JP2007168992A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of surely removing a warp in all directions of printed paper. <P>SOLUTION: This invention is premised on the printer having a male type roller 11 and a female type roller 12 on the downstream side of a printing part printing on paper 5 supplied from a paper feeding part and provided with a warp correcting part 4 embossing the whole surface of the printed paper 5 passing through between these rollers. An embossing projection part 11a of the male type roller 11 and an embossing recessed part 12a of the female type roller 12 are formed so as to attach a recess-projection higher than the thickness to the printed paper 5. At the same time, the embossing projection part 11a and the embossing recessed part 12a are respectively intermittently formed, and the embossing projection part 11a is juxtaposed on a peripheral surface of the male type roller 11, and the embossing recessed part 12a is juxtaposed on a peripheral surface of the female type roller 12 so that the edge 15a of respective embossing object parts 15 attached to the printed paper 5 passed through the warp correcting part 4, becomes arrangement of not being continuously juxtaposed in a straight line in all directions along a surface of the printed paper 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer used as, for example, a printing apparatus provided in a register or an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatographic copying machine or a facsimile, and more particularly, a printer having a warp correction unit that removes warping of printed paper. About.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, a microscopic image is formed on a fixing processing sheet through a fixing processing sheet between a hard roller having countless fine streaks on the surface formed by, for example, knurling and a soft roller pressed against the hard roller. A technique for correcting the curl of the fixing processing paper by adding a slight crease is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-231060 (paragraphs 0008.0009, 0016-0018, FIG. 2 to FIG. 5)

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, since the fine irregularities on the surface of the hard roller are formed in parallel with the axial direction of the hard roller, the creases attached to the paper can correct the curl in the width direction of the paper to some extent. The correction effect for curling in other directions is greatly reduced. In particular, the curl of the sheet cannot be corrected in the direction intersecting 90 degrees with respect to the fold, that is, in the case of Patent Document 1, the direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction.

  In the knurling process, in addition to the horizontal knurling process described in Patent Document 1, a vertical knurling process that creates a fold in the paper feeding direction, and an oblique knurling process that creates an oblique fold that crosses the paper feeding direction diagonally. Alternatively, a knurling process of an oblique lattice that forms lattice-like folds that are oblique in the sheet conveyance direction and intersect each other is known. However, in these cases as well, there is no change in the fact that each fold line is provided continuously in a straight line, so there is no effect on curling in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the fold line extends. .

  Further, since the technique of Patent Document 1 gives micro-folds to the paper, the correction force is small, and this means that the fine irregularities on the surface of the hard roller are torn down as described in Patent Document 1. The same applies to a pattern.

  Therefore, for example, in the case of a paper that is wound in a roll shape like a paper used in a printing device or the like provided in a register and has a strong curl, the technique of Patent Document 1 corrects the warpage of the paper. Not enough. For this reason, even if the curl is once removed, the curl is likely to return as time passes.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can reliably remove the warp in all directions of printed paper.

  The present invention provides a warp correction unit that includes a male roller and a female roller on the downstream side of a printing unit that prints on a sheet supplied from a paper feeding unit, and that presses the entire surface of a printed sheet passing between them. Assuming a printer with And in order to achieve the said objective, while forming the embossed convex part of a male type roller and the embossed concave part of a female type roller so that unevenness higher than the thickness may be given to printed paper, these embossed convex part and a mold Each of the pressed recesses is continuous or intermittent, and the edges of each pressed part attached to the printed paper that has passed through the warp correction part are continuous in a straight line in all directions along the surface of the printed paper. Thus, the embossing convex portions are provided side by side on the peripheral surface of the male roller and the embossing concave portions are provided side by side on the peripheral surface of the female roller so that the arrangement is not aligned.

  According to the printer of the present invention, the paper is so arranged that the edges of the pressed portions attached to the printed paper are not arranged in a straight line in all directions along the surface of the printed paper. In addition to embossing the sheet, the uneven pressing portion higher than the thickness of the sheet is provided on the sheet to increase the correction force against the warp, so that the warp in all directions of the printed sheet can be reliably removed.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer provided in the register. The printer 1 is, for example, a thermal printer, and includes a paper feeding unit 2, a printing unit 3, and a warp correction unit 4.

