JP2013052619A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bar code printer that can print on both faces of a recording medium by printing of thermal transfer of ink of an ink ribbon.SOLUTION: A printing apparatus of the embodiment includes: a transport mechanism, a first printing mechanism, and a second printing mechanism. The transport mechanism transports the recording medium. The first printing mechanism prints on a first printing surface of the recording medium transported by the transport mechanism by thermal transfer of the ink of the ink ribbon. The second printing mechanism prints on a second printing surface that is the other side of the first printing surface of the recording medium transported by the transport mechanism by thermal transfer of the ink of the ink ribbon.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a printing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a barcode printer that prints a barcode on a recording medium such as a receipt by thermally transferring ink of an ink ribbon is known.

  However, in a conventional barcode printer, printing can be performed only on one side of a recording medium. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a barcode printer that can print on both sides of a recording medium by printing by thermally transferring the ink on the ink ribbon.

  The printing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a transport mechanism, a first printing mechanism, and a second printing mechanism. The transport mechanism transports a recording medium. The first printing mechanism prints on the first printing surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism by thermally transferring the ink of the ink ribbon. The second printing mechanism performs printing on a second printing surface opposite to the first printing surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism by thermally transferring the ink of the ink ribbon.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration in the housing of the printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge for printing on the first printing surface of the recording paper. FIG. 4 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the first print surface of the recording paper when the second unit is in the open position with respect to the first unit. FIG. 5 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge for printing on the second printing surface of the recording paper. FIG. 6 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the second print surface of the recording paper when the fourth unit is in the open position with respect to the third unit. FIG. 7 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the first print surface of the recording paper when the second unit is in the open position with respect to the first unit. FIG. 8 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the second print surface of the recording paper when the fourth unit is in the open position with respect to the third unit.

  Details of the printer according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, as an example, the printer (printing apparatus) is configured as a thermal printer that prints on a recording medium by heating an ink ribbon and thermally transferring the ink to a recording medium such as paper.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a discharge port 32 through which printed recording paper M (recording medium) is discharged is formed on the front surface of the housing 20 of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. A control box 60 including various operation keys 40 and a display unit 50 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is provided on the left side of the front surface of the housing 20. Inside the control box 60, a control unit (not shown) that drives and controls each unit of the printer 1 is provided. The cover 70 is provided so as to be rotatable upward about a hinge 80 provided on the upper surface of the housing 20 on the control box 60 side. By rotating the cover 70 upward, the user can access the internal structure in the housing 20.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration in the housing of the printer according to the present embodiment. In the housing 20 of the printer 1, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of ink ribbon cartridges 21 to 24, a recording paper holding shaft 25, a cutter unit 27, cartridge holding portions 28 to 31 and the like are provided.

  The housing 20 of the printer 1 has a bottom wall 20a and a vertical wall 20b perpendicular to the bottom wall 20a in the housing 20. A paper roll holding shaft 25, a cutter unit 27, cartridge holding portions 28 to 31 and the like are attached to the vertical wall 20b in a posture substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall 20b. The control box 60 on the back side of the vertical wall 20b accommodates the above-described control unit, a motor (not shown) for driving the ink ribbon cartridges 21 to 24, the cutter unit 27, and the like.

  The paper roll holding shaft 25 holds a paper roll 26 formed by winding the recording paper M so as to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the printing surface of the recording paper M. Here, even if the paper roll holding shaft 25 is rotatably held on the vertical wall 20b, the paper roll holding shaft 25 is fixed to the vertical wall 20b and the paper roll 26 of the recording paper M is placed on the paper roll holding shaft. It may be configured to hold around 25. In the present embodiment, the paper roll holding shaft 25 and the paper roll 26 are not driven by a motor or the like, and the platen rollers 21e to 24e provided in the ink ribbon cartridges 21 to 24 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction TD are rotated. Thus, the recording paper M is pulled out from the paper roll 26 by the rotation (following) of the paper roll 26 of the recording paper M.

  The cartridge holding portions 28 to 31 have placement surfaces 28a to 31a that are substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall 20b and parallel to the bottom wall 20a, and the ink ribbon cartridges 21 to 24 are placed on the placement surfaces 28a to 31a. Deploy. Accordingly, the cartridge holding units 28 to 31 can hold any of the ink ribbon cartridges 21 to 24 in a detachable manner with respect to the printer 1.

