JP2004358675A - Roll-shaped medium feeder and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a roll-shaped medium feeder of simple structure and a recorder equipped with the roll-shaped medium feeder. <P>SOLUTION: The roll-shaped medium feeder comprises members 151 and 154 for supporting a roll-shaped medium, and members 152-154 for feeding the roll-shaped medium. The feeding member is disposed around the supporting member to swing freely between a position for setting the medium and a position for feeding the medium. Since preparation for feeding the medium is completed simply through operation for swinging the feeding member around the supporting member, mechanism of the roll-shaped medium feeder can be simplified as compared with a conventional mechanism where a section containing a heavy medium is slid entirely in the horizontal direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a supply device for supplying a roll-shaped medium and a recording device including the supply device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In general, a large-sized printer, which is one of the conventional recording apparatuses, has a paper feeding unit for supplying a recording medium, for example, roll paper for recording, provided at a lower portion of the printer body. A recording unit that records information on the fed roll paper and a paper discharge unit that discharges the recorded roll paper are provided at the top of the printer body. When using such a large-sized inkjet printer, for example, the user stores the roll paper in the paper feeding unit and pulls out the leading end of the roll paper. Then, the inkjet printer is started by holding the leading end of the roll paper between the paper feed roller and the driven roller.
[0003]
Then, the ink jet printer rotates the paper feed roller to convey the roll paper to the nip portion between the paper feed roller of the recording unit and the driven roller via the paper conveyance guide. Then, while rotating the paper feed roller to feed the roll paper onto the platen of the recording unit, ink droplets are ejected from nozzle openings of the recording head of the recording unit to record information on the roll paper. Further, the paper feed roller is rotated to convey the roll paper to the nip portion between the discharge roller of the discharge portion and the driven roller. Then, the paper discharge roller is rotated to discharge the roll paper to the paper receiver (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-254740
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The paper feed unit of the above-described conventional ink jet printer is formed as a cassette that can be taken in and out of the printer body in the horizontal direction. When setting roll paper in such a paper feed unit, the user first pulls out the cassette from the printer body. Next, the roll paper is picked up, and both ends of the spindle inserted and penetrated into the hollow shaft of the roll paper are suspended on a pair of bearings provided in the paper feed unit. Then, after pulling out the leading end of the roll paper and holding it between the paper feed roller and its driven roller, the cassette is pushed into the printer body. As described above, since the paper feeding unit needs a mechanism that slides horizontally while supporting the cassette in which the heavy roll paper is stored, the structure is complicated.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described various problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a roll-shaped medium supply apparatus having a simple structure and a recording apparatus including the supply apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the roll-shaped medium supply device of the present invention includes a support member that supports the roll-shaped medium, and a delivery member that delivers the roll-shaped medium, wherein the delivery member is provided around the support member. And is arranged so as to be swingable between a setting position of the medium and a sending position of the medium. Thus, after setting the roll-shaped medium, the supply of the medium is completed only by the operation of swinging the delivery member around the support member, so that the mechanism of the supply device stores the conventional heavy medium. A simple structure can be achieved as compared with a mechanism for horizontally sliding the entire storage section.
[0008]
Further, the support member has a pair of bearings for supporting both ends of a rotating shaft of the roll-shaped medium. Thus, the roll-shaped medium can be rotated with a small force, so that the work of pulling out the leading end of the roll-shaped medium when setting the roll-shaped medium on the delivery member can be easily performed.
[0009]
Further, the delivery member has a pair of rollers for sandwiching the medium. Accordingly, when the roll-shaped medium is set on the delivery member, the leading end of the roll-shaped medium can be sandwiched between the pair of rollers, so that even if the delivery member is swung, the setting is released. The situation can be prevented.
[0010]
Further, the support member and the delivery member are arranged so as to be swingable integrally. Thus, once the roll-shaped medium is set on the support member and the delivery member, they can be swung integrally while maintaining the setting state.
