JP2013063567A - Sheet feed mechanism, printer, and sheet feeding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the deflection of a sheet between a printing means and a sheet roll caused by an effect that the sheet is not returned along the circumferential surface of the sheet roll, thereby improving the reliability of feeding operations of the sheet.SOLUTION: A sheet feed mechanism includes: a first detection part 15 for detecting the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3 when the sheet 3b is fed from the sheet roll 3 on which the sheet 3b to be printed by a print head 8 is wound; a second detection part 16 for detecting the rotation speed of the sheet roll 3 feeding the sheet 3b; a center rib 17 which is disposed on the conveyance passage of the sheet 3b fed from the sheet roll 3 and regulates the position in the thickness direction of the sheet 3b back-fed toward the sheet roll 3; a moving mechanism 18 which moves on the center rib 17 with regard to the sheet 3b fed from the sheet roll 3; and a control circuit 19 which controls the moving mechanism 18 based on detection results from the first detection part 15 and the second detection part 16.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet supply mechanism for supplying a sheet from a sheet roll around which a sheet to be printed is wound, a printer including the sheet supply mechanism, and a sheet supply method.

  As a printer for printing on a label affixed to an article or the like, a printing mechanism for printing by a print head on a label sandwiched between a print head and a platen roller, and a sheet on which a plurality of labels are arranged are wound. A printer including a sheet supply mechanism that supplies a sheet from a sheet roll to a printing mechanism is known. The printing mechanism has a label position sensor that detects the position of the label supplied from the sheet roll, and performs printing on the label of the sheet based on the detection result of the label position sensor.

  In this type of printer, when a sheet roll is mounted on the printer and used, the label printing position and printing status are confirmed. In such a case, after printing on the label of the sheet supplied from the sheet roll, the label is once discharged from the discharge port, and the portion of the sheet having the printed label is cut from the sheet, and the label The print position and print status are confirmed. Thereafter, the sheet conveyed to the discharge port is fed back toward the sheet roll (hereinafter referred to as back feed), and printing is performed on the label of the sheet supplied from the sheet roll.

  The sheet feeding mechanism of the printer is arranged on the back surface side of the surface on which the sheet is printed when the sheet conveyed to the discharge port is back-fed toward the sheet roll, so that the circumferential surface of the sheet roll A center rib for regulating the position of the sheet returned along is provided. The center rib is disposed between the printing mechanism and the sheet roll in the sheet conveyance path, and regulates the position so that the sheet moving toward the sheet roll is not greatly separated from the peripheral surface of the sheet roll. Thus, it plays a function of guiding the sheet toward the peripheral surface of the sheet roll.

  When the sheet fed back toward the sheet roll does not return along the peripheral surface of the sheet roll, the sheet is bent between the printing mechanism and the sheet roll, and when the sheet supply is started in this state, There is a case in which a so-called page skip phenomenon occurs in which the sheet label of the bent portion is carried out without being detected by the above-described label position sensor, and printing is not performed on the sheet label.

  In addition, as a sheet roll used in a printer, an inner-winding sheet roll wound with the surface on which the sheet is printed facing inward, and an outer roll wound with the surface on which the sheet is printed facing outward. There is a rolled sheet roll. There has been disclosed a printer that can cope with both such an externally wound type and an internally wound type sheet roll (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Depending on whether the sheet roll mounted on the printer is an external roll type or an internal roll type, the position of the sheet pulled out from the sheet roll and the conveyance path differ. For this reason, the printer described in Patent Document 1 includes an outer winding center rib and an inner winding center rib. Depending on whether the sheet roll to be used is an outer winding type or an inner winding type, the user can However, the center ribs for outer winding and inner winding can be exchanged.

JP 2009-198115 A

  However, even in the printer described in Patent Document 1 described above, if the center rib is not exchanged depending on whether the sheet roll to be used is an external winding type or an internal winding type, the back is directed toward the sheet roll. The fed sheet may bend between the printing mechanism and the sheet roll and may not be returned along the peripheral surface of the sheet roll.

  Similarly, even if the sheet roll is replaced with a dedicated center rib depending on whether it is an outer winding type or an inner winding type, the winding diameter (diameter) of the sheet roll changes as the sheet is used. As the winding diameter of the sheet roll changes, the position of the sheet pulled out from the sheet roll and the conveyance path gradually change. For this reason, the relative position between the sheet pulled out from the sheet roll and the center rib changes, and the sheet fed back toward the peripheral surface of the sheet roll is not sufficiently regulated by the regulating member, but toward the sheet roll. The back-fed sheet may bend between the printing mechanism and the sheet roll and may not be returned along the peripheral surface of the sheet roll.