  The ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22 are a first printing mechanism that prints on the first printing surface M1 of the recording paper M being conveyed by thermally transferring the ink (such as “black” and “red”) of the ink ribbons 21a and 22a. It is. In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22 include first units 21h and 22h (see FIG. 3) and second units 21i and 22i (see FIG. 3). The first units 21h and 22h include paper regulation mechanisms 21b and 22b, supply shafts 21c and 22c, take-up shafts 21d and 22d, thermal heads 21f and 22f, and the like. On the other hand, the second units 21i and 22i include platen rollers 21e and 22e.

  The paper regulation mechanisms 21b and 22b are guide members that regulate the movement of the recording paper M conveyed in the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22 in the width direction. The supply shafts 21c and 22c and the winding shafts 21d and 22d are shaft portions that are rotationally driven by inserting the ribbon rolls 21j and 22j. The ribbon rolls 21j and 22j are configured by winding strips such as the ink ribbons 21a and 22a around a substantially cylindrical winding core.

  Ribbon rolls 21j and 22j around which ink ribbons 21a and 22a are wound in advance are inserted and set on the supply shafts 21c and 22c. Further, winding cores for winding the ink ribbons 21a, 22a drawn from the ribbon rolls 21j, 22j set on the supply shafts 21c, 22c are inserted and set on the winding shafts 21d, 22d. The ink ribbons 21a and 22a are pulled out from the ribbon rolls 21j and 22j set on the supply shafts 21c and 22c by the rotation of the winding shafts 21d and 22d driven by a motor or the like, and are moved toward the winding shafts 21d and 22d. It is wound on the set core.

  While being drawn out from the supply shafts 21c and 22c and taken up by the take-up shafts 21d and 22d, the ink ribbons 21a and 22a are disposed so as to face the thermal heads 21f and 22f and the thermal heads 21f and 22f together with the recording paper M. Nipped between the platen rollers 21e and 22e. When the ink ribbons 21a and 22a are sandwiched between the thermal heads 21f and 22f and the platen rollers 21e and 22e, the printer 1 heats the thermal heads 21f and 22f, so that the ink on the ink ribbons 21a and 22a. Is melted or sublimated. The printer 1 melts or sublimates the ink on the ink ribbons 21a and 22a, and thermally transfers a predetermined pattern (for example, characters, numbers, barcodes, graphics, etc.) to the recording paper M, thereby Printing on the printing surface M1 is performed.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the thermal print heads 21f and 22f and the platen rollers 21e and 22e constitute a first print mechanism that performs printing on the recording paper M with the ink ribbons 21a and 22a.

  The platen rollers 21e and 22e, the supply shafts 21c and 22c, and the winding shafts 21d and 22d are rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) or the like. In this embodiment, the platen rollers 21e and 22e, the supply shafts 21c and 22c, the take-up shafts 21d and 22d, a motor (not shown), and the like constitute a transport mechanism.

  Here, the mounting structure of the second units 21i and 22i with respect to the first units 21h and 22h will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge for printing on the first printing surface of the recording paper. FIG. 4 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the first print surface of the recording paper when the second unit is in the open position with respect to the first unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first units 21h and 22h are arranged around the hinges 21g and 22g provided between the first units 21h and 22h and the second units 21i and 22i. , 22h are provided so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction d. Thereby, the 2nd units 21i and 22i are attached to the 1st units 21h and 22h so that opening and closing is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operator of the printer 1 rotates the first units 21h and 22h in the upward direction d to move the second units 21i and 22i to the open position with respect to the first units 21h and 22h. As a result, access to the internal configuration of the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22 becomes possible, and the recording paper M can be set on the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the ink ribbon cartridges 23 and 24 thermally transfer the inks of the ink ribbons 23a and 24a (such as “blue” and “yellow”, which are different colors from the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22). This is a second printing mechanism for printing on the second printing surface M2 of the recording paper M being conveyed. The second printing surface M2 is a printing surface opposite to the first printing surface M1.

  In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon cartridges 23 and 24 include third units 23h and 24h (see FIG. 5) and fourth units 23i and 24i (see FIG. 5). The third units 23h and 24h include paper regulation mechanisms 23b and 24b, supply shafts 23c and 24c, take-up shafts 23d and 24d, thermal heads 23f and 24f, and the like. On the other hand, the fourth units 23i and 24i include platen rollers 23e and 24e.

  The paper regulation mechanisms 23b and 24b are guide members that regulate the movement of the recording paper M conveyed in the ink ribbon cartridges 23 and 24 in the width direction. The supply shafts 23c and 24c and the winding shafts 23d and 24d are shaft portions that are rotationally driven by inserting the ribbon rolls 23j and 24j. The ribbon rolls 23j and 24j are configured by winding strips such as ink ribbons 23a and 24a around a substantially cylindrical core.

