JP2001260515A - Printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print a printing sheet by one time conveying by differently printing any surface of a double-side simultaneous printing or a part of single-side overprinting at respective printing sheets. SOLUTION: A printing machine comprises a printing machine body for feeding a printing sheet P loaded on a sheet supply base 24 by a sheet feeding section 3, printing one surface of the sheet P by a printing section 1 and delivering and containing the sheet P to and in a delivery unit 4; and a printing unit for differently printing the one or the other surface of the sheet P. In this case, the printing unit has a sheet loading base 51 for loading the sheets P, a sheet feeder 42 for feeding the sheet P loaded on the base 51, a printing head 41 for differently printing the fed sheet P, and a delivering unit 43 for conveying the printed sheet P. The unit is mounted on the base 24 of the body. Thus, the sheet P mounted on the base 51 is fed by the feeder 42, printed by the head 41, and continuously printed by the receiving and delivering section 1 from the unit 43 to the section 3 of the body and printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of performing double-sided printing on printing paper and single-sided multicolor printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a printing apparatus has a plate cylinder having a porous ink-permeable peripheral wall arranged in a cylindrical shape and rotatable around its own axis. On the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall, a perforated stencil sheet is wound and mounted. Inside the plate cylinder, there is an ink supply means for supplying ink to the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall so as to pass the ink. Outside the plate cylinder, there is a pressing means for pressing the printing paper against the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall (plated stencil paper). Then, the printing paper is supplied between the printing drum and the press roll in synchronization with the rotation of the printing drum, and the printing paper is pressed against the stencil printed on the printing drum, thereby forming a perforated portion of the stencil. The ink passes through and is transferred to the printing paper to perform printing.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional printing apparatus, since the image on the stencil sheet made by stencil is continuously printed on the printing paper, when performing double-sided printing on the printing paper, Once printing is performed on one side of the required number of printing sheets, stencil printing is performed on a new stencil sheet, and printing is performed on the other side of the previously printed printing sheet. That is, in the conventional printing apparatus, there is a problem that printing must be performed twice and labor is required twice.

[0004] The double-sided printing is applied to the case where the same image is printed on each side of the printing paper, but one side is the same image as in the case of postcard printing such as a New Year's card or direct mail. The other side cannot be applied to printing with a different address, and the other side on the address side is a separate work independent of the printing device, such as handwriting or printing by a printer connected to a personal computer etc. There was a problem that had to be performed.

[0005] Further, in the case of performing single-sided (multi-color) printing on printing paper with a conventional printing apparatus, once printing is performed on one side of a required number of printing papers, a new stencil sheet is made. And printing on the same side of the previously printed printing paper, that is, printing must be performed twice, which requires a troublesome operation twice.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method of printing either one side of double-sided printing or a part of single-sided superimposed printing for each printing paper, and printing the printing paper once. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing the following.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, comprising: a sheet feeding section for automatically feeding loaded printing sheets; and a sheet feeding section from the sheet feeding section. A printing unit that has a printing unit that prints on one side of the printed printing paper, a paper discharge unit that automatically discharges and stores the printed printing paper, and one or the other of the printing paper A printing unit that performs different printing on the surface of the
The printing unit is detachably attached to the paper feeding unit side or the paper discharging unit side, and performs printing on the printing paper printed by the printing unit with the printing unit, or The printing unit performs printing on the printing paper printed by the printing unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the paper supply unit of the printing apparatus main body includes a paper supply tray on which the print paper is loaded, and a paper supply tray mounted on the paper supply tray. A paper feed mechanism for automatically feeding the printed paper one by one, and a paper feeder for feeding the fed print paper to the printing unit, wherein the printing unit is And a separate paper feed mechanism for automatically feeding the printing paper placed on the paper feed table one sheet at a time,
A print head unit that performs printing on the fed printing paper,
And a transport unit for transporting the printed print paper, the print unit is mounted on the paper feed table, and the print paper placed on the paper feed table is sent to the another paper feed mechanism unit. Feeding the print paper to the print head to perform printing, and transferring the printed print paper from the transport unit to the paper feed mechanism unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the paper supply unit of the printing apparatus main body includes a paper supply tray on which the printing paper is loaded, and a paper supply tray loaded on the paper supply tray. A paper feed mechanism for automatically feeding the printed paper one by one, and a paper feed transport unit for transporting the fed print paper to the printing unit. The paper mechanism unit is configured to be movable together, the printing unit includes a print head unit that performs printing on the print paper, and a transport unit that transports the printed print paper, and the paper feed transport unit. The printing unit is mounted between the moved paper feeding mechanism unit, the printing paper is fed to the print head unit by the paper feeding mechanism unit and printing is performed, and the printed printing paper is printed. The paper is transferred from the transport unit to the paper feed transport unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the paper discharge section of the printing apparatus main body is configured to transport the print paper printed by the printing section. Unit, and a paper output tray that stores the transported printing paper, wherein the printing unit is a printing head unit that performs printing on the printing paper, a transporting unit that transports the printing paper, and a transporting unit that transports the printing paper. A discharge tray for storing the print paper, the print unit is mounted on the discharge tray, and printing is performed by the print head on the print paper transported from the paper discharge transport unit, The printed printing paper is housed in the paper discharge mounting table from the transport unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the paper discharge section of the printing apparatus main body is configured to discharge the printing paper printed by the printing section. Unit, and a paper discharge tray that stores the transported print paper, the discharge tray is configured to be movable, and the printing unit includes a print head unit that prints on the print paper, and a print head unit. And a transport unit for transporting the printed printing paper, wherein the printing unit is mounted between the paper discharge transporting unit and the moved paper output table, and the printing paper transported from the paper discharging transport unit. The printing is performed by the print head unit, and the printed printing paper is stored in the discharge tray from the transport unit.