  Thus, when it does not return along the peripheral surface of a sheet roll, there exists a problem which the page skip phenomenon mentioned above will generate | occur | produce.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a sheet supply mechanism, a printer, and a sheet supply method that can solve any of the above-described technical problems. An example of the object of the present invention is to prevent the sheet from being bent along the peripheral surface of the sheet roll and to bend between the printing means and the sheet roll when the sheet is back-fed, and the reliability of the sheet supply operation. Is to provide a sheet supply mechanism, a printer, and a sheet supply method.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a sheet supply mechanism according to the present invention is a first for detecting a rotation direction of a sheet roll when supplying the sheet from a sheet roll on which a sheet printed by a printing unit is wound. Detection means, a regulating member that is arranged on the conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the sheet roll and regulates the position in the thickness direction of the sheet that is fed back toward the sheet roll, and a sheet supplied from the sheet roll Moving means for moving the regulating member, and control means for controlling the moving means based on the detection result from the first detecting means.

  In addition, a printer according to the present invention includes a sheet supply mechanism according to the present invention and a printing unit that prints on a sheet supplied from the sheet supply mechanism.

  Further, the sheet supply method according to the present invention is back-fed toward the sheet roll according to the rotation direction of the sheet roll when the sheet is supplied from the sheet roll on which the sheet printed by the printing unit is wound. A sheet supply method for moving a regulating member that regulates a position in a thickness direction of a sheet.

  According to the present invention, the regulating member is moved with respect to the sheet supplied from the sheet roll according to whether the sheet roll is an outer winding type or an inner winding type, so that the back feed toward the sheet roll is performed. It is possible to prevent the sheet to be bent between the printing means and the sheet roll and to improve the reliability of the sheet supply operation.

It is sectional drawing which shows the printer of embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet is supplied from an externally wound sheet roll in the printer of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet is supplied from an internally wound sheet roll in the printer of the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the printer according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 of the embodiment uses a sheet roll 3 around which a sheet 3b on which a plurality of labels 3a to be printed are arranged is wound. In the printer 1 of the embodiment, it is possible to use both the outer winding type and the inner winding type sheet roll 3.

  The printer 1 according to the embodiment includes a printing mechanism 6 that prints on a label 3 a on a sheet 3 b and a sheet supply mechanism 7 that supplies the sheet 3 b toward the printing mechanism 6. The printer 1 also includes a supply port 5a for supplying a sheet from a so-called fanfold paper in which the sheet is folded, and a discharge port 5b for discharging the sheet printed by the printing mechanism 6.

  The printing mechanism 6 includes a print head 8 as a printing unit, a cartridge mounting portion 9 on which an ink ribbon cartridge 11 is mounted, and a platen roller 10 that sandwiches the sheet 3b and the ink ribbon 11a between the print head 8. ing.

  The sheet supply mechanism 7 is a first portion for detecting the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3 when the sheet 3b is supplied from the mounting portion 14 to which the sheet roll 3 is mounted and the sheet roll 3 around which the sheet 3b is wound. A first detection unit 15 as detection means and a second detection unit 16 as second detection means for detecting the rotational speed of the sheet roll 3 that supplies the sheet 3b are provided.

  The sheet supply mechanism 7 includes a center rib 17 as a regulating member for regulating the position in the thickness direction of the sheet 3 b that is back-fed toward the sheet roll 3, and the thickness direction of the sheet 3 b supplied from the sheet roll 3. On the other hand, the moving mechanism 18 as a moving means for moving the position of the center rib 17 and the control means for controlling the moving mechanism 18 based on the detection results from the first and second detection units 15 and 16. And a control circuit 19.

  The first detection unit 15 includes a detection lever 15a that rotates integrally with the sheet roll 3, and a pair of switches 15b and 15c that are operated by the detection lever 15a. The detection lever 15 a is fixed to a rotating shaft that rotates integrally with the sheet roll 3. As the switches 15b and 15c, mechanical or optical micro switches are used.

  The two switches 15b and 15c are arranged with their positions shifted along the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3, and by identifying which of the two switches 15b and 15c the rotation is detected first, The rotation direction of the sheet roll 3 is determined. Based on the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3 when the sheet 3b is supplied, the control circuit 19 determines whether the sheet roll 3 is an outer winding type or an inner winding type.

