JP2007197208A - Carrying roller pressure regulator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrying roller pressure regulator easily installable even in a limited space inside a device and capable of stably carrying even different types of printed media all the time. <P>SOLUTION: An elastic member 3 is stretched between a support plate 2 rotatably supporting upper carrying rollers 5 and a support frame 1 swingably and vertically provided with the support plate 2. By approximately horizontally sliding an operation part 4a of a carrying roller pressure regulating member 4 arranged on the upper face of the support frame 1, an inclined face-shaped claw part 4c of the carrying roller pressure regulating member 4 presses the upper end part of the elastic member 3 downward to press the support plate 2 downward. Due to this, the pair of upper carrying rollers 5 are pressed in a direction of a lower carrying roller 11 arranged below the the upper carrying rollers 5, so as to press label paper W positioned between the pair of upper carrying rollers 5 and the lower carrying roller 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveying roller pressure adjusting device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines have transport rollers appropriately disposed in the middle of a transport path for transporting a print medium.
In order to prevent unevenness in the conveying force, the conveying roller applies a uniform pressing force across the width of the print medium.

  For example, a conveyance roller shaft disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction, a tension plate that presses the conveyance roller shaft at a plurality of locations, and a tension spring that urges the tension plate toward the medium conveyance path. There is a medium transport device configured as described above. According to this medium transport apparatus, the print medium can be stably transported with a sufficient transport force.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-345793 (first page, FIG. 1)

  However, since the above-described conventional medium transport device has a configuration in which the tension plate protrudes in the horizontal direction from the transport roller shaft, a horizontal arrangement space is required, and in some cases, in a limited space in the device. In some cases, it was difficult to install.

  Also, by varying the force for pressing the transport roller against the print medium according to the type (material, thickness, etc.) of the print medium, different types of print medium can be conveyed more stably. Become. However, the above-described conventional medium conveying device adjusts the pressure of the conveying roller only by a configuration in which one end of a rod-like or plate-like tension spring is fixed and the other end is engaged with the tension plate to urge the tension plate. It was not configured.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a conveying roller pressure adjusting device that can be arranged in a space-saving manner. It is another object of the present invention to provide a conveying roller pressure adjusting device that can be adjusted to an optimum pressure and can shorten the adjustment work time.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to the present invention has the following technical means.
That is, the conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to claim 1 is provided so that the supporting plate swings toward the direction of the conveying path that conveys the printing medium and the supporting plate that rotatably supports the conveying roller. An elastic member stretched between the support frame and an operation portion that can be slid and fixed in a substantially horizontal direction on the upper surface of the support frame. And a conveyance roller pressure adjusting member that varies the elastic force.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to the first aspect, wherein the conveying roller pressure adjusting member includes an inclined surface-like claw portion that comes into contact with an upper end portion of the elastic member disposed at a fixed position. It is characterized by having.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to the second aspect, wherein a long hole through which the screw is inserted is formed in the operation portion, and the screw inserted through the long hole is screwed into the support frame. An internal thread portion is provided, and the operation portion is configured to be slidable and fixed in a substantially horizontal direction on the upper surface of the support frame.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a guide is provided in the operation portion, and a scale corresponding to the guide is provided in the support frame. To do.

  According to the conveying roller pressure adjusting device of the present invention, the elastic member is stretched between the supporting plate that supports the conveying roller so that the conveying roller can rotate and the supporting frame that suspends the supporting plate so as to swing. Therefore, there is no component that protrudes in the horizontal direction from the conveying roller, and therefore, it can be easily arranged even in a limited space in the apparatus. That is, the conveyance roller pressure adjusting device can be arranged in a space-saving manner.

  In addition, the operation portion of the conveyance roller pressure adjusting member disposed on the upper surface of the support frame is slid in a substantially horizontal direction, so that the conveyance roller is stretched between the support plate and the support frame that are rotatably supported. Since the elastic force of the elastic member can be varied, the print medium can be conveyed by pressing the print medium with the optimum pressing force according to the type (material, thickness, etc.) of the print medium. Even different types of printing media can be conveyed stably at all times. In addition, since the pressure can be easily adjusted to the optimum pressure, the adjustment work time can be shortened.

  Next, an embodiment of a conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The conveyance roller pressure adjusting device according to the present embodiment is exemplified as a suitable one incorporated in a label printer that prints a product name, price, etc. on a label. A pair of upper transport rollers 5 disposed above the label paper W and a lower transport roller 11 disposed below the label paper W are configured.

