JP2022063973A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printing device that can prevent a recording paper ejected from an upper first printing unit from getting jammed in the vicinity of a paper ejection part of a lower second printing unit.SOLUTION: A printing device 10 comprises: a first printing unit 30 and a second printing unit 32 arranged below the first printing unit. Further the printing device 10 comprises: a paper ejection guide 38 that forms a paper ejection passage 42 which guides a recording paper ejected from a first paper ejection part 30a of the first printing unit 30 and from a second paper ejection part 32a of the second printing unit 32 and falling down, to a paper ejection tray 36; and an entry-preventing member 74 which can be displaced in a direction for a tip part thereof to separate from or approach the second paper ejection part 32a in accordance with pressing force received from the recording paper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and in particular, for example, a first printing unit that prints an image on a first recording paper unwound from a roll paper, and a second printing unit that is arranged below the first printing unit to print an image. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus including a second printing unit.

An example of a conventional printing apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The printing apparatus of Patent Document 1 is a plurality of printers (printing units) of the same type, in which a long hole-shaped ejection port for ejecting printed recording paper to the outside is formed on the front surface so that the longitudinal direction thereof is horizontal. ) Are stacked in the vertical direction, and are the front of other printers except the output tray located on the front of the printer located on the bottom layer and one printer located on the bottom layer. It is equipped with a paper ejection guide that can be attached to each part. This paper ejection guide is provided on the rectangular tubular main body portion constituting the tunnel (paper ejection passage) through which the recording paper passes with a margin, and on the side wall portion of the main body portion, and the entrance of the tunnel is on the upper side and the exit in the vertical direction. Is formed on the side wall of the main body and the mounting part that attaches the main body to the front of the printer so that is on the lower side. It consists of an opening (reception port) that receives the printed recording paper discharged from the paper discharge section and guides it into the tunnel. Further, an eave protruding into the tunnel is formed at the upper edge portion of the opening formed in the main body portion on the tunnel side. This eave prevents the printed recording paper discharged from the paper ejection port from being guided to the entrance side of the tunnel.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-8394

In a printing unit (so-called roll paper printer) that prints an image on a recording paper drawn from a roll paper, the amount of curl of the printed recording paper has a characteristic that the amount of curl increases as it approaches the core portion of the roll paper. Here, when the heavily curled recording paper is ejected from the upper first printing unit, it falls so as to rotate along the curl direction, and the tip of the recording paper is ejected from the lower second printing unit. There is a risk that the recording paper may not reach the output tray because it may get caught in the vicinity of the section (paper ejection section or receiving port) and get caught. However, the eaves of the technique of Patent Document 1 cannot appropriately prevent such a situation.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a novel printing apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of preventing the recording paper ejected from the upper first printing unit from being jammed around the ejection portion of the lower second printing unit.

The first invention is a first printing unit that prints an image on a first recording paper unwound from a roll paper, and a second printing unit that is arranged below the first printing unit and prints an image on a second recording paper. A printing device including the above, which is formed on the side surface of the first printing unit and has a side surface on the same side as the first printing unit for discharging the printed first recording paper and the first printing unit of the second printing unit. The first recording paper and the second paper ejection unit formed in the above and provided below the second paper ejection unit and the second paper ejection unit for ejecting the printed second recording paper, and ejected from the first paper ejection unit. It has a paper ejection tray on which both of the second printing papers ejected from the section are loaded, a first guide wall provided so as to face the first printing section and the second printing section and extending in the vertical direction. With the output guide forming the output passage for guiding the first recording paper and the second recording paper that are ejected from the first output unit and the second output unit and move to the output tray, and the second output unit. A printing apparatus provided so as to face each other and provided with an entry prevention member capable of dislocating the tip portion in a direction away from and approaching the second paper ejection portion according to a pressing force received from the first recording paper or the second recording paper. Is.

According to the first invention, since the entry prevention member is provided at a position facing the second output sheet, it is possible to prevent the first recording paper from entering the vicinity of the output section of the second printing unit, and the first recording can be performed. It is possible to appropriately prevent the paper from being jammed in the paper ejection passage.

The second invention is subordinate to the first invention, and the entry prevention member is provided so as to project diagonally downward from the upper side of the second paper ejection portion toward the first guide wall into the paper ejection passage.

The third invention is dependent on the first or second invention, the paper ejection guide has a second guide wall facing the first guide wall, and the base end portion of the entry prevention member is the second guide wall. Attached to.

The fourth invention is subordinate to any one of the first to third inventions, and the paper ejection guide has a receiving port for receiving the second recording paper discharged from the second paper ejection unit, and is a entry prevention member. The base end is attached to the upper edge of the inlet.

