JP2000313547A - Medium aligning device and medium transporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a deformation of a medium, and to surely align the medium. SOLUTION: Medium holding rollers 20 are provided through torque limiters 19 on a pair of movable bodies 10, 11 placed opposing to each other with a medium transport passage 1 between them. While a medium 2 is held by the medium holding rollers 20, the movable bodies 10, 11 are moved outward in the medium transport passage 1, thereby making the medium 2 abut on a medium reference surface 5. Until the medium 2 abuts against the medium reference surface 5, the torque limiters 19 prohibit rotational motions of the medium holding rollers 20 to hold the medium 2 surely. After the medium 2 abuts against the medium reference surface 5, when the movable bodies 10,11 move to outsides of the medium reference surface 5, the torque limiters 19 allow the rotational motions of the medium holding rollers 20. This prevents a deformation of the medium 2 when the medium 2 is pressed against the medium reference surface 5 with a strong force, thereby surely aligning the medium 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medium aligning apparatus and a medium transporting apparatus which are used by being mounted on, for example, a printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a printing apparatus or the like, when a medium on which data is to be recorded is transported to a desired position, the printing position is not constant unless a position in the width direction of the medium is determined. Methods for determining the position of the medium in the width direction include a center position reference method and a one-side position reference method.

The center position reference method is a method in which a pair of side fences that move at equal distances in the symmetrical direction are provided, and these side fences are brought into contact with both sides of the medium to align the medium. The one-side position reference method is a method in which a medium reference surface is provided on one side of a medium conveyance path, and one side of the medium is brought into contact with the medium reference surface to align the medium.

An example of a medium transporting apparatus A equipped with this one-side reference type medium aligning apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. The medium transport device A constitutes a part of a medium printing device (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11), and 1 is a medium transport path that determines a transport path of the medium 2. The medium transport path 1 is provided with guide plates 3 opposed to each other with a predetermined gap.
4 and a medium reference surface 5 provided on one side of the guide plates 3 and 4. A transport roller 6 is provided above the guide plate 4, and a clamp roller 7 is provided below the guide plate 3. The transport roller 6 is connected to a transport motor (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11), and the clamp roller 7 is movable in the vertical direction and urged upward by a roller holder 70.
Are supported rotatably. This roller holder 7
Numeral 0 can be separated from the transport roller 6 by a clamp magnet (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11).

Next, the configuration of the medium alignment device B provided in the medium transport device A will be described. The principle of the medium alignment device B is basically the same as the principle of the medium pulling mechanism described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-43074. The medium transport device A has a frame 8 fixed to the outside of the medium transport path 1. A guide plate 9 fixed to the frame 8 has a pair of arms 10, one ends of which are opposed to each other with the medium transport path 1 interposed therebetween. 1
1 is supported. One end of each of the arms 10 and 11 is provided with a soft friction member 12 such as rubber. The other ends of the arms 10 and 11 are rotatably connected to one end of a link 14 by a support shaft 14 a, and the other end of the link 14 is connected to a plunger 13 a of the alignment magnet 13.

The arms 10 and 11 are provided with rotatable contact rollers 16 for contacting inclined surfaces 15 formed at two upper and lower portions of the guide plate 9. These inclined surfaces 15
Are formed symmetrically in the vertical direction on the extension surface of the medium 2,
As the distance from the medium transport path 1 increases, the distance is gradually reduced. In addition, these arms 1
Both ends of a spring 17 are fixed to 0 and 11.
The spring 17 is provided in the link 1 more than the contact roller 16.
4 and the arms 10 and 11 are arranged in such a direction that the friction members 12 approach each other with the support shaft 14a as a fulcrum.
Energize. The arms 10 and 11 and the plunger 13a of the alignment magnet 13 are urged toward the inside of the medium transport path 1 by a spring 17a.

The guide plates 3 and 4 of the medium transport path 1 have
An opening 18 is formed for bringing the transport roller 6, the clamp roller 7, and the friction member 12 into contact with the medium 2.

Next, the medium alignment operation will be described. In a normal state in which the alignment magnet 13 is kept OFF, the plunger 13a is maintained in a state extended toward the medium transport path 1 by the urging force of the spring 17a as shown in FIG. In this state, the arms 10 and 11 are also shown in FIG.
0, the contact roller 16 contacts the right end of the inclined surface 15, and the upper arm 10 is located above and the lower arm 11 is located below.
They are maintained in a separated state.

The medium 2 inserted into the medium conveying path 1 is conveyed while being sandwiched between a rotating conveying roller 6 and a clamp roller 7. When the medium 2 is transported to the alignment position facing the medium alignment device B, a medium sensor (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) detects the medium 2 and the transport roller 6 is stopped by the detection signal. In this state, the clamp magnet is operated, the roller holder 70 is separated from the transport roller 6 together with the clamp roller 7 to release the medium 2, and the alignment magnet 13 is turned on in this state.

As a result, the arms 10 and 11 move toward the outside of the medium reference plane 5 (to the left in the drawing) as shown in FIG. In the course of this movement, the contact position between the contact roller 16 and the inclined surface 15 changes in a direction away from the medium transport path 1. That is, the arms 10 and 11 rotate around the support shaft 14 a by the urging force of the spring 17 because the contact roller 16 moves to the left position where the opposing interval becomes narrow along the inclined surface 15 of the guide plate 9, The medium 2 is held between the friction members 12. In this way, the medium 2 is
Is moved to the left by being pinched by the
Contacted.