A printing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention provides a printing apparatus according to the first aspect.
6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing unit is capable of reversingly moving a print head unit that performs printing on the printing paper so as to perform printing on one or the other surface of the printing paper. And printing is performed selectively on each side of the printing paper.

A printing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the printing apparatus according to the first aspect.
The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing unit includes a plurality of print head units that perform printing on the printing paper so as to perform printing on one side or both sides of the printing paper. Overprinting is performed on one side or both sides of a sheet.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing apparatus according to the present invention has a printing unit mounted on a printing apparatus main body. Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

First, the printing apparatus main body will be described.
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an example of a printing apparatus main body. As shown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus main body includes a printing unit 1 and a plate making unit 2.
And a paper feed unit 3, a paper discharge unit 4, and a plate discharge unit 5.

The printing section 1 mainly has a plate cylinder 6 and a paper cylinder 7. The plate cylinder 6 has two disk-shaped side plates 8 arranged at both ends, and these side plates 8 are connected by a rigid clamp base plate 9. A peripheral wall 10 is disposed around each side plate.

The peripheral wall 10 is formed by weaving a flexible wire made of stainless steel wire or the like into a net shape. Accordingly, the peripheral wall 10 has flexibility, and allows the printing ink to pass therethrough.
Further, the peripheral wall 10 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the side plate 8, one end of which is fixed to the clamp base plate 9, and the other end is connected to the crank base plate 9 via a spring. As described above, the peripheral wall 10 is arranged in a cylindrical shape along the outer peripheral surface of each side plate 8.

A clamp plate 11 serving as a clamp mechanism is rotatably attached to the clamp base plate 9.
The clamp plate 11 clamps one end (tip) of the stencil sheet M. The leading end of the stencil sheet M is locked to the clamp base plate 9 by the clamp plate 11 and then wound around the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 10.

The plate cylinder 6 is rotatably supported around its own central axis, which is cylindrical. This plate cylinder 6
Is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 by a drive mechanism (not shown).

Inside the plate cylinder 6, an intermediate pressing roller 12 is supported. The intermediate pressing roller 12 extends in parallel with the axis of the plate cylinder 6, and its outer peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 10 as shown in FIG.
The vertical movement is performed between a bulging deformation position where the peripheral wall 10 is bulged and deformed and a steady position where the bulging deformation of the peripheral wall 10 is released.

In the plate cylinder 6, a doctor rod 13 extending parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate pressing roller 12 at a small interval is supported. Ink is supplied from an ink supply unit (not shown) between the intermediate pressing roller 12 and the doctor rod 13 to form a wedge-shaped ink reservoir 14. The ink in the ink reservoir 14 is measured while passing through the minute interval with the doctor rod 13 by the clockwise rotation of the intermediate pressing roller 12 in FIG.
0 is supplied to the inner peripheral surface.

The paper cylinder 7 is formed of an inelastic material such as a metal and has the same outer diameter as the plate cylinder 6. This paper cylinder 7
Are provided in parallel with the plate cylinder 6 at a predetermined interval from the peripheral wall 10. The paper cylinder 7 is opposite to the plate cylinder 6 in FIG.
It can rotate in the counterclockwise direction. In addition, the paper cylinder 7 has a concave portion 15 for avoiding interference with the clamp plate 11 for clamping the stencil sheet M on the plate cylinder 6 and the clamp base plate 9 when rotating itself. Further, the paper cylinder 7 is provided with a paper clamp unit 16 that clamps (supports) the printing paper P in a detachable manner.