The fifth invention is dependent on the fourth invention, and the entry prevention member has a size such that the tip portion thereof can abut on the lower edge portion of the receiving port.

The sixth invention is dependent on any one of the first to fifth inventions, and the entry prevention member is formed by a thin plate-shaped elastic member.

The seventh invention is subordinate to the third invention, and the second guide wall is rotatably provided with respect to the first guide wall.

According to the present invention, since the entry prevention member is provided at a position facing the second output sheet, it is possible to prevent the first recording paper from entering the vicinity of the output section of the second printing unit, and the first recording paper can be formed. It is possible to appropriately prevent clogging in the paper ejection passage.

The above-mentioned object, other object, feature and advantage of the present invention will be further clarified from the detailed description of the examples described below with reference to the drawings.

It is a front view which shows the printing apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus with the front door open. It is a perspective view which shows the peripheral part of the paper ejection guide of a printing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the peripheral part of the paper ejection guide in the state which the opening / closing member is open. It is a perspective view which shows the front side (inner surface side) of an opening / closing member. It is a perspective view which shows the back side of the opening / closing member. It is sectional drawing which shows the peripheral part of the paper ejection guide of a printing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the 1st recording paper of 2L size with a large curl amount is ejected into the output guide. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the 2nd recording paper of L size with a small curl amount is ejected into the output guide. It is a perspective view which shows the front side (inner surface side) of the opening / closing member provided in the printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the peripheral part of the paper ejection guide of a printing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the 1st recording paper of L size with a small curl amount is ejected into the output guide. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the 1st recording paper of 2L size with a large curl amount is ejected into the output guide.

[First Example]
With reference to FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a photo printing unit 18 including a first printing unit 30 and a second printing unit 32, and prints a photo or the like. A device that provides services to users. In this embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 is a multimedia kiosk terminal arranged in a store such as a supermarket, a restaurant and a convenience store, and a public facility such as a station, a bus terminal, an airport, a government office and a library, and is a printing service. In addition, it is possible to provide various information or predetermined products or services according to the place where they are placed to the user. Further, the printing apparatus 10 constitutes an image forming system together with a multifunction device (not shown) having a printer function, a facsimile function, a copying function, a scanner function, and the like, and cooperates with the multifunction device to copy, fax, scan, and perform. It is also possible to provide a predetermined service such as printing to a user.

First, the basic configuration of the printing apparatus 10 will be briefly described. In this specification, the surface facing the user's standing position, that is, the surface on the side where the operation surface (display surface) of the input device 20 described later is provided is set as the front surface (front surface), and the front and rear of the printing device 10 and its constituent members are used. Specify the direction (depth direction). Further, the left-right direction (horizontal direction) of the printing device 10 and its constituent members is defined based on the state in which the user sees the printing device 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printing apparatus 10 includes a housing 12. A front door 14 forming a part of the housing 12 is provided on the front surface of the housing 12 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge or the like. A control unit (not shown) including a CPU and the like, a money processing unit 16, a photo printing unit 18, and the like are built in the housing 12. Further, an input device 20, a storage medium connection unit 22, a paper piece printer 24, a code reading unit 26, a short-range communication unit 28, and the like are provided on the upper part of the housing 12.

The control unit transmits a control signal to each part of the printing device 10 in response to an input operation from the user to the input device 20, and causes the printing device 10 to perform various operations.

The money processing unit 16 includes a money input unit 16a and a coin return port 16b. Each of the coin insertion unit 16a and the coin return port 16b is provided in the front door 14. The coin slot 16a includes a coin slot, a bill slot, a change return lever, and the like, and is arranged above the front door 14. On the other hand, the coin return port 16b is arranged at the lower part of the front door 14.

The photo printing unit 18 includes a first printing unit 30 and a second printing unit 32 stacked in the vertical direction. In this first embodiment, the first printing unit 30 is arranged on the upper side, and the second printing unit 32 is arranged on the lower side.

Each of the first printing unit 30 and the second printing unit 32 is a sublimation printer or an inkjet printer (particularly an inkjet printer using dye ink) that prints an image on the recording paper unwound from the roll paper (recording paper roll). It is a roll paper printer for photographs. As the recording paper, a photo paper such as glossy paper or a sticker paper which is a paper for a label / sticker is used. In this embodiment, the first printing unit 30 is a sticker printer that prints an image on a sticker paper, and the second printing unit 32 is a photo printer that prints an image on a photo paper. Further, each of the first printing unit 30 and the second printing unit 32 has a cutter inside the unit, and the image is printed and the recording paper cut to a predetermined size is discharged to the outside of the unit. The size of the printed recording paper discharged from the first printing unit 30 and the second printing unit 32 is an L size (89 mm × 127 mm), a 2 L size (178 mm × 127 mm), or the like.