  The paper feed unit 2 has a paper set member 2a. For example, a heat-sensitive receipt paper 5 is set on the paper setting member 2a as a paper to be printed. The receipt paper 5 is wound around the winding core 6 to form a relatively small-diameter roll, and for this reason, the receipt paper 5 is led out from the paper outlet 2b of the paper feeding unit 2 with a considerably strong curl. ing. The receipt paper 5 is, for example, a paper having a width of 58 mm and a thickness of 0.075 mm.

  The printing unit 3 is arranged so as to be continuous downstream of the sheet outlet 2b. The printing unit 3 includes a platen 8 that also serves as a feed roller, and a print head 9 provided so as to be in contact therewith. The receipt paper 5 led out from the paper outlet 2b is printed with printing information such as letters, numbers and patterns when passing between the platen 8 and the print head 9, and is supplied with the rotation of the platen 8 after the printing operation. It is pulled out from the paper part 2 and passes through the printing part 3.

  The warp correction unit 4 is disposed on the downstream side of the printing unit 3. The printed receipt paper 5 passes through the warp correction unit 4 and is corrected and flattened in a state where the warp caused by the curl or the like is corrected and flattened. It is discharged to the outside through the paper mouth 10. The warp correction unit 4 has a paper transfer function for passing the printed receipt paper 5 to the paper discharge port 10.

  The warp correction unit 4 includes a male roller 11 and a female roller 12. The pair of rollers are rotationally driven in synchronization with each other in opposite directions while contacting the peripheral surfaces thereof with an appropriate pressure.

  The peripheral portions of the male roller 11 and the female roller 12 are formed of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal resin. As shown in FIG. 2, a number of embossing protrusions 11a are formed on the periphery of the male roller 11, and a number of embossing recesses 12a are formed on the periphery of the female roller 12 correspondingly. Yes. The male roller 11 and the female roller 12 are rotated synchronously with the engagement of the embossing protrusion 11a and the embossing recess 12a and the release of the engagement.

  The height of the embossing convex part 11 a and the embossing concave part 12 a, in other words, the fitting depth of these is set larger than the thickness of the receipt paper 5. As a result, the printed receipt paper 5 is provided with irregularities having a height of 0.5 mm, for example.

  The embossed protrusions 11a and the embossed recesses 12a have the same size. The shapes of the embossed protrusions 11a and the corresponding embossed recesses 12a are the same, and are geometric shapes, preferably star shapes, for example, four-pointed stars.

  The embossing protrusions 11a are provided intermittently or discontinuously in both the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the male roller 11, and similarly, the embossing recesses 12a are arranged in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the female roller 12. All of them are arranged intermittently, that is, discontinuously.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the edge 15 a of each pressed portion 15 formed on the receipt paper 5 printed by the warp correction unit 4 to form an uneven pattern is formed on the surface of the printed receipt paper 5. Each embossing convex part 11a is provided in the peripheral surface of the male type roller 11 so that it may become the arrangement | sequence which does not line up in a straight line about all the directions along, and each embossing recessed part 12a is the female roller 12's It is provided on the peripheral surface. Accordingly, the embossing protrusions 11a are arranged so that the edges of the embossing protrusions 11a are not arranged in a straight line when viewed from any direction, and the edges of the embossing depressions 12a are The embossed recesses 12a are arranged so that they are not arranged in a straight line when viewed from the direction.

  Moreover, in the stamped receipt paper 5, as shown in FIG. 3, a concave portion between the adjacent tapered projections among the four tapered projections corresponding to the light beam of the four-pointed star-shaped pressed portion 15 is provided. One taper-shaped protrusion of the adjacent pressed part 15 is inserted. Thereby, each embossing convex part 11a is provided in the peripheral surface of the male roller 11 so that each embossed part 15 can be embossed, and each embossing recessed part 12a is female. It is provided on the peripheral surface of the mold roller 12.

