JP2001096847A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus which requires less space and area for installation and is capable of putting a printed paper in a display position without requiring operator's manual work. SOLUTION: A printing apparatus is composed of a printing control substrate 12 for controlling and analyzing printing data, an integrated paper-feeding/ delivery tray 5 integrally comprising a paper-feeding casette 5A for holding printing papers 8 upright and a paper delivery tray 5B, and a printing mechanism 13 for executing printing processes on the printing papers 8 housed in the paper-feeding cassette 5A and delivering the printed printing papers 8 to the paper delivery tray 5B, and installed on an installation wall surface 2 through two installation holes 4 provided at the back of the apparatus. The printing papers 8 housed in the paper-feeding cassette 5A are fed perpendicularly upward to the printing mechanism part 13, and the printing processes are applied thereto at the inside of the printing mechanism 13, and are put in a position of display after being delivered perpendicularly downward to the paper delivery tray 5B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints on paper based on print data, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that requires a small installation area and space, and that holds printed paper in a posted state. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus has a paper feeding section for storing paper and various main components constituting the printing apparatus as hardware. The main unit performs a printing process on a sheet conveyed to the inside of the device based on print data transmitted from an external device such as a host computer, and a sheet subjected to the printing process in the main unit. And a paper discharge unit for discharging paper.

In such a printing apparatus, the following method is employed to reduce the installation area and installation space of the printing apparatus, or to place printed paper in a posted state.

As a method of reducing the installation area and the installation space, there is a method of reducing the size of the entire device by reducing the size of each of main components constituting the main body. Further, as another method for reducing the installation area and the installation space, the main body, the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit are configured to be substantially horizontal, a paper feeding unit is provided at a lower part of the main body, and a paper discharging unit is provided at an upper part, There is a method of reducing the size of the entire apparatus by arranging these so that they substantially overlap each other.

[0005] On the other hand, as a method of putting the paper discharged to the paper discharge section in a posted state, a user takes out the paper discharged to the paper discharge section from the paper discharge section, and sandwiches this paper between picture frames or the like. There is a method that is manually performed by the user, such as posting on a bulletin board or posting on a bulletin board with a thumbtack.

[0006]

However, the conventional printing apparatus as described above has the following problems.

In the case where the main components constituting the printing apparatus as hardware are miniaturized, the paper feeding section and the paper discharging section are actually arranged so as to protrude in front of and behind the printing apparatus. In addition to the installation area and the installation space, there is a problem that the area and the space of the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit are occupied.

In the case where the main body, the paper feeder and the paper discharger are arranged so as to substantially overlap each other, the installation area and installation space of the printing apparatus are substantially the same as the surface area of the paper used in the printing apparatus. There is a problem that space is required.

Further, in the case where the user manually puts the discharged paper in a posting state, it is necessary for the user to take out the paper discharged to the paper discharge section, so that the user takes time and effort. There is a problem that it is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing an installation area and an installation space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of holding printed sheets in a posted state.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a print control unit for analyzing print data transmitted from an external device, a paper feed unit for storing print paper, and a print control unit. A printing mechanism for performing a printing process on the printing paper stored in the paper feeding unit based on the print data analyzed by the printing unit, and a printing paper on which the printing process has been performed by the printing mechanism is discharged. In a printing apparatus having a paper discharge unit for paper, the paper supply unit and the paper discharge unit are formed below the print control unit and the print mechanism unit so as to be able to vertically hold print paper. It is characterized by that.

[0013] Further, the apparatus is characterized in that it has a mounting hole on the back of the apparatus.

[0014] The paper discharging section is an arc section for moving the printing paper discharged from the printing mechanism in a state where the printing paper is curled around the paper discharging direction as an axis by its own weight. And a protruding portion for stopping the printing paper moving in a state of being curled in the paper discharge unit by the arc portion at a predetermined position in the paper discharge unit.

In addition, the paper feed / discharge integrated paper unit for integrally holding the paper feed unit and the paper discharge unit is provided, and the paper feed / discharge integrated paper unit is provided with a rotating shaft at a lower part, It is characterized by being rotatable around the rotation axis.

Each time the print data for one print sheet is transmitted from the external device, the print control unit inverts the print data for one print sheet up and down and sends it to the print mechanism unit. The print mechanism unit transmits the print data transmitted from the external device by the print control unit to the print paper stored in the paper feed unit based on the print data obtained by inverting the print data. The printing process is performed.