On the side surface of the first printing unit 30, a first paper ejection unit 30a for ejecting the printed recording paper (first recording paper) is formed. Further, on the side surface of the second printing unit 32, a second paper ejection unit 32a for ejecting the printed recording paper (second recording paper) is formed. The first paper ejection portion 30a and the second paper ejection portion 32a are formed in a horizontally long rectangular frame shape and are arranged so as to face the same direction. In this embodiment, each of the first paper ejection unit 30a and the second paper ejection unit 32a is arranged on the front side of each of the first printing unit 30 and the second printing unit 32. Further, in the first printing unit 30 and the second printing unit 32, paper ejection rollers 30b and 32b (see FIG. 8) are provided at positions near the first paper ejection unit 30a and the second paper ejection unit 32a, respectively. Be done.

Further, the photo printing unit 18 includes a paper ejection tray 36 and a paper ejection guide 38. The output tray 36 is a portion for receiving (accommodating) printed recording paper (first recording paper and second recording paper) discharged from the first output unit 30a and the second output unit 32a. It is provided below the second paper ejection portion 32a. The paper output tray 36 is formed in the shape of a bottomed rectangular cylinder with an upper opening, and the front wall 36a (see FIG. 8) is provided so as to incline forward as it goes upward. The printed recording paper is loaded so as to lean against the upper surface (inner surface) of the front wall 36a. Further, the upper opening of the output tray 36 communicates with the print outlet 40 arranged side by side on the right side of the coin return port 16b, and the printed recording paper loaded on the output tray 36 is this. It can be taken out from the print outlet 40. By arranging the print outlet 40 side by side with the coin return port 16b, unlike the case where the print outlet 40 is arranged under the coin return port 16b, the coin return port 16b and the print outlet 40 have the same viewing angle. Since both can be visually recognized, it is possible to reduce forgetting to take either change or printing paper.

The paper ejection guide 38 forms in the housing 12 a paper ejection passage 42 for guiding the printed recording paper ejected from the first paper ejection unit 30a and the second paper ejection unit 32a to the paper ejection tray 36. Is. The printed recording paper is guided to the paper ejection tray 36 by falling and moving in an upright posture on the paper ejection passage 42 formed in the paper ejection guide 38. The specific configuration of the paper ejection guide 38 will be described later.

The image data for forming an image on the recording paper in the photo printing unit 18 (first printing unit 30 and second printing unit 32) is an image stored in the storage medium connected to the storage medium connecting unit 22. Data or image data transmitted from an external computer such as a server is used.

The input device 20 is a display with a touch panel, which is an operation unit that accepts input operations from the user and is also a display device that displays predetermined information to the user. As the display, for example, an LCD or an EL (Electro-Luminescence) display can be used. Further, as the touch panel, any method such as a capacitance method, an electromagnetic induction method, a resistance film method, and an infrared method can be used. In the input device 20 of the first embodiment, a capacitive touch panel is used as the touch panel, and the touch panel is provided on the display surface of the display. However, a touch panel display in which the touch panel and the display are integrally formed may be used.

The storage medium connection unit 22 includes a mounting unit for mounting (connecting) various storage media, and in the first embodiment, includes an optical disk connection unit (optical drive) and a memory connection unit (memory slot unit). Optical discs such as CD-R, DVD-R, and BD-R can be attached to the optical disc connection portion. A portable non-volatile memory such as a USB memory, an SD memory card, or a memory stick can be attached to the memory connection portion.

The paper piece printer 24 is, for example, a thermal printer (heat sensitive printer) or a dot impact printer, and issues a piece of paper on which an image such as a receipt, a journal, or a coupon is printed. The paper piece printer 24 prints various character strings, images, code patterns, etc. on the roll paper, and discharges the printed paper pieces from the paper piece ejection unit 24a.

The code reading unit 26 includes a laser scanner, a camera, and the like, and can read a code attached to a product, a product package, a card, a receipt, or the like, or a code displayed on the screen of a user terminal (mobile terminal). Codes that can be read by the code reader 26 include barcodes or two-dimensional codes (for example, QR code (registered trademark), micro QR code, DataMATRIX, MaxiCODE, VeriCODE, etc.).

