for the color films.
- the present invention is in view of the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for printing an image onto both sides of a large with high accuracy, a sheet feeder for carrying the large sheet with high accuracy of positioning, and a print sheet.
- a method is a method for printing an image onto both sides of a sheet.
- the method includes using a sheet having perforations formed at both ends of the sheet for sheet feed; using a feeder including a drive roller and two pin tractors, the drive roller rotating to drive the sheet in contact with the sheet, and the pin tractors including a plurality of pins to engage the perforations and being disposed in both ends of the drive roller to rotate to drive the sheet with a coaxial rotational driving force with the drive roller; disposing the sheet in the feeder, and, in this state, conveying the sheet synchronously with movement of the pins to print an image onto one side of the sheet; and turning the sheet, onto one side of which printing has been performed, inside out and is disposed in the feeder, and, in this state, conveying the sheet synchronously with the movement of the pins to print an image onto another side of the sheet.
- the pin is formed to have a shape which makes a distance between a front base position of the pin at a time when the perforation of the sheet starts to disengage from the pin and a front position of the pin on a line along a movement direction of the sheet after the pin is moved equal to a distance of a movement of the front base position of the pin.
- a printer 1 is provided with a body 11, a delivery roller 12, a drive roller 13, a pin tractor 14, a pressure roller 15, a recording head 16, a platen box 17, a fan 18, a sheet guide 19, a control circuit, and the like.
- the printer 1 is connected to a computer via a non-illustrated interface.
- the printer 1 can be controlled through operation of a pointing device such as a keyboard,
- the control details, an image, and so on can be displayed on a non-illustrated display.
- a roll sheet PY is rotatably placed in the body 11.
- the sheet PY is pulled out by a sheet feeder YH (described later).
- a recording head 16 serves to print an image GZ onto the obverse of the sheet PY.
- the sheet PY is a double-sided printable sheet, and is transparent or translucent. An image printed onto the sheet PY can be observed with reflected light or transmitted light.
- the sheet PY has perforations PA on both ends for sheet feed.
- the perforations PA are aligned at regular intervals along the length direction of the sheet PY.
- Each of the perforations PA has a circular shape.
- the rim of the perforation PA is cut out along the circumference thereof.
- the perforation PA has, on its rim, no jaggies which avoid interference with a pin.
- the outer surface of a pin comes in contact with the rim of the perforation PA, and thereby, the positional relationship therebetween is defined appropriately.
- the sheet PY also has marks MKP indicating the correspondence relationship between the positions of perforations PA formed on one of the edges of the sheet PY and the positions of perforations PA formed on the other edge.
- One mark MKP is provided for a predetermined number of perforations PA. In the illustrated example of Figs. 7 and 8 , one mark MKP is provided for five perforations PA.
- the mark MKP may be a black dot, a color dot, an arrow, or the like.
- the mark MKP may be a hole.
- the marks MKP indicate that perforations PA formed on the right or left of the marks MKP are located at the same position in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, it is possible to optionally select the number, position, and shape of the marks MKP, and a method for adding the marks MKP as long as the marks MKP indicate which perforations PA are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction.
- the delivery roller 12 serves to deliver the sheet PY to the drive roller 13 and the pin tractors 14.
- the delivery roller 12 may be or may not be provided with pins to engage with the perforations PA.
- a guide plate may be provided instead of the delivery roller 12. Alternatively, a guide plate may be provided together with the delivery roller 12.
- the drive roller 13 and the pin tractors 14 cooperate with the pressure roller 15 to correctly position the sheet PY With high accuracy, and to convey the sheet PY.
- the drive roller 13 rotates to drive the sheet PY in contact with the lower surface of the sheet PY.
- the pin tractors 14 are provided on both ends of the drive roller 13.
- Each of the pin tractors 14 has a plurality of pins PN to engage the perforations PA, for sheet feed, formed on both ends of the sheet PY.
- the pin tractors 14 rotate to drive the sheet PY with a coaxial rotational driving force with the drive roller 13.
- the pin tractors 14 are driven to rotate by a drive shaft having the same axis as that of the drive roller 13. It is therefore easy to synchronize sheet delivery by the pin tractors 14 with sheet delivery by the drive roller 13.
- the shaft of the pin tractors 14 the shaft of the drive roller 13 are axially connected together, they may be connected to each other through a power conveyance mechanism such as a coupling or a gear at an appropriate position in the axial direction.
- pin tractor 14 on the left-land side of Fig. 2 is sometimes referred to as a "pin tractor 14a" and the pin tractor 14 on the right-hand side of Fig. 2 is sometimes referred to as a "pin tractor 14bā.
- the pressure rollers 15 are so provided as to face the drive roller 13 and the pin tractors 14, and serve to press the sheet PY against the drive roller 13 and the pin tractors 14.
- the pressure roller 15a is gently pressed against the drive roller 13. This prevents large friction from being produced on a contact surface between the drive roller 13 and the sheet PY. As a result, slight misalignment between the drive roller 13 and the sheet PY is tolerated.
- a force exerted by a spring that presses the roller 15a is preferably weakened.
- the weight of the pressure roller 15a may be reduced.
- the pressure roller 15b presses the sheet PY against the pin tractor 14. This allows the sheet PY to be pressed on the surface of a main roller 141 at the positions of the perforations PA, so that the bases TN of the pins PN engage the perforations PA. Thereby, the rotation of the pin tractors 14 moves the positions of the perforations PA precisely along a curve CV, discussed later, of the peripheral surface of a pin PN. Consequently, the sheet PY is conveyed properly with high accuracy.
- the perforations PA reach not the bases TN of the pins PN but the other parts of the pins PN in some cases. In such a case, the sheet PY is not properly conveyed through the pins PN.
- the sheet feeder YH is constituted by the drive roller 13, the pin tractors 14, and the pressure rollers 15a and 15b.
- the sheet feeder YH is driven to rotate at a controlled speed by a non-illustrated power conveyance mechanism such as a motor, a gear, or a belt.
- the sheet feeder YH delivers the sheet PY synchronously with the movement of the pins PN. Then, the drive roller 13 rotates to send the sheet PY forward. Stated differently, both ends of the sheet PY are conveyed by the pin tractors 14, and the middle part of the sheet PY is conveyed by the drive roller 13. The conveyance speed by the pin tractors 14 is the same as that by the drive roller 13. Consequently, the sheet PY is linearly conveyed precisely at a controlled speed without being skewed or being loosened.
- the conveyance by the pin tractors 14 is dominant compared to the conveyance by the drive roller 13, and the sheet PY is conveyed synchronously with the movement of the pins PN of the pin tractors 14.
- the conveyance speed by the pin tractors 14 is applied, and therefore, the drive roller 13 sends the sheet PY forward at substantially the same speed as the conveyance speed by the pin tractors 14.
- the driver roller 13 may be structured to have a diameter slightly smaller than that of the main roller 141 in order that the conveyance by the pin tractors 14 is dominant.
- the two pin tractors 14 have marks MKT showing the positional correspondence relationship in the conveyance direction between the pins PN provided in the pin tractor 14a and the pins PN provided in the pin tractor 14b.
- the marks MKT have different colors or shapes in such a manner that the pins PN can be distinguished from one another.
- the marks MKT may be provided by printing or engraving different color dots or arrows such as black, red, green, blue, yellow, and purple.
- One mark MKT may be provided for a predetermined number of pins PN. For example, one mark MKT is provided for three pins PN.
- the marks MKT indicate that pins PN provided on the right or left of the marks MKT are located at the same position in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, it is possible to optionally select the number, position, and shape of the marks MKT, and a method for adding the marks MKT as long as the marks MKT indicate which pins PN are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction.
- the recording head 16 Immediately after the sheet feeder YH delivers the sheet PY, the recording head 16 performs color printing on the obverse of the sheet PY by the inkjet method.
- the recording head 16 is attached to a non-illustrated carriage reciprocating along with a rail.
- the carriage reciprocates above the platen box 17 in a manner to cross over the sheet PY in the width direction thereof with a small gap kept between the carriage and the sheet PY.
- the recording head 16 has an ink nozzle facing the upper surface of the platen box 17. The ink nozzle blows ink onto the sheet PY adsorbed on the upper surface of the platen box 17, so that an image GZ is printed onto the sheet PY.
- the movement direction of the recording head 16 is a Y-direction orthogonal to the X-direction.
- the sheet PY is moved in the X-direction and the recording head 16 moves in the Y-direction, and thereby, the image GZ is printed onto the XY-plane that is the obverse of the sheet PY.
- the position of the image GZ generated by using ink blown from the recording head 16 and the position of the sheet PY in the XY-direction should have a predetermined proper relationship. Further, in order that the images GZ to be printed onto both sides of an identical sheet PY are registered at high accuracy with respect to each other, the sheet PY is required to be placed precisely at the correct position in the sheet feeder YH, and to be conveyed correctly without any misalignment.