Next, the stencil making section 2 is composed of a stencil sheet roll section 17 in which a heat-sensitive stencil sheet M made of a continuous sheet is stored in a roll form, and a plurality of point heating elements arranged in a horizontal line. Thermal head 18, a platen roller 19 disposed opposite to the thermal head 18, a stencil feed roller 20, a stencil guide roller 21, and a stencil cutter 22
And

The stencil making section 2 feeds the stencil sheet M pulled out from the stencil roll section 17 by sandwiching the stencil sheet M between the thermal head 18 and the platen roller 19 by the rotation of the platen roller 19. Image information on an image of a document read by an image sensor (not shown) is input to the thermal head 18. The thermal head 18 selectively operates each of the point heating elements individually and individually in accordance with the image information, and generates a stencil sheet M.
Then, a heat-sensitive perforation plate making in a dot matrix is performed. The document guide roller 21 is provided with a silicon damper or the like serving as a tension applying mechanism at a shaft portion thereof, and appropriately applies tension to the stencil sheet M sent between the thermal head 18 and the platen roller 19. The stencil feed roller 20 sends the stencil sheet M, which has been made, to the plate cylinder 6 side. The stencil sheet M that has been made is cut by the stencil cutter 22 into one plate. The image information input by the stencil making unit 2 includes stamp size data on the stamp to be printed on the stencil sheet M that has been made.

Next, the paper supply section 3 has a paper supply table 24 on which the printing paper P is loaded. Printing paper P on paper feed table 24
Are taken out one by one by a paper feed roller 25 and a paper separating roller 26. The taken out printing paper P is sent to the timing roller pair 2 via the upper and lower paper guide members 27.
8 to the nip portion. Timing roller pair 28
Sends the printing paper P to the paper feeding position by the paper clamping unit 16 of the paper cylinder 7 at a predetermined timing. The paper feed roller 2 for taking out the printing paper P one by one
The paper feed roller 5 and the paper separating roller 26 constitute a paper feed mechanism, and the paper guide member 27 and the timing roller pair 28 for transporting the printing paper P therefrom constitute a paper feed transport unit.

Next, the paper discharge section 4 has a paper discharge pinch roller 30 that discharges and conveys the printed printing paper P by a pinch roller function cooperating with the paper cylinder 7. Also, the paper output unit 4
Has a paper separating claw 31 that separates the printing paper P from the paper cylinder 7 when the paper cylinder 7 rotates. The printing paper P separated from the paper cylinder 7 by the paper separating claw 31 is sent out to the printing flight table 33 by the paper ejection pinch roller pair 32. Further, the printing paper P is skipped by the inclination 33a of the printing flight table 33 to the sheet discharge table 34 and is stored in a stacked state. The paper discharge pinch roller pair 32 and the print flying table 33 constitute a paper discharge transport unit.

The paper discharge pinch roller 30 and the paper discharge pinch roller pair 32 are arranged so as to slidably contact only margins (non-print margins) on both sides of the printing paper P, and the ink transferred to the printing paper P therethrough. Is not reflected. The rollers 30 and 32 are slidably in contact with the margins on both sides of the printing paper P regardless of the width dimension of the printing paper P.
The position is automatically adjusted according to the size of the printing paper P set on the paper feed table 24.

Next, the plate discharging section 5 has a plate discharge separating claw 36 for peeling off the used stencil sheet M wound around the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 6 from the plate cylinder 6. When peeling the stencil sheet M from the plate cylinder 6, the clamp of the stencil sheet M by the clamp plate 11 of the plate cylinder 6 is released, and the end of the stencil sheet M opened with the rotation of the plate cylinder 6 is discharged and separated. Hook with nail 36. Stencil paper M caught on the stencil separation claw 36
Is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 6 by further rotation of the plate cylinder 6. Further, the stencil sheet M peeled off by the plate discharge separation claw 36 is conveyed by a plate discharge roller pair 37 and stored in a plate discharge box 38.

In the above-described printing apparatus main body, a series of printing operations are performed. That is, the stencil sheet M for one plate made by the plate making section 2 is conveyed to the plate cylinder 6 side. Then, the leading end of the conveyed stencil sheet M is clamped by the clamp plate 11, and the stencil sheet M is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 10 by rotation of the plate cylinder 6 to form a plate. Next, one sheet of printing paper P on the paper feed table 24 is taken out and transported to the nip portion of the timing roller pair 28. Next, the timing roller pair 28 feeds the printing paper P to the paper feeding position by the paper clamping unit 16 of the paper cylinder 7 at a predetermined timing. Next, the plate cylinder 6 and the paper cylinder 7
Are rotated synchronously, and the stencil sheet M wound around the plate cylinder 6 and the printing paper P clamped on the paper cylinder 7 are pressed against each other. As a result, the ink that has passed through the perforated portion of the stencil sheet M is
The image is transferred to the surface (one surface) and printing is performed. Next, with the rotation of the paper cylinder 7, the paper clamp unit 16 releases the clamp of the printing paper P, and the printing paper P is
At 1, the sheet is separated from the paper cylinder 7, and the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge table 34 via the print flying table 33. Then, the used stencil sheet M that has been used is discharged from the plate discharging section 5 as described above.

