JP2015009915A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress variation of a start position to a recording medium.SOLUTION: In a detection mechanism comprising: a shaft 501 which uses a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a recording medium 801 as a shaft center, and is rotatable centering on the shaft center; a sensor whose output varies according to rotation of the shaft 501; and a pair of sensor levers 111 a part of which is fixed to the shaft 501 while having a projection 601 which is another part positioned at a detection position, and which rotate the shaft 501 by displacing so as to retract from the recording medium 801 which passes through the detection position, a detection position of one sensor lever 111a is provided on an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 801 from a detection position of the other sensor lever 111b of the pair of sensor levers 111.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs a recording operation on a recording medium such as a slip.

  Conventionally, some printers that perform a recording operation on a sheet-like recording medium can accept insertion of a recording medium to be recorded from both the front side and the back side of the printer. Such a printer includes, for example, a detection mechanism that detects the tip position of a recording medium to be recorded and a print head that performs a recording operation, and drives the print head based on the timing at which the tip position of the recording medium is detected. To start the recording operation. In such a printer, the print head stands by at the home position on one end side in the width direction until the leading end position of the recording medium is detected.

  As a related technique, specifically, for example, a rotation shaft including a plurality of lever members attached at predetermined intervals along the width direction of the recording medium is used, and at least one of the plurality of lever members is used. When one lever member is engaged with the tip of the recording medium, the lever is rotated through the one lever member, and the sensor (optical sensor) is shielded by the shutter member as the rotation shaft rotates. Thus, there is a technique in which a plurality of types of recording media having different sizes are detected by a single sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-8647

  However, in the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, the plurality of sensor levers detect the leading end position of the recording medium at the same position in the recording medium conveyance direction. In a printer using such a technique, a recording operation is started when any one of the sensor levers contacts the recording medium.

  If the tip position of the recording medium inserted into the printer (the width direction of the recording medium) is inclined with respect to the transport direction, even the sensor lever provided at a position close to the home position is far from the home position. Even if the sensor lever is provided at the position, the recording operation is started when any one of the sensor levers contacts the recording medium.

  For this reason, the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 described above has a problem that the start position of the recording operation with respect to the recording medium varies due to the sensor lever that contacts the recording medium. Specifically, regardless of the position of the writing reference position on the recording medium relative to the home position, the recording operation is started when one of the sensor levers touches the tip of the recording medium. There was a problem that the starting position varied.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of suppressing variations in starting position with respect to a recording medium in order to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a printer according to the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium in a transport path from one side to the other side and from the other side to the one side. Detecting means for changing the output according to the presence or absence of the recording medium at a detection position interfering with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and recording on the recording medium in the conveying path according to the output change of the detecting means A recording unit that performs an operation, and the detection unit is configured to rotate about the axis centered about a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and according to the rotation of the axis A sensor whose output changes, a part of which is fixed to the shaft and another part is positioned at the detection position, and is displaced so as to retract from the recording medium passing through the detection position, A pair of sensor levers for rotating the recording shaft, and the detection position of one of the pair of sensor levers is upstream of the detection position of the other sensor lever in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. It is provided in.

  The printer according to the present invention is provided on the side facing the sensor lever with the transport path in between, and protrudes from both sides of the detection position in the axial direction toward the sensor lever. A projection pair is provided.

  In the printer according to the present invention, in the above invention, the position of one of the pair of protrusions is provided upstream of the position of the other pair of protrusions in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. It is characterized by that.

  According to the printer of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the variation in the start position with respect to the recording medium.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is A arrow directional view in FIG. It is BB sectional drawing in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer body. It is a perspective view which shows a detection mechanism. It is sectional drawing which shows the sensor lever vicinity in a printer. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) illustrating a recording medium detection operation; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) illustrating the recording medium detection operation; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) illustrating the recording medium detection operation;

  Exemplary embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the appearance of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 and 2, a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a casing 101. An operation panel 102 having a plurality of keys is provided on the upper surface of the casing 101.

  A front cover 103 is provided on the front side of the casing 101 (the lower side in the drawing in FIG. 2). The front cover 103 is pivotally supported with respect to the casing 101 on the lower side of the front cover 103. The front cover 103 rotates around a connection position with respect to the casing 101 to cover the printer main body 104 inside the casing 101 or to open the printer main body 104 to the outside.

  On the front side of the casing 101, a paper supply / discharge port 105 is provided. The printer 100 accepts insertion of a recording medium into the printer main body 104 accommodated in the casing 101 via the paper supply / discharge port 105. The printer 100 is a recording medium that is realized by a cut sheet provided with ruled lines or frames in advance via a paper supply / discharge port 105, or a slip formed by binding a plurality of the cut sheets. Accepts insertion.

