JP2000043352A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder having a sheet carrying section in which a sheet is prevented from floating and forward end of the sheet is detected while reducing the size of the recorder easily. SOLUTION: A portable printer is provided with a sheet feed sensor 51. When a print sheet PP is inserted from a sheet insertion opening, forward end of the print sheet PP advances on the body frame while being urged downward by a sheet guide section 512 and pushing up the sheet guide section 512. Consequently, forward end of the print sheet PP advances while being guided by the sheet guide section 512. The print sheet PP is carried while being clamped by a carrying roller 23 and a retaining roller 24 and a sheet retaining part 513 prevents the print sheet PP from floating. An extended part 515 is displaced around a supporting shaft 518 and a light shielding part 516 at the forward end is separated from a sheet feed photosensor 54 which senses advance of the sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having an improved sheet detection sensor for detecting the position of the leading edge of a printing sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus such as a printer, a paper press has been required to suppress the rising of a printing paper or the like as a recording medium. This paper press is a plate having a substantially cylindrical surface. It is constituted by urging the shaped member with a spring or the like. Also, the paper leading edge detection sensor for detecting the leading edge of the printing paper uses, for example, a contact member that can be tilted when the paper comes into contact with a paper holding member and a lever-shaped movable portion that operates in conjunction with the paper holding member. The sensor is configured to detect by a limit switch or a sensor using a photo sensor.

In recent years, as computers have become portable, the number of cases where the printer itself is carried and used has increased, and a small-sized portable printer mainly fed manually has come to be used. In these portable printers, there is no automatic paper feeder, and there is a variation in the method of inserting printing paper by the user for manual paper feeding, and since there is no paper feed tray supporting the printing paper, the paper may be curved, In many cases, the paper is wavy, and in such a case, it is necessary to provide a paper presser for suppressing the floating of the paper in order to print well.

In addition, since the paper is not inserted straight into an appropriate position, the timing of engagement with the transport roller often shifts, and a paper leading edge detection sensor for accurately transporting the paper to the printing start position is also indispensable. there were.

[0005]

However, in a narrow space of a portable printer, there is a problem that it may be difficult to separately install both the paper presser and the paper leading edge detection sensor at appropriate positions. Was. Also, if you want to have each, you need each space,
There is a problem that it becomes an obstacle to miniaturization of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to prevent the floating of a sheet and to detect the leading edge of the sheet so that the sheet can be accurately conveyed to a printing start position, and the apparatus can be easily miniaturized. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device including a transport unit.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording on a sheet, a conveying unit for conveying the sheet, and a conveying unit for conveying the sheet. A detection unit for detecting a sheet, wherein the detection unit is disposed on the upstream side of the recording unit in the sheet conveyance direction, and its position is displaced by contact with the sheet front end, and the sheet front end is displaced. A movable member that urges the paper so that the paper is separated from the recording means over the width of the paper after the sheet passes, and a detection unit that detects the leading edge position of the paper from the displacement of the position of the movable member due to the contact of the leading edge of the paper. It is characterized by having.

In the recording apparatus according to this configuration, since the detecting means can urge the paper to be separated from the recording means, it functions as a paper presser for preventing the paper from rising, so that the proper transport position and printing Stabilize the paper in position. Further, since the position of the detection means is displaced by the contact of the leading end of the sheet, the position of the sheet can be accurately detected. Therefore, the same member can perform both the function of stabilizing the position of the sheet and the function of detecting the position of the sheet. Therefore, compared with the case where the members are separately provided to detect the stability and the position of the sheet,
It can be installed in a small space, and the size of the recording device can be reduced.

In the recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the detecting means has a guide portion for guiding the leading end of the conveyed sheet to the conveying means. It is characterized by the following.

In the recording apparatus according to this configuration, the leading edge of the sheet can be guided to an appropriate position and the sheet can be pressed accurately, so that the sheet can be transported more stably.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the recording apparatus of the second aspect, the guide section has a width larger than a maximum width of a sheet on which the recording apparatus can record. And

In the recording apparatus according to this configuration, the guide portion can be made larger than the sheet width, so that the entire sheet width can be guided and the sheet can be transported more stably. Also, regardless of the size of the paper, reliable paper guidance can be provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the detecting means includes an extension for enlarging the displacement of the movable member. And a sensor unit for detecting a displacement of a tip of the extension portion.

In the recording apparatus according to the above configuration, even a slight displacement of the detecting means is detected in an enlarged manner, so that a highly sensitive sheet detecting means can be provided. Further, by providing the extension portion, the sensor portion can be provided so as to be isolated from dust and the like coming out of the printing paper or the like.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, the sensor unit further comprises:
A photo sensor is provided.

In the recording apparatus according to this configuration, by using a photosensor for the sensor section, a slight change in position can be detected with high sensitivity without hindering the movement of the detecting means even if the extension section is lengthened.

In a recording apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the transport means includes a transport roller for transporting a sheet,
The detection means is provided near the conveyance means, and also serves as a registration roller for correcting skew of the sheet.

In the recording apparatus according to this configuration, since the conveying roller and the registration roller are also used, a roller having both functions can be provided even in a small space. Compactness can be achieved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the recording means includes an ink jet head.

In the recording apparatus according to this configuration, a more compact recording apparatus can be provided by providing the above-described detection means in a recording apparatus using an ink-jet head which is easily reduced in size.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, it is preferable that the recording apparatus has a detachable automatic paper feeder. Features.

In the recording apparatus according to this configuration, since the automatic paper feeder is detachably provided, the recording apparatus can be made extremely compact by removing the automatic paper feeder.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an external appearance in which an automatic paper feeder (ACF) F1 is mounted on a portable printer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
The portable printer 1 includes a printer body 3 which is a case formed in a substantially rectangular box shape. A paper discharge port 4 which is a rectangular opening formed wide in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1) of the portable printer 1 is formed at a lower substantially central portion of the printer main body 3. The paper discharge port 4 is an opening for discharging the printed printing paper PP,
The width in the longitudinal direction is formed corresponding to the width of the printing paper PP. In the portable printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the length of the paper discharge port 4 in the longitudinal direction is a letter size in the United States or JIS.
It is formed larger than the A4 size paper width (approximately 210 mm). An opening / closing lid 7 for exchanging the ink cartridges 8 and 9 is provided at the upper part of the paper discharge port 4 of the printer main body 3 so that the lower part is pivotally mounted and can be opened and closed freely.

The automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted on the back (rear side in FIG. 1) of the portable printer 1, and automatically feeds a large number of cut sheets of printing paper PP to the portable printer. is there. The whole shape is a rectangular oblong plate, and is mounted on the printer in a state where it is raised about 60 degrees behind the horizontal angle. The automatic paper feeder F1 includes a plurality of printing papers PP.
Is placed on the paper placing portion F5 of the main body F2, and the printing paper P
The upper part of P is a left paper support F4L and a right paper support F4.
Supported by R. The sheet supporting portions F4L and F4R are rotatably supported by the main body F2 so that the sheet supporting portions F4L and F4R can be unfolded to support the printing paper PP or be stored in the main body F2. The left F4L is in an unfolded state, and the right sheet supporting unit F4R is in a stored state. An opening / closing lid F3 is pivotally supported on the sheet mounting portion F5 so as to be openable and closable to facilitate the replenishment of the printing paper PP.
Indicates an open state.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of the portable printer 1. As shown in FIG. The arrow X in the figure indicates the transport direction of the printing paper PP, and the arrow Y in the figure indicates the direction of movement of the print heads 15 and 16 during main scanning.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer main body 3 also serves as a substantially rectangular box-shaped main body frame 6, and a rectangular shelf-shaped cartridge frame 5 is provided in the upper space 1a of the main body frame 6. A partition plate 5a is provided on the entire rear side below the cartridge frame 5 to partition the upper space 1a and the lower space 1b, and the front side is open to the lower space 1b.

