JP2020037470A - Cassette for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cassette for a printer capable of keeping a printing quality constant by keeping stacked recording media horizontal.SOLUTION: In a cassette for a printer, right and left swing shafts 7a and 7a on the front side and right and left swing shafts 8a and 8a on the rear side swing about respective support shafts 11 and 12 as fulcrums. Pivots 13 and 13 are pivotally attached to tip end sides of the right and left swing shafts 7a and 7a, respectively, and pivots 14 and 14 are pivotally attached to rear end sides of the right and left swing shafts 8a and 8a, respectively, and the pivots 13 and 13 and the pivots 14 and 14 are engaged with engaging long holes 3c and 3c and engaging long holes 3d and 3d of a platen 3, respectively. Further, since pivot shafts 15 and 15 pivotally attached to the right and left swing shafts 8a and 8a are engaged with engaging long holes 16 and 16 formed on the right and left swing shafts 7a and 7a, respectively, the platen 3 moves up and down while maintaining a horizontal state even when a polyethylene bag is set.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer cassette in which print quality is kept constant by keeping a stacked recording medium horizontal.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing on printing paper, a paper feeding operation is performed in which the printing paper is wound up and sent one by one to an appropriate position on a platen, and a paper feeding operation to an arbitrary line in which data exists is performed. Next, after printing the corresponding line, one line of paper is fed, and one page of printing is executed by alternately repeating printing of one line and paper of one line.

  On the other hand, eliminating the paper feed mechanism by winding up the print paper, installing the paper feed cassette in which the print paper is set, lifting the hopper base horizontally with spring force, and pressing the print paper against the paper feed drive roller, etc. 2. Description of the Related Art A serial printer that records and discharges paper while maintaining a horizontal state is known (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, as an example of a device that moves up and down, a key switch device and a keyboard in which the operation sensation of the key switch device of the keyboard and the contact pressing operation are satisfactorily matched and the key switch device is made thinner are also known (Patent) Reference 2).

JP-A-6-297795 JP-A-2013-133309

  However, the serial printer described in Patent Document 1 can print while maintaining a horizontal state when the printing paper has the same size and a uniform force is acting on all the springs. If, for example, the uniform force no longer acts on the spring, printing may not be possible while maintaining the horizontal state.

  Further, the key switch device and the keyboard described in Patent Document 2 are provided with a key top pressed by an operator, a contact disposed below the key top, and a key top pressed between the key top and the contact. Although the obtained dome rubber elastically buckles and applies a reaction force to the key top according to the elastic buckling deformation, it does not keep the stacked recording media horizontal.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a cassette for a printer in which print quality is kept constant by keeping a stacked recording medium horizontal. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a printer cassette according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a platen having a first elevating unit that guides and supports a stacked recording medium and vertically moves up and down, and stores the platen. The cassette case and the first elevating means include a horizontal maintaining mechanism for vertically elevating and lowering the platen on which the recording medium is stacked, while maintaining the platen horizontally.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the printer cassette according to claim 2, the horizontal maintenance mechanism is provided with a pair of swing shafts swinging around a support shaft, and is provided in front and back. At least one set of a pair of swing shafts is provided in the width direction, and the engaging shafts provided on one of the front and rear swing shafts are engaged with the front and rear support shafts in the engagement holes provided on the other front and rear swing shafts. The front and rear swing shafts swing while being engaged at the intermediate portion of.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer cassette according to the third aspect, wherein the horizontal maintenance mechanism includes a pair of swing shafts swinging around a support shaft and a pair of swing shafts provided in the front and rear. At least one set of a pair of swing shafts is provided in the width direction, and a tooth surface formed on an end surface of one of the front and rear swing shafts and a tooth surface formed on an end surface of the other front and rear swing shafts are arranged in front and rear. The front and rear swing shafts swing while meshing at the intermediate portion of the support shaft.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the printer cassette according to claim 4 is provided with a sub-platen provided with a second lifting / lowering means for vertically lifting and lowering independently of the platen in a printing range on the platen. It is what is being done.

