JP2021053947A - Medium cassette and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate a work for replacing a roll medium and prevent a recording agent and time from being wasted.SOLUTION: A sheet cassette includes: a pair of rollers 55 for supporting a roll sheet R which is configured so that a rotation center Rx descends as the residual quantity of the roll sheet R decreases; and a sensor for outputting a signal relating to a position of the rotation center Rx.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a medium cassette accommodating a roll medium and a recording device provided with the medium cassette.

Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a paper feed cassette (medium cassette) accommodating a roll paper (roll medium) is removable from a mounting port of an image forming apparatus main body (housing). The roll paper contained in the paper feed cassette is conveyed into the image forming apparatus main body by the conveying roller, and an image is formed in the image forming section (recording section).

In Patent Document 1, the roll paper is mounted on the paper feed cassette together with the shaft, and when the roll paper is replaced, the used roll paper shaft is taken out from the paper feed cassette and a new roll paper shaft is fed. It is configured to be mounted on a cassette.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-012167 (paragraphs 0018, 0021, 0029, 0030, etc.)

In the roll paper support configuration in the paper feed cassette as in Patent Document 1, the roll paper replacement work can be complicated. For example, when attaching a new roll paper shaft to the paper feed cassette, work such as adjusting the position of the roll paper so that the roll paper shaft is appropriately supported by the bearing of the paper feed cassette may occur.

Further, Patent Document 1 does not show anything about detecting the remaining amount of roll paper. If recording is performed when the remaining amount of roll paper is low, the paper runs out during recording, and it becomes necessary to perform recording again after replacing the roll paper. In this case, toner (recording agent) and time are wasted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medium cassette and a recording device in which the roll medium can be easily replaced and the recording agent and time can be prevented from being wasted.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is a medium cassette containing a roll medium wound in a roll shape, the roll medium is rotatably supported, and the remaining amount of the roll medium is reduced. Provided is a medium cassette including a medium support portion configured so that the center of rotation of the roll medium descends, and a sensor that outputs a signal regarding the position of the center of rotation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the medium cassette includes a medium cassette containing a roll medium in which the recording medium is wound in a roll shape, and a housing in which the medium cassette is detachable, and the medium cassette is the roll. It has a medium support portion that rotatably supports the medium and is configured such that the center of rotation of the roll medium is lowered as the remaining amount of the roll medium decreases, and is supported by the medium support portion in the housing. A transport mechanism for feeding and transporting the recording medium from the roll medium, a recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium fed and transported by the transport mechanism, and a control for controlling the transport mechanism and the recording unit. A unit and a sensor that outputs a signal regarding the position of the center of rotation to the control unit are provided, and the control unit performs a derivation process for deriving the remaining amount based on the signal and a derivation process for deriving the remaining amount. Provided is a recording device characterized by executing a notification process for notifying the derived remaining amount.

In the first and second viewpoints, the medium support portion is configured so that the rotation center of the roll medium is lowered as the remaining amount of the roll medium decreases. That is, the support configuration of the roll medium in the medium cassette is different from that of Patent Document 1. In this case, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the roll medium so that the shaft of the roll medium is appropriately supported by the bearing of the medium cassette, and the roll medium can be easily replaced. Further, by deriving the remaining amount of the roll medium based on the signal output by the sensor and notifying the remaining amount, it is possible to encourage the user to replace the roll medium. As a result, it is possible to prevent the recording agent and time from being wasted when recording is performed in a state where the remaining amount of the roll medium is low.

According to the present invention, the roll medium can be easily replaced, and the recording agent and time can be prevented from being wasted.

It is a schematic block diagram of the printer including the paper cassette which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) and (b) are side views of the roll paper contained in the paper cassette of FIG. 1 as viewed from the axial direction, respectively. 2 is a side view of the roll paper of FIG. 2A as viewed from an orthogonal direction. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the printer of FIG. It is a flow chart which shows the process which the control part of the printer of FIG. 1 executes. (A) and (b) are side views of the roll paper contained in the paper cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the axial direction, respectively. 6 is a side view of the roll paper of FIG. 6A as viewed from an orthogonal direction. (A) and (b) are side views of the roll paper contained in the paper cassette according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the axial direction, respectively. (A) and (b) are side views of the roll paper housed in the paper cassette in the printer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the axial direction, respectively.