Here, the ink cartridges 8 and 9 will be described. In the cartridge frame 5 above the partition plate 5a in the upper space 1a of the portable printer 1, two substantially rectangular box-shaped ink cartridges 8, 9 are detachably stored in a horizontal state with their upper ends aligned. I have. Of the ink cartridges 8, 9, the ink cartridge large 8 arranged on the left side in FIG.
The ink package 8a filled with the ink ejected from the ink container 5 is stored (see FIG. 3).
a is composed of two ink packages, each of which is filled with magenta and black inks one color at a time. The ink cartridge 9a filled with ink ejected from the print head left 16 is stored in the ink cartridge small 9 disposed on the right side in FIG.
), And cyan and yellow inks are filled one by one.

The ink packages 8a and 9a housed in the ink cartridges 8 and 9 are formed in a substantially rectangular bag, and include a plurality of film sheets made of polyethylene resin or the like, for example, a plurality of film sheets. It is formed of a laminated structure film material in which about ten sheets are laminated. The laminated structure film material forming the ink packages 8a and 9a is:
By forming the rigidity to be large, shape resilience is imparted, and a change in shape of the ink packages 8a and 9a can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the ink is supplied from the ink packages 8a, 9a to the print heads 15, 16 and the ink in the ink packages 8a, 9a decreases, the ink packages 8a, 9a are not crushed to the atmospheric pressure or the like. The internal pressure can be maintained at an appropriate negative pressure. In addition, as described above, the ink packages 8a and 9a are disposed horizontally, so that there is no difference in elevation, and the ink supply pressure due to gravity applied to each ink nozzle port 18 is uniform.

As described above, the ink print heads 15, 1
By maintaining the ink supply pressure of the ink supplied to the nozzle 6 at a uniform and appropriate negative pressure, the nozzle openings (not shown) of the nozzles 15a and 16a (see FIG. 3) of the print heads 15 and 16 are formed.
A concave meniscus (curved surface) is formed on the ink surface of the ink jet head, and these internal pressures are kept uniform, so that the ink ejected from the nozzles 15a and 16a of the print heads 15 and 16 can be made uniform. The printing quality can be maintained satisfactorily. For example, in the print heads 15 and 16 of the present embodiment, if the ink supply pressure is within a range (operating pressure range) of about 0 mmAq (water column) or more and about -300 mmAq (water column) or less with respect to the atmospheric pressure, Fifteen
A concave meniscus can be formed on the ink liquid surface in the nozzle openings a and 16a. It should be noted that the print head 15, the print head 15, when printing is performed by the portable printer 1 of the present embodiment.
The 16 optimal operating pressure ranges (optimal operating pressure ranges) are approximately -30 mmAq (water column) or less and approximately -100 with respect to the atmospheric pressure.
It is a pressure value of mmAq (water column) or more.

Next, the print heads 15, 16 will be described. Lower space 1 of body frame 6 of portable printer 1
b, a print head 1 is mounted on a carriage 27 that can reciprocate in the printer body 3 in the directions indicated by arrows Y and Y.
5 and 16 are mounted side by side along the main scanning direction. The print heads 15 and 16 perform printing by ejecting ink. A right nozzle 15a is disposed on the lower surface of the right print head 15, and a large number of nozzles constituted by piezo elements (piezoelectric elements) are provided. Two nozzle rows including the openings 18 are formed along the paper transport direction X. One of these nozzle rows is filled with magenta ink supplied from each ink package of the ink package 8a, and the other row is filled with black ink. A similarly configured nozzle left 16a is also provided on the lower surface of the print head left 16, and is filled with yellow and cyan inks. These nozzle arrays enable color printing.

According to the print heads 15, 16, when a voltage is applied to the plurality of nozzles 15a, 16a composed of piezo elements, a distortion proportional to the voltage value causes a distortion in the nozzles 1.
5a, 16a, the nozzles 15a, 16a contract. Due to this contraction, the ink filled in the nozzle openings 18 of the nozzles 15a and 16a is discharged onto the printing paper PP and printing is performed.

Next, the head driving FPC 35 will be described. Upper space 1 of portable printer 1 on FIG.
On the left side of the ink cartridges 8 and 9 of a, a control unit 34 including a CPU, an input buffer memory, a head driving IC, and the like is provided. Four FPCs (flexible printed cables) for applying a voltage to each head are connected to the control unit 34, and a rear edge portion of the control unit 34 in the upper space 1a of the portable printer 1 (the back side in FIG. 2). ) At 4
The head driving FPCs 35 are stacked, and are further joined to ink cartridges 8 and 9 described later at the rear edge portion (back side in FIG. 2) of the large ink cartridge 8 in the upper space 1a of the portable printer 1. The ink supply tubes 12 are stacked on the front side in FIG. 2 and connected to the upper portions of the print heads 15 and 16. The FPC 35 for driving a head is a film-shaped one in which a wiring pattern to be a conductive layer is formed on a polyimide base material, and this is further covered with a protective film.

Next, the portable printer 1 will be described with reference to a cross-sectional view from the side as viewed from an arrow. FIG. 3 shows the portable printer 1 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the line IV-IV viewed from the right. The CR motor (carriage motor) 30 is omitted for convenience. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the portable printer 1 as viewed from the front (the front side in FIG. 2) along the line VV in FIG. In the upper part of FIG. 3, ink extraction needles 10 are stabbed into the ink packages 8a and 9a housed in the above-described ink cartridges 8 and 9, respectively, for each color. At the rear edge portion (the right side in FIG. 3) of the upper space 1a of the portable printer 1, the ink packages 8a,
An ink supply tube 12 is connected to a paper holding portion (opposite tip portion (right side in FIG. 4)) of each ink extraction needle 10 stabbed into four ink packages for each color 9a. Each of the supply tubes 12 is a flexible, substantially hollow cylindrical circular tube formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, or the like. 16 to supply ink. In the present embodiment, each supply tube 12 is formed of a TYGON (registered trademark) tube manufactured by NORTON, and each supply tube 12 has a tube thickness of approximately 0.1 mm.
The TYGON tube is 8 mm, the inner diameter of the tube is approximately 0.8 mm, and the outer diameter of each supply tube 12 (the sum of the length twice the tube wall thickness and the inner diameter of the tube) is approximately 2.4 mm. The minimum value (minimum radius of curvature) of the radius of curvature R of the curved portion in a state where each supply tube 12 is bent is approximately 20 mm.

