JP2001287853A - Roll paper charging mechanism and roll paper printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform a roll paper-charging work with excellent operability in a front operation-type roll paper printer without widening a paper charging opening. SOLUTION: The roll paper-charging front opening 5 is formed on the front surface 3 of the roll paper printer 1, and blocked with a roll paper cover 6. An internal roll paper charging part 8 is halved, and when the roll paper cover 6 is opened forward, the front wall part 81a of the roll paper charging part 8 and a part of the bottom wall 81a thereof are also rotated forward. Accordingly, the substantial opening of the roll paper charging part 8 is extended, and the charging work of a recording paper roll 9 can be easily performed with good operability. The widening of the front opening 5 is not necessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roll paper printer for printing on roll paper fed from a roll of recording paper loaded in a roll paper loading section by an ink jet printer or the like, and more particularly to a roll paper loading section. The present invention relates to a roll paper loading mechanism that can easily perform a loading or replacing operation of a recording paper roll body with respect to a recording paper roll.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a roll paper loading mechanism of a roll paper printer, a front opening (a front surface) of a roll paper printer is formed with a front opening of a roll paper loading section. There has been known a type in which a recording paper roll is replenished or replaced from the front (front side).

The roll paper loading section is generally shaped so that the recording paper roll body can be dropped from the upper side, and is composed of front and rear wall portions and a bottom wall portion bridged between left and right side walls of the printer body case. Have been. Therefore,
When loading a roll of recording paper into the roll paper loading section,
It is necessary to drop the recording paper roll into the roll paper loading section by moving over the front wall of the roll paper loading section from the front opening exposed by opening the roll paper cover.

[0004] Generally, the interval between the left and right side walls of the roll paper loading section is configured to be constant. Therefore, there is only one kind of roll paper width that can be used.

In a roll paper printer equipped with a roll paper loading mechanism of this type, an operation section, a display section, and a roll paper discharge section after printing are generally arranged on the front side thereof. Is configured to be able to be operated.

[0006]

In such a front-operation type roll paper printer, as described above, the operation section, the display section, and the like are arranged on the front side, so that the front opening of the roll paper loading section is opened. It may not be possible to take it widely. In particular, in a roll paper printer that requires miniaturization, the front opening of the roll paper loading unit tends to be narrow.

If the front opening of the roll paper loading unit is narrow, such work must be performed through the narrow front opening in the loading and replacing work of the recording paper roll.
There is a problem that operability is extremely poor.

Further, if the distance between the left and right side walls of the roll paper loading section is constant, there is another problem that the width of the roll paper that can be used is limited to one type.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to propose a roll paper loading mechanism capable of loading a recording paper roll body into a roll paper loading section with good operability without widening the front opening of the roll paper loading section. Is to do.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a roll paper loading mechanism capable of loading a plurality of types of recording paper rolls into a roll paper loading section with a simple structure without increasing the number of parts.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a roll paper printer provided with a roll paper loading section having such a novel configuration.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, a roll paper loading mechanism according to the present invention has a roll paper loading section, a front opening of the roll paper loading section, and a front opening that can be opened and closed. A roll paper cover which is closed in a state, wherein the roll paper loading section has a front wall portion facing the roll paper cover, and a bottom which is adjacent to the front wall portion and supports the roll paper. A wall portion, at least a part of the front wall portion and at least a part of the bottom wall portion are supported so as to be rotatable forward around a part of the bottom wall portion, and the roll paper cover is The roll paper holder is supported rotatably from a closed position that is erected around the lower end portion to an open position that has fallen forward, and the front wall portion of the roll paper holder rotates forward in conjunction with the rotation of the roll paper cover. As a feature That.

In the roll paper loading mechanism of the present invention, when the roll paper cover is tilted forward to open the front opening of the roll paper loading section, the front wall portion and the bottom wall portion of the roll paper loading section are interlocked with this. Some of them also fall forward. Therefore, the substantial front opening area of the roll paper loading section blocked by the front wall portion can be increased, and the roll paper mounting position can be moved forward. It can be easily attached to or detached from the loading section with good operability.

In general, the roll paper loading section includes left and right side wall portions, the front wall portion, the rear wall portion, and the bottom wall portion. Therefore, the front wall portion, a part of the bottom wall portion, and either the left or right side wall portion of the left and right side wall portions are supported so as to be rotatable about a part of the bottom wall portion. Can be adopted.

Further, one of the right and left side wall portions of the left and right side wall portions is rotatably supported about a part of the bottom wall portion, and the other side wall portion is in the width direction of the recording paper roll. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which it is movably supported.

