JP2004237563A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid such a situation as a feeding bobbin and a winding bobbin of an ink ribbon are prevented from being mounted/demounted from the front side of the printer by a front plate. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is arranged such that the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 of the ink ribbon are supported directly or indirectly by the front plate 31 and a rear plate 32, and the front plate 31 is provided with a cut 35 for mounting/demounting the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 from the front side of the printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer that directly or indirectly supports an ink ribbon bobbin by a front plate and a rear plate, and in particular, the front plate prevents the ink ribbon bobbin from being attached to or detached from the front side of the printer. The present invention relates to a printer that can avoid such a situation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there has been known a printer in which a bobbin for an ink ribbon is directly or indirectly supported by a right side plate and a left side plate. An example of this type of printer is described in, for example, JP-A-2001-80810. In the printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80810, a bobbin for an ink ribbon (in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-335166, A ribbon cassette) is indirectly supported.
[0003]
In detail, in the printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80810, the apparatus is divided into an apparatus main body lower part and an apparatus main body upper part, and the apparatus main body upper part is rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body lower part by a hinge part. It is connected to the. The ink ribbon bobbin is accommodated in the lower portion of the apparatus main body, and is indirectly supported by a right plate and a left plate supporting a plurality of transport rollers. At the lower part of the apparatus main body, a front wall and a rear wall are formed in addition to the right and left plates.
[0004]
In other words, in the printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80810, if the ink ribbon bobbin is to be attached or detached from the front side of the printer, the attachment / detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin is hindered by the front wall at the lower portion of the apparatus main body. Also, if the user attempts to attach and detach the ink ribbon bobbin from the rear side of the printer, the attachment and detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin is hindered by the rear wall at the lower portion of the apparatus main body. Also, if the user tries to attach and detach the ink ribbon bobbin from the right side of the printer, the attachment and detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin is hindered by the right side plate. Also, if the user attempts to attach and detach the ink ribbon bobbin from the left side of the printer, the attachment and detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin will be hindered by the left side plate. That is, in the printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80810, the ink ribbon bobbin cannot be attached or detached unless it is from above the printer.
[0005]
FIG. 7 is a front view of another conventional printer, and FIG. 8 is a right side view of the printer shown in FIG. 7 and 8, reference numeral 101 denotes a print head; 102, a platen roller disposed at a position facing the print head 101; 103, an ink on an ink ribbon (not shown); This is a printing unit for transferring the image. Reference numeral 104 denotes a sheet feeding unit for stacking cut sheets S to be supplied to the printing unit 103, and reference numeral 105 denotes a sheet sheet S separated from a bundle of cut sheets S stacked on the sheet feeding unit 104 and supplied. Paper feed roller. Reference numerals 108a, 108b, and 108c denote transport roller pairs for transporting the cut paper S supplied by the paper feed roller 105 to the printing unit 103, and 109a and 109b transport the cut paper S to which the ink has been transferred in the printing unit 103. Transport roller pair.
[0006]
Reference numeral 110 denotes a discharge tray for stacking cut sheets S to which ink has been transferred in the printing unit 103; 111, a feeding bobbin for supplying an ink ribbon (not shown) to the printing unit 103; A winding bobbin for winding a supplied ink ribbon (not shown). Reference numeral 113 denotes a cover for supporting the print head 101, the feeding bobbin 111, and the winding bobbin 112. The lid 113 is rotatable about a hinge 114 as shown by an arrow in FIG. 8 in a state in which the print head 101, the feeding bobbin 111, and the winding bobbin 112 are carried. 117 is a power supply, 118 is a motor, and 119 is a main board.
[0007]
131 is a right side plate for indirectly supporting the pay-out bobbin 111 and the take-up bobbin 112 via the hinge 114 and the cover 113, and 132 is the right-hand side bobbin 111 and the take-up bobbin 112 via the hinge 114 and the cover 113. Left side plate for indirect support.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when printing is performed on the cut sheet S, the paper feed roller 105 is driven to rotate by the motor 118, and the paper feed roller 105 and the separation pad (not shown) feed the paper. One cut sheet S is separated from the bundle of cut sheets S stacked on the unit 104 and is conveyed toward the printing unit 103.
[0009]
Next, one cut sheet S supplied from the paper feed roller 105 is transported between the print head 101 and the platen roller 102 by the transport roller pairs 108a, 108b, and 108c that are driven to rotate by the motor 118. .
[0010]
Although not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ink ribbon is wound between a feeding bobbin 111 and a winding bobbin 112. More specifically, the ink ribbon fed from the feeding bobbin 111 is supplied between the print head 101 and the platen roller 102, and then wound by the winding bobbin 112.
[0011]
That is, when the cut sheet S is transported between the print head 101 and the platen roller 102, the cut sheet S is brought into contact with the ink ribbon, and based on a signal from a control circuit (not shown) of the main substrate 119. Then, the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred to the cut sheet S by the print head 101.
[0012]
Next, the cut sheet S on which the ink has been transferred is conveyed to the discharge tray 110 by the pair of conveying rollers 109a and 109b that are driven to rotate by the motor 118, and is stacked on the discharge tray 110.
[0013]
However, also in the conventional printer shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the right side plate 131 extends above the feeding bobbin 111 and the winding bobbin 112, similarly to the printer described in JP-A-2001-80810. Therefore, the user cannot attach / detach the feeding bobbin 111 and the take-up bobbin 112 from the right side of the printer (the front side in FIG. 8), but must attach / detach from the upper side of the printer (the upper side in FIG. 8). That is, the right side plate 131 prevents the feeding bobbin 111 and the winding bobbin 112 from being attached to and detached from the right side of the printer (the front side in FIG. 8). Therefore, in the printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-80810, the user operates the feeding bobbin 111 and the winding bobbin 111 not from the right side of the printer (the front side in FIG. 8) but from the upper side of the printer (the upper side in FIG. 8). 112 has to be attached and detached. That is, it is difficult for the user to attach and detach the feeding bobbin 111 and the winding bobbin 112.
[0014]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-80810 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can prevent a front side plate from hindering attachment and detachment of an ink ribbon bobbin from the front side of the printer.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a printer configured to directly or indirectly support the ink ribbon bobbin by the front side plate and the rear side plate, the ink ribbon bobbin is attached to and detached from the front side of the printer. A printer is provided, wherein a notch for attaching and detaching a bobbin is formed in the front side plate.
[0017]
In the printer according to the first aspect, the notch for attaching and detaching the bobbin for the ink ribbon from the front side of the printer is formed in the front plate for directly or indirectly supporting the bobbin for the ink ribbon. . Therefore, the ink ribbon bobbin can be attached and detached from the front side of the printer through the bobbin attaching and detaching notch. That is, it is possible to prevent the front plate from hindering the attachment and detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin from the front side of the printer.
[0018]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus further includes a printing unit for transferring the ink on the ink ribbon to the cut sheet by the print head, and a driving mechanism for driving the printing unit. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a mechanism is eliminated from a front side of the ink ribbon bobbin, and is disposed below or behind the ink ribbon bobbin.
[0019]
In the printer according to the second aspect, the driving mechanism for driving the printing unit is eliminated from the front side of the ink ribbon bobbin. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drive mechanism from hindering the attachment and detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin from the front side of the printer.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a front side plate or the like which constitutes a part of the printer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a left side view of the printer shown in FIG. 1. 1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a print head, 2 denotes a platen roller arranged at a position facing the print head 1, and 3 denotes an ink on an ink ribbon (not shown) by the print head 1 on a cut sheet S. This is a printing unit for transferring the image. Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper feed tray for stacking the cut sheets S to be supplied to the printing unit 3, and reference numeral 5 denotes a pickup for picking up one or several cut sheets S from the bundle of the cut sheets S stacked on the paper feed tray 4. Pickup roller. Reference numeral 6 denotes a feed roller which forms one of a pair of separation rollers for separating several cut sheets S picked up by the pickup roller 5 into one cut sheet S, and 7 denotes a retard roller which forms the other of the separation roller pair. It is. Reference numeral 8 denotes a first conveying roller pair for conveying the cut paper S separated by the separation roller pair to the printing unit 3, and reference numeral 9 denotes a second conveying roller for conveying the cut paper S to which the ink has been transferred in the printing unit 3. Is a pair.
[0022]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a discharge tray for stacking cut sheets S to which ink has been transferred in the printing unit 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a feeding bobbin for supplying an ink ribbon (not shown) to the printing unit 3, and reference numeral 12 denotes a printing unit. A winding bobbin for winding a supplied ink ribbon (not shown). Reference numeral 13 denotes a cover for supporting the print head 1, the feeding bobbin 11, and the winding bobbin 12. The cover 13 is rotatable about a hinge 14 as shown by arrows in FIGS. 1 and 3 in a state in which the print head 1, the feeding bobbin 11, and the winding bobbin 12 are carried. 17 is a power supply, 18 is a motor, and 19 is a main board.
[0023]
Reference numeral 31 denotes a front side plate for indirectly supporting the pay-out bobbin 11 and the take-up bobbin 12 via the hinge 14 and the cover 13, and reference numeral 32 denotes the pay-out bobbin 11 and the take-up bobbin 12 via the hinge 14 and the cover 13. A rear side plate for indirect support. Reference numeral 33 denotes a paper cutout formed in the front plate 31 for supplying cut paper S to the paper feed tray 4 from the front side of the printer. Reference numeral 34 denotes a cutout paper S stacked on the paper discharge tray 10 from the front side of the printer. It is a notch for paper discharge formed in the front side plate 31 for taking out. Reference numeral 35 denotes a bobbin attaching / detaching notch formed on the front side plate 31 for attaching / detaching the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 from the front side of the printer. That is, the front side plate 31 is smaller than the rear side plate 32 by the size of the notch 33 for feeding paper, the notch 34 for discharging paper, and the notch 35 for attaching and detaching the bobbin. Reference numeral 36 denotes a portion of the front side plate 31 in which the notch 33 for paper feed is not formed, the notch 34 for paper discharge is not formed, and the notch 35 for attaching / detaching the bobbin is not formed. This is a printer control operation unit arranged in the section.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when printing is performed on the cut sheet S, the pickup roller 5 is driven to rotate by the motor 18, and the cut sheet S stacked on the sheet feed tray 4 is driven by the pickup roller 5. One or several cut sheets S are picked up from the bundle and supplied to a separation roller pair (feed roller 6, retard roller 7).
[0025]
When a plurality of cut sheets S are supplied to the separation roller pair by the pickup roller 5, the retard roller 7 is rotationally driven by the motor 18 in a direction of returning the cut sheet S to the sheet discharge tray 4, and is driven by the retard roller 7. , The plurality of cut sheets S are separated into one cut sheet S. When the plurality of cut sheets S are separated into one cut sheet S, the driving force from the motor 18 to the retard roller 7 is cut off by, for example, a torque limiter, and the retard roller 7 sends the cut sheet S to the printing unit 3. The feed roller 6 is rotated together with the feed roller 6 rotating in the conveying direction. As a result, the cut sheet S separated into one sheet is conveyed toward the printing unit 3.
[0026]
On the other hand, when one cut sheet S is supplied to the separation roller pair by the pickup roller 5, the driving force from the motor 18 to the retard roller 7 is cut off by the above-described torque limiter, and the retard roller 7 S is caused to rotate together with the feed roller 6 rotating in the direction of transporting S to the printing unit 3. As a result, one cut sheet S is conveyed toward the printing unit 3.
[0027]
One cut sheet S supplied from the separation roller pair is then transported between the print head 1 and the platen roller 2 by the first transport roller pair 8 that is driven to rotate by the motor 18.
[0028]
Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the ink ribbon is wound between a feeding bobbin 11 and a winding bobbin 12. Specifically, the ink ribbon fed from the feeding bobbin 11 is supplied between the print head 1 and the platen roller 2, and then wound by the winding bobbin 12.
[0029]
That is, when the cut sheet S is transported between the print head 1 and the platen roller 2, the cut sheet S is brought into contact with the ink ribbon, and based on a signal from a control circuit (not shown) of the main substrate 19. Then, the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred to the cut sheet S by the print head 1.
[0030]
Next, the cut sheet S to which the ink has been transferred is transported to the paper discharge tray 10 by the second transport roller pair 9 that is rotated and driven by the motor 18, and is stacked on the paper discharge tray 10.
[0031]
When the cut sheets S stacked on the discharge tray 10 are taken out by the user, the discharge tray 10 is moved through the discharge notch 34 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) as shown by an arrow in FIG. 1 and 2, and the cut sheet S on the discharge tray 10 is pulled out to the front side of the front surface 20 of the printer.
[0032]
When the cut sheet S is to be supplied to the sheet feed tray 4, the cut sheet S is supplied from the front side of the printer to the sheet feed tray 4 via the sheet cutout 33 by the user.
[0033]
When the pay-out bobbin 11 and the take-up bobbin 12 are to be replaced, as shown by arrows in FIG. 4, the pay-out bobbin 11 (not shown) and the take-up bobbin 12 are cut from the front side of the printer by the bobbin notch 35. It is attached and detached via.
[0034]
In the first embodiment, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, a paper cutout 33 for supplying cut paper S from the front side of the printer, and a discharge notch 33 for taking out the cut paper S from the front side of the printer. The notch 34 is formed in the front side plate 31 for supporting the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 indirectly. Therefore, the user can supply the cut sheet S from the front side of the printer via the paper cutout 33 and take out the cut S from the front side of the printer via the paper cutout 34. In other words, both the supply of the cut sheets S to the sheet feed tray 4 and the removal of the cut sheets S from the sheet discharge tray 10 can be performed not from the side of the printer but only from the front side of the printer.
[0035]
In the first embodiment, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, a bobbin attaching / detaching notch 35 for attaching / detaching the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 from the front side of the printer is provided with the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin. 12 is formed on a front side plate 31 for supporting indirectly. Therefore, the user can attach and detach the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 from the front side of the printer via the bobbin attaching / detaching notch 35. That is, the feeding bobbin 11 and the take-up bobbin 12 can be attached and detached from the front side of the printer, not from the upper side of the printer. That is, it is possible to prevent the front side plate 31 from obstructing the attachment and detachment of the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 from the front side of the printer.
[0036]
That is, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the supply of the cut sheet S to the paper feed tray 4, the removal of the cut sheet S from the discharge tray 10, and the feeding out are performed only from the front side of the printer. All of the attachment and detachment of the bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 can be performed.
[0037]
Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the front side plate 31, the notch 33 for feeding is not formed, and the notch 34 for discharging is formed. The printer control operation unit 36 is disposed in a portion where the notch 35 is not formed and the bobbin notch 35 is not formed. That is, the printer control operation unit 36 is disposed on the front surface 20 of the printer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wiring connection of the printer control operation unit 36 from being complicated as the printer control operation unit 36 is disposed on the upper surface of the printer, that is, on the lid unit 13. Further, operability by the user can be improved as compared with the case where the printer control operation unit 36 is arranged on the side of the printer.
[0038]
Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the cut sheet S is supplied from the front side of the printer to the sheet feed tray 4 via the sheet cutout 33 and stacked on the sheet discharge tray 10. As the cut S is taken out from the front side of the printer via the paper cutout 34 and the feeding bobbin 11 and the take-up bobbin 12 are attached / detached from the front side of the printer via the bobbin attaching / detaching notch 35, the printing section 3. A power supply 17, a motor 18, and a main substrate 19, which constitute a driving mechanism for driving a transport system of the cut sheet S, are provided with a paper feed tray 4, a paper discharge tray 10, a feeding bobbin 11, and a take-up bobbin 12. It has been eliminated from the front. Specifically, the power supply 17, the motor 18, and the main board 19 constituting the drive mechanism are provided on the rear side of the rear side plate 32 (the left side in FIG. 4), that is, on the rear side of the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 (FIG. Left). Therefore, the cut paper S is supplied to the paper feed tray 4 from the front side of the printer, the cut paper S stacked on the discharge tray 10 is taken out from the front side of the printer, and the feeding bobbin 11 and the take-up bobbin 12 are removed from the printer. The attachment / detachment from the front side can be prevented from being hindered by the power supply 17, the motor 18, and the main board 19 constituting the drive mechanism.
[0039]
FIGS. 5 and 6 are views for explaining a drawer mechanism for pulling out the discharge tray shown in FIGS. 5 is an enlarged front view of the discharge tray shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the discharge tray shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, reference numeral 21 denotes an arm that constitutes one of a first arm pair that supports the paper ejection tray 10, 21 ′ denotes an arm that constitutes the other of the first arm pair that supports the paper ejection tray 10, and 22 denotes an arm. An arm 22 ′ that constitutes one of a second arm pair that supports the paper ejection tray 10, and an arm 22 ′ that constitutes the other of the second arm pair that supports the paper ejection tray 10. 23 is a first shaft carried by the first arm pair (arms 21, 21 '), and 24 is a second shaft carried by the second arm pair (arms 22, 22').