The arrow X in FIG. 3 indicates the direction in which the printing paper PP is transported. As shown in FIG. 4, an insertion opening 22 for inserting an unused printing paper PP is formed in a lower rear portion of the printer main body 3 (lower right side in FIG. 3). A transport driven by an LF motor (line feed motor) 31 composed of a pulse motor for transporting the print paper PP is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction (the direction of the arrow X) of the print paper PP inserted from the insertion opening 22. A roller 23 and a pressing roller 24 for pressing the printing paper PP against the transporting roller 23 are provided, and the two cooperate to press and transport the printing paper PP while holding the same. The feed roller 23 is provided with a transport roller gear 40 for supplying a driving force to the automatic paper feeder F1 coaxially.
1 is supplied with a driving force.

On the downstream side of the conveying roller 23 and the pressing roller 24, the printing paper PP conveyed from the conveying roller 23
Paper discharge roller 25 driven by an LF motor 31 for discharging paper to the outside of the printer main body 3, and the paper discharge roller 25
Roller (spur) 2 for pressing the printing paper PP
6 are provided. The paper discharging roller 25 and the pressing roller 26 cooperate to discharge the printing paper PP from the paper discharging port 4.

The transport roller 23 and the discharge roller 25
Between them, a platen 32 for horizontally supporting the printing paper PP for performing printing is provided, and above the printing paper PP placed on the platen 32, the above-described print heads 15 and 1 are provided.
6 are provided. The print heads 15 and 16 are provided with guide bars 29 laid on the body frame 6 of the printer body 3.
Along the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3, ie, FIG.
Is removably mounted on a carriage 27 that can reciprocate in the directions indicated by arrows Y and Y. Conveying rollers 23 are provided on the sides of the printing paper PP of the print heads 15 and 16.
The plurality of nozzles 15a and 16a described above for ejecting ink to the printing paper PP sandwiched by the above are formed.

Next, the carriage 27 on which the print heads 15 and 16 are mounted will be described with reference to FIGS. Carriage 27 disposed in main body lower space 1b
Is provided such that a guide bar 29 extending in the main scanning direction is penetrated to the rear side (the right side in FIG. 4), and is movable in the main scanning direction while being guided by the guide bar. Then, a timing belt 36 is wound around a driving pulley 38 and a driven pulley 39 disposed at the left end of FIG. 2 while being supported by the rotation shaft of the CR motor 30 disposed at the right end of FIG. The carriage 27 is fixed at one position. When a voltage is applied to the CR motor 30 by the control unit 34, the CR motor 30 rotates to rotate the driving pulley 38, rotate the timing belt 36, and guide the carriage 27 to the guard bar 29 while moving the carriage 27 in the main scanning direction. (FIG. 2 Y direction and anti-Y direction).

In order to recognize the position of the carriage 27, a timing fence 33 is provided on the rear side (the right side in FIG. 3) of the carriage 27. Timing fence is 3
Reference numeral 3 denotes a linear encoder, which is a glass plate having a fine slit, and a photosensor comprising a combination of a light emitter comprising two sets of LEDs and a phototransistor comprising a phototransistor slightly shifted in phase; Light from a light projector (not shown) provided on the opposite side of the timing fence 33 that has passed through the timing fence 33 is detected by a light receiver (not shown) by a set of photosensors (not shown). Two sets of the photosensors are arranged so as to have a phase difference of 1/2 of the slit so that the traveling direction can be recognized. One set of photosensors is used for origin detection. The CPU provided in the control unit 34 accumulates and analyzes the data based on the pulse data obtained from the photo sensor, and performs incremental control for recognizing the position of the carriage 27. In addition to the above-mentioned transmission type timing fence 33, a fine stripe pattern is printed or baked on a plate made of aluminum or the like as the timing fence 33, and light is emitted from the timing fence 33 by a laser projector. A reflection type timing fence 33 for detecting the reflected light by the light receiver and similarly recognizing the position may be used. Further, a timing fence having an absolute type scale may be used.

The CR motor 30 is a DC motor,
Speed control can be performed by M control or current value control. The current position is recognized based on the position information from the timing fence 33, and the speed and acceleration of the carriage 27 are further obtained. I do.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view in which the front main body frame is omitted when the portable printer 1 is viewed from the front along the line VV in FIG.
3 illustrates the direction of movement. As shown in FIG. 4, a driving force for reciprocating the carriage 27 in the left-right direction (arrow Y and counter-arrow Y directions) of FIG. 4 is provided on the upper part of the main body frame 6 provided on the right side of the printer main body 3. A supply CR motor 30 is provided.
3 (see FIG. 3) and an LF motor 31 that rotates the paper discharge roller 25, and an LF motor gear 37 that reduces and transmits the driving force of the LF motor 31 to the transport roller 23 and the paper discharge roller 25.
Are arranged.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the paper feed sensor 51 and the paper discharge sensor 52 in the lower part of FIG. The paper feed sensor 51 and the paper discharge sensor 52 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the printing paper PP is being conveyed in FIG. The transport roller 23 is a roller including a rubber layer 23a whose surface is covered with a rubber material having a large coefficient of friction and a cylindrical shaft portion 23b made of stainless steel.
As shown in FIG. 5, the printing paper PP has a dimension slightly longer than the width of the printing paper PP and is provided near the insertion slot 22. The transport roller 23 has a driving force of the LF motor 31 shown in FIG.
LF for shifting and transmitting the driving force from the LF motor 31
It is transmitted and rotated via a motor gear 37, and also serves as a registration roller as described later. The driven roller 24 is in contact with a driven roller 24 disposed below the transport roller 23, and the driven roller 24 rotates together with the transport roller 23.

The paper feed sensor 51 is provided in the vicinity of the transport roller 23, and detects the insertion of the print paper PP before the transport of the print paper PP by the transport roller 23 when the print paper PP is inserted through the insertion slot 22. It is. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a detailed structure near the paper feed sensor 51 before the printing paper PP is transported, and FIG. 8 is a detailed view around the paper feeding sensor 51 when the printing paper PP is being transported. It is a figure showing a structure. In FIG. 8, the paper feed sensor 51 before the printing paper PP is transported is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the paper feeding sensor 51 during paper transport is shown.
Is indicated by a solid line.

The paper feed sensor 51 is pivotally supported by a mounting stay 517 fixed to the main body frame 6.
It is supported by. The paper feed sensor 51 is a member formed by bending a stainless steel thin plate. A paper contact portion 512 extends obliquely downward from the support portion, and is bent slightly below the conveyance path of the printing paper PP to form a paper pressing portion 513 that is a surface parallel to the printing paper PP. . The sheet guide unit 512 and the sheet press unit 513 also have a function as a sheet conveyance guide and a sheet press, and stabilize engagement of the print sheet PP when the sheet is conveyed to the conveyance roller 23, and convey as a registration roller. It functions to prevent a jam when the roller 23 is reversed. A push-up portion 514 projecting obliquely downward is formed at a portion of the sheet pressing portion 513 on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. The push-up section 514 serves to reliably push up the paper feed sensor 51 upward when the print paper PP passes, and to urge the print paper PP to be separated from the print heads 15 and 16.