Further, of the left and right side wall portions, one of the left and right side wall portions has a support shaft for supporting the bottom wall portion so as to be rotatable forward about a part of the bottom wall portion. By adopting a configuration in which the other side wall portion is movably supported in the paper width direction of the recording paper roll body, the above-described roll paper loading apparatus can be realized with a simple structure without increasing the number of components.

On the other hand, the present invention relates to a roll paper printer having the above-configured roll paper loading mechanism. According to the roll paper printer of the present invention, the recording paper roll can be easily loaded without widening the front opening of the roll paper loading section. Therefore, a small roll paper printer can be realized. Also, by changing the interval between the left and right side walls of the roll paper loading unit, it is possible to use recording paper rolls of several types of paper width.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an ink jet type roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roll paper printer of this embodiment. FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 are side views showing the main parts of the roll paper loading mechanism in the roll paper printer, and FIGS. 3 and 5 are perspective views showing the main parts. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a roll paper loading unit in the roll printer. Roll paper printer 1 of this example
The front panel is of a front operation type, and has an operation section, a discharge opening for roll paper cut after printing, and a front opening for loading or replacing roll paper at the front.

(Overall Configuration) First, referring to FIG. 1, this front-operation type roll paper printer 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped main body case 2 as a whole, and each part is built in. The operation unit 4 is arranged on the right side. The lower half of the left side of the front surface 3 is a roll paper cover 6 that covers the front opening 5 for loading roll paper in an openable and closable manner. A portion 5A is formed, from which the discharge table 7 projects substantially horizontally forward.

The internal configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The roll paper cover 6 is rotatable to the front of the printer with its lower end 6a as a center, and the position shown is the front surface for loading the recording paper roll body. This is a closed position where the opening 5 is closed, and a position that is tilted forward as described later is an open position (see FIG. 5). A roll paper loading section 8 is sectioned behind the roll paper cover 6, and a roll paper 10 fed from a recording paper roll body 9 attached thereto is passed through a roll paper guide 11 to be roll paper. The loading section 8 passes through the printing position 12 formed just above the printing position, passes through the position where the roll paper cutter 13 is disposed, and then is discharged onto the discharge table 7.

The printing position 12 corresponds to a pair of transport rollers 14a, 1
4b and a pair of tension rollers 15a and 15b are used to keep the recording paper flat. The transport roller 14b and the tension roller 15b are held by a roller holder member 16. Further, the nozzle surface 17a of the ink jet head 17 is arranged facing downward with a certain gap facing the recording paper held flat.

Next, a roll paper loading mechanism mounted on the roll paper printer 1 of this embodiment will be described. First, a pair of parallel link support shafts 21 extending horizontally in the printer width direction at the same height position on the roller holder member 16,
22 are spanned. Upper ends of a pair of links 23 and 24 extending in the vertical direction are connected to both ends of the link support shafts 21 and 22 so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction.

The lower ends of the pair of links 23, 24 are respectively connected to a pair of front and rear parallel link shafts 25, 26 horizontally mounted in the printer width direction at the same height position on the bottom frame 2a. It is connected rotatably in the direction.

Therefore, the roller holder member 16, the link support shafts 21, 22, 25 and 26, and the pair of links 2
A three-bar parallel link mechanism is constituted by 3 and 24. When the roller holder member 16 is pulled toward the user, the roller holder member 16 can move forward and downward while maintaining a horizontal state. This roller holder member 16
Is the fixed blade 1 of the cutter 13 on the front end side of the printer.
3b is attached.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2B, the discharge table 7 includes a table body 71 and the table body 7.
1 is provided with a table support member 72 to which is attached. The table support member 72 includes a horizontally extending table main body support portion 72a, a fixed blade cover plate portion 72b that is bent downward from here toward the printer rear side and extends from the front of the cutter fixed blade 13b to immediately below the fixed blade cover plate portion 72b. A connecting plate portion 72c extending in a state of being inclined slightly upward toward the rear of the printer;
In the position from the middle to the rear end, the side plate 72d extends upward from both ends in the printer width direction. The side surface portion 72d is rotatably supported on both end portions of the link support shaft 21 supported by the roller holder member 16. Furthermore, this side portion 7
At the rear end of the 2d, a hook portion 7 for locking the roll paper cover is provided.
2e is provided.

The discharge table 7 of this configuration is always pulled downward by a coil spring 74 having one end attached to the roll paper cover 6 at a position on the front side of the printer with respect to the link support shaft 21 which is the center of rotation. . A hook portion 72e formed at the rear end of the sheet discharge table 7 is hooked from below by a spring force of the coil spring 74 with respect to a hook engaging plate 2b formed on the main body case 2. The table body 7 of the discharge table 7 against the spring force
When 1 is pushed up in the direction indicated by the arrow a in the figure, the hook portion 72e moves in the direction of the arrow b, and the hook portion 72e can be detached from the hook engaging plate 2b.

