JP2007076280A - Rolled paper printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a rolled paper printer equipped with a rolled paper magazine improved so that replacement and set working of the rolled paper may be easily performed. <P>SOLUTION: The rolled paper magazine 9 of the rolled paper printer 1 is equipped with a rolled paper holder 12 wherein the rolled paper is held in the state of being turnable. If an opening/closing lid unit 3 is opened, the rolled paper holder 12 is tilted forward by a rolled paper feeding mechanism, then the rolled paper 10 is fed ahead. A front plate 14 attached to the opening/closing lid unit 3 is equipped with a holding roller 25 in the state of turning free, and the rolled paper 10 forwarded ahead gets into the state of connecting with the holding roller 25. When pulling out a recording paper 10a from the rolled paper 10, the paper 10 turns at a fixed position without the paper 10 falling ahead. Thereby, the replacement and set working of the rolled paper becomes easy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a roll paper printer including a roll paper storage unit that has been improved so that roll paper can be exchanged and set efficiently.

As a roll paper printer that performs printing on a roll paper having a configuration in which a tape-like recording paper is wound around a core tube in a roll shape, a printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In the printer disclosed in this document, a lid is attached to the upper surface of the printer main body so that it can be opened and closed, a platen roller is attached to the printer main body, and a print head is attached to the lid. . When the lid is opened, the upper side of the paper storage unit is opened, and the roll paper can be easily replaced from the upper side. Further, since the print head and the platen roller are separated from each other, the operation of setting the paper between them can be easily performed.
JP 2000-289272 A

  In such a roll paper printer, when the roll paper needs to be replaced, the roll paper which is almost only the core tube remains on the back side at the bottom of the roll paper storage unit. If the open / close lid unit that seals the roll paper storage unit can be opened widely, the operator can easily put the hand into the roll paper storage unit and take it out. However, when the open / close lid unit cannot be opened widely, it is not easy to take out the small-diameter roll paper remaining on the bottom. For example, when the height of the installation location cannot be sufficiently secured, the open / close lid unit cannot be opened widely, and the roll paper remaining on the bottom of the roll paper storage unit cannot be easily taken out.

  In particular, in order to reduce the height of the roll paper printer, when an opening / closing lid unit is attached to the front of the printer body and the roll paper is opened from the front and the roll paper is exchanged from the front, the roll paper is not taken out. It becomes difficult. That is, in this case, it is necessary to put a hand from the front and take out the roll paper remaining at the bottom of the roll paper storage unit. In such a printer, in order to reduce the height dimension, the opening height of the roll paper storage portion is inevitably small, so it is necessary to take out the remaining small diameter roll paper through the narrow opening portion. is there.

  Further, when the roll paper is exchanged from the front or the back of the printer, the open / close lid unit is tilted almost horizontally when the roll paper storage unit is opened. Therefore, in the setting operation in which the end of the tape-shaped recording paper wound around the roll paper placed in the roll paper storage unit is pulled between the print head and the platen, the roll paper is pulled. There is a possibility of rolling out from the bottom surface of the roll paper storage unit to the outside via the inner surface of the opening / closing unit. For this reason, it is necessary to pull out the recording paper while pressing the roll paper, and the roll paper setting operation may not be easily performed.

  In view of these points, an object of the present invention is to propose a roll paper printer including a roll paper storage unit that is improved so that the roll paper replacement operation and the setting operation can be easily performed. is there.

In order to solve the above problems, the roll paper printer of the present invention is
A roll paper storage section for storing the roll paper in a rollable state;
An open / close lid unit that can be opened and closed between a closed position that seals the roll paper storage portion around the lower end portion, and an open position that is opened by a predetermined angle outside the roll paper storage portion;
When the open / close lid unit is in the open position, the roll paper that is about to roll out of the roll paper storage unit can be rotated on the inner surface of the open / close lid unit to hold the roll paper in a rollable state at a fixed position. And a holding roller attached in a state.