<First Embodiment (medium cassette)>
First, with reference to FIG. 1, a paper cassette 1 m according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a printer 1 including the paper cassette 1 m will be described.

The printer 1 includes a housing 1a, a paper cassette 1m, and a paper ejection tray 1n. The paper cassette 1m is removable from the lower part of the housing 1a. The paper output tray 1n constitutes one side wall of the upper part of the housing 1a and can be opened and closed with respect to the housing 1a.

The roll paper R corresponding to the "roll medium" of the present invention is housed in the paper cassette 1 m. The roll paper R is a roll of paper P corresponding to the “recording medium” of the present invention wound on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical core member Rc. The roll paper R is arranged so that the axial direction along the rotation center Rx (center of the core member Rc) is orthogonal to the vertical direction. The axial direction corresponds to the width direction (paper width direction) of the paper P.

The paper cassette 1 m includes a cassette main body 50, a pair of rollers 55 that rotatably support the roll paper R, a roller pair 21 that conveys the paper P, and a cutting portion 40 that cuts the paper P. The pair of rollers 55, the roller pair 21, and the cutting portion 40 are supported by the cassette body 50.

The pair of rollers 55 are arranged at the bottom of the cassette body 50 and are separated from each other in the axial direction and the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The pair of rollers 55 are in contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R below the rotation center Rx, and can rotate about the axial center 55x parallel to the axial direction according to the rotation of the roll paper R. .. The radial direction of the roll paper R is a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and includes the orthogonal direction and the vertical direction.

The pair of rollers 55 correspond to the "rotating member" of the present invention and constitute the "medium support portion" of the present invention.

The pair of rollers 55 are configured such that the rotation center Rx descends as the remaining amount of the roll paper R decreases. For example, when the remaining amount of the roll paper R decreases from the state shown in FIG. 2 (a) (radius r1 of the roll paper R) to the state shown in FIG. 2 (b) (radius r2 <r1 of the roll paper R). , The rotation center Rx descends by the distance D.

The contact positions of the pair of rollers 55 with the roll paper R change according to changes in the radii r1 and r2 of the roll paper R (changes in the remaining amount of the roll paper R), and the upper end Ry of the roll paper R and the rotation center Rx And each of the lower end Rz descends.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cassette main body 50 is provided with a first side guide 51 and a second side guide 52. The roll paper R is arranged between the first side guide 51 and the second side guide 52 in the axial direction. The first side guide 51 and the second side guide 52 are movable in the axial direction, respectively, and are positioned according to the axial length of the roll paper R.

The first side guide 51 has a first guide surface 51a that faces one end surface Ra of the roll paper R in the axial direction. The second side guide 52 has a second guide surface 52a facing the other end surface Rb of the roll paper R in the axial direction. A plurality of light emitting elements 59a are provided on the first guide surface 51a. A plurality of light receiving elements 59b are provided on the second guide surface 52a. The plurality of light emitting elements 59a and the plurality of light receiving elements 59b are arranged in the vertical direction in the upper half region of each of the guide surfaces 51a and 52a, respectively.

The plurality of light emitting elements 59a and the plurality of light receiving elements 59b each correspond to the "detection element" of the present invention and constitute the sensor 59.

For example, when the radius of the roll paper R is r1 (see FIG. 2A), the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements 59a is reflected by one end surface Ra of the roll paper R, and any of the plurality of light receiving elements 59b. Is not received (see FIG. 3).

When the remaining amount of the roll paper R decreases from the state shown in FIG. 2 (a) (radius r1 of the roll paper R) to the state shown in FIG. 2 (b) (radius r2 <r1 of the roll paper R), a plurality of roll papers R are used. The light emitted from the light emitting element 59a located at least near the upper end of the first guide surface 51a among the light emitting elements 59a of the above passes above the roll paper R, and at least the second guide of the plurality of light receiving elements 59b Light is received by the light receiving element 59b located near the upper end of the surface 52a. That is, the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 59b when the radius of the roll paper R is r2 (see FIG. 2B) is the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 59b when the radius of the roll paper R is r2 (see FIG. 2A). It becomes larger than the amount of received light.

