JP2012040772A - Continuous paper positioning device for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous paper positioning device for a printer that can position a continuous paper precisely and easily.SOLUTION: The continuous paper positioning device includes: a first holder 40 for holding one side of the continuous paper 10; a second holder 42 for holding the other side of the continuous paper 10 and capable of moving in a direction (X direction) crossing the delivery direction (Y direction) of the continuous paper 10; and a sagging detector (50, 52) for detecting the sagging degree of the continuous paper held by the first holder 40 and the second holder 42.

Description

  The present invention relates to a continuous paper positioning device for a printing apparatus.

  When printing is performed by setting continuous paper in a printing apparatus, it is necessary to engage feed holes formed along both sides of the continuous paper with pins of a tractor on which the continuous paper is set. Since there are various sizes of continuous paper, in order to engage the feed hole with the pin, it is necessary to position the continuous paper by moving the tractor to an appropriate position according to the paper width of the continuous paper. . Conventionally, an apparatus capable of automatically positioning such continuous paper has been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-1877

  In the conventional continuous paper positioning device, the position where the tractor should move is determined in advance according to the format of the continuous paper. For this reason, it is difficult to accurately and easily position the continuous paper when the continuous paper to be set is curved, or when the sizes of the feed holes vary.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a continuous paper positioning device for a printing apparatus capable of accurately and easily positioning continuous paper.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a first holding means for holding one side portion of the continuous paper, and the other side portion of the continuous paper in a direction crossing the feeding direction of the continuous paper. A continuous paper positioning apparatus comprising: a movable second holding means; and a sag detecting means for detecting a sag degree of the continuous paper held by the first holding means and the second holding means. is there.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the degree of sagging is the degree of protrusion of the continuous paper with respect to a plane formed by the feeding direction of the continuous paper and the moving direction of the second holding means. It is characterized by including.

  The invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising notification means for notifying a result of comparison between the degree of sagging and a predetermined threshold value.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the sagging degree in a state where the continuous paper is held by the first holding means and the second holding means. Moving the second holding means in a direction in which the degree of sag is reduced from a position where is greater than a predetermined threshold, and stopping the second holding means at a position where the degree of sag is below the threshold. And automatic positioning means for executing the steps.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sag detecting means is provided on one of the first holding means and the second holding means, and the continuous A light emitting unit that emits light in a direction that intersects a paper feeding direction, and a light receiving unit that is provided on the other of the first holding unit or the second holding unit and that receives light from the light emitting unit. Features.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sag detecting means is provided between the first holding means and the second holding means, A slack imparting member that imparts a slack to the continuous paper and is movable in a direction penetrating the continuous paper; and a position detection means that detects a position of the slack imparting member;
It is characterized by including.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the continuous paper can be easily and accurately positioned based on the degree of sagging of the continuous paper.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the degree of sag of the continuous paper can be detected from the degree of protrusion of the continuous paper.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the operator can know the degree of sag of the continuous paper by the notification by the notification means.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the continuous paper can be automatically positioned at an appropriate position.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect the degree of sag of the continuous paper using the light emitting element and the light receiving element.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect the degree of sagging of the continuous paper using the sagging imparting means and the position detecting means.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a top view around the tractor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view around the tractor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for automatically positioning continuous paper. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view around the tractor according to the second embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing apparatus. The continuous paper 10 before printing is folded and stored in the hopper unit 20. A pre-transfer tractor 24 and a post-transfer tractor 26 are disposed before and after the image transfer drum 22, and the continuous paper 10 drawn out from the hopper 20 is held by these tractors, and the tension of the paper during transfer is increased. Maintained. A flash lamp section 28 for fixing the image is provided at the subsequent stage of the post-transfer tractor 26. A feed roller 30 for feeding the continuous paper 10 is provided following the flash lamp unit 28. The continuous paper 10 on which printing has been completed is folded and stored in a stacker portion 32 at the rear stage of the feed roller 30.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the periphery of the pre-transfer tractor 24 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, the width direction of the continuous paper 10 is the X direction, and the paper feed direction is the Y direction. The pre-transfer tractor 24 includes a left tractor 40 located on the left side in the feeding direction of the continuous paper 10 and a right tractor 42 located on the right side. The left tractor 40 and the right tractor 42 are connected to a shaft 44. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the position of the left tractor 40 is fixed, and the right tractor 42 is movable along the shaft 44 in the X direction (direction intersecting the feeding direction of the continuous paper 10).