- the pin tractor 14 is used to convey the sheet PY, the position of the sheet PY is precisely defined thanks to the pins PN engaging the perforations PA of the sheet PY, and no misalignment occurs during the conveyance of the sheet PY.
- the pin PN is formed to have a shape which makes the distance between the front base position of the pin PN at a time when the perforation PA of the sheet PY starts to disengage from the pin PN and the front position of the pin PN on a line along the movement direction of the sheet PY after the pin PN is moved equal to the distance of the movement of the front base position of the pin PN.
- the pin PN is formed to have a shape which allows the pin PN to move, during a period from when the pin PN engages the perforation PA to when the pin PN is disengaged therefrom, in the direction which allows the front of the pin PN to be disengaged from the perforation PA in contact with the front rim of the perforation PA.
- the conveyance speed of the sheet PY by the pin tractors 14 is equal to the circumferential velocity of the drive roller 13, so that the sheet PY is delivered smoothly at a constant speed.
- the shape of the pin PN will be detailed later.
- the platen box 17 has a fan 18 in the lower part thereof.
- the fan 18 exhausts air of the platen box 17, which reduces the pressure in the platen box 17.
- the platen box 17 has many pores in the upper surface thereof.
- the sheet PY is adsorbed due to the negative pressure, and is brought into intimate contact with the upper surface of the platen box 17. In short, the sheet PY is conveyed in intimate contact with the upper surface of the platen box 17.
- the sheet PY onto which the image GZ is printed by the recording head 16 is outputted along the sheet guide 19.
- the drive roller 13 integrally has drive shafts 13a and 13b that extend linearly from both ends thereof.
- the drive shafts 13a and 13 are rotatably supported at ends thereof by bearings 21a and 21b attached to the body 11.
- the drive shafts 13a and 13b are rotationally driven by a non-illustrated power conveyance mechanism.
- the drive roller 13 may be integrated by, for example, providing a screw in the inner peripheral surface of both ends of a hollow pipe, and by engaging threadedly, therein, a boss or threaded shaft to be screwed in the screw.
- One of the drive shafts i.e., the drive shaft 13a has, on its surface, a key groove provided in the axial direction.
- a key 22 is fitted into the key groove.
- the pin tractor 14a is provided with a key groove 23 to engage the key 22.
- the key groove 23 engages the key 22, and is axially movable along the key 22.
- the pin tractor 14a is also provided with a setscrew 24. The axial position of the pin tractor 14a is adjusted, and the setscrew 24 is fastened. Thereby, the position of the pin tractor 14a is fixed in the axial direction.
- the pin tractor 14b is also provided with a setscrew. After the position of the pin tractor 14b is adjusted in the axial direction, the setscrew is fastened. Thereby, the position of the pin tractor 14a is fixed.
- rollers 131 and 132 are interposed between the drive roller 13 and the pin tractor 14a to fill the space therebetween.
- the rollers 131 and 132 have the same outer diameter as that of the drive roller 13.
- Each of the rollers 131 and 132 is provided with a key groove to engage the key 22.
- the rollers 131 and 132 are axially movable along the key 22.
- Each of the rollers 131 and 132 is also provided with a setscrew. When the setscrew is fastened, the position of each of the rollers 131 and 132 is fixed in the axial direction.
- rollers 131 and 132 it is possible to appropriately select the number of rollers 131 and 132, the length thereof in the axial direction, and the like.
- the rollers 131 and 132 may be attached to the drive shaft 13a.
- the main roller 141 of the pin tractor 14 has a plurality of equiangulary spaced pins PN.
- the pin tractor 14 is a roller with pins.
- the main roller 141 has an outer diameter equal to that of the drive roller 13.
- the outer peripheral surface of a pin PN is in the form of a circumferential surface, and the pin PN has a cannonball shape forming a smooth carve from the bottom position TN to the tip position TS of the pin PN.
- the shape of the pin PN is detailed below.
- the pin PN is inserted through a perforation PA of a sheet PY, and the front bottom position TN of the pin PN contacts the front rim of the perforation PA of the sheet PY.
- DN outer diameter of the pin PN at the bottom position TN
- DA inner diameter of the perforation PA
- the outer diameter of the main roller 141 is approximately 28 millimeters
- the maximum value of the outer diameter of the pin PN is approximately 3 millimeters
- the inner diameter of the perforation PA is approximately 3.2 millimeters
- the gap between the pin PN and the rim of the perforation PA is approximately 0.2 millimeters.
- the pin PN has a height of approximately 2.5 millimeters.
- a pin PN provided ahead by one pitch is sometimes referred to as a pin PNZ.
- the pin PNZ is a state where a ridge formed by an imaginary surface MK extended from the outer peripheral surface of the pin PNZ and a plane MH passing through the tip position TS contacts the front rim of a perforation PA. In short, this state shows the moment at which the pin PNZ is disengaged from the perforation PA.
- a pin PN provided behind by one pitch is sometimes referred to as a pin PNG.
- Fig. 9 shows diagrams depicting how a sheet PY is conveyed with the rotation of the pin tractor 14.
- Fig. 9A shows the same state as that of Fig. 6 described above. Under the state, the bottom position TN of the pin PN contacts the perforation PA at the part surrounded by a broken-line circle.
- Fig. 9B through Fig. 9F show the individual states in which the pin tractor 14 rotates by a predetermined angle in the direction denoted by the arrow M1. After the state shown in Fig. 9F , the state goes back to that of Fig. 9A again. In Fig. 9A through Fig. 9F , the bottom position TN of the pin PN contacts the perforation PA at the parts surrounded by broken-line circles.
- Fig. 9A through Fig. 9D only one pin PN contacts the perforation PA at the bottom position TN of the pin.
- Fig. 9E and Fig. 9F two pins PN and PNG contact the perforations PA at the individual bottom positions TN of the pins PN.
- conveyance and positioning of the sheet PY is taken over from the pin PN to the pin PNG.
- the pin PN moves in the direction which allows the front peripheral surface of the pin PN to be disengaged from the perforation PA in contact with the front rim of the perforation PA.
- the bottom position TN is set at the origin, the tangential direction of the surface of the main roller 141 is set as the U-axis, and a direction vertical to the U-axis is set as the V-axis.
- the peripheral shape of the pin PN is determined by obtaining the coordinates of the individual points on the curve CV in such a UV-plane.
- the U-axis and the V-axis move in accordance with the rotational angle of the main roller 141. It is assumed that the position of the origin is a position at which the bottom position TN of the pin PN is directly above the pin tractor 14, i.e., a position at which the pin PN is on the contact position of the main roller 141 and the sheet PY, the rotational angle on that position is set at zero degrees, and the rotational angle therefrom is set at ā degrees. With respect to the U-axis and the V-axis at various rotational angles ā degrees, coordinates of the contact position P to the sheet PY may be determined.
- r denotes the radius of the main roller 141. Since it is assumed that the circumferential velocity due to the rotation of the main roller 141 is in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the sheet PY, the value "C" denoting the conveyance distance of the sheet PY is equal to the length of the circumference corresponding to the rotational angle ā .
- the curve CV shown in Fig. 12 is rotated with respect to the centerline TC of the pin PN, so that the outer peripheral surface of the pin PN is formed.
- a part of the curve CV far away from the origin corresponds to a line represented as the imaginary surface MK as discussed above.
- peripheral shape of the pin PN can be determined in the following manner.
- the centerline TC of the pin PN is set as the V-axis, and a tangential line vertical to the V-axis on the surface of the main roller 141 is set as the U-axis.
- the peripheral shape of the pin PN is determined by obtaining the coordinates of the individual points on the curve CV in such a UV-plane.
- the U-axis and the V-axis move in accordance with the rotational angle of the main roller 141. It is assumed that the position of the origin is a position at which the pin PN is directly above the pin tractor 14, i.e., a position at which the pin PN is on the contact position of the main roller 141 and the sheet PY, the rotational angle on that position is set at zero degrees, and the rotational angle therefrom is set at ā degrees. With respect to the U-axis and the V-axis at various rotational angles ā degrees, coordinates of the contact position P to the sheet PY may be determined.
- ā ā + ā
- ā ' denotes a bias angle of the bottom position TN with respect to the centerline TC of the pin PN.
- the bias angle ā ' is obtained as follows.
- ā arc sin rp / r
- rp denotes the maximum value of the radius of the pin PN. If the maximum value of the outer diameter of the pin PN is 3 millimeters, the value of the rp is 1.5 millimeters.
- the value "Cā denoting the conveyance distance of the sheet PY is equal to the length of the circumference corresponding to the rotational angle ā . Note, however, that the value "Cā in Equations (3) and (4) is the length of the circumference corresponding to the rotational angle ā plus the bias angle ā '.
