GB2268707A

GB2268707A - Adapting printer to cut sheet or continuous web by multipositionable closure flap.

Info

Publication number: GB2268707A
Application number: GB9313177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ulrich Buschmann; Guenter Gomoll; Meinrad Ritter; Erich Steppe
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1992-06-26
Filing date: 1993-06-25
Publication date: 1994-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-25
Also published as: GB2268707B; FR2692840A1; FR2692840B1; GB9313177D0; DE4221276C1

Abstract

A printer (1) where both endless webs (5) and single sheets (8) are inserted from an operating side (4) is described. The printer (1) has a housing (2) with a housing opening for the respective paper channels provided on the operating side (4). Each channel continues backwards and upwards in the interior (2a) of the housing (2) behind a print counter-surface. The housing opening is closeable by a flap (12). In order to allow use of both the paper channels and to provide free accessibility to tractors (7), the flap (12) is pivotable out of the closed position into a pivoted-down position (15) (Fig 5) in which it acts as a paper support plate (16) by means of a first articulation, and is pivotable out of the closed position into a pivoted-up position (18) (Fig 1) by means of a second articulation to enlarge the access opening to the tractors (7). <IMAGE>

Description

2268707 A PRINTER This invention relates to printers and in particular to

the feed of printers.

It is known to introduce either endless webs or single sheets through a single opening on the housing of a printer on the operating side, normally the front side. The respective inlets are designed either for tractor operation, endless webs, or for pairs of friction rollers, single sheets. Such an inlet may be closed by means of a cover, which is moved aside when the printer is used. It is therefore not possible to rapidly change to a different type of paper without taking special measures.

It is an object of the invention to provide simple conversion means and further to provide a specific paper guide with a single configuration for each type of paper, i.e. endless web or single sheet.

A printer, in accordance with the invention, comprises a housing, a paper feed on the operating side including drive meant located in the intetior of the housing, a housing opening for a paper channel provided on the operating side, which channel extends backwards and upwards in the interior of the housing, a f lap which in a closed position closes the housing opening, the f lap being pivotal from the closed position to a pivoted-down position in which it acts as a paper support plate by means of a first articulation and/or from the closed position into a pivoted-up position by means of a second articulation whereby to increase access to the drive means.

The drive means may be tractors for endless webs and/or at least one pair of friction rollers for single sheets.

The advantages achieved include, in particular, that, by pivoting the flap downwards, a support plate for single sheets is provided by the f lap itself which def ines the paper path for single sheets and that, by pivoting the flap upwards, access to tractors is facilitated, which 2 facilitates insertion of endless webs. Furthermore, once an endless web has been inserted., the flap can be fully Ae closed so that the noise of printing does not penetrate, or penetrates less, to the surrounding area. In this case, the paper may advantageously move through a narrow slit which has a size corresponding to the width of the paper of the endless web.

Advantageously the flap in the region of the broad sides of the housing opening may be locked, resiliently, on the lower opening edge by means of a resilient pair of arms.

The principle of the arrangement of a pair of articulations for the flap on a printer can be further developed in that the flap, upon pivoting down, can be moved in the region of the lower opening edge of the housing opening into a vertical guide by means of bearing pins located on either side thereof after release of the resilient lock.

The pair of articulations may comprise an upper and a lower art iculation produced by holding the flap - in the housing of the printer by means of a pair of articulated levers, the lower ends of which are articulated to the flap, suitably by pins, and the upper ends of which are articulated in the region of the upper edge of the housing opening, suitably by means of pivoting bearings.

A further improvement is achieved if the flap, in the closed position, can be locked in a respective lever of the pair of articulated levers by means of a flap projection.

This means that the flap will also be secured in the open position, so that the operator can use both hands freely for inserting the endless web.

As noted above, when the flap is closed, a slot-shaped opening for an endless web is suitably provided. The opening may be beneath the flap in the transport plane of the tractors. This means that an endless web can be held ready for use (in a so-called "parking position,') even when single sheets are being drawn in.

3 The first articulation may be disengaged on unlocking of the flap from the closed position, which is achieved by release of bearing pins from resilient latches, and be pivoted upwards therewith, when the flap, which is connected to the housing via the pair of articulated levers, is pivoted upwards. The upper position thus achieved ensures the maximum possible opening for inserting the endless web into the pair of tractors.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a printer, in accordance with the invention, with the paper feed on the operating side set for use with an endless web; Figure 2 is a partial section through the operating side of the printer of Figure 1 with the f lap closed and with the endless web passed through; Figure 3 is an external perspective view of the printer of Figure 1 with the flap closed prior to downward movement thereof; Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2, but with the flap down for drawing-in single sheets of paper; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the printer of Figure 1 in the position of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a similar view to figure 2, but with the flap raised; Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the printer of Figure 1 in the position of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a side view of an articulated lever forming part of the printer of Figure 1; and Figure 9 is a top view of the articulated lever of Figure 8.

The printer 1 shown in the Figures is a wire matrix printer having a paper guide 3 in a housing 2, i.e. in the interior thereof 2a. on the operating side 4, an endless web 5 is being drawn in, in the direction of the arrow.