  A paper supply / discharge tray 106 is provided on the front side of the casing 101. The paper supply / discharge tray 106 includes a pair of guide members 201 that hold a recording medium to be printed and guide a conveyance position of the recording medium. The guide member 201 is opposed to the recording medium in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, that is, the width direction of the recording medium. The interval between the guide members 201 can be adjusted according to the size in the width direction of the recording medium to be conveyed. About the structure which can adjust the space | interval between the guide members 201, since it is easily realizable using a well-known technique, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  A paper feed port (see reference numeral 300 in FIG. 3) is provided on the back side of the casing 101 (the upper side in FIG. 3). The printer 100 accepts insertion of a recording medium into the printer main body 104 via the paper feed port. The printer 100 accepts insertion of a long recording medium called continuous paper or the like through a paper feed port.

  Holes (sprocket holes) are provided at equal intervals along the length direction at both ends in the width direction of the long recording medium. As the long recording medium, a recording medium that can be cut can be used that is folded as a fold. Alternatively, the long recording medium may be wound up in a roll shape along the length direction.

  A recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 from the front side of the printer 100 through the paper supply / discharge port 105 is discharged from the paper supply / discharge port 105 to the outside of the casing 101. The recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 from the back side of the printer 100 through the paper supply port is discharged from the casing 101 to the outside of the casing 101.

  As described above, in the printer 100, the recording medium inserted from the front side of the printer 100 or the recording medium inserted from the back side of the printer 100 can be collected from the front side of the printer 100. . Thereby, the improvement of workability | operativity can be ensured.

  The printer main body 104 includes a transport mechanism 109 that transports a recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 in a predetermined direction, a recording unit 110 that performs a recording operation on the recording medium, and the like. The transport mechanism 109 transports the recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 from one side to the other side and transports the recording medium from the other side to the one side.

  In this embodiment, the transport mechanism 109 transports the recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 from the front side to the back side and from the back side to the front side. The transport mechanism 109 can be configured by a plurality of pairs of transport rollers 109a, for example. A plurality of pairs of transport rollers 109 a constituting the transport mechanism 109 are provided along the transport direction by the transport mechanism 109.

  A plurality of pairs of transport rollers 109 a constituting the transport mechanism 109 are provided along a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the transport direction by the transport mechanism 109. Among the plurality of transport rollers 109a provided at the same position in the transport direction and along the width direction, some of the rollers are connected by a shaft (roller shaft) 109b.

  The printer main body 104 includes a detection mechanism (see reference numeral 500 in the figure) that detects the presence or absence of a recording medium (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The detection mechanism detects the presence or absence of a recording medium at a detection position provided below the shaft that supports the conveyance roller 109a provided on the back side of the recording position by the recording unit 110 (see reference numeral 303 in FIG. 3). To do. The detection mechanism includes a pair of sensor levers 111 arranged such that a part is fixed to a shaft (see reference numeral 501 in FIG. 5) and another part is positioned at a detection position.

  The recording unit 110 performs recording by an impact method, for example. The impact type recording unit 110 includes an impact dot print head 110a and a platen 110b. The impact dot print head 110a includes a plurality of wire pins (not shown), and has a structure in which tips of the plurality of wire pins are arranged in a matrix. The plurality of wire pins can protrude independently to the platen 110b side.

  In the recording operation using the impact type recording unit, a recording medium and an ink ribbon are interposed between the impact dot print head 110a and the platen 110b. Then, a plurality of wire pins provided in the impact dot print head 110a are selectively struck to the platen 110b, and small dots (dots) are struck on the recording medium.

  The impact type recording unit 110 represents characters and the like by continuously ejecting small dots (dots) on the recording medium by a recording operation. In addition to characters, small characters (dots) launched by the recording operation by the recording unit 110 can represent characters other than characters. Since the impact dot print head 110a can be easily realized by using a known technique, the description thereof is omitted.

  The casing 101 further includes a power switch 112. The power switch 112 is operated to switch the printer 100 between an ON state (movable state) and an OFF state (non-movable state). Moreover, the casing 101 may be provided with various operation members that accept user operations, such as a paper feed knob (not shown). The paper feed knob rotates the conveyance roller from the outside of the casing 101 by rotating. Thereby, the recording medium in the printer main body 104 can be manually conveyed.