[0011]

The medium alignment device B described above
, The moving distance of the arms 10 and 11 by the alignment magnet 13 is constant. On the other hand, the separation distance a (FIG. 10) from the medium reference surface 5 before the medium alignment changes depending on how the medium 2 is inserted into the medium transport path 1. When the separation distance a is short, the side edge of the medium 2 is deformed by the contact force with the medium reference surface 5, and when the separation distance a is long, the medium 2 cannot be brought close to the medium reference surface 5, and the medium 2 is aligned. In order to do so, the arms 10, 11 must be actuated many times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reliably align media and prevent deformation of the media.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium aligning apparatus which is disposed opposite to a medium conveying path which defines a medium conveying path, is provided in a direction in which the medium is approached and separated from each other, and on one side of the medium conveying path. A pair of movable bodies supported so as to be displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the medium reference plane, and a medium holding roller rotatably supported at a position facing each of the movable bodies on the medium transport path side from the medium reference plane. Moving means for moving the movable body in a direction in which the medium holding roller contacts and separates from the medium on the medium transport path; and moving means for moving the movable body toward outside the medium reference plane. And a torque limiter provided between the movable body and the medium holding roller.

Accordingly, the pair of movable bodies are moved by the movable body displacement means to clamp the medium on the medium conveyance path by the medium holding roller, and are moved outward by the moving means to the outside of the medium reference plane. Abuts the media reference plane. Until the medium comes into contact with the medium reference surface, the rotation of the medium holding roller is prevented by the torque limiter, and the medium is reliably held.However, the movable body is still moved by the moving means when the medium comes into contact with the medium reference surface. When moved out of the plane, the torque limiter permits rotation of the media nipping roller. Thus, the medium is not pressed against the medium reference surface with a strong force.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium aligning apparatus which is disposed opposite to a medium transport path which defines a transport path of a medium, and which is orthogonal to a medium reference plane provided on one side of the medium transport path. A pair of movable bodies supported so as to be displaceable in a direction, and a contact that is disposed at a position facing each of the movable bodies on the medium transport path side from the medium reference plane and is in contact with the medium on the medium transport path. And a movable member displacing means for moving the movable member in a direction in which the contactor is moved toward and away from the medium on the medium transport path, and a movement for moving the movable member toward the outside of the medium reference plane. Means, and a resiliently bendable elastic member having a base supported by the movable body and supporting the contact at a free end.

Therefore, the pair of movable bodies are moved by the movable body displacement means, sandwich the medium on the medium transport path by the contact, and are moved toward the outside of the medium reference plane by the movement means. Contact the reference plane. When the movable body is moved toward the outside of the medium reference plane by the moving means while the medium is in contact with the medium reference plane, the contact receives resistance from the medium which is hard to move in contact with the medium reference plane, Only the movable body moves, and the elastic member flexes elastically. This makes it possible for the contact to slip with respect to the medium. Thus, the medium is not pressed against the medium reference surface with a strong force.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium transport apparatus, wherein a medium transport path which has a medium reference surface on one side to contact a medium and defines a transport path of the medium is disposed to face the medium transport path therebetween. A pair of transport members that transport the medium on the medium transport path in a sandwiched state, a transport motor that rotationally drives the transport member, and a transport member contact that drives at least one of the pair of transport members in a contact / separation direction. A separation drive unit, a medium position recognizing unit disposed on the medium conveyance path and recognizing the conveyance position of the medium, the medium alignment device according to claim 1, and the medium alignment device based on the recognized medium conveyance position information. First transport motor control means for controlling the operation of the transport motor so as to rotate and stop the transport member until the medium reaches an alignment position facing the medium alignment device from the entrance of the medium transport path. , When the recording medium is conveyed to the alignment position facing the medium alignment device, the conveying members of the pair are separated from each other, and immediately after the medium is nipped by the medium nipping roller and abuts on the medium reference surface. A transport member contact / separation drive unit control unit that controls the operation of the transport member contact / separation drive unit so as to pinch the medium with the transport member during a period until the medium is released from the medium nipping roller, A second transport motor control unit that controls the operation of the transport motor so that the transport member is rotated to transport the medium to a predetermined position after the operation of the medium alignment device is completed.