  Accordingly, the stamped receipt paper 5 is lined up along the moving direction of the receipt paper 5 (indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 3) in each of the embossed pressing portions 15 intricately illustrated in FIG. The rows of the respective mold pressing portions 15 (typically, only one row is indicated by the symbol X) and the rows of the respective mold pressing portions 15 arranged along the width direction of the receipt paper 5 (typically, only one row is denoted by the symbol). Each embossing convex portion 11a is provided on the peripheral surface of the male roller 11 so that the embossing can be performed in a state of being obliquely intersected with the moving direction of the receipt paper 5 respectively. In addition, each embossing recess 12 a is provided on the peripheral surface of the female roller 12.

  In addition, the edges of the embossing protrusions 11a and the embossing depressions 12a are not right angles, but rounded, specifically, a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction in which the edges extend is a part of a circle or ellipse. The radius is 0.2 mm, for example. Instead of this, a chamfered edge that becomes a 45-degree inclined surface may be used. By rounding in this way, as shown in FIG. 4, corners 15c of the stamped portion 15 (some corners also serve as the edges 15a) are rounded. For this reason, it is preferable in that printing information can be prevented from being difficult to read and the corner portion 15c can be prevented from being damaged due to excessive damage.

  In the warp correction unit 4, the printed receipt paper 5 that passes through the warp correction unit 4 is covered with a stamping convex portion 11 a of the male roller 11 and a stamping concave portion 12 a of the female roller 12. The embossing part 15 can be provided in an array pattern having a predetermined regularity. As a result, the printer 1 having the warp correction unit 4 corrects the warp of the receipt paper 5 printed by the printing unit 3 to a flat state and discharges it from the paper discharge port 10. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the edges 15 a of a large number of star-shaped pressed portions 15 attached to the receipt paper 5 by the warp correction section 4 are continuously aligned in all directions along the surface of the receipt paper 5. Each pressed part 15 is provided in an unaligned arrangement. Correspondingly, naturally, the ground pattern 5a formed by the ground of the sheet between the pressed portions 15 is also formed so as not to continuously extend in a straight line in all directions along the surface of the receipt paper 5. In addition, as a result of the above, when the edge 15a of the geometrically shaped mold pressing part 15 is projected in all directions such as vertical, horizontal, and diagonal, a plurality of other mold pressing parts 15 at all projection positions. Each of the mold pressing portions 15 is provided so that the edge 15a is always positioned so as to intersect the projection direction.

  In this way, the edges 15a of the respective pressed portions 15 are divided by the ground pattern 5a and are not arranged in a straight line, and the ground pattern 5a is also obstructed by the pressed portions 15 and does not continuously extend in a straight line. The warp of the receipt paper 5 along all directions is corrected. Further, as described above, since a plurality of edges 15a of the plurality of mold pressing portions 15 always intersect with each other in the projection direction of each edge 15a, a direction in which these edges 15a intersect at right angles to the straight line. Resistant to warping.

  Therefore, warp in all directions of the receipt paper 5 that has been warped in advance can be corrected by passing the receipt paper 5 through the warp correction unit 4 and embossing the receipt paper 5.

  The warp correction unit 4 forms each of the mold pressing portions 15 having the above-described arrangement pattern with respect to the receipt paper 5 higher than the thickness of the receipt paper 5, in other words, deeper. 15, the waist of the receipt paper 5 can be strengthened. In addition, since the intermittent star-shaped pressed portions 15a are intertwined as described above, a large number of pressed portions 15 can be arranged with high density with respect to the entire area of the receipt paper 5. In addition, the shape of each pressed part 15 is increased, and the length of the edge 15a per unit area can be increased.