In this way, the amount of light received by the plurality of light receiving elements 59b changes according to the remaining amount of the roll paper R (and the position of the center of rotation Rx). Each of the plurality of light receiving elements 59b outputs a signal indicating the amount of light received (a signal relating to the position of the rotation center Rx) to the control unit 90 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the roller pair 21 extends axially above the pair of rollers 55. The roller pair 21 constitutes the transport mechanism 20 described later.

The cutting portion 40 is arranged above the roller pair 21. The cutting portion 40 includes a cutter 41 and a cutting motor 40M (see FIG. 4) that drives the cutter 41.

On the upper part of the housing 1a (above the paper cassette 1m in the housing 1a), roller pairs 22 and 23 constituting the transport mechanism 20, a head 30, and a control unit 90 are provided.

The roller pairs 22 and 23 extend in the axial direction, respectively, like the roller pairs 21. The roller pairs 22 and 23 sandwich the head 30 in the orthogonal direction.

The transport mechanism 20 includes a pair of rollers 21 to 23 and a transport motor 20M (see FIG. 4). Each of the roller pairs 21 to 23 is composed of a drive roller that is rotated by driving the transfer motor 20M and a driven roller that is rotated around the drive roller. The transport motor 20M is driven by the control of the control unit 90, and each roller pair 21 to 23 rotates while sandwiching the paper P, so that the paper P is fed out from the roll paper R and transported.

The head 30 includes a plurality of nozzles (not shown) formed on the lower surface and a driver IC 30D (see FIG. 4). When the driver IC 30D is driven by the control of the control unit 90, ink is ejected from the nozzles, and an image is recorded on the paper P conveyed by the transfer mechanism 20. The head 30 corresponds to the "recording unit" of the present invention, and may be either a line type that ejects ink from a nozzle in a fixed position or a serial type that ejects ink from a nozzle while moving in the axial direction. Good.

The paper P unwound from the roll paper R is cut by the cutter 41 by driving the cutting motor 40M under the control of the control unit 90. As a result, the rear end of the paper P is formed. The paper P on which the image is recorded by the head 30 and cut by the cutter 41 is received by the output tray 1n in an open state with respect to the housing 1a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 90 is connected to the transport motor 20M, the driver IC 30D, the cutting motor 40M, the light emitting element 59a, the light receiving element 59b, and the display 70 via the internal bus 1b. The display 70 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 1a. The control unit 90 transmits a signal related to light emission to the light emitting element 59a, and receives a signal indicating the amount of light received from the light receiving element 59b.

The control unit 90 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 91, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 92, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 93. The ROM 92 stores programs and data for the CPU 91 to perform various controls. The RAM 93 temporarily stores data used by the CPU 91 when executing a program.

Next, the process executed by the control unit 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 90 first determines whether or not a recording command including image data or the like has been received from an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) (S1). When the recording command is not received (S1: NO), the control unit 90 repeats the process of S1.

The recording command includes information on the product number of the roll paper R in addition to the image data. The ROM 92 stores a correspondence table between the product number of the roll paper R and the thickness of the paper P, and a correspondence table between the product number of the roll paper R and the inner diameter of the roll paper R (the outer diameter of the core member Rc). That is, the information on the product number of the roll paper R corresponds to the information on the thickness of the paper P and the information on the inner diameter of the roll paper R. Receiving a record command corresponds to the "first reception process" and the "second reception process" according to the present invention.

When the recording command is received (S1: YES), the control unit 90 determines the remaining amount of the roll paper R based on the signal received from the light receiving element 59b and the information of the product number of the roll paper R included in the recording command. Derivation (S2: derivation process).

As described above, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 59b changes according to the remaining amount of the roll paper R (and the position of the center of rotation Rx). Here, when the remaining amount of the roll paper R derived in S2 is not the radii r1 and r2 of the roll paper R (see FIG. 2) but the length of the paper P constituting the roll paper R, the position of the rotation center Rx. Not only that, the remaining amount varies depending on the thickness of the paper P and the inner diameter of the roll paper R.