  The printer cassette according to claim 1, wherein the platen includes a first elevating unit that guides and supports the stacked recording media and moves up and down freely, a cassette case that stores the platen, and the first case. Since the elevating means includes a horizontal maintaining mechanism that vertically moves up and down while maintaining the platen on which the recording medium is stacked horizontally, printing is performed in a state where the recording medium is horizontal even when recording media of different sizes are stacked. Therefore, the print quality can be kept constant.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer cassette, the horizontal maintenance mechanism is provided with a pair of swing shafts swinging around a support shaft and a pair of swing shafts provided in the front and rear directions in a width direction. At least one set is provided, and an engagement shaft provided on one of the front and rear swing shafts is engaged with an engagement hole provided on the other front and rear swing shaft at an intermediate portion between the front and rear support shafts. Since the front and rear swing shafts swing, the same effect as that of the first aspect is obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer cassette, the horizontal maintenance mechanism is provided with a pair of swing shafts swinging around a support shaft, and a pair of swing shafts provided in the front and rear directions in a width direction. At least one set is provided, and a tooth surface formed on an end face of one of the front and rear swing shafts and a tooth surface formed on an end face of the other front and rear swing shaft are teeth at an intermediate portion between the front and rear support shafts. Since the front and rear swing shafts swing while fitting, the same effect as that of the first aspect is obtained.

  The printer cassette according to the fourth aspect is provided with a sub-platen provided with a second elevating unit that elevates up and down independently of the platen in a printing range on the platen. Fine adjustment is made so that the print area is maintained in a more horizontal state even when the recording media and the like are stacked, and higher print quality can be kept constant.

1 is an overall perspective view of a printer cassette according to the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a platen provided with a printer cassette lifting device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which a platen is removed from FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line CC in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional perspective view of a swing shaft on the back side viewed from the inside. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the printer cassette taken along line DD in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional view of a front swing shaft as viewed from the outside. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line EE in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion where a platen moves up and down. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line FF in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion where a sub-platen moves up and down. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the printer cassette of the second embodiment taken along the line DD in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional view of the front swing shaft as viewed from the outside.

  In the following examples, the printer cassette according to the present invention will be described in detail based on examples. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to only the detailed description of the embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, an ink jet printer in which printing is performed on a plastic bag as an example of a recording medium stacked on a printer cassette will be described. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a printer cassette according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a printer cassette 1 mainly includes a cassette case 2 and a platen 3 having a first elevating device described below. The front plate 2a is openable and closable with respect to the cassette case 2, so that the front plate 2a is opened so that the platen 3 provided with the elevating device can be mounted in the cassette case 2.

  When printing is not performed, the ink head 4 indicated by a two-dot chain line stands by at a home position A located outside the sub-platen 6, which will be described later. When the number reaches 5, printing is performed by discharging ink.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a platen provided with a printer cassette elevating device according to the present invention. That is, FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which the front plate 2 a is opened and the platen 3 having the elevating device is removed from the cassette case 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 from which a platen is removed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line CC in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional perspective view of the rocking shaft on the far side viewed from the inside. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the printer cassette taken along the line DD in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional view of the front swing shaft viewed from the outside.

  In FIG. 3, four sides of a swing frame 7 on the front side (a side on which the platen 3 provided with the elevating device is removed from the cassette case 2) are bent and formed into a box shape, and a portion bent in the width direction is a swing shaft. It stands up as 7a, 7a. On the other hand, the four sides of the swing frame 8 on the rear side (the side where the platen 3 provided with the elevating device is mounted on the cassette case 2) are bent to form a box shape, and the portion bent in the width direction is a swing shaft. 8a, 8a.

  Brackets 10 and 10 are bent at the front and rear central portions of the bottom plate 9 and are erected upward. Support shafts 11, 11 are mounted on the front side of the respective brackets 10, and the left and right swing shafts 7a, 7a swing about these support shafts 11, 11 as fulcrums. On the other hand, the support shafts 12, 12 are mounted on the rear side of the respective brackets 10, and the left and right swing shafts 8a, 8a swing about these support shafts 12, 12 as fulcrums. Pivot shafts 13 and 13 are attached to the front ends of the left and right swing shafts 7a and 7a, while pivots 14 and 14 are attached to the rear ends of the left and right swing shafts 8a and 8a.