  3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. In FIG. 3, the printer main body 104 provided in the casing 101 includes a conveyance path 301 for conveying a recording medium to be recorded. The conveyance path 301 communicates the paper supply / discharge port 105 and the paper supply port 300. The impact dot print head 110a and the platen 110b constituting the recording unit 110 are arranged so as to face each other with the conveyance path 301 (the recording medium in the conveyance path 301) therebetween.

  The impact dot print head 110a is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating along an axis (head shaft) 302 having a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction by the conveyance mechanism 109 as an axis. It has been. A motor (carriage drive motor) (not shown) is connected to the impact dot print head 110a. The impact dot print head 110a reciprocates along the width direction of the recording medium by the driving force of the carriage drive motor.

  The impact dot print head 110a stands by at the home position while waiting for a recording operation. In the printer 100 of this embodiment, the home position of the impact dot print head 110a is the left end in the width direction (position of the impact print head 110a in FIG. 4) when facing the printer 100 from the front side. It can be a position.

  The platen 110b is provided to face the impact dot print head 110a over the entire range in which the impact dot print head 110a reciprocates regardless of the position of the impact dot print head 110a in the width direction.

  A plurality of pairs of transport rollers 109 a constituting the transport mechanism 109 are provided along the width direction of the transport path 301. Further, the plurality of pairs of transport rollers 109a are arranged so that the pair of transport rollers 109a face each other with the transport path 301 (the recording medium in the transport path 301) therebetween.

  Among a plurality of pairs of transport rollers 109a constituting the transport mechanism 109, the transport rollers 109a are provided at the same position in the transport direction by the transport mechanism 109, and above the transport path 301 (upper side in FIG. 3). The transport rollers 109a arranged on the same shaft (roller shaft) 109b are provided on the same shaft.

  The transport rollers 109a disposed below the transport path 301 are urged so as to abut on the transport rollers 109a disposed above the transport path 301, respectively. The pair of transport rollers 109a form a nip portion (see reference numeral 901 in FIG. 9) by bringing the outer peripheral surfaces into contact with each other. The recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 is nipped by a pair of conveying rollers 109a at the nip portion.

  Of the paired transport rollers 109a, a transport motor is connected to a shaft 109b that supports the transport rollers 109a disposed above the transport path 301 via a gear train (both are not shown). . The transport roller 109a disposed above the transport path 301 rotates when the driving force of the transport motor is transmitted to the shaft that supports the transport roller 109a and the shaft rotates.

  The transport mechanism 109 rotates the transport motor in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 109 a, thereby rotating the transport roller 109 a disposed below the transport path 301. The recording medium is conveyed by transmitting the rotational force of the conveying roller 109a to the recording medium. The conveyance direction of the recording medium can be switched by switching the driving direction of the conveyance motor and switching the rotation direction of the conveyance roller 109 a arranged above the conveyance path 301.

  The conveyance roller 109a disposed above the conveyance path 301 rotates by friction with the conveyance roller 109a disposed below the conveyance path 301 or a recording medium conveyed by the conveyance roller 109a. The conveyance roller 109a disposed below the conveyance path 301 rotates in the opposite direction to the conveyance roller 109a (conveyance roller disposed above the conveyance path 301) with which the conveyance roller 109a abuts.

  In the transport path 301, the transport direction of the recording medium by the transport mechanism 109 is the longitudinal direction, and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is the width direction. The width direction of the transport path 301 is further orthogonal to the thickness direction of the recording medium transported through the transport path 301.

  The transport mechanism 109 transports the recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 from the paper supply / discharge port 105 through the recording position 303 by the recording unit 110 to the back side of the recording position 303. Can do. In addition, the transport mechanism 109 passes the recording medium that has been transported to the back side from the recording position 303 or the recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 from the paper feed port 300, the recording medium again passes through the recording position 303, and It can be conveyed to the front side from the recording position 303. Thereby, the recording unit 110 can perform a recording operation on the entire recording surface of the recording medium.

  In the printer 100, when the recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 is discharged from the paper supply / discharge port 105 from the paper supply / discharge port 105, the conveyance direction of the recording medium in the conveyance path 301 indicates that the recording medium is the recording unit 110. Different before and after passing. If the recording medium inserted into the paper supply / discharge port 105 is before passing through the recording unit 110, the direction in which the recording medium moves from the paper supply / discharge port 105 side to the recording unit 110 side is the transport direction, and the paper supply / discharge port The 105 side is the upstream side, and the recording unit 110 side is the downstream side.