  The initial position (home position) of the center rib 17 until it is detected whether the sheet roll 3 is an outer winding type or an inner winding type is a position that can correspond to both the outer winding type and the inner winding type, for example, It is set at a position corresponding to the inner winding type. Each time the sheet roll 3 is replaced, the center rib 17 is returned to the initial position by the moving mechanism 18 and stands by at the initial position.

  Note that after the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3 is detected once, for example, until the printer 1 recognizes that the sheet roll 3 has been replaced by an operation such as turning off the power or opening the cover, the sheet roll 3 is rotated. Accordingly, the detection lever 15a is detected by the switches 15b and 15c once per rotation, but is processed as it is without detection, that is, the switches 15b and 15c themselves output a signal, but ignore the signal. It is configured as follows.

  The second detection unit 16 includes a gear unit (not shown) fixed to the rotation shaft of the sheet roll 3, a detection gear 16a meshed with the gear unit, and a rotary encoder 16b that detects the rotation of the detection gear 16a. And have. The rotary encoder 16b has a rotating plate 16c fixed to the detection gear 16a and an optical sensor 16d that detects the rotation of the rotating plate 16c. The rotating plate 16c is formed with a plurality of holes arranged along the outer peripheral portion, and the outer peripheral portion is movably disposed between a pair of light emitting elements and light receiving elements constituting the optical sensor 16d. The rotation speed (number of rotations) of the sheet roll 3 is detected via the rotating plate 16c by detecting the passage and blocking of light by the rotating plate 16c by the optical sensor 16d. The control circuit 19 calculates the winding diameter of the sheet roll 3 based on the rotation speed of the sheet roll 3 detected by the second detection unit 16.

  Further, the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3 can be detected by using a rotary encoder of the second detection unit 16 that outputs two types of pulses having different phases. For this reason, a common rotary encoder may be used for the first and second detection units 15 and 16, and the configuration of the printer 1 can be simplified. In the case of this configuration as well, as described above, the rotary encoder detects whether the sheet roll 3 is the inner winding type or the outer winding type by detecting the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3.

  The center rib 17 is arranged on the conveyance path of the sheet 3 b supplied from the sheet roll 3, and the position of the sheet 3 b with respect to the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3 when the sheet 3 b is back-feeded toward the sheet roll 3. Is regulated so that the back-fed sheet 3 b is smoothly guided along the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3.

  A guide rib 21 for guiding the sheet 3 b is fixed between the print head 8 and the platen roller 10 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet 3 b with respect to the center rib 17.

  The moving mechanism 18 includes a rack 22 provided on the center rib 17 and a stepping motor 23 for moving the rack 22. In the stepping motor 23, a pinion 24 provided on a rotating shaft is meshed with the rack 22. The moving mechanism 18 moves the center rib 17 by moving the rack 22 by the stepping motor 23.

  Further, the moving mechanism 18 has an optical sensor 25 as third detecting means for detecting the position of the center rib 17. The center rib 17 is provided with a light shielding plate 26 in which a slit for detecting an initial position is formed. The light shielding plate 26 is movably disposed between the light receiving element and the light emitting element constituting the optical sensor 25.

  Further, the moving mechanism 18 is fed back toward the sheet roll 3 by moving the center rib 17 after detecting the winding direction and rotation speed of the sheet roll 3 (for example, when printing on the sheet 3b). The center rib 17 is moved so as to correspond to the sheet 3b. The control circuit 19 controls the moving mechanism 18 so that the direction in which the sheet 3 b is back-feeded toward the sheet roll 3 is along the conveyance path when the sheet 3 b is supplied from the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3. Thus, the sheet 3b returned to the sheet roll 3 is returned along the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3 depending on whether the sheet roll 3 is an outer winding type or an inner winding type.

  Further, the control circuit 19 moves so that the direction in which the sheet 3b is fed back toward the sheet roll 3 is directed to the vicinity of the outer side in the radial direction of the sheet roll 3 with respect to a tangent line that contacts the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3. The mechanism 18 is controlled. Thereby, at the time of back feed, the sheet 3b can be prevented from coming into contact with the sheet roll 3 to bend in the vicinity of the sheet roll 3, and the sheet 3b can be smoothly returned along the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3. If the sheet 3b returned toward the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3 is directed to a direction far away from the radial direction of the sheet roll 3, the direction in which the sheet 3b is returned by the center rib 17 is greatly changed. Although it is necessary, if a sufficient installation space for the center rib 17 cannot be secured, a direction change at a steep angle is required. In this case, even if the shape of the center rib 17 is sufficiently devised, the sheet 3b may collide with the center rib 17 and bend between the printing mechanism 6 and the sheet roll 3 to cause a page skip phenomenon. Therefore, it is not preferable.