Therefore, when the medium is transported to the alignment position facing the medium aligning device by the rotation of the transport member under the control of the first transport motor control means, the transport member is stopped, and the transport member contact / separation drive section control means is controlled. The transport member is separated by the operation of the transport member contact / separation drive unit based on the above control, and the medium is released from the transport member. In this released state, the medium is brought into contact with the medium reference surface by the medium alignment device, and the medium is again held by the transport member during a period until the medium is released from the medium holding roller of the medium alignment device. Subsequently, the medium is transported to the determined position by the rotation of the transport member based on the control of the second transport motor control means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium transporting apparatus, wherein a medium transporting path having a medium reference surface on one side thereof and defining a transporting path of the medium is disposed opposite to the medium transporting path. A pair of transport members that transport the medium on the medium transport path in a sandwiched state, a transport motor that rotationally drives the transport member, and a transport member contact that drives at least one of the pair of transport members in a contact / separation direction. A separation drive unit, a medium position recognition unit disposed on the medium conveyance path to recognize a conveyance position of the medium, a medium alignment device according to claim 2, and the medium alignment device based on the recognized medium conveyance position information. First transport motor control means for controlling the operation of the transport motor so as to rotate and stop the transport member until the medium reaches an alignment position facing the medium alignment device from the entrance of the medium transport path; and Medium When the medium is conveyed to the alignment position facing the medium alignment device, the pair of conveyance members are separated from each other, and the medium is held by the contact of the medium alignment device and abuts on the medium reference surface. A transport member contact / separation drive unit control unit that controls the operation of the transport member contact / separation drive unit so as to pinch the medium with the transport member during a period until immediately after the medium is released from the contactor, Second transport motor control means for controlling the operation of the transport motor so as to rotate the transport member after the operation of the medium alignment device and transport the medium to a predetermined transport position.

Accordingly, when the medium is conveyed to the alignment position facing the medium aligning device by the rotation of the conveying member under the control of the first conveying motor control means, the conveying member is stopped, and the conveying member contact / separation driving section control means is controlled. The transport member is separated by the operation of the transport member contact / separation drive unit based on the above control, and the medium is released from the transport member. In the released state, the medium is brought into contact with the medium reference surface by the medium alignment device, and the medium is again held by the transport member during a period until the medium is released from the contact of the medium alignment device. Subsequently, by the rotation of the transport member based on the control of the second transport motor control means,
The medium is transported to the determined position.

[0021]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given with reference to FIG. Since the same parts as those described in FIGS. 10 and 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals,
The description of the details is omitted.

The medium transport device C in the present embodiment constitutes a part of a medium printing device (not shown), and 1 is a medium transport path. The configuration of the medium transport path 1 is the same as the configuration described with reference to FIGS.
Is provided. A transport roller 6 as a transport member is provided above the guide plate 4, and a clamp roller 7 as a transport member is provided below the guide plate 3. The clamp roller 7 is rotatably supported by a roller holder 70 that can move in the vertical direction and is urged upward. The electrical configuration for controlling the medium transport device C will be described later.

Next, the configuration of the medium alignment device D provided in the medium transport device C will be described. The medium alignment device D includes arms 10 and 11 that are a pair of movable bodies. The arms 10 and 11 in the present embodiment are shown in FIGS.
1 is not provided. Instead,
At positions facing the medium reference surface 5 of each of the arms 10 and 11 on the side of the medium transport path 1 (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2), a medium holding roller 20 is rotatably provided via a torque limiter 19. .

The pair of arms 10 and 11 are provided with a contact roller 16 which is in contact with the inclined surface 15 of the guide plate 9, and are urged in the medium holding direction by a spring 17, and the plunger of the aligning magnet 13 by a spring 17 a. 13a
Is biased in the direction in which is to be extended, and is similar to the configuration described with reference to FIGS.

Here, the alignment magnet 13 is
Functioning as a moving means for moving the media 0 and 11 to the outside of the medium transport path 1;
Is slightly longer, the suction length of the alignment magnet 13 is determined so that the medium 2 is brought into contact with the medium reference plane 5. Further, a movable body displacement means 21 for moving the arms 10 and 11 in a direction in which the medium holding roller 20 is brought into and out of contact with the medium 2 on the medium transport path 1 is provided. The movable body displacement means 21 in the present embodiment is formed by an inclined surface 15 formed on the guide plate 9, a contact roller 16 provided on the arms 10 and 11, and a spring 17. That is, the arms 10 and 11 are
In the process of moving by the suction operation 3, as shown in FIG. 2, since the contact roller 16 moves to the left from the right end of the inclined surface 15, the arms 10 and 11 move the support shaft 14 a by the urging force of the spring 17. Rotating to the center, the medium holding roller 2
0, the medium 2 is held, and the medium 2 is moved to the medium reference surface 5 side. The turning operation of the arms 10 and 11 at this time is as described above. Also, the alignment magnet 13 is
When the FF is set, the arms 10 and 11 are
The arm 10 and 11 return to the right due to the urging force of a. In the process of this return, the abutment roller 16 moves to the right end of the inclined surface 15 as shown in FIG. , And the nipping rollers 20 are separated from each other.

The guide plates 3 and 4 of the medium transport path 1 have
Transport roller 6, clamp roller 7, medium holding roller 20
An opening 18 for contacting the medium 2 with the medium 2 is formed.

Next, the structure of the torque limiter 19 is shown in FIG. The trim limiter 19 has a flanged inner core 24 fixed by screws 23 to a fixed shaft 22 erected on each of the arms 10 and 11, and an outer rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the inner core 24. Core 25
And a compression spring 26 sandwiched between the inner core 24 and the outer core 25 at both ends. A medium holding roller 20 formed of a friction member such as rubber is fixedly fitted to the outer periphery of the outer core 25. The torque for rotating the medium holding roller 20 together with the outer core 25 is set by the compression force of the compression spring 26.

