JP2004123312A - Recording paper splicing device and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the print interruption caused by break of printing paper sheets in an unmanned operation at night time or the like. <P>SOLUTION: Two magazine charging units 13 and 14 are disposed facing each other, and photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are charged therein. A splicing unit 30 is provided between the magazine charging units 13 and 14. The splicing unit 30 comprises a splicing stand 31, a pair of nip rollers 32 and 33, and a puncher 34. A working opening 36 and a shutter 38 are provided in a lid 16. Photographic paper tips 25a and 26a from the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are positioned at the splicing position of the splicing stand 31 by the pair of nip rollers 32 and 33, and butted to each other. A splice tape is affixed to butted portions of the photographic paper sheets by an operator after the positioning. Then, the shutter 38 is closed, and the spliced photographic paper sheets 25 and 26 are wound from one photographic paper magazine 11 to the other photographic paper magazine 12. Break of photographic paper sheets in an unmanned operation can be eliminated by increasing the number of the photographic paper sheets. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording paper joining apparatus and a printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-174938 A (2nd and 3rd pages)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 11-305341 A (pages 2 to 4)
[0003]
In a printer processor such as a minilab, a photographic paper magazine is used in which long photographic paper is rolled up and stored. In the printer processor, a new photographic paper magazine is loaded when the photographic paper runs out. Such loading of the photographic paper magazine can be dealt with without any problem if it is manned work. Also, in order to avoid frequent replacement of photographic paper magazines, a plurality of photographic paper magazines are loaded, and even if one of them becomes empty, the other photographic paper magazine can be used to continue printing processing. Possible printer processors are also provided.
[0004]
By the way, in recent years, it has been required to efficiently perform print processing by performing unattended operation at night or the like. For this reason, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a photographic printing apparatus that performs printing by switching between a normal operation mode and an unattended operation mode has been proposed. Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, when starting print creation based on image data stored in the data storage means by the print creation system and information corresponding thereto, the necessary amount of recording medium or It has been proposed to estimate the amount of processing agent, etc., and to request replenishment or notify the completion of work.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of unmanned work at night or the like, if there is only a small amount of photographic paper remaining, the processing is interrupted at that time, and there is a problem that efficient unmanned operation becomes impossible.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a recording paper joining apparatus and a printer capable of performing an efficient unmanned operation by eliminating the occurrence of a print interruption due to insufficient recording paper remaining in an unattended operation. The purpose is to do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a magazine loading means for loading a plurality of recording paper magazines in which strip-shaped recording paper is wound up and stored, and the recording set in the magazine loading means. Recording paper joining means for joining recording paper from a paper magazine, mark recording means for recording a joining mark indicating a joining position with respect to the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means, and joining by the recording paper joining means Recording paper winding means for winding the recorded recording paper into one recording paper magazine. In addition to automatically joining the recording paper set at the joining position, the recording paper joining means pulls out the recording paper from the recording paper magazine set at the magazine loading means, and puts the drawn recording paper at the joining position. A recording paper set portion to be positioned; a work opening for applying a joining tape to the recording paper at the joining position positioned by the recording paper setting portion; a shutter for opening and closing the opening; and the recording paper winding A manual joining method may be used that includes a shutter driving unit that closes the shutter before the recording paper is taken up by the take-up means. The one recording paper magazine preferably has a larger recording paper remaining amount than the other recording paper magazine. The joining mark may be any mark as long as the printer can automatically recognize the joining portion, and may be a hole by a puncher or a mark by a printer.
[0008]
In the printer of the present invention, a magazine loading means for loading a recording paper magazine in which strip-shaped recording paper is wound up and stored, and a recording paper drawn out from the recording paper magazine set in the magazine loading means are wound. Recording means for drawing out the recording paper from the recording paper magazine newly set in the magazine loading means and the buffer means for taking in and storing, and joining the leading edge of the drawn recording paper and the trailing edge of the recording paper of the buffer means A paper joining means, a mark recording means for recording a joining mark indicating a joining position with respect to the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means, and the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means to the recording paper magazine. Recording paper winding means for winding. The joining means may be one that automatically joins, or one that joins manually from the working opening. The magazine loading means is preferably loaded with a plurality of recording paper magazines. In this case, the recording paper is pulled out from a magazine with a small remaining amount of recording paper, and the drawn recording paper is used as another magazine. It is joined to the recording paper and wound up in a magazine.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a photographic paper joining apparatus of the present invention as viewed from the front. In the box-shaped frame 10, loading sections 13 and 14 for two photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are provided. The photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are arranged so that the photographic paper entrances 11a and 12a face each other. The frame 10 includes a box body 15 and a lid 16, and when the lid 16 is closed, the inside of the frame 10 is kept light tight.