Next, the printing unit will be described.
FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an example of the printing unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit includes a print head unit 41, a paper feed unit 42, and a paper discharge unit 43.

The print head unit 41 includes a thermal transfer ribbon 45
, A thermal head 46, and a transport roller 47.

The thermal transfer ribbon 45 is formed by forming a carbon layer on the surface of a film. This thermal transfer ribbon 45
It is wound around a pair of roll parts 48a, 48b. Normally, the thermal transfer ribbon 45 has one (right side in FIG. 2) roll portion 48a.
And the leading end pulled out therefrom is fixed to the other (left side in FIG. 2) roll portion 48b.
Note that at least the other roll portion 48b is driven to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a rotation driving mechanism (not shown). As a result, the thermal transfer ribbon 45 wound on one roll portion 48a moves to the other roll portion 48b and is wound.

The thermal head 46 includes a roll 48
The heat transfer ribbon 45 is provided so as to be in contact with the thermal transfer ribbon 45 between the heat transfer ribbon 45 and the heat transfer ribbon 45. The thermal head 46 receives image information from image information output means (not shown) (for example, a personal computer). The thermal head 46 selectively operates each of the point heating elements individually in accordance with the image information to transfer the carbon layer of the thermal transfer ribbon 45 to the printing paper P. As the image information, different image information is input for each print sheet P, and different images can be printed on each print sheet P.

The transport roller 47 nips the thermal transfer ribbon 45 between itself and the thermal head 46. The transport roller 47 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2 by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown). The above-mentioned rotary drive mechanism for rotating the other roll part 48b and the rotary drive mechanism for rotating the transport roller 47 are used in combination, and the other roll part 4 is used.
8b and the drive of the transport roller 47 are linked.

The transport roller 47 transports the printing paper P sent between itself and the thermal transfer ribbon 45 to the left side in FIG. The transfer of the carbon layer to the printing paper P by the thermal head 46 is performed when the printing paper P is transported. The transfer of the thermal transfer ribbon 45 to the other roll portion 48b is performed together with the transfer of the printing paper P and the transfer of the carbon layer by the transfer roller 47.

Next, the paper supply section 42 has a paper supply mounting table 51 on which the printing paper P is loaded. The printing paper P on the paper supply mounting table 51 is supplied by a paper supply roller 52 and a paper separation roller 53.
Are taken out one by one. The taken out printing paper P is conveyed by a feed roller 55 via a guide plate 54. The feed roller 55 feeds the printing paper P between the transport roller 47 and the thermal transfer ribbon 45. The paper feed roller 52 and the paper separation roller 53 for taking out the print paper P one by one constitute another paper feed mechanism.

Next, the paper discharge unit 43 forms a transport unit that transports and discharges the printing paper P printed by the print head unit 41.
The printed printing paper P is conveyed by a feed roller 58 via a guide plate 57. Further, the printing paper P conveyed by the feed roller 58 is discharged from the printing unit by the discharge roller 59.

The printing unit is configured such that the print head unit 41 is turned upside down. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing paper P is conveyed, and is turned upside down around the nip portion of the thermal transfer ribbon 45 by the thermal head 46 and the conveying rollers 47. At this time, the transport roller 47 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3, and the other roll portion 48b is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. That is, by inverting the print head unit 41, printing is performed on the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P in FIG. 2, and printing is performed on the front surface (one surface) of the printing paper P in FIG.

The printing unit thus configured is mounted on the printing apparatus main body. In the first embodiment, the printing unit is attached to the paper feed unit 3 of the printing apparatus main body.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, there is no printing paper P on the paper feeding table 24 of the paper feeding unit 3 of the printing apparatus main body, and the printing unit is placed there. In this case, the printing unit placed on the paper feed table 24 is
Contacts the paper feed roller 25 of the paper feed unit 3 of the printing apparatus main body. The printing unit shown in FIG.
2 is set to the position shown in FIG. 2, and printing is performed on the back surface (the other surface) side of the printing paper P placed on the paper feeding placing table 51. In addition, the printing unit placed on the printing device body side,
What is necessary is just to fix by fixing means, such as a screw and a catch clip, or engaging means etc. which mutually engage on the printing unit side and the printing apparatus main body side.