(Operation) In the present invention configured as described above, a paper feed unit and a paper discharge unit that vertically hold print paper are provided below the print control unit and the print mechanism unit. The printing paper stored in the paper feeding unit is fed vertically upward to the printing mechanism, and the printing paper that has been subjected to the printing process in the printing mechanism is discharged vertically downward to the paper discharging unit, This reduces the installation area and installation space of the printing apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, since the mounting holes are provided on the rear surface of the apparatus, the apparatus can be installed on the wall surface through the mounting holes, thereby avoiding the occupation of the floor area by the printing apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, the printing paper discharged to the paper discharging unit moves vertically downward in the paper discharging unit and stops at a predetermined position in a state where the printing paper is curled about the paper discharging direction as an axis. Therefore, the printing surface of the printing paper discharged to the paper discharging unit is held in a bulletin state that is easy for the user to see.

Further, in the present invention, the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit are integrated as a paper feeding / discharging integrated paper unit, and the paper feeding / discharging integrated paper unit is rotatable around a rotation axis as a fulcrum. Therefore, both the paper feeding and paper discharging operations by the user are performed from one direction on the front surface of the printing apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, each time one print data of one print paper is transmitted from the external device, the print control unit performs the upside down process of the print data of one print paper. Therefore, the printing state of the printing surface of the printing paper discharged to the paper discharging unit does not turn upside down.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, the configuration and operation when the printing apparatus of the present invention is an ink jet printer 1 that performs a printing process by discharging ink onto paper will be described. It is not limited by the printing method.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an interface connector 11 to which print data is transmitted from an external device (not shown) such as a host computer, and a control analysis of the print data transmitted to the interface connector 11. And a paper feed cassette 5A as a paper feed unit that vertically holds the print paper 8
In addition, a printing process is performed on the paper feeding / discharging integrated paper tray 5 integrally provided with the paper discharging tray 5B as a paper discharging unit and the printing paper 8 stored in the paper feeding cassette 5A, and the printing process is performed. And a printing mechanism unit 13 for discharging the printing paper 8 to the paper output tray 5B. The printing paper 8 stored in the paper feed cassette 5A is fed vertically upward to the printing mechanism unit 13, and The printing paper 8 on which the printing process has been performed by the printing mechanism 13 is discharged vertically downward onto the paper discharge tray 5B.

In the present embodiment, two mounting holes 4 are provided on the rear surface of the apparatus, and the two mounting holes 4 are provided.
Is installed on the installation wall 2 by being engaged with two mounting screws 3 previously mounted on the installation wall 2.

The paper tray 5 integrated with paper supply / discharge is provided with a rotating shaft 7
Can be rotated to the position B or the position C with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, and is usually at the position B and housed inside the apparatus.

When replenishing the paper feed cassette 5A with the printing paper 8, the user pulls out the pull-out handle 6 in the direction of arrow E so that the paper feed / discharge integrated paper tray 5 moves to the position B.
Then, the user replenishes the paper cassette 5A with the printing paper 8 while the paper tray 5 is rotated to the position C and the integrated paper tray 5 for paper supply / discharge is at the position C. When the supply of the printing paper 8 to the paper feed cassette 5A is completed, the user moves the drawing hand 6 to the arrow D.
By pushing back in the direction, the paper feed / discharge integrated paper tray 5 rotates from the position C and returns to the position B, and the paper feed / discharge integrated paper tray 5 is stored inside the apparatus again.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the paper feed / discharge integrated paper tray 5,
An arcuate section of a secondary curved surface for moving the printing paper 8 discharged from the printing mechanism unit 13 vertically downward in a state where the printing paper 8 is curled around the paper discharge direction of the printing paper 8 by its own weight as an axis. R and a protruding portion 9 for stopping the printing paper 8 moving in a state of being curled in the paper discharge tray 5B by the arc portion R at a predetermined position.

Each time the print data for one sheet of the printing paper 8 is transmitted from the external device, the print control board 12 carries out the control analysis so that the transmitted printing data for one sheet of the printing paper 8 is vertically shifted. An upside-down inversion process for inversion is performed, and the print data subjected to the upside-down inversion process is transmitted to the printing mechanism unit 13.

The printing mechanism 13 lifts the printing paper 8 stored in the paper feeding cassette 5A vertically upward and feeds it through the inside of the transport path 132, and prints the paper passing through the inside of the transport path 132. Paper 8 to print unit 13
Roller 133 for delivery to the printer 4 and the print control substrate 1
2 based on the print data transmitted from
A print head 135 that performs a printing process by discharging ink to the printing paper 8 delivered to the printer, and pulls down the printing paper 8 that has been subjected to the printing process by the printing unit 134 vertically downward;
Discharge rollers 136 and 137 that discharge paper to the discharge tray 5A
It is composed of

The power input terminal 10 is externally supplied with power for driving each component provided inside the apparatus.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
The interface connector 11 and the interface connector 11 are both provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body.

Hereinafter, a printing process operation for printing paper in the printing apparatus configured as described above will be described.

When print data is transmitted from an external device (not shown) such as a host computer to the interface connector 11, the print data transmitted to the interface connector 11 is received by the print control board 12.

The print control board 12 performs a vertical inversion process of inverting the received print data of one sheet of print paper 8 up and down every time print data of one sheet of print paper 8 is received. The print data is sent to the print mechanism unit 13.
Sent to.

When print data is transmitted from the print control board 12 to the printing mechanism 13, the printing paper 8 stored in the paper feeding cassette 5 A is pulled up vertically by the paper feeding roller 131, and is moved along the delivery path 132. The printing paper 8 that has passed and then passed through the delivery path 132 is delivered to the printing unit 134 by the delivery roller 133.

In the printing unit 134, based on the print data transmitted from the print control board 12, ink is ejected from the printer head 135 to the printing paper 8 delivered by the delivery roller 133, and the printing process is performed. Done.

The printing paper 8 which has been subjected to the printing process in the printing unit 134 is pulled down vertically downward by the paper discharge rollers 136, and then the printing paper 8 pulled down vertically is discharged to the paper discharge tray 5B. Paper.

The printing paper 8 discharged to the discharge tray 5B
Is a state in which the print sheet 8 is curled by the arc portion R by its own weight with the discharge direction of the print sheet 8 as an axis.
B moves vertically downward in B, and then the printing paper 8 that has moved vertically downward in the discharge tray 5B stops at the protrusion 9. As a result, the printing surface of the printing paper 8 discharged to the discharge tray 5B is held in the posted state.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the printing control board 12 and the printing mechanism 13 are configured to be almost the minimum necessary, and the printing paper 8 is disposed below the printing control board 12 and the printing mechanism 13. Is provided so as to overlap the print control board 12 and the printing mechanism 13, so that the installation area and installation space of the printing apparatus can be reduced.

In this embodiment, since the mounting holes 4 are provided on the rear surface of the apparatus, the apparatus can be installed on the installation wall 2 via the mounting holes 4, thereby occupying the floor area by the printing apparatus. Can be avoided.

In the present embodiment, the discharge tray 5B
Is configured to move vertically downward in the paper discharge tray 5B and stop at a predetermined position in a state where the print paper 8 discharged in the above-described manner is curled about the paper discharge direction of the print paper 8 as an axis. The printing surface of the printing paper 8 discharged to the discharge tray 5B can be held in a bulletin state that is easy for the user to see.

In this embodiment, the sheet cassette 5
A and the paper discharge tray 5B are integrated as a paper feed / discharge integrated paper tray 5, and since the paper feed / discharge integrated paper tray 5 is rotatable around the rotation shaft 7, the user can The printing paper 8 can be supplied from the front of the printing apparatus.

In this embodiment, the print control board 1
2, every time print data for one sheet of print paper 8 is transmitted from an external device, the print data for one sheet of print paper 8 is turned upside down.
Since the printing process is performed based on the print data that has been turned upside down by the print control board 12, the printing state of the printing surface of the printing paper 8 discharged to the discharge tray 5B does not turn upside down and is normal. It can be in a state.

The printing control substrate 12 shown in FIG.
Will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 shows the print control substrate 12 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration.

In this configuration example, as shown in FIG. 4, a data input unit 402 for receiving print data transmitted from an external device.
A ROM 403 storing a control program for controlling the entire apparatus, and a C controlling the entire apparatus based on the control program stored in the ROM 403.
PU 404, RAM 405 for storing print data received by data input unit 402, and data input unit 4
Each time print data of one print sheet 8 is transmitted to the print paper 02, the memory 406 for the CPU 404 to perform upside down processing of the print data of one print paper 8, and the CPU 40
4 includes a print output interface unit 407 for transmitting the result of the upside down processing of the print data for one sheet of the printing paper 8 to the printing mechanism unit 13. Connected to each other.

The print data transmitted from the external device is actually received by the data input unit 402 via the interface connector 11.

Hereinafter, a control analysis operation in the print control board configured as described above will be described.

When print data transmitted from an external device such as a host computer is received by the data input unit 402, the print data received by the data input unit 402 is stored in the RAM 405.

Next, in the CPU 404, the printing paper 8
Is sent from the ROM 403, and the RAM 4
The print data for one sheet of the printing paper 8 stored in the print data 05 is turned upside down, and then the print data that has been turned upside down by the CPU 404 is temporarily stored in the memory 406.

The upside-down process of the print data for one sheet of printing paper 8 in the CPU 404 is performed every time the print data for one sheet of printing paper 8 is transmitted from the external device to the data input unit 402.

Next, the print data temporarily stored in the memory 406 is transmitted from the print output interface unit 407 to the printing mechanism unit 13.

Thereafter, the printing mechanism 13 performs a printing process on the printing paper 8 based on the print data transmitted from the print output interface 407. As described above, in the print control board 12, every time print data of one print sheet 8 is transmitted from the external device to the data input unit 402, the print data of one print sheet 8 is turned upside down. The printing process is performed, and the printing process is performed in the printing mechanism unit 13 based on the print data that has been turned upside down by the print control board 12.
The printing state of the printing surface of the printing paper 8 discharged to B is not inverted.

[0056]

As described above, in the present invention,
Since a paper feed unit and a paper discharge unit that hold print paper vertically are formed below the print control unit and the print mechanism unit, the print paper stored in the paper feed unit is fed vertically upward to the print mechanism unit. The printing paper on which the printing has been performed by the printing mechanism unit is discharged vertically downward to the paper discharging unit.

Thus, the installation area and the installation space of the printing apparatus can be reduced, and the necessity of procuring a new installation place for installing the printing apparatus can be reduced.

Further, in the present invention, since the mounting holes are provided on the back surface of the apparatus, the apparatus can be installed on the wall surface through the mounting holes, thereby avoiding the occupation of the floor area by the printing apparatus. It is possible to provide a sufficient degree of freedom in the installation location of the printing apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, the printing paper discharged to the paper discharging section is moved vertically downward in the paper discharging section and stopped at a predetermined position in a state where the printing paper is curled about the paper discharging direction as an axis. Therefore, the printing surface of the printing paper discharged to the paper discharging unit can be held in a bulletin state that is easy for a user or a viewer viewing the printing surface of the printing paper to see.

Thus, the user or the viewer can see the print surface without approaching the printing apparatus, and the user and the viewer can save the trouble of taking out the printed printing paper and posting it. .

Further, in the present invention, the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit are integrated as a paper feeding / discharging integrated paper unit, and the paper feeding / discharging integrated paper unit is rotated about a rotation axis as a fulcrum. Since it is possible, the user can replenish the printing paper from the front of the printing apparatus, so that the user can perform the paper feeding and discharging work from one direction of the printing apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, each time print data for one sheet of print paper is transmitted from the external device, the print controller performs upside down processing of the print data for one sheet of print paper. In the printing mechanism, since the printing process is performed based on the print data that has been turned upside down by the print control board, the printing state of the printing surface of the printing paper discharged to the paper discharging unit is upside down. This eliminates the need for the user to invert the printing surface of the printing paper discharged to the paper discharging unit up and down.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print control board illustrated in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink-jet printer 2 Installation wall 3 Mounting screw 4 Mounting hole 5 Paper tray integrated with paper feed / discharge 5A Paper cassette 5B Paper discharge tray 6 Hands for drawing out 7 Rotation axis 8 Printing paper 9 Protrusion part 10 Power input terminal 11 Interface Connector 12 Print control board 13 Printing mechanism 131 Feed roller 132 Transport route 133 Delivery roller 134 Printing unit 135 Printer head 136, 137 Discharge roller 402 Data input unit 403 ROM 404 CPU 405 RAM 406 Memory 407 Print output interface unit 408 System bus

Claims (5)

[Claims] A print control unit that analyzes print data transmitted from an external device; a paper feed unit that stores print paper;
Based on the print data analyzed by the print control unit,
A printing mechanism for performing printing processing on the printing paper stored in the paper feeding unit, and a paper discharging unit for discharging the printing paper on which the printing processing has been performed by the printing mechanism. In the printing apparatus, the paper supply unit and the paper discharge unit are formed below the print control unit and the print mechanism unit so as to be able to vertically hold print paper. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting hole on a back surface of the printing apparatus. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper discharging unit discharges the printing paper discharged from the printing mechanism unit by the weight of the printing paper. An arc portion for moving in a curled state with the direction as an axis; and a projection shape for stopping printing paper moving in a curled state in the paper discharge portion by the arc portion at a predetermined position in the paper discharge portion. And a printer. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a paper feeding / discharging integrated paper unit that integrally holds the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit. The paper / discharge integrated paper unit has a rotating shaft at the bottom,
A printing apparatus characterized by being rotatable around the rotation axis. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit is configured to transmit the print paper each time print data for one print paper is transmitted from the external device. The print data of one sheet is inverted upside down and transmitted to the print mechanism unit, and the print mechanism unit is the print data obtained by inverting the print data transmitted from the external device by the print control unit. A printing apparatus that performs a printing process on printing paper stored in the paper feeding unit based on the printer.