The short-range communication unit 28 performs wireless non-contact data communication with a communication target in accordance with a communication standard such as ISO / IEC18092 (so-called NFC (Near Field Communication)). For example, the short-range communication unit 28 communicates with an IC card, a mobile terminal (feature phone, smartphone, tablet PC, etc.), an ID card, a membership card, an employee ID card, or the like in accordance with a communication standard such as FeliCa (registered trademark). Wireless non-contact data communication between them. Further, the communication target for which the short-range communication unit 28 performs data communication includes a so-called electronic money medium, and the short-range communication unit 28 also functions as an electronic money reading unit.

Next, the configuration of the paper ejection guide 38 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. As described above, the paper ejection guide 38 is ejected from the printed first recording paper discharged from the first paper ejection unit 30a of the first printing unit 30 and from the second paper ejection unit 32a of the second printing unit 32. It is a member that forms a paper ejection passage 42 in the housing 12 for guiding the printed second recording paper to the paper ejection tray 36. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the first recording paper and the second recording paper, the first recording paper and the second recording paper may be collectively referred to as "recording paper".

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the paper ejection guide 38 is generally formed in the shape of a rectangular cylinder having upper and lower openings, and is attached to the inner surface side of the front door 14. Specifically, the paper ejection guide 38 sandwiches the front and back surfaces of the recording paper to guide the recording paper, the first guide wall 50 and the second guide wall 52, and the widthwise side edge of the recording paper. A first side wall 54 and a second side wall 56 for guiding are provided. In this first embodiment, the second guide wall 52, the first side wall 54, and the second side wall 56 are integrally formed to form the opening / closing member 58. The opening / closing member 58 is provided so as to be laterally openable with respect to the first guide wall 50 via a hinge portion 60 (rotational fulcrum) provided on the left side portion of the paper ejection guide 38 so as to extend in the vertical direction. .. That is, the second guide wall 52 is rotatably provided with respect to the first guide wall 50, and the paper ejection passage 42 can be opened by rotating the second guide wall 52 (opening / closing member 58). be. Therefore, even if the recording paper is jammed in the paper ejection guide 38, the jammed recording paper can be easily removed (that is, the jam treatment is easy).

The first guide wall 50 constitutes the front wall of the paper ejection guide 38, and is provided so as to face the first paper ejection portion 30a and the second paper ejection portion 32a and extend in the vertical direction. The second guide wall 52 constitutes the rear wall of the paper ejection guide 38 so as to face the first guide wall 50 at a predetermined interval, that is, the first paper ejection portion 30a and the second ejection portion 30a and the second ejection from the first guide wall 50. It is provided so as to extend in the vertical direction at the position on the paper portion 32a side. A plurality of guide ribs 50a and 52a are formed on the paper guide surfaces of the first guide wall 50 and the second guide wall 52 so as to be arranged at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction (that is, in the width direction of the recording paper) and extend in the vertical direction. .. Further, the first side wall 54 constitutes the left wall of the paper ejection guide 38, and the second side wall 56 constitutes the right wall of the paper ejection guide 38.

Further, the upper opening of the paper ejection guide 38 serves as a first receiving port 64 for receiving the first recording paper ejected from the first paper ejection unit 30a. The upper end of the second guide wall 52, that is, the opening edge of the first receiving port 64 on the first paper ejection portion 30a side is an inclined surface having a downward slope toward the first guide wall 50. Is a mounting portion 66 for mounting the guide member 72 described later. Further, the second guide wall 52 is formed with a horizontally long rectangular opening at a position facing the second paper ejection portion 32a, and this opening allows the second recording paper discharged from the second paper ejection portion 32a to be formed. It becomes the second receiving entrance 68 to accept. Further, the lower opening of the paper ejection guide 38 serves as an ejection port 70 for ejecting the recording paper received in the paper ejection guide 38 from the first inlet 64 and the second inlet 68 toward the paper ejection tray 36.

Further, the first side wall 54 and the second side wall 56 have downwardly downward inclined portions 54a, 56a, which are central portions in the vertical direction and are inclined toward the right side toward the lower side on the upper side of the second entrance 68. Is formed. That is, the paper ejection passage 42 formed by the paper ejection guide 38 is bent to the right in the central portion in the vertical direction, and the recording paper that falls and moves down the paper ejection passage 42 moves to the right while moving. Fall (guided to the right). By bending the paper ejection guide 38 to the right in this way, the paper ejection tray 36 and the print outlet 40 can be arranged at a position on the right side of the front door 14, that is, a position on the right side of the coin return port 16b. It will be possible.