  If the recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 from the paper supply / discharge port 105 has passed through the recording unit 110, the direction in which the recording medium moves from the recording unit 110 side to the paper supply / discharge port 105 side is the transport direction. The recording unit 110 side is the upstream side, and the paper supply / discharge port 105 side is the downstream side. When the recording medium inserted into the printer main body 104 is conveyed from the paper supply port 300, the direction in which the recording medium moves from the recording unit 110 side to the paper supply / discharge port 105 side is the conveyance direction, and the recording unit 110 side is the upstream side. The paper supply / discharge port 105 side is the downstream side.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the printer main body 104. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the entire printer main body 104 is viewed from an oblique direction, and a state in which a part thereof is enlarged and viewed from an oblique direction. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the detection mechanism. 4 and 5, the detection mechanism 500 includes a shaft 501 that can rotate around the axis centered in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, that is, the width direction. The shaft 501 is supported by a rear frame 401 provided in the printer main body 104 at both ends in the axial direction.

  A detection piece 502 is provided on one end side of the shaft 501 in the axial direction. The detection piece 502 has a flat plate shape that protrudes in the radial direction (peripheral direction) of the shaft. The detection piece 502 is displaced as the shaft 501 rotates. When the shaft 501 rotates, the detection piece 502 moves on the circumference centering on the axis of the shaft 501 as the shaft 501 rotates.

  The printer main body 104 includes a sensor (not shown) whose output changes according to the position of the detection piece 502, that is, the rotation of the shaft. The sensor can be realized by, for example, a photoelectric sensor (not shown) that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and whose output changes according to a change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element.

  For example, the photoelectric sensor can be configured to directly receive light emitted from the light emitting element. In such a photoelectric sensor, a state in which an optical path is formed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element (a state in which the light receiving element directly receives light emitted from the light emitting element), and the optical path is blocked by the detection piece 502. As a result, the output changes depending on whether the amount of light received by the light receiving element has changed (decreased).

  In addition, the photoelectric sensor can be configured to receive, for example, light emitted from the light emitting element to the detection piece 502 and reflected from the detection piece 502. In such a photoelectric sensor, the output changes between a state where the light receiving element receives the light reflected from the detection piece 502 and a state where the detection piece 502 is displaced and the reflected light does not enter the light receiving element. Alternatively, in such a photoelectric sensor, the output changes between a state in which reflected light is not incident on the light receiving element and a state in which the detection piece 502 is displaced and the light receiving element receives light reflected from the detection piece 502. It may be a thing.

  The sensor can be realized by, for example, a micro switch (not shown) that opens and closes an electrical circuit contact according to the operation of the actuator and outputs an ON signal or an OFF signal. In this case, the actuator is provided so as to follow the operation of the detection piece 502 and open and close the contact of the electric circuit.

  The pair of sensor levers 111 is provided on the shaft 501. Each of the pair of sensor levers 111 is fixed to the shaft 501. The pair of sensor levers 111 are provided at different positions in the width direction of the transport path 301. The pair of sensor levers 111 are respectively provided at both end portions from the center in the width direction of the conveyance path 301 (axial direction of the shaft 501).

  Specifically, when facing the printer 100 from the front side, one sensor lever 111 a is positioned on the left side of the center in the width direction of the transport path 301, and the other sensor lever 111 b is the width of the transport path 301. It is provided so as to be located on the right side of the center in the direction.

  A guide member 503 is provided on the shaft 501. The guide member 503 is provided between the pair of sensor levers 111 in the axial direction of the shaft 501. The guide member 503 biases the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path 301 toward the bottom surface side of the conveyance path 301. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path 301 from floating from the bottom surface of the conveyance path 301 at the position where the sensor lever 111 is provided. As a result, the position of the recording medium can be made constant at the position where the sensor lever 111 is provided.

  A protrusion pair 402 is provided on the side facing the sensor lever 111 with the conveyance path 301 therebetween. Each of the protrusion pairs 402 protrudes toward the sensor lever 111 from both sides of the detection position in the axial direction of the shaft 501. Two pairs of protrusion pairs 402 are provided corresponding to each of the sensor levers 111 (one sensor lever 111a and the other sensor lever 111b).

  In the printer 100 of this embodiment, the detection unit can be realized by the detection mechanism 500 and a sensor whose output changes according to the position of the detection piece 502 in the detection mechanism 500. The detection means may include a protrusion pair 402 in addition to the detection mechanism 500 and the sensor.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the sensor lever 111 in the printer 100. FIG. 6 shows the vicinity of the shaft 501 and the sensor lever 111 when the printer 100 is sectioned at the CC position in FIG. In FIG. 6, the sensor lever 111 has a shape in which an end (tip) opposite to the side fixed to the shaft 501 is bent in a bowl shape.