  The transport roller pressure adjusting device according to the present embodiment includes a support frame 1, a support plate 2, an elastic member 3, and a transport roller pressure adjusting member 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support frame 1 is a long, substantially box-shaped member that is formed in a substantially U shape in a longitudinal section with an open bottom and supports the above-described pair of upper transport rollers 5. The base of the support frame 1 is pivotally supported so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction around a support frame bracket 6 screwed into a frame m standing in the label printer.

  Further, the front portion of the support frame 1 is formed such that the upper surface of the front portion is bent downward and both side surfaces of the front portion protrude, and the lock member 7 having the locking claws 8 is formed between the both side surfaces. It is pivotally attached to a tie rod 9 erected on.

  Further, one end side (downstream in the conveyance direction of the label paper W) of the leading portion bent downward is cut out in a substantially U shape in a plan view to form a cutout portion 1a. An adjustment member 4 is arranged. Further, a linear scale 10 formed at a predetermined interval in the transport direction is provided at the edge (edge in the transport direction) of the notched portion 1a. The scale 10 may be formed by stamping the edge of the notch 1a, or a sticker on which the scale 10 is printed may be attached, and the mode is not limited.

  Below the support frame 1, a second support frame 12 that rotatably supports the lower conveyance roller 11 is disposed, and the above-described locking holes 12 a formed in the wall surface of the second support frame 12 are described above. The locking claw 8 of the lock member 7 is engaged so as to be detachable.

  The lock member 7 is pressed by a torsion coil spring (not shown) so that the locking claw 8 is always engaged with the locking hole 12a, and the lock member 7 is kept pressed while the top of the lock member 7 is pressed. The locking claw 8 is released from the locking hole 12a and the locked state is released by rotating the handle portion 7a formed at the lower part of the front wall surface.

  By releasing the locked state by the lock member 7 and rotating the support frame 1 upward, the upper transport roller 5 and the lower transport roller 11 are opened and closed so as to be separated from each other. The paper W is set.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support plate 2 includes a holding portion 2 c that is extended from the vertical surface portion 2 b so that the flat surface portion 2 a projects outward, and is formed in a substantially L shape. The connecting rods 13 are constructed so as to be opposed to each other so that the two b faces each other and to connect one end of each of the upper surfaces of the upright portions 2b.

  In addition, a pair of upper conveying rollers 5 are supported on the upright surface portion 2b arranged opposite to each other so as to be arranged in parallel, and further, a pair of plate-like support plate brackets. 14 is suspended from the upper surface of the support frame 1 at a required interval, and a downstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the label paper W of the upright portion 2b rotates on a fulcrum shaft 15 installed on the support plate bracket 14. It is pivotally supported. As shown in FIG. 2, the support plate bracket 14 is suspended from the upper surface of the support frame 1 so that the fulcrum shaft 15 is positioned on the upstream side in the transport direction of the label paper W from the shaft center of the lower transport roller 11. It is installed.

  In the middle part of the connecting rod 13, latching portions 13 a are projected in a substantially horizontal direction with a required interval, and are formed in a substantially rectangular shape formed on one side surface of the corresponding support frame 1 in the longitudinal direction. The above-described latching portion 13a is loosely inserted into the latching hole 1b. With this configuration, the support plate 2 is prevented from drooping more than necessary around the fulcrum shaft 15 even if the support frame 1 is rotated upward to be opened.

  The elastic member 3 is a compression coil spring, and as shown in FIG. 2, the elastic member 3 is attached to the boss-like member 16 fixed to the substantially center of the flat portion 2 a of the holding portion 2 c disposed on the front side of the support frame 1. At the same time as inserting the lower end of the flat plate 2a, it is brought into contact with the flat surface 2a. In addition, an inclined bottom portion 17a that is suspended from the upper surface of the support frame 1 is formed at a required angle, and a convex portion 17b is formed at a position corresponding to the boss-like member 16 in the middle portion of the inclined bottom portion 17a. The upper end portion of the elastic member 3 is inserted into the convex portion 17b of the formed plate-like member 17 and simultaneously brought into contact with the inclined bottom portion 17a. As described above, the elastic member 3 is stretched between the flat portion 2 a and the plate-like member 17.