4 The operating side 4 is the outside on which a control panel 4a is located. An endless-web drive mechanism 6, consisting of a motor-driven shaft and a pair of tractors 7 is provided for the perforated endless web 5.

on the operating side 4 there is a housing opening 10. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this housing opening 10 is formed by broad sides loa, a lower opening edge lob and an upper opening edge loc. In the interior 2a of the printer 1 there is a print counter-surface 11.

The housing opening 10 can be closed by a f lap 12. The flap 12 is pivoted into a closed position 14 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 by means of a f irst lower articulation 13. The f lap 12 can be pivoted from the closed position 14 to a pivoted-down, or first open, position 15 shown in Figures 4 and 5, and then forms a paper support plate 16 for single sheets 8. The flap 12 can also be brought up out of the closed position 14 into a pivoted-up, or second open, position 18, shown in Figures 6 and 7, by means of a second upper articulation 17. In this last case, as illustrated in Figure 6, an enlargement of the access opening is clearly achieved relative to the pair of tractors 7.

In the closed position, the f lap 12 is held in an articulated manner with respect to the first lower articulation 13 in the region of the broad sides 10a of the housing opening 10 on the lower opening edge lob by means of a resiliently-held pair of arms 19. The arms 19 include bearing pins 19a. A bending spring 20 which is attached at one end to the housing 2 engages thereon. The bearing pins 19 engages behind a front wedge portion of the bending spring, so locking the flap 12.

In the first open position illustrated in Fig. 4, i.e. the pivoted-down flap position 15, the flap 12, during pivoting-down, in the region of the lower opening edge lob of the housing opening 10, after disengagement from the bending spring 20, arrives by means of the bearing pins 19 attached on either side, in a vertical guide 21 from which it cannot be released.

The flap 12 is held in the housing 2 of the printer 1 by means of a pair of articulated levers 22 with lower lever ends 22a and upper lever ends 22b, the lower lever ends 22a being articulated to the flap 12 either by means of bearing pins or by means of pivoting bearings 23 and the upper lever ends 22b being articulated in the region of the upper opening edge loc of the housing opening 10 by means of either bearing pins 20a or pivoting bearings. The bearing pins 20a are surrounded by a spring shell 23a.

The flap 12 has a flap projection 25 and a continuation 26. In the closed position 14, the projection 25 engages one or both levers 22. In the pivoted-down, first open, position 15, shown in Figure 4, the flap projection 25 does not function. The articulated levers 22 are also engaged on the flap projection 25 in the pivoted-up, second open, position 24. The continuation 26 may engage spring shell 23a in the pivoted-up position to lock the flap 12.

When the flap 12 is closed, a slot-shaped opening 28 for the endless web 5 is provided beneath the flap 12 in a transport plane 27 of the pair of tractors 7.

Pairs of friction rollers for the single sheets 8 are located in the interior 2a of the housing 2 for drawing-in and feeding.

The pairs of tractors 7 each consist of a fixed tractor part 7a and a pivotable tractor part 7b, see Figure 6. In this case, it is very advantageous for the accessibility of the interior 2a that the upper, pivotable, tractor part 7b is not laterally hinged, but is pivotable about a horizontal axis 7c as in a pincer movement.

Figures 8 and 9 show a lever of the pair of articulated levers 22 with a point of support 22c and a transverse side edge 22d which assist achievement of the functions of the lever 22. The support 22c may locate around a pin 20a in the pivoted down, first open, position.

It is furthermore advantageous that when the flap 12, 6 which is connected to the housing 2 by the pair 22 of articulated levers, is pivoted upwards the first 1 articulation 13 is disengaged with the bearing pins 20a and is pivoted upwards as well.

9 7

Claims

1. A printer comprising a housing, a paper feed on the operating side including drive means located in the interior of the housing, a housing opening for a paper channel provided on the operating side, which channel extends backwards and upwards in the interior of the housing, a flap which in a closed position closes the housing opening, the flap being pivotal from the closed position to a pivoted-down position in which it acts as a paper support plate by means of a first articulation, and/or from the closed position into a pivoted-up position by means of a second articulation whereby to increase access to the drive means.

2. A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the f lap in the closed position is locked by resilient latch means.

3. A printer as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the flap includes pins which, upon pivoting down of the f lap are moveable into vertical guides after release of the resilient latch means.

4. A printer as claimed in either Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the f irst articulation is disengaged when the resilient latch means is released and is pivoted upwards, when the flap is pivoted upwards.

5. A printer as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the flap is held on the housing of the printer by means of a pair of levers, the lower ends of which are articulated to the flap, and the upper ends of which are articulated to the housing in the region of the upper edge of the housing opening.

6. A printer as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the flap, in the closed position, is lockable to a respective 8 one of the pair of articulated levers by means of a f lap projection.

7. A printer as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein when the f lap is in the closed position, a slot shaped opening for an endless web is provided beneath the flap.

8. A printer as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the drive means comprises a pair of tractors f or endless webs and/or at least one pair of friction rollers for single sheets.

9. A printer substantially as hereinbef ore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.