JP2003221147A - Roll paper support mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the conventional problem wherein a variable paper width roll paper support mechanism, supporting roll paper at a core part by using one side of the roll paper as a reference position, requires a sideways shift of the roll paper to set an engaging part in a core bore of the roll paper when the roll paper is mounted. <P>SOLUTION: A first support portion 11 can be selectively positioned in a position projected from or retracted into a reference roll paper guide wall surface 20. While a right holder member 14 is moved in an arrow A direction, the first support portion is in the position retracted into the roll paper guide wall surface 20, and when the right holder member is moved in an arrow B direction, the first support portion 11 and a second support portion move to hold roll paper in between. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer that uses roll paper as a recording medium. More specifically, it is a roll paper support structure in which a roll paper in which recording paper is wound around a hollow core tube is supported by a shaft portion of the core, and roll papers of different widths can be easily and surely. Regarding a mechanism that can be supported.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, various mechanisms for supporting roll paper have been proposed in which a guide member can be moved in the width direction so as to accommodate roll papers having different paper widths. These roll paper support mechanisms can be roughly classified into two types. As the first type, there is a type in which one support guide is fixed and the other support guide slides in the width direction of the roll paper. As an example, it is described in JP-A-56-51378. As an operation, the roll paper core is put in the support guide on the fixed side, and then the roll paper is sandwiched by the movable support guide. In this type, one support guide is fixed, so
At least the length of the engaging portion to be inserted into the hollow core of the roll paper requires the movement of laterally shifting the roll paper when setting the roll paper. This is not only easy to operate,
This requires an extra space in the width direction, which is also disadvantageous for downsizing the storage portion.

Therefore, as the second type, a type in which the left and right support guides slide is proposed. As examples, there are JP-A-9-272238, US Patent No. 5813343, and the like. In this type, the left and right support guides are movable in conjunction with each other, and normally, the pair of support guides are symmetrically moved at equal distances with respect to the width center of the roll paper. As a result, even when replacing the roll paper with a different width, the guide portions move from both sides and sandwich the roll paper, so that the operability is good and the work can be performed quickly and reliably.

[0004]

However, the second type of the above-mentioned conventional example has a great problem although the workability of setting the roll paper is good. That is, the reference of the roll paper to be set is not the left or right end face of the roll paper but the center in the width direction of the roll paper. In a printer such as a line thermal printer in which the print dot elements of the print head are fixed in the width direction, printing starts from the first dot when the paper width is the maximum width, but when the paper width becomes narrow, As a result, the paper comes off the print head, and an unprintable area is created. Therefore, it is necessary to change the position of the dot at which printing is started according to the paper width.

In order to solve such a problem, a sensor automatically detects the paper width, and the print data is output after the blank data is inserted into the head for a necessary dot, or by communication or a switch. , The operator inputs the paper width to the printer control unit, and
There is a method of printing at a position where paper exists.

However, the above automatic detection method increases the cost of the printer. Further, in the setting work method, printing may not be performed at the correct position due to an operator's mistake.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to secure the excellent setting property of the roll paper and to set the roll paper on the basis of the end face of the roll paper. An object is to provide a roll paper support mechanism that can support.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a mechanism for supporting roll paper wound around a hollow core, in which either the left or right fixed side surface of the roll paper in the width direction is fixed. A reference surface, a first support portion that engages with one core hole of the roll paper, and a first support portion that engages with the other core hole located on the opposite side to the side engaged with the first support portion. No. 2 support part, positioning means for selectively determining the first support part to any position projecting or retracting from the reference surface, and movement for continuously moving the second support part in the width direction of the roll paper. And a biasing means for elastically biasing the second support portion toward the first support portion.

[0009]

According to the above configuration of the present invention, the reference surface that determines the position of the roll paper is fixed, and the first support portion that engages with the core hole on the reference surface side selectively projects from the reference surface or Since it moves backward, the first support portion can be retracted when the roll paper is inserted, and the first support portion can be projected when the roll paper is supported. Therefore, when the roll paper is loaded, the roll paper is loaded. This is possible by a one-way operation of moving from the top to the bottom, and a special movement for inserting the protrusion in the core hole, for example, an operation of laterally shifting the roll paper becomes unnecessary.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A roll paper support mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view of the roll paper support mechanism. A roll paper (not shown) is a core portion and is supported by being sandwiched between a first support portion 11 and a second support portion 12. ing.

