JP2004122625A - Paper guide mechanism of printer and printer equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing paper guide mechanism which changes positions of an engagement part of a form stopper and a printing paper guide corresponding to the time of insertion and the time of transfer of a printing paper sheet. <P>SOLUTION: The guide mechanism for the printing paper sheet has the form stopper 10, a supporting member 31 and a switching mechanism 14. The form stopper 10 has an engagement end 11 at one end which is to be engaged with a leading end 51 of the printing paper 50, and a guide end 12 at the other end which guides transfer of the printing paper sheet 50. The supporting member 31 rotatably supports the form stopper so that the engagement end moves to a first position where the engagement end projects into a transfer path 20 and to a second position where the engagement end retreats from the transfer path 20. The switching mechanism 14 rotates the form stopper 10 to move the engagement end 11 to the first position at the time of insertion standby of the printing paper sheet 50, and to move the engagement end 11 to the second position at the time of transfer of the printing paper sheet 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper guide mechanism of a printer that performs printing on printing paper such as cut sheets.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printer performs printing on a print sheet by a print head while conveying the print sheet along a predetermined transfer path. In the transport path, there may be a step at the joint between the parts forming the transport path and at the transfer part, and the edge may be caught by the step when transporting the printing paper, causing transport failure such as paper jam. is there. In particular, in a printer that prints on a cut sheet, the end of the cut sheet passes through a joint between parts and a transfer section every time printing is performed, so that a conveyance failure such as a paper jam is likely to occur. For this reason, at the joints between the components in the transport path and the transfer portion, conventionally, the height of the transport path is gradually narrowed with respect to the traveling direction of the printing paper (hereinafter referred to as “rake shape”). , So that it can be smoothly transported.
[0003]
For example, in a printer (slip printer) that performs printing on printing paper such as cut-sheet paper inserted from an insertion slot, the height of the conveyance path near the insertion slot is increased, and the printing paper is moved to a predetermined reference position (insertion depth). ) Can be inserted smoothly. The insertion depth is defined by a positioning stopper (form stopper) provided so as to be able to advance (retreat) with respect to the transport path. The form stopper has a locking end that can contact the leading end of the printing paper, and the printer waits for insertion of the printing paper with the locking end protruding into the transport path. The operator can set the printing paper at a predetermined reference position by inserting the printing paper until the leading end of the printing paper comes into contact with the locking end (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-347714 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if a rake shape or the like is provided, if the leading end of the printing paper is bent or curled, a conveyance failure may occur. Increasing (deepening) the rake shape can also be an effective countermeasure against such folding or curling of the printing paper, but there is a problem that increasing the rake shape increases the space of the transport path.
[0006]
Further, in a slip printer, a printing sheet inserted from an insertion port is usually conveyed in only one direction, printed by a print head, and then discharged from an output port provided separately from the insertion port. However, if the insertion port and the discharge port are different, an operation space for inserting and removing printing paper is required in front of the insertion port and the discharge port. Therefore, when it is desired to reduce the installation space of the printer, a printer capable of discharging the printing paper after printing from the insertion slot is demanded from the viewpoint of saving the operation space. In such a case, after the printing is completed, the conveying roller is driven in reverse to convey the printing paper toward the insertion slot, and the printing paper is discharged from the insertion slot. Normally, the transfer portion of the printing paper between the components forming the transport path is set at a position where the downstream component in the transport direction of the print paper is retracted by one step from the upstream component, so that there is a step in the transport route. It is formed. Therefore, even when the printing paper is conveyed smoothly from the insertion slot toward the inside of the printer, when the printing paper is conveyed from the inside of the printer toward the insertion slot, the end of the printing paper may have an edge. There is a possibility that a conveyance failure such as a paper jam may occur by hitting a step between components forming the conveyance path.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the related art, and can displace the position of a guide member forming a part of a conveyance path to an appropriate position according to the time of insertion and conveyance of printing paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing paper guide mechanism and a printer including the printing paper guide mechanism.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A paper guide mechanism of a printer according to one aspect of the present invention is a paper guide mechanism that constitutes a part of a transport path that transports print paper, and has a locking portion at one end for engaging with a leading end of the print paper. A form stopper having a guide portion for guiding the conveyance of the printing paper at the other end, and a foam for moving the locking portion between a first position protruding into the conveyance path and a second position retracted from the conveyance path. A supporting member for rotatably supporting the stopper, and a foam stopper for moving the locking portion to the first position when waiting for insertion of the printing paper, and for moving the locking portion to the second position when transporting the printing paper. And a switching mechanism for rotating. According to this aspect, since the locking portion and the guide portion are integrally provided at both ends of the foam stopper, it is possible to simultaneously move both the locking portion and the guide portion by rotating the foam stopper. it can. Therefore, the position of the guide portion can be switched to an appropriate position in conjunction with the switching of the position of the locking portion.