  The center rib 17 is, for example, a first position and a second position corresponding to a change in the winding diameter of the outer winding type sheet roll 3, and a third position corresponding to a change in the winding diameter of the inner winding type sheet roll 3 ( It is configured to be movable in four steps including an initial position) and a fourth position. Of course, the center rib 17 may be configured to be moved to five or more positions. Further, the center rib 17 may be configured to be continuously movable in a stepless manner according to a change in the winding diameter of the sheet roll 3 as necessary. In this case, the position in the thickness direction of the back-fed sheet 3b can be more accurately regulated.

  In addition, the printer 1 according to the embodiment includes first and second label position sensors (not shown) for detecting the position of the label 3 a printed by the print head 8. A transmissive optical sensor is used as the first label position sensor, and the position of the label 3b is detected based on the difference in transmittance between the label 3a and the sheet 3b. As the second label position sensor, a reflective optical sensor is used, and the position of the label 3b is detected based on a change in reflectance due to a line printed on the back of the sheet 3b. For example, when a sheet that does not transmit light is used, the position of the label 3a can be detected by using the second label position sensor. One of the first label position sensor and the second label position sensor is selectively used according to the specifications of the sheet roll 3 used in this way.

  With respect to the printer 1 configured as described above, an operation for changing the position of the center rib 17 in accordance with the change in the rotation direction and the winding diameter of the sheet roll 3 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet 3b is supplied from the externally wound sheet roll 3 in the printer 1 of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the sheet 3b is supplied from the internally wound sheet roll 3 in the printer 1 according to the embodiment.

  First, when the external roll type sheet roll 3 is used, the printer 1 rotates the sheet roll 3 in the direction of arrow A when supplying the sheet 3b as shown in FIG. Detected by. The second detection unit 16 detects the rotation speed of the sheet roll 3 that supplies the sheet 3b.

  The control circuit 19 moves the center rib 17 by the moving mechanism 18 based on the detection results of the first detection unit 15 and the second detection unit 16. The center rib 17 is moved from the initial position by the moving mechanism 18 to the first position corresponding to the outer wound sheet roll 3 having a large diameter immediately after the start of use, out of the two positions corresponding to the outer wound sheet roll 3. Moved to. The second detection unit 16 continues to detect the rotation speed of the sheet roll 3.

  Then, as the sheet roll 3 is used, the winding diameter of the sheet roll 3 changes, and the second detection unit 16 detects that the sheet roll 3 has reached a predetermined rotation speed or higher. At this time, the center rib 17 is moved by the moving mechanism 18 from the first position to the second position corresponding to the outer roll type sheet roll 3 having a small diameter.

  Next, as in the case of using the externally wound sheet roll 3, when the printer 1 uses the internally wound sheet roll 3, as shown in FIG. 3, when the sheet roll 3 is supplied, Rotation in the direction of arrow B is detected by the first detection unit 15. The second detection unit 16 detects the rotation speed of the sheet roll 3 that supplies the sheet 3b.

  The control circuit 19 moves the center rib 17 by the moving mechanism 18 based on the detection results of the first detection unit 15 and the second detection unit 16. By the moving mechanism 18, the center rib 17 is an initial position that is also a third position corresponding to the inner-wound sheet roll 3 having a large diameter immediately after the start of use, out of two positions corresponding to the inner-wound sheet roll 3. To be kept. The second detection unit 16 continues to detect the rotation speed of the sheet roll 3.

  Then, as the sheet roll 3 is used, the winding diameter of the sheet roll 3 changes, and the second detection unit 16 detects that the sheet roll 3 has reached a predetermined rotation speed or higher. At this time, the center rib 17 is moved by the moving mechanism 18 from the third position (initial position) to the fourth position corresponding to the inner-wound sheet roll 3 having a small diameter.