The extension portion 515 is connected to the paper holding portion 513.
The lower end of the paper feed sensor 51 is provided with a tip in the shape of a tapered substantially triangular plate, and transmits the movement of the upper portion of the paper feed sensor 51 to the lower portion.
The extension 515 enlarges the operation of detecting the upper printing paper PP and transmits it to the lower portion. The lower end of the extension 516 is provided with a light shielding portion 516. The light shielding unit 516 detects the absence of the printing paper PP by entering between the detecting unit 541 of the sheet feeding photo sensor 54 to be described later and blocking the light beam of the light projecting unit. The light beam reaches the light receiving portion to detect the entry of the printing paper PP into the vicinity of the transport roller 23. A stopper 511 protruding downstream in the sheet transport direction is provided in the vicinity of the support portion for the attachment stay 517. For example, when the print sheet PP is bent or jammed, the sheet guide section 512 or the sheet An abnormal bending when the presser 513 is abnormally pushed up is prevented, and the paper feed sensor 51 is prevented from being damaged.

FIG. 5 shows the paper feed sensor 51 and the paper feed roller 23.
FIG. 3 is a diagram viewed from the downstream side in the sheet transport direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the paper feed roller shaft 23b of the paper feed roller 23 is connected to the LF motor gear 37, and is divided into four parts.
3a are formed. Shaft 23 between each rubber layer 23a
The sheet pressing section 513 of the sheet feed sensor 51 is disposed below the exposed portion of the metal section b, and when the printing paper PP is conveyed by the rubber layer 23a, the sheet pressing section 51 is provided.
If the sheet 2 is flipped upward so as not to obstruct the conveyance, it moves in the direction of the rotation axis from the surface of the rubber layer 23a, and thus does not obstruct the conveyance of the printing paper PP (FIG. 8).
reference). Support shafts 51 are provided at both ends of the upper portion of the paper guide portion 512.
Reference numeral 8 protrudes coaxially, and is pivotally supported by a mounting stay 517. In FIG. 4, an extension 515 extends downward at the lower left, and a light-shielding portion 516 provided at the end thereof can shield or open between the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device of the detecting portion 541 of the paper feed photosensor 54. Placed in

As shown in FIG. 5, the width of the paper feed sensor 51 is formed wider than the width of the printing paper PP of the maximum size that can be used, and all the leading edges of the paper are guided by the paper guide unit 512. The paper can be inserted smoothly.

Here, the operation of the paper feed sensor 51 in the insertion of the printing paper PP and the skew correction will be described. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the printing paper PP is inserted from the insertion slot 22, the printing paper PP enters along the upper surface of the main body frame 6 while being supported by the main body frame 6 from below. When the printing paper PP enters the vicinity of the paper feed sensor 51, the leading end of the printing paper PP contacts the paper contact portion 512. From the contact angle, the leading end of the printing paper PP enters while pressing down on the contact surface of the paper guide portion 512 while pushing the paper holding portion 513 upward while being guided downward.

At this time, the extension portion 515 is pulled up, and the light-shielding portion 516 is separated from the detection portion 541 of the photo sensor 54, whereby the photo sensor 54 detects the entry of the printing paper PP, and this detection signal is sent to the wiring portion 542. The information is transmitted to the control unit 34 by the connected FPC. The control unit 34 applies a voltage to the LF motor 31 to the transport roller 23, and the transport roller 23 rotates in the reverse direction to function as a registration roller.

On the other hand, the paper guide unit 512 is
Urges the printing paper PP downward around the support shaft 518 by its own weight. Therefore, the leading end of the printing paper PP is guided below the paper guiding unit 512 while being held down. Then, the transport roller 23 and the pressing roller 24
The tip enters the V-shaped recess formed by the roller and the roller, and further enters the V-shaped recess to abut on the contact portion between the transport roller 23 and the pressing roller 24. In this case, when the transport roller 23 is rotating reversely as a registration roller, the printing paper PP is not transported sandwiched by the transport roller 23, but is prevented from being upwardly jumped by the reverse transport roller 23. , And the leading end of the printing paper PP is pressed against the concave portion formed by the transport roller 23 and the pressing roller 24, and the leading edge of the printing paper PP is entirely transported by the transport roller 23.
And wait for contact with the pressing roller 24. Thereby, when the transport roller 23 is reversed and starts to rotate forward,
The leading edge of the printing paper PP is transported by the transport rollers 23 in a line. Therefore, the printing paper PP is transported straight even if the printing paper PP is inserted from the insertion opening 22 with a slight bending. In this way, the skew of the printing paper PP is corrected. As described above, in the skew correction, the paper feed sensor 51 performs an operation of guiding the leading end of the printing paper PP without being flipped up by the transport rollers 23.

In the center of FIG. 6, downstream of the transport roller 23, a platen 32 on which a printing paper PP for printing is placed is arranged. Above the platen 32, printing heads 15, 16 by ink jet heads are arranged at a predetermined distance. Is mounted on the carriage and moves and passes. The position where the print head passes is the actual print start position.

Further, a discharge roller 25 is disposed downstream of the platen 32 in the sheet transport direction. Hereinafter, the paper discharge roller 25 will be described. The paper discharge roller 25 is a cylindrical roller made of stainless steel whose surface is covered with a rubber material having a large friction coefficient. As shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the vicinity. The paper discharge roller 25 is an LF shown in FIG.
The driving force of the motor 31 is transmitted and rotated via an LF motor gear 37 that shifts and transmits the driving force from the LF motor 31. Further, it is in contact with a gear type pressing roller (spur) 26 disposed above the sheet discharging roller 25, and the pressing roller 26 rotates with the sheet discharging roller 25.

The paper discharge sensor 52 is provided in the vicinity of the paper discharge roller 25 and detects the passage of the print paper PP almost simultaneously with the conveyance of the print paper PP by the paper discharge roller 25 when the print paper PP has passed through the platen 32. Is what you do. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a detailed structure near the paper ejection sensor 52 when the printing paper PP is being conveyed. Hereinafter, the printing paper PP is shown in FIG.
Is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the sheet discharge sensor 52 at the time of sheet discharge is indicated by a solid line.

The paper ejection sensor 52 is swingably supported by a support portion 524 supported by the main body frame 6 (not shown). A horizontal paper pressing portion 523 is formed substantially horizontally from the support portion 524 on the upstream side in the paper transport direction, and the paper abutment portion 522 is formed from the upstream end of the paper pressing portion 523 to the upper part by the discharge roller 25. And extends slightly downstream from the position where the discharge roller 25 and the pressing roller 26 come into contact with each other. This sheet contact portion 522
Is for contacting the printing paper PP entering the paper discharge roller 25 from the platen 32 side and detecting this. Further, the leading end of the paper contact portion 522 is
5 is bent in the opposite direction to the rotation center to form a tip 521. The leading end 521 is a projection for more reliably operating the paper ejection sensor 52 by the printing paper PP.

An extension 525, which is an elongated rectangular plate-like member, extends downward from the lower portion of the paper presser 523. The extension portion 525 is a member that functions to expand the operation of detecting the printing paper PP, and a light shielding portion 526 that is a rectangular plate-shaped member is provided at a lower end thereof. Shield 526
Is to detect the absence of the printing paper PP by entering between the detecting unit 551 composed of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the paper ejection photosensor 55 and blocking the light beam of the light emitting unit.
By stopping the light shielding and allowing the light beam to reach the light receiving portion, the passage of the printing paper PP near the discharge roller 25 is detected.