[0009]
In the paper guide mechanism of the printer according to another aspect of the present invention, when the locking portion moves to the first position, the guide portion moves to a position where the conveyance path is widely opened, and the locking portion moves to the second position. When the guide section moves to the position, the guide section moves to a predetermined position that defines the transport path. According to this aspect, when the locking portion moves to the first position, the guide portion opens the transport path widely, and the guide portion forms a transport path upstream in the printing paper insertion direction. It moves to a position retracted from the guide component and guides the printing paper until its leading end comes into contact with the locking portion. When the locking portion moves to the second position, the guide portion moves to a predetermined position that defines the transport path, and the guide portion moves to a position protruding from other guide components forming the transport path. The print paper is guided in both forward and reverse directions.
[0010]
A paper guide mechanism of a printer according to another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the support member rotatably supports the form stopper around a rotation center of a transport roller that transports the printing paper. . According to this aspect, the rotation axis of the transport roller and the rotation axis of the form stopper can be set at the same position, so that the structure can be simplified and the arrangement space can be effectively used. In particular, by mounting the form stopper rotatably on the rotating shaft of the transport roller or the bearing of the rotating shaft, the number of components can be reduced and the mounting structure can be simplified.
[0011]
In a paper guide mechanism of a printer according to another aspect of the present invention, the switching mechanism includes an elastic member that urges the form stopper so that the locking portion is located at the first position, and when the printing paper is conveyed. The locking portion moves to the second position and rotates the form stopper by the pressing force of the leading end of the printing paper pressing the locking portion in the transport direction. In this aspect, since the form stopper is rotated using the driving force of the transport roller, a special driving mechanism is not required, and the size and cost of the printer can be reduced.
[0012]
A paper guide mechanism of a printer according to another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the switching mechanism includes an electromagnetic drive device that rotates the form stopper to move the locking portion to the first and second positions. . By using the electromagnetic driving device, it is possible to reliably rotate the foam stopper.
[0013]
Another aspect of the present invention is a printer including the above-described paper guide mechanism. As a result, it is possible to provide a printer with less conveyance failure such as paper jam.
[0014]
Further, the printer according to one aspect of the present invention includes a transport path that guides the cut sheet inserted from the insertion slot, and a transport roller that is arranged along the transport path and transports the cut sheet according to the rotation thereof. A print head that is arranged on the downstream side of the transport roller along the transport path and prints on cut paper, and a positioning part that forms a part of the transport path and that is rotatably provided around the rotation axis of the transport roller. A stopper having a locking portion at a downstream end thereof and a guide portion at an upstream end thereof with the rotation shaft interposed therebetween. It is assumed that the guide portion can be displaced between a first position where the guide portion protrudes into the path and retracts from the transport path, and a second position where the locking section retracts from the transport path and the guide section approaches the transport path. Features.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a paper guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a form stopper 10 is at a first position. The lower side of the transport path 20 for transporting the printing paper (cut sheet 50 or the like) is configured by a lower guide member 21, and the upper side of the transport path 20 is an upper guide member 22, an insertion guide 25, and a form stopper 10. And so on. Inside the printer, a paper detector 33, transport roller pairs 30, 32, and a print head 35 are arranged in this order from the insertion slot 23 side for manually inserting the cut sheet 50 along the transport path 20. The paper detector 33 is formed of, for example, a transmission type or reflection type photo sensor, and detects the presence or absence of the cut sheet 50. The transport roller pair 30, 32 includes a drive roller 30 and a pressing roller 32 that face each other across the transport path 20, and sandwiches and transports the cut sheet 50. The drive roller 30 receives power from a motor (not shown) and is fixed to a rotating shaft 31 that is rotatable in both forward and reverse directions. The pressing roller 32 is movable forward and backward with respect to the drive roller 30. The switching operation is performed between a posture in which the cut sheet 50 is pressed against the drive roller 30 and a position in which the cut sheet 50 is retracted from the drive roller 30 and the cut sheet 50 is allowed to pass. The print head 35 is, for example, of an ink jet type, and performs printing on the cut sheet 50 nipped and transported by the transport roller pairs 30 and 32.