Further, the distance between the first guide wall 50 and the second guide wall 52 (that is, the size of the paper ejection passage 42 in the thickness direction of the recording paper) is such that even when the maximum size of the applicable recording paper is curled by the maximum amount. It is set to a size that allows it to pass through. In this first embodiment, the distance between the first guide wall 50 and the second guide wall 52 is set to a size that allows a 2 L size recording paper having a maximum expected curl amount to pass through, for example, 80 mm. Is.

In such a printing apparatus 10, when the first recording paper that has been largely curled is ejected from the first printing unit 30, it falls so as to rotate along the curl direction, and the tip portion of the first recording paper is second. There is a possibility that the first recording paper may not reach the output tray 36 because the printing unit 32 may get caught in the vicinity of the output unit (second output unit 32a or the second receiving port 68).

Therefore, in this first embodiment, by providing the paper ejection guide 38 entry prevention member 74, the curled first recording paper may enter the second paper ejection unit 32a or the second receiving port 68 and be caught. I made it possible to prevent it. Hereinafter, the configuration of the entry prevention member 74 will be described.

As can be clearly seen from FIGS. 6 to 8, in the first embodiment, the entry prevention member 74 is provided at a position facing the second paper ejection unit 32a (front side of the second paper ejection unit 32a). In the entry prevention member 74, the first recording paper discharged from the first paper ejection unit 30a enters the second receiving port 68 or the second paper ejection unit 32a while moving down in the paper ejection passage 42 and is caught. It is a member to prevent it from being stored. In this second embodiment, a mounting portion 76 for mounting the entry prevention member 74 is formed on the upper edge portion of the second receiving port 68 and on the back surface side of the second guide wall 52.

The entry prevention member 74 is a rectangular thin plate-shaped elastic member made of resin. The entry prevention member 74 is attached so that the tip end thereof is a free end with respect to the attachment portion 76 formed on the paper ejection guide 38, and is oblique from the upper side of the second paper ejection portion 32a toward the first guide wall 50. It is provided so as to project downward into the paper ejection passage 42. The entry prevention member 74 is elastically deformed by the amount of bending according to the pressing force received from the first recording paper or the second recording paper, so that the tip portion can be displaced in a direction away from and close to the second paper ejection portion 32a. be.

Specifically, the entry prevention member 74 is formed in a strip shape (elongated rectangular shape) by PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and the two entry prevention members 74 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the paper ejection passage 42. It is provided in. The entry prevention member 74 has a vertical piece portion 74a extending in the vertical direction and an overhanging portion 74b bent from the lower end of the vertical piece portion 74a and extending diagonally downward. The base end portion (upper end portion of the vertical piece portion 74a) of the entry prevention member 74 is fixed to the mounting portion 76 using double-sided tape, a hook-and-loop fastener, an adhesive, or the like. Further, the tip of the entry prevention member 74 extends to an intermediate position between the first guide wall 50 and the second guide wall 52. At this time, the size (length) of the entry prevention member 74 is set so that the tip portion can come into contact with the lower edge portion of the second receiving port 68. As a result, the lower edge portion of the second receiving port 68 functions as a stopper portion for restricting the elastic deformation of the entry prevention member 74 toward the second paper ejection portion 32a, and the tip portion of the entry prevention member 74 is the second. It is prevented from entering the reception port 68, and by extension, the entry of the first recording paper into the second reception port 68 is surely prevented.

Further, the inclination angle θ1 of the overhanging portion 74b of the entry prevention member 74 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 45 degrees or more and 75 degrees or less in consideration of the guide function described later of the entry prevention member 74. In this second embodiment, the inclination angle θ1 is 60 degrees. Further, the thickness of the entry prevention member 74 is set so that it can be appropriately elastically deformed according to the pressing force received from the first recording paper and the second recording paper as described later. In the case of the entry prevention member 74 made of PET, the thickness thereof is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and in this first embodiment, it is 0.2 mm.

Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the operation of the entry prevention member 74 when the first recording paper and the second recording paper fall and move will be described. FIG. 9 shows the operation of the entry prevention member 74 when the 2L size first recording paper having a large curl amount is discharged from the first paper ejection unit 30a. FIG. 10 shows the operation of the entry prevention member 74 when the L-size second recording paper is ejected from the second ejection portion 32a.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the 2L size first recording paper discharged from the first paper ejection unit 30a falls toward the second paper ejection unit 32a, the entry prevention member 74 is subjected to the first recording. The contact with the paper prevents the first recording paper from entering the second receiving port 68 or the second paper ejection portion 32a. At this time, the entry prevention member 74 is elastically deformed so as to bend due to the pressing force received from the first recording paper, and the tip portion is displaced in the direction approaching the second paper ejection portion 32a (direction away from the first guide wall 50). do. That is, a large gap is formed between the tip of the entry prevention member 74 and the first guide wall 50 so that even a large curled 2L size first recording paper can pass through. After the first recording paper has passed through the entry prevention member 74, the tip portion thereof is displaced in a direction away from the second paper ejection portion 32a and returns to the original state.