[0010]
The magazine loading unit 13 on the left side is the drawer side, and the photographic paper magazine 11 with a small amount of photographic paper remaining is set. Further, the right magazine loading section 14 is the take-up side, and the photographic paper magazine 12 with a large amount of photographic paper remaining is set. As shown in FIG. 3, a winding core drive unit 20 is provided in the magazine loading unit 14 on the winding side. The winding core driving unit 20 includes a driving shaft 20a. The driving shaft 20a engages with the winding core 21 of the photographic paper magazine 11 and rotates it in the winding direction.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each magazine loading section 13, 14 is formed so that a photographic paper magazine having a maximum width size can be accommodated so that photographic paper magazines having different width sizes can be joined. A biasing member 22 that biases a photographic paper magazine smaller than the maximum width toward the winding core drive shaft 20a is provided. The biasing member 22 biases the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 toward the winding core drive shaft 20a by the coil spring 23.
[0012]
Between the two magazine loading sections 13 and 14, a splice section 30 for joining the photographic papers 25 and 26 of the two photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 is provided. The splice unit 30 includes a joining table 31, a pair of nip rollers 32 and 33 that feed the printing paper 25 and 26 to the joining table 31, and a puncher 34. A work opening 36 is formed in the lid 16 at a position facing the joining base 31 when the lid 16 is closed. The lid 16 is provided with a shutter 38 for opening and closing the work opening 36 and is driven by a shutter drive mechanism 39. The shutter drive unit 39 is controlled by the controller 40.
[0013]
The nip roller pairs 32 and 33 are arranged in the vicinity of the photographic paper entrances 11a and 12a of the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12. The nip roller pair 32, 33 is formed by a shift mechanism 41 between a nip release position where the pressing rollers 32a, 33a are retracted from the driving rollers 32b, 33b and a nip position where the pressing rollers 32a, 33a are pressed against the driving rollers 32b, 33b. It is comprised so that it may displace between. When the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are set in the magazine loading sections 13 and 14, the nip is released. In this state, the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 in a state in which the photographic paper leading edges 25a and 26a are exposed to the outside. Is loaded, the photographic paper leading edges 25a and 26a are positioned between the nip roller pairs 32 and 33 in the nip released state. The shift mechanism 41 is controlled by the controller 40. By pressing a joining start button 54 of the operation panel 42 described later, the nip release state is changed to the nip state, and the nip roller pairs 32 and 33 are based on detection signals from the tip sensors 45 and 46. By controlling the number of rotations, the photographic paper leading edges 25a and 26a of both photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are positioned at the splice positions.
[0014]
At the splice position, the photographic paper leading edges 25a and 26a are in contact with each other. The splicing tape 47 is attached to the abutting portion by the operator, and the photographic papers 25 and 26 are joined.
[0015]
The puncher 34 is provided on the joining base 31 and has a long hole-like splice mark 50 along the center line of the photographic printing paper 25 and 26. The puncher 34 is controlled by a controller 40, and includes a die 34a, a punch 34b, and a shift unit 34c. FIG. 4 shows an example of the splice mark 50 by the puncher 34 at the joint portion. In addition, this joining method and splice mark are standardized by ISO1009: 1992E, and by using a splice mark or position according to this standard, it can be detected in the same manner as a normal joining portion by various printers. It is not necessary to provide a new splice mark detector, and the configuration is simplified. An original splice mark that is not the above standard may be used. In this case, a sensor capable of detecting the splice mark is provided on the printer side. The splice mark may be one recorded by a printer or the like in addition to one formed by punching with a puncher. On the printer side, when this splice mark is detected, unnecessary portions including the splice mark and the splice tape are cut, and this portion is not used for recording.
[0016]
The winding core drive shaft 20a is provided at a position where it engages with the winding core 21 of the photographic paper magazine 12 on the winding side. The drive shaft 20a is housed in the retracted position before the magazine 12 is loaded. When the magazine 12 is loaded, the drive shaft 20a moves forward to the winding core engaging position and engages with the winding core 21. The drive shaft 20 a is driven to rotate by a motor 52, thereby winding the photographic paper 25 and 26 into the magazine 12. As a drive source of the drive shaft 20a, a motor 52 that rotationally drives the nip roller pairs 32 and 33 is used. The rotation of the motor 52 is selectively transmitted to the nip roller pairs 32 and 33 or the drive shaft 20a by a clutch mechanism (not shown).