  Specifically, the sensor lever 111 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 501 in the radial direction of a circle centered on the axis of the shaft 501, and bends toward the bottom side of the transport path 301 from the radial direction at the tip side. Further, a shape that is bent toward the top surface side of the conveyance path 301 is formed further on the tip side than the position bent toward the bottom surface side of the conveyance path 301.

  The sensor lever 111 has a protrusion 601 formed by further bending the portion bent toward the bottom surface side of the conveyance path 301 from the radial direction toward the top surface side of the conveyance path 301. The sensor lever 111 is urged by its own weight so as to abut against the sensor lever 111. In this embodiment, a portion of the sensor lever 111 that is bent toward the bottom surface side of the transport path 301 from the radial direction is further bent toward the top surface side of the transport path 301 by the projection 601. Another part can be realized.

  The protrusion 601 is positioned at the detection position. The detection position is provided at a position in the conveyance path 301 that interferes with the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 109. The detection position can be provided, for example, on the bottom surface 602 of the conveyance path 301 formed by the guide member.

  Since the sensor lever 111 is fixed to the shaft 501 on one end side, when the shaft 501 rotates, the sensor lever 111 is displaced on the circumference around the axis of the shaft 501 as the shaft 501 rotates. To do. That is, when the sensor lever 111 fixed to the shaft 501 is displaced (rotated) around the axis centered about the axis of the shaft 501, the shaft 501 is moved along with the movement (rotation). Rotate around the heart.

  The protrusion 601 in the sensor lever 111 is separated from the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301 when the sensor lever 111 is displaced (rotated) about the axis of the shaft 501. That is, the shaft 501 rotates around the axis when the sensor lever 111 is displaced (rotated) so that the protrusion 601 of the sensor lever 111 is separated from the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301 (clockwise in FIG. 6). (In the clockwise direction in FIG. 6).

  The protruding portion 601 of the sensor lever 111 is pushed up (pushed away) by the recording medium when the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 109 passes the detection position. The protrusion 601 of the sensor lever 111 is displaced so as to be retracted from the detection position (the bottom surface of the transport path 301) by being pushed up (pushed away).

  As described above, the sensor lever 111 is rotated about the axis along with the displacement of the protrusion 601 that is urged by the recording medium passing through the detection position and retracts from the detection position (the bottom surface of the conveyance path 301). By rotating, the shaft 501 is rotated, and the detection piece 502 is displaced via the shaft 501. Thereby, the output of the sensor can be changed, and the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position can be detected.

  By forming the tip of the sensor lever 111 into a bowl shape, a gap 603 is formed between the tip of the sensor lever 111 and the bottom surface of the transport path 301 on the front side of the protrusion 601. The gap 603 increases as the tip end of the sensor lever 111 increases, and decreases as the protrusion 601 approaches from the tip end side of the sensor lever 111. Thereby, the leading edge of the recording medium conveyed from the front side to the back side in the conveyance path 301 can be effectively guided to the detection position.

  Further, by making the tip of the sensor lever 111 into a bowl shape, it is on the back side of the protrusion 601 and in the vicinity of the protrusion 601, and between the sensor lever 111 and the bottom surface of the conveyance path 301. A gap 604 is formed. The gap 604 is smaller as the position is closer to the projecting portion 601, and larger as the position is farther from the projecting portion 601. Thereby, the front end of the recording medium conveyed from the back side to the front side in the conveyance path 301 can be effectively guided to the detection position.

  One sensor lever 111a is provided such that the protrusion 601 is positioned on the front side of the protrusion 601 of the other sensor lever 111b. That is, the detection position of one sensor lever 111a is provided upstream of the detection position of the other sensor lever 111b in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  In each sensor lever 111, the angle (hereinafter referred to as “angle X”) formed by the portion on the back side of the protrusion 601 with respect to the conveyance direction (horizontal direction) is the portion on the front side of the protrusion 601 in the conveyance direction ( It is larger than the angle (hereinafter referred to as “angle Y”) made with respect to (horizontal direction). By making the angle X larger than the angle Y, the tip of the recording medium inserted from the back side of the printer 100 can be reliably abutted against the sensor lever 111.

  Since the sensor lever 111 rotates together with the shaft 501 around the shaft center of the shaft 501 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6, the tip of the recording medium inserted from the back side of the printer 100 is reliably abutted against the sensor lever 111. Thus, the shaft 501 can be reliably rotated. As a result, the recording medium inserted from the back side of the printer 100 can be reliably detected.

  By making the angle X larger than the angle Y, that is, making the angle Y smaller than the angle X, the leading edge of the recording medium inserted from the front side of the printer 100 can be smoothly guided to the detection position. Thereby, the shaft 501 can be reliably rotated. Thereby, even when the recording medium is inserted from the front side of the printer 100, the recording medium can be reliably detected.

  As described above, two pairs of protrusion pairs 402 are provided corresponding to each of the sensor levers 111 (one sensor lever 111a and the other sensor lever 111b). For this reason, the position of one protrusion pair 402a facing one sensor lever 111a in the protrusion pair 402 is more in the recording medium conveyance direction than the position of the other protrusion pair 402b facing the other sensor lever 111b. It is provided upstream.

  7, 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing the recording medium detection operation. 7, 8, and 9, the sensor lever 111 and the projection pair 402 corresponding to the sensor lever 111 are viewed from the side (on the right side when facing the printer 100 from the front side). Is shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, when the sensor lever 111 is viewed from the side, each sensor lever 111 includes a protrusion 601 of one sensor lever 111a and a protrusion 601 of the other sensor lever 111b. Is provided in a state of being shifted back and forth along the transport direction. Specifically, each sensor lever 111 is provided such that the protruding portion 601 of one sensor lever 111a is positioned on the front side of the protruding portion 601 of the other sensor lever 111b.

  As a result, the protrusion 601 of one sensor lever 111a is positioned on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium when the recording medium is transported from the front side to the back side in the transport path 301. Further, the protrusion 601 of the sensor lever 111a is positioned on the front side of the protrusion 601 of the other sensor lever 111b, so that the protrusion 601 of the other sensor lever 111b is moved from the rear side in the transport path 301. When the recording medium is conveyed toward the front side, the recording medium is positioned on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  As described above, in the printer 100, whether the recording medium is transported from the front side to the back side or the recording medium is transported from the back side to the front side, it follows the transport direction. Thus, the protrusion 601 located on the left side facing the printer 100 is positioned on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the recording medium is not at the detection position, the protrusion 601 is in contact with the bottom surface 602 of the conveyance path 301. In this state, the protrusion 601 is between the protrusion pair 402 in the width direction of the transport path 301 and is sandwiched between the protrusion pair 402. The recording medium conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side (from the front side to the back side) in the conveyance path 301 is ahead of the contact position between the protrusion 601 of the other sensor lever 111b and the bottom surface 602 of the conveyance path 301. Then, it reaches the contact position between the protrusion 601 of one sensor lever 111a and the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the leading end 801a of the recording medium 801 reaches the detection position (the contact position between the protrusion 601 of one sensor lever 111a and the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301), the sensor lever 111a The protrusion 601 is pushed up by the recording medium 801 so as to be separated from the bottom surface 602 of the conveyance path 301. Thus, when one sensor lever 111a is pushed up, the protrusion 601 of the one sensor lever 111a moves so as to be pushed away from the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301.

  Thus, one sensor lever 111a rotates the shaft 501 to displace the detection piece 502 via the shaft 501 and changes the output of the sensor. Accordingly, it can be detected that the leading edge 801a of the recording medium 801 has reached the detection position (the contact position between the protrusion 601 of one sensor lever 111a and the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301).

  The shaft 501 starts rotating when the tip 801a of the recording medium 801 advances along the upper surface of the projection pair 402 and contacts the sensor lever 111a. Since the other sensor lever 111b has one end fixed to the shaft 501, when one sensor lever 111a starts rotating, the other sensor lever 111b rotates as the shaft 501 rotates.

  The recording medium 801 conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side (from the front side to the back side) in the conveyance path 301 reaches the bottom surface 602 of the conveyance path 301 along the upper surface of the projection pair 402 from the time when it reaches the projection pair 402. It is conveyed away from. The recording medium 801 that has reached the protrusion pair 402 is in a state of being stretched between the protrusion pair 402. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the slack of the sheet at the detection position where the sensor lever 111 and the recording medium 801 are in contact with each other.

  The recording medium 801 that has reached the protrusion pair 402 is further transported from the front side to the back side, so that the leading end of the recording medium 801 is separated from the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301 along the top surface of the pair of protrusions 402. Moving. Thus, the recording medium 801 that has reached the protrusion pair 402 moves while pushing up (pushing away) the protrusion 601 of one sensor lever 111a.

  As a result, the protrusion 601 of the sensor lever 111 is scooped up by the recording medium 801 stretched between the protrusion pair 402 at the detection position, and is pushed up (pushed away) away from the bottom surface 602 of the transport path 301. It is done. Thus, by providing the protrusion pair 402 at the detection position, the protrusion 601 of the sensor lever 111 and the recording medium 801 can be reliably brought into contact with each other, and the shaft 501 can be reliably rotated.