Next, although not shown, the roll paper cover 6 is provided at its upper end with a tension coil spring.
It is held down by the link 24.

As described above, in this embodiment, the paper discharge table 7 is connected to the roller holder member 16 so as to be rotatable about the link support shaft 21. The roll paper cover 6 is also urged by a link 24 that rotates back and forth together with the roller holder member 16.

Next, the structure of the roll paper loading section 8 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the roll paper loading unit 8
A roll paper holder 81 formed by a front wall portion 81a, a right wall portion 81b, a rear wall portion 81c, and a bottom wall portion 81d; and a left wall portion. It is divided into two by a roll paper guide 82 formed by 82a, a rear wall portion 82b, and a bottom wall portion 82c. The roll paper holder 81 includes a support shaft 8 fixed to the bottom frame 2a and extending horizontally in the printer width direction.
3 is rotatably supported. The roll paper holder 81 is provided with an engagement projection 81e that engages with the link 23 when the rear link 23 of the four-link parallel link mechanism falls down.

On the other hand, the roll paper guide 82 is moved along the support shaft 83 (in the direction C in FIG. 7) by the left wall portion 82a of the roll paper guide 82 and the right wall portion 81 of the roll paper holder 81.
It is possible to change the distance from b and install it on the bottom frame 2a.

The roll paper guide 82 has a detection lever 84 for detecting the recording paper near end of the recording paper roll body 9.
Is attached.

(Opening / closing operation of the roll paper cover) First, when the roll paper cover 6 is in the closed position,
As shown in (a) and (b), the hook portion 72e formed on the rear end of the sheet discharge table 7 is hooked on the hook engaging plate 2b formed on the main body case 2 by the spring force of the coil spring 74. Has been stopped. In other words, the roll paper cover 6 is in a locked state.
The lock mechanism of the roll paper cover 6 is constituted by the hook portion 72e and the hook engaging plate 2b.

In order to release the lock state and open the roll paper cover 6, as shown in FIG. 2B, the table body 71 of the paper discharge table 7 is lifted up with a finger or the like (in the direction of arrow a in the figure). ). When the front end portion of the discharge table 7 is pushed up against the spring force of the coil spring 74,
The paper discharge table 7 rotates about the link support shaft 21, the hook portion 72e is lowered, disengaged from the engagement plate 2b, and the lock is released. Thus, in this example,
Since the mechanism for unlocking is simplified, it is advantageous for the roll paper exchange mechanism and, consequently, the roll paper printer to be small and compact.

After the lock is released, if the user pulls the front end portion of the discharge table 7 toward the front of the printer, the roller holder member 16 protrudes forward with the horizontal posture by the action of the four-link parallel link mechanism. By this operation, the roll paper cover 6 is moved to the front link 24 which falls down to the front of the printer.
, And falls forward around the lower end 6a in conjunction with the link 24. Thus, the roll paper cover 6 can be opened by pulling the paper discharge table 7 toward the front of the printer.

At the same time, when the rear link 23 falls down, the link 23 engages with the engaging projection 81e formed on the roll paper holder 81, and the roll paper holder 81 moves forward with the support shaft 83 as the center. To rotate. FIG. 4 shows a state where the roll paper cover 6 is being opened and the link 23 and the engagement protrusion 81 e formed on the roll paper holder 81 are engaged.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a state in which the roll paper cover 6 is completely opened. In this state, the front opening 5 is fully opened. Further, the roll paper holder 81 including the front wall portion 81a of the roll paper loading unit 8 is in a state of falling forward. In this state, the recording paper roll 9 is loaded or replaced.

In this embodiment, the transport roller 14b, the tension roller 15b, and the cutter fixing blade 13b are attached to the roller holder member 16, and these are separated from the corresponding members attached to the body case 2 side. The work of drawing the roll paper between these members can be performed extremely easily.

