JP2002205843A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer that can feed a recording medium continuously precisely, SOLUTION: Out of pairing feed rollers 191 and 192 for nipping the recording medium to deliver it from a supply side to a recording side, the feed rollers 191 as a pair are arranged in a plurality of rows in the direction of feed of the recording medium. The feed rollers as the pair are brought in contact with the recording medium via the plurality of lines, and the other feed roller is brought in contact with the recording medium via a surface, or a surface formed between the rows of the feed rollers as the pair, so that the lapping state of the recording medium can be appreciable over the feed rollers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for recording information on a recording medium, and more particularly to a printer having an improved transport roller for transporting a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a conventional large-sized printer has a structure in which a paper feeding unit, a printing unit, and a paper discharging unit are arranged in this order from the top and integrated. When using such a large-sized inkjet printer, for example, the user stores the recording medium, for example, roll paper in a paper feeding unit, pulls out the leading end of the roll paper, and pulls the leading end between the transport rollers, that is, the paper feed roller. And the driven roller.

[0003] Thus, the ink jet printer prints information on the roll paper by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle openings of the print head while rotating the paper feed roller to feed the roll paper, and then prints the roll paper. It is designed to be discharged outside.

[0004]

A plurality of driven rollers of the above-mentioned conventional printer are arranged side by side in the moving direction of the carriage on which the print head is mounted, that is, in the main scanning direction, and in the transport direction of the roll paper, that is, in the auxiliary direction. 1 in the scanning direction
They are arranged in rows. Therefore, when the roll paper is conveyed while being sandwiched between the driven roller and the paper feed roller, the roll paper comes into line contact with the driven roller and the paper feed roller in the same line. For this reason, the transport of the roll paper is easily influenced by the state of the roll paper itself, that is, undulation, curl, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can always convey a recording medium with high accuracy.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for recording information on a recording medium, wherein the recording medium is sandwiched and sent from a supply side to a recording side. It is characterized by comprising a pair of transport rollers, wherein one of the transport rollers is arranged in a plurality of rows in the transport direction of the recording medium.

As a result, one of the transport rollers comes into contact with the recording medium by a plurality of lines, and the other transport roller is formed on the surface of the recording medium, that is, between the rows of the one transport roller. Will come into contact on the same surface. Therefore, it is possible to improve the winding state of the recording medium around the conveyance roller, and thus it is possible to improve the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium and the recording accuracy.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, one of the transport rollers is arranged in two rows. In this manner, if at least two rows of one transport roller are provided, the winding state of the recording medium around the transport roller can be improved, so that manufacturing costs and assembly costs can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first or second aspect, one of the transport rollers is pivotally supported so as to swing in a transport direction of the recording medium. . Thus, even if one of the transport rollers has a plurality of rows, the entire row always hits uniformly without hitting the other transport roller, so that the recording medium can be wound better around the transport rollers. Can be.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an internal configuration of a main part of the ink jet printer. The ink-jet printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a large-sized printer capable of printing up to relatively large-sized printing paper such as JIS standard A1 size or JIS standard B1 size.
10, a printing unit 120, a paper discharge unit 130, and a leg 140 are arranged in this order from the top. Printing unit 12
0 and the paper discharge unit 130 are integrated as a main body, and are configured to be separable from the paper supply unit 110 and the leg 140, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding section 110 is provided so as to protrude to the upper rear of the main bodies 120 and 130. As shown in FIG. 2, roll paper holders 111 on which two roll papers (print papers) can be set are provided diagonally up and down inside the paper supply unit 110.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flip-up type openable and closable roll paper cover 112 is provided on the front of the roll paper holder 11.
1 so as to cover it.