[0016]
The form stopper 10 includes a locking end 11 formed at an end on the print head 35 side and a guide end 12 formed on an end on the insertion guide 25 side. It is provided so as to be rotatable with the shaft 31 as a fulcrum. The locking end 11 is for positioning the cut sheet 50 manually inserted from the insertion slot 23, protruding into the transport path 20 to lock the leading end of the cut sheet 50, and The switching operation is performed so as to retract and allow the cut sheet 50 to pass. The guide end 12 is used to smoothly insert and transport the cut sheet 50 (including the operation of discharging the cut sheet 50 from the insertion slot 23), and is retracted from the transport path 20 and inserted from the insertion slot 23. The operation is switched between a posture for guiding the cut paper 50 and a posture for guiding the cut paper 50 conveyed toward the insertion slot 23 in the vicinity of the lower guide member 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the foam stopper 10 receives the urging force of the elastic member 14, the locking end 11 protrudes into the transport path 20, and the guide end 12 retreats from the transport path 20. It waits for the slip 50 to be inserted. As a result, the paper path 26 near the guide end 12 is widely opened to facilitate insertion of the cut sheet 50, and the leading end 51 of the cut sheet 50 is locked by the locking end 11 so that The positioning of the slip 50 is performed. A rake portion 24 is provided near the guide end 12 of the lower guide member 21.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state where the foam stopper 10 is at the second position. At the second position, the locking end 11 of the foam stopper 10 retreats from the transport path 20, and the guide end 12 approaches the lower guide member 21. This allows the leading end 51 of the cut sheet 50 to be conveyed past the locking end 11 and, when the cut sheet 50 is fed back, to the insertion guide 25 at the rear end 52 thereof. To prevent snagging. That is, since the transport path 26 near the guide end 12 is narrowed, the cut sheet 50 is smoothly transported without the rear end 52 abutting on the insertion guide 25. At this time, by moving the guide end 12 to a position slightly closer to the lower guide 21 than the insertion guide 25, the cut sheet 50 can be more reliably conveyed toward the insertion slot 23.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the foam stopper 10 moves from the first position to the second position. The form stopper 10 waits for the insertion of the cut sheet 50 at the first position, and the cut sheet 50 is inserted by hand until the leading end 51 abuts on the locking end 11 (FIG. 3A). ). When the insertion of the cut sheet 50 is detected by the sheet detector 33, the press roller 32 is switched to the closed state, and the cut sheet 50 is sandwiched between the drive roller 30 (FIG. 3B). Thereafter, the drive roller 30 is driven to rotate forward for the printing process (FIG. 3C), and the cut sheet 50 is conveyed toward the print head 35 (FIG. 3D). With the operation of transporting the cut sheet 50, the form stopper 10 moves from the first position to the second position, and the transport path 20 is opened. That is, the leading end 51 of the cut sheet 50 rotates the locking end 11 of the foam stopper 10 toward the immersion side against the urging force of the elastic member 14 due to the paper stiffness and the conveying force.
[0019]
Here, the center of rotation of the foam stopper 10 can be freely set as long as the locking end 11 and the guide end 12 perform the above-described functions. It is preferable that the rotation shaft 31 is configured to be the center of rotation. By sharing the rotating shaft 31, the structure can be simplified and the space can be effectively used. In particular, as will be described later, the form stopper 10 is rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft 31 of the transport roller 30 or the bearing 36 of the rotating shaft 31, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the mounting structure can be simplified. Further, a pair of transport rollers 30 and 32 can be provided near the locking end portion 11 so that the cut sheet 50 is nipped and driven by the pair of transport rollers 30 and 32 and the leading end of the cut sheet 50. Since the distance from the form stopper 51 is short, the rotation of the foam stopper 10 can be made more reliable. In addition, since it is not necessary to consider interference with the drive roller 30 when mounting the foam stopper 10, the overall shape of the foam stopper 10 can be simplified, and fine adjustment of the stop end and the guide end can be performed. It will be easier.
[0020]
In addition, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, a coil spring is illustrated as the elastic member 14, but a torsion spring, a leaf spring, rubber, or another elastic material may be used. Further, although the foam stopper 10 is provided on the drive roller 30 side, it may be provided on the press roller 32 side.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a foam stopper 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the foam stopper 60 of FIG. One end of the foam stopper 60 is provided with three locking ends 61a, 61b, 61c, and the other end is provided with a guide end 62. The guide end 62 is provided in a comb shape, and the insertion guide 70 is disposed in a space 65 therebetween. The form stopper 60 is provided with two openings 63a and 63b, and the surfaces of the drive rollers 30a and 30b fixed to the rotating shaft 31 project from the openings 63a and 63b onto the transport path. Both ends of the rotating shaft 31 are supported by a frame (not shown) via bearings 36. The form stopper 60 includes at least two rotation support portions 64, and the rotation support portion 64 is rotatably fixed to the bearing 36 of the rotating shaft 31. However, the foam stopper 60 may be directly supported on the rotating shaft 31 of the driving roller 30. In this case, the form stopper 60 is slightly affected by the rotational moment of the drive roller 30, but there is no problem because the rotational operation of the form stopper 60 is interlocked with the rotational operation of the drive roller.
