JP2006182526A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer provided with two or more paper setting parts and capable of realizing a configuration capable of distinguishing kind of print papers set in two or more paper setting parts, respectively, at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: This printer is provided with a switch-back unit U4 having a pair of rollers 41 moving among a first receiving position to a fifth receiving position corresponding to a first cassette storage part 3a to a fifth cassette storage part 3e, respectively, and a feeding-out position corresponding to an upstream end of a print unit U5. A kind detection sensor 14 provided in the switch-back unit U4 moves among each receiving position together with the pair of rollers 41 to detect distinguishing code parts 13a to 13e provided in the cassette storage parts 3a to 3e and detect kind of print papers P set in the cassette storage parts 3a to 3e. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention belongs to a technical field related to a printer having two or more paper set units.

  In general, a printer used in a photographic printing system or the like includes a paper set unit on which print paper is set, and a conveyance path for pulling out the print paper set in the paper set unit from the paper set unit and conveying it to the print unit. And. In this print unit, printing is performed by discharging ink from the print head to the print paper, and the print paper printed by the print unit is discharged to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In many cases, printers print on a plurality of types of print paper of different sizes. If only one paper set unit is provided, the print paper set in the paper set unit according to the order information. Must be replaced. In order to eliminate such complications, in the printer as described above, two or more paper set units are provided in advance, and the print paper set in each paper set unit is selectively pulled out based on the order information. Then, it is conveyed to the printing unit (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4).
JP 2003-237156 A JP 2000-352766 A JP 2001-33889 A JP 2002-90904 A JP-A-6-347911

  By the way, the paper set section on which the print paper is set is provided with an identification code section for identifying the paper width and surface quality (gloss, mat, etc.) of the print paper set there, Is provided with a type detection sensor for detecting the identification code portion.

  For example, as shown in Patent Document 5, when two or more paper set units are provided, an identification code unit is provided for each paper set unit, while the type detection sensor corresponds to each paper set unit. Therefore, as the number of paper set units increases, the number of type detection sensors also increases, resulting in an increase in cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a type of print paper set in each of two or more paper set units in a printer having two or more paper set units. Is to realize a configuration capable of identifying the above at low cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a paper transport device having a gripping member that grips and moves a print paper is provided in the middle of a transport path that connects each of the two or more paper set sections and the print section. By providing a type detecting means that moves with the gripping member, a plurality of identification code portions can be detected by one type detecting means.

  The printer according to the present invention includes two or more paper set units on which print paper is set, and two or more upstream conveyance paths for pulling out and conveying the print paper set on each of the two or more paper set units. The printer includes a printing unit that performs printing on the print surface of the print paper, and a downstream conveyance path for conveying the print paper to the printing unit.

  The printer includes a gripping member that reciprocates between two or more receiving positions corresponding to the downstream ends of the two or more upstream conveyance paths and a delivery position corresponding to the upstream ends of the downstream conveyance paths. The print paper that has been transported by the upstream transport path at any of the receiving positions is received and gripped by the gripping member, and the gripped print paper is transported to the downstream transport path at the delivery position. A paper transport device is provided.

  Each of the paper set sections has an identification code section for identifying the type of print paper set in the paper set section, and the paper transport device is located between the receiving positions together with the gripping member. And a type detecting means for detecting the type of the print paper set in the paper set section by detecting the identification code section provided in each paper set section at each receiving position. is doing.

  With the above configuration, the printed paper pulled out from one of the paper set units is gripped by the gripping member of the paper transport device at the receiving position, and the gripping member gripping the printed paper moves to the sending position. The print paper is sent to the print unit at the sending position. Accordingly, the paper transport device has a function of selectively transporting the print paper set in each of the two or more paper set units to the print unit.

  Here, the paper transport device is a device that transports the print paper by the gripping member gripping and moving the print paper, and is not a device that transports the print paper by the roller. The conveyance conditions do not change during the conveyance. As a result, the printed paper drawn from each paper set unit is conveyed to the printing unit with little influence on the print quality.