Next, the electrical configuration of the medium transport device C including the medium alignment device D will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 2
7 is a control unit. Although not shown, the control unit 27 has the same function as a microcomputer in which the operation of each unit is monitored by the CPU and the CPU executes a program written in the ROM according to the state at that time. This control unit 2
7, a transport motor controller 29 for controlling the drive of the transport motor 28, a clamp roller controller 31 for controlling the drive of the clamp magnet 30, a clamp roller controller 32 for controlling the drive of the alignment magnet 13, an insertion sensor 33 and a medium sensor 34. , 35, a head drive unit 37 for driving and controlling the print head 36, and the like. Note that the insertion sensor 3
3. As the medium sensors 34 and 35, transmission type optical sensors are used in this example. Therefore, the output is turned off when the optical axis is shielded by the medium 2. This OFF signal means that there is a medium.

Here, the insertion sensor 33 is disposed at the entrance of the medium transport path 1, and the medium sensor 34 is disposed so as to operate when the medium 2 reaches the alignment position facing the medium alignment device D. Another medium sensor 35 is the medium 2
Is arranged to be activated when a predetermined transport position such as a printing position is reached. The clamp magnet 30 transports the clamp roller 7 together with the roller holder 70 to the transport roller 6.
It functions as a transport member contact / separation drive unit that comes in contact with / separates from the transfer member. The transport motor 28 is connected to the transport roller 6.

The operation for aligning and transporting the medium 2 in such a configuration will be described (see the flowchart shown in FIG. 5). In a normal state in which the alignment magnet 13 is kept OFF, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper arm 10 is located above and the lower arm 11 is located below,
The medium holding rollers 20 are maintained in a separated state.

Here, the detection signal (OF) of the insertion sensor 33
When it is determined that the medium 2 has been inserted into the medium transport path 1 by F) (Y in S1), the transport motor 28 is driven to rotate the transport roller 6 to transport the medium 2 (S2). If it is determined from the detection signal (OFF) of the medium sensor 34 that the medium 2 has been conveyed to the aligned position (Y in S3), the conveyance motor 28 is stopped, and the medium 2 is stopped (S4). In the processing so far, steps S1 and S3 correspond to a medium position recognition unit. Steps S2 and S4 correspond to first transport motor control means.

After stopping the medium 2, the clamp magnet 30 is turned on, the roller holder 70 is separated from the transport roller 6 together with the clamp roller 7, and the medium 2 is released (S5). Actuating (S6), the medium 2 is brought into contact with the medium reference plane 5 and aligned. Specifically, the arm 1 is arranged by the alignment magnet 13.
When 0 and 11 are moved toward the outside of the medium reference surface 5 as shown in FIG. 2, in the process of this movement, the contact roller 16 is moved along the inclined surface 15 of the guide plate 9 so that the facing distance becomes narrower. The arms 10 and 11 rotate around the support shaft 14 a by the urging force of the spring 17, and hold the medium 2 by the medium holding roller 20. in this way,
The medium 2 is moved to the left while being nipped by the medium nipping rollers 20, so that the medium 2 comes into contact with the medium reference surface 5. Until this contact, the conveying roller 6 is driven by the compression spring 26 together with the outer core 25 holding the conveying roller 6 (set torque).
As a result, the rotational movement is regulated, so that the medium 2 is securely held.

In this embodiment, the medium reference plane 5 and the medium 2
Since the suction length of the alignment magnet 13 is set to be long so as to be able to cope with the case where the separation distance a from the object is long,
When the separation distance a is short, the arms 10 and 11 are moved toward the outside of the medium reference surface 5 even after the medium 2 is brought into contact with the medium reference surface 5, but the torque limiter 19 is Allow 20 rotations. That is, the arms 10 and 11 are moved toward the outside of the medium reference surface 5 even though the medium 2 is hardly moved due to the resistance from the medium reference surface 5. The holding roller 20 receives resistance from the medium 2. If the resistance, that is, the torque exceeds the torque set by the compression spring 26, the medium holding roller 20 rotates together with the outer core 25, so that the medium 2 is not pressed against the medium reference surface 5 more than necessary. Thereby, the deformation of the side edge of the medium 2 can be prevented.

In this case, the time during which the alignment magnet 13 is turned on is determined in advance by a method such as setting a timer (not shown). This time is determined with a time sufficient for the medium 2 to contact the medium reference surface 5. When it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (time-up) (Y in S7), the clamp magnet 30 that was previously turned on is turned off, the roller holder 70 is raised, and the medium 2 is clamped between the clamp roller 7 and the transport roller 6. (S8). Here, steps S5 and S8 correspond to a transport member contact / separation drive unit control unit.

After holding the medium 2, the alignment magnet 1
3 is turned off (S9). Thereby, the arm 10,
2 moves to the right in FIG. 2. In the course of this movement, the contact roller 16 moves to the right end of the inclined surface 15 of the guide plate 9, so that the arm 10 rotates upward and the arm 11 rotates.
Rotates downward, and the medium holding roller 20 separates from the medium 2. Thus, in the initial process in which the arms 10 and 11 move in the direction opposite to the pulling direction, the medium nipping rollers 2
0 sandwiches the medium 2, but since the medium 2 is sandwiched by the transport roller 6 and the clamp roller 7 before that, the medium 2 does not separate from the medium reference surface 5 and maintains the aligned state. .