The paper feed photosensor 54 and the paper discharge photosensor 55 have the same configuration, and will be described using the paper discharge photosensor 55. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the configuration of the paper ejection sensor shown in FIG. 9 as viewed from the downstream side in the paper transport direction. Note that the discharge roller 25 and the pressing roller 26 are omitted, and a part of the main body frame 6 is added. This will be described below with reference to FIG.

The light-shielding portion 526 provided at the tip of the extension portion 525 extending below the paper ejection sensor 52
If P does not exist, it is arranged between the detection units 551 of the paper ejection photosensor 55 as described above. The detection unit 551 of the paper ejection photosensor 54 is a U-shaped member having a space in the center and an open top, and a projection provided with a near-infrared light emitting diode (LED) on the left side of FIG. Light unit 5
53, and a light receiving unit 554 including a phototransistor is disposed on the right side. Then, light is emitted from the LED toward the light receiving unit 554 from the light emitting unit 553, and the light is sensed by the phototransistor of the light receiving unit 554. Therefore,
If the light shielding unit 526 is arranged between the light emitting unit 553 and the light receiving unit 554, light from the light emitting unit 553 does not reach the light receiving unit 554, and no current is generated from the light receiving unit 554. The control unit 34 connected by the FPC from the unit 552 to the detection unit 551 determines that the print paper PP does not exist.

On the other hand, if the print paper PP is present on the paper discharge roller 23, the light-shielding portion 526 separates from between the detecting portions 551 as shown by the solid line in FIG. The light from 553 reaches the light receiving unit 554, and the current generated by receiving the light of the LED at the light receiving unit 554 is sent to the control unit 34 via the FPC connected to the wiring unit 552, and the control unit 34 This current is detected, and it is determined that the print paper PP exists in the paper discharge sensor 52.

By using the paper discharge photosensor 55, there is no contact resistance or resistance due to a spring in signal detection itself, and the paper discharge sensor 52 is compared with a case where a mechanical switch such as another push switch is used. Displaces with a very small force. Further, the paper discharge sensor 52 itself is supported by the support portion 524 in a well-balanced manner, so that the paper discharge sensor 52 moves with an extremely small force. Since the paper discharge sensor 52 has the upper extension portion 525, the small movement can be detected in an enlarged manner. In addition, it is possible to provide a sensitive sensor without giving resistance to the printing paper PP.

The feed photosensor 54 of the feed sensor 51 according to the present invention has the same structure as that of the discharge photosensor 55 of the discharge photosensor 55 described above. For the same reason, the feed photosensor 54 can be a sensitive sensor that moves with extremely small force by using the photosensor described above.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a case where the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted on the portable printer 1. The ACF sensor 53 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the mounting hook F6 of the automatic paper feeder F1 is inserted into the mounting opening 21 of the portable printer 1 and the automatic paper feeding device F1 is moved downward as it is. The parts are fitted, and at the same time, the mounting projection F7 of the automatic paper feeder F1 can be inserted into the ACF detection port 20. Therefore, if the mounting hook F6 is incomplete, the mounting projection F7 cannot be inserted into the ACF detection port 20.
Incomplete mounting can be prevented. Here, when the automatic paper feeder F1 is rotated slightly clockwise in FIG. 11, the lock device (not shown) is joined, and the mounting is completed. At this time, the weight of the ACF acts in the direction of inserting the mounting projection F7 with the mounting hook F6 as a fulcrum, so that careless release of the lock is prevented. When the mounting is completed, the mounting projection F7 enters the ACF detection port 20, and presses the contact portion 531 of the ACF sensor 53 disposed here.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the operation of the ACF sensor 53 when the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted on a portable printer. The portion indicated by the two-dot chain line is the automatic paper feeder F
Reference numeral 1 denotes a state when the camera is not mounted. The ACF sensor has an L-shaped arm 532, a contact portion 531 is provided at the tip of a horizontally provided arm 532, and an external direction (from the ACF detection port 21 formed in the main body frame 6). (Right direction in FIG. 12). Arm 5
The arm 532 has a bent portion on the side of the horizontal portion 32 opposite to the contact portion 531 and extends downward. An end of the arm 532 extending below the arm 532 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 533 so that the entire ACF sensor 53 can rotate. An extension portion 534 is provided horizontally from the support shaft 533 in the inward direction (left direction in FIG. 12), and a pressing portion 535 is provided at the lower end of the end portion. The pressing portion 535 is formed in a groove shape, and the tip of a push portion 561 provided to protrude above the push switch 56 is fitted into the pressing portion 535.

The push switch 56 includes a push unit 56
1 is pressed by the pressing unit 535 of the ACF sensor 53, the push unit is pressed, and the wiring unit 56 electrically connected to the control unit 34 by the FPC and to which a minute voltage is applied.
The 2/562 circuit is closed by mechanical contact, and the control unit 34 detects the mounting of the automatic paper feeder F1. In this manner, the control unit 34 detects the mounting of the automatic paper feeder F1, and performs a paper feed control method described later on the automatic paper feeder F1.
1 is different from the case where it is not mounted.

FIG. 13 shows the printing paper PP in the portable printer 1 when the automatic paper feeder F1 is not mounted.
5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a method for controlling the tip position of the image forming apparatus. Hereinafter, a method of controlling the leading end position of the printing paper PP in the portable printer 1 when the automatic paper feeding device F1 is not mounted will be described with reference to this flowchart. First, the paper feed sensor 51 waits for the user to insert the printing paper PP (Step 1: NO (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S)), and when the paper feeding sensor 51 detects the printing paper PP (S1: YES). ), And waits for skew correction (S3). The skew correction is performed after the transport roller 23 is stopped for a predetermined time and the user waits for a time to uniformly press the printing paper PP against the transport roller 23. The rotation of the transport roller 23, which has been stopped for a predetermined time, is started to transport the sheet (S5). The printing paper PP is conveyed, and the paper ejection sensor 5
2 (S7: YES), from the print data stored in the output buffer (not shown) of the control unit 34,
The upper margin of the print is read (S9). Here, when the length of the margin is compared with the length D1 between the nozzle 18 on the most downstream side of the print head and the paper ejection sensor 52 shown in FIG. (S11: YES), the printing paper P is sequentially transported in the paper transport direction X (see FIG. 3) by a distance obtained by subtracting D1 from the margin length (S13), and if D1 is smaller than the margin length. In this case (S11: NO), the printing paper PP is reversely transported in a direction opposite to the paper transport direction X by a distance obtained by subtracting the margin length from D1 (S15). Forward conveyance (S1
3) When the reverse conveyance (S15) is completed, the carriage is reciprocated to perform printing (S17), and the leading edge control is ended (end).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the leading end position of the printing paper PP in the portable printer 1 when the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted.
Hereinafter, a method of controlling the leading edge position of the printing paper PP in the portable printer 1 when the automatic paper feeding device F1 is mounted will be described with reference to this flowchart. First, the printing paper is transported by the automatic paper feeder (ACF) (S21),
When the print paper PP is detected by the paper feed sensor 51 (S2
3: YES), the transport roller 23 rotates in the reverse direction of the paper transport direction X, and performs skew correction of the print paper PP (S25). When the skew correction is completed, the upper margin of the print is read from the print data stored in the output buffer of the control unit 34 (S
27). Then, the print paper PP is added by a distance obtained by adding the length of the read margin and the length D2 (see FIG. 11) between the nozzle 18 on the most downstream side of the print head and the contact position between the transport roller and the press roller 24. Is transported (S2
9). When the conveyance is completed, printing is performed from that position (S31), and the control of the leading edge of the paper is ended (end).

