JP2002144648A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a line thermal printer capable of recomposing a two-station type printer for applying printing to two recording papers at the same time and a one-station printer for applying printing to one recording paper, by making it possible to replace platen units. SOLUTION: In the line thermal printer, a printer having a paper feed motor, a power transmission means and a printing head is equipped with a first platen unit, wherein two platens are supported on a platen unit framework in a freely rotatable manner. A second platen unit wherein one platen is supported on the platen unit framework in a freely rotatable manner in a detachable manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer,
In particular, the present invention relates to a printer that can be interchanged with a two-station printer that prints on two recording papers at the same time and a one-station printer that prints on one recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional line thermal printer, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-5-286153,
Since all the components are incorporated in one frame,
A one-station printer that prints on one recording sheet cannot be replaced with a two-station printer that prints on two recording sheets simultaneously.

Next, the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a top view showing a state in which the head support member 101c in the above-described conventional example is pressed against the platen 105b.

In FIG. 10, a platen 105b is rotatably attached to a frame 101a.
Head support member 101 for supporting a print head (not shown)
c is swingably mounted. Head pressing member 1
Reference numeral 01e is locked to the frame body 101a by two fixed ends, and presses the head support member 101c against the platen 105b.

[0005]

As described above, a conventional line thermal printer has a one-station type in which printing is performed on one recording sheet because all components are incorporated in one frame. The printer could not be replaced with a two-station printer that prints on two recording papers simultaneously.

An object of the present invention is to provide a two-station type printer that prints on two recording papers simultaneously by making the platen unit replaceable, and a one-station type printer that prints on one recording paper. An object of the present invention is to provide a line thermal printer that can be rearranged.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printer having a platen and a print head on a main body frame, feeding paper by the platen, and printing by the print head. The main body frame is characterized in that one long platen is detachable and a short platen shorter than the long platen is detachable instead of the long platen.

The two short platens are independently driven to rotate.

[0009] The main body frame is characterized in that a bearing portion for supporting the ends of the rotating shafts of the two short platens adjacent to each other is detachable.

[0010] The two short platens are rotatably driven by different motors and power transmission means.

[0011] At least one of the motor and the power transmission means corresponding to each of the two short platens is detachable from the main body frame.

[0012] The detachable motor and the power transmission means include:
It is characterized by being fixed to the unit frame to constitute a single unit.

[0013] The print head is a line thermal head.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the head-up member shown in FIG. 2 is rotated clockwise to separate the print head from the platen. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the recording paper is mounted in the state shown in FIG. 3, and then the head-up member is rotated clockwise to cause the print head to press the recording paper against the platen. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where recording paper is mounted in the state shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first platen unit and the paper feed unit in the state shown in FIG. 1 are removed from the printer. FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state before a second platen unit and a paper feed unit are attached to the printer shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second platen unit and the paper feed unit are attached to the printer shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the recording paper is mounted in the state shown in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the main structure of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the present invention includes a main body frame 1a, a head support member 1c, a right paper feed motor 1b, a short platen unit 3, and a paper feed unit 2. The short platen unit 3 and the paper feed unit 2 are detachable from the main frame 1a. After the short platen unit 3 is removed, the long platen unit 5 described in FIG. 7 can be mounted instead.

In this embodiment, the head supporting member 1c supports a line thermal head. Then, it is urged toward the platen by the head pressing spring 1e, and is in close contact with the platen with the sheet interposed in the printing state. The close contact with the platen is released by operating the head-up lever 2d. Short platen platen unit 3
Is composed of a short platen unit frame 3a, and a left short platen 3c and a right short platen 3b are rotatably supported by the short platen unit frame 3a. The short platen unit frame 3a has left and right short platens 3a,
A short platen center bearing 3d is provided for independently supporting adjacent ends of the rotating shaft 3b.

The sheet feed unit 2 has a left short platen 3
and a left paper feed gear train 2c as power transmission means for transmitting the power of the left paper feed motor 2b to the left short platen 3c. Similarly, the right short platen 3b is rotationally driven by a right paper feed motor 1b provided in the main body frame 1a, and a gear train as power transmission means similar to the left paper feed gear train 2c is provided by the main body frame 1a. It is provided in.

A more detailed operation of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. The print head 1 is mounted on the main body frame 1a.
A head supporting member 1c for holding d at its upper end is swingably mounted with the lower end as a fulcrum, and a head pressing spring 1e attaches the head supporting member 1c to the left short platen 3c (or right short platen 3b). I'm going. In FIG. 1, since the head-up lever 2d is tilted leftward, the head support member 1c is released by a cam portion (not shown) formed on the head-up member 2d, and the head support member 1c is The print head 1d fixed to the upper end by the urging force of the head pressing spring 1e
Is pressed against the left short platen 3c (right short platen 3b).