  Ribbon rolls 23j and 24j around which ink ribbons 23a and 24a are wound in advance are inserted and set on the supply shafts 23c and 24c. Further, winding cores for winding the ink ribbons 23a, 24a drawn from the ribbon rolls 23j, 24j set on the supply shafts 23c, 24c are inserted and set on the winding shafts 23d, 24d. The ink ribbons 23a and 24a are pulled out from the ribbon rolls 23j and 24j set on the supply shafts 23c and 24c by the rotation of the winding shafts 23d and 24d driven by a motor or the like, and are moved toward the winding shafts 23d and 24d. It is wound on the set core.

  While being drawn out from the supply shafts 23c and 24c and taken up by the take-up shafts 23d and 24d, the ink ribbons 23a and 24a are disposed together with the recording paper M so as to face the thermal heads 23f and 24f and the thermal heads 23f and 24f. And the platen rollers 23e and 24e. When the ink ribbons 23a and 24a are sandwiched between the thermal heads 23f and 24f and the platen rollers 23e and 24e, the printer 1 heats the thermal heads 23f and 24f, so that the ink on the ink ribbons 23a and 24a. Is melted or sublimated. The printer 1 melts or sublimates the ink on the ink ribbons 23a and 24a, and thermally transfers a predetermined pattern (for example, characters, numbers, barcodes, graphics, etc.) to the recording paper M, whereby the second of the recording paper M is printed. Printing is performed on the printing surface M2.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the thermal heads 23f and 24f and the platen rollers 23e and 24e constitute a second printing mechanism that performs printing on the recording paper M with the ink ribbons 23a and 24a.

  The platen rollers 23e and 24e, the supply shafts 23c and 24c, and the take-up shafts 23d and 24d are rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) or the like. In this embodiment, the platen rollers 23e and 24e, the supply shafts 23c and 24c, the take-up shafts 23d and 24d, a motor (not shown), and the like constitute a transport mechanism.

  Here, the mounting structure of the fourth units 23i and 24i with respect to the third units 23h and 24h will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge for printing on the second printing surface of the recording paper. FIG. 6 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the second print surface of the recording paper when the fourth unit is in the open position with respect to the third unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fourth units 23i and 24i are arranged around the hinges 23g and 24g provided between the third units 23h and 24h and the fourth units 23i and 24i. , 24i are provided so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction e. Thereby, the 4th units 23i and 24i are attached with respect to the 3rd units 23h and 24h so that opening and closing is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the operator of the printer 1 rotates the fourth units 23i and 24i in the upward direction e to move the fourth units 23i and 24i to the open position with respect to the third units 23h and 24h. As a result, access to the internal configuration of the ink ribbon cartridges 23 and 24 becomes possible, and the recording paper M can be set in the ink ribbon cartridges 23 and 24.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the cutter unit 27 includes a fixed blade 27 a and a rotary blade 27 b that can reciprocate along the fixed blade 27 a. The cutter unit 27 rotates the rotary blade 27b while moving the rotary blade 27b in the width direction of the recording paper M with respect to the fixed blade 27a, so that the recording paper as a workpiece is cut by the fixed blade 27a and the rotary blade 27b. Cut M. Then, the recording paper M cut by the cutter unit 27 is discharged from the discharge port 32.

  In the present embodiment, a configuration in which two ink ribbon cartridges can be mounted on each of the upper side and the lower side in the housing 20 of the printer 1 allows a maximum of four ink ribbon cartridges to be mounted on the printer 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in order to make the printer 1 cheaper and smaller, it is possible to mount one ink ribbon cartridge on each of the upper side and the lower side in the housing 20 of the printer 1 so that the inexpensive and small printer can be mounted. 1 can be provided to the customer. Further, when there is a sufficient space in the housing 20 of the printer 1, a configuration in which three or more ink ribbon cartridges can be mounted on the upper side and the lower side in the housing 20 of the printer 1, respectively. The ink ribbon cartridge can be mounted on the printer 1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the ink ribbon 21a, 22a of the ink ribbon cartridges 21, 22 that prints on the first print surface M1 has the ink color (“black” and “red”) and the second print surface M2 printed. The ink ribbons 23a and 24a have different ink colors ("blue" and "yellow"), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ink color of the ink ribbons 21a and 22a included in the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22 printed on the first print surface M1 and the ink ribbons 23a and 24a included in the ink ribbon cartridges 23 and 24 printed on the second print surface M2. The ink color may be the same color.