  As described above, in the printer 1, when the sheet 3 b is conveyed from the sheet roll 3 toward the printing mechanism 6, the center rib 17 is moved by the moving mechanism 18 so that the sheet 1 is back-fed toward the sheet roll 3. The center rib 17 is moved in advance to a position corresponding to the sheet 3b. When the sheet 3b is back-fed, the sheet 3b abuts against the center rib 17 so that the direction of the sheet 3b toward the peripheral surface of the sheet roll 3 is regulated. The back feed of the sheet 3b is automatically performed by the control circuit 19.

  As described above, according to the printer 1 of the embodiment, based on the detection results of the first detection unit 15 that detects the rotation direction of the sheet roll 3 and the second detection unit 16 that detects the rotation speed of the sheet roll 3. Thus, the center rib 17 is moved. As a result, the center rib 17 is automatically and appropriately adapted to the sheet 3b depending on whether the sheet roll 3 is an outer winding type or an inner winding type or according to a change in the winding diameter of the sheet roll 3. Moved to. Therefore, regardless of whether the sheet roll 3 is an outer winding type or an inner winding type, and regardless of a change in the winding diameter of the sheet roll 3, the sheet 3b that is back-fed toward the sheet roll 3 has a printing mechanism. 6 and the sheet roll 3 can be prevented from being bent. As a result, according to the printer 1 of the embodiment, even when the back feed of the sheet 3b is performed, it is possible to prevent the page skip of the sheet 3b, and the reliability of the supply operation of the sheet 3b is improved. can do.

  Further, according to the printer 1, it is not necessary to replace the center rib depending on whether the sheet roll 3 is an outer winding type or an inner winding type, so that the convenience of the printer 1 can be improved.

  The printer 1 of the present embodiment is configured to move the center rib 17 based on the detection results of the first detection unit 15 and the second detection unit 16, but only the first detection unit 15. The sheet 3b that is back-fed toward the sheet roll 3 can be prevented from being bent between the printing mechanism 6 and the sheet roll 3.

  Further, in the printer of the embodiment, the sheet roll 3 on which the sheet 3b in which a plurality of labels 3a are arranged is wound is used as the sheet roll 3, but the sheet to be directly printed by the print head is wound. A sheet roll may be used. Even in this case, when the sheet is back-feeded toward the sheet roll, the effect that the sheet can be smoothly wound around the peripheral surface of the sheet roll without bending is obtained in the same manner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 3 Sheet roll 3a Label 3b Sheet 8 Print head 15 1st detection part 16 2nd detection part 17 Center rib 18 Movement mechanism 19 Control circuit

Claims (9)

First detection means for detecting a rotation direction of the sheet roll when the sheet is supplied from a sheet roll wound with a sheet to be printed by the printing means;
A regulating member that is disposed on a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the sheet roll and regulates a position in the thickness direction of the sheet that is back-fed toward the sheet roll;
Moving means for moving the regulating member with respect to the sheet supplied from the sheet roll;
Control means for controlling the moving means based on a detection result from the first detecting means;
A sheet supply mechanism comprising: A second detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the sheet roll for supplying the sheet;
The sheet supply mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the moving unit based on a detection result from the second detection unit.   The sheet supply mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit are a common rotary encoder.   The sheet feeding mechanism according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the moving unit continuously moves the regulating member in accordance with a change in the diameter of the sheet roll. The moving means moves the regulating member so as to correspond to the sheet back-feeded toward the sheet roll,
The said control means controls the said moving means so that the direction which back feeds the said sheet | seat toward the said sheet roll follows the conveyance path | route when supplying the said sheet | seat from the surrounding surface of the said sheet roll. The sheet supply mechanism according to any one of 1 to 4. The moving means moves the regulating member so as to correspond to the sheet that is back-fed toward the sheet roll,
The control means moves the moving means so that a direction in which the sheet is back-feeded toward the sheet roll is directed to an outer vicinity in a radial direction of the sheet roll with respect to a tangent line that is in contact with a peripheral surface of the sheet roll. The sheet feeding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding mechanism is controlled. The sheet supply mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
And a printing unit that prints on the sheet supplied from the sheet supply mechanism.   According to the rotation direction of the sheet roll when the sheet is fed from the sheet roll on which the sheet printed by the printing unit is wound, the position in the thickness direction of the sheet that is back-fed toward the sheet roll is determined. A sheet supply method for moving a regulating member to be regulated.   The sheet supply method according to claim 8, wherein the regulating member is moved according to a rotation speed of the sheet roll that supplies the sheet.

Images