  Since the paper transport device has type detecting means that moves together with the gripping member that moves between the receiving positions corresponding to each paper set unit, the type detecting means is moved to position each receiving position. By doing so, it is possible to detect the identification code portion provided in each of the plurality of paper set portions even if there is only one type detecting means. That is, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of type detecting means corresponding to the identification code portions provided in each of the plurality of paper set portions. In addition, by providing the type detecting means in the paper transporting apparatus that transports the print paper, it is not necessary to provide a moving mechanism only for moving the type detecting means between the plurality of identification code portions. As a result, a configuration capable of identifying the type of print paper set in each of the two or more paper set units is realized at low cost.

  As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, the type detecting means for detecting the identification code portion is provided in the paper transporting device that transports the print paper by moving between the two or more receiving positions and the sending position. Thus, a plurality of identification code portions can be detected by one type detecting means, and in the printer having two or more paper set portions, the type of print paper set in each of the two or more paper set portions can be determined. An identifiable configuration can be realized at low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. This ink jet printer is used in a photographic print system, and is connected via a communication cable to a receiving block 100 (see FIG. 6) that acquires image data and order information and performs necessary correction processing and the like. The image data transmitted from the receiving block 100 via the communication cable is printed on the print paper P based on the order information.

  The ink-jet printer is disposed on the housing 1, first to fifth cassette housing portions 3 a to 3 e disposed side by side in the housing 1, and an upper portion in the housing 1. A printing unit 4 for printing image data on the paper P, and first to fifth conveyance paths for conveying the print paper P from the first to fifth cassette housing units 3a to 3e to the printing unit 4, respectively. , A sixth transport path for discharging the print paper P printed by the print unit 4 from the print unit 4 to the outside of the casing 1, and the casing 1 by the sixth transport path. And a discharge tray 5 for receiving the printed paper P discharged to the outside. The front-rear direction of the case is the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the front side of the case is the right side of FIG. 1, and the rear side of the case is the left side of FIG. The left-right direction of the housing is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

  In each of the cassette accommodating portions 3a to 3e, a plurality of printed papers P, which are cut sheets, are set while being accommodated and held in a rectangular box-shaped sheet feeding cassette 9. The print paper P in the paper feed cassette 9 is stacked in the thickness direction (vertical direction) with the print surface on the upper side, and is pressed against a later-described feed roller 35 positioned on the upper side by the pressing plate 10. Yes. Thus, the first to fifth cassette housing portions 3a to 3e are arranged from the top to the bottom in the order of the long paper length of the print paper P set therein.

  The first to fifth cassette housing portions 3a to 3e are respectively provided with first to fifth identification code portions 13a to 13e for identifying the type of the printed paper P set. In the present embodiment, the first to fifth identification code portions 13a to 13e are for identifying the paper width and surface quality (gloss, matte, etc.) as the type of the print paper P. Each of the identification code portions 13a to 13e includes, for example, a plurality of long holes and a slide member that can slidably cover one side or the other side of each long hole. Accordingly, the position (one side or the other side) of the slide member of the full length hole is set in advance. When the operator sets the print paper P in each of the cassette housing portions 3a to 3e, the operator manually sets the position of the slide member of the full length hole so as to correspond to the type of the print paper P. The forms of the identification code portions 13a to 13e are not limited to this.

  Then, the print paper P set in any one of the first to fifth cassette accommodating portions 3a to 3e is conveyed to the print portion 4 and printed by the print portion 4 as will be described later. It is supposed to be discharged.

  In the casing 1, first to fifth supply units U1a to U1e, a switchback unit U4, and a print unit U5 are provided to constitute the first to sixth transport paths. The first transport path is composed of a first supply unit U1a, a switchback unit U4, and a print unit U5 in order from the first cassette housing 3a. Similarly, the second to fifth transport paths are configured by the second to fifth supply units U1b to U1e, the switchback unit U4, and the print unit U5 in order from the second to fifth cassette housing portions 3b to 3e, respectively. . Further, the sixth transport path is constituted by a print unit U5.

  Each of the first to fifth supply units U1a to U1e is a print paper P positioned at the top of a plurality of print papers P (sheet paper) set in the first to fifth cassette housing portions 3a to 3e. A feed roller 35 that abuts the print surface, and an electric motor 36 that drives the feed roller 35 via a gear train 37. Only one sheet of paper P is moved rearward in the horizontal direction and sent out to the switchback unit U4.