The front wall portion 81a of the roll paper loading section 8
When the recording paper roll 9 is loaded into the roll paper loading unit 8, the recording paper roll 9 is loaded from above from the upper side by passing over the front wall portion 81 a of the roll paper loading unit 8 as in the related art. The recording paper roll 9 can be loaded almost horizontally from the front of the printer without having to drop it into the unit 8. Also, a portion 81d of the bottom wall portion of the roll paper loading section 8
Also rotates forward, the loading position of the recording paper roll 9 protrudes toward the front of the printer.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the recording paper roll body is loaded, the substantial opening of the roll paper loading section 8 can be widened, so that the loading operation can be easily performed with good operability. . In other words, even if the front opening 5 is not widened, the substantial opening of the roll paper loading unit 8 with the roll paper cover 6 opened can be widened, thereby impairing the operability of the loading operation of the recording paper roll. Without front opening 5
Can be reduced, which is extremely advantageous for making the printer smaller and more compact.

Further, in this embodiment, since the roll paper guide 82 is movable along the support shaft 83, the recording paper roll body 9 having various widths can be loaded.

Further, since the roll paper guide 82 of the roll paper loading section 8 is not interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the roll paper cover 6, the left side wall portion 82a of the roll paper loading section 8 is supported by a support shaft. It does not move in a direction other than the direction along 83, and the installation of the detection lever 84 for detecting the near end of the recording paper roll body 9 can be facilitated.

The roll paper holder 82 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 83, and the roll paper guide 82 is supported by the support shaft 8.
By supporting movably along 3, the above-described roll paper loading apparatus can be realized with a small number of components.

[0044]

As described above, in the roll paper printer of the present invention and the roll paper loading mechanism mounted thereon, the front wall portion and the bottom wall portion of the roll paper loading section are linked to the roll paper cover. The part of is opened. Therefore, the substantial opening of the roll paper loading section when loading the recording paper roll body can be widened. In addition, there is no need to perform a loading operation in which the recording paper roll body is dropped from the upper side over the front wall portion of the roll paper loading section.

Thus, according to the present invention, the loading operation of the recording paper roll can be easily performed with good operability. Further, since the front opening can be reduced without impairing the operability of the loading operation of the recording paper roll, it is extremely advantageous for downsizing and downsizing of the printer.

Further, in the present invention, one of the left and right side walls of the roll paper loading section is movable in the width direction of the printer, so that recording paper rolls having various widths can be used.

Further, in the present invention, one of the left and right side wall portions of the roll paper loading section is not interlocked with the rotation of the roll paper cover, so that the near-end detector of the recording paper roll can be easily installed. can do.

Further, in the present invention, one of the left and right side walls of the roll paper loading section is rotatably supported by one support shaft, and the other left and right side walls are moved in the paper width direction of the recording paper roll. Since it is supported as possible, the above-described roll paper loading apparatus can be realized with a minimum number of parts.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a main part of an internal structure of the roll paper printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of an internal structure of the roll paper printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the roll paper cover in the roll paper printer of FIG. 1 is being opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of an internal structure of the roll paper printer of FIG. 1 with a roll paper cover opened.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a main part of an internal structure of the roll paper printer in FIG. 1 with a roll paper cover opened.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a roll paper loading unit structure in the roll paper printer of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Roll paper printer 2 Main body case 3 Printer front 4 Operation part 5 Front opening of roll paper loading part 6 Roll paper cover 7 Discharge table 8 Roll paper loading part 9 Recording paper roll

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A roll paper loading section, a front opening of the roll paper loading section, and a roll paper cover closing the front opening so as to be openable and closable, wherein the roll paper loading section includes A front wall portion facing the paper cover, and a bottom wall portion adjacent to the front wall portion and supporting a recording paper roll, wherein at least a part of the front wall portion and at least a part of the bottom wall portion are provided. The roll paper cover is supported rotatably forward about a part of the bottom wall portion, and is rotatable from an upright closed position upright to an open position collapsed forward about a lower end thereof. A roll paper loading mechanism, wherein the front wall portion and the bottom wall portion of the roll paper holder rotate partly forward in conjunction with rotation of the roll paper cover. 2. The roll paper loading section according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper loading section includes left and right side wall portions, the front wall portion, a rear wall portion, and the bottom wall portion. A roll wherein a part of a bottom wall portion and one of left and right side walls of the left and right side wall portions are supported so as to be rotatable forward around a part of the bottom wall portion. Paper loading mechanism. 3. The left and right side wall portions according to claim 2, wherein one of the left and right side wall portions is supported so as to be rotatable forward around a part of the bottom wall portion, and the other side wall portion is provided. Is supported movably in the paper width direction of the recording paper roll body. 4. The support shaft according to claim 3, wherein one of the right and left side wall portions of the left and right side wall portions is supported so as to be rotatable forward around a part of the bottom wall portion. A roll paper loading mechanism, wherein the support shaft further supports the other side wall portion so as to be movable in the paper width direction of the recording paper roll body. 5. A roll paper printer equipped with the roll paper loading mechanism according to claim 1.