[0011]
Further, the swinging of the delivery member is locked at a setting position of the medium and at a delivery position of the medium, respectively. Accordingly, the delivery member can be accurately positioned, so that the setting operation of the roll-shaped medium can be easily performed, and the delivery of the medium can be reliably performed.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention is a recording apparatus for recording on a roll-shaped recording medium, characterized by comprising a supply device for each of the roll-shaped media. Further, the supply device is provided at a lower portion of the recording apparatus main body, and the recording medium is set on a front side of the recording apparatus main body, and the recording medium is sent out on a rear side of the recording apparatus main body. Features. Thereby, it is possible to provide a particularly large-sized recording device having the above-described functions.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an ink jet printer which is one of the recording apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration example of a main part of the ink jet printer. FIG. The ink-jet printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a large-sized printer capable of recording on roll paper having a relatively large paper width, such as JIS standard A1 size or JIS standard B1 size. A recording unit 120 and a paper discharge unit 130 are provided therein, and a paper supply unit 150, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, is provided between legs 140 supporting the main body 110.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body unit 110 includes a housing 111 made of plastic or sheet metal that covers the recording unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 111 is provided with an upper lid 112 and a front lid 113 made of translucent or transparent plastic or sheet metal so that the upper surface and the front surface can be opened.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper lid 112 has a rear portion rotatably supported, and is opened and closed by a user holding the front portion and pushing up or down. The user can open the upper part of the recording unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130 largely by opening the upper cover 112, so that maintenance work of the recording head 121 and the carriage 122 and paper jams or the like during recording or paper discharge can be performed. It is possible to easily perform a work for canceling a paper conveyance error and the like.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front lid 113 has a lower portion rotatably supported, and is opened and closed by a user holding the upper portion and pushing down or pushing up. By opening the front cover 113, the user can greatly open the lower portions of the recording unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130, so that the user can easily perform a work such as a paper conveyance error such as a paper jam during paper feeding. it can.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ink cartridge holder 160 having a holder main body 161 for accommodating and holding the ink cartridges 10 of each color and a cover 162 covering the front surface of the main body 110 are provided on the lower right side when viewed from the front side of the main body 110. Are arranged. The lower portion of the cover 162 is rotatably supported with respect to the holder body 161, and is opened and closed by a user holding the upper portion and pushing down or pushing up. Since the user can open the holder main body 161 largely by opening the cover 162, the user can easily perform the replacement work of the ink cartridge 10 and the like.
[0018]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation panel 170 for a user to operate a recording control or the like is provided on an upper right side when viewed from the front side of the main body 110. The operation panel 170 is provided with a liquid crystal screen and various buttons, so that the user can operate the buttons while checking the liquid crystal screen. Since the user can perform a reliable operation by visual recognition, an operation error, an operation error, and the like can be eliminated.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 120 includes a carriage 122 on which the recording head 121 is mounted, and a flexible flat cable (hereinafter, referred to as FFC) for electrically connecting the recording head 121 to a control unit (not shown) for executing recording. ) 123, an ink tube 124 connecting the recording head 121 and the ink cartridge 10 containing ink, a paper feed roller 125 for transporting roll paper and its driven roller 126, a paper suction means (not shown) for preventing the roll paper from floating, and the like. Have.
[0020]
The recording head 121 includes a recording head for black ink that discharges black ink, and a plurality of recording heads for color ink that discharge ink of each color such as dark yellow, yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta. . The recording head 121 is provided with a pressure generating chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generating chamber, and stores ink in the pressure generating chamber and pressurizes the ink at a predetermined pressure to control the size from the nozzle opening toward the roll paper. Ink droplets are ejected.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 122 is mounted on a rail 127 provided in the main scanning direction via a bearing and connected to a carriage belt 128. The carriage belt 128 is operated by a carriage driving device (not shown). Then, the carriage belt 128 follows the movement of the carriage belt 128 and is guided by the rail 127 to reciprocate. The FFC 123 has one end connected to the connector of the control unit and the other end connected to the connector of the recording head 121, and sends a recording signal from the control unit to the recording head 121.
[0022]
The ink tubes 124 are provided for the inks of the respective colors. One end of each of the ink tubes 124 is connected to the corresponding ink cartridge 10 via an ink pressure supply unit (not shown). It is connected to the head 121. The ink tube 124 sends the ink of each color pressurized by the ink pressurizing supply unit from the ink cartridge 10 to the recording head 121. The paper feed roller 125 and its driven roller 126 pinch and feed the fed roll paper.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge unit 130 includes a paper discharge roller 131 that conveys the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction and discharges the paper, a driven roller 132 thereof, and a cutter (not shown) that cuts the recorded roll paper at a predetermined position. Etc. are provided. The discharge roller 131 and its driven roller 132 pinch and feed the conveyed roll paper. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg 140 includes two support columns 142 having a roller 141 for movement. The main body 110 is mounted on the upper part of the support pillar 142 and fixed by screws. By disposing the roller 141 for movement on the support pillar 142, the heavy main body 110 can be smoothly moved to a desired position and installed.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding unit 150 is disposed below the main body 110 and between the legs 140, and supports a pair of support members (support members) 151 that support both ends of the roll paper. The apparatus includes a delivery roller (delivery member) 152 for feeding roll paper and a pinch roller (delivery member) 153. Further, a support portion 151 is fixed, and a pair of arm portions (support member, delivery member) 154 are provided at both ends of a feed roller 152 and a pinch roller 153. The details of the paper feeding unit 150 which is a characteristic part of the present invention having such a configuration will be described below with reference to FIG.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the details of the paper feeding unit 150. The pair of support portions 151 are fixedly attached to the opposing surfaces of the pair of arm portions 154 disposed to face each other. The pair of support portions 151 have built-in bearings, and rotatably axially support both ends of a spindle 155 that penetrates the inner peripheral portion of the roll paper R shown in FIG. 4 and supports the roll paper R. It has become.