After the alignment magnet 13 is turned off,
The conveyance motor 28 is driven to rotate the conveyance roller 6 to convey the medium 2 to a predetermined position such as a printing unit provided with the print head 36 (S10), and the detection signal (O
FF), when it is determined that the medium 2 has reached the predetermined position (Y in S11), the transport motor 28 is stopped,
The medium 2 is stopped (S12). Here, step S1
0 and S12 correspond to a second transport motor control unit. Step S11 corresponds to a medium position recognition unit.

Although the conveying member has been described as being formed by the conveying roller 6 and the clamp roller 7, a belt may be used instead of the roller.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. FIG. The medium transporting device C in the present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in the transport member contact / separation driving unit control means. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

First, FIG. 6 shows a schematic structure of a medium printing device P on which the medium transport device C is mounted. The medium printing device P
A print head (impact dot printer head) 36 and a platen 38 that face each other with the medium transport path 1 therebetween are arranged to face each other. The print head 36 is mounted on a carriage 39 that is driven to reciprocate along a platen 38. A space S surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 is a space in which the medium alignment device D is mounted. The above-mentioned insertion sensor 33 is arranged near the entrance side (right side in the paper surface of FIG. 6) of the medium conveyance path 1, and the medium sensors 34 and 35 are arranged at desired positions of the medium conveyance path 1 although not shown in FIG. ing.

In this example, four pairs of the transport roller 6 and the clamp roller 7 are arranged along the medium transport path 1. A transport motor 28 that drives the transport roller 6 is provided above the medium transport path 1. This transport motor 2
8 corresponds to the transport motor 28 in FIG. Two clamp magnets 30 that rotate a roller holder 70 that rotatably supports the clamp roller 7 to move the clamp roller 7 toward and away from the transport roller 6 are provided below the medium transport path 1. These clamp magnets 30 are shown in FIG.
6 corresponds to the clamp magnet 30 shown in FIG. Accordingly, the roller holder 70 holds the medium 2
70a, 7 in the order from upstream to downstream in the transport direction of
The description is given with reference numerals 0b, 70c, and 70d. However, the two clamp magnets 30a and 30b are common in that when excited, the roller holders 70a to 70d are rotated clockwise to press the clamp roller 7 against the transport roller 6. The embodiment differs from the present embodiment in that the clamp roller 7 is separated from the transport roller 6 when the clamp magnets 30a and 30b are excited.

The roller holder 70a on the most upstream side is urged by a spring 40 in a direction away from the transport roller 6 and is supported so as to be rotatable about a shaft 41. A cam 43 urged counterclockwise by a spring 42 is provided below the roller holder 70a so as to be rotatable about a shaft 44. A spring 46 is stretched between the cam 43 and the plunger 45 of the clamp magnet 30a. That is, when the roller holder 70a rotates counterclockwise due to the urging force of the spring 40, the roller holder 70a separates the clamp roller 7 from the transport roller 6 (the state shown in FIG. 6), the clamp magnet 30a is excited, and the cam 43 When is rotated clockwise, the cam 43 is pushed up by the large radius portion to press the clamp roller 7 against the transport roller 6, and when the power supply to the clamp magnet 30a is cut off, The clamp roller 7 is separated from the transport roller 6 by a return operation of the roller holder 70a opposite to the above.

Similarly, the other roller holders 70b, 70
When the clamp magnet 30b is excited, the clamp rollers 30c and 70d also rotate clockwise together with the shaft 47 to press the clamp roller 7 against the transport roller 6 and press the clamp magnet 3b.
Roller holder 70b when the power supply to the roller holder 70b is interrupted.
The clamp roller 7 is configured to be separated from the transport roller 6 by the return operation of 70d. For this purpose, the upper ends of levers 48 are fixedly connected to the shafts 47 that rotate integrally with the roller holders 70b, 70c, 70d, and the lower ends of these levers 48 are connected via links 49 to the plungers of the clamp magnet 30b. 50. Therefore, the operation of the clamp magnet 30b is transmitted to the roller holders 70b, 70c, 70d. The roller holders 70b, 70c, 70d are urged counterclockwise by a spring 51, and the urging force is applied to the plunger 50 when the clamp magnet 30b is not excited.
In the return direction.

In such a configuration, the operation of aligning and transporting the medium 2 will be described (see the flowchart shown in FIG. 7). In a normal state in which the alignment magnet 13 is kept OFF, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper arm 10 is located above and the lower arm 11 is located below,
The medium holding rollers 20 are maintained in a separated state. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the clamp roller 7 is normally kept away from the transport roller 6.

Here, the detection signal of the insertion sensor 33 (OF
When it is determined in F) that the medium 2 has been inserted into the medium transport path 1 (Y in S21), the clamp magnet 30 is excited. As a result, the clamp roller 7 advances toward the transport roller 6 and clamps the medium 2 as described above (S2).
2). Subsequently, the transport motor 28 is driven to rotate the transport roller 6 to transport the medium 2 (S23). Medium sensor 34
It is determined that the medium 2 has been conveyed to the aligned position by the detection signal (OFF) (Y in S24).
Is stopped, and the medium 2 is stopped (S25). In the processing so far, steps S21 and S24 correspond to the medium position recognizing means as in steps S1 and S3 in FIG. Steps S23 and S25 correspond to FIG.
Corresponds to the first transport motor control means in the same manner as in steps S2 and S4.