  When opening the open / close lid unit, replacing the roll paper, and pulling out the tape-like recording paper from the new roll paper in the roll paper storage section, the roll paper is pulled out as a whole and rolled out of the roll paper storage section There is. The roll paper rolls from the bottom surface of the roll paper storage unit to the inner side surface of the opening / closing lid unit. A holding roller is attached to the inner side surface, and the roll roller prevents the roll paper from rolling outside. .

  Further, since the holding roller is rotatable, when the recording paper is pulled out from the roll paper, the roll paper rolls at a fixed position in a state of being in contact with the holding roller. Therefore, when the required length of recording paper is pulled out and set along a predetermined path, the roll paper does not roll out to the outside. After the roll paper is set in this way, when the open / close lid unit is closed, the roll paper is pushed into the roll paper storage unit by being pushed by the open / close lid unit.

  Here, in the present invention, the holding roller functions as a roller guide that supports the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit in a rollable state when the opening / closing lid unit is in the closed position. It is characterized by that. Since it is supported by the rotatable support roller, it is possible to reduce the resistance force when pulling out the recording paper wound around the roll paper, and to smoothly carry the recording paper and perform the printing operation.

  The present invention further includes a roll paper feed mechanism that feeds the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit toward the open / close lid unit in conjunction with the opening operation of the open / close lid unit, and the holding roller Is arranged at a position where the roll paper fed by the roll paper feed mechanism can come into contact.

  As the roll paper feeding mechanism, it is possible to employ a mechanism that slides or tilts the bottom plate on which the roll paper in the roll paper storage unit is rollable in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit. it can.

  When the opening / closing lid unit is opened, the roll paper is sent out from the roll paper storage unit by the roll paper feed mechanism. For example, the bottom plate on which the roll paper in the roll paper storage unit is slid or tilted, and the roll paper is sent out to the opening / closing lid unit side. Since the roll paper is sent out to the opened opening / closing lid unit side, it is not necessary to put the hand deep inside the roll paper storage unit and take out the small-diameter roll paper which is almost only the core tube. Therefore, the roll paper can be taken out very easily.

  Further, the roll paper fed to the opening / closing lid unit side remains in contact with the holding roller disposed on the inner surface of the opening / closing lid unit. When the recording paper wound around the roll paper is pulled out in this state, the roll paper rolls at a fixed position and does not roll out to the outside. Therefore, the operation of pulling out the recording paper and setting it along a predetermined path can be easily performed.

  In the roll paper printer of the present invention, a holding roller is attached to the inner surface of the opening / closing lid unit for opening and closing the roll paper storage unit in a rotatable state, and in the state where the opening / closing lid unit is opened, the roll paper is moved by the holding roller. The roll paper is prevented from rolling out. Therefore, when the recording paper wound around the roll paper is pulled out from the roll paper and set along a predetermined path with the opening / closing lid unit opened, the roll paper can be prevented from rolling out. Further, since the roll paper is held at a fixed position so as to be able to roll by the holding roller, the recording paper can be pulled out smoothly.

  In particular, when the roll paper is sent out by the roll paper feed mechanism so that the roll paper can be easily replaced, the roll paper tends to roll out to the outside. In the present invention, the fed roll paper is brought into contact with the holding roller and rolled at that position. Therefore, even when the roll paper is sent out when the opening / closing lid unit is opened, the roll paper can be reliably prevented from rolling outward.

  Embodiments of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the opening / closing lid unit is opened.

  A roll paper printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a printer main body 2 and an opening / closing lid unit 3 attached to the front surface thereof, and an operation panel unit 4 is attached to the front end of the printer main body 2. . A recording paper discharge port 5 extending in the printer width direction is formed at the upper end portion of the opening / closing lid unit 3 on the front surface of the printer.