  The switchback unit U4 constitutes a paper transport device provided in the middle of the first to fifth transport paths. The switchback unit U4 receives the print paper P conveyed from the upstream conveyance path (that is, the first to fifth supply units U1a to U1e) located on the upstream side of the switchback unit U4, and receives the print paper. In the direction opposite to the print paper movement direction at the time of receiving P, the print paper is sent out to the downstream conveyance path (that is, the print unit U5) located downstream of the switchback unit U4. That is, in the upstream conveyance path, the print paper P is conveyed toward the rear side of the housing with the print surface facing upward, and in the downstream conveyance path provided at a position above the upstream conveyance path, The paper P is transported toward the front side of the casing opposite to the upstream transport path with the print surface facing upward. However, in the switchback unit U4, the traveling direction of the print paper P faces the print surface upward. In this state, the print paper P is reversed without being bent so that the print paper P can be smoothly transferred from the upstream transport path to the downstream transport path without bending the print paper P.

  Specifically, the switchback unit U4 includes a gripping member that receives and grips the print paper P transported from the upstream transport path. In the present embodiment, the gripping member is configured as a roller pair 41 that is configured to be rotatable forward and backward about the central axis, and is opposed to each other in the vertical direction, and sandwiches the print paper P therebetween. One (the roller in contact with the back surface of the print paper P in this embodiment) is the driving roller 41a, and the other (the roller in contact with the print surface of the print paper P) is the driven roller 41b. The drive roller 41a is rotationally driven around the central axis by an electric motor 42 and a transmission belt 43 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) as a drive mechanism. By forward rotation and reverse rotation, the printing paper P is received and retracted from the upstream conveying path, and the printing paper P is sent to the downstream conveying path. Note that both rollers of the roller pair 41 may be driven, and the functions of driving and driven may be reversed up and down.

  The roller pair 41 is linearly moved in the vertical direction by the moving mechanism at the housing rear side position of the first to fifth supply units U1a to U1e and the print unit U5. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the moving mechanism includes a rail mount 45 that is fixed to the vertical frame 6 and extends in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a vertical position at one end of the rail horizontal direction in the horizontal direction of the casing. A traveling rail 46 attached to extend, and a drive belt 48 that is wound around two pulleys 47 provided near the upper and lower ends of the traveling rail 46 and extends along the traveling rail 46, and a rail mount 45. And an electric motor 49 directly attached to the lower pulley 47. The drive belt 48 is driven forward and reverse by the electric motor 49. A bracket 50 is attached and fixed to the drive belt 48, and a slide member 51 that fits and slides on the travel rail 46 is fixed to the bracket 50, and the drive belt 48 is driven forward and backward by the electric motor 49. As a result, the bracket 50 reciprocates in the vertical direction. The vertical position of the bracket 50 can be determined by measuring the amount of movement (for example, the amount of rotation of the motor) from a reference position (for example, the lowermost end) where a sensor or the like for detecting the bracket 50 is provided. .

  A support plate 52 is fixed to the bracket 50, and one end portions of the driving roller 41 a and the driven roller 41 b in the roller pair 41 are rotatably supported by the support plate 52. Along with the movement, the roller pair 41 moves linearly in the vertical direction. Although not shown, the other end portions of the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b are supported by a support portion formed at the other end portion in the left-right direction of the housing of the rail mount 45 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. .

  The above-described electric motor 42 for driving the drive roller 41a is fixed to the support plate 52. Pulleys 54 are fixed to the rotating shaft of the electric motor 42 and one end of the driving roller 41a. The transmission belt 43 is wound around both pulleys 54, and the driving roller is passed through the transmission belt 43. 41a is driven.

  By the moving mechanism, the roller pair 41 is provided at a receiving position for receiving the print paper P from the upstream transport path, and at a position spaced apart from the receiving position by a predetermined distance and transports the print paper P on the downstream side. It moves linearly between the delivery position and the delivery position.