After stopping the medium 2, the clamp magnet 30 is turned off, the roller holder 70 is separated from the transport roller 6 together with the clamp roller 7, and the medium 2 is released (S26). It is operated (S27), and the medium 2 is brought into contact with the medium reference plane 5 and aligned. In the process of moving the arms 10, 11 toward the outside of the medium reference plane 5 as shown in FIG. 2 by operating the alignment magnet 13, the arms 10, 11 are moved around the support shaft 14 a by the urging force of the spring 17. Pivots,
The medium 2 is held by the medium holding roller 20. This operation is the same as in the above embodiment. If it is determined that the predetermined time for turning on the alignment magnet 13 has elapsed (time-up) (Y in S28), the O
The FF clamp magnet 30 is turned on, the roller holder 70 is raised, and the medium 2 is clamped between the clamp roller 7 and the transport roller 6 (S29). Here, steps S22, S26, and S29 correspond to the transport member contact / separation drive unit control means.

After holding the medium 2, the alignment magnet 1
3 is turned off (S30). Thereby, the arm 1
2 move to the right in FIG. 2. In the process of this movement, the arm 10 rotates upward, the arm 11 rotates downward, and the medium, similarly to the operation described in the above embodiment. The nipping roller 20 separates from the medium 2.

After the alignment magnet 13 is turned off,
By driving the transport motor 28 to rotate the transport roller 6, the medium 2 is transported to a predetermined position such as a printing unit provided with the print head 36 (S31), and the detection signal (O
FF), when it is determined that the medium 2 has reached the predetermined position (Y in S32), the transport motor 28 is stopped,
The medium 2 is stopped (S33). Here, step S3
1 and S33 correspond to steps S10 and S1 in FIG.
Similarly to 2, it corresponds to the second transport motor control means. Step S32 corresponds to a medium position recognizing unit as in step S11 in FIG.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The medium aligning device E according to the present embodiment includes a leaf spring 52 as an elastic member, a position above the medium reference path 5 of the arms 10 and 11 as movable members, and a position above the medium reference path 5. And a contact 53 that comes into contact with the medium 2. Leaf spring 52
Is curved into a U-shape recessed toward the inside of the medium transport path 1,
Attachment piece 54 integrally formed on the base of arm 10,
11. In this case, the means for fixing the mounting piece 54 to the arms 10 and 11 is not limited, such as spot welding, fixing with rivets or screws.

The contact 53 is desirably made of an elastic material that comes into contact with the medium 2 with a certain degree of friction. In the present embodiment, urethane having chemical resistance is used. The contact 53 has a hemispherical shape, and a flat surface is fixed to a free end of the leaf spring 52. The other configuration of the medium alignment device E according to the embodiment of the present invention is the same as the configuration of the medium alignment device D according to the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the medium transporting device provided with the medium aligning device E according to the present embodiment is the same as the medium transporting device C according to the above-described embodiment, so that the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Note that the medium position recognizing means provided in the medium transporting apparatus C includes steps S1, S3, S3
11 or steps S21, S24, S32 in FIG.
Is applied. Further, steps S2 and S4 in FIG. 5 or steps S23 and S25 in FIG. 7 are applied to the first conveyance motor control unit. Steps S5 and S8 in FIG. 5 or steps S22, S26 and S29 in FIG. 7 are applied to the transport member contact / separation drive unit control means. The second transport motor control means is provided in S10, S1 in FIG.
2 or steps S31 and S33 in FIG. 7 are applied.

The operation of aligning and transporting the medium 2 in such a configuration will be described. Here, the processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 will be described, but the processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 may be used. In a series of operations, the same operations as those in the above embodiment will be briefly described.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the arms 10 and 11 are separated, the detection signal (OF
When it is determined in F) that the medium 2 has been inserted into the medium transport path 1 (Y in S21), the clamp magnet 30 is excited. Thus, as described with reference to FIG. 6, the clamp roller 7 advances toward the transport roller 6 and clamps the medium 2 (S22). Subsequently, the transport motor 28 is driven to rotate the transport roller 6 to transport the medium 2 (S23). When it is determined from the detection signal (OFF) of the medium sensor 34 that the medium 2 has been conveyed to the aligned position (Y in S24), the conveyance motor 28 is stopped, and the medium 2 is stopped (S25).