  In the present embodiment, the hinges 21g, 22g, 23g, provided between the first units 21h, 22h (third units 23h, 24h) and the second units 21i, 22i (fourth units 23i, 24i) are provided. By using 24g, the second units 21i and 22i (fourth units 23i and 24i) are attached to the first units 21h and 22h (third units 23h and 24h) so that they can be opened and closed. Not what you want.

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, another mounting structure of the first units 21h and 22h (third units 23h and 24h) and the second units 21i and 22i (fourth units 23i and 24i) will be described. . FIG. 7 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the first print surface of the recording paper when the second unit is in the open position with respect to the first unit. FIG. 8 is a front view of the ink ribbon cartridge that prints on the second print surface of the recording paper when the fourth unit is in the open position with respect to the third unit.

  In the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 7, the first units 21h and 22h and the second units 21i and 22i are connected by guide shafts 72 and 71, respectively. The ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22 separate the first units 21h and 22h and the second units 21i and 22i along the guide shafts 72 and 71 to bring the second units 21i and 22i into the first units. The units 21h and 22h are attached so as to be openable and closable.

  Further, in the ink ribbon cartridges 23 and 24, as shown in FIG. 8, the third units 23h and 24h and the fourth units 23i and 24i are connected by the guide shafts 82 and 81. The ink ribbon cartridges 23, 24 move the third units 23i, 24i to the third units 23i, 24i along the guide shafts 82, 81 by moving the third units 23h, 24h away from or close to the fourth units 23i, 24i. The units 23h and 24h are attached so as to be openable and closable.

  As described above, according to the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the recording paper M is transported by thermally transferring the transporting mechanism for transporting the recording paper M and the ink (such as “black” and “red”) of the ink ribbons 21a and 22a. Ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22 for printing on the first printing surface M1 of the recording paper M and inks of ink ribbons 23a and 24a (such as "blue" and "yellow") are different in color from the ink ribbon cartridges 21 and 22. ) Is thermally transferred to thermally transfer the ink of the ink ribbons 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a. Thus, it is possible to provide a barcode printer capable of printing on both sides of the recording paper M by printing according to the above.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 21-24 Ink ribbon cartridge 21a-24a Ink ribbon 21b-24b Paper control mechanism 21c-24c Supply shaft 21d-24d Winding shaft 21e-24e Platen roller 21f-24f Thermal head 21g-24g Hinge 21h, 22h 1st unit 21i, 22i 2nd unit 21j-24j Ribbon roll 23h, 24h 3rd unit 23i, 24i 4th unit 28-31 Cartridge holding part 71, 72, 81, 82 Guide shaft M Recording paper M1 1st printing surface M2 2nd printing surface

JP 2007-313849 A

Claims (6)

A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium;
A first printing mechanism for printing on a first printing surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism by thermally transferring ink of an ink ribbon;
A second printing mechanism for printing on a second printing surface opposite to the first printing surface of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism by thermally transferring ink of an ink ribbon;
Printing device with The first printing mechanism and the second printing mechanism each include a holding part that is detachably held,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first printing mechanism thermally transfers ink of a color different from that of the second printing mechanism to the recording medium. The first printing mechanism includes a first unit having a thermal head that thermally transfers ink of the ink ribbon to the recording medium, and a platen that is attached to the first unit so as to be openable and closable, and is disposed to face the thermal head. A second unit having a roller,
The second printing mechanism includes a third unit having a thermal head that thermally transfers the ink on the ink ribbon to the recording medium, and a platen that is attached to the third unit so as to be openable and closable, and is opposed to the thermal head. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth unit having a roller. The first printing mechanism attaches the two units to the first unit so as to be openable and closable by rotatably supporting the first unit and the second unit via a hinge portion.
The second printing mechanism has the four units attached to the third unit so as to be openable and closable by rotatably supporting the third unit and the fourth unit via a hinge portion. 3. The printing apparatus according to 3. The first printing mechanism connects the first unit and the second unit by a guide shaft, and the second unit moves along the guide shaft, thereby moving the second unit to the first unit. For opening and closing,
The second printing mechanism connects the third unit and the fourth unit by a guide shaft, and the fourth unit moves along the guide shaft, thereby moving the fourth unit to the third unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, which is attached to be openable and closable.   6. The printing according to claim 1, wherein each of the first printing mechanism and the second printing mechanism includes a guide member that regulates movement in the width direction of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism. apparatus.

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