As shown in FIG. 2, a roll paper holder 111 includes a spindle 113 for holding roll paper, and a paper feeding unit 1.
10 attached to the inner surface of both side walls,
A pair of spindle receivers 114 that can be attached and detached and suspended,
115 is provided. After the roll paper is mounted in the center, both ends of the spindle 113
14 and 115, and are rotatably supported by a shaft. The roll paper cover 112 corresponds to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part is rotatably supported, and is opened and closed by lifting or pressing down with the lower part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 120 includes a carriage 122 on which a print head 121 is mounted, and a flexible flat cable (hereinafter, referred to as F) for connecting the print head 121 to a control unit (not shown) for executing printing.
FC) 123, an ink tube 124 connecting the print head 121 and an ink cartridge (not shown) containing ink, a transport (paper feed) roller (not shown) for transporting the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and an illustration for preventing the floating of the roll paper. Paper suction means, etc., which are not used. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper lid 125 and a front lid 126 are attached to the upper surface and the front surface of the printing unit 120 so as to cover the print head 121, the carriage 122, and the like.

The print head 121 includes a print head for black ink that discharges black ink, and a plurality of print heads for color ink that discharge ink of each color such as yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta. ing. And print head 1
Reference numeral 21 denotes a pressure generating chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generating chamber. The ink is stored in the pressure generating chamber and pressurized at a predetermined pressure, whereby an ink droplet of a controlled size is directed from the nozzle opening toward the roll paper. Is discharged.

The carriage 122 is, as shown in FIG.
The carriage belt 128 is suspended from a rail 127 provided in the main scanning direction via a roller and connected to a carriage belt 128. When the carriage belt 128 is operated by a carriage driving device (not shown), the carriage belt 128 is moved.
, And is reciprocated by being guided by the rail 127.

The FFC 123 has one end connected to the connector of the control unit and the other end connected to the connector of the print head 121, and sends a print signal from the control unit to the print head 121. Ink tube 124
Are provided for ink of each color, and one end is connected to a corresponding ink cartridge of each color via an ink pressurizing supply unit (not shown), and the other end is connected to a print head 121 of each corresponding color. .

The ink tube 124 sends the ink of each color pressurized by the ink pressurizing and supplying means from the ink cartridge to the print head 121. The front lid 126, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
The lower part is rotatably supported, and can be opened and closed by holding the upper part and pushing down or pushing up.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a paper discharge section 130 forms a part of a path for transporting roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a drawing guide for transporting roll paper in the sub-scanning direction. No paper ejection roller. Also, the paper discharge unit 13
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cartridge holder 150 for housing and holding an ink cartridge is disposed on the right side when viewed from the front side of the cartridge 0.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg 140 has two support columns 142 having rollers 141 for movement.
And a reinforcing rod 143 spanned between the support columns 142. The paper feed unit 110 and the main bodies 120 and 130 are placed on the support pillar 142 and fixed by screws.

In such a configuration, when the ink jet printer 100 is used, first, the paper feeding unit 11
Spindle 11 constituting roll paper holder 111 from 0
3 and take out the roll paper holder 113a inserted into the spindle 113 as shown in FIG.
13 Pull out from one end.

Then, as shown in FIG.
13 is inserted through one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R and penetrated therethrough, and as shown in FIG. 5, the one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R is inserted and fixed to the other end of the spindle 113. It is fitted into the paper holder 113b and brought into contact therewith. continue,
The roll paper holder 113a is inserted from one end of the spindle 113, and fitted into the other end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R. This allows the roll paper R to rotate together with the spindle 113.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, both ends of the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R is inserted are held obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction of the ink jet printer 100, that is, the roll paper R is inserted. Spindle 113
Is turned to the one spindle receiver 114.

Here, the spindle receiver 114 is configured to be rotatable in the horizontal direction.
Although the depressions 114a and 115a of the spindle receivers 114 and 115 that receive the end of the roll paper R face each other, when setting the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R is inserted,
As shown in FIG. 7, one spindle receiver 114 is rotated to make an angle of about 45 degrees with the other spindle receiver 115.