After stopping the medium 2, the clamp magnet 30 is turned off, the roller holder 70 is separated from the transport roller 6 together with the clamp roller 7, and the medium 2 is released (S26). It is operated (S27), and the medium 2 is brought into contact with the medium reference plane 5 and aligned. In the process of moving the arms 10, 11 toward the outside of the medium reference plane 5 by operating the alignment magnet 13, the arms 10, 11 rotate around the support shaft 14 a by the urging force of the spring 17. This operation is the same as in the above embodiment. As a result, the contact 53 comes in contact with the medium 2, but the leaf spring 52 is elastically compressed by allowing a margin in the rotation angles of the arms 10 and 11,
Thereby, the contact 53 elastically holds the medium 2. The medium 2 is moved leftward while being pinched by the contact 53, so that the medium 2 comes into contact with the medium reference surface 5. In this case, the suction length of the alignment magnet 13 is set to be longer so as to cope with the case where the separation distance a between the medium reference surface 5 and the medium 2 is long. Is applied to the medium reference surface 5 even after the abutment with the medium reference surface 5. However, since the contact 53 receives resistance from the medium 2 which is hard to move in contact with the medium reference surface 5, only the arms 10 and 11 move, and the leaf spring 52 is pulled by the arms 10 and 11 on the base side and the contact 53 The sides flex elastically so that they remain in place. Thereby, the contact 53 can be made to slip with respect to the medium 2. As a result, the medium 2 is not pressed against the medium reference surface 5 with a strong force. Thereby, the deformation of the side edge of the medium 2 can be prevented.

When it is determined that the predetermined time for turning on the alignment magnet 13 has elapsed (time-up) (Y in S28), the clamp magnet 30 that has been turned off is turned on, and the roller holder 70 is raised. Then, the medium 2 is clamped between the clamp roller 7 and the transport roller 6 (S29).

After holding the medium 2, the alignment magnet 1
3 is turned off (S30). Thereby, the arm 1
9 move to the right in FIG. 9. In the process of this movement, the arm 10 rotates upward, the arm 11 rotates downward, and the medium, similarly to the operation described in the above embodiment. The nipping roller 20 separates from the medium 2. in this way,
In the initial process in which the arms 10 and 11 move in the direction opposite to the pulling direction, the contact 53 pinches the medium 2, but before the medium 2, the medium 2 is transported by the transport roller 6 and the clamp roller 7.
Therefore, the medium 2 does not separate from the medium reference plane 5 and maintains the aligned state.

After the alignment magnet 13 is turned off,
By driving the transport motor 28 to rotate the transport roller 6, the medium 2 is transported to a predetermined position such as a printing unit provided with the print head 36 (S31), and the detection signal (O
FF), when it is determined that the medium 2 has reached the predetermined position (Y in S32), the transport motor 28 is stopped,
The medium 2 is stopped (S33).

As described above, after the medium 2 is brought into contact with the medium reference surface 5, the arms 10 and 11 are still moved to the medium reference surface 5.
When the plate spring 52 is moved outward, the leaf spring 52 is elastically bent so that the base side is pulled by the arms 10 and 11 and the contact 53 side remains in place. The bending of the leaf spring 53 due to the resistance of the medium 2 depends on the spring constant. The spring constant is appropriately set according to the stiffness of the medium 2 to be used.

Further, such a thing is not limited to the leaf spring 52 as the elastic member. For example, a compression coil spring can be used. When a compression coil spring is used, the base in the direction away from the medium conveyance path 1 in a posture perpendicular to the medium conveyance path 1 is
11 and the contact 53 is held by the free end on the opposite side.

[0059]

According to the medium aligning apparatus of the first aspect,
A pair of movable members opposed to each other with the medium conveyance path therebetween is provided with a medium clamping roller via a torque limiter, and the medium is clamped by these medium clamping rollers to move the movable body toward the outside of the medium transportation path. As a result, the side edge of the medium is brought into contact with the medium reference surface of the medium transport path, so that the rotation of the medium holding roller is prevented by the torque limiter until the medium comes into contact with the medium reference surface. Can be reliably held. If the movable body is moved outside the medium reference plane by the moving means while the medium is in contact with the medium reference plane, the torque limiter allows the rotation of the medium holding roller. Accordingly, the medium is not pressed against the medium reference surface with a strong force, and therefore, the medium can be more reliably aligned with the medium reference surface while satisfying prevention of deformation of the side edge of the medium.

According to the medium aligning device of the present invention, a pair of movable members, which are opposed to each other with the medium conveying path therebetween, are provided with contacts for holding the medium via an elastic member. By moving the movable body toward the outside of the medium transport path while holding the medium, the side edge of the medium is brought into contact with the medium reference plane of the medium transport path. If the movable body is still moved toward the outside of the medium reference plane by the moving means, the contact receives resistance from the medium which is hard to move due to contact with the medium reference plane, so that only the movable body moves. Then, the elastic member bends elastically. This allows the contact to slip with respect to the medium. Accordingly, the medium is not pressed against the medium reference surface with a strong force, and therefore, it is possible to reliably align the medium with the medium reference surface while satisfying prevention of deformation of the side edge of the medium.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the medium is transported to the alignment position facing the medium aligning apparatus according to the first aspect, the transport member is separated from the medium, and the medium is aligned by the medium aligning apparatus. Then, the medium is nipped by the conveying member during a period from immediately after the medium is nipped by the medium nipping roller of the medium alignment device and abutted against the medium reference surface until the medium is released from the medium nipping roller. Therefore, when the movable member of the medium alignment device is returned to the original position after the medium alignment operation, the movement of the medium can be prevented by the transport member, and the alignment state can be maintained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the medium is transported to an alignment position facing the medium alignment apparatus according to the second aspect, the transport member is separated, and the medium is aligned by the medium alignment apparatus. Since the medium is nipped by the conveying member during a period from immediately after the medium is nipped by the contacts of the medium alignment device and abutted against the medium reference surface until the medium is released from the medium nipping roller, the medium is nipped. When the movable member of the medium alignment device is returned to the original position after the medium alignment operation, the movement of the medium can be prevented by the transport member, and the alignment state can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a medium transport device on which a medium alignment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a state where a medium is moved to a medium reference plane.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing a structure of a torque limiter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transporting and aligning a medium.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view showing an internal structure of a medium printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transporting and aligning a medium.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a medium transport device on which a medium alignment device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional front view showing a state in which a medium is moved to a medium reference plane.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a conventional medium transport device.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a state in which a medium is moved to a medium reference plane.