    In FIG. 2, four sides of the platen 3 are bent downward, and pivotal shafts 13 mounted on the distal ends of the left and right swing shafts 7a are mounted on the distal ends of the left and right side plates 3b. Engagement slots 3c, 3c are formed at opposing positions, and at the rear end side, engagement lengths are formed at opposing positions of the pivots 14, 14 which are pivotally mounted on the rear end sides of the left and right swing shafts 8a, 8a. Holes 3d, 3d are formed. The left and right pivots 13, 13 are engaged with the left and right engagement slots 3c, 3c, while the left and right pivots 14, 14 are engaged with the left and right engagement slots 3d, 3d.

  In FIG. 3, pivots 15, 15 are pivotally mounted on the front ends of the left and right swing shafts 8a, 8a. On the other hand, at the rear end side of the left and right swing shafts 7a, 7a, engagement long holes 16, 16 are formed at positions opposed to these pivots 15, 15, and these pivots 15, 15 The long holes 16 are engaged with the long holes 16. As shown in FIG. 5, the left and right pivots 15, 15 are engaged with the left and right engagement slots 16, 16 at an intermediate position separated from the front and rear support shafts 11, 12 by the same distance S. At the same time, it is engaged with the left and right engagement slots 16 at an intermediate position separated from the front and rear pivots 13 and 14 by the same distance L.

  Therefore, when weight is not applied in a state where the plastic bag W is not set on the platen 3 and the sub-platen 6 described later, the front left and right pivots 13 are engaged with the front left and right engagement so that the platen 3 is horizontal. The rear left and right pivots 14, 14 engage with the rear left and right engagement long holes 3d, 3d, and the left and right swing shafts 8a, 8a engage with the left and right swing shafts 8a, 8a. The attached pivots 15 are engaged with engagement slots 16 formed in the left and right swing shafts 7a. In the present embodiment, two pairs of swing shafts are provided on the left and right sides in the width direction (front side and back side) in the front and rear, but three or more pairs can be provided even if one set.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line EE in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion where the platen moves up and down. That is, a cross-sectional view in the front-rear direction of the platen 3 passing through a cross section of an elastic cylindrical rubber 18 described later is shown. In FIG. 6, engaging projections 3e, 3e are formed to protrude downward on the left and right of the approximate center of the platen 3 in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, hollow elastic cylindrical rubbers 18, 18 as an example of an elastic body are erected on the left and right from the bottom plate 9 at positions opposed to the engaging protrusions 3 e, and the engaging protrusions 3 e slide on the hollow elastic cylindrical rubber 18. It comes into contact.

  Here, when the plastic bags W stacked on the platen 3 are set and a load is applied so that the height is regulated by the holding plate 17, the elastic cylindrical rubber 18 undergoes elastic buckling deformation due to its weight, and The engaging projection 3e slides on the hollow elastic cylindrical rubber 18 while the lower portion 3 is slightly lowered. In this way, the one from which the sub-platen 6 described later is removed from FIG. 3 constitutes an elevating device as first elevating means. Further, in this embodiment, the case of the hollow elastic cylindrical rubber 18 has been described, but a spring as an elastic body may of course be used.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line FF in FIG. 2, and is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion where the sub-platen moves up and down. That is, a perspective cross-sectional view in the front-rear direction of the platen 3 passing through a cross section of a hollow elastic cylindrical rubber 19, 19 as an example of an elastic body described later is shown. The sub-platen 6 moves up and down independently of the platen 3 behind the platen 3. The size of the sub-platen 6 is formed to be larger than the print area 5.

  Engagement protrusions 6b are formed at four locations on the front, rear, left and right of the sub-platen 6 so as to protrude downward. It is erected. In this embodiment, the case of the hollow elastic cylindrical rubber 19 is described, but a spring as an elastic body may be used.