The ROM 92 contains the amount of light received by the light receiving element 59b, the product number of the roll paper R (thickness of the paper P and the inner diameter of the roll paper R), and the remaining amount of the roll paper R (the length of the paper P constituting the roll paper R). Correspondence table with is stored. In S2, the CPU 91 sets the remaining amount of the roll paper R as the remaining amount of the roll paper R based on the signal indicating the light receiving amount received from the light receiving element 59b and the information of the product number of the roll paper R included in the recording command received in S1. The length of the paper P constituting R is derived.

After S2, the control unit 90 derives the remaining amount (the length of the paper P constituting the roll paper R) derived in S2 from the planned usage amount (the image data included in the recording command received in S1). It is determined whether or not the length of the paper P used in the recording according to the recording command is longer than the length (S3).

When the remaining amount is equal to or greater than the planned usage amount (S3: YES), the control unit 90 executes the recording process (S4). In S4, the control unit 90 conveys the paper P by the conveying mechanism 20 based on the recording command received in S1, causes the head 30 to record an image on the paper P, and causes the cutting unit 40 to cut the paper P. .. At this time, the control unit 90 lowers the rotation speed of the transfer motor 20M as the remaining amount derived in S2 increases.

When the remaining amount is less than the planned usage amount (S3: NO), the control unit 90 notifies the remaining amount derived in S2 (S5: notification processing). In the present embodiment, in S5, the control unit 90 causes the display 70 to display an image showing the remaining amount.

After S4 or S5, the control unit 90 ends the routine.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pair of rollers 55 are configured such that the rotation center Rx decreases as the remaining amount of the roll paper R decreases (see FIG. 2). That is, the support configuration of the roll paper R in the paper cassette 1 m is different from that of Patent Document 1. In this case, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the roll paper R so that the core member Rc is appropriately supported by the bearing of the paper cassette 1 m (in the present embodiment, the roll paper R is placed on the pair of rollers 55. The roll paper R can be easily replaced (just by placing it).

By deriving the remaining amount of the roll paper R based on the signal output by the sensor 59 (S2) and notifying the remaining amount (S5), the user can be prompted to replace the roll paper R. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ink and time from being wasted when recording is performed in a state where the remaining amount of the roll paper R is low.

In addition, when the remaining amount is derived from the amount of transport (rotation speed of the transport motor 20M, etc.), the data of the amount of transport may be lost when the power of the printer 1 is turned off. Difficult to derive. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even when the power of the printer 1 is turned off and then turned on, an accurate remaining amount can be derived based on the position of the rotation center Rx.

Moreover, the sensor 59 is inside the paper cassette 1 m and is not exposed to the outside. As a result, the reliability of detection is ensured.

The sensor 59 has a light emitting element 59a provided on the first guide surface 51a and a light receiving element 59b provided on the second guide surface 52a (see FIG. 3). In this case, the load on the roll paper R is reduced and the rotation of the roll paper R is less likely to be hindered as compared with the case where the detection element of the sensor 59 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R.

A pair of rollers 55 form a "medium support portion" that rotatably supports the roll paper R. In this case, the contact area between the pair of rollers 55 (medium support portion) and the roll paper R is smaller than that in the case where the bottom surface or the like of the cassette body 50 of the paper cassette 1 m constitutes the “medium support portion”, and the roll paper R has a smaller contact area. Rotation is hard to be hindered.

<Second embodiment (medium cassette)>
Subsequently, the paper cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the configuration of the sensor is mainly different from that in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described, and description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

The sensor 259 of the present embodiment includes a light emitting element 259a (see FIGS. 6 and 7) arranged at the bottom of the cassette body 50 and a plurality of light receiving elements 259b (see FIG. 7) provided on the second guide surface 52a. Has.

The light emitting element 259a is supported by a recess 50x formed on the bottom surface of the cassette body 50 via a spring 259s. The light emitting element 259a corresponds to the "detection element" of the present invention, and comes into contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R below the center of rotation Rx (in the present embodiment, the lower end Rz of the roll paper R), and the lower end Rz. It is possible to move in the vertical direction according to a change in the position of the roll paper R (change in the remaining amount of the roll paper R) (see FIG. 6).