[0017]
The controller 40 controls each part based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The controller 40 includes an operation panel 42. The operation panel 42 is provided with a power switch 53, a joining start button 54, a take-up button 55, and the like. First, after the power switch 53 is turned on, the lid 16 is opened, and the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are loaded in the loading sections 13 and 14, respectively. At this time, the magazine 12 having a large remaining amount of photographic paper is set in the take-up side loading unit 14, and the magazine 11 having a small remaining amount is set in the drawing side loading unit 13. Further, since the nip roller pairs 32 and 33 are released from the nip state by the shift mechanism 41, the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are loaded with the photographic paper leading ends 25a and 26a being sandwiched between the nip roller pairs 32 and 33. Set in the parts 13 and 14. Thereafter, when the lid 16 is closed, a lock mechanism (not shown) is activated, and the opening of the lid 16 is restricted.
[0018]
Next, when the operator presses the joining start button 54, the pair of nip rollers 32 and 33 are rotated, and the recording papers 25 and 26 from both the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 are fed to the leading ends 25a and 25 based on signals from the leading end sensors 45 and 46. 26a is positioned at the joining position so as to be in abutted state. Thereafter, the operator attaches the splice tape 47 to the photographic papers 25 and 26 set at the joining position and joins them together.
[0019]
Next, when the take-up button 55 is pressed, the shutter 38 is first closed by the shutter drive unit 39, and then the drive shaft 20a is driven to rotate, and the take-up-side winding core 21 rotates to rotate the photographic papers 25 and 26. Winding is started. When the fixed position is reached from the joining position, the photographic papers 25 and 26 are stopped, and the splicer mark 50 (see FIG. 4) is formed on the photographic paper 25 by the puncher 34. Next, after the trailing edge of the photographic paper 25 on the drawer side is detected by the leading edge sensor 46, the winding is finished, so that the photographic paper 25 and 26 are in a state where the trailing edge of the photographic paper is slightly out of the photographic paper magazine 12. Winding is complete. When the winding is completed, the shutter 38 is set to the open position and the lock of the lid lock mechanism is released. The operator opens the cover 16 and takes out the photographic paper magazines 11 and 12 to complete the joining process.
[0020]
In the above-described embodiment, a simple joining method in which the splice tape 47 is joined manually is used. Instead, as shown in FIG. 6, a splicer 62 including a splice tape supply unit 60 and a crimping unit 61 is used. May be provided on the lid 16 to automatically perform the joining process. In this case, the configuration of the working opening 36 and the shutter 38 for opening and closing the opening is not necessary. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structural member as FIG. 1, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0021]
In the above embodiment, the photographic paper joining apparatus is provided separately from the photographic printer. Instead, as shown in FIG. 7, the photographic printer 70 is provided with a joining portion 30 similar to the above embodiment. May be. In this case, a buffer unit 72 is provided in the photographic paper supply unit 71, and a photographic paper with a small remaining amount of photographic paper is temporarily wound around a winding shaft 73 of the buffer unit 72. Next, the two photographic papers 25 and 26 are joined via the joining unit 30, and the photographic paper 25 of the photographic paper magazine 11 having a small remaining amount of photographic paper is wound around the photographic paper magazine 12 having a large remaining amount of photographic paper. In addition, since the joining part 30, the magazine loading parts 13 and 14, and other members are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the same constituent members are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted. Reference numeral 74 denotes a photographic paper guide, and 75 denotes a conveying roller pair. Further, the photographic paper magazine 11 in which the photographic paper 25 is emptied by the joining process is taken out from the magazine loading unit 13, and a new unused photographic paper magazine is loaded into the magazine loading unit 13.
[0022]
The photographic paper from the photographic paper supply unit 71 is separated for each print size by a printer main body 76 including a cutter unit, a back printing unit, an exposure unit, and the like, and back printing, exposure processing, and the like are performed. The exposed photographic paper is sent to the processor 77, where development processing and drying processing are performed. As described above, since the photographic paper with a small remaining amount of photographic paper is joined and set in the photographic printer 70 in an increased state, the interruption of printing due to the photographic paper running out during unmanned work such as at night is prevented.
[0023]
Further, in the case where the joining portion 30 is built in the photographic printer, a joining device 62 including a splice tape supply means 60 and a crimping means 61 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, an automatic joining method may be used. In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a photographic printer in which two magazines can be loaded. Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented in a photographic printer in which one or three or more magazines can be loaded.