Next, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the method of using the portable printer 1 for performing manual printing without mounting the automatic paper feeder (ACF) F1, The control method and its operation will be specifically described. First, as a preparation, open the opening / closing lid 7 (see FIG. 1),
The cartridges 8 and 9 filled with ink are mounted on the cartridge frame 5. When the power is turned on after the ink cartridges 8 and 9 are installed, before the printing is started, the nozzle port 1 is turned on.
In order to perform good printing, a purge operation is performed prior to printing in order to suck and discharge the dried or bubble-containing ink or the ink to which dust or the like has adhered. At the initial position of the carriage 27 when the power is turned on, since the nozzles 15a and 16a of the print heads 15 and 16 are sealed by the caps 62 and 63, as shown in FIG.
Due to 1, the driving force is transmitted to the pump driving gear 61 via the LF motor gear 37, and the purging operation is performed.

Thereafter, the operation of the carriage 27 is confirmed, and the carriage 27 is stopped at the initial position at the start of printing. Thus, the preparation of the portable printer 1 itself is completed, and the portable printer 1 enters a standby state.

When the portable printer 1 is ready for printing, the print data is transferred from the personal computer (PC) to the PC. In this case, if the printing paper PP has not been prepared, the display on the PC side and an LED (not shown) for warning of running out of paper of the printer prompt the insertion of the printing paper PP. In this case, the user prints the printing paper PP from the insertion opening 22 of the printing paper PP on the rear side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the portable printer 1 in the X direction with the left end portion displayed outside the insertion opening 22. The printing paper PP is inserted by hand from the upper side (printing start side) of the printing paper PP with the printing surface facing up in accordance with the mark (not shown) indicating the position.

As shown in FIG. 6, the printing paper PP inserted from the insertion opening 22 slides on the upper surface of the main body frame 6 in the X direction (leftward in FIG. Contacting the paper guide portion 512 of the transport roller 2
3 guides the leading edge of the sheet to the driven roller 24.

At this time, when the leading end of the printing paper PP pushes up the paper guide section 512, the paper feed sensor 51 is pushed up.
The position of No. 16 is moved. When the light-shielding portion 516 moves, the light from the light-emitting device provided in the detection portion 541 of the paper feed sensor 54 reaches the light-receiving device, and this is converted into an electric signal by the control portion 34.
Is transmitted, and the entry of the printing paper PP is recognized.

When the entry of the printing paper PP is recognized, a voltage is applied to the LF motor 31 by the control unit 34 so as to reverse the transport roller 23, and the transport roller 23 is driven through the LF motor gear 37 for a predetermined time, for example, 2 seconds. The driven roller 24 is rotated in reverse from second to three seconds, and is rotated in conjunction with the driven roller 24 because it is in contact with the transport roller 23. When the leading end of the printing paper PP is inserted, the printing paper PP is not bitten between the transport roller 23 and the driven roller 24 that has been rotated in the reverse direction.
Therefore, when the printing paper PP is inserted, the leading end of the printing paper PP fits into a concave portion formed between the transport roller 23 and the driven roller 24,
Further, since the paper is not conveyed by the two rollers, the leading ends of the printing paper PP are aligned here. That is, it functions as a so-called registration roller. However, even in this case, since it is a manual feed, it is premised that the user presses the conveying roller 23 correctly. If the pressing itself exceeds the limit of the skew correction, the skew cannot be corrected.

The rotation may be stopped for a predetermined time, for example, about 2 to 3 seconds. In the meantime, it waits for the leading ends of the printing paper PP to abut on the concave portion between the transport roller 23 and the driven roller 24. Then, after waiting for a predetermined time in this way, a pulse current is supplied from the control unit 34 to the LF motor 37 so that the leading edge of the printing paper PP is aligned, and the transport roller rotates forward, so that the transport roller 23 and the driven roller 24 The printing paper PP whose leading ends are aligned is bitten and conveyed.

The printing paper PP being transported by the transport roller 23 and the driven roller 24 (see FIG. 7) advances along the upper surface of the platen 32 and contacts the paper discharge sensor 52 when passing through the platen 32. . Discharge sensor 5
2, the leading end of the printing paper PP is in contact with the paper contact portion 522.
The upper part of the pressed paper ejection sensor 52 tilts to the downstream side in the paper transport direction with the indicator 523 as a fulcrum, the extension part 525 tilts to the downstream side, and the light shielding part 256 moves to the downstream side. Then, the detection unit 5 of the paper ejection photo sensor 55
The light-shielding unit 256 disposed on the light-emitting unit 51 is separated from the detecting unit 551, and light from the light-emitting unit 553 disposed on the detecting unit 551 reaches the light-receiving unit 554, and is generated by a phototransistor of the light-receiving unit. Current flowing from the wiring section 552 to the FP
The control unit 34 reaches the control unit 34 via C, and the control unit 34 recognizes that the print sheet PP exists in the sheet discharge sensor 55.

When the control unit 34 recognizes that the printing paper PP exists at the position of the paper ejection sensor 52, the printing paper PP
The exact position of the tip of can be confirmed. Therefore, when recognizing this position, the control unit 34 stops the pulse current given to the LF motor 31 and stops the rotation, thereby temporarily storing the leading edge position of the printing paper PP.

Then, the control section 34 checks whether or not print data to be printed exists in the output buffer.
If it has already been entered, it is checked how much the print margin is from the upper end of the printing paper PP. Printing paper P
In P, the length from the leading edge of the sheet to the position where printing is started is checked.

The margin is determined by the paper ejection sensor 52.
If the distance is greater than the distance D1 (see FIG. 7) from the ink jet heads 15 and 16 to the nozzle ports 18 on the most downstream side, the printing paper PP is transported by the distance obtained by subtracting the distance of D1 from the margin (the X direction in FIG. 3). The conveyance roller 23 is rotated in the opposite direction to the printing start position, and conversely, the margin is
When the distance is smaller than the distance D1 (see FIG. 7) to the nozzle port 18 on the most downstream side of Nos. 5 and 16, the print paper PP is transported by a distance obtained by subtracting a margin from the distance of D1 in the paper transport direction (X direction in FIG. 3). 23 is rotated to the printing start position. In this way, as in the case where the leading edge of the printing paper PP is controlled based on the leading edge of the printing paper PP, the printing paper PP moves once a predetermined distance from the leading edge, and further reaches the actual printing start position. Need not be conveyed, and the throughput is improved.

If the control unit 34 cannot find the print data to be printed in the output buffer, the position of the leading end of the printing paper PP is set to a predetermined standard margin width as in the related art. Is set, and when the paper ejection sensor 52 detects the printing paper PP, the printing paper PP is moved forward or backward. In this case, the paper ejection sensor 52 and the above-described nozzle port 1
It is preferable that the distance from the print sheet 8 to the predetermined margin is the same as the predetermined margin because the amount of movement of the sheet ejection sensor 52 after the detection of the printing sheet PP is minimized.