Thereafter, the other end of the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R is inserted is hung on the recess 114a of one of the spindle receivers 114, and the spindle 1 into which the roll paper R is inserted is rotated.
13 and the spindle receiver 114 is rotated. The depression 114 of each spindle receiver 114, 115
a and 115 a are opposed to each other, and one end of the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R is inserted is placed in the other spindle receiver 115.
Over the hollow 115a. Thus, the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R has been inserted can be easily set on the paper feeding unit 110.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the leading end of the roll paper R is pulled downward and passed through the transport path of the printing unit 120.
Further, as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the roll paper R is rotated in the winding direction to position the leading end of the roll paper R at, for example, a marker M formed on the paper discharge guide 131.
Then, start the inkjet printer 100,
The print head 1 feeds the roll paper R in the sub-scanning direction.
The ink droplets are ejected while moving 21 in the main scanning direction, and predetermined information is printed on the roll paper R and discharged.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a transport roller which is a characteristic part of the present invention. The transport roller includes a driven roller 191 and a paper feed roller 192 with which the driven roller 191 comes into contact with and separates from the roller. The roll paper is held between the driven roller 191 and the paper feed roller 192, and the paper feed roller 192 is held. The sheet is conveyed by being driven to rotate.

The driven roller 191 is connected to the print head 12.
A plurality of printers 1 are arranged in parallel in the moving direction of the carriage 122, ie, the main scanning direction, and are arranged in two rows in the roll paper transport direction, ie, the sub-scanning direction. FIG.
(A), the driven rollers 19 arranged in two rows
1 is rotatably supported by a cover 190. This cover 190 is provided at one end of a support plate 193 so as to be swingable in the direction of arrow a in the middle of driven rollers 191 arranged in two rows. The shaft is supported.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
When the roll paper R is nipped and transported by the driven roller 191 and the paper feed roller 192, the roll paper R comes into contact with the driven roller 191 by two lines, and the paper feed roller 192 is That is, the contact is made on the surface formed between the rows of the driven rollers 191. Therefore, the roll paper R
Even if undulation, curl, or the like is generated, the winding state of the roll paper R around the paper feed roller 192 can be improved, so that the transport precision of the roll paper R can be improved and the printing precision can be improved. The driven roller 19
The same effect can be obtained even if the number of 1s is three or more.

FIG. 12 shows the driven roller 191 shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a lever mechanism that contacts and separates the paper feed roller 192 from the paper feed roller 192. This lever mechanism 180
Is a release lever 181, a plunger-type locking means 182, a proximity switch-type detection means 1
83 are provided.

The release lever 181 is provided from the side of the paper feeding unit 110 to the inside of the printing unit 120, that is, is provided near the driven roller 191. A handle 181a is attached to a leading end, and a half is attached to a rear end. A circular lever gear 181b is attached. The release lever 181 is configured to be rotatable around the axis of the lever gear 181b in the direction of arrow a in the drawing, that is, to be able to be pulled out and pushed in from the side of the paper feeding unit 110 to the front of the printer.

A plurality of driven rollers 191 (two in FIG. 12) are attached to one end in two rows, and
A substantially central portion of the 93 is supported by a coil spring (not shown) so that both ends can swing, and a plurality of support plates 193 having such a configuration are arranged in parallel in the printing unit 120. And, on the other end of each support plate 193, each support plate 1
A cam 194 for swinging the shaft 93, a cam shaft 195, and one end of the cam shaft 195,
A cam gear 196 that meshes with a is provided.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, when the handle 181a of the release lever 181 is pushed into the side of the sheet feeding unit 110, as shown in FIG.
The driven roller 191 contacts the paper feed roller 192,
As shown in FIG. 13, the handle 1 of the release lever 181
In a state where 81a is pulled out from the side of the paper feeding unit 110, the driven roller 191 is separated from the paper feed roller 192 as shown in FIG.

The locking means 182 includes a release lever 181
Is pressed into the side of the sheet feeding unit 110 shown in FIG. 12, that is, the driven roller 191 is
Release lever 1 when in contact with
81 is locked so that the release lever 181 cannot be operated. On the other hand, when the release lever 181 is pulled out from the side of the paper feed unit 110, that is, the driven roller 191 is separated from the paper feed roller 192. Sometimes, the release lever 181 is disposed so as to be deviated from a substantially central portion of the release lever 181 to be operable.