  That is, the position substantially the same as the downstream end of the first supply unit U1a (substantially the central position in the vertical direction of the traveling rail 46) is the reception position (hereinafter referred to as the first reception position) for receiving the print paper P from the first supply unit U1a. The receiving position (hereinafter referred to as the second receiving position) for receiving the print paper P from the second supplying unit U1b is located at the same height as the downstream end of the second supplying unit U1b. A position substantially the same as the downstream end of the third supply unit U1c is a receiving position for receiving the print paper P from the third supply unit U1c (hereinafter referred to as a third receiving position), and a downstream end of the fourth supply unit U1d. Is a receiving position for receiving the print paper P from the fourth supply unit U1d (hereinafter referred to as a fourth receiving position). Substantially the same height as the downstream end of the fifth supply unit U1e will receive receives the print paper P from the fifth supply unit U1e position (hereinafter, referred to as the fifth receiving position) there is a.

  On the other hand, a height position (position near the upper end of the traveling rail 46) that is substantially the same as the upstream end of the print unit U5 is a sending position for sending the print paper P to the print unit U5. In this way, only the predetermined distance between the downstream end of the upstream transport path and the upstream end of the downstream transport path (a value determined by the arrangement of the units U1a to U1e and U4, U5 is set to the smallest possible value). The roller pair 41 is moved correspondingly.

  Then, after the switchback unit U4 receives and holds the print paper P from the upstream conveyance path (first to fifth supply units U1a to U1e) by the roller pair 41 at any of the first to fifth receiving positions, The moving mechanism moves the roller pair 41 holding the print paper P to the sending position in a state where the print paper P is separated from the upstream conveyance path, and receives the print paper P at the sending position. It is configured to send out to the downstream conveyance path in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the print paper P at the time. The moving direction of the print paper P sent out to the downstream side conveyance path is in the horizontal direction opposite to the moving direction at the time of reception (frontward of the casing).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support plate 52 has first and second support portions for supporting the print paper P positioned below the print paper P held by the roller pair 41 at the front and rear portions of the casing of the roller pair 41. The second support members 56 and 57 are fixed (not shown in FIG. 3). The first support member 56 serves to guide the print paper P from the upstream conveyance path to the roller pair 41 in a horizontal state. The first support member 56 is provided with a paper detection sensor 58 for detecting the print paper P.

  On the other hand, a bent portion bent downward is formed at the rear portion of the housing of the second support member 57, and a pressing roller 59 is in contact with the bent portion. The presser roller 59 is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm 60 that is rotatably supported by the support plate 52, and abuts against the bent portion of the second support member 57 by the weight of the presser roller 59. ing. The bent portion of the second support member 57 and the pressing roller 59 prevent the printed paper P gripped by the roller pair 41 from dropping down and coming into contact with the rear inner wall surface of the housing 1. That is, on the rear side of the switchback unit U4 in the casing 1 (the portion corresponding to the moving range of the roller pair 41 on the opposite side of the upstream conveyance path and the downstream conveyance path with respect to the roller pair 41). Is provided with a space 12 for the print paper P that is gripped by the roller pair 41. By hanging the print paper P downward as described above, the front and rear direction of the space space 12 in the front and rear of the housing is provided. The length along the (upstream direction of the upstream conveyance path) can be made as small as possible. On the other hand, by hanging the print paper P downward, the space 12 for the print paper P gripped by the roller pair 41 is below the portion corresponding to the movement range (below the fifth receiving position). Although it is necessary to extend the length, in the present embodiment, a print paper P having a short paper length is set in the fifth cassette housing portion 3e corresponding to the fifth receiving position, and is lower than the fifth receiving position. The space space 12 extending to the side can be reduced. In addition, since the first to fifth cassette housing portions 3a to 3e are arranged from the upper side to the lower side in the order of the length of the cut sheet paper, the print in which long printing is executed The paper P is set in a cassette housing portion (for example, the first and second cassette housing portions 3a and 3b) positioned relatively upward. Therefore, the space behind the housing of the first to fifth cassette housing portions 3a to 3e can be used as the space space 12, and the housing 1 can be made compact in the vertical direction.

  Although not shown, restriction members for restricting the movement of the print paper P in the width direction are provided at both ends of the first and second support members 56 and 57 in the paper width direction. Both regulating members are configured to be able to change the interval according to the paper width (detecting the identification code portions 13a to 13e provided in the respective cassette housing portions 3a to 3e so that the paper width can be understood). ing.