- the coordinates of the contact position P can be determined by a variety of methods other than the foregoing methods,
- the contact position P may be determined by using a plot.
- a mathematical method may be used to obtain an approximate expression of the curve CV. It is also possible for a computer to execute an appropriate program for the plot or the operation.
- the pin PN having the shape discussed above is a rotor.
- a pin PN can be formed by cutting a metal material or a synthetic resin material.
- Alternatively, such a pin PN may be formed by metallic molding, and polishing may be performed after molding. Since the front half of the pin PN is important in order that the pin PN positions the sheet PY, only the front half of the pin PN may be finished precisely.
- the pin PN is formed to have a cannonball shape in this embodiment, the pin PN may be formed to have a cone shape. Further, although the pin PN has a circular shape as viewed from the tip position TS thereof, the pin PN may have a rectangular or polygonal shape as viewed from the tip position TS instead of the circular shape.
- the pin tractor 14 discussed above is a roller with pins PN in which the main roller 141 has pins PN. Instead, however, the pin tractor 14 may be provided with a timing belt.
- the pin tractor 14B is provided with a casing 31, two rollers 32 and 33 rotatably attached to the casing 31 by bolts BT, a timing belt 34 running between the two rollers 32 and 33, a timing gear 35 that is rotatably provided in the casing 31 and is rotationally driven by a drive shaft 13a to drive the timing belt 34 rotationally, and so on.
- the timing belt 34 has, on its outer peripheral surface, pins PN to engage perforations PA formed on a sheet PY.
- the timing belt 34 is in parallel with the sheet PY between a position corresponding to the timing gear 35 and a position corresponding to the roller 33.
- the timing belt 34 gently slopes down toward the roller 32 from the timing gear 35 so as to be gradually away from the sheet PY.
- a sheet keeping device S which includes a hold-down roller 15B attached to a printer, a hold-down lever 43 rotatably provided with respect to a shaft 44, and a spring 44.
- the rotation of the drive shaft 13 rotates the timing gear 35 integrally, and thereby, the timing belt 34 engaging the timing gear 35 runs.
- the pins PN engaging the perforations PA move the sheet PY.
- the sheet PY is delivered accurately in the direction denoted by the arrow M2 in the parallel part between the position corresponding to the timing gear 35 and the position corresponding to the roller 33 because the plurality of perforations PA engage the pins PN sufficiently.
- the timing belt 34 gradually moves away from the sheet PY in the slope from the position corresponding to the timing gear 35 and the position corresponding to the roller 32. Along with this, the pins 36 are disengaged from the perforations PA smoothly.
- the pin PN has a cannonball shape, and the shape of the pin PN can be determined as described earlier with reference to Fig. 9 through Fig. 14 .
- the pin tractor 14B may have a structure, shape, and so on different from the foregoing.
- a structure is possible in which a roller similar to the rollers 32 and 33 is provided at the position of the timing gear 35, the timing gear 35 is provided between the roller and the roller 32, and thereby the timing belt 34 is driven.
- the method uses a sheet PY having perforations PA on both ends thereof for sheet feed, and the sheet feeder YH that has a drive roller 13 rotating to drive the sheet PY in contact with the sheet PY, and two pin tractors 14a and 14b which have pins PN to engage the perforations PA and are disposed on both ends of the drive roller 13 to rotate to drive the sheet PY by a coaxial rotational driving force with the drive roller 13.
- the positions of the two pin tractors 14a and 14b are adjusted to correspond to the positions of the perforations PA of the sheet PY to be used,
- the sheet PY is placed on the sheet feeder YH, conveyed at a speed synchronously with the movement of the pins PN, and an image GZ1 is printed onto one surface HM1 of the sheet PY (see Fig. 16A ).
- the sheet After printing is performed on one surface UM1 of the sheet PY, the sheet is cut out from the rolled sheet at the corresponding position. The sheet PY thus cut out is turned inside out, placed on the sheet feeder YH. The sheet PY is, then, conveyed at a speed synchronously with the movement of the pins PN, and an image GZ2 is printed onto the other surface UM2 (reverse) of the sheet PY (see Fig. 16B ).
- the image GZ2 to be printed onto the reverse UM2 of the sheet PY is the reversed image of the image GZ1 printed onto the surface UM1, namely, a mirror image of the image GZ1.
- the image GZ2 has the same contents as those of the image GZ1, and is a reflected duplication of the image GZ1 that appears reversed.
- the sheet PY is turned upside down, it is preferable to also turn the image GZ2 upside down.
- the image GZ1 and the image GZ2 are printed in such a manner that they overlap each other at the same position.
- the origin GG2 of the image GZ2 printed on the reverse UM2 is located at the same position as the origin GG1 of the image GZ1 printed on the obverse UM1.
- the positional relationship between the perforation PAll and the origin GG1 is identical to the positional relationship between the perforation PA11 and the origin GG2 in the obverse and reverse of the sheet PY.
- a pin PN11 inserted through the perforation PA11 during the print process on the obverse UM1 is to be inserted through a perforation PA21, which is horizontally opposed to the perforation PA11, during the print process on the reverse UM2. Accordingly, when the upper left position of the image CZ2 is defined as the origin GG21, the positional relationship is defined between the origin GG21 and the pin PN11. As for the image GZ2, since the positional relationship between the origin GG2 and the origin GG21 is already known, it is preferable that the positional relationship between the origin GG21 the pin PN11 may be defined based on the known positional relationship.
- the pin tractors 14 define the correct position of the sheet PY with high accuracy and convey the sheet PY. Accordingly, printing is performed after the print positions of the images GZ1 and GZ2 on the obverse and reverse of the sheet PY are determined as described above, so that the images GZ1 and GZ2 accurately correspond to each other without any misregistration.
- double-sided printing of images GZ can be performed at high accuracy even if a large sheet PY or a small sheet PY is used.
- the sheet feeder YH enables double-sided printing of images at high accuracy even if a large sheet PY is used. Further, the sheet feeder YH enables conveyance of a sheet PY at high accuracy even if a large sheet PY is used.
- both ends of the sheet PY corresponding to the perforations PA may be cut out from the sheet PY.
- Fig. 17 shows a relationship between the density of the image GZ1 to be printed on the obverse (input image) and the density of the image GZ2 to be printed on the reverse (output image).
- the dynamic range is smaller than that of the density of the input image.
- the density of the output range is compressed to ND1-ND2 % as compared to the input image.
- the density distribution of the output image is so limited that it falls within the density ND1-ND2 of the intermediate portion in the grayscale or the scale of the brightness of the primary colors.
- the brightest density is assumed to be obtained. This is because it is necessary to remain the brightest part unchanged as a bright part.
- the specific range of the density ND1 is, for example, approximately 10-20 %.
- the specific range of the density ND2 is, for example, approximately 50-80 %. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the density of the output image to the range of approximately 20-70 % of the density of the input image. In this way, the density of the output image is limited, and the limited density is applied to the image GZ2 on the reverse. This enables the images printed on both sides of a sheet PY to be viewed clearly at natural density when the images are viewed with transmitted light.
- the marker may be provided by automatic printing in the outer periphery of the image size. If a print position error occurs after starting printing, it is preferable that the print position is set to be correctable through operation of a keyboard of a computer.
- a camera with a CCD and so on may be used to detect misregistration of images GZ printed, and the print position may be corrected based on the detection result.
- an image GZ1 is printed onto the obverse of the sheet PY
- the image GZ1 is taken by a camera, and the print position thereof is measured.
- the image GZ2 is taken by a camera, and the print position thereof is measured. Then, the amount of misregistration is so corrected that the print position of the image GZ2 corresponds to the print position of the image GZ1.
- the origin GG may be moved, and, as for the sub-scan direction (Y-direction), for example, a position correction signal may be outputted to a motor for driving the drive roller 13.
- print positions of the images GZ1 and GZ2 can correspond to each other automatically, and the images GZ1 and GZ2 can be printed automatically on the obverse and reverse of a sheet PY.
- the images GZ1 and GZ2 identical to each other are printed on both sides of a sheet PY.
- images different from each other may be printed on both sides of a sheet PY.
- an image may be printed onto the same side of a sheet PY twice, three times or more, instead of being printed onto both sides of the sheet PY.
- an image GZ1 is printed onto the obverse of a sheet PY, and then, an additional image may be printed on the obverse of the sheet PY. If such an additional image is printed, the color thereof may be changed to, for example, gold.
- intervals between the perforations PA formed on the sheet PY are so set as to be equal to intervals between the pins PN. instead of this, however, the intervals between the perforations PA may be smaller than the intervals between the pins PN.
- the structure, form, dimensions, quantity, material, composition, and the like of the entirety or individual portions of the drive roller 13, the pin tractor 14, the pressure roller 15, the pin PN, the sheet PY, the perforation PA, and the printer 1 may be altered as required in accordance with the subject matter of the present invention.