  The printer 100 includes a control unit (not shown) that drives and controls each unit included in the printer 100. The control unit can be realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, and the like. The control unit also includes an interface for communicating with a host computer that outputs print data to the printer.

  The control unit drives and controls the transport motor in a predetermined direction when receiving input of recording data output from the host computer. The driving direction of the transport motor can be specified based on, for example, a command included in the recording data that specifies a recording medium 801 that is a target of a recording operation based on the recording data.

  By driving the transport motor, the shaft (roller shaft) 109b rotates and the transport roller 109a rotates in a predetermined direction. When the control unit conveys the recording medium 801 inserted from the paper supply / discharge port 105 from the front side to the back side of the printer 100, the shaft (roller shaft) 109b rotates clockwise in FIG. Thus, the conveyance motor is driven and controlled.

  When the controller starts driving the recording medium 801 by driving the conveyance motor and then detects that the recording medium 801 has reached the detection position based on a change in output from the sensor, the impact dot print head 110 a is driven and controlled, and a recording operation based on the recording data for which the input has been received is started on the recording medium 801.

  In the printer 100, since the detection position of one sensor lever 111a is provided upstream of the detection position of the other sensor lever 111b in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 801, from the front side toward the back side. When transporting the recording medium 801, one of the sensor levers 111a always contacts the recording medium 801 before the other sensor lever 111b, and the shaft 501 rotates.

  In the printer 100, even if the angle of the leading end of the recording medium 801 with respect to the conveying direction is slightly deviated, variation in the start position with respect to the recording medium 801 can be suppressed.

  For this reason, in the printer 100 that starts the recording operation by the recording unit 110 based on the output of the sensor that changes according to the displacement of the detection piece 502 caused by the rotation of the shaft 501, the recording medium always has one sensor lever 111a. The timing at which the shaft 501 rotates by abutting on the recording head can be set as the recording start timing by the recording unit 110.

  Thereafter, when the recording operation based on the recording data is completed, the control unit drives the transport motor in the opposite direction to rotate the shaft (roller shaft) 109b to the opposite side to that during the recording operation. As a result, the conveyance roller 109a rotates to the opposite side to that during the recording operation, and the recording medium 801 is conveyed from the back side toward the front side.

  In the printer 100 according to this embodiment, the conveyance unit 109 includes a conveyance mechanism 109 (conveyance roller 109a and shaft (roller shaft) 109b), a conveyance motor, and a gear train that connects the conveyance motor and the shaft (roller shaft) 109b. Can be realized. Thereby, the recorded recording medium 801 can be collected from the front side of the printer 100.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 100 including the impact-type recording unit has been described. However, the recording unit 110 is not limited to the impact method, and may perform a recording operation using a non-impact method. Good. A non-impact recording unit performs a recording operation using, for example, a thermal method, a thermal transfer method, an ink jet method, a laser method, or the like. In this case, the recording unit 110 includes a printer 100 head corresponding to each recording method, instead of the impact dot print head 110a. Since the heat-sensitive method, thermal transfer method, ink-jet method, and laser (electrophotographic) method are known techniques, description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention transports the recording medium in the transport path 301 from one side (for example, the front side) to the other side (for example, the back side) and one side from the other side. A detection mechanism 500 for detecting the presence / absence of the recording medium 801 at the detection position by an output that changes according to the presence / absence of the recording medium 801 at the detection position, and a sensor associated with the operation of the detection mechanism 500 And a recording unit 110 that performs a recording operation on the recording medium 801 in the transport path 301 in accordance with a change in output.

  The detection mechanism 500 provided in the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a shaft 501 that can rotate around the axis centered about a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 801, and the rotation of the shaft 501. The sensor whose output changes in response to this and the projection 601 that is partly fixed to the shaft 501 and another part is positioned at the detection position, and is displaced so as to retract from the recording medium 801 that passes through the detection position. Thus, a pair of sensor levers 111 for rotating the shaft 501 is provided.

  In the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, in the above-described configuration, the detection position of one sensor lever 111a of the pair of sensor levers 111 is set to a recording medium 801 more than the detection position of the other sensor lever 111b. It is characterized in that it is provided on the upstream side in the conveying direction.

  According to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to insert the recording medium 801 from one side and the other side of the recording position 303, and the direction in which the recording medium 801 is orthogonal to the transport direction. In a printer that is inserted in a state of being abutted against one side (the width direction of the recording medium 801), the recording medium 801 inserted from any direction can be detected by one sensor.