  The bracket 50 of the switchback unit U4 has a type detection sensor 14 for detecting the type of the print paper P via the identification code portions 13a to 13e provided in the first to fifth cassette housing portions 3a to 3e. Is provided. Thus, the type detection sensor 14 moves between the first to fifth receiving positions together with the roller pair 41, and when the roller pair 41 is positioned at any one of the first to fifth receiving positions, the cassette Paper width and surface quality as the types of print paper P set in the cassette accommodating portions 3a to 3e via the identification code portions 13a to 13e, relative to the identification code portions 13a to 13e provided in the accommodating portions 3a to 3e. Is detected via the identification code portion.

  The type detection sensor 14 is constituted by, for example, a reflection-type optical sensor provided for each of the long holes constituting the identification code portions 13a to 13e, and detects the position of the slide member of the full length hole, respectively. The type of is to be detected. Note that the type detection sensor 14 may have any configuration.

  The type detection sensor 14 is used when, for example, the print paper P is set in any of the cassette housing portions 3a to 3e by replenishment of the print paper P (in this case, the identification code portions 13a to 13e are set). Received by the moving mechanism of the switchback unit U4, corresponding to the cassette accommodating portions 3a to 3e in which the print paper P is set together with the roller pair 41. It moves to the position and detects the identification code portions 13a to 13e, and identifies the type of the print paper P. The identification result is stored in a semiconductor memory RAM / ROM 105 described later.

  The print unit U5 is provided at a fixed base 65 fixed to a horizontal frame 7 extending in the horizontal direction at the upper end position of the vertical frame 6, and is provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the fixed base 65, and supports the print paper P during printing. A print table 66 and a print head 67 facing the print paper P located on the print table 66 and ejecting ink to the print paper P for printing are provided. The print table 66 and the print head 67 constitute the print unit 4.

  The print table 66 is not configured to suck and hold the print paper P from the lower side of the print table 66 with a fan or the like, and does not have a suction hole or the like as shown in FIG. . At both ends of the print table 66 in the paper width direction (X direction shown in FIG. 4), a plurality of grooves 66a (6 in each embodiment) extending in the paper transport direction (Y direction) are provided in the paper width direction. It is formed to line up at a predetermined interval. Each of the grooves 66a is provided corresponding to both positions in the width direction of the print paper P having various sizes. In each groove 66a, the ink ejected from the print head 67 is arranged in the width direction of the print paper P. An ink absorbing material 68 for absorbing the ink is fitted when it comes off from both ends (especially, it easily comes off when performing borderless printing). A concave portion 66b is formed in the central portion of the print table 66 in the paper width direction, corresponding to each position of three head units 67a described later, and 2 pieces of print paper P are placed in each concave portion 66b. An ink absorbing material 69 that absorbs ink preliminarily ejected (trial strike before printing) from each head unit 67a of the print head 67 when being printed in a row is fitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the print head 67 has a plurality of ink discharge nozzles 67b on the bottom surface (the surface facing the print table 66) in the sub-scanning direction (paper transport direction (Y direction)). Three head units 67a are provided so as to form a row, and these three head units 67a are arranged at intervals in the sub-scanning direction. Note that only one nozzle row of each head unit 67a is shown in FIG. 4, but actually, a plurality of nozzle rows are arranged in the paper width direction corresponding to each of a plurality of colors of ink. Further, the number of head units 67a is not necessarily three, but may be one or two, or may be four or more.

  The upper surface of the print head 67 is fixedly attached to a drive belt 70 for reciprocating the print head 67 in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 (X direction shown in FIG. 4)). The drive belt 70 extends in the main scanning direction, and is wound around two pulleys 71 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) disposed at both ends thereof and rotatably supported on the upper portion of the fixed base 65. It is hung. The one pulley 71 is rotationally driven by an electric motor (not shown). A guide rail 72 extending in the main scanning direction along the drive belt 70 is attached and fixed to the upper portion of the fixed base 65, and the print head 67 is guided by the guide rail 72 while being driven by the drive belt 70. It reciprocates in the scanning direction. The print paper P on the print table 66 is intermittently (stepwise) conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by a constant unit conveyance amount by a conveyance roller 75 provided on the upstream side of the print table 66, and this intermittent conveyance is performed. At each stop of the print paper P at the time, the print head 67 is scanned one time in the main scanning direction (one-way operation or one-time operation), and the ink of each head unit 67a at each position in the main scanning direction during this scanning. Ink is ejected from the ejection nozzle 67b. That is, after one scan of the print head 67, the print paper P is transported by the unit transport amount, and then the print head 67 is scanned once again, and this operation is repeated to print a desired image. .