  The printer main body 2 is covered with a box-shaped main body case 6 which is long before and after the front and bottom surfaces are opened. On the front surface of the open / close lid unit 3, an open / close lid case 7 that defines the front surface of the printer is attached. When the operating lever 8 disposed on the operation panel unit 4 is operated, the opening / closing lid unit 3 is released from the closed position 3A shown in FIG. It opens to the open position 3B that falls forward. When the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, the front side of the roll paper storage unit 9 formed inside is opened, and the roll paper 10 can be replaced. On the front surface of the operation panel unit 4, a status display lamp group 4a made of LEDs and the like, a feed button 4b, and a power switch 4c are arranged.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the inside of the roll paper printer 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state in which the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened. A roll paper storage unit 9 formed inside the roll paper printer 1 defines a roll paper holder 12 that accommodates a roll paper 10 that defines the bottom surface and the back surface thereof in a rollable state, and a top surface thereof. The top plate 13 is surrounded by a front plate 14 that defines the front surface thereof. The tape-shaped recording paper 10a fed out from the roll paper 10 stored in the roll paper storage unit 9 passes through the printing position between the platen roller 15 and the thermal head 16 and is drawn forward, and is positioned in front of it. The recording paper is discharged forward from the recording paper discharge port 5. A scissors-type recording paper cutting device 20 is disposed in front of the recording paper discharge port 5.

  The recording paper cutting device 20 includes a fixed blade 21 mounted on the printer body 2 side, a movable blade 22 and a movable blade drive mechanism 23 mounted on the opening / closing lid unit 3 side. The fixed blades 21 are arranged in the printer width direction in a substantially horizontal posture with the blade edge 21a facing forward. The movable blades 22 are arranged in the printer width direction at a position almost directly below the blade edge 21a of the fixed blade 21 with the blade edge 22a facing upward. In a state where the recording paper 10a is discharged between the cutting edges 21a and 22a (recording paper cutting position), the lower movable blade 22 is swung upward to be sandwiched between the two cutting edges 21a and 22a. A portion of the recording paper 10a is cut in the printer width direction.

  The opening / closing lid unit 3 includes a front plate 14 of the roll paper storage unit 9, a platen roller 15, and a movable blade 22 of the recording paper cutting device 20. When the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, as shown in FIG. 4, the roll paper storage unit 9 is opened, and the roll paper storage unit 9 reaches the recording paper discharge port 5 via the printing position and the cutting position. The recording paper conveyance path is opened. Therefore, when the open / close lid unit 3 is closed in a state where the recording paper 10a is pulled out from the roll paper 10 stored in the roll paper storage unit 9, the state in which the recording paper 10a is set along the recording paper conveyance path is automatically set. Can be formed.

  Here, in this example, when the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, a roll paper feeding mechanism for feeding the roll paper 10 forward by tilting the roll paper holder 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 in conjunction with the opening / closing lid unit 3 is incorporated. In addition, a holding roller 25 for holding the fed roll paper 10 so as not to roll outward is provided. Details of the roll paper feed mechanism will be described later (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

  When the open / close lid unit 3 is fully opened (open position 3B), the roll paper feed mechanism causes the roll paper holder 12 to move from the storage posture 12A shown in FIG. 3 to the support shaft 61 at the front end as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. The roll paper holder 12 includes a bottom plate portion 12a that is slightly inclined forward when stored, a back plate portion 12b that curves upward from the rear end, and these bottom plate portion 12a and back plate portion 12b. Left and right side plate portions 12c and 12d spanned at both ends in the printer width direction. When the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, the inclination of the bottom plate portion 12a increases, and the roll paper 10 riding on the bottom plate portion 12a rolls forward along the bottom plate portion 12a.