  Paper feed holes 12 are respectively formed on both sides of the continuous paper 10. The left tractor 40 and the right tractor 42 are provided with paper feed pins 46, respectively. When the continuous paper 10 is set on the tractor, the paper feed hole 12 is engaged with the paper feed pin 46. At this time, the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10 can be adjusted by moving the right tractor 42 in the X direction. If the degree of sagging is too large, the continuous paper 10 tends to come off from the tractor. If the degree of sagging is too small (if the tension is too strong), the paper feed hole 12 may be broken. For this reason, it is preferable to adjust the position of the right tractor 42 so as to achieve an appropriate degree of sag.

  The left tractor 40 is provided with a light emitting element 50 that is a part of a sensor for detecting the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10. The right tractor 42 is provided with a light receiving element 52 which is a part of the sensor. The light emitting element 50 and the light receiving element 52 may be in opposite positions. A line connecting the light emitting element 50 and the light receiving element 52 is parallel to the X axis. As the light emitted from the light emitting element 50, light having an arbitrary wavelength can be used as long as the presence or absence of the continuous paper 10 on the optical axis can be detected.

  The light receiving element 52 is connected to a control unit 60 for performing various controls in accordance with the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10. The control unit 60 is connected to a notification means 62 for notifying the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10 to the outside. The notification means 62 includes, for example, an alarm that generates sound and a lamp that generates light. The right tractor 42 is connected to a driving means 64 for moving the right tractor 42 to an arbitrary position in the X direction and a locking means 66 for fixing the position of the right tractor 42. The driving unit 64 and the locking unit 66 are controlled by the control unit 60. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the right tractor 42 and the locking means 66 can be moved manually.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view around the pre-transfer tractor 24 and shows a state in which the continuous paper 10 is set. 3A shows a state in which the continuous paper 10 is slack, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the continuous paper 10 has an appropriate degree of sagging. Functional blocks including the control unit 60 shown in FIG. 2 are omitted. In the figure, the penetration direction of the continuous paper 10 (direction perpendicular to the XY plane shown in FIG. 2) is defined as the Z direction. Further, the detection line 54 of the sensor (light emitting element 50 and light receiving element 52) is indicated by a dotted line.

  A method for manually positioning the continuous paper 10 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the right tractor 42 is moved to the left side so that the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (the continuous paper 10 is set after the right tractor 42 is moved). May be) Here, the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10 is a concept including the degree of protrusion of the continuous paper 10 (the position in the Z direction) with respect to the plane formed by the feeding direction of the continuous paper 10 and the moving direction of the right tractor 42. In FIG. 3A, it can be seen that the central portion of the continuous paper 10 exceeds the detection line 54, and the degree of sagging of the continuous paper is greater than the threshold value.

  Next, when the right tractor 42 is gradually moved to the right side manually, the continuous paper 10 is pulled left and right, and the degree of sagging gradually decreases. When the degree of sag of the continuous paper falls below the threshold value (when the detection line 54 is not exceeded), the notification unit 62 notifies the user. Based on this notification, the user operates the locking means 66 to fix the position of the right tractor 42. Thereby, the continuous paper 10 is positioned at an appropriate position.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the continuous paper 10 is automatically positioned. First, the control unit 60 controls the drive unit 64 to move the right tractor 42 to the initial position shown in FIG. 3A (step S10). Next, the control unit 60 gradually moves the right tractor 42 in the right direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 3B) where the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10 is reduced (step S12). The control unit 60 sequentially determines whether or not the degree of sagging of the continuous paper 10 exceeds the threshold value (step S14). When the degree of sagging falls below the threshold value, the control unit 60 stops the movement of the right tractor 42 (step S16), and controls the lock unit 66 to fix the position of the right tractor 42 (step S18). Thereby, the continuous paper 10 is positioned at an appropriate position.

  According to the continuous paper positioning apparatus according to the first embodiment, the sag detecting means (the light emitting element 50 and the light receiving element 52) for detecting the degree of sag of the continuous paper 10 is provided. Thereby, the position where the tension of the continuous paper 10 is in an appropriate state can be detected, and the continuous paper 10 can be positioned accurately and easily.