  The transport roller 75 is provided at the upstream end of the print unit U5 (that is, the upstream end of the downstream transport path and in the vicinity of the roller pair 41 (see FIG. 5) positioned at the delivery position). The print paper P delivered by the roller pair 41 positioned at the delivery position is received and conveyed to the printing unit 4. The transport roller 75 includes one drive roller 75 a and two driven rollers 75 b that sandwich the print paper P, and the two driven rollers 75 b are pressed against the drive roller 75 a by one compression coil spring 76. The drive roller 75a is rotated by an electric motor 77 via a transmission belt 78.

  The height position of the sandwiched portion of the print paper P sandwiched by the transport roller 75 is higher than the upper surface of the print table 66, and the print paper P is wound around the drive roller 75a while being printed. The portion of the print base 66 that is wound around the drive roller 75a by the guide roller 79 that is supported from the upper end of the print table 66 so as to have a gap above the upstream end. In other words, the print paper P is conveyed in a state where the back surface of the print paper P is substantially in contact with the upper surface of the print table 66.

  On the other hand, on the downstream side of the printing table 66, two pairs of pressure bonding composed of driving and driven rollers 81a and 81b are provided to form a third transport path for discharging the printed paper P to the outside of the housing 1. The mold discharge rollers 81 are provided at intervals in the paper transport direction. The drive roller 81 a of each discharge roller 81 is driven simultaneously by the electric motor 82 via the transmission belt 83. The height of the downstream discharge roller 81 is higher than that of the upstream discharge roller 81, and the print paper P is lifted between the downstream discharge roller 81 and the upstream discharge roller 81 and the downstream side. A guide member 84 that leads to the discharge roller 81 is provided.

  As described above, since the print paper P is lifted to a position higher than the upper surface of the print table 66 on the upstream side and the downstream side of the print table 66, the portion of the print paper P on the print table 66 is the print table 66. It comes to be pressed against the top surface. Thereby, the flatness of the print paper P on the print table 66 is ensured.

  The discharge tray 5 is provided on the front side of the discharge roller 81 outside the casing 1 and protrudes forward of the casing 1, and an auxiliary tray 5a is stored at the front end thereof. . When the length of the printed paper P to be discharged is longer than the length of the discharge tray 5, the auxiliary tray 5a can receive the long printed paper P by pulling it forward of the housing 1. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inkjet printer has a microprocessor 101 (hereinafter referred to as a CPU), a conveyance control unit 102 connected to the CPU 101 via a data bus, a head control unit 103, and print control. Unit 104, semiconductor memory RAM / ROM 105, communication interface 106, paper detection sensor 58 and type detection sensor 14 described above.

  The transport control unit 102 controls the operation of each of the units U1a to U1e, U4, U5. The head control unit 103 controls the operation of the print head 67. The communication interface 106 is for transmitting and receiving information to and from the reception block 100. The print control unit 104 controls the print paper P to print image data based on the image data received from the receiving block 100 via the communication interface 106.

  Under the control of the transport control unit 102, the units U1a to U1e, U2, U4, and U5 operate as follows.

  When printing is performed on the print paper P set in the first cassette housing 3a, the roller pair 41 of the switchback unit U4 is positioned at the first receiving position (see FIG. 1). Then, by the operation of the feed roller 35 of the first supply unit U1a, the print paper P is pulled out from the first cassette housing portion 3a and conveyed to the roller pair 41 located at the first receiving position.

  The driving roller 41a of the roller pair 41 starts to drive when the leading edge of the print paper P is detected by the paper detection sensor 58, and rotates (forward) in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. Receives and grips the printed paper P that has been conveyed from the unit U1a in the horizontal direction in the rearward direction of the housing. That is, the print paper P is sandwiched between the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b. The drive roller 41a continues to drive and draws the print paper P into the space space 12 on the rear side of the casing. The roller pair 41 stops when the rear end of the print paper P is gripped by the roller pair 41.