Landscapes
- Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a method for performing printing on both sides of a sheet, a sheet feeder of a printer, and a print sheet used therein.
- Silver-halide color films have been widely used in the past as image display media such as lit advertising signs and lit signboards. In recent years, however, an image display medium provided by printing an image onto a print sheet with an inkjet printer has often been used.
- With such an image display medium, an image for transmitted light is required to have a density higher than that of an image for reflected light.
- The silver-halide technology has a long history. The silver-halide technology involves using a pigment (coupler) having good transparency, so that improved color reproduction can be achieved even in a high density. In contrast, the inkjet technology has a short history. In the inkjet technology, quality is ignored in order to increase the density of an image. For example, the density of ink consisting of a pigment with poor transparency is increased simply, or, ink is applied repeatedly a few times.
- Double-sided printing using the inkjet technology presents a problem that there is misregistration between an image on the obverse and an image on the reverse.
- There is disclosed an ink jet printer in which a recording medium is sandwiched between a sheet feed roller and a pressure roller, carried thereby, a recording head is reciprocated on a platen in the right-angle direction to the medium carriage direction, and an image is printed (Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.
2001-335183 - For this reason, such a method has been employed only when a large ink jet printer is used to perform printing onto a large sheet. To be specific, in the case of a large sheet, the distance between the sheet and a user is long, i.e., the user looks at the sheet from the position far away from the sheet. In such a case, misregistration between the image on the obverse and the image on the reverse is not so apparent, which is supposed to be acceptable.
- In even such a case, however, it is true that there is large misregistration between the image on the obverse and the image on the reverse. When a user takes a closer look at the images, the misregistration therebetween is apparent, which is problematic in the light of image quality.
- The following methods have been used to correct the misregistration: a method for automatically detecting image misregistration to correct an error manually; and a method for reading an error with a CCD camera to correct a print position automatically. Even when these methods are employed to correct the misregistration, however, it is still difficult to sufficiently correct the misregistration. The misregistration is not so apparent when a large sheet is used and the images are viewed from far away. However, in the case of a medium or small sheet, the misregistration is apparent, which still remains as an unsolved problem.
- Examples of a recording sheet for transmitted light used in an inkjet printer are: recording material formed by providing a porous structured ink accepting layer containing titanium oxide therein (Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.
2004-167706 2001-135859 - Further, as a recording sheet for reflected light and transmitted light used in an ink jet printer, a sheet is proposed which has an ink receiving layer containing silica particles therein, and has an opacity of 70 % through 90 % on the whole sheet (Patent Document 4: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.
2003-312131 - As described above, when the printer disclosed in
Patent Document 1 is used to perform double-sided printing of images, the sheet positioning is difficult, which makes it impossible to register images with high accuracy. - When the sheet disclosed in Patent Document D2, D3, or D4 is used for double-sided printing of images, the sheet positioning is difficult, which makes it impossible to register images with high accuracy. In the case of double-sided printing of images on such a conventional sheet, after an image is printed onto the obverse of the sheet, the sheet is turned inside out and is placed in a correct position as much as possible, and an image is printed onto the other side (reverse) of the sheet. If misregistration occurs after printing is started, position correction is performed on an as-needed basis.
- In such a method, however, a large amount of work is needed to place a sheet at the correct position in a sheet feed roller. In addition, a user will not find whether or not the sheet is placed at the correct position until printing is started. Even when the user finds that the sheet is not in place, it is not easy for him/her to set the sheet in place for a position correction. If such a position correction cannot be made, the user is required to place the sheet from the beginning again.
- In the meantime, a continuous form has been conventionally used which is provided with perforations at both ends thereof for sheet feed. Since such a conventional continuous form is small like B5 size or A3 size and lightweight, it can be fed by a conventional pin tractor feed mechanism. In addition, the sheet positioning accuracy required is approximately 1 mm or less because the conventional continuous form is primarily used for letter printing.
- In contrast, when images are printed on both sides of a sheet, accuracy incomparably higher than that in the conventional continuous form, e.g., accuracy in the micrometer range is required. In addition, a sheet used for lit advertising signs has a size of 1 meter or greater and is also heavy. In the conventional technologies, double-sided printing of images cannot be performed on a large sheet at high accuracy.
- The ideal lit signboard has a structure in which a backlight is provided on the rear of an image, and the illumination on the obverse of the image by the backlight is higher than that on the obverse of the image by outside light. Such a condition is satisfied easily indoors while the condition is not satisfied easily outdoors.
- The reason for this is as follows. Environment light within doors is artificial lighting, and the illumination on the obverse by the artificial lighting is not so high. Accordingly, if the light source of lighting from the reverse satisfies a predetermined condition, lightness on the reverse can be higher than the lightness on the obverse. In contrast, environment light outside is the sunlight, and the illumination on the obverse by the sunlight is very high. Accordingly, it is very difficult that lightness on the reverse is higher than the lightness on the obverse.
- beauty of night view in a big city is created by geometric patterns by artificial 1 lighting. In the daytime, lighting of buildings is turned ON with some exceptions. However, building windows in the daytime seem to be totally different from those at night. This is attributed to the difference in brightness between artificial lighting and the sunlight. The illumination of surface light source of a lit advertising sign or lit signboard is approximately 5000-6000 lux in average, while the illumination of sunlight is as high as 100000 lux. The difference in illumination causes the difference in contrast, so that light from building windows within doors cannot be observed in the daytime. In view of the above, the ideal lit advertising sign has a structure in which images are created on both surfaces of a reflectable material, the images have appropriate brightness for viewing even if environment light on the obverse of the image is the sunlight or artificial light, and the images are visible with backlight at night. While salver-halide color films are not perfect as an image display medium for an image for the ideal lit advertising sign, there has been no material for lit advertising sign serving as substitutes for the color films.
- The present invention is in view of the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for printing an image onto both sides of a large with high accuracy, a sheet feeder for carrying the large sheet with high accuracy of positioning, and a print sheet.
- A method according one aspect of the present invention is a method for printing an image onto both sides of a sheet. The method includes using a sheet having perforations formed at both ends of the sheet for sheet feed; using a feeder including a drive roller and two pin tractors, the drive roller rotating to drive the sheet in contact with the sheet, and the pin tractors including a plurality of pins to engage the perforations and being disposed in both ends of the drive roller to rotate to drive the sheet with a coaxial rotational driving force with the drive roller; disposing the sheet in the feeder, and, in this state, conveying the sheet synchronously with movement of the pins to print an image onto one side of the sheet; and turning the sheet, onto one side of which printing has been performed, inside out and is disposed in the feeder, and, in this state, conveying the sheet synchronously with the movement of the pins to print an image onto another side of the sheet.
- Preferably, the pin is formed to have a shape which makes a distance between a front base position of the pin at a time when the perforation of the sheet starts to disengage from the pin and a front position of the pin on a line along a movement direction of the sheet after the pin is moved equal to a distance of a movement of the front base position of the pin.
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Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 2 is a front view of a sheet feeder of a printer. -
Fig. 3 is a front view in which the main part of the sheet feeder shown inFig. 2 is enlarged. -
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet feeder shown inFig. 3 . -
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view cut along the A-A line of the sheet feeder shown inFig. 2 . -
Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged view ofFig. 5 . -
Fig. 7 is a front view of a sheet. -
Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a part of a perforation of a sheet. -
Fig. 9 shows diagrams depicting how a sheet is conveyed by a pin tractor. -
Fig. 10 is a diagram depicting coordinate axes with respect to the shape of the front peripheral surface of a pin. -
Fig. 11 is a diagram depicting a relationship of contact position between a sheet and the front peripheral surface of a pin. -
Fig. 12 is a diagram depicting a method for determining the shape of the front peripheral 1 surface of a pin. -
Fig. 13 is a diagram depicting another example of coordinate axes with respect to the shape of a pin. -
Fig. 14 is a diagram depicting another example of a relationship of contact position between a pin and a sheet. -
Fig. 15 is a diagram showing another example of a pin tractor. -
Fig. 16 shows diagrams of images printed onto both sides of a sheet. -
Fig. 17 is a diagram depicting a density of an image to be printed onto the reverse of a sheet. - Referring to Fug. 1, a
printer 1 is provided with abody 11, adelivery roller 12, adrive roller 13, apin tractor 14, a pressure roller 15, arecording head 16, aplaten box 17, afan 18, asheet guide 19, a control circuit, and the like. - The
printer 1 is connected to a computer via a non-illustrated interface. Theprinter 1 can be controlled through operation of a pointing device such as a keyboard, The control details, an image, and so on can be displayed on a non-illustrated display. - A roll sheet PY is rotatably placed in the
body 11. The sheet PY is pulled out by a sheet feeder YH (described later). Arecording head 16 serves to print an image GZ onto the obverse of the sheet PY. The sheet PY is a double-sided printable sheet, and is transparent or translucent. An image printed onto the sheet PY can be observed with reflected light or transmitted light. - Referring to
Figs. 7 and 8 , the sheet PY has perforations PA on both ends for sheet feed. The perforations PA are aligned at regular intervals along the length direction of the sheet PY. Each of the perforations PA has a circular shape. The rim of the perforation PA is cut out along the circumference thereof. Stated differently, the perforation PA has, on its rim, no jaggies which avoid interference with a pin. The outer surface of a pin comes in contact with the rim of the perforation PA, and thereby, the positional relationship therebetween is defined appropriately. - The sheet PY also has marks MKP indicating the correspondence relationship between the positions of perforations PA formed on one of the edges of the sheet PY and the positions of perforations PA formed on the other edge.