The detecting means 183 includes a release lever 181
Are disposed so as to detect a state where the driven roller 191 is pulled out from the side of the sheet feeding unit 110 shown in FIG.

In such a configuration, when the roll paper set in the paper feed unit 110 is set in the print unit 120, the user must release the release lever 1 as shown in FIG.
81 is pulled out from the side of the paper feeding unit 110, and the driven roller 191 is separated from the paper feed roller 192.

Then, the user, as shown in FIG.
The leading end of the roll paper R is inserted between the paper feed roller 192 and the driven roller 191, and the release lever 181 is pushed into the side of the paper feed unit 110 while holding down the roll paper R. As a result, the driven roller 191 comes into contact with the paper feed roller 192 via the roll paper R, so that the leading end of the roll paper R can be sandwiched between the paper feed roller 192 and the driven roller 191. Then, the user enters the roll paper cover 11
Close 2 to complete the set.

As described above, since the release lever 181 is disposed near the driven roller 191, the user can use
Even a person can set the roll paper R on the printing unit 120, and the work can be facilitated. Further, since the locking means 182 is provided, the release roller 181 is operated by mistake during printing on the roll paper R, and
A situation in which the roll paper R is lifted by separating the roll paper R from the paper feed roller 192 can be prevented beforehand, and defective printing can be reduced.

Since the detecting means 183 is provided, the fact that the driven roller 191 is separated from the paper feed roller 192 is obtained as a detection signal. For example, the detection signal causes the ink jet printer 100 to shift to the printing operation. Can be set so as not to cause waste of ink due to blank printing.

In the above-described embodiment, a printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a device for recording on a recording medium, such as a facsimile device and a copying device.

[0041]

As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, one transport roller comes into contact with the recording medium by a plurality of lines, and the other transport roller contacts the recording medium. Contact surface, that is, the surface formed between the rows of one of the transport rollers, so that the state of winding the recording medium around the transport rollers can be improved, and the recording accuracy can be improved by improving the transport accuracy of the recording medium. Accuracy can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an internal configuration of a main part of the printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a first diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a second diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a third diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fourth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fifth diagram illustrating the procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sixth diagram illustrating the procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a seventh diagram illustrating the procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an eighth diagram showing the procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a transport roller which is a characteristic part of the present invention.

12 is a perspective view schematically showing a lever mechanism that causes the driven roller shown in FIG. 11 to contact and separate from a paper feed roller.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view when the lever mechanism of FIG. 12 is operated.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a state of a driven roller at the time of FIGS. 12 and 13;

FIG. 15 is a first perspective view showing a case where roll paper set in a paper feeding unit is set in a printing unit using the lever mechanism of FIG. 12;

16 is a second perspective view showing a case where roll paper set in a paper feeding unit is set in a printing unit using the lever mechanism of FIG. 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Printer 110 Paper feed unit 111 Roll paper holder 112 Roll paper cover 113 Spindle 114 Spindle receiver 115 Spindle receiver 120 Printing unit 121 Printhead 122 Carriage 123 FFC 124 Ink tube 125 Top lid 126 Front lid 127 Rail 128 Carriage belt 129 Gate part 129a Lid 130 Discharge part 131 Discharge guide 132 Side cover 140 Leg 141 Roller 142 Support column 143 Reinforcement rod 150 Cartridge holder 180 Lever mechanism 181 Release lever 181a Handle 181b Lever gear 182 Locking means 183 Detecting means 190 Cover 191 Follower roller 192 Paper feed Roller 193 Support plate 194 Cam 195 Cam shaft 196 Cam gear

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer for recording information on a recording medium, comprising: a pair of transport rollers for sandwiching the recording medium and sending it from a supply side to a recording side, wherein one of the transport rollers is provided in a plurality in a transport direction of the recording medium. A printer characterized by being arranged in a row. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein one of the transport rollers is arranged in two rows. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein one of the transport rollers is pivotally supported in a direction in which the recording medium is transported.