Next, a description will be given of a method of controlling the position of the leading edge of the printing paper and handling when the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted. Here, FIG. 11 is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 4 when the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted on the portable printer 1. First, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the mounting hook F6 provided on the front side (left side in FIG. 11) of the main body F2 is inserted into the mounting port 21 on the rear side of the portable printer 1 and pushed down, and the automatic paper feeder 1 Of the portable printer 1 with the mounting projection F7 of
Insert it into the F detection port 20 and fix it. When the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted on the portable printer 1 in this manner, the paper discharge port F9 of the automatic paper feeder F1 is connected to the insertion port 2 of the portable printer.
It will communicate with 2.

Hereinafter, the automatic paper feeder F1 is the portable printer 1
The operation in the case where the camera is mounted on will be described. FIG.
FIG. 16 is a side view sectional view showing the flow of the printing paper PP in the automatic sheet feeding device F1, and FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a drive system of the automatic sheet feeding device F1. First, the opening / closing lid F3 is opened to unfold the sheet supporting portion F4, and the right side end of the predetermined number of printing sheets PP in front view is inserted into the sheet placing portion F5 along the pressure plate F21. At this time, the leading end of the printing paper PP is
Abut on the upper edge of

When predetermined image information is input to the portable printer 1 and printing is started, the LF motor 31 is rotated by a command from the control unit 34 of the portable printer 1.
The LF motor 31 first rotates in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction. The rotation of the LF motor 31 causes the transport roller gear 40 to rotate in the reverse direction via the LF motor gear 37, and the power transmission gear 41 is clockwise clockwise in FIG. Then outside gear D 4
4a and the inner 44b are rotated left, and the pendulum gear E45
Rotates to the position 45a and meshes with the gear F46. The pendulum gear G47 is rotationally moved to the position 47b and comes to a position where the engagement with the sheet feeding gear 48 is released. Therefore, the driving force is transmitted from the pendulum gear E45a to the sheet feeding gear 48 via the gear F46 so as to always rotate clockwise in the drawing of FIG. 4, that is, rotate the sheet feeding roller F31 in the sheet conveying direction. .

The feed roller F31 has a modified D shape having a contact surface F311 that can contact the printing paper PP and non-contact surfaces F312 and F313 that are flat surfaces that do not contact the printing paper PP. Roller F31 is a paper feed cam
(Not shown) and the pressure plate driven portion (not shown) are fitted to each other, and the pressure plate F21 is pressed by the pressure plate driven portion to be located below, and the non-contact surface F313 and the pressure plate F21 face each other. It is in. Printing paper PP is laminated on the pressure plate F21. Further, the separation pad F32 is connected to the sheet feeding roller F31.
And the separation pad F32 is in contact with the collar F33. With the rotation of the paper feed roller F31, the paper feed roller F31 has a rotation phase in which it can come into contact with the printing paper PP. That is, the contact surface F312 of the paper feed roller F31 contacts the printing paper PP, and the color F33 does not contact the paper surface. A large number of uppermost printing papers PP in contact with the contact surface are conveyed by the contact surface F312 of the paper feed roller F31, but the conveyance of the second and subsequent sheets is prevented by friction of the separation pad F32. Then, it remains on the sheet placement unit F5 as it is. One transported printing paper P
P is carried into the portable printer 1 from the paper discharge port F9 of the automatic paper feeder 1 via the paper insertion port 22 of the portable printer 1. When the leading edge of the transported printing paper PP reaches the transport roller 23 of the portable printer 1, the transport roller 23 is rotated in a direction opposite to the transport direction, and the leading edge of the printing paper PP is transported between the transport roller 23 and the pressing roller 24. However, the printing paper PP is bent and the leading end of the printing paper PP is uniformly pressed against the concave portion between the conveying roller 23 and the pressing roller, so that the skew of the printing paper PP is corrected.
In this case, the printing paper PP is being conveyed by the contact surface 312 of the paper feed roller F31.

When the skew correction is completed, the LF motor 31 is reversed by the paper feed sensor 51 to change the rotation direction from the reverse direction to the forward direction. When rotating in the forward direction, the pendulum gear G4
7, the driving force is transmitted to the feed gear 48, and the pendulum gear G
The sheet feeding gear 48 meshed with the sheet feeding roller F3 rotates the printing sheet PP in the transport direction in the same manner as in the case of the reverse rotation.
1 continuously transports the printing paper PP. In this case, the conveyance is started by the conveyance roller 23, but the printing paper PP is bent during the skew correction. Printing paper PP
Is transported between the transport roller 23 and the pressing roller 24 of the portable printer 1 rotating in the forward direction and transported, but this bending is maintained. When the sheet feeding gear 48 rotates and the meshing portion comes to the intermittent portion 481, the meshing of the pendulum gear G47 with the sheet feeding gear 48 is released, and even if the pendulum gear G47 rotates, the sheet feeding gear 48 rotates. Do not stop. When the rotation of the paper feed gear 48 stops, the non-contact surfaces F313 and F314 of the paper feed roller F31 face the pressure plate F21 and the separation pad F32, respectively, and the paper feed roller F31 separates from contact with the printing paper PP. Release this. The printing paper PP is continuously transported by the transport roller 23 and the pressing roller 24 of the portable printer 1 which has already been transported.

Here, when paper is fed using the automatic paper feeder F 1, since the paper is conveyed as described above and skew correction is reliably performed, the leading edge position is detected by the paper feed sensor 51. It is determined that the position of the leading edge of the printed printing paper PP is accurate. Therefore, although the skew correction function has been provided as in the above-described manual printing, the skew of the sheet cannot be completely removed. Had been
When the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted, the skew correction is reliably performed, so that the printing paper PP is not based on the paper discharge sensor 52 but based on the paper leading edge position detected by the paper feed sensor 51.
Can be controlled.

Therefore, unlike the above-described leading edge control when the automatic paper feeder F1 is not mounted, the following control is performed. That is, when the transport roller 23 starts transporting the printing paper PP, the control unit 34 first checks whether or not print data to be printed exists in the output buffer. Printing margin is printing paper PP
Find out how far from the top of the. That is, the length from the leading edge of the printing paper PP to the position where printing is started is checked.

Then, the printing paper PP is conveyed by a distance obtained by adding a distance D2 (see FIG. 11) from the paper feed roller 23 to the nozzle port 18 on the most downstream side of the ink jet heads 15, 16 to the length of the margin. The conveying roller 23 may be rotated in the direction (X direction in FIG. 3) to set the printing start position. In this way, as in the case where the leading edge of the printing paper PP is controlled based on the paper ejection sensor 52, the leading edge of the printing paper PP is not transported to the paper ejection sensor 52, and the paper sheet PP is completely wasted. Since printing can be started immediately without performing the above, the highest throughput can be achieved.

If the control unit 34 cannot find the print data to be printed in the output buffer, the printing paper P is set so as to obtain a predetermined standard margin width.
The leading end position of P is set, and the printing paper PP is transported by a predetermined distance. Also in this case, it is preferable to carry the printing paper PP so that the distance from the nozzle port 18 coincides with a predetermined margin since the subsequent carrying amount of the printing paper PP is the smallest.