  According to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the detection position of one sensor lever 111a is provided upstream of the detection position of the other sensor lever 111b in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 801. When the recording medium 801 is transported from the front side toward the back side, one of the sensor levers 111a always contacts the recording medium 801 before the other sensor lever 111b and the shaft rotates. When the recording medium 801 is transported from the back side to the front side, the other sensor lever 111b always contacts the recording medium 801 before the one sensor lever 111a and the shaft rotates.

  As described above, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, one of the sensor levers 111a is always applied to the recording medium 801 for the recording operation performed according to the change in the output of the sensor according to the rotation of the shaft. It can start at the point of contact. Thereby, even if the angle of the leading end of the recording medium 801 with respect to the conveying direction is slightly deviated, variation in the start position with respect to the recording medium 801 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the detection position of one sensor lever 111a is provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 801 with respect to the detection position of the other sensor lever 111b. Whether the recording medium 801 is transported from one side to the other side or the recording medium is transported from the other side to the one side, the recording medium 801 is always on the same side (for example, the left side) with respect to the transport direction. When the positioned sensor lever 111 detects the recording medium 801, the recording operation can be started.

  Specifically, when the printer 100 transports the recording medium 801 from the front side to the back side, the recording operation can be started when the sensor lever 111a detects the recording medium 801. On the other hand, when the recording medium is conveyed from the back side to the front side in the printer 100, the recording operation can be started when the sensor lever 111b detects the recording medium 801.

  Thus, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, even when the single-sheet recording medium 801 is inserted from one side (for example, the front side), it is inserted from the other side (for example, the back side). Even in this case, since the recording operation can always be started when the shaft is rotated by the sensor lever that has previously contacted, variation in the start position with respect to the recording medium 801 can be suppressed.

  In addition, the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided on the side facing the sensor lever 111 with the conveyance path 301 therebetween, and is a protrusion protruding from the both sides of the detection position in the axial direction toward the sensor lever 111 side. A feature is that a pair 402 is provided.

  According to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the recording medium 801 is stretched between the protrusion pair 402 at the detection position, and the slack of the recording medium 801 at the detection position where the sensor lever 111 and the recording medium 801 are in contact with each other. Can be suppressed. Thereby, the sensor lever 111 and the recording medium 801 can be reliably brought into contact with each other, and the shaft 501 can be reliably rotated.

  Thus, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, one sensor lever 111a always performs a recording operation performed in accordance with a change in the output of the sensor according to the rotation of the shaft 501. Since it can be surely started at the point of contact with 801, variations in the start position with respect to the recording medium 801 can be effectively suppressed.

  In the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the position of one protrusion pair 402a in the protrusion pair 402 is provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 801 from the position of the other protrusion pair 402b. It is characterized by having.

  According to the printer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the recording medium 801 can be a recording medium conveyed from one side to the other side or a recording medium conveyed from the other side to the one side. The recording medium 801 can be detected by the projection pair 402a and the sensor lever 111a (or the projection pair 402b and the sensor lever 111b) always located on the same side (for example, the left side) with respect to the transport direction, and the recording operation can be started.

  As a result, regardless of whether the single-sheet recording medium 801 is inserted from one side or the other side, the shaft 501 is always formed by the projection pair 402 and the sensor lever 111 that are in contact with each other. Since the recording operation can be started at the time of rotation, variation in the start position with respect to the recording medium 801 can be suppressed.

  As described above, the printer according to the present invention is useful for a printer that performs a recording operation on a recording medium such as a slip, and is particularly suitable for a printer that accepts insertion of a recording medium from the front side and the back side of the printer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printer 104 Printer main body 109 Conveyance mechanism 109a Conveyance roller 110 Recording part 111, 111a, 111b Sensor lever 402, 402a, 402b Protrusion pair 500 Detection mechanism

Claims (3)

Conveying means for conveying the recording medium in the conveying path from one side to the other side and conveying from the other side to the one side;
Detecting means whose output changes depending on the presence or absence of the recording medium at a detection position that interferes with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means;
Recording means for performing a recording operation on the recording medium in the transport path according to the output change of the detection means,
The detection means includes
An axis rotatable about the axis centered on a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium;
A sensor whose output changes according to the rotation of the shaft;
A pair of sensor levers that rotate the shaft by being displaced so that a part is fixed to the shaft and another portion is positioned at the detection position and retracts from the recording medium passing through the detection position And comprising
One of the pair of sensor levers, the detection position of one sensor lever is provided upstream of the detection position of the other sensor lever in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.   2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of protrusions provided on a side facing the sensor lever with the conveyance path interposed therebetween and projecting toward the sensor lever from both sides of the detection position in the axial direction. The printer described.   3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the position of one of the protrusion pairs is provided upstream of the position of the other protrusion pair in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

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