The plurality of light receiving elements 259b are arranged in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the lower end of the second guide surface 52a (see FIG. 7).

For example, when the radius of the roll paper R is r1 (see FIG. 6A), the light emitted from the light emitting element 259a passes under the roll paper R and is received by all the light receiving elements 259b (FIG. 6). 7).

When the remaining amount of the roll paper R decreases from the state shown in FIG. 6 (a) (radius r1 of the roll paper R) to the state shown in FIG. 6 (b) (radius r2 <r1 of the roll paper R), the rotation occurs. The center Rx descends by the distance D. Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the contact positions of the pair of rollers 55 with the roll paper R are changed according to the changes in the radii r1 and r2 of the roll paper R (changes in the remaining amount of the roll paper R). It changes, and each of the upper end Ry, the rotation center Rx, and the lower end Rz of the roll paper R descends. At this time, the upper end Ry is lowered by the distance A, and the lower end Rz is lowered by the distance B (<A). As the lower end Rz of the roll paper R descends, the light emitting element 259a is pushed by the roll paper R and descends by a distance B against the urging force of the spring 259s.

In the state shown in FIG. 6B, the light emitted from the light emitting element 259a passes below the roll paper R and is received by some of the light receiving elements 259b located on the upper side among the plurality of light receiving elements 259b. Instead, the light is received by the remaining light receiving elements (see FIG. 7). That is, the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 259b when the radius of the roll paper R is r2 (see FIG. 6B) is the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 259b when the radius of the roll paper R is r2 (see FIG. 6A). It is smaller than the amount of light received.

In this way, the amount of light received by the plurality of light receiving elements 259b changes according to the remaining amount of the roll paper R (and the position of the center of rotation Rx). Each of the plurality of light receiving elements 259b outputs a signal indicating the amount of light received (a signal relating to the position of the rotation center Rx) to the control unit 90. The control unit 90 derives the remaining amount of the roll paper R based on a signal or the like indicating the amount of received light received from the light receiving element 259b (S2 in FIG. 5).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the same effect as that of the first embodiment having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

The sensor 259 has a light emitting element 259a that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R and can move in the vertical direction according to a change in the remaining amount of the roll paper R. In this case, the position of the rotation center Rx can be detected with a relatively simple configuration.

The light emitting element 259a comes into contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R below the rotation center Rx (in the present embodiment, the lower end Rz of the roll paper R). In this case, as compared with the case where the light emitting element 259a comes into contact with the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R above the rotation center Rx (for example, the upper end Ry of the roll paper R), it corresponds to the change in the remaining amount of the roll paper R. The amount of movement of the light emitting element 259a is small (distance B <distance A), and the position of the rotation center Rx can be detected with high accuracy.

<Third Embodiment (medium cassette)>
Subsequently, the paper cassette according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the configuration of the sensor is mainly different from that in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described, and description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

The sensor 359 of this embodiment has four switch elements 359a to 359d arranged at the bottom of the cassette body 50. The switch elements 359a to 359d correspond to the "detection elements" of the present invention, respectively, and output an ON signal when they come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R, and an OFF signal when they do not come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R. Is output.

The four switch elements 359a to 359d are arranged at different positions in the orthogonal direction. The lengths of the switch elements 359a and 359d in the vertical direction are the same as each other. The lengths of the switch elements 359b and 359c in the vertical direction are the same as each other. The length of the switch elements 359a and 359d in the vertical direction is longer than the length of the switch elements 359b and 359c in the vertical direction.

The switch elements 359a and 359d sandwich a pair of rollers 55 in the orthogonal direction. The switch elements 359b and 359c are located between the pair of rollers 55 in the orthogonal direction, and sandwich the lower end Rz of the roll paper R in the orthogonal direction.

For example, when the radius of the roll paper R is r1 (see FIG. 8A), the switch elements 359a and 359d come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R to output an ON signal, while the switch elements 359b and 359c roll. The OFF signal is output without touching the outer peripheral surface of the paper R.

When the remaining amount of the roll paper R decreases from the state shown in FIG. 8 (a) (radius r1 of the roll paper R) to the state shown in FIG. 8 (b) (radius r2 <r1 of the roll paper R), the rotation occurs. The center Rx descends by the distance D. Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the contact positions of the pair of rollers 55 with the roll paper R are changed according to the changes in the radii r1 and r2 of the roll paper R (changes in the remaining amount of the roll paper R). It changes, and each of the upper end Ry, the rotation center Rx, and the lower end Rz of the roll paper R descends.

When the radius of the roll paper R is r2 (see FIG. 8B), the switch elements 359a and 359d do not come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R and output an OFF signal, while the switch elements 359b and 359c output the roll paper R. It contacts the outer peripheral surface of the paper and outputs an ON signal.

In this way, the signals output from the switch elements 359a to 359d change according to the remaining amount of the roll paper R (and the position of the rotation center Rx). The control unit 90 derives the remaining amount of the roll paper R based on the signals and the like received from the switch elements 359a to 359d (S2 in FIG. 5).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the same effect as that of the first embodiment having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

The sensor 359 includes switch elements 359a to 359d that output an ON signal when they come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R and output an OFF signal when they do not come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R. In this case, the position of the rotation center Rx can be detected with a relatively simple configuration.

The four switch elements 359a to 359d are arranged at different positions in the orthogonal direction (diameter direction of the roll paper R). In this case, the position of the rotation center Rx can be accurately detected by the four switch elements 359a to 359d.

<Fourth Embodiment (recording device)>
Subsequently, the printer 401 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 401 of the present embodiment is different from the printer 1 of the first embodiment mainly in that the configuration of the sensor and the sensor are provided in the housing 1a of the printer 401. Hereinafter, a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described, and description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

The sensor 459 of the present embodiment includes a light emitting element 459a, a light receiving element 459b, and a scale 459c. The light emitting element 459a and the light receiving element 459b sandwich the scale 459c in the axial direction.

The scale 459c is supported by the housing 1a of the printer 401. The light emitting element 459a and the light receiving element 459b are movably supported near the base end of the pressing member 460 along the scale 459c.

The pressing member 460 is supported by the housing 1a via a spring 459s, and can swing around an axial center 460x parallel to the axial direction. The pressing member 460 has a function of contacting a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R above the rotation center Rx and suppressing the spread of the roll paper R in the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the axial direction).

As shown in FIG. 9, the pressing member 460 swings around the axis 460x according to the change in the remaining amount of the roll paper R. The light emitting element 459a and the light receiving element 459b correspond to the "detection element" of the present invention, and move according to the swing of the pressing member 460.

For example, when the remaining amount of the roll paper R decreases from the state shown in FIG. 9A to the state shown in FIG. 9B, the rotation center Rx decreases by the distance D. At this time, due to the urging force of the spring 459s, the pressing member 460 swings counterclockwise in FIG. 9 with the axis 460x as the center while maintaining the state of being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R. The light emitting element 459a and the light receiving element 459b move along the scale 459c with the movement of the base end of the pressing member 460.

The control unit 90 of the printer 401 executes the same processing (S1 to S5 in FIG. 5) as the control unit 90 of the printer 1 of the first embodiment. In S2 (derivation processing), the control unit 90 of the printer 401 determines the balance of the roll paper R based on the signal indicating the amount of light received from the light receiving element 459b and the information of the product number of the roll paper R included in the recording command. Derive the quantity.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the same effect as that of the first embodiment having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

The sensor 459 is inside the housing 1a and is not exposed to the outside. As a result, the reliability of detection is ensured.

The printer 401 has a pressing member 460 to which the light emitting element 459a and the light receiving element 459b are fixed. In this case, both the suppression of the spread of the roll paper R and the position detection of the rotation center Rx can be realized.

In S2 (deriving process), the control unit 90 includes a signal indicating the amount of received light received from the light receiving element 459b, information on the product number of the roll paper R included in the recording command received in S1, and information on the product number of the roll paper R (information on the thickness of the paper P). The remaining amount of the roll paper R is derived based on the above. In this case, the remaining amount of the roll paper R (the length of the paper P constituting the roll paper R) can be accurately derived by considering the thickness of the paper P.