  The boss-like member 16 described above is also provided at the approximate center of the flat surface portion 2a of the holding portion 2c provided on the base side of the support frame 1, while being provided and supported on the base side of the support frame 1. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, the plate-like member 17 suspended from the upper surface of the frame 1 is disposed so that its tip passes through the center of the elastic member 3 formed of a compression coil spring. Further, these plate-like members 17 may be formed by cutting and raising the upper surface of the support frame 1 or may be configured as separate members. Further, instead of the compression coil spring, an elastically deformable member such as rubber may be used.

  The above example is a case where the pressing force of the upper transport roller 5 is the minimum. When the pressing force of the upper transport roller 5 is maximized, the upper end portion of the elastic member 3 is inserted into the convex portion 17b. In this state, it comes into contact with a claw portion 4c described later.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the plate-like member 17 disposed on the front side of the support frame 1 has a convex portion 17b on the upper conveying roller 5 side avoiding the center of the elastic member 3 made of a compression coil spring. The convex portion 17b is suspended from the upper surface of the support frame 1 so as to be disposed on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the label paper W from the axial center of the lower conveyance roller 11 so as to be arranged.

  The conveyance roller pressure adjusting member 4 is formed in a substantially inverted L shape such that the upper part of the substantially T-shaped plate member projecting in the left-right direction is substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. The operation portion 4a having a long hole 4b extending in the direction and the inclined portion 17a of the plate-shaped member 17 described above are formed at substantially the same angle as the tip of the vertical lower portion. And an inclined surface-like claw portion 4c.

  The transport roller pressure adjusting member 4 is disposed on the upper surface of the support frame 1 so that the operation portion 4a enters the inner side of the edge portion (edge portion in the transport direction) of the notch portion 1a, and the long hole 4b. The inserted screw 18 is screwed into a female screw portion 1 c formed on the upper surface of the support frame 1 and fixed to the upper surface of the support frame 1.

  Further, when the conveying roller pressure adjusting member 4 is fixed to the upper surface of the support frame 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the claw portion 4c is shaped so as to be positioned at the center of the elastic member 3 made of a compression coil spring. Further, when fixed to the upper surface of the support frame 1, a linear pointer 19 corresponding to the scale 10 is provided in the operation portion 4a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the conveying roller pressure adjusting member 4 is positioned on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the label paper W through the long hole 4b, a plate shape is formed from the inclined claw portion 4c. When the conveyance roller pressure adjusting member 4 is positioned on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the label paper W such that the inclined bottom portion 17a of the member 17 is lower, and vice versa. The conveying roller pressure adjusting member 4 is formed and arranged so that the inclined surface-like claw portion 4c is lower than the inclined bottom portion 17a. Even if the inclined claw portion 4c is lower than the inclined bottom portion 17a of the plate member 17, the upper end portion of the elastic member 3 is engaged with the convex portion 17b. The upper end portion is prevented from being detached from the convex portion 17b.

  In the present embodiment, the transport roller pressure adjusting member 4 is provided only on the front side of the support frame 1 as shown in FIG. 3, but may also be provided on the base side of the support frame 1. .

  Next, the conveyance roller pressure adjustment procedure of the conveyance roller pressure adjustment apparatus according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  In order to minimize the pressing force of the upper transport roller 5, first, the screw 18 is loosened, and the operation portion 4a of the transport roller pressure adjusting member 4 is slid to the downstream end in the transport direction of the label paper W as shown in FIG. Then, screws 18 are screwed in and fixed. By doing so, the inclined bottom portion 17a of the plate-like member 17 becomes lower than the inclined surface-like claw portion 4c, and the elastic member 3 has the inclined bottom portion 17a of the plate-like member 17 and the support plate 2. Is stretched between the flat portion 2a constituting the holding portion 2c. The pair of upper transport rollers 5 are disposed below the lower transport rollers by the support plate 2 being pressed downward about the fulcrum shaft 15 by the elastic force of the compressed elastic member 3. The label paper W positioned between the pair of upper transport rollers 5 and the lower transport rollers 11 is pressed in the 11 direction. The lower conveyance roller 11 is driven in conjunction with a rotation drive system, and the pair of upper conveyance rollers 5 rotate in association with the rotation of the lower conveyance roller 11 via the label paper W. The label paper W is conveyed with a predetermined pressing force applied.