As described above, in the printing apparatus in which the printing unit is attached to the printing apparatus main body, the printing paper P placed on the paper feeding table 51 of the printing unit is transferred to the printing head unit 41 by the paper feeding unit 42. The paper is conveyed, printing is performed on the back surface (the other surface), and the paper is discharged by the paper discharge unit 43. Subsequently, the printing paper P printed by the printing unit is fed to the printing apparatus main body side by the paper discharging roller 59 of the paper discharging section 43 and the paper feeding roller 25 of the paper feeding section 3 of the printing apparatus main body. You. And
In the printing apparatus main body, printing is performed on the front side (one surface) of the printing paper P, and the printing paper P is discharged to the paper discharge tray 34.

When the printing unit is not used, the printing unit may be removed from the printing apparatus main body, and the printing may be performed by placing the printing paper P on the paper feed table 24 of the printing apparatus main body.

Therefore, the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment described above is different from the printing apparatus main body that performs printing on the front surface (one surface) of the printing paper P, with respect to the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P.
Alternatively, a printing unit for performing printing on the front surface (one surface) was attached. This makes it possible to perform both-side printing or single-sided overprinting on the printing paper P without any trouble by transporting the printing paper P once.

Specifically, for example, as in postcard printing such as a New Year's card or direct mail, the front side (one side) of the printing paper P has the same image, and the back side (the other side) has a different address. It can be applied to printing. In addition, by inverting the print head unit 41 of the printing unit, it is also possible to print different characters and the same image together on the surface (one surface) of the printing paper P.

Since the printing unit is detachable from the printing apparatus main body, it is possible to perform printing only on the printing apparatus main body side or printing only on the printing unit.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment described below, the same parts as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the printing apparatus main body will be described.
The printing apparatus main body according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the paper feeding unit 3 shown in FIG. In particular,
The configuration of the paper feed unit 3 is the same,
And a paper feeding mechanism (paper feeding roller 25, paper separating roller 26)
Etc.) move together and separate from the sheet feeding / conveying section (sheet guide section 27, timing roller pair 28).
This movement is performed by a guide rail 60 (see FIG. 6) that supports the sheet feeding table 24 and the sheet feeding mechanism.

Next, the printing unit will be described.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing another example of the printing unit. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the printing unit according to the second embodiment includes a paper feeding table 51 of the paper feeding unit 42 and another paper feeding mechanism (a paper feeding roller 52, a paper separating roller 53, etc.) in the first embodiment. )
There is no configuration. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The printing unit thus configured is attached to the printing apparatus main body. In the second embodiment, the printing unit is attached to the paper feed unit 3 of the printing apparatus main body.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the paper feed table 24 and the paper feed mechanism are moved by the paper feed unit 3 of the printing apparatus main body, and the paper feed mechanism is moved between the paper feed mechanism and the paper feed unit. Place the printing unit on the. In this case, the printing unit includes a guide plate 54,
Adjacent to the paper separating roller 26 of the paper supply unit 3 of the printing apparatus main body. In the printing unit, the paper discharge roller 59 is adjacent to the paper guide 27 of the printing apparatus main body. In the printing unit illustrated in FIG. 4, the print head unit 41 is set to the position illustrated in FIG. 5, and performs printing on the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P placed on the paper feed mounting table 51. The mounted printing unit is preferably fixed to the printing apparatus main body by fixing means such as a screw or a catch clip, or by engaging means that engages with each other on the printing unit side and the printing apparatus main body side. .

As described above, the printing apparatus in which the printing unit is attached to the printing apparatus main body is the same as the printing apparatus main body.
The printing paper P placed on the paper feeder 4 is taken out one by one from the paper feed table 24 by the paper separating roller 26 of the paper feeding unit 3, guided by the guide plate 54 on the printing unit side, and printed by the feed roller 55. It is transported to the head unit 41. The print paper P is printed on the back surface (the other surface) by the print head unit 41, and is discharged by the paper discharge unit 43. Subsequently, the printing paper P is sent to the paper guide unit 27 of the printing apparatus main body by the paper output rollers 59 of the printing unit, where printing is performed on the front side (one surface), and the printing paper P is discharged to the paper output tray 34. Paper.

When the printing unit is not used, the printing unit is removed from the main body of the printing apparatus, and the paper feed table 24 and the paper feed mechanism (the paper feed roller 25, the paper separating roller 26, etc.) are moved to the paper guide 27 side. And printing may be performed.

Therefore, the printing apparatus according to the above-described second embodiment is different from the printing apparatus main body that performs printing on the front surface (one surface) of the printing paper P, with respect to the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P.
Alternatively, a printing unit for performing printing on the front surface (one surface) was attached. This makes it possible to perform both-side printing or single-sided overprinting on the printing paper P without any trouble by transporting the printing paper P once.

Specifically, for example, as in postcard printing such as a New Year's card or direct mail, the front side (one side) of the printing paper P has the same image and the back side (the other side) has a different address. It can be applied to printing. In addition, by inverting the print head unit 41 of the printing unit, it is also possible to print different characters and the same image together on the surface (one surface) of the printing paper P.