- One mark MKP is provided for a predetermined number of perforations PA. In the illustrated example of
Figs. 7 and 8 , one mark MKP is provided for five perforations PA. The mark MKP may be a black dot, a color dot, an arrow, or the like. The mark MKP may be a hole. - The marks MKP indicate that perforations PA formed on the right or left of the marks MKP are located at the same position in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, it is possible to optionally select the number, position, and shape of the marks MKP, and a method for adding the marks MKP as long as the marks MKP indicate which perforations PA are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction.
- The
delivery roller 12 serves to deliver the sheet PY to thedrive roller 13 and thepin tractors 14. Thedelivery roller 12 may be or may not be provided with pins to engage with the perforations PA. A guide plate may be provided instead of thedelivery roller 12. Alternatively, a guide plate may be provided together with thedelivery roller 12. - The
drive roller 13 and thepin tractors 14 cooperate with the pressure roller 15 to correctly position the sheet PY With high accuracy, and to convey the sheet PY. - Referring also to
Fig. 2 , thedrive roller 13 rotates to drive the sheet PY in contact with the lower surface of the sheet PY. Thepin tractors 14 are provided on both ends of thedrive roller 13. Each of thepin tractors 14 has a plurality of pins PN to engage the perforations PA, for sheet feed, formed on both ends of the sheet PY. Thepin tractors 14 rotate to drive the sheet PY with a coaxial rotational driving force with thedrive roller 13. - To be specific, the
pin tractors 14 are driven to rotate by a drive shaft having the same axis as that of thedrive roller 13. It is therefore easy to synchronize sheet delivery by thepin tractors 14 with sheet delivery by thedrive roller 13. - In this embodiment, while the shaft of the
pin tractors 14 the shaft of thedrive roller 13 are axially connected together, they may be connected to each other through a power conveyance mechanism such as a coupling or a gear at an appropriate position in the axial direction. - Note that the
pin tractor 14 on the left-land side ofFig. 2 is sometimes referred to as a "pin tractor 14a" and thepin tractor 14 on the right-hand side ofFig. 2 is sometimes referred to as a "pin tractor 14b". - The pressure rollers 15 (
pressure rollers drive roller 13 and thepin tractors 14, and serve to press the sheet PY against thedrive roller 13 and thepin tractors 14. - To be specific, the
pressure roller 15a is gently pressed against thedrive roller 13. This prevents large friction from being produced on a contact surface between thedrive roller 13 and the sheet PY. As a result, slight misalignment between thedrive roller 13 and the sheet PY is tolerated. - In order to weaken the force pressing the
pressure roller 15a against thedrive roller 13, a force exerted by a spring that presses theroller 15a is preferably weakened. In the case of a structure in which thepressure roller 15a is pressed against thedrive roller 13 due to the own weight of thepressure roller 15a, the weight of thepressure roller 15a may be reduced. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a spring for adjusting the pressing force of thepressure roller 15a. Alternatively, it is also possible to reduce the number ofpressure rollers 15a or the length thereof. - Alternatively, it is possible to use, as a material of the surface of the
pressure roller 15a, a material having a small coefficient of friction, instead of the reduction in pressing force of thepressure roller 15a, or, in addition to the reduction. Yet alternatively, it is also possible to use, as a material of the surface of thedrive roller 13, a material having a small coefficient of friction. - The
pressure roller 15b presses the sheet PY against thepin tractor 14. This allows the sheet PY to be pressed on the surface of amain roller 141 at the positions of the perforations PA, so that the bases TN of the pins PN engage the perforations PA. Thereby, the rotation of thepin tractors 14 moves the positions of the perforations PA precisely along a curve CV, discussed later, of the peripheral surface of a pin PN. Consequently, the sheet PY is conveyed properly with high accuracy. - If no
pressure roller 15b is provided, or, if thepressure roller 15b does not press the sheet PY onto the surface of themain roller 141, the perforations PA reach not the bases TN of the pins PN but the other parts of the pins PN in some cases. In such a case, the sheet PY is not properly conveyed through the pins PN. - The sheet feeder YH is constituted by the
drive roller 13, thepin tractors 14, and thepressure rollers - The sheet feeder YH delivers the sheet PY synchronously with the movement of the pins PN. Then, the
drive roller 13 rotates to send the sheet PY forward. Stated differently, both ends of the sheet PY are conveyed by thepin tractors 14, and the middle part of the sheet PY is conveyed by thedrive roller 13. The conveyance speed by thepin tractors 14 is the same as that by thedrive roller 13. Consequently, the sheet PY is linearly conveyed precisely at a controlled speed without being skewed or being loosened. - In practical cases, the conveyance by the
pin tractors 14 is dominant compared to the conveyance by thedrive roller 13, and the sheet PY is conveyed synchronously with the movement of the pins PN of thepin tractors 14. To be specific, if a change in temperature or humidity makes a small difference in conveyance speed between thepin tractors 14 and thedrive roller 13, the conveyance speed by thepin tractors 14 is applied, and therefore, thedrive roller 13 sends the sheet PY forward at substantially the same speed as the conveyance speed by thepin tractors 14. - The
driver roller 13 may be structured to have a diameter slightly smaller than that of themain roller 141 in order that the conveyance by thepin tractors 14 is dominant. - In the meantime, the two
pin tractors 14 have marks MKT showing the positional correspondence relationship in the conveyance direction between the pins PN provided in thepin tractor 14a and the pins PN provided in thepin tractor 14b. - The marks MKT have different colors or shapes in such a manner that the pins PN can be distinguished from one another. For example, the marks MKT may be provided by printing or engraving different color dots or arrows such as black, red, green, blue, yellow, and purple. Alternatively, it is possible to add a number or sign to each of the pins PN.
- One mark MKT may be provided for a predetermined number of pins PN. For example, one mark MKT is provided for three pins PN.
- The marks MKT indicate that pins PN provided on the right or left of the marks MKT are located at the same position in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, it is possible to optionally select the number, position, and shape of the marks MKT, and a method for adding the marks MKT as long as the marks MKT indicate which pins PN are provided at the same position in the longitudinal direction.
- Immediately after the sheet feeder YH delivers the sheet PY, the
recording head 16 performs color printing on the obverse of the sheet PY by the inkjet method. Therecording head 16 is attached to a non-illustrated carriage reciprocating along with a rail. The carriage reciprocates above theplaten box 17 in a manner to cross over the sheet PY in the width direction thereof with a small gap kept between the carriage and the sheet PY. Therecording head 16 has an ink nozzle facing the upper surface of theplaten box 17. The ink nozzle blows ink onto the sheet PY adsorbed on the upper surface of theplaten box 17, so that an image GZ is printed onto the sheet PY. - Assuming that the conveyance direction of the sheet PY is an X-direction, the movement direction of the
recording head 16 is a Y-direction orthogonal to the X-direction. The sheet PY is moved in the X-direction and therecording head 16 moves in the Y-direction, and thereby, the image GZ is printed onto the XY-plane that is the obverse of the sheet PY. - In order to achieve a correct print position, it is necessary that the position of the image GZ generated by using ink blown from the
recording head 16 and the position of the sheet PY in the XY-direction should have a predetermined proper relationship. Further, in order that the images GZ to be printed onto both sides of an identical sheet PY are registered at high accuracy with respect to each other, the sheet PY is required to be placed precisely at the correct position in the sheet feeder YH, and to be conveyed correctly without any misalignment. - In the sheet feeder YH of this embodiment, since the
pin tractor 14 is used to convey the sheet PY, the position of the sheet PY is precisely defined thanks to the pins PN engaging the perforations PA of the sheet PY, and no misalignment occurs during the conveyance of the sheet PY. - In addition, as discussed later, the pin PN is formed to have a shape which makes the distance between the front base position of the pin PN at a time when the perforation PA of the sheet PY starts to disengage from the pin PN and the front position of the pin PN on a line along the movement direction of the sheet PY after the pin PN is moved equal to the distance of the movement of the front base position of the pin PN.