  Subsequently, the drive belt 48 of the switchback unit U4 operates, and the roller pair 41 moves upward and stops at the delivery position (see FIG. 5). As a result, the print paper P is transported from the receiving position to the sending position in a state where it is disconnected from the upstream transport path (first supply unit U1a). Thereafter, the driving roller 41a of the roller pair 41 reverses and sends the print paper P to the transport roller 75 of the print unit U5 in the direction opposite to the moving direction when receiving the print paper P.

  When the print paper P is delivered to the transport roller 75, the leading edge of the print paper P is detected by the paper detection sensor 58, and the transport roller 75 of the print unit U5 starts operating by this detection. The conveyance roller 75 receives the print paper P sent out from the switchback unit U4 and conveys it to the print table 66. The roller pair 41 of the switchback unit U4 moves downward and returns to the first receiving position after the trailing edge of the print paper P is detected by the paper detection sensor 58.

  Next, printing is performed by moving the print head 67 in the main scanning direction while intermittently conveying the print paper P by the conveyance roller 75 by a unit conveyance amount. The printed print paper P is discharged by the discharge roller 81 to the outside of the housing 1 with the print surface facing upward, and is received by the discharge tray 5.

  When printing is performed on the print paper P set in the second to fifth cassette housing portions 3b to 3e, printing is performed on the print paper P set in the first cassette housing portion 3a. As in the case of performing, the roller pair 41 of the switchback unit U4 is positioned at the second to fifth receiving positions, and the print paper P conveyed from the second to fifth supply units U1b to U1e is received. Hold it. Since the subsequent operation is as described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  Therefore, in the said embodiment, the 1st-5th receiving position corresponding to each downstream end of 1st-5th supply unit U1a-U1e which is an upstream conveyance path, and the upstream end of print unit U5 which is a downstream conveyance path When the roller pair 41 moves between the feed positions corresponding to the print position P and conveys the print paper P, the print paper P set in each of the first to fifth cassette accommodating portions 3a to 3e is changed to the order information. Can be selectively conveyed to the printing unit 4 according to the above, and the efficiency of the printing process can be improved.

  The switchback unit U4 is provided with a type detection sensor 14 that moves between the first to fifth receiving positions together with the roller pair 41, and the type detection sensor is in a state where the roller pair 41 is positioned at the first to fifth receiving positions. In the configuration in which the identification code portions 13a to 13e provided in the cassette housing portions 3a to 3e can be detected, the number of the cassette housing portions is plural and the identification code portion is plural. The detection sensor 14 can detect all the identification code portions. That is, since it is not necessary to provide a separate mechanism for moving the type detection sensor 14 while minimizing the number of type detection sensors 14, the cost can be reduced.