Right holder member 1 for holding the right part of the roll paper
4 includes a second support portion 12, a rack gear 16, and an operation portion 1
7, a spring 19 is applied, and the spring 19 pulls the spring 19 in the direction of arrow C. Right holder member 14
Are movably supported in the width direction of the roll paper, that is, in the directions of arrows A and B, so as to accommodate roll papers of different widths. As means for regulating this parallel movement,
A known means such as engaging a part of the right holder member 14 with a guide shaft or a guide rail fixed parallel to the moving direction may be used. In FIG. 1, the operator 100 operates the operation unit 17
7 shows a state in which the right holder member 14 is moved in the direction of arrow A against the spring force of the spring 19.

Left holder member 1 for holding the left part of the roll paper
3 includes a first support portion 11 and a rack gear 15, and a spring 18 pushes the left holder member 13 in the direction of arrow D. The left holder member 13 and the above-mentioned right holder member 14 are provided with a pinion gear 21 at an intermediate position between the holder members so that the left holder member 13 and the above-mentioned right holder member 14 operate in a pair of states. The rack gear 15 and the rack gear 16 mesh with each other at symmetrical positions.

When the operator 100 moves the right holder member 14 in the direction of arrow A, the pinion gear 21 moves in the direction of arrow E.
The left holder member 13 is rotated in the direction, and power is transmitted so that the left holder member 13 moves in the direction of arrow B. Here, the point to be noted is that the range of the rack gear 15 of the left holder member 13 is formed only in an extremely short range as compared with the range of the rack gear 16, and as shown in FIG. The tooth holder is disengaged only by a slight rotation, and the left holder member 13 does not move in the arrow B direction any more. In this way, when the rack gear 15 and the pinion gear 21 are disengaged from each other, the first support portion 11 is at a position retracted from the roll paper guide wall surface 20.

When the operator 100 loads the roll paper, the right holder member 14 is moved so that the distance L from the roll paper guide wall surface 20 to the second support portion 12 is larger than the width of the roll paper. Then, the left end face of the roll paper is inserted along the roll paper guide wall surface 20, and the position of the core of the roll paper is determined by the first support portion 11 and the second support portion 1.
When the position is near the position 2, the hand is released from the operation portion 17 of the right holder member 14 (FIG. 2). Then, the right holder member 14 receives the force of the spring 19 and moves in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the pinion gear 21 rotates in the direction of arrow F, and the left holder member 13 receives the force of the spring 18 as well.
Move in the direction. That is, the roll paper is supported from both sides by being sandwiched between the first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12.

As described above, in the roll paper support mechanism of the present invention, the holder portion is arranged so that the operator can increase the distance between the first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12 in order to load the roll paper. When operating, the first support 11 moves only a predetermined short distance, and the second support 12
The side of is continuously moved to an arbitrary position. When setting the roll paper, both the first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12 move inward so that the roll paper is sandwiched.

As a method for realizing such a structure, the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 and 2 uses the rack-and-pinion method to remove a part of the teeth of the rack to remove the first problem. However, the present invention is not limited to this rack-and-pinion method, and a clutch is used so that the amount of movement does not exceed a predetermined distance. It is also possible to design. Further, as a method of transmitting power, it is also possible to use a belt or a spiral shaft.

The above is the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12
There is power transmission means between the first support portion 11 and the second support portion 12 when moving the second support portion 12 toward the first support portion 11.
Is characterized in that a movement protruding from the reference roll paper guide wall surface 20 is obtained in association with the movement of the second support portion 12.

When the present invention is further considered from a broader viewpoint, the first support portion and the second support portion that support the hollow core of the roll paper do not necessarily need to be mechanically connected. Next, in the second embodiment, an example in which the left and right support parts are not connected will be shown.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the second embodiment of the roll paper support mechanism according to the present invention. Roll paper 200
The recording paper is wound around a hollow core having a left core hole 201 on the left side and a right core hole 202 on the right side. Also in this roll paper support mechanism, similarly to the first embodiment, the first support portion 31 supports the portion of the left core hole 201, and the second support portion 32 supports the portion of the right core hole 202. Roll paper 200 rotatably supports this core as a central axis.

First, the structure of the left support portion of the roll paper 200 will be described. The first support portion 31 and this first
A first protrusion 33 and a second protrusion 35, which are continuously inclined surfaces, are formed on the support portion 31 as shown in FIG.
A member including the first support portion 31, the first protruding portion 33, and the second protruding portion 35 is the left holder member 40. The left holder member 40 is inserted into the guide hole 36 provided in the roll paper guide wall surface 41, is biased by the spring 38, and resists the biasing force of the spring 38 by the locking member 37. It is positioned at either the first position R or the second position S. This mechanism is similar to the mechanism in which the core of a knock-type ballpoint pen moves to a projected position and a retracted position by pushing the knock part.