Further, when the entry prevention member 74 comes into contact with the first recording paper, the entry prevention member 74 pushes the first recording paper back toward the first guide wall 50. That is, the entry prevention member 74 also functions as a guide member that brings the first recording paper closer to the first guide wall 50 side. As a result, the falling posture of the first recording paper becomes more stable, and the first recording paper is appropriately stacked on the output tray 36. That is, the stackability of the first recording paper with respect to the output tray 36 is improved.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, when the L-size second recording paper is ejected from the second ejection unit 32a, the tip of the second recording paper is subjected to the conveying force by the ejection roller 32b. The portion comes into contact with the entry prevention member 74. Then, the entry prevention member 74 is elastically deformed so as to be bent by the pressing force received from the second recording paper, and the tip portion is displaced in the direction away from the second paper ejection portion 32a. Then, the second recording paper is guided downward. That is, the entry prevention member 74 also functions as a guide member that guides the second recording paper so as to bend downward and prevents the second recording paper from colliding linearly with the first guide wall 50.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the entry prevention member 74 is provided at the position facing the second paper ejection unit 32a, the first recording paper is placed around the paper ejection portion of the second printing unit 32. It is possible to prevent it from entering, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the first recording paper from being jammed in the paper ejection passage 42. Further, the entry prevention member 74 exerts a guide function, so that the stackability of the first recording paper and the second recording paper with respect to the output tray 36 can be improved.

The specific configuration of the entry prevention member 74 is merely an example, and the number, shape, and size of the entry prevention member 74 can be appropriately changed.

For example, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the entry prevention member 74 has a bent shape, but the entire entry prevention member 74 can be formed into a flat plate shape. Specifically, an eaves portion having an inclined surface having a downward slope toward the first guide wall 50 on the upper surface of the upper edge portion of the second inlet 68 and on the front side of the second guide wall 52 is formed. The upper surface of the eaves portion is used as a mounting portion for mounting the entry prevention member 74. Then, it is preferable to attach the flat plate-shaped entry prevention member 74 to the attachment portion so as to project diagonally downward toward the first guide wall 50 into the paper ejection passage 42.

Further, the entry prevention member 74 does not necessarily have to be provided so as to project into the paper ejection passage 42, and the flat plate-shaped entry prevention member 74 may be provided vertically downward from the upper edge portion of the second receiving port 68. .. In this case, the guide function for moving the first recording paper toward the first guide wall 50 side is eliminated, but the intrusion prevention function for the first recording paper and the guide function for the second recording paper are appropriately exhibited.

[Second Example]
Next, the printing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. This second embodiment is different from the above-mentioned first embodiment in that the guide member 72 is further provided. Since the other parts are the same, the description overlapping with the first embodiment described above will be omitted or simplified.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the guide member 72 is a member for guiding the first recording paper so that the first recording paper falls and moves along the first guide wall 50, and is the first paper discharge. It is provided so as to project diagonally downward into the paper ejection passage 42 from the lower side of the portion 30a toward the first guide wall 50. In this second embodiment, the guide member 72 is a rectangular thin plate-shaped elastic member made of resin so that the tip portion thereof has a free end with respect to the mounting portion 66 of the paper ejection guide 38 (that is, a cantilever beam). (Like) can be attached. The guide member 72 is elastically deformed by the amount of bending according to the pressing force received from the first recording paper, so that the tip portion thereof can be displaced in a direction away from and close to the first guide wall 50.

Specifically, the guide member 72 of the first embodiment is formed by PET and is provided so as to cover substantially the entire length in the width direction (left-right direction) of the paper ejection passage 42. The base end portion 72a of the guide member 72 is fixed to the mounting portion 66 by using double-sided tape, a hook-and-loop fastener, an adhesive, or the like. Further, the tip 72b of the guide member 72 extends to a position where it abuts or is close to the guide rib 50a of the first guide wall 50.