Referring to FIG. 3, a state in which the head-up lever 2d is rotated clockwise from the state in FIG. 2 will be described. When the head-up lever 2d is rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2 by a finger, a cam portion (not shown) pushes up the head support member 1c against the urging force of the head pressing spring 1e, and the upper end portion thereof. Is separated from the left short platen 3c (right short platen 3b). In this state, the left sheet 4b (right sheet 4c) as a recording sheet can be loaded.

In FIG. 4, after the left sheet 4b (right sheet 4c), which is a recording sheet, is loaded in the state shown in FIG. 3, the head-up lever 2d is rotated clockwise to print the print head 1d.
Describes a state in which the left sheet 4d is pressed against the platen. From the state shown in FIG. 3, when the left sheet 4b is inserted between the left short platen 3c (right short platen 3b) and the print head 1d, and the head-up lever 2d is turned counterclockwise by finger, the head is supported. The member 1c is released by a cam portion (not shown) formed on the head-up lever 2d, and the head supporting member 1c is moved by a head pressing spring 1e.
The urging force causes the print head 1d fixed to the upper end to press the left sheet 4b against the left short platen 3c.
This state is a printable state.

Referring to FIG. 5, a state in which the recording paper is mounted in the state shown in FIG. By operating as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the right paper 4b is placed between the right short platen 3b and the print head 1d, and the left short platen 3c and the print head 1d.
When the left sheet 4a is attached between the left sheet and the sheet d, the state shown in FIG. One of the right sheet 4b and the left sheet 4a can be a receipt sheet, and the other can be a journal sheet. When feeding the right sheet 4b, the right sheet feed motor 1b is driven by a control circuit (not shown) to rotate the right short platen 3b via power transmission means (not shown). Also, left paper 4
When sending a, the left paper feed motor 2b is driven by a control circuit (not shown) to rotate the left short platen 3c via the left paper feed gear train 2c which is a power transmission means. As described above, the right short platen 3b and the left short platen 3c are independent of each other, and the right paper feed motor 1b and the left paper feed motor 2
The printer is a two-station printer that can be driven to rotate by b.

Referring to FIG. 6, a state in which the short platen unit 3 and the paper feed unit 2 in the state shown in FIG. When removing the short platen unit 3 from the main body frame 1, first, the mounting screw (not shown) is removed, and then the paper feed unit 2 is removed together with the left paper feed gear train 2c in the direction of arrow a. next,
After removing the mounting screw (not shown), the short platen unit 3 is removed in the direction of arrow b.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a state in which the long platen unit 5 and the sheet feeding unit 2 are mounted on the main body frame 1 shown in FIG. 6 will be described. When attaching the long platen unit 5 to the main body frame 1,
First, align the paper feed unit 2 in the direction of arrow c,
After mounting with the mounting screws (not shown), the long platen unit 3 is aligned with the direction of arrow d and mounted with the mounting screws (not shown). Next, left paper feed gear train 2
Assemble c.

Referring to FIG. 9, a description will be given of a state in which a wide sheet as a recording sheet is mounted in the state shown in FIG. The wide sheet 6 as the recording sheet is mounted between the long platen 5b and the print head 1d fixed to the upper end of the head support member 1c by operating in the same manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. I do. As described above, by attaching the long platen unit 5 having one long long platen 5b to the main body frame 1, the printer is a one-station printer capable of printing on wide paper 6 which is a wide recording paper.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Parts of the printers of the one station and the two stations can be made common, which has the effect of reducing the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a print head is separated from a platen by rotating a head-up lever shown in FIG. 2 clockwise.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the recording paper is mounted in the state shown in FIG. 3, and then the head-up lever is rotated clockwise so that the print head presses the recording paper against the platen.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where recording paper is mounted in the state shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the short platen unit and the paper feed unit in the state shown in FIG. 1 are removed from the printer.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state before a long platen unit and a paper feed unit are attached to the printer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where a long platen unit and a paper feed unit are attached to the printer shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where recording paper is mounted in the state shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view showing a state in which a head support member in a conventional example is pressed against a platen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printer 1a body frame 1b right paper feed motor 1c head support member 1d print head 1e head pressing spring 2 paper feed unit 2a paper feed unit frame 2b left paper feed motor 2c left paper feed gear train 2d head up lever 3 short platen unit 3a short Platen unit frame 3b Right short platen 3c Left short platen 4a Left paper 4b Right paper 5 Long platen unit 5a Long platen unit frame 5b Long platen 6 Wide paper

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A printer that includes a platen and a print head on a main body frame, feeds paper by the platen, and performs printing by the print head, wherein the main body frame has a single long platen detachable. A printer characterized in that a short platen shorter than the long platen is detachable in place of the long platen. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the two short platens are independently driven to rotate. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the main body frame has a detachable bearing portion that supports the ends of the rotating shafts of the two short platens adjacent to each other. 4. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the two short platens are rotationally driven by different motors and power transmission means, respectively. 5. The power transmission device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the motor and the power transmission means corresponding to each of the two short platens is detachable from the main body frame. The printer described. 6. The printer according to claim 5, wherein said detachable motor and power transmission means are fixed to a unit frame to form a single unit. 7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print head is a line thermal head.