On the other hand, on the right side supporting portion of the roll paper 200, the second supporting portion 32 is formed so as to project from the right holder member 34. This right holder member 34 is attached in the direction of arrow C by the spring 39. It is energized. Right holder member 34
Can be moved in the direction of arrow A or B by the operator.

When the roll paper 200 is set, the left holder member 40 is in the position indicated by the first position R. First
At position R, the first support portion 31 is at a position retracted from the roll paper guide wall surface 41, and the first protruding portion 3
3 and the second protruding portion 35 are in a protruding state. First, the operator moves the right holder member 34 in the direction of arrow A against the force of the spring 39 so that it is wider than the width of the roll paper 200. Then, the left side surface of the roll paper 200 is inserted along the roll paper guide wall surface 41 in the direction of arrow T. Then, the roll paper 200 and the first protrusion 33
But first comes into contact. Since the first protruding portion 33 is inclined, it acts to push in the left holder member 40 when receiving a force in the direction of arrow T. The left holder member 40 once pushed in tends to project to the second position S by the action of the spring 38. When the left core hole 201 of the roll paper 200 and the position of the left holder member 40 match, the left holder member 40
Reaches the second position S. Then, the first support portion 31
Is projected from the roll paper guide wall surface 41, and the first support portion 31 supports the left core hole 201. Next, the operator inserts the second support portion 32 into the right core hole 202, and the roll paper 200 is supported.

When the roll paper 200 is removed, or when all the roll paper is used and the remaining hollow core is removed, the operator moves the right holder member 34 to move the second support portion 3
2 is removed and the roll paper 200 is pulled upward. Then,
The inner surface of the left core hole 201 of the roll paper corresponds to the second protrusion 35. At this time, the second projecting portion 35 is also the first projecting portion 3
As in the case of 3, the left holder member 40 is pushed in because it has an inclined surface, and the roll paper 200 can be easily taken out. After taking out the roll paper 200, the left holder member 40 is located at the first position R.

As described above, the first embodiment also
Also in the second embodiment, the roll paper may be moved only up and down when the roll paper is attached and detached.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the guide mechanism is used as a reference with the first support portion engaging with the core hole of the roll paper, which is the support mechanism for fixing the one side position of the roll paper. By selectively projecting and retracting from the wall surface, when inserting or removing the roll paper, it is sufficient to move the roll paper up and down, and the operability is improved. Also, since the movement of the roll paper is simple,
It is effective to apply the present invention even when loading roll paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a roll paper support mechanism according to the present invention, showing a state before loading a roll paper.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a state in which the roll paper support mechanism shown in FIG. 1 has been loaded with roll paper.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a roll paper support mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 First support part 12 Second support 15 rack gear 16 rack gear 18 spring 19 spring 20 Roll paper guide wall 21 pinion gear 31 First support part 32 Second support part 38 spring 39 spring 41 Roll paper guide wall

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mechanism for supporting roll paper wound around a hollow core, wherein a reference surface that is a fixed side surface on either the left or right side in the width direction of the roll paper, and one core hole of the roll paper. The first supporting portion that engages, the second supporting portion that engages with the other core hole located on the side opposite to the side that engages with the first supporting portion, and the first supporting portion Positioning means for selectively deciding to either a position projecting or retracting from the reference surface, a moving means for continuously moving the second supporting portion in the width direction of the roll paper, and a second supporting portion. The first
And a biasing means for elastically biasing the roll paper toward the supporting portion of the roll paper supporting mechanism. 2. The positioning means is connected to a moving means for moving the second support portion by a power transmission mechanism, and when the second support portion moves in a direction away from the first support portion. The first support part is positioned at a position retracted from the reference surface, and when the second support part is moved toward the first support part, the first support part has the reference position. The roll paper support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper support mechanism is positioned at a position protruding from the surface. 3. The positioning means includes a spring member for urging the first support portion in a direction projecting from the reference surface,
When the first support portion is moved against the spring member,
A locking member that locks the first support portion at a position retracted from the reference surface or at a protruding position, and at the retracted position, a protruding portion protruding on a surface oblique to the reference surface is provided. The roll paper support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper support mechanism is formed continuously with the first support portion.