[Explanation of symbols]

 D, E Medium alignment device 1 Medium transport path 2 Medium 5 Medium reference plane 6, 7 Transport member 10, 11 Movable body 13 Moving means 19 Torque limiter 20 Medium holding roller 21 Movable body displacement means 28 Transport motor 30 Transport member contact / separation drive Part 52 Elastic member 53 Contact S1, S3, S11 Medium position recognition means S2, S4 First transfer motor control means S5, S8 Transfer member contact / separation drive section control means S10, S12 Second transfer motor control means S21, S24 , S32 Medium position recognition means S23, S25 First transport motor control means S22, S26, S29 Transport member contact / separation drive section control means S31, S33 Second transport motor control means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A medium conveyance path which defines a medium conveyance path, is opposed to each other, and is supported so as to be displaceable in directions approaching and separating from each other and in a direction perpendicular to a medium reference plane provided on one side of the medium conveyance path. A pair of movable bodies, a medium clamping roller rotatably supported at a position opposed to the medium conveyance path side from the medium reference plane of each of the movable bodies, and the medium clamping the medium on the medium conveyance path. A movable body displacing means for moving the movable body in a direction in which a roller is moved toward and away from the movable body; a moving means for moving the movable body toward the outside of the medium reference plane; and between the movable body and the medium holding roller. And a torque limiter provided. 2. A medium conveyance path which defines a medium conveyance path, is disposed opposite to each other, and is supported so as to be displaceable in directions approaching and separating from each other and in a direction orthogonal to a medium reference plane provided on one side of the medium conveyance path. A pair of movable bodies, a contact disposed at a position facing each of the movable bodies on the side of the medium transport path from the medium reference plane and in contact with the medium on the medium transport path, A movable body displacing means for moving the movable body in a direction for bringing the contactor into and out of contact with the medium; a moving means for moving the movable body toward outside of the medium reference plane; And a resilient member which is supported at the free end and which supports the contact at a free end. 3. A medium transport path that has a medium reference surface on one side thereof to contact the medium and defines a transport path for the medium, and the medium on the medium transport path that is disposed to face the medium transport path therebetween. A pair of transport members for transporting in a sandwiched state, a transport motor for rotating and driving the transport member, a transport member contact / separation drive unit for driving at least one of the pair of transport members in a contact / separation direction, and the medium transport A medium position recognizing unit disposed on a path for recognizing a transport position of the medium; a medium aligning device according to claim 1; and an entrance of the medium transport path based on the recognized transport position information of the medium. A first conveyance motor control means for controlling the operation of the conveyance motor so as to rotate and stop the conveyance member until the medium reaches the alignment position facing the medium alignment device; and When the medium is conveyed to the aligning position, the pair of conveying members are separated from each other, and the medium is held by the medium holding roller of the medium aligning device and immediately after the medium is brought into contact with the medium reference surface, the medium is the medium. A conveyance member contact / separation drive unit control unit that controls the operation of the conveyance member contact / separation drive unit so as to pinch the medium with the conveyance member during a period until the medium is released from the medium clamping roller; and And a second transport motor control means for controlling the operation of the transport motor so as to rotate the transport member after the operation and transport the medium to a predetermined transport position. 4. A medium conveyance path which has a medium reference surface on one side thereof for contacting a medium and defines a conveyance path of the medium, and the medium on the medium conveyance path which is disposed so as to face the medium conveyance path therebetween. A pair of transport members for transporting in a sandwiched state, a transport motor for rotating and driving the transport member, a transport member contact / separation drive unit for driving at least one of the pair of transport members in a contact / separation direction, and the medium transport A medium position recognizing means disposed on a path for recognizing a transport position of the medium; a medium aligning device according to claim 2, wherein the medium enters the medium transport path based on the recognized transport position information of the medium. A first conveyance motor control means for controlling the operation of the conveyance motor so as to rotate and stop the conveyance member until the medium reaches the alignment position facing the medium alignment device; and When the medium is conveyed to the alignment position, the pair of conveyance members are separated from each other, and the medium is in contact with the medium immediately after the medium is nipped by the contacts of the medium alignment device and abuts on the medium reference surface. Transport member contact / separation drive unit control means for controlling the operation of the transport member contact / separation drive unit so that the medium is sandwiched between the transport members during a period until the medium is released from the child; A second transport motor control unit that controls the operation of the transport motor so that the transport member is rotated to transport the medium to a predetermined transport position later.