[0022]
As described above, by switching the guide end 12 in conjunction with the switching of the locking end 11, the guide end 12 can be automatically displaced to an appropriate position according to insertion and transport. As a result, easy insertion of the cut sheet 50 and smooth conveyance can be realized. In addition, since the form stopper 10 is rotated by moving the cut sheet 50, a special drive mechanism for rotating the form stopper 10 is not required, and the printer can be reduced in size and cost. Can be. However, a drive mechanism using an electromagnetic magnet or the like may be provided to more reliably perform the rotation operation of the foam stopper 10.
[0023]
In the above description, the paper guide mechanism of the present invention was described using the form stopper of the slip printer. However, in a printer in which the conveyance of the printing paper is temporarily stopped in the middle of the conveyance path and the conveyance is started by a predetermined trigger. Also, the present invention can be applied.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the locking portion is provided at the downstream end thereof with the rotation shaft therebetween, and the positioning stopper provided with the guide portion is provided at the upstream end thereof to switch the position of the locking portion. By performing the switching of the position of the guide portion in conjunction with the operation, the insertion of the printing paper and the bidirectional conveyance can be performed smoothly, and the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a paper guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a form stopper is at a first position.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a paper guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a form stopper is at a second position.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a foam stopper according to one embodiment of the present invention moves from a first position to a second position.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a foam stopper according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the foam stopper of FIG. 4 is mounted on a drive roller rotating shaft.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Form stopper, 11 Locking end part 12 Guide end part, 14 Elastic member 20 Conveyance path, 21 Lower guide 22 Upper guide, 23 Insertion port 24 Rake part, 25 Insertion guide 26 Conveyance path, 30 Drive roller 31 Rotary shaft, 32 Pressing roller 33 Paper detector, 35 Print head 36 Bearing, 50 Cut sheet 51 Front end, 52 Rear end 60 Form stopper, 61a, 61b, 61c Locking end 62 Guide end, 63a, 63b Opening 64 times Dynamic support, 65 space 70 insertion guide

Claims (7)

A paper guide mechanism constituting a part of a transport path for transporting print paper,
A form stopper having a locking portion at one end for engaging with the leading end of the printing paper, and a guide portion at the other end for guiding the conveyance of the printing paper;
A support member that rotatably supports the form stopper so that the locking portion moves to a first position protruding into the transport path and a second position retracted from the transport path;
A switching mechanism for moving the locking portion to the first position when waiting for the insertion of the printing paper and rotating the form stopper so as to move the locking portion to the second position when the printing paper is transported; And a paper guide mechanism for the printer. When the locking portion moves to the first position, the guide portion moves to a position where the conveying path is widely opened, and when the locking portion moves to the second position, the guide moves. The paper guide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the unit moves to a predetermined position that defines the transport path. 3. The paper guide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the support member rotatably supports the form stopper around a rotation center of a transport roller that transports the printing paper. The switching mechanism includes an elastic member that urges the form stopper so that the locking portion is located at the first position, and a leading end of the printing paper is provided with the locking portion as the printing paper is transported. 4. The form stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressing portion is pressed in a direction in which the printing paper is conveyed, whereby the locking portion moves to the second position to rotate the form stopper. Paper guide mechanism described in the above. 4. The switching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism includes an electromagnetic driving device that rotates the foam stopper to move the locking portion to the first and second positions. 5. Paper guide mechanism. A printer comprising the paper guide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A conveyance path for guiding cut sheets inserted from the insertion slot,
A transport roller that is arranged along the transport path and transports the cut sheet according to its rotation,
A print head that is arranged along the transport path on the downstream side of the transport roller and performs printing on the cut sheet,
Forming a part of the transport path, a positioning stopper rotatably provided around the rotation axis of the transport roller, sandwiching the rotation axis, a locking portion at the downstream end thereof, Having a guide portion at its upstream end,
The positioning stopper includes a first position where the locking portion protrudes into the transport path and the guide portion retreats from the transport path. A printer capable of being displaced to a second position close to the transport path.

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