Further, the control unit 90 receives a signal indicating the amount of light received from the light receiving element 459b in S2 (deriving process) and information on the product number of the roll paper R included in the recording command received in S1 (information on the inner diameter of the roll paper R). ) And the remaining amount of the roll paper R is derived. In this case, the remaining amount of the roll paper R (the length of the paper P constituting the roll paper R) can be accurately derived by considering the inner diameter of the roll paper R.

The control unit 90 lowers the rotation speed of the transport motor 20M as the remaining amount of the roll paper R led out in S2 increases. If the rotation speed of the transport motor 20M is high when the remaining amount of the roll paper R is large, slippage may occur between the paper P and the roller pairs 21 to 23, and the transport accuracy may deteriorate. On the other hand, according to the above configuration, the larger the remaining amount of the roll paper R, the lower the rotation speed of the transport motor 20M, so that slippage between the paper P and the roller pairs 21 to 23 is less likely to occur, and the paper is conveyed. Deterioration of accuracy can be suppressed.

<Modification example>
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made as long as it is described in the claims.

The medium support portion is not limited to having a plurality of rotating members (for example, a pair of rollers 55 in each of the above embodiments), and may be formed of, for example, the bottom surface of the cassette body 50.

In the first embodiment (FIG. 3), a light emitting element 59a is provided on the first guide surface 51a and a light receiving element 59b is provided on the second guide surface 52a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the sensor may be a reflection type optical sensor, and a light emitting element 59a and a light receiving element 59b may be provided on one of the first guide surface 51a and the second guide surface 52a.

In the second embodiment (FIG. 6), the light emitting element 259a comes into contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R below the rotation center Rx, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light emitting element 259a may come into contact with the upper end Ry of the roll paper R.

In the second embodiment (FIG. 7), the light emitting element 259a comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R and can move in the vertical direction according to the change in the remaining amount of the roll paper R, while the light receiving element 259b has the light receiving element 259b. It does not come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R (that is, only the light emitting element 259a corresponds to the “detection element” of the present invention), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sensor is a reflective optical sensor, and both the light emitting element 259a and the light receiving element 259b come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper R and move in the vertical direction according to a change in the remaining amount of the roll paper R. A possible configuration (that is, both the light emitting element 259a and the light receiving element 259b correspond to the "detection element" of the present invention) may be used.

In the third embodiment (FIG. 8), the sensor 359 has four switch elements 359a-359d, but is not limited thereto. For example, the sensor may have only one switch element.

In the third embodiment (FIG. 8), the switch elements 359a to 359d are arranged below the roll paper R, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the switch elements 359a to 359d may be arranged above the roll paper R.

The sensor is not limited to the optical type, and may be a magnetic type or the like.

The notification in the notification processing is not limited to the image display on the display 70 as in the above-described embodiment, and may be a voice output. Alternatively, an image showing the remaining amount may be recorded on the roll medium before the roll medium is replaced, or an image showing the remaining amount may be recorded on the roll medium immediately before the paper runs out.

The timing of notification is arbitrary, and may be immediately before the paper runs out. In addition, notification (for example, notification of FULL, MID, MIN, etc. depending on the remaining amount) may be performed at all times.

In the above-described embodiment (FIG. 5), the control unit receives information on the thickness of the recording medium as information included in the recording command, but is not limited thereto. The control unit may receive information on the thickness of the recording medium by receiving a signal from the thickness sensor that detects the thickness of the recording medium.

Further, in the above-described embodiment (FIG. 5), the control unit receives information regarding the inner diameter of the roll medium as information included in the recording command, but is not limited thereto. The control unit may receive information on the inner diameter of the roll medium by receiving a signal from the inner diameter detection sensor that detects the inner diameter of the roll medium.

The roll medium has the core member Rc in the above-described embodiment, but the core member Rc may be omitted.

The recording medium is not limited to paper, and may be, for example, cloth, a substrate, or the like.

The recording unit may discharge a liquid other than the ink (for example, a processing liquid that aggregates or precipitates components in the ink). Further, the recording unit is not limited to the liquid ejection method, and may be a laser method, a thermal transfer method, or the like.