  When the plastic bags W stacked on the sub-platen 6 are not set, no load is applied, and the elastic cylindrical rubber 19 does not undergo elastic buckling deformation. In this state, the flange 3f formed integrally with the platen 3 and the hook 6c formed integrally with the sub-platen 6 come into contact with each other, and the elevation of the sub-platen 6 is restricted. Thus, the lifting device as the second lifting means is configured.

  When the plastic bags W stacked on the platen 3 and the sub-platen 6 are set, and the height is regulated by the holding plate 17, the pressing force of the holding plate 17 and the weight of the stacked plastic bags W are applied, and the weight of the bag is elastic. The cylindrical rubber 18 undergoes elastic buckling deformation, the platen 3 slightly descends, the engaging projection 3e slides on the elastic cylindrical rubber 18, and the elastic cylindrical rubber 19 also undergoes elastic buckling deformation. While slightly descending, the engagement protrusion 6b also comes into sliding contact with the elastic cylindrical rubber 19. FIG. 7 shows the elastic cylindrical rubbers 19, 19 on the front side, but the elastic cylindrical rubbers 19, 19 also stand on the back side.

  Next, a procedure for setting the plastic bag W will be described. In FIG. 5, the plastic bags W stacked on the platen 3 and the sub-platen 6 are set so as to abut on the rear end face of the cassette case 2, and the position in the height direction of the plastic bags W stacked by the holding plate 17 is a predetermined position. Regulated by position. Then, the pressing force of the pressing plate 17 and a part of the weight of the plastic bag W are applied to the sub-platen 6, and the platen 3 is slightly pressed by the pressing plate 17 and the entire weight of the plastic bag W. The holding plate 17 has an opening surface slightly larger than the sub-platen 6 so that the sub-platen 6 can move up and down.

  When the pressing force of the pressing plate 17 and the full load of the plastic bag W are applied to the platen 3, the center of gravity is usually closer to the ink head 4 side than the supporting shafts 12, 12 of the left and right swing shafts 8 a, 8 a. The pivots 14 attached to the rear ends of the left and right swing shafts 8a via the right and left pivot shafts 12 and 12 tend to swing clockwise about the left and right support shafts 12 and 12. Then, the pivots 15, 15 pivotally mounted on the front sides of the left and right swing shafts 8 a, 8 a are engaged with the long engagement holes 16, 16 formed on the rear side of the left and right swing shafts 7 a, 7 a. Therefore, the pivots 13, 13 attached to the front sides of the left and right swing shafts 7a, 7a by approximately the same swing angle as the left and right swing shafts 8a, 8a tend to swing counterclockwise.

  Here, even if the pivots 15, 15 are pivoted clockwise, they are engaged so that the pivot angle of the left and right pivot shafts 8 a, 8 a and the pivot angle of the left and right pivot shafts 7 a, 7 a are substantially the same. The long holes 16, 16 are formed in the long holes. Therefore, the platen 3 always descends while maintaining a horizontal state irrespective of how the weight is applied depending on the size of the plastic bag W. In this way, the leveling mechanism of the first elevating device is configured.

  When the pressing force of the pressing plate 17 and the total load of the plastic bag W are applied to the platen 3, the left and right hollow elastic cylindrical rubbers 18, 18 undergo elastic buckling deformation due to the weight, and the left and right engaging protrusions 3e, Since 3e descends while sliding on the elastic cylindrical rubbers 18, 18, the platen 3 descends while maintaining the horizontal state.

On the other hand, when the pressing force of the pressing plate 17 and the partial load of the plastic bag W are applied to the sub-platen 6, the hollow elastic cylindrical rubber 19 at the four front, rear, left, and right sides causes elastic buckling deformation due to the weight thereof, and Since the four engagement projections 6b descend while sliding on the respective elastic cylindrical rubbers 19, the sub-platen 6 descends independently of the platen 3 while maintaining the horizontal state. Therefore, since the scanning surface of the ink head 4 and the surface of the plastic bag W are always kept parallel, high print quality can be kept constant.

  Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the horizontal maintenance mechanism of the first lifting device. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the printer cassette taken along line DD in FIG. 2 of the second embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view of the front swing shaft as viewed from the outside. The same parts as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here. Tooth surfaces 20, 20 are formed on the rear end side of the left and right oscillating shafts 7b, ba, while tooth surfaces 20, 20 are formed on the front end side of the left and right oscillating shafts 8b, 8b. The tooth surface 20 on the rear end side and the tooth surface 20 on the front end side of the oscillating shaft 8b have the same shape, and the respective tooth surfaces 20 mesh with each other.

  When the pressing force of the pressing plate 17 and the total load of the plastic bag W are applied to the platen 3, the center of gravity is usually closer to the ink head 4 side than the supporting shafts 12 and 12 of the left and right swing shafts 8b, 8b. The pivots 14 attached to the rear ends of the left and right swinging shafts 8b, 8b via the right and left shafts 12 and 12 try to swing clockwise about the left and right supporting shafts 12, 12. Then, the tooth surfaces 20, 20 formed on the front end sides of the left and right oscillating shafts 8b, 8b are formed on the rear end sides of the left and right oscillating shafts 7b, 7b in the same shape. Since the gears are meshed, the pivots 13, 13 mounted on the front sides of the left and right swing shafts 7b, 7b by substantially the same swing angle as the left and right swing shafts 8b, 8b try to swing counterclockwise. I do. Therefore, the platen 3 always descends while maintaining a horizontal state irrespective of how the weight is applied depending on the size of the plastic bag W. In this way, the leveling mechanism of the first elevating device is configured.

 In the present embodiment, a case in which plastic bags are laminated as an example of a recording medium is described. However, a material such as a plastic bag or a hard material such as paper or plastic may be used. Can be widely applied up to.

  In recent years, instead of attaching a label on which the date of manufacture or expiration date is printed to a product in terms of convenience and cost, printing is directly performed on a plastic bag or film of the product. Inkjet printers have been widely used as a method for printing directly on various packaging materials, cardboard boxes, and the like, in addition to printing on ordinary sheet-like paper.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer cassette 2 Cassette case 2a Front plate 3 Platen 3b Side plate 3c, 3d Engagement long hole 3e Engagement protrusion 3f Flange 3g Bracket 4 Ink head 5 Printing area 6 Sub platen 6b Engagement protrusion 6c Hook 7, 8 Oscillating frames 7a, 8a Oscillating shafts 7b, 8b Oscillating shafts 9 Bottom plate 10 Brackets 11, 12 Support shafts 13, 14, 15 Pivot shafts 16 Long engaging holes 17 Pressing plates 18, 19 Elastic cylindrical rubber 20 Tooth surface A Home Position B Scanning direction W Plastic bag

Claims (4)

  A platen having first elevating means for guiding and supporting the stacked recording media and vertically moving up and down, a cassette case for housing the platen, and the first elevating means, wherein the recording media are stacked A cassette for a printer, comprising a horizontal maintaining mechanism for vertically moving up and down while maintaining a horizontal platen.   In the horizontal maintenance mechanism, a pair of swing shafts swinging around a support shaft is provided in front and back, and at least one pair of swing shafts provided in front and back is provided in a width direction, and one of the front and rear swing shafts is provided. The front and rear swing shafts swing while the engagement shaft provided on the drive shaft is engaged with the engagement holes provided on the other front and rear swing shafts at an intermediate portion of the front and rear support shafts. The cassette for a printer according to claim 1.   In the horizontal maintenance mechanism, a pair of swing shafts swinging around a support shaft is provided in front and back, and at least one pair of swing shafts provided in front and back is provided in a width direction, and one of the front and rear swing shafts is provided. The front and rear rocking shafts rock while the tooth surface formed on the end surface of the moving shaft and the tooth surface formed on the other front and rear rocking shafts mesh at the intermediate portion of the front and rear support shafts. The cassette for a printer according to claim 1, wherein:   4. The printer cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a sub-platen provided with a second lifting / lowering unit that moves up and down independently of the platen in a printing range on the platen. .

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