  In the opening / closing lid unit 3 of the present example, a holding roller 25 extending in the printer width direction is attached to a middle position in the vertical direction of the front plate 14 attached thereto in a rotatable state. The outer peripheral surface portion of the holding roller 25 protrudes from the surface of the front plate 14 (the inner surface of the opening / closing lid unit). In the state in which the opening / closing lid unit 3 is open, as shown in FIG. 4, the front plate 14 is inclined in front of the bottom plate portion 12a so that the front is up. Therefore, the roll paper 10 fed forward rolls out from the bottom plate portion 12 a toward the front plate 14. However, since the outer peripheral surface portion of the holding roller 25 protrudes from the surface of the front plate 14, the roll paper 10 stops in a state where it hits the holding roller 25 as shown in FIG.

  In this state, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4, when the recording paper 10 a wound around the roll paper 10 is pulled out, the roll paper 10 tends to roll forward. However, the roll paper 10 is prevented from moving forward by the rotatable holding roller 25. Therefore, the roll paper 10 stops at a position where it contacts the holding roller 25, and when the recording paper 10a is pulled out, it rolls at that position. When the holding roller 25 is not provided, the roll paper 10 may roll forward along the surface of the front plate 14 due to the pulling force acting on the recording paper 10 a and roll outward from the opening / closing lid unit 3. Therefore, it is necessary to pull out and set the recording paper 10a while pressing the roll paper 10, and workability is poor. In this example, such an adverse effect can be eliminated.

  Further, when the open / close lid unit 3 is closed, the bottom plate portion 12 is slightly inclined forward, so that the outer peripheral surface portion on the front side of the roll paper 10 accommodated is in contact with the holding roller 25. . Accordingly, the roll paper 10 is supported by the bottom plate portion 12a and the holding roller 25, the resistance when the recording paper 10a is pulled out is reduced, and the operation of pulling out the recording paper 10a is performed smoothly. Thus, the holding roller 25 functions as a roller guide for the roll paper 10 in the roll paper storage state.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the mechanism (the printer body 2 and the opening / closing lid unit 3) of the roll paper printer with the main body case 6 and the opening / closing lid case 7 removed. FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and a side view in a state where one side plate is omitted as shown by an imaginary line in order to show the internal structure. 7A and 7B are a perspective view and a side view showing a case where the opening / closing lid unit is opened in the same state as in FIG.

  Referring to these drawings, the printer main body 2 includes a base plate 31, left and right side plates 32 and 33 standing upright from the base plate 30, and rear sides of the left and right side plates 32 and 33. A back plate 30 is provided between the parts in the printer width direction. Between the upper ends of the side plates 32, 33, a head mounting plate 34 is stretched horizontally in the printer width direction. On the lower surface of the head mounting plate 34, the thermal head 16 has a substantially horizontal posture with the head surface 16 a facing downward. Is attached (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The top plate 13 of the roll paper storage unit 9 is disposed below the rear portion of the head mounting plate 34. The bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 is disposed on the upper surface of the base plate 31.

  A fixed blade mounting plate 35 is disposed horizontally in the printer width direction above the head mounting plate 34, and the fixed blade 21 of the recording paper cutting device 20 faces forward and substantially horizontal below the front end of the fixed blade mounting plate 35. Is attached. The fixed blade mounting plate 35 is bridged between the upper ends of left and right swivel plates 36 and 37 (only the swivel plate 37 is shown in the figure) arranged outside the side plates 32 and 33. The swivel plates 36 and 37 can be slightly swiveled in the front-rear direction of the printer around their lower end portions 36a and 37a (only the lower end portion 37a is shown in the figure). When the recording paper 10a is cut by the recording paper cutting device 20, both the blade edges 21a and 22a intersect in a point contact state while the movable blade 22 pivots upward from the lower side and pushes the fixed blade 21 rearward. 10a is cut. In order to slightly retract the fixed blade 21 during cutting, the fixed blade 21 is supported by the swivel plates 36 and 37.