As described above, the portable printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with the paper feed sensor 51. It is guided to be transported to the transport roller 23 by 512. Therefore, the printing paper PP enters stably while maintaining an appropriate position. Further, since the sheet guide section 512 is formed to have a width wider than the sheet width of the printing sheet PP, it is possible to reliably guide the entire leading edge of the sheet.

Further, the transport roller 23 and the pressing roller 24
When the paper is conveyed by the printer, the print heads 515 and 1 serving as recording means are arranged to prevent the printing paper PP from being lifted by the paper pressing unit 513 and to maintain an appropriate printing position.
6 to keep the proper position.

The push-up section 514 surely displaces the position of the paper feed sensor 51 and urges the print paper PP in a direction to separate the print paper PP from the print heads 15 and 16.
It functions to press the printing paper PP to an appropriate printing position.

The paper feed sensor 512 is reliably supported by the paper guide 512, the paper presser 513, and the push-up unit 514.
About the center. Paper feed sensor 51 by extension 515
The displacement of the light shielding portion 516 is displaced and the light shielding portion 516 is displaced.
Reference numeral 16 reliably detaches from the paper feed photo sensor 54, and the paper feed photo sensor 54 detects the entry of the printing paper PP.
For this detection, a non-contact photo sensor that does not generate contact resistance or the like is used, so that the movement of the paper feed sensor 51 is not hindered, and the paper feed sensor 51 is displaced with a small force. Sensitivity is high. In addition, since the print section PP can be set apart from the conveyance path by the extension section 515, dust generated from the print sheet PP can be configured to be less likely to adhere to the detection section 541 having the light projecting section and the light receiving section.

Since such an operation is performed by the single paper feed sensor 51, a space can be reduced and a compact structure can be achieved as compared with the case where each of them is separately provided.

Further, in the present embodiment, the transport rollers 2
3 as a registration roller, using small inkjet heads 15 and 16 as recording means, and making the automatic paper feeder F1 detachable. Is composed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0094]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the detecting means can urge the paper to be separated from the recording means.
It functions as a paper presser to prevent the paper from floating,
This has the effect of stabilizing the paper at the appropriate transport position and print position. Further, since the position of the detecting means is displaced by the contact of the leading end of the sheet, there is also an effect that the position of the sheet can be accurately detected. Therefore, the same member can perform both the function of stabilizing the position of the sheet and the function of detecting the position of the sheet. Therefore, compared with the case where the members are separately provided to detect the stability and the position of the sheet, This has the effect of being able to be installed in a small space and to achieve downsizing of the recording device.

According to the recording apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the recording apparatus of the first aspect, since the leading edge of the sheet can be guided to an appropriate position and the sheet can be pressed accurately, There is an effect that the paper can be transported more stably.

According to the recording apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the recording apparatus of the second aspect, a guide portion larger than the sheet width can be provided.
More stable paper conveyance can be performed. In addition, there is an effect that reliable paper guidance can be performed regardless of the size of the paper.

According to the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effects of the recording apparatus of the first to third aspects, even a slight displacement of the detecting means is detected by being enlarged. Therefore, there is an effect that a highly sensitive sheet detecting unit can be used. Further, by providing the extension, there is also an effect that the sensor unit can be provided separately from dust or the like coming out of printing paper or the like.

According to the recording apparatus of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, by using a photo sensor for the sensor section, the movement of the detecting means can be prevented even if the extension section is lengthened. There is an effect that a slight change in position can be detected with high sensitivity without hindrance.

According to the recording apparatus of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effects of the recording apparatus of the first aspect, by using both the transport roller and the registration roller, a small space can be attained. A roller having a function can be provided, and there is an effect that downsizing of the recording apparatus can be achieved in combination with downsizing of the detecting means.

According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the recording apparatus of any one of the first to sixth aspects, the recording apparatus using an ink jet head which can be easily downsized is provided. The provision of the detection means has an effect that a more compact recording apparatus can be obtained.

According to the recording apparatus of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effects of the recording apparatus of the first aspect, the automatic sheet feeding apparatus is detachably provided to enable automatic sheet feeding. By removing the apparatus, there is an effect that an extremely compact recording apparatus can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance in which an automatic paper feeder (ACF) F1 is mounted on a portable printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of the portable printer 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the portable printer 1 as viewed from the right side along the line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable printer 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a line viewed from the front (the front side in FIG. 2).

FIG. 5 is a view of the paper feed sensor 51 and the paper feed roller 23 viewed from the downstream side in the paper transport direction.

FIG. 6 shows a paper feed sensor 51 and a paper discharge sensor 52 in the lower part of FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the printing paper PP is being conveyed in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a detailed structure near the paper feed sensor 51 when the printing paper PP is being conveyed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a detailed structure near a sheet ejection sensor 52 when a printing sheet PP is being conveyed.

10 is a schematic view of the configuration of the paper ejection sensor shown in FIG. 9 as viewed from the downstream side in the paper transport direction.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a case where the automatic paper feeder F1 is mounted on the portable printer 1.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the ACF sensor 53 when the automatic sheet feeding device F1 is mounted on a portable printer.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the leading end position of the printing paper PP in the portable printer 1 when the automatic paper feeding device F1 is not mounted.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the leading end position of the printing paper PP in the portable printer 1 when the automatic paper feeding device F1 is mounted.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing the flow of the printing paper PP of the automatic paper feeder F1.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a drive system of the automatic sheet feeding device F1.

FIG. 17 illustrates a paper feed sensor 5 before a printing paper PP is transported.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed structure near 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable printer (recording device) 15, 16 Print head (recording means) 23 Conveyance roller (registration roller) 24 Holding roller (conveyance means) 27 Carriage 34 Control part (control means) 51 Paper feed sensor 511 Stopper 512 Paper guide part 513 Paper press section 514 Push-up section 515 Extension section 516 Light-blocking section 517 Mounting stay 518 Support shaft 54 Feed paper photo sensor 541 Detection section F1 Automatic paper feeder (ACF) PP Print paper (paper)

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2C058 AB02 AB16 AB23 AC07 AC11 AC17 AD09 AF20 AF23 AF38 AF43 AF47 GB01 GB14 GB31 GB32 GB47 GB49 2C059 DD00 DD04 DD07 DD09 DD14 DD20 DD24 3F048 AA05 AB01 BA05 BA08 BB10 CC03

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus comprising: recording means for recording on a sheet; conveying means for conveying the sheet; and detecting means for detecting the conveyed sheet. A movable member that is disposed on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction and displaces its position due to the contact of the leading end of the sheet, and biases the sheet so as to be separated from the recording unit over the sheet width after passing through the leading end of the sheet. A recording apparatus, comprising: a member; and detection means for detecting a position of the leading end of the sheet from a displacement of the position of the movable member due to contact with the leading end of the sheet. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit has a guide unit that guides a leading edge of the conveyed sheet to the conveyance unit. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the guide has a width larger than a maximum width of a sheet that can be recorded by the recording apparatus. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes an extension for enlarging the displacement of the movable member, and the detecting means includes a sensor for detecting a displacement of a tip of the extension. Claims 1 to 3
The recording device according to any one of the above. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor unit includes a photo sensor. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit serves as a conveying roller for conveying the sheet and a registration roller for correcting skew of the sheet, and the detecting unit is provided near the conveying unit. The recording device according to claim 1. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means includes an ink jet head. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is detachable from an automatic paper feeder.