[0024]
In the type in which one magazine is loaded, first, a photographic paper magazine with a small amount of photographic paper remaining is set in the magazine loading section, and the photographic paper of this magazine is wound around the buffer section. Next, the photographic paper magazine on the winding side is set in the magazine loading section, the photographic paper leading edge of the buffer section is joined to the photographic paper leading edge of the photographic paper magazine, and then wound into the photographic paper magazine.
[0025]
Further, the photographic paper 25 and 26 are not joined, but the photographic paper with a small remaining amount of photographic paper is simply wound around the buffer device, and after the photographic paper on the photographic paper magazine side is used up, the photographic paper of this buffer device is used. In this case as well, the amount of photographic paper held can be increased, and continuous printing is possible without requiring photographic paper replacement even during nighttime unattended operation.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, the joining of photographic paper has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to roll-shaped recording paper in various printers such as an ink jet printer and a thermal printer.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the recording papers of a plurality of recording paper magazines are joined to increase the remaining amount of recording paper, it is possible to eliminate print interruption due to running out of recording paper in an unattended operation such as at night.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a photographic paper joining apparatus embodying the present invention as seen from the front.
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the photographic paper joining apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the photographic paper joining apparatus as viewed from the side.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a splice mark by a puncher at a photographic paper joining portion.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of joining processing by a controller.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment in which a joining process is automatically performed as viewed from the front.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a photographic printer having a joining device as viewed from the front.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Frames 11 and 12 Printing paper magazines 13 and 14 Magazine loading part 15 Box main body 16 Lid 20a Winding core drive shaft 21 Winding cores 25 and 26 Printing paper 30 Joining parts 32 and 33 Nip roller pair 34 Puncher 36 Work opening 38 Shutter 39 Shutter Drive mechanism 40 Controller 41 Shift mechanism 42 Operation panel 47 Splice tape 50 Splice mark 60 Splice tape supply means 61 Crimping means 62 Joiner 70 Photo printer 71 Printing paper supply section 72 Buffer section

Claims (6)

Magazine loading means for loading a plurality of recording paper magazines in which strip-shaped recording paper is wound and stored in a roll shape;
Recording paper joining means for joining recording paper from the recording paper magazine set in these magazine loading means;
Mark recording means for recording a joining mark indicating a joining position with respect to the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means;
A recording paper joining apparatus comprising recording paper winding means for winding the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means onto one recording paper magazine. The recording paper joining means pulls out the recording paper from the recording paper magazine set in the magazine loading means and positions the drawn recording paper at the joining position, and is positioned by the recording paper setting part. A working opening for attaching the joining tape to the recording paper at the joining position from outside, a shutter for opening and closing the opening, and a shutter drive for closing the shutter before the recording paper is taken up by the recording paper winding means The recording paper joining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording unit. 3. The recording paper joining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one recording paper magazine has a larger recording paper remaining amount than the other recording paper magazine. Magazine loading means for loading a recording paper magazine in which strip-shaped recording paper is wound and stored in a roll, and
Buffer means for drawing out and storing the recording paper from the recording paper magazine set in the magazine loading means;
A recording paper joining means for pulling out the recording paper from the recording paper magazine newly set in the magazine loading means, and joining the drawn recording paper leading edge and the recording paper trailing edge of the buffer means;
Mark recording means for recording a joining mark indicating a joining position with respect to the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means;
A printer comprising recording paper winding means for winding the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means onto the recording paper magazine. A plurality of magazine loading means for loading a recording paper magazine in which strip-shaped recording paper is wound and stored in a roll;
Buffer means for pulling out and storing the recording paper from the recording paper magazine set in the one magazine loading means;
A recording paper joining means for pulling out the recording paper from the recording paper magazine set in the other magazine loading means, and joining the drawn recording paper leading edge and the recording paper trailing edge of the buffer means;
Mark recording means for recording a joining mark indicating a joining position with respect to the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means;
A printer comprising recording paper winding means for winding the recording paper joined by the recording paper joining means onto the recording paper magazine. The recording paper joining means includes a recording paper set portion for positioning a recording paper leading end pulled out from the recording paper magazine and a recording paper rear end of the buffer means at a joining position, and a joining position positioned by the recording paper set portion. A working opening for applying a bonding tape to the recording paper from the outside, a shutter for opening and closing the opening, and a shutter driving unit for closing the shutter before the recording paper is taken up by the recording paper winding means. 6. The printer according to claim 4, further comprising a printer.

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