The present invention is not limited to printers, and can be applied to facsimiles, copiers, multifunction devices, and the like.

1a housing 1m paper cassette (media cassette)
20 Conveying mechanism 21-23 Roller vs. 20M Conveying motor 30 Head (recording unit)
51 1st side guide 51a 1st guide surface 52 2nd side guide 52a 2nd guide surface 55 Roller (rotating member, medium support part)
55x Axle 59 Sensor 59a Light emitting element (detection element)
59b Light receiving element (detection element)
90 Control unit 259 Sensor 259a Light emitting element (detection element)
359 sensor 359a to 359d Switch element (detection element)
401 Printer (recording device)
459 Sensor 459a Light emitting element (detection element)
459b Light receiving element (detection element)
460 Presser member 460 x Axial center P paper (recording medium)
R roll paper (roll medium)
Ra One end surface Rb The other end surface Rx Rotation center

Claims (12)

A medium cassette containing a roll medium in which the recording medium is wound in a roll shape.
A medium support portion that rotatably supports the roll medium and is configured such that the center of rotation of the roll medium is lowered as the remaining amount of the roll medium decreases.
A sensor that outputs a signal regarding the position of the center of rotation,
A medium cassette characterized by being equipped with. A first side guide having a first guide surface facing an axial end surface along the rotation center of the roll medium, and a first side guide.
A second side guide having a second guide surface facing the other end surface in the axial direction of the roll medium is further provided.
The medium cassette according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a detection element provided on at least one of the first guide surface and the second guide surface. The medium cassette according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a detection element that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll medium and can move in the vertical direction according to a change in the remaining amount. The medium cassette according to claim 3, wherein the detection element comes into contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll medium below the center of rotation. The sensor is a detection element that outputs one of the ON signal and the OFF signal when it comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll medium and outputs the other of the ON signal and the OFF signal when it does not come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll medium. The medium cassette according to claim 1, wherein the medium cassette is provided. The medium cassette according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of detection elements are arranged at different positions in the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction along the rotation center of the roll medium. The medium support portion is a plurality of rotating members arranged at different positions in the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction along the rotation center of the roll medium, and each of the rotation centers on the outer peripheral surface of the roll medium. Any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has a plurality of rotating members that are in contact with a portion below the roll medium and that can rotate about an axial center parallel to the axial direction according to the rotation of the roll medium. The medium cassette according to item 1. A medium cassette containing a roll medium in which a recording medium is wound in a roll shape, and a medium cassette.
A housing to which the medium cassette can be attached and detached is provided.
The medium cassette is
It has a medium support portion that rotatably supports the roll medium and is configured so that the center of rotation of the roll medium is lowered as the remaining amount of the roll medium decreases.
In the housing
A transport mechanism that feeds and transports the recording medium from the roll medium supported by the medium support portion, and
A recording unit that records an image on the recording medium that has been fed and transported by the transport mechanism, and a recording unit.
A control unit that controls the transport mechanism and the recording unit, and
A sensor that outputs a signal regarding the position of the center of rotation to the control unit is provided.
The control unit
Derivation processing for deriving the remaining amount based on the signal, and
A recording device characterized by executing a notification process for notifying the remaining amount derived in the derivation process. A pressing member that comes into contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roll medium above the center of rotation and suppresses expansion in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction along the center of rotation of the roll medium. Further provided with a holding member that can swing around an axial center parallel to the axial direction according to a change.
The recording device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor has a detection element that is fixed to the presser member and moves in response to the swing of the presser member. The control unit
Further executing the first reception process for receiving the information regarding the thickness of the recording medium,
The recording device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein in the derivation process, the remaining amount is derived based on the signal and the information received in the first reception process. The control unit
A second reception process for receiving information about the inner diameter of the roll medium is further executed.
The recording device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein in the derivation process, the remaining amount is derived based on the signal and the information received in the second reception process. .. The transport mechanism
A pair of rollers that can rotate while sandwiching the recording medium,
It has a transport motor that drives at least one of the roller pairs.
The recording device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the control unit lowers the rotation speed of the transfer motor as the remaining amount derived in the derivation process increases.

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