- Stated differently, the pin PN is formed to have a shape which allows the pin PN to move, during a period from when the pin PN engages the perforation PA to when the pin PN is disengaged therefrom, in the direction which allows the front of the pin PN to be disengaged from the perforation PA in contact with the front rim of the perforation PA.
- For this reason, the conveyance speed of the sheet PY by the
pin tractors 14 is equal to the circumferential velocity of thedrive roller 13, so that the sheet PY is delivered smoothly at a constant speed. The shape of the pin PN will be detailed later. - The
platen box 17 has afan 18 in the lower part thereof. Thefan 18 exhausts air of theplaten box 17, which reduces the pressure in theplaten box 17. Theplaten box 17 has many pores in the upper surface thereof. The sheet PY is adsorbed due to the negative pressure, and is brought into intimate contact with the upper surface of theplaten box 17. In short, the sheet PY is conveyed in intimate contact with the upper surface of theplaten box 17. - The sheet PY onto which the image GZ is printed by the
recording head 16 is outputted along thesheet guide 19. - As shown in
Fig. 2 through Fig. 5 , thedrive roller 13 integrally hasdrive shafts drive shafts bearings body 11. Thedrive shafts - Since the surface of the
drive roller 13 is knurled, adequate friction is produced between thedrive roller 13 and the sheet PY. Thedrive roller 13 may be integrated by, for example, providing a screw in the inner peripheral surface of both ends of a hollow pipe, and by engaging threadedly, therein, a boss or threaded shaft to be screwed in the screw. - One of the drive shafts, i.e., the
drive shaft 13a has, on its surface, a key groove provided in the axial direction. A key 22 is fitted into the key groove. Thepin tractor 14a is provided with a key groove 23 to engage the key 22. The key groove 23 engages the key 22, and is axially movable along the key 22. Thepin tractor 14a is also provided with asetscrew 24. The axial position of thepin tractor 14a is adjusted, and thesetscrew 24 is fastened. Thereby, the position of thepin tractor 14a is fixed in the axial direction. - As with the case of the
pin tractor 14a, thepin tractor 14b is also provided with a setscrew. After the position of thepin tractor 14b is adjusted in the axial direction, the setscrew is fastened. Thereby, the position of thepin tractor 14a is fixed. - Further,
rollers drive roller 13 and thepin tractor 14a to fill the space therebetween. Therollers drive roller 13. Each of therollers rollers rollers rollers - It is possible to appropriately select the number of
rollers drive roller 13 and thedrive shafts body 11, therollers drive shaft 13a. Alternatively, it is possible to form therollers rollers drive shaft 13a. - Referring to
Figs. 5 and6 , themain roller 141 of thepin tractor 14 has a plurality of equiangulary spaced pins PN. In short, thepin tractor 14 is a roller with pins. Themain roller 141 has an outer diameter equal to that of thedrive roller 13. - As clearly shown in
Fig. 6 , the outer peripheral surface of a pin PN is in the form of a circumferential surface, and the pin PN has a cannonball shape forming a smooth carve from the bottom position TN to the tip position TS of the pin PN. - The shape of the pin PN is detailed below.
- Attention is focused on the center pin PN of
Fig. 6 . The pin PN is inserted through a perforation PA of a sheet PY, and the front bottom position TN of the pin PN contacts the front rim of the perforation PA of the sheet PY. Supposing that the outer diameter of the pin PN at the bottom position TN is denoted by DN, and that the inner diameter of the perforation PA is denoted by DA, the relationship therebetween is expressed as DA>DN. Accordingly, a gap is provided between the rear bottom position TN of the pin PN and the rear rim of the perforation PA. - To be specific, if the outer diameter of the
main roller 141 is approximately 28 millimeters, the maximum value of the outer diameter of the pin PN is approximately 3 millimeters, the inner diameter of the perforation PA is approximately 3.2 millimeters, and therefore, the gap between the pin PN and the rim of the perforation PA is approximately 0.2 millimeters. The pin PN has a height of approximately 2.5 millimeters. - Under this state, the
pin tractor 14 rotates in the direction of the right-hand side ofFig. 6 , i.e., in the direction denoted by the arrow M1. Thereby, the sheet PY is conveyed in the direction of the right-hand side ofFig. 6 , i.e., in the direction denoted by the arrow M2. - With respect to the center pin PN of
Fig. 6 , a pin PN provided ahead by one pitch is sometimes referred to as a pin PNZ. The pin PNZ is a state where a ridge formed by an imaginary surface MK extended from the outer peripheral surface of the pin PNZ and a plane MH passing through the tip position TS contacts the front rim of a perforation PA. In short, this state shows the moment at which the pin PNZ is disengaged from the perforation PA. - Note that, although the bottom position TN differs in height depending on the position of the pin PN in the peripheral direction, the difference is ignored in this description because of the very small value.
- With respect to the center pin PN of
Fig. 6 , a pin PN provided behind by one pitch is sometimes referred to as a pin PNG. -
Fig. 9 shows diagrams depicting how a sheet PY is conveyed with the rotation of thepin tractor 14. -
Fig. 9A shows the same state as that ofFig. 6 described above. Under the state, the bottom position TN of the pin PN contacts the perforation PA at the part surrounded by a broken-line circle.Fig. 9B through Fig. 9F show the individual states in which thepin tractor 14 rotates by a predetermined angle in the direction denoted by the arrow M1. After the state shown inFig. 9F , the state goes back to that ofFig. 9A again. InFig. 9A through Fig. 9F , the bottom position TN of the pin PN contacts the perforation PA at the parts surrounded by broken-line circles. - Referring to
Fig. 9A through Fig. 9D , only one pin PN contacts the perforation PA at the bottom position TN of the pin. Referring toFig. 9E and Fig. 9F , two pins PN and PNG contact the perforations PA at the individual bottom positions TN of the pins PN. During the states shown inFigs. 9E and 9F , conveyance and positioning of the sheet PY is taken over from the pin PN to the pin PNG. - During the states shown in
Figs. 9E and 9F , the pin PN moves in the direction which allows the front peripheral surface of the pin PN to be disengaged from the perforation PA in contact with the front rim of the perforation PA. - Referring to
Fig. 10 , in order to find the peripheral shape of the pin PN, the bottom position TN is set at the origin, the tangential direction of the surface of themain roller 141 is set as the U-axis, and a direction vertical to the U-axis is set as the V-axis. The peripheral shape of the pin PN is determined by obtaining the coordinates of the individual points on the curve CV in such a UV-plane. - As shown in
Fig. 11 , the U-axis and the V-axis move in accordance with the rotational angle of themain roller 141. It is assumed that the position of the origin is a position at which the bottom position TN of the pin PN is directly above thepin tractor 14, i.e., a position at which the pin PN is on the contact position of themain roller 141 and the sheet PY, the rotational angle on that position is set at zero degrees, and the rotational angle therefrom is set at Īø degrees. With respect to the U-axis and the V-axis at various rotational angles Īø degrees, coordinates of the contact position P to the sheet PY may be determined. - In
Fig. 11 , U is calculated as follows. -
-
where r denotes the radius of themain roller 141. since it is assumed that the circumferential velocity due to the rotation of themain roller 141 is in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the sheet PY, the value "C" denoting the conveyance distance of the sheet PY is equal to the length of the circumference corresponding to the rotational angle Īø. - In this way, coordinates of the contact position P at different rotational angles Īø degrees are obtained, and the resultant is plotted on the UV-plane as shown in
Fig. 12 . - The curve CV shown in
Fig. 12 is rotated with respect to the centerline TC of the pin PN, so that the outer peripheral surface of the pin PN is formed. - Referring to the curve CV of
Fig. 12 , a part of the curve CV far away from the origin corresponds to a line represented as the imaginary surface MK as discussed above. - Further, the peripheral shape of the pin PN can be determined in the following manner.
- As shown in
Fig. 13 , the centerline TC of the pin PN is set as the V-axis, and a tangential line vertical to the V-axis on the surface of themain roller 141 is set as the U-axis. The peripheral shape of the pin PN is determined by obtaining the coordinates of the individual points on the curve CV in such a UV-plane. - As shown in
Fig. 14 , the U-axis and the V-axis move in accordance with the rotational angle of themain roller 141. It is assumed that the position of the origin is a position at which the pin PN is directly above thepin tractor 14, i.e., a position at which the pin PN is on the contact position of themain roller 141 and the sheet PY, the rotational angle on that position is set at zero degrees, and the rotational angle therefrom is set at Īø degrees. With respect to the U-axis and the V-axis at various rotational angles Īø degrees, coordinates of the contact position P to the sheet PY may be determined. - In
Fig. 14 , U is calculated as follows. -
-
- As described earlier, since it is assumed that the circumferential velocity due to the rotation of the
main roller 141 is in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the sheet PY, the value "C" denoting the conveyance distance of the sheet PY is equal to the length of the circumference corresponding to the rotational angle Īø. Note, however, that the value "C" in Equations (3) and (4) is the length of the circumference corresponding to the rotational angle Īø plus the bias angle Īø'. - The coordinates of the contact position P can be determined by a variety of methods other than the foregoing methods, The contact position P may be determined by using a plot. A mathematical method may be used to obtain an approximate expression of the curve CV. It is also possible for a computer to execute an appropriate program for the plot or the operation.