[0026]
That is, in the spindle 155, the roll paper R is fitted in the center, and a pair of flange-shaped roll paper retainers 156 are fitted on both sides of the roll paper R, and are spanned between the pair of support parts 151. . The user can lift the roll paper to which the spindle 155 is attached and fit the both ends of the spindle 155 into the pair of support parts 151 to complete the installation of the roll paper. Can be reduced.
[0027]
The feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 are made of, for example, metal or plastic coated with rubber or the like, and both ends of each of the rollers 152 and 153 rotate on opposing surfaces of a pair of arm portions 154 disposed to oppose each other. The shaft is freely supported. That is, the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 are disposed so as to be bridged between the pair of arm portions 154.
[0028]
Further, both ends of the delivery roller 152 are axially supported at predetermined positions on the opposing surfaces of the pair of arm portions 154, but the pinch roller 153 is so configured as to be able to contact and separate from the delivery roller 152. The shafts at both ends are supported so as to be movable in, for example, a groove provided on the opposing surfaces of the pair of arms 154. The pinch roller 153 is locked by a lock mechanism using a locking member and a biasing member provided on an opposite surface of the arm portion 154, for example, at a position where the pinch roller 153 is in contact with the feed roller 152 and a position separated therefrom. It is supposed to be.
[0029]
The user can easily pull out the leading end of the roll paper by the bearing built in the support portion 151, and the moving mechanism of the pinch roller 153 moves the leading end of the roll paper to the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153. Since it is possible to easily insert and pinch the sheet, the man-hour for setting the roll paper can be greatly reduced.
[0030]
The pair of arms 154 are attached to the opposing surfaces of the two support pillars 142 of the leg 140 so as to be rotatable in the directions indicated by arrows in the figure. The rotation of the pair of arms 154 is performed, for example, by a locking member provided on the opposite surface of the support pillar 142 at the roll paper setting position shown in FIG. 5 and the roll paper feeding position shown in FIG. The position is locked and locked by a lock mechanism using an urging member or the like.
[0031]
That is, when the pair of arms 154 is rotated to the roll paper setting position, the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 protrude toward the front side of the inkjet printer 100, and the pair of arms 154 feed the roll paper. When rotated to the position, the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 go around the back side of the ink jet printer 100 and are connected to the roll paper transport path.
[0032]
When inserting and nipping the leading end of the roll paper between the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153, the user does not need to sneak into the back side of the ink jet printer 100 and normally stands on the front side of the ink jet printer 100. Since the work can be performed at the position, the man-hour for setting the roll paper can be greatly reduced.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the pair of support portions 151 are fixedly attached to the opposing surfaces of the pair of arm portions 154 disposed to face each other, and are configured to rotate together with the arm portions 154. The same effect can be obtained by a configuration in which each of the two support columns 142 is fixedly mounted on a shaft concentric with the rotation axis of the arm portion 154 mounted on the opposing surfaces of the two support columns 142. That is, the support portion 151 may be always fixed at a fixed position regardless of the rotation of the arm portion 154.
[0034]
In such a configuration, a procedure of using the ink jet printer 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the user pulls out one of the pair of roll paper holders 156 fitted on the spindle 155 from one end of the spindle 155. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the user inserts one end of the spindle 155 from one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R and penetrates it.
[0035]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the user fits one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R into the other roll paper retainer 156 inserted and fixed to the other end of the spindle 155 to make contact therewith. . Subsequently, the user inserts one roll paper holder 156 from one end of the spindle 155 and fits it into the other end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R. As a result, the roll paper R can be rotated together with the spindle 155.
[0036]
Next, the user swings the arm 154 by pulling the feed roller 152 toward the user, for example, and the arm 154 in a state where the arm 154 is positioned at the roll paper feeding position (see FIG. 3) is shown in FIG. Position and lock the roll paper at the setting position. Then, the user lifts the roll paper R into which the spindle 155 is inserted above the support portion 151, and fits both ends of the spindle 155 into the recesses 151a of each support portion 151, as shown in FIG. As described above, since the mounting of the roll paper can be completed only by fitting both ends of the spindle 155 into the pair of support portions 151, the man-hour for setting the roll paper can be greatly reduced.