Since the printing unit is detachable from the printing apparatus main body, it is possible to perform printing only on the printing apparatus main body side or printing only on the printing unit.

Further, the printing unit does not have the configuration of the paper supply mounting table 51 and another paper supply mechanism (the paper supply roller 52, the paper separating roller 53, etc.) as compared with the first embodiment. Simplified. With respect to the printing apparatus main body, the paper feed mechanism (the paper feed roller 25, the paper separating roller 26, and the like) is configured to move, but the movement via the guide rail 60 is
Not a particularly difficult configuration.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the third embodiment described below, the same parts as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the printing apparatus main body is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 1).

Next, the printing unit will be described.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example of the printing unit. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the printing unit according to the third embodiment includes a sheet feeding table 51 of the sheet feeding unit 42 and another sheet feeding mechanism (sheet feeding roller 52, sheet separating roller 53, etc.) according to the first embodiment. )
There is no configuration. Also, the paper output unit 43 of the printing unit includes
A paper discharge mounting table 61 for stacking and storing the print papers P discharged by the paper discharge rollers 59 is provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The printing unit thus configured is attached to the printing apparatus main body. In the third embodiment, the printing unit is attached to the paper output unit 4 of the printing apparatus main body.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the printing unit is placed on the paper output tray 34 of the paper output unit 4 of the printing apparatus main body. In this case, the guide plate 54 of the printing unit mounted on the paper output tray 34 is adjacent to the paper output flying table 33 of the paper output unit 4 of the printing apparatus main body. In the printing unit shown in FIG. 8, the print head unit 41 is positioned as shown in FIG. 7, and performs printing on the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P placed on the paper feed mounting table 51. The mounted printing unit may be fixed to the printing apparatus main body by fixing means such as a screw or a catch clip, or by engaging means engaging with each other on the printing unit side and the printing apparatus main body side.

As described above, in the printing apparatus in which the printing unit is attached to the printing apparatus main body, printing is performed on the surface (one side) of the printing paper P placed on the paper feed table 24 by the printing apparatus main body. The paper is then conveyed to the paper discharge unit 4. Subsequently, the discharge flight table 3 is driven by a discharge pinch roller pair 32 on the printing apparatus main body side.
The printing paper P conveyed to the printing unit 3 is fed to a paper feeding unit 43 on the printing unit side, printing is performed on the back surface (the other surface) by the printing head unit 41, and the printing paper P is discharged to the paper discharge mounting table 61. Paper.

When the printing unit is not used, the printing may be performed by removing the printing unit from the printing apparatus main body.

Therefore, the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment described above is different from the printing apparatus body that performs printing on the front surface (one surface) of the printing paper P, in comparison with the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P.
Alternatively, a printing unit for performing printing on the front surface (one surface) was attached. This makes it possible to perform both-side printing or single-sided overprinting on the printing paper P without any trouble by transporting the printing paper P once.

Specifically, for example, as in postcard printing such as a New Year's card or direct mail, the front side (one side) of the printing paper P has the same image and the back side (the other side) has a different address. It can be applied to printing. In addition, by inverting the print head unit 41 of the printing unit, it is also possible to print different characters and the same image together on the surface (one surface) of the printing paper P.

Since the printing unit is detachable from the printing apparatus main body, it is possible to perform printing only on the printing apparatus main body side or printing only on the printing unit.

Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the fourth embodiment described below, the same portions as those in the above-described first embodiment or the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the printing apparatus main body will be described.
The printing apparatus main body according to the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the paper discharge unit 4 shown in FIG. In particular,
The respective configurations of the paper discharge unit 4 are the same, but the paper discharge table 34
Is moved, and is separated from the paper discharge conveyance section (the paper discharge pinch roller pair 32, the print flying table 33, etc.). This movement is performed by a guide rail 62 (see FIG. 9) that supports the paper discharge tray 34 and the like.

Subsequently, the printing unit is configured similarly to the second embodiment (see FIG. 5).

The printing unit thus configured is mounted on the printing apparatus main body. In the fourth embodiment, the printing unit is attached to the paper output unit 4 of the printing apparatus main body.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the paper discharge tray 34 is moved by the paper discharge part 4 of the printing apparatus main body, and the printing unit is moved between the paper discharge tray 34 and the paper discharge conveyance part. Place. In this case, in the printing unit, the guide plate 54 is adjacent to the paper ejection cradle 33 of the paper ejection unit 4 of the printing apparatus main body. Further, the printing unit is adjacent to the moved paper output tray 34 on the paper output side of the paper output roller 59. The printing unit shown in FIG.
The print head unit 41 is set at the position shown in FIG. 2 and performs printing on the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P placed on the paper feed placing table 51. The mounted printing unit may be fixed to the printing apparatus main body by fixing means such as a screw or a catch clip, or by engaging means engaging with each other on the printing unit side and the printing apparatus main body side.