The inclination angle θ2 of the guide member 72 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 45 degrees or more and 75 degrees or less. If the inclination angle θ2 is less than 45 degrees, the first recording paper may be caught on the guide member 72, and if the inclination angle θ2 exceeds 75 degrees, the first recording paper is guided to the first guide wall 50 side. Therefore, it becomes necessary to increase the size of the guide member 72. In this second embodiment, the tilt angle θ2 is 60 degrees. Further, the thickness of the guide member 72 is set so that the guide member 72 can be appropriately elastically deformed according to the pressing force received from the first recording paper, as described later. In the case of the guide member 72 made of PET, the thickness thereof is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and in this second embodiment, it is 0.2 mm.

Further, the guide member 72 has a slit 72c formed in a portion on the tip 72b side. In this second embodiment, the guide member 72 is formed with a plurality of slits 72c that are arranged in the left-right direction at predetermined intervals and extend from the tip end 72b of the guide member 72 toward the proximal end portion 72a. By forming the slit 72c, the guide member 72 is likely to bend in the portion where the slit 72c is formed (the portion on the tip 72b side). Further, the amount of deflection (displacement amount) of the guide member 72 can be adjusted by changing the number and size of the slits 72c.

Further, in the guide member 72 of the second embodiment, the base end portion 72a is bent with respect to the overhanging portion 72d into the paper ejection passage 42. However, the base end portion 72a may be formed linearly with respect to the overhanging portion 72d. That is, the entire guide member 72 can be formed in a flat plate shape.

Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the operation of the guide member 72 when the first recording paper falls and moves will be described. FIG. 13 shows the operation of the guide member 72 when the L-size first recording paper having a small curl amount is discharged from the first paper ejection unit 30a. FIG. 14 shows the operation of the guide member 72 when the first recording paper having a large curl amount and having a size of 2 L is discharged from the first paper ejection unit 30a.

As shown in FIG. 13, the L-size first recording paper discharged from the first paper ejection unit 30a falls and moves while changing the posture from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, and the paper ejection passage 42 from the first receiving port 64. It goes inside and brings its tip into contact with the guide member 72. Then, the guide member 72 is elastically deformed so as to be bent by the pressing force received from the first recording paper, and the tip portion is displaced in the direction away from the first guide wall 50. At this time, since the L-size first recording paper is relatively lightweight, the pressing force received by the guide member 72 from the first recording paper is relatively small, and the displacement amount (deflection amount) of the guide member 72 is also large. It gets smaller. Therefore, the first recording paper is guided to the vicinity of the first guide wall 50 by the guide member 72, and is first passed through the gap formed between the tip end 72b of the guide member 72 and the first guide wall 50. It falls along the guide wall 50. That is, the guide member 72 guides the first recording paper so that the first recording paper falls along the first guide wall 50. As a result, the falling posture of the first recording paper is stabilized, and the first recording paper is appropriately stacked on the output tray 36. That is, the stackability of the first recording paper with respect to the output tray 36 is improved. When the pressing force received from the first recording paper is released, the guide member 72 is displaced in the direction in which the tip portion approaches the first guide wall 50 and returns to the original state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, when the 2L size first recording paper having a large curl amount is ejected from the first paper ejection unit 30a, the 2L size first recording paper is relatively heavy and is also relatively heavy. Since the tip of the first recording paper comes into contact with the guide member 72 while receiving the conveying force of the paper ejection roller 30b, the pressing force received by the guide member 72 from the first recording paper becomes relatively large, and the guide The amount of displacement of the member 72 also increases. That is, a large gap is formed between the tip 72b of the guide member 72 and the first guide wall 50 so that even a large curled 2L size first recording paper can pass through. Then, this first recording paper is also guided to the vicinity of the first guide wall 50 by the guide member 72, and first passes through the gap formed between the tip end 72b of the guide member 72 and the first guide wall 50. It falls along the guide wall 50. As a result, the falling posture of the large curled 2L size first recording paper is stable, and the stackability with respect to the output tray 36 is improved.

Further, even if the first recording paper falls toward the second paper ejection portion 32a due to a problem in the guide member 72 or the like, the entry prevention member 74 allows the first recording paper to be inserted into the second receiving port. It is prevented from getting caught in the 68 or the second paper ejection portion 32a.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the entry prevention member 74 is provided as in the first embodiment, the first recording paper enters the second inlet 68 or the second discharge portion 32a. It is possible to prevent the first recording paper from being jammed in the paper ejection passage 42.

Further, according to the second embodiment, since the guide member 72 is provided on the paper ejection guide 38, the curled first recording paper is more appropriately prevented from being clogged in the paper ejection passage 42, and the first recording paper is prevented. The stacking property of the first recording paper with respect to the output tray 36 can be further improved by stabilizing the falling posture of the paper.