[0037]
Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the user lifts the pinch roller 153 and locks the pinch roller 153 by separating from the feed roller 152. Then, the leading end of the roll paper R is pulled forward and passed between the pinch roller 153 and the feed roller 152. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the user pushes down the pinch roller 153 to abut against the delivery roller 152 and locks the pinch roller 153, and pinches the leading end of the roll paper R between the pinch roller 153 and the delivery roller 152. Let it. In this manner, the leading end of the roll paper can be pulled out at the normal standing position on the front side of the ink jet printer 100 and can be sandwiched between the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153, so that the number of steps for setting the roll paper is greatly reduced. Can be reduced.
[0038]
Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the user pushes the feed roller 152 to the back to swing the arm 154, so that the arm 154 positioned at the setting position of the roll paper feeds the roll paper. Position at the paper position. As a result, the leading edge of the roll paper R sandwiched between the pinch roller 153 and the feed roller 152 is positioned at the entrance of the paper feed guide 157.
[0039]
Here, when the user operates the operation panel 170 to start up the inkjet printer 100, the delivery roller 152 starts rotating as shown in FIG. Then, the roll paper R sandwiched between the pinch roller 153 and the feed roller 152 is guided by a paper feed guide 157 and sent to the upper recording unit 120. Then, predetermined information is recorded on the roll paper R by ink droplets ejected from the recording head 121 which is nipped by the paper feed roller 125 and the driven roller 126 and is moved in the main scanning direction while being transported in the sub scanning direction. . Finally, the roll paper is sent out to the paper discharge unit 130, cut by a cutter, and discharged between the paper discharge roller 131 and the driven roller 132.
[0040]
As described above, according to the ink jet printer 100 including the roll paper feeding unit 150 of the present embodiment, after setting the roll paper, the arm unit 154 sends the arm unit 154 together with the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 to the support unit 151. The preparation for feeding the roll paper can be completed only by the operation of swinging around the paper. Therefore, the mechanism of the paper feeding unit 150 can have a simple structure as compared with the conventional mechanism of horizontally sliding the entire cassette in which heavy roll paper is stored, and can be operated with a smaller force than before. be able to.
[0041]
Further, the roll paper can be rotated with a small force by the bearing provided on the support portion 151. Therefore, when the roll paper is set on the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153, the work of pulling out the leading end of the roll paper can be easily performed. Further, the roll paper can be firmly nipped by the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the setting is released even when the delivery roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 are swung.
[0042]
Further, the support portion 151 and the feed roller 152, and the pinch roller 153 and the arm portion 154 are integrally swingably disposed. Therefore, once the roll papers are set, they can be swung integrally while maintaining the setting state. Further, the swing of the arm 154 is locked at the roll paper setting position and the roll paper sending position. Therefore, the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 can be accurately positioned, so that the setting operation of the roll paper can be easily performed, and the roll paper can be reliably fed.
[0043]
As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to various embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and is applicable to other embodiments within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Of course. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an ink jet printer has been described as an example of a recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is applicable even if there is. Further, the apparatus is not limited to the sheet feeding apparatus as long as it supplies a medium, and can be applied to apparatuses other than the recording apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an ink jet printer which is one of recording apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an internal configuration of a main part of the printer of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating details of a paper feeding unit of the printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a first diagram showing a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a second diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a third diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a fourth diagram showing the procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a fifth diagram illustrating the procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a sixth diagram illustrating the procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a seventh diagram illustrating the procedure for using the printer in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 ink cartridge, 100 ink jet printer, 110 main body, 111 housing, 112 top lid, 113 front lid, 120 recording section, 121 recording head, 122 carriage, 123 FFC, 124 ink tube, 125 paper feed roller, 126 driven roller, 127 rail, 128 carriage belt, 130 paper discharge section, 131 paper discharge roller, 132 driven roller, 140 legs, 141 roller, 142 support column, 150 paper feed section, 151 support section, 152 feed roller, 153 pinch roller, 154 Arm part, 155 spindle, 156 roll paper holder, 157 paper feed guide, 160 ink cartridge holder, 161 holder main body, 162 cover, 170 operation panel

Claims (7)

A support member for supporting the roll-shaped medium;
A delivery member for delivering the roll-shaped medium,
The supply device for a roll-shaped medium, wherein the delivery member is disposed around the support member so as to be swingable between a medium setting position and the medium delivery position. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a pair of bearings that support both ends of a rotation shaft of the roll-shaped medium. 3. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delivery member includes a pair of rollers that sandwich the medium. 4. The supply device of a roll-shaped medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support member and the delivery member are integrally swingably disposed. 5. The roll-shaped medium supply device according to claim 1, wherein swinging of the delivery member is locked at a setting position of the medium and at a delivery position of the medium. A recording device for recording on a roll-shaped recording medium,
A recording apparatus comprising the roll-shaped medium supply device according to claim 1. The supply device is provided at a lower portion of a recording device main body, the recording medium is set on a front side of the recording device main body, and the recording medium is sent out on a rear side of the recording device main body. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

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