[0040]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the paper discharge tray 10 is supported by a first arm pair (arms 21, 21 ′) via a first shaft 23 and a second arm via a second shaft 24. It is supported by a pair (arms 22, 22 '). The paper discharge tray 10 is supported by the first shaft 23 and the second shaft 24 so as to be slidable with respect to the first shaft 23 and the second shaft 24 in the front-rear direction of the printer (vertical direction in FIG. 6). .
[0041]
When the cut sheets S stacked on the sheet discharge tray 10 are taken out by the user, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 6, the sheet discharge tray 10 is located on the front side (front side in FIG. 5) of the front side plate 31 (see FIG. 4). 6, and the cut sheet S on the discharge tray 10 is pulled out to the front side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the front surface 20 of the printer as shown in FIG. 4.
[0042]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a pull-out mechanism (arm 21, arm 21 ′, arm 22, arm 22 ′) for pulling out the discharge tray 10 to the front side of the front side plate 31. A first shaft 23 and a second shaft 24) are provided. Specifically, the cut sheets S are taken out in a state where the cut sheets S stacked on the sheet discharge tray 10 are pulled out to the front side of the front surface 20 of the printer. Therefore, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the paper discharge tray 10 is stacked on the paper discharge tray 10 while being positioned between the front side plate 31 and the rear side plate 32, that is, located behind the front side plate 31. This makes it easier to take out the cut sheet S than when the cut sheet S is taken out.
[0043]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 are indirectly supported by the front side plate 31 and the rear side plate 32 via the lid 13 and the hinge 14. In the second embodiment, the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 can be directly supported by the front side plate 31 and the rear side plate 32.
[0044]
Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a power source 17, a motor 18, and a main board 19, which constitute a driving mechanism for driving the printing unit 3, the transport system of the cut sheet S, and the like, include a rear plate. 32, that is, on the rear side of the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12 (left side of FIG. 4), in the third embodiment, the power supply 17, the motor 18, It is also possible to arrange a part of the main board 19 between the front side plate 31 and the rear side plate 32, that is, below the feeding bobbin 11 and the winding bobbin 12.
[0045]
In the fourth embodiment, the above-described first to third embodiments can be appropriately combined.
[0046]
The printer of the present invention is applicable to, for example, a business card printer, but is also applicable to other cut sheet printers. The printer of the present invention can be applied to, for example, a thermal transfer printer, but can also be applied to printers of other print formats.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the invention, the ink ribbon bobbin can be attached and detached from the front side of the printer via the bobbin attaching and detaching notch. That is, it is possible to prevent the front plate from hindering the attachment and detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin from the front side of the printer.
[0048]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the drive mechanism from hindering the attachment and detachment of the ink ribbon bobbin from the front side of the printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a printer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a front side plate and the like constituting a part of the printer shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a rear plate and the like which constitute a part of the printer shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a left side view of the printer shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the paper discharge tray and the like shown in FIGS.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the discharge tray and the like shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;
FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional printer.
FIG. 8 is a right side view of the printer shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 print head 2 platen roller 3 printing unit 4 paper feed tray 8 first transport roller pair 9 second transport roller pair 10 paper ejection tray 11 feeding bobbin 12 winding bobbin 31 front side plate 32 rear side plate 33 paper cutout 34 discharge Paper cutout 35 Printer control operation unit

Claims (2)

In a printer in which a front side plate and a rear side plate directly or indirectly support an ink ribbon bobbin, a bobbin attaching / detaching notch for attaching / detaching the ink ribbon bobbin from the front side of the printer is formed in the front side plate. A printer characterized by the following. A printing unit for transferring the ink on the ink ribbon to the cut paper by a print head, and a driving mechanism for driving the printing unit, wherein the driving mechanism is eliminated from the front side of the ink ribbon bobbin. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is disposed below or behind the ink ribbon bobbin.

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