  The second embodiment is an example in which the degree of sag of continuous paper is detected by a method different from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the tractor in the second embodiment. The components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, the light-emitting element 50 and the light-receiving element 52 described in the first embodiment are not provided. Instead, a slack is applied between the left tractor 40 and the right tractor 42 to add a slack to the continuous paper 10. A member 70 is provided.

  The sag imparting member 70 has a curved plane protruding in the penetrating direction (Z direction) of the continuous paper 10, and imparts a convex sag to the continuous paper 10 when the curved plane contacts the continuous paper 10. Further, the sag imparting member 70 is movable in the penetration direction of the continuous paper 10, and its position is detected by a position sensor 72 as position detecting means.

  Basic operations in positioning the continuous paper 10 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In the initial state of FIG. 5A, the center portion of the continuous paper 10 protrudes above the reference line 54 (corresponding to the detection line 54 of Example 1) by the slack imparting member 70. When the right tractor 42 is moved away from the left tractor 40 manually or automatically from here, the sag imparting member 70 is gradually pushed down by the tension of the continuous paper 10. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the position of the continuous paper 10 falls below the reference line 54, the sag imparting member 70 contacts the position sensor 72, and the degree of sag of the continuous paper 10 falls below the threshold value. Detected.

  According to the continuous paper positioning apparatus according to the second embodiment, the sag detecting means (sag application member 70 and position sensor 72) for detecting the degree of sag of the continuous paper 10 is provided. As a result, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to detect the position where the tension of the continuous paper 10 is in an appropriate state, and position the continuous paper 10 accurately and easily.

  In the first and second embodiments, the left tractor 40 is an example of a first holding unit that holds one side of the continuous paper 10. The right tractor 42 is an example of a second holding unit that holds the other side of the continuous paper 10. In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the continuous paper 10 is held by engaging the paper feed hole 12 of the continuous paper 10 with the paper feed pin 46 has been described. However, the continuous paper 10 may be held by a method other than the above. Good.

  The light emitting element 50 and the light receiving element 52 in the first embodiment, and the sag imparting member 70 and the position sensor 70 in the second embodiment are examples of sag detecting means for detecting the degree of sag of the continuous paper 10, respectively. Therefore, as long as the degree of sag of the continuous paper 10 can be detected, configurations other than those described above may be used.

  In the first and second embodiments, the continuous paper positioning device includes both the notification unit 62 and the driving unit 64. However, these configurations are arbitrary and may be configured without any one. In this case, the continuous paper 10 can be positioned only manually or automatically.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. It can be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Continuous paper 12 Paper feed hole 40 Left tractor 42 Right tractor 44 Shaft 46 Paper feed pin 50 Light emitting element 52 Light receiving element 54 Detection line 60 Control part 62 Notification means 64 Drive means 66 Lock means 70 Slack giving member 72 Position sensor

Claims (6)

First holding means for holding one side of the continuous paper;
A second holding means that holds the other side of the continuous paper and is movable in a direction crossing the feeding direction of the continuous paper;
Sag detecting means for detecting the degree of sagging of the continuous paper held by the first holding means and the second holding means;
A continuous paper positioning device.   2. The continuous paper positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sag degree includes a degree of protrusion of the continuous paper with respect to a plane formed by a feeding direction of the continuous paper and a moving direction of the second holding unit.   The continuous paper positioning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a comparison result between the degree of sag and a predetermined threshold value. In a state where the continuous paper is held by the first holding unit and the second holding unit, the second holding unit is configured to reduce the sagging degree from a position where the sagging degree becomes larger than a predetermined threshold. A step of moving
Stopping the second holding means at a position where the degree of sag is below the threshold;
The continuous paper positioning device according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic positioning unit that executes The sagging detection means includes
A light emitting unit that is provided on one of the first holding unit or the second holding unit and emits light in a direction crossing the feeding direction of the continuous paper;
A light receiving means which is provided on the other of the first holding means or the second holding means and receives light from the light emitting means;
5. The continuous paper positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the continuous paper positioning device is included. The sagging detection means includes
A slack imparting member provided between the first retaining means and the second retaining means for imparting slack to the continuous paper and movable in a direction penetrating the continuous paper;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the sagging imparting member;
5. The continuous paper positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the continuous paper positioning device is included.

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