  On the other hand, the open / close lid unit 3 is configured to open by a predetermined angle forward of the printer around the support shafts 41 and 42 attached to the lower ends of the side plates 32 and 33 of the printer body 2. The opening / closing lid unit 3 includes a front plate portion 43 and narrow side plate portions 44 and 45 bent at right angles from both sides to the rear. A movable blade 22 and a movable blade drive mechanism 23 of the recording paper cutting device 20 are attached to the front surface of the front plate portion 43, and these portions are covered with a protective plate 24. The front side of the protection plate 24 is covered with an open / close lid case 7 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Further, the platen roller 15 is spanned between the side plate portions 44 and 45 in a rotatable state. Under the platen roller 15, the front plate 14 of the roll paper storage unit 9 attached to the back surface of the front plate portion 43 is disposed.

  Next, a roll paper feed mechanism that feeds the roll paper 10 by tilting the roll paper holder 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 in conjunction with the opening / closing lid unit 3 will be described.

  The roll paper holder 12 is placed on the base plate 31 such that the front end portion of the roll paper holder 12 is rotatable in the front-rear direction of the printer about the support shaft 61. In addition, slide pins 64 and 65 (only the slide pin 65 is shown in the drawing) are attached to the rear portions of the side plate portions 12b and 12c on both sides of the roll paper holder 12 so as to protrude sideways. .

  The tension coil springs 66 and 67 (only the tension coil spring 67 is shown in the figure) are stretched between the slide pins 64 and 65 and the lower end portion of the back plate 30. Has been. When the open / close lid unit 3 is in the closed state, the roll paper holder 12 is placed in a substantially horizontal storage posture 12A (FIGS. 3 and 6A) with the back surface thereof in contact with the base plate 31 by the left and right coil springs 66 and 67. ))).

  Between the slide pins 64 and 65 and the support pins 68 and 69 attached to the middle portions in the vertical direction of the left and right side plate portions 44 and 45 of the opening / closing lid unit 3, respectively, Link levers 71 and 72 are bridged. The front end portions 71a and 72a of the link levers 71 and 72 are attached to the support pins 68 and 69 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction of the printer. The rear end portions of the link levers 71 and 72 are formed with linear slide holes 71b and 72b that are long in the front-rear direction of the printer, and the slide pins 64 and 65 are slidably inserted therethrough. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, these slide pins 64 and 65 are formed in arcuate guide holes 73 and 74 (only the guide hole 74 is shown in the figure) formed in the left and right side plates 32 and 33. Have been passed through. The guide holes 73 and 74 are arcs centered on the support shaft 61, and when the bottom plate 12 rotates about the support shaft 61, the slide pins 64 and 65 move along these guide holes 73 and 74.

  Next, the operation of the roll paper feed mechanism will be described. When the open / close lid unit 3 is closed, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the left and right slide pins 64 and 65 of the roll paper holder 12 are front ends of the slide holes 71b and 72b of the left and right link levers 71 and 72, respectively. Is located. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the slide pins 64 and 65 are positioned at lower ends of the arcuate guide holes 73 and 74.

  When the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, the left and right link levers 71 and 72 whose front ends are connected to the left and right side plate portions 44 and 45 of the opening / closing lid unit 3 also move forward. The left and right slide pins 64 and 65 attached to the bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 are positioned at the front ends of the slide holes 71b and 72b of the link levers 71 and 72. The roll paper holder 12 does not move until the link levers 71 and 72 move forward by a predetermined amount and the rear ends of the slide holes 71b and 72b hit the slide pins 64 and 65, respectively.

  After the slide pins 64 and 65 hit the rear ends of the slide holes 71b and 72b, the slide pins 64 and 65 are pulled forward by the left and right link levers 71 and 72 in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit 3. . Since the roll paper holder 12 to which these slide pins 64 and 65 are attached can be turned around the support shaft 61 at the front end thereof, the support shaft 61 is centered in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit 3. And turn forward.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, when the open / close lid unit 3 reaches the open position 3B, the roll paper holder 12 is in the feed posture 12B inclined by a predetermined angle. In this manner, the roll paper holder 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 is switched from the original substantially horizontal storage posture 12A to the forward feeding posture 12B in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit 3. When the roll paper 10 is placed on the bottom plate portion 12a of the roll paper holder 12, the roll paper 10 rolls forward on the bottom plate portion 12a in a forward tilted posture by its own weight, and is fed forward. For example, the remaining roll paper 10A as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 7 is sent forward as shown by the arrow. As a result, the roll paper 10A can be easily taken out from the front side.

  Further, after the roll paper holder 12 starts to turn, the open / close lid unit 3 is pulled rearward by the left and right tension coil springs 66 and 67 via the left and right link levers 71 and 72. Therefore, the opening / closing lid unit 3 is prevented from opening vigorously by the tensile force of the tension coil springs 66, 67, and the opening / closing lid unit 3 collides with the printer installation surface and the like, causing damage. Can be avoided.

  Next, when the open / close lid unit 3 is closed, the left and right link levers 71 and 72 are also moved rearward in conjunction with this. Accordingly, the forward pulling force acting on the left and right slide pins 64, 65 of the roll paper holder 12 is released, and the bottom plate 12 returns to the original substantially horizontal posture 12A by the spring force of the coil springs 66, 67. . As a result, the roll paper 10 placed on the roll paper holder 12 is stored in a predetermined position.

  In this example, the link levers 71 and 72 form a roll paper feed mechanism. Another configuration can be adopted as the roll paper feed mechanism. For example, a roll paper feed mechanism that slides the roll paper holder 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 back and forth in conjunction with opening and closing of the open / close lid unit 3 may be employed. Alternatively, the roll paper holder may be in a fixed state and another member may be moved back and forth in conjunction with the opening / closing lid unit 3.

1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the roll paper printer with an opening / closing lid opened. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of a roll paper printer. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of the roll paper printer of the open state of an opening-and-closing lid unit. FIG. 3 is a side view of the roll paper printer with a main body case and an open / close lid of the roll paper printer removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view and a side view of the roll paper printer in a state in which one side plate in FIG. 5 is omitted to show the internal structure. It is the perspective view and side view of the state which opened the opening-and-closing lid unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Roll paper printer, 2 Printer main body, 3 Opening / closing lid unit, 3A closed position, 3B open position, 5 Recording paper discharge port, 6 Main body case, 7 Opening / closing lid case, 9 Roll paper storage part, 10, 10A Roll paper, 12 Roll paper holder, 12a Bottom plate portion, 12b Back plate portion, 12c, 12d Side plate portion, 12A Storage posture, 12B Feeding posture, 13 Top plate, 14 Front plate, 15 Platen roller, 16 Thermal head, 25 Holding roller, 61 Support shaft , 62, 63 Side plate part, 64, 65 Slide pin, 66, 67 Extension coil spring, 68, 69 Support pin, 71, 72 Link lever, 71b, 72b Slide hole, 73, 74 Guide hole

Claims (4)

A roll paper storage section for storing the roll paper in a rollable state;
An open / close lid unit that can be opened and closed between a closed position that seals the roll paper storage portion around the lower end portion, and an open position that is opened by a predetermined angle outside the roll paper storage portion;
When the open / close lid unit is in the open position, the roll paper that is about to roll out of the roll paper storage unit can be rotated on the inner surface of the open / close lid unit to hold the roll paper in a rollable state at a fixed position. A roll paper printer having a holding roller attached in a state. In claim 1,
The roll paper, wherein the holding roller functions as a guide roller that supports the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit in a rollable state when the open / close lid unit is in the closed position. Printer. In claim 1 or 2,
In conjunction with the opening operation of the open / close lid unit, a roll paper feed mechanism that sends out the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit toward the open / close lid unit,
The roll paper printer, wherein the holding roller is disposed at a position where the roll paper fed by the roll paper feed mechanism can contact. In claim 3,
The roll paper feed mechanism is a mechanism that slides or tilts a bottom plate on which the roll paper in the roll paper storage unit is rollable in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit. Roll paper printer.

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