The specific configuration of the guide member 72 is merely an example, and the number, shape, and size of the guide member 72 can be appropriately changed.

For example, the guide member 72 does not necessarily have to be one, and a plurality of guide members 72 may be provided so as to be arranged in the width direction of the paper ejection passage 42.

Further, for example, a gap through which the first recording paper of L size can pass can be formed in advance between the tip 72b of the guide member 72 and the first guide wall 50. In this case, the guide member 72 is not displaced (elastically deformed) when the L size first recording paper is dropped and moved, and the guide member 72 is displaced and moved when the 2 L size first recording paper is dropped and moved. It is advisable to adjust the elasticity of the guide member 72 so that the gap becomes large.

[Third Example]
Subsequently, the printing apparatus 10 which is the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this third embodiment, the configuration for displacing the entry prevention member 74 is different from that of the first embodiment described above. Since the other parts are the same, the description overlapping with the first embodiment described above will be omitted or simplified.

Although not shown, the entry prevention member 74 of the third embodiment uses a hinge mechanism provided with a spring mechanism such as a torsion coil spring instead of being formed of a thin plate-shaped elastic member, and has a base end as a fulcrum. By rotating the entire surface, the tip portion can be displaced in a direction away from and close to the first guide wall 50 according to the pressing force received from the first recording paper.

Also in this third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the first recording paper from entering the second inlet 68 or the second paper ejection unit 32a, and the first recording paper is inside the paper ejection passage 42. Can be prevented from being clogged with.

As with the entry prevention member 74, the guide member 72 described above can also be displaced by using a hinge mechanism provided with a spring mechanism such as a torsion coil spring.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the printing device 10 including the first printing unit 30 and the second printing unit 32 is exemplified, but the printing device 10 does not necessarily have to include the second printing unit 32. Further, the printing apparatus 10 may include three or more printing units.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the paper ejection guide 38 is formed in a rectangular cylinder shape, but the paper ejection guide 38 does not necessarily have to have the second guide wall 52. The guide member 72 can also be attached to the lower edge portion (that is, the first printing unit 30) of the first paper ejection portion 30a. Further, the entry prevention member 74 can also be attached to the upper edge portion (that is, the second printing unit 32) of the second paper ejection portion 32a.

The specific component shapes and dimensions mentioned above are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed as needed, such as product specifications.

10 ... Printing device 12 ... Housing 14 ... Front door 30 ... 1st printing unit 30a ... 1st paper ejection unit 32 ... 2nd printing unit 32a ... 2nd paper ejection unit 36 ... Paper ejection tray 38 ... Paper ejection guide 42 ... Paper ejection passage 50 ... 1st guide wall 52 ... 2nd guide wall 64 ... 1st entrance 68 ... 2nd entrance (reception)
72… Guide member 74… Intrusion prevention member

Claims (7)

A printing apparatus including a first printing unit that prints an image on a first recording paper unwound from a roll paper, and a second printing unit that is arranged below the first printing unit and prints an image on a second recording paper. And
A first paper ejection unit formed on the side surface of the first printing unit and ejecting the printed first recording paper.
A second paper ejection unit formed on the side surface of the second printing unit on the same side as the first paper ejection unit and ejecting the printed second recording paper.
Both the first recording paper discharged from the first paper ejection section and the second recording paper ejected from the second paper ejection section are loaded below the second paper ejection section. Paper output tray,
It has a first guide wall provided so as to face the first paper ejection portion and the second paper ejection portion in the vertical direction, and is ejected from the first paper ejection portion and the second paper ejection portion. The first recording paper is provided so as to face the first recording paper and the second recording paper that fall and move, the paper ejection guide forming the paper ejection passage that guides the second recording paper to the paper ejection tray, and the second paper ejection portion. A printing device comprising an entry prevention member capable of dislocating the tip portion in a direction away from and approaching the second paper ejection portion in response to a pressing force received from the paper or the second recording paper. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the entry prevention member is provided so as to project diagonally downward from the upper side of the second paper ejection portion toward the first guide wall into the paper ejection passage. The paper ejection guide has a second guide wall facing the first guide wall, and has a second guide wall.
The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base end portion of the entry prevention member is attached to the second guide wall. The paper ejection guide has a receiving port for receiving the second recording paper ejected from the second paper ejection unit.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base end portion of the entry prevention member is attached to the upper edge portion of the receiving port. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein the entry prevention member has a size such that the tip end thereof can come into contact with the lower edge portion of the receiving port. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the entry prevention member is formed of a thin plate-shaped elastic member. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second guide wall is rotatably provided with respect to the first guide wall.

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