  Thereby, the waist strength of the receipt paper 5 can be remarkably improved, and the rigidity necessary for maintaining the flat state of the receipt paper 5 after embossing can be given to the receipt paper 5. Therefore, even if the receipt paper 5 has a strong curl, it is possible to reliably prevent the warp from returning over time after correction.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the shape of the embossing convex portion of the male roller and the embossing concave portion of the female roller. A description will be given below with reference to the first embodiment, and a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The receipt paper 5 printed by the printer 1 of the second embodiment and passed through the warp correction unit 4 has a star shape different from that of the first embodiment, for example, a five-pointed star pressed portion 15 on the entire surface thereof. Are attached in the same arrangement pattern as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the shape of many embossing convex parts 11a provided on the peripheral surface of the male roller 11 and the embossing concave part 12a provided on the peripheral surface of the female roller 12 is a pentagram shape. . Except this point, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Therefore, also in the second embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained to solve the problem of the present invention, and the warp in all directions of the printed paper can be reliably removed. In addition, as a star shape which makes the geometric shape which makes the embossing convex part 11a and the embossing recessed part 12a, star-shaped regular polygons, such as a six-pointed star, a seven-pointed star, and an eight-pointed star, can be mentioned.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the shape of the embossing convex portion of the male roller and the embossing concave portion of the female roller. A description will be given below with reference to the first embodiment, and a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The receipt paper 5 printed by the printer 1 of the third embodiment and passed through the warp correction section 4 has an arrangement pattern in which a large number of hexagonal, for example, regular hexagonal pressed parts 15 form a turtle shell pattern on the entire surface thereof. It is attached. Therefore, the shape of the many embossing convex portions 11a provided on the peripheral surface of the male roller 11 and the many embossing concave portions 12a provided on the peripheral surface of the female roller 12 form a tortoiseshell-shaped array pattern. It is a regular hexagon. Except this point, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, the edges 15a of the pressed portions 15 applied to the receipt paper 5 are divided by a ground pattern (portion drawn by a thick black line) and are not arranged in a straight line. Since it has a zigzag shape without extending continuously in any direction, the warp of the receipt paper 5 along all directions is corrected. In addition, as in the first embodiment, since a plurality of edges 15a of the plurality of mold pressing portions 15 always intersect each other in the projection direction of each edge 15a, these edges intersect perpendicularly with respect to the straight line. Resistance to direction warpage.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained to solve the problem of the present invention, and the warp in all directions of the printed paper can be surely removed. Moreover, the receipt paper 5 with the turtle shell pattern unevenness can obtain higher rigidity compared to the combination of comet shapes shown in the first and second embodiments, so that the warp after correction is returned. It is excellent in that it can be surely prevented.

  A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer according to the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the shape of the embossing convex portion of the male roller and the embossing concave portion of the female roller. A description will be given below with reference to the first embodiment, and a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The receipt paper 5 printed by the printer 1 of the fourth embodiment and having passed through the warp correction section 4 has a large number of hexagonal, for example, regular hexagonal ground patterns 5a on its entire surface, and an array pattern that forms a tortoiseshell pattern. The mold pressing part 15 is provided so that it may become. Therefore, the shape of the many embossing convex portions 11a provided on the peripheral surface of the male roller 11 and the many embossing concave portions 12a provided on the peripheral surface of the female roller 12 is a regular six that forms a turtle-shaped array pattern. The shape corresponds to the shape of the boundary between the squares, and corresponds to the zigzag shape that obliquely intersects the moving direction C of the receipt paper 5. Except this point, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the fourth embodiment, each pressed portion 15 applied to the receipt paper 5 has a zigzag shape without continuously extending in a straight line, and the ground pattern 5a is divided by each pressed portion 15 to be in a straight line. Therefore, the warp of the receipt paper 5 along all directions is corrected. In addition, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of edges of the other plurality of mold pressing portions 15 always intersect with the projection direction of the edge of each mold pressing section 15, so that these edges correspond to the straight line. Resistance to warpage in a direction that intersects at right angles.

  Therefore, also in the fourth embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment is obtained to solve the problem of the present invention, and the warp in all directions of the printed paper can be reliably removed. Moreover, the receipt paper 5 with the turtle shell pattern unevenness can obtain higher rigidity compared to the combination of comet shapes shown in the first and second embodiments, so that the warp after correction is returned. It is excellent in that it can be surely prevented.

  A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer according to the fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the shape of the embossing convex portion of the male roller and the embossing concave portion of the female roller. A description will be given below with reference to the first embodiment, and a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The receipt paper 5 printed by the printer 1 of the fifth embodiment and passed through the warp correction section 4 has a continuous geometric shape, for example, a waveform, specifically a zigzag saw tooth on the entire surface. A large number of pressed parts 15 having a shape are provided. Each mold pressing portion 15 is provided such that, for example, the direction in which the waveform continues is matched with the movement direction of the receipt paper 5, and the mold pressing portions 15 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the receipt paper 5 The sharply bent portion formed by one of the pressed portions is provided in an array pattern in which the V-shaped recessed portion formed by the other pressed portion is inserted. Therefore, a large number of embossed convex portions 11a are provided on the peripheral surface of the male roller 11 and a large number of embossed concave portions 12a are provided on the peripheral surface of the female roller 12 so that this arrangement pattern can be formed. These shapes are waveforms corresponding to the arrangement pattern. Except this point, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the fifth embodiment, since the pressed portions 15 and the ground pattern 5a imparted to the waveform on the receipt paper 5 are not arranged in a straight line due to the mutual presence, the warp of the receipt paper 5 along all directions is corrected. Is done. In addition, as in the first embodiment, since the plurality of other mold pressing portions 15 always intersect with each other in the projection direction of each mold pressing portion 15, each of the mold pressing portions 15 corresponds to the straight line. Resistance to warpage in a direction that intersects at right angles.

  Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the same operation as that of the first embodiment is obtained to solve the problem of the present invention, and the warp in all directions of the printed paper can be surely removed.

  In addition, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said each embodiment. For example, in the first, second, and fifth embodiments, the embossed convex portions are such that the relationship between the stamped portion and the ground pattern is opposite as exemplified in the third and fourth embodiments. 11a and the embossing recessed part 12a can also be provided.

  In addition, the male roller 11 and the female roller 12 are, for example, arranged in such a manner that one end of a rectangle whose long piece is twice as long as the short piece intersects one end of another similar rectangle at a right angle. The embossed convex part 11a and the embossed concave part of the same arrangement pattern are formed so as to form an embossed pattern corresponding to a so-called arrow feather structure, which is an arrangement pattern in which a plurality of arrangements are arranged in a row in a continuous or non-continuous manner. 12a can also be provided.

  Further, in the present invention, the shape of the embossing convex portion 11a and the embossing concave portion 12a is not limited to a continuous or discontinuous geometric shape as shown in each of the above-described embodiments. A symbol such as a mark may be used. Furthermore, the embossing element of the corresponding unevenness | corrugation should be added to the male roller 11 and the female roller 12 so that a symbol, such as a mark, may be stamped into the geometrically shaped stamped portion. You can also.

  The present invention can also be applied to a printer having a configuration in which printing is performed on a sheet other than roll paper, and a bending wrinkle is applied to the printed sheet in association with the printing.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a warp correction unit included in the printer apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a sheet embossed by a warp correction unit in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 in a perspective view. The top view which shows the paper embossed by the curvature correction part with which 2nd Embodiment of this invention is provided. The top view which shows the paper embossed by the curvature correction part with which 3rd Embodiment of this invention is provided. The top view which shows the paper embossed by the curvature correction part with which 4th Embodiment of this invention is provided. The top view which shows the paper embossed by the curvature correction part with which 5th Embodiment of this invention is provided.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 2 ... Paper feed part, 3 ... Printing part, 4 ... Warpage correction part, 5 ... Receipt paper (paper), 5a ... Ground pattern, 8 ... Platen, 9 ... Print head, 11 ... Male roller, 11a ... Embossed convex part, 12 ... Female mold roller, 12a ... Embossed concave part, 15 ... Embossed part, 15a ... Edge of the impressed part

Claims (3)

A paper feeding unit, a printing unit that prints on the paper supplied from the paper feeding unit, and a printed roller that is disposed on the downstream side of the printing unit and includes a male roller and a female roller and passes between them. A printer having a warp correction unit for embossing the entire surface of the paper,
Forming the embossed convex part of the male roller and the embossed concave part of the female roller so as to attach unevenness higher than the thickness of the paper to the printed paper;
Each of the embossed convex part and the embossed concave part is continuous or intermittent, and an edge of each embossed part attached to the printed paper that has passed through the warp correcting part is formed on the printed paper. The embossed protrusions are provided side by side on the peripheral surface of the male roller so that they are arranged in a straight line in all directions along the surface, and the embossed recesses are provided on the peripheral surface of the female roller. Side by side printer.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the embossing convex portion and the embossing concave portion is a star shape.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the embossing convex portion and the embossing concave portion is a tortoiseshell shape.

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