  The switchback unit U4 can guide the print paper P from the upstream transport path to the downstream transport path with the print surface facing upward, and the print unit 4 (downstream transport path) and the paper set unit. Even with the configuration in which 2 (upstream conveyance path) is arranged vertically, the print paper P can be conveyed to the printing unit 4 without being greatly bent. As a result, the printed paper P (cut sheet) from each of the cassette accommodating portions 3a to 3e is not curled during conveyance. Further, in combination with a configuration in which the print paper P is lifted to a position higher than the upper surface of the print table 66 on the upstream side and the downstream side of the print table 66, flatness can be ensured without providing a suction device. Alternatively, the flatness of the print paper P in the print unit 4 can be sufficiently secured with a simple and small suction device.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the switchback unit U4 uses the moving mechanism to move the roller pair 41 holding the print paper P to the sending position in a state where the print paper P is separated from the upstream conveyance path. Therefore, when the print paper P is supplied onto the print table 66 in the downstream conveyance path, the degree of inclination of the print paper P in the width direction with respect to the print table 66 can be suppressed to be small. Does not increase the degree. That is, if the print paper P is conveyed by a roller, it is easy to skew even if there is a slight error in the roller shape or the like. Thus, when the print paper P is inclined on the print table 66, there arises a problem that the print quality is deteriorated. In particular, in an ink jet printer, the ink discharge nozzles 67b are arranged in a row in the sub-scanning direction (paper transport direction), and when the print paper P is inclined in the width direction, the positions of the print paper P corresponding to both ends of the nozzle row respectively. They are greatly displaced from each other in the main scanning direction (width direction), and even a slight inclination affects the print quality. However, in the above embodiment, since the switchback unit U4 is provided in the middle of the first to fifth transport paths, the switchback unit U4 transports the print paper P by the amount corresponding to the transport of the print paper P. The length can be shortened and the number of paper transport rollers can be reduced. Therefore, the inclination of the print paper P on the print table 66 can be reduced, and the print quality can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the five first to fifth cassette housing portions 3a to 3e are provided as the paper set portions. However, the number of the paper set portions is not limited to five and may be set as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of cassette storage units in which cut sheets are set are provided as the paper setting unit. For example, a magazine storage unit in which a long print paper is wound in a roll shape is provided. A plurality of them may be provided. Further, the cassette housing portion and the magazine housing portion may be mixed.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, the 1st-5th cassette accommodating parts 3a-3e and the printing part 4 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction, and the 1st-5th receiving position and the sending-out position are lined up in the up-down direction. The roller pair 41 of the switchback unit U4 is reciprocated up and down in response to the fact that the switchback unit U4 is not limited to reciprocating up and down. The configuration may be in accordance with the arrangement. For example, in a configuration in which two or more paper set units and print units are arranged in the horizontal direction and two or more receiving positions and sending positions are arranged in the horizontal direction, the switchback unit U4 is provided with its roller pair 41 horizontally. What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may reciprocate to a direction. In that case, the type detection sensor 14 also moves in the horizontal direction.

  In addition, in the above embodiment, in the switchback unit U4, the gripping member that receives and grips the print paper P from the upstream conveyance path is configured by the roller pair 41. However, the print paper P is gripped by sandwiching the print paper P from both sides in the thickness direction. Any material can be used. In this case, it is only necessary to separately provide drawing and sending means such as a roller for drawing and sending the print paper P.

  In addition, in the above embodiment, the printer of the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer used in a photographic print system. However, the print paper P is pulled out from each of a plurality of paper set units and conveyed to the print unit 4. The present invention can be applied to any printer as long as it is a printer.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for a printer that pulls out the print paper from each of a plurality of paper set units and conveys the print paper to the print unit, and is particularly useful for an ink jet printer used in a photographic print system.

It is the schematic seen from the housing | casing side which shows the structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure seen from the housing | casing side which shows the structure of a switchback unit. It is the figure seen from the housing | casing rear which shows the principal part of a switchback unit. It is a top view which shows a printing stand. FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating a state when a roller pair of the switchback unit is located at a delivery position. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control system.

Explanation of symbols

P Print paper U1a to U1e 1st to 5th supply unit (upstream conveying path)
U4 switchback unit (paper transport device)
U5 print unit (downstream transport path)
13a to 13e Identification code part 14 Type detection sensor (type detection means)
3a-3e 1st-5th cassette accommodating part (paper set part)
4 Print section 41 Roller pair (gripping member)

Claims (1)

Two or more paper set sections each set with print paper, two or more upstream transport paths for pulling out and transporting the print paper set in each of the two or more paper set sections, and printing of the print paper A printer comprising a printing unit that performs printing on a surface, and a downstream conveyance path for conveying print paper to the printing unit,
A gripping member that reciprocates between two or more receiving positions corresponding to the downstream end of each of the two or more upstream conveyance paths and a delivery position corresponding to the upstream end of the downstream conveyance path; A paper transport device that receives and grips the printed paper that has been transported by the upstream transport path at any of the receiving positions by the gripping member, and sends the gripped print paper to the downstream transport path at the output position With
Each of the paper set portions has an identification code portion for identifying the type of print paper set in the paper set portion,
The paper conveying device moves between the receiving positions together with the gripping member and detects an identification code portion provided in each paper setting section at each receiving position, thereby setting the paper conveying section in the paper setting section. A printer further comprising type detection means for detecting the type of printed paper.

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