As described above, in the printing apparatus in which the printing unit is attached to the printing apparatus main body, printing is performed on the surface (one side) of the printing paper P placed on the paper feed table 24 by the printing apparatus main body. The paper is then conveyed to the paper discharge unit 4. Subsequently, the discharge flight table 3 is driven by a discharge pinch roller pair 32 on the printing apparatus main body side.
The printing paper P transported to the printing unit 3 is fed to a paper feeding unit 43 on the printing unit side, and printing is performed on the back surface (the other surface) by the printing head unit 41, and the paper is discharged on the printing apparatus main body side. Stand 34
Is discharged to

When the printing unit is not used, the printing unit may be detached from the printing apparatus main body, and the discharge tray 34 may be moved to the discharge transport side to perform printing.

Accordingly, the printing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment described above is different from the printing apparatus main body that performs printing on the front surface (one surface) of the printing paper P in comparison with the back surface (the other surface) of the printing paper P.
Alternatively, a printing unit for performing printing on the front surface (one surface) was attached. This makes it possible to perform both-side printing or single-sided overprinting on the printing paper P without any trouble by transporting the printing paper P once.

Specifically, for example, as in postcard printing such as a New Year's card or direct mail, the front side (one side) of the printing paper P has the same image and the back side (the other side) has a different address. It can be applied to printing. In addition, by inverting the print head unit 41 of the printing unit, it is also possible to print different characters and the same image together on the surface (one surface) of the printing paper P.

Since the printing unit is detachable from the printing apparatus main body, it is possible to perform printing only on the printing apparatus main body side or printing only on the printing unit.

Further, the printing unit does not have the configuration of the paper supply mounting table 51 and another paper supply mechanism (the paper supply roller 52, the paper separating roller 53, etc.) as compared with the first embodiment. Compared with the third embodiment, there is no configuration of the paper discharge mounting table 61.
The configuration is simplified. As for the printing apparatus main body, the paper discharge tray 34 is configured to move, but the movement via the guide rail 62 is not particularly difficult.

In all of the above-described embodiments, the printing unit 41 of the printing unit is shown as a single unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of print head units 41 may be provided in the transport direction of the printing paper P (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 10). In addition, a conveyance roller 63 may be provided between the print head units 41 to improve the conveyance of the printing paper P. Further, a plurality of print head units 41 shown in FIG. 10 are provided corresponding to the respective surfaces so that printing is performed on both surfaces of the printing paper P.

As described above, by providing the print unit with the plurality of print head units 41, the print unit side
Overprinting, double-sided printing, and double-sided overprinting can be performed. In addition, by adopting different colors for the thermal transfer ribbon 45 of each print head unit 41, it is possible to perform multicolor overprinting, multicolor double-sided printing, and multicolor double-sided overprinting. Further, by adopting cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors for the thermal transfer ribbon 45 of each print head unit 41, it is possible to perform full-color overlap printing, full-color duplex printing, and full-color duplex printing.

As shown in FIG. 10, the print head unit 41 prints either the front side (one side) or the back side (the other side) of the printing paper P in addition to printing on both sides of the printing paper P. It may be arranged to do. Further, the print head unit 41 may be configured to be inverted. In all of the above-described embodiments, printing is performed on the front surface (one surface) by the printing apparatus main body. Therefore, even with this configuration, multi-color (full color) overprinting, multi-color (full color)
It is possible to perform double-sided printing and multi-color (full-color) double-sided printing.

Further, in all the above-described embodiments, the thermal transfer ribbon 4
5 and the thermal head 46 to perform thermal transfer printing, but this is not a limitation. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, an ink jet unit 65, a feed roller 66, and the ink jet unit 65 are used as the print head unit 41 '.
And the driving unit 67 of the feed roller 66. In particular, according to the print head unit 41 ', if a plurality of ink colors (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, black, etc.) are employed in the ink jet unit 65, multicolor printing including full color can be performed in a space-saving manner. I can do it. Also,
As shown in FIG. 12, the print head unit 41 'can be configured to be vertically inverted as in the above-described embodiment. The printing units shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 have a configuration corresponding to the above-described first embodiment, but may have a configuration corresponding to the second to fourth embodiments.

[0082]

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the printing unit for printing on one or the other side of the printing paper is attached to the printing apparatus main body for printing on one side of the printing paper. . Accordingly, double-sided printing or single-sided superimposed printing on the printing paper can be performed without trouble by carrying the printing paper once.

In particular, the present invention can be applied to a case where one side of the printing paper is the same image and the other side is different, such as postcard printing. In addition, the same image can be printed together with different characters on one side of the printing paper by reversing the printing head of the printing unit.

Further, since the printing unit is detachably attached to the printing apparatus main body, it is possible to perform printing only on the printing apparatus main body side or printing only on the printing unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an example of a printing apparatus main body (first embodiment).

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example (first embodiment) of a printing unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the reversing operation of the print head unit of the printing unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view in which a printing unit is attached to the printing apparatus main body according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing another example (second embodiment) of a printing unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view in which a printing unit is attached to a printing apparatus main body according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example (third embodiment) of a printing unit.

FIG. 8 is a side view in which a printing unit is attached to a printing apparatus main body according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view in which a printing unit is attached to a printing apparatus main body according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing another configuration of the printing unit.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing another configuration related to the print head unit.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the reversing operation of the print head unit of the printing unit in FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... printing part, 3 ... paper feed part, 4 ... paper discharge part, 24 ... paper feed table,
25: paper feed roller (paper feed mechanism), 26: paper separating roller (paper feed mechanism), 27: paper guide (paper feed transport),
28: timing roller pair (paper feed / conveyance unit), 32: paper discharge pinch roller pair (paper discharge / conveyance unit), 33: printing flying table (paper discharge / conveyance unit), 34: paper discharge table, 41, 41 '... printing Head part, 43: paper discharge part (transport part), 51: paper feed table, 52
... Paper feed roller (another paper feed mechanism), 53... Paper separation roller (another paper feed mechanism), 61.

Claims (7)

[Claims] A feeder for automatically feeding the loaded printing paper, a printing unit for printing on one side of the printing paper fed from the feeding unit, and the printed printing paper printed And a printing unit for performing different printing on one or the other surface of the printing paper, wherein the printing unit is provided on the paper feeding unit side. Alternatively, the printing unit is detachably attached to the paper ejection unit side, performs printing on the printing paper printed by the printing unit, using the printing unit, or performs printing on the printing paper printed by the printing unit. A printing apparatus characterized in that printing is performed by a unit. 2. A paper feed unit of the printing apparatus main body, comprising: a paper feed tray for loading the print paper; and a paper feed mechanism for automatically feeding the print paper loaded on the paper feed tray one by one. And a paper feed transport unit that transports the fed print paper to the printing unit, wherein the printing unit is configured to place the print paper on a paper feed mounting table, and is mounted on the paper feed mounting table. A separate paper feed mechanism that automatically feeds the printed printing paper one by one, a print head that prints on the fed printing paper, and a transport unit that transports the printed printing paper. Having the printing unit mounted on the paper supply table, and performing printing by feeding the print paper placed on the paper supply mounting table to the print head at the another paper supply mechanism unit, 2. The printing paper according to claim 1, wherein the printed printing paper is transferred from the transport unit to the paper feeding mechanism unit. Printing apparatus. 3. A paper supply unit of the printing apparatus main body, comprising: a paper supply tray on which the print paper is loaded; and a paper supply mechanism for automatically feeding the print paper loaded on the paper supply plate one by one. And a paper feed transport unit that transports the fed print paper to the printing unit, wherein the paper feed table and the paper feed mechanism unit are both movable, and the printing unit is configured to perform the printing process. A print head unit that performs printing on paper, and a transport unit that transports the printed print paper, wherein the print unit is mounted between the paper feed transport unit and the moved paper feed mechanism unit, The paper feed mechanism unit feeds the print paper to the print head unit to perform printing, and transfers the printed print paper from the transport unit to the paper feed transport unit. The printing device according to claim 1. 4. A paper discharge section of the printing apparatus main body has a paper discharge transport section that transports the print paper printed by the print section, and a paper discharge table that stores the transported print paper. The printing unit includes a print head unit that prints on the print paper, a transport unit that transports the print paper, and a paper discharge mounting table that stores the transported print paper. The printing unit is mounted on a table, printing is performed on the printing paper conveyed from the paper discharge conveyance unit by the print head unit, and the printed printing paper is stored in the paper discharge mounting table from the conveyance unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing is performed. 5. A paper discharge section of the printing apparatus main body has a paper discharge transport section that transports the print paper printed by the print section, and a paper discharge table that stores the transported print paper. The printing unit is configured to be movable, and the printing unit includes a print head unit that prints on the printing paper, and a transport unit that transports the printed printing paper. The printing unit is mounted between the transport unit and the moved paper output table, and the print head unit performs printing on the print paper transported from the paper output transport unit, and prints the printed print paper. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is accommodated in the discharge tray from the transport unit. 6. The printing unit, wherein a print head unit that performs printing on the printing paper is disposed so as to be capable of reversing movement so as to perform printing on one or the other surface of the printing paper.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed selectively on each side of the printing paper. 7. The printing unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of printing heads for performing printing on the printing paper are arranged so as to perform printing on one side or both sides of the printing paper. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus performs overlap printing.