  Next, when the pressing force of the upper transport roller 5 is maximized, the screw 18 is loosened and the operation portion 4a of the transport roller pressure adjusting member 4 is moved to the label paper W as shown in FIG. After sliding to the upstream end in the conveying direction, the screw 18 is screwed and fixed. At this time, the inclined surface-like claw portion 4c is lower than the inclined bottom portion 17a of the plate-like member 17, and the elastic member 3 constitutes the inclined surface-like claw portion 4c and the holding portion 2c of the support plate 2. The elastic member 3 is further compressed by stretching between the flat portion 2a. The pair of upper transport rollers 5 are disposed below the lower transport roller 5 by the elastic force of the compressed elastic member 3 so that the support plate 2 is strongly pressed downward about the fulcrum shaft 15. The label paper W positioned between the pair of upper transport rollers 5 and the lower transport rollers 11 is strongly pressed in the direction of the rollers 11.

  As a matter of course, the above example uses the minimum and maximum pressing force of the upper transport roller 5 as an example for convenience of explanation. However, the optimum pressing force corresponding to the type of printing medium such as the label paper W described above is used. In order to obtain the pressure, the conveying roller pressure adjusting member 4 is slid by a desired amount, and the height position of the inclined surface-like claw portion 4c lower than the inclined bottom portion 17a of the plate-like member 17 is adjusted. The pressing force of the upper conveying roller 5 is adjusted. At this time, the sliding amount of the conveying roller pressure adjusting member 4, that is, the above-described pressing force can be quantitatively confirmed by the pointer 19 and the scale 10.

  As described above, the conveyance roller pressure adjusting device according to the present embodiment includes a support plate 2 that supports the upper conveyance roller 5 so as to be rotatable, and a support frame 1 that vertically supports the support plate 2. The elastic member 3 is stretched between the upper and lower conveying rollers so that there are no components protruding in the horizontal direction from the upper and lower conveying rollers. Therefore, it can be easily arranged even in a limited space in the apparatus.

  In addition, the support plate 2 and the support frame 1 that rotatably support the upper transport roller 5 by sliding the operation portion 4a of the transport roller pressure adjusting member 4 disposed on the upper surface of the support frame 1 in a substantially horizontal direction. The elastic force of the elastic member 3 stretched between the two is varied, and the print medium is pressed with an optimal pressing force according to the type of the print medium such as the label paper W and conveyed. Therefore, it is possible to always stably convey different types of printing mediums.

  The transport roller pressure adjusting device according to the present embodiment has been described above. However, the above-described embodiment shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. However, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the conveyance roller pressure adjustment apparatus concerning this Embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1 (when the pressure of the transport roller is minimum). It is a cross-sectional plan view of the YY line arrow in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2 when the pressure of the conveying roller is maximum.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Support frame 1a Notch 1b Latching hole 1c Female thread part 2 Support plate 2a Plane part 2b Elevation part 2c Holding part 3 Elastic member 4 Conveyance roller pressure adjustment member 4a Operation part 4b Long hole 4c Claw part 5 Upper conveyance roller 6 Support frame bracket 7 Lock member 7a Handle portion 8 Locking claw 9 Tie rod 10 Scale 11 Lower conveyance roller 12 Second support frame 12a Locking hole 13 Connecting rod 13a Latching portion 14 Support plate bracket 15 Support shaft 16 Boss shape Member 17 Plate-like member 17a Inclined bottom portion 17b Protruding portion 18 Screw 19 Pointer m Frame W Label paper

Claims (4)

An elastic member stretched between a support plate that rotatably supports a transport roller and a support frame that suspends the support plate so as to swing in the direction of a transport path for transporting a printing medium. When,
An operation unit that is slidable and fixable in a substantially horizontal direction on the upper surface of the support frame, and a conveyance roller pressure adjusting member that varies an elastic force of the elastic member based on a slide operation of the operation unit. A conveying roller pressure adjusting device.   2. The conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying roller pressure adjusting member includes an inclined surface-like claw portion that comes into contact with an upper end portion of the elastic member disposed at a fixed position. .   A long hole through which the screw is inserted is formed in the operation portion, a female screw portion is provided in the support frame to screw the screw inserted through the long hole, and the operation portion is an upper surface of the support frame. 3. The conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the conveying roller pressure adjusting device is configured to be slidable and fixed in a substantially horizontal direction. The conveying roller pressure adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a pointer is provided on the operation portion, and a scale corresponding to the pointer is provided on the support frame.

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