- The pin PN having the shape discussed above is a rotor. Such a pin PN can be formed by cutting a metal material or a synthetic resin material. Alternatively, such a pin PN may be formed by metallic molding, and polishing may be performed after molding. Since the front half of the pin PN is important in order that the pin PN positions the sheet PY, only the front half of the pin PN may be finished precisely.
- While the pin PN is formed to have a cannonball shape in this embodiment, the pin PN may be formed to have a cone shape. Further, although the pin PN has a circular shape as viewed from the tip position TS thereof, the pin PN may have a rectangular or polygonal shape as viewed from the tip position TS instead of the circular shape.
- The
pin tractor 14 discussed above is a roller with pins PN in which themain roller 141 has pins PN. Instead, however, thepin tractor 14 may be provided with a timing belt. - Descriptions are given below of a
pin tractor 14B using a timing belt. - Referring to
Fig. 15 , thepin tractor 14B is provided with acasing 31, tworollers casing 31 by bolts BT, atiming belt 34 running between the tworollers timing gear 35 that is rotatably provided in thecasing 31 and is rotationally driven by adrive shaft 13a to drive thetiming belt 34 rotationally, and so on. - The
timing belt 34 has, on its outer peripheral surface, pins PN to engage perforations PA formed on a sheet PY. - The
timing belt 34 is in parallel with the sheet PY between a position corresponding to thetiming gear 35 and a position corresponding to theroller 33. Thetiming belt 34 gently slopes down toward theroller 32 from thetiming gear 35 so as to be gradually away from the sheet PY. - Above the
pin tractor 14B, a sheet keeping device S is provided which includes a hold-downroller 15B attached to a printer, a hold-downlever 43 rotatably provided with respect to ashaft 44, and aspring 44. - The rotation of the
drive shaft 13 rotates thetiming gear 35 integrally, and thereby, thetiming belt 34 engaging thetiming gear 35 runs. When thetiming belt 34 runs, the pins PN engaging the perforations PA move the sheet PY. - The sheet PY is delivered accurately in the direction denoted by the arrow M2 in the parallel part between the position corresponding to the
timing gear 35 and the position corresponding to theroller 33 because the plurality of perforations PA engage the pins PN sufficiently. Thetiming belt 34 gradually moves away from the sheet PY in the slope from the position corresponding to thetiming gear 35 and the position corresponding to theroller 32. Along with this, the pins 36 are disengaged from the perforations PA smoothly. - As described earlier, the pin PN has a cannonball shape, and the shape of the pin PN can be determined as described earlier with reference to
Fig. 9 through Fig. 14 . - The
pin tractor 14B may have a structure, shape, and so on different from the foregoing. For example, a structure is possible in which a roller similar to therollers timing gear 35, thetiming gear 35 is provided between the roller and theroller 32, and thereby thetiming belt 34 is driven. - A method is now described for printing an image GZ on both sides of a sheet PY with the
printer 1. - The method uses a sheet PY having perforations PA on both ends thereof for sheet feed, and the sheet feeder YH that has a
drive roller 13 rotating to drive the sheet PY in contact with the sheet PY, and twopin tractors drive roller 13 to rotate to drive the sheet PY by a coaxial rotational driving force with thedrive roller 13. - The positions of the two
pin tractors - The sheet PY is placed on the sheet feeder YH, conveyed at a speed synchronously with the movement of the pins PN, and an image GZ1 is printed onto one surface HM1 of the sheet PY (see
Fig. 16A ). - After printing is performed on one surface UM1 of the sheet PY, the sheet is cut out from the rolled sheet at the corresponding position. The sheet PY thus cut out is turned inside out, placed on the sheet feeder YH. The sheet PY is, then, conveyed at a speed synchronously with the movement of the pins PN, and an image GZ2 is printed onto the other surface UM2 (reverse) of the sheet PY (see
Fig. 16B ). - At this time, the image GZ2 to be printed onto the reverse UM2 of the sheet PY is the reversed image of the image GZ1 printed onto the surface UM1, namely, a mirror image of the image GZ1. Stated differently, the image GZ2 has the same contents as those of the image GZ1, and is a reflected duplication of the image GZ1 that appears reversed. When the sheet PY is turned upside down, it is preferable to also turn the image GZ2 upside down.
- The image GZ1 and the image GZ2 are printed in such a manner that they overlap each other at the same position. To be specific, in a state where the sheet PY is seen through, the origin GG2 of the image GZ2 printed on the reverse UM2 is located at the same position as the origin GG1 of the image GZ1 printed on the obverse UM1.
- To be specific, if one perforation PAll on the sheet PY is made as a reference, it is preferable that the positional relationship between the perforation PAll and the origin GG1 is identical to the positional relationship between the perforation PA11 and the origin GG2 in the obverse and reverse of the sheet PY.
- A pin PN11 inserted through the perforation PA11 during the print process on the obverse UM1 is to be inserted through a perforation PA21, which is horizontally opposed to the perforation PA11, during the print process on the reverse UM2. Accordingly, when the upper left position of the image CZ2 is defined as the origin GG21, the positional relationship is defined between the origin GG21 and the pin PN11. As for the image GZ2, since the positional relationship between the origin GG2 and the origin GG21 is already known, it is preferable that the positional relationship between the origin GG21 the pin PN11 may be defined based on the known positional relationship.
- In the sheet feeder YH, the
pin tractors 14 define the correct position of the sheet PY with high accuracy and convey the sheet PY. Accordingly, printing is performed after the print positions of the images GZ1 and GZ2 on the obverse and reverse of the sheet PY are determined as described above, so that the images GZ1 and GZ2 accurately correspond to each other without any misregistration. - In short, double-sided printing of images GZ can be performed at high accuracy even if a large sheet PY or a small sheet PY is used.
- As discussed above, the sheet feeder YH enables double-sided printing of images at high accuracy even if a large sheet PY is used. Further, the sheet feeder YH enables conveyance of a sheet PY at high accuracy even if a large sheet PY is used.
- As for the sheet PY onto which double-sided printing was performed, both ends of the sheet PY corresponding to the perforations PA may be cut out from the sheet PY.
- It is preferable to adjust, in advance, the density of the image GZ2 to be printed onto the reverse UM2 of the sheet PY.
-
Fig. 17 shows a relationship between the density of the image GZ1 to be printed on the obverse (input image) and the density of the image GZ2 to be printed on the reverse (output image). - Referring to
Fig. 17 , as for the density of the output image, the dynamic range is smaller than that of the density of the input image. To be specific, the density of the output range is compressed to ND1-ND2 % as compared to the input image. In other words, the density distribution of the output image is so limited that it falls within the density ND1-ND2 of the intermediate portion in the grayscale or the scale of the brightness of the primary colors. - However, with respect to the density of approximately 0 to 2 % of the input image, i.e., with respect to the brightest density thereof, the brightest density is assumed to be obtained. This is because it is necessary to remain the brightest part unchanged as a bright part.
- The specific range of the density ND1 is, for example, approximately 10-20 %. The specific range of the density ND2 is, for example, approximately 50-80 %. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the density of the output image to the range of approximately 20-70 % of the density of the input image. In this way, the density of the output image is limited, and the limited density is applied to the image GZ2 on the reverse. This enables the images printed on both sides of a sheet PY to be viewed clearly at natural density when the images are viewed with transmitted light.
- It is possible to provide, on the end of the image GZ in the width direction, a marker for detecting image misregistration. In such a case, the marker may be provided by automatic printing in the outer periphery of the image size. If a print position error occurs after starting printing, it is preferable that the print position is set to be correctable through operation of a keyboard of a computer.
- Alternatively, a camera with a CCD and so on may be used to detect misregistration of images GZ printed, and the print position may be corrected based on the detection result. In such a case, for example, an image GZ1 is printed onto the obverse of the sheet PY, the image GZ1 is taken by a camera, and the print position thereof is measured. Before an image GZ2 is printed onto the reverse of the sheet PY, the image GZ2 is taken by a camera, and the print position thereof is measured. Then, the amount of misregistration is so corrected that the print position of the image GZ2 corresponds to the print position of the image GZ1.
- When the print position is corrected, as for the main-scan direction (X-direction), for example, the origin GG may be moved, and, as for the sub-scan direction (Y-direction), for example, a position correction signal may be outputted to a motor for driving the
drive roller 13. - In this way, print positions of the images GZ1 and GZ2 can correspond to each other automatically, and the images GZ1 and GZ2 can be printed automatically on the obverse and reverse of a sheet PY.
- In this embodiment, the images GZ1 and GZ2 identical to each other are printed on both sides of a sheet PY. Instead of this, however, images different from each other may be printed on both sides of a sheet PY. Alternatively, an image may be printed onto the same side of a sheet PY twice, three times or more, instead of being printed onto both sides of the sheet PY. For example, an image GZ1 is printed onto the obverse of a sheet PY, and then, an additional image may be printed on the obverse of the sheet PY. If such an additional image is printed, the color thereof may be changed to, for example, gold. Even when printing is performed on the identical side of a sheet PY a plurality of times, the position of the sheet PY can be maintained at high accuracy. As a result, images to be printed on the sheet PY can be in register.
- the embodiment discussed above, intervals between the perforations PA formed on the sheet PY are so set as to be equal to intervals between the pins PN. instead of this, however, the intervals between the perforations PA may be smaller than the intervals between the pins PN.
- In the embodiment discussed above, the structure, form, dimensions, quantity, material, composition, and the like of the entirety or individual portions of the
drive roller 13, thepin tractor 14, the pressure roller 15, the pin PN, the sheet PY, the perforation PA, and theprinter 1 may be altered as required in accordance with the subject matter of the present invention.
Claims (12)
- A method for printing an image onto both sides of a sheet, comprising:using a sheet having perforations formed at both ends of the sheet for sheet feed;using a feeder including a drive roller and two pin tractors, the drive roller rotating to drive the sheet in contact with the sheet, and the pin tractors including a plurality of pins to engage the perforations and being disposed in both ends of the drive roller to rotate to drive the sheet with a coaxial rotational driving force with the drive roller;disposing the sheet in the feeder, and, in this state, conveying the sheet synchronously with movement of the pins to print an image onto one side of the sheet; andturning the sheet, onto on side of which printing has been performed, inside out and is disposed in the feeder, and, in this state, conveying the sheet synchronously with the movement of the pins to print an image onto another side of the sheet.
- The method according to claim 1, wherein the pin is formed to have a shape which makes a distance between a front base position of the pin at a time when the perforation of the sheet starts to disengage from the pin and a front position of the pin on a line along a movement direction of the sheet after the pin is moved equal to a distance of a movement of the front base position of the pin.
- The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the two pin tractors have marks showing a positional correspondence relationship in a conveyance direction between the pins provided in one of the pin tractors and the pins provided in the other pin tractor, and
the sheet has marks showing a correspondence relationship between positions of the perforations formed on one of edges of the sheet and positions of perforations formed on the other edge. - A sheet feeder of a printer, comprising:a drive roller that rotates to drive a sheet in contact with the sheet;two pin tractors that include a plurality of pins to engage perforations formed on both ends of the sheet for sheet feed, are disposed in both ends of the drive roller to rotate to drive the sheet with a coaxial rotational driving force with the drive roller; anda press member that is so disposed as to face the drive roller and the pin tractors and presses the sheet against the drive roller and the pin tractors;wherein the sheet is conveyed synchronously with movement of the pins, and the sheet is moved forward with rotation of the drive roller.
- The sheet feeder according to claim 4, wherein the pin is formed to have a shape which makes a distance between a front base position of the pin at a time when the perforation of the sheet starts to disengage from the pin and a front position of the pin on a line along a movement direction of the sheet after the pin is moved equal to a distance of a movement of the front base position of the pin.
- The sheet feeder according to claim 4, wherein the pin is formed to have a shape which allows the pin to move, during a period from when the pin engages the perforation to when the pin is is disengaged from the perforation, in a direction which allows the front of the pin to be disengaged from the perforation in contact with a front rim of the perforation.
- The sheet feeder according to any one of claims 4 through 6, wherein the two pin tractors disposed in the both ends have marks showing a positional correspondence relationship in a conveyance direction between the pins provided in one of the pin tractors and the pins provided in the other pin tractor.
- The sheet feeder according to any one of claims 4 through 7, wherein at least one of the two tractors is provided in such a manner that an axial position of said at least one of the two tractors is adjustable.
- The sheet feeder according to claim 8, wherein, with respect to a drive shaft having a same axis as that of the drive roller, the pin tractors engage a key provided in the drive shaft in a rotational direction and the pin tractors are axially movable along the key.
- The sheet feeder according to any one of claims 4 through 9, wherein each of the pin tractors has the pins on a peripheral surface of the pin tractor, is a roller with pins, and is provided on a same axis as that of the drive roller.
- The sheet feeder according to any one of claims 4 through 9,
wherein
the pin tractor includesa casing,two rollers rotatably attached to the casing,a timing belt that has the pins on an outer peripheral 1 surface of the timing belt, and is run between the two rollers, anda timing gear that is rotationally driven by a rotational driving force of a same axis as that of the drive roller to run the timing belt, andthe timing belt has a parallel part that runs in parallel with the sheet and a slope part that gently slopes so as to be gradually away from the sheet. - A print sheet conveyed by a drive roller and a pin tractor, the print sheet comprising:end portions that are provided along a width direction of the print sheet and are provided with perforations for sheet feed, the perforations being aligned along the length direction of the sheet to engage pins of the pin tractor; andmarks showing a correspondence relationship between positions of the perforations formed on one of edges of the sheet and positions of perforations formed on the other edge.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2009165284A JP5349180B2 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2009-07-14 | Method for printing on both sides of paper, paper transport device, and printer paper |
PCT/JP2010/003159 WO2011007487A1 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2010-05-10 | Method for printing on both sides of paper, paper feeding apparatus, and printer paper |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2455224A1 true EP2455224A1 (en) | 2012-05-23 |
EP2455224A4 EP2455224A4 (en) | 2015-12-23 |
EP2455224B1 EP2455224B1 (en) | 2016-07-27 |
Family
ID=43449099
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP10799551.6A Active EP2455224B1 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2010-05-10 | Method for printing on both sides of paper, paper feeding apparatus, and printer paper |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2455224B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5349180B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011007487A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8783846B2 (en) | 2011-11-15 | 2014-07-22 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Paper used in an inkjet printer, inkjet printer, and preliminary ejection method for an inkjet printer |
Family Cites Families (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS60230879A (en) * | 1984-05-02 | 1985-11-16 | Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd | Paper feeder |
JPS631563A (en) * | 1986-06-20 | 1988-01-06 | Nec Home Electronics Ltd | High-quality color printer |
US4981244A (en) * | 1988-02-08 | 1991-01-01 | International Business Machines Corp. | Pin belt for movement of perforated strip |
JPH01229668A (en) * | 1988-03-11 | 1989-09-13 | Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd | Printer |
JPH0319867A (en) * | 1989-06-16 | 1991-01-29 | Nec Niigata Ltd | Feed and delivery apparatus for printer |
JPH059947U (en) * | 1991-07-23 | 1993-02-09 | ę Ŗå¼ä¼ē¤¾ę°čč£½ä½ę | Printer paper mis-set prevention device |
JPH0535303U (en) * | 1991-10-24 | 1993-05-14 | ćć©ć¶ć¼å·„ę„ę Ŗå¼ä¼ē¤¾ | Paper feed mechanism |
JPH06271159A (en) * | 1993-03-16 | 1994-09-27 | Toshiba Corp | Printing system |
JPH11249346A (en) * | 1998-02-27 | 1999-09-17 | Hitachi Koki Co Ltd | Recording device for continuous paper |
JP3615104B2 (en) | 1999-08-26 | 2005-01-26 | ćć¼ć ę Ŗå¼ä¼ē¤¾ | Cap for electromagnetic shielding of electronic parts and infrared data communication module |
JP2001335183A (en) | 2000-05-25 | 2001-12-04 | Mutoh Ind Ltd | Recording medium carrying mechanism in ink jet printer |
JP2003312131A (en) | 2002-04-24 | 2003-11-06 | Nisshinbo Ind Inc | Ink jet recording sheet |
JP2004167706A (en) | 2002-11-15 | 2004-06-17 | Somar Corp | Inkjet recording material |
JP2008093846A (en) * | 2006-10-06 | 2008-04-24 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Image forming apparatus |
-
2009
- 2009-07-14 JP JP2009165284A patent/JP5349180B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2010
- 2010-05-10 WO PCT/JP2010/003159 patent/WO2011007487A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-05-10 EP EP10799551.6A patent/EP2455224B1/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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See references of WO2011007487A1 * |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8783846B2 (en) | 2011-11-15 | 2014-07-22 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Paper used in an inkjet printer, inkjet printer, and preliminary ejection method for an inkjet printer |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JP5349180B2 (en) | 2013-11-20 |
EP2455224A4 (en) | 2015-12-23 |
JP2011020292A (en) | 2011-02-03 |
EP2455224B1 (en) | 2016-07-27 |
WO2011007487A1 (en) | 2011-01-20 |
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