JP2572541Y2 - Roll paper support structure - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roll paper support structure applied to an image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus which uses roll paper as recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image recording apparatus using roll paper as a recording paper, the roll paper is set freely in a recording paper storage box provided in the apparatus main body, and the recording paper fed from the roll paper is conducted to a recording section. Usually, the recording paper fed from the roll paper has a problem in that the recording paper tends to have a curl when wound on the roll paper.

Therefore, many image recording apparatuses using roll paper are provided with measures for preventing curling of the recording paper fed from the roll paper. To prevent the curl, a paper guide (such as a V-shaped guide) for bending the recording paper in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the roll paper is provided in the recording paper feeding path, and the recording paper is appropriately moved along the paper guide. In general, a curl habit of a recording sheet is removed by conducting the sheet under tension under tension.

[0004]

However, there is a technical problem that the conventional curl prevention measures cannot obtain a uniform curl removing effect over the entire length of the recording paper fed from the roll paper. This is because the strength of the curl habit of the recording paper becomes stronger as the remaining diameter of the roll paper becomes smaller, while the curl removal strength given to the recording paper at the reverse curl portion of the paper guide is generally This is because a uniform curl removing effect cannot be obtained unless the tension of the recording paper is changed according to the roll paper diameter in proportion to the magnitude of the tension applied to the recording paper.

According to the present invention, based on the above-mentioned considerations, in order to impart a uniform curl removing effect to the recording paper fed from the roll paper, the recording paper is added to the fed recording paper as the remaining diameter of the roll paper becomes smaller. An object of the present invention is to provide a roll paper supporting structure in which the tension is automatically increased.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a roll paper supporting structure in which a holder is inserted from both sides into a space inside a core of a roll paper to support the roll paper rotatably around the holder. , The holders on both sides are attached to the device so as not to rotate, elastically deform in a state where the inner space of the roll paper core is inserted, and come into pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the roll core. An inner peripheral surface of the core is provided with an elastic member for imparting frictional resistance.

[0007]

With this support structure, when the recording paper is fed from the roll paper, the roll paper is rotated from both sides around the holder inserted into the inner space of the winding core. By the elastic member of the holder pressed into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the core, a substantially constant frictional resistance acts between the inner peripheral surface of the core and the holder. When the recording paper is normally fed, the torque by the frictional resistance and the torque by the feeding tension of the recording paper are balanced, and the recording paper is fed while rotating the roll paper. Therefore, according to this support structure, since the torque due to the frictional resistance is substantially constant, when the remaining diameter of the roll paper is large, the feeding tension applied to the recording paper is relatively small, and the remaining diameter of the roll paper becomes small. As the size becomes smaller, the tension variable characteristic that the feeding tension applied to the recording paper is gradually increased is obtained.

[0008]

1 shows an outline of a roll paper built-in type facsimile apparatus as a specific example of application of the roll paper support structure according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 5 show recording paper storage mounted on the facsimile apparatus. FIG. 2 shows details of a box and a roll support structure provided in the recording paper storage box.
Therefore, an outline of the entire apparatus will be described first with reference to FIG.

In this facsimile apparatus, a recording paper storage box 2 provided at the rear end of the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a roll paper R in which long recording paper (thermal paper) is wound around a core (paper tube) C. Is set rotatably. From the built-in roll paper R, the recording paper P is formed by a platen roller 3 provided in front of the roll paper R.
The recording paper is fed out through a paper path passage 13 above a paper guide 2 </ b> A which is integrally protruded from the upper end of the front of the recording paper storage box 2, and is printed by the thermal head 4 pressed against the lower surface of the platen roller 3.

At this time, the recording paper P which is fed out from the lower side of the roll paper R in the recording paper storage box 2 and is conducted to the paper path passage 13 above the paper guide 2A is at the upper edge 2a of the paper guide 2A. The portion is bent in the direction opposite to the winding direction of the roll paper R, and the curl removal having a strength corresponding to the feeding tension is given to the recording paper P at the reverse curl portion 2a.

Subsequently, the printed recording paper P printed by the thermal head 4 is conducted through the paper path passage 14 to the immediately following cutter unit 5 and cut, and then the printed and cut recording paper P is removed. Paper guides 12a, 1
After making a U-turn upward through a curved paper path path (U-turn discharge path) 15 formed between 2b, the recording paper is nipped by a paper discharge roller 6 and a pinch roller 7 provided at the outlet thereof to perform recording. The paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 8 onto a recording paper discharge unit 10 provided on a recording paper cover 9 that covers the top surface of the main body with the printing surface facing upward.

In the facsimile apparatus described above, the thermal head 4, the cutter unit 5, the paper path 13,
The paper guides 12a and the like disposed below the paper guides 14 and 15 are attached to the apparatus main body 1 while the platen roller 3, the paper discharge roller 6, the pinch roller 7, and the paper path passages 13, 14, and 15 are provided above the paper guides. Paper guide 1 to be placed
Reference numerals 2b and the like are attached to the recording paper cover 9 except for those formed integrally with the cutter unit 5.

The recording paper cover 9 has a hinge 11 on both sides of a rear end of a cover frame (not shown).
And is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the recording paper storage box 2 and a recording paper discharge path in front of the recording paper storage box 2. The document mount 16 is provided with a recording paper outlet 8 on the inner surface of the document mount 16.
Paper P discharged from the paper to the recording paper discharge unit 10 on the cover
A recording paper presser 17 that presses from above is swingably attached.

In addition, in FIG. 1, reference numerals 20 and 21 denote paper sensors provided in a feeding path and a discharging path of the recording paper P, and reference numeral 22 denotes a feeding original set in the original mounting section 16 and fed to a reading section. The transmitter at the front end of the device
Reference numeral 23 denotes an optical reading system provided in the main body 1 facing the reading unit of the transmission unit 22. Reference numeral 24 denotes a power supply unit mounted on the rear end of the apparatus main body 1.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the details of the recording paper storage box 2 mounted on the facsimile apparatus and the support structure of the roll paper R provided in the recording paper storage box 2 will be described. explain.

The recording paper storage box 2 is formed of a rectangular box with an open top, and is formed of a plastic integral molded product except for the bottom center portion formed by a separate bottom cover 2B. In the recording paper storage box 2, a holder support portion 30 for supporting a holder to be described later is recessed on an inner wall on the right side corresponding to a set reference end of the storage roll paper R, and on the opposite left side, A partition plate 31 for partitioning the inside of the box in the longitudinal direction in accordance with the width of the roll paper R is removably attached.

The details of the partition plate 31 and the mounting structure of the partition plate 31 to the recording paper storage box 2 are as follows.
The partition plate 31 is provided with a projection 32 below the front edge and a ridge 33 at the center of the rear edge. From the upper end of the rear edge portion, it is integrally formed with the partition plate 31 and can be tilted back and forth. Falling lever 3
4 protrudes upward, and a lock claw 35 protrudes from the trailing edge of the bent portion of the lever 34. On the other hand, at the position corresponding to the A4 width roll paper RA and the B4 width roll paper RB, the projection 32 of the partition plate 31 is fitted on the inner surface of the recording paper storage box 2 at the position corresponding to the A4 width roll paper RA and the B4 width roll paper RB. A hole 37 is provided in the upper portion of the rear wall portion with a groove 37 into which the ridge 33 of the partition plate 31 is fitted, and a lever 34 of the partition plate 31 is provided near the upper end of the groove 37.
Is provided with a hole 38 with which a lock claw 35 provided on the hole is engaged.

When attaching the partition plate 31 to the recording paper storage box 2, the projection 32 at the lower part of the front edge is inserted into the insertion hole 36.
Then, the ridge 33 at the center of the trailing edge is inserted into the groove 37 from above, and the mounting is completed with the lock claw 35 of the lever 34 engaged with the hole 38 of the groove 37. Also, when removing the partition plate 31 at the time of replacement, first use the lever 3
4 can be easily pulled out by pulling the lock claw 35 out of the hole 38 of the groove 37 by tilting the cover 4 forward, and then pulling the partition plate 31 upward.

On the right side wall of the partition plate 31, a pair of left and right holder supports 3 provided on the inner side wall on the right side of the recording paper storage box 2 is provided.
9 is recessed. The holder holder 39 and the holder holder 30 on the inner wall of the box not shown in FIG.
And have the same shape. A pair of holders 42 of the same type that support the axis of the roll paper R are detachably attached to the holder support 30 provided on the recording paper storage box 2 and the holder support 39 provided on the partition plate 31. Like that.

The holder 42 is, as shown in FIGS.
A cylindrical holder body 43 inserted into the inner space of the roll core (paper tube) C of the roll paper R, and a plate-shaped mounting piece 45 also serving as a handle for cantilevering the holder body 43 are integrated. At the bottom of the holder main body 43, a pressing claw (elastic member) 44 having a protrusion 44a bulging from the outside of the distal end portion is provided. When the holder main body 43 is inserted into the inner space of the core of the roll paper R, the protrusion 44 a provided at the tip of the holding claw 44 abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the core, and is elastically deformed inward. The portion 44a is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the winding core. On the other hand, an elongated bullet 46 whose lower end is bent inward from both sides thereof hangs down from the mounting piece portion 45, and a small projection 47 protrudes outward from the vicinity of the bent portion of each bullet 46.

The holder 42 has a holder mounting portion 45 provided in the recording paper storage box 2 with the holder body 43 inserted into the inner space of the core of the roll paper R.
And the holder support portion 39 provided on the partition plate 31 by being inserted from above and attached. At this time, the elastic pieces 46 provided on both sides of the mounting piece portion 45 enter while flexing along the stepped portions 40 formed on both sides of the holder support portions 30 and 39, and the small projections 47 of the elastic piece 46 are moved. The holder 42 is engaged with the holder supporting portions 30 and 39 at a predetermined mounting position while being elastically engaged with the engaging concave portion 41 provided on the step portion 40.

When the roll paper R is stored in the recording paper storage box 2, the holders 42 are inserted from both sides into the space inside the core of the roll paper R, and the holders 42 inserted on both sides of the roll paper R are inserted. Can be attached to and supported by a holder supporting portion 30 provided on the inner side wall on the right side of the recording paper storage box 2, and the other can be replaced on the left side of the recording paper storage box 2 according to the paper width of the roll paper R. It is attached to and supported by a holder supporting portion 39 provided on the side wall of the partition plate 31.

Thus, the roll paper R set in the recording paper storage box 2 is rotatably supported around the holder 42 inserted from both sides into the inner space of the winding core, and the presser provided with the holder 42 is provided. The claws 44 are elastically deformed, and the protrusions 4
The portion 4a is pressed against the inner surface of the core.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the roll paper supporting structure constructed as described above. In this structure, when the recording paper P is fed from the roll paper R by the rotation of the platen roller 3, the roll paper R is rotated around the holder 42 inserted into the core inner space from both sides. The presser claws 44 of the holder 42 pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the roll core at the protrusions 44a on the roll paper R, and the peripheral surface of the holder including the contact surfaces of the presser claws of the holders on both sides thereof and the inner peripheral surface of the core. A substantially constant frictional resistance, which is obtained by multiplying the contact pressure by the friction coefficient, acts on the contact area with the contact area. In the steady feeding state of the recording paper P, the torque T obtained by multiplying the frictional resistance by the radius of the inner surface of the winding core and the torque obtained by multiplying the feeding tension F of the recording paper P by the radius r of the roll paper R are balanced. The feeding tension F of the recording paper P satisfies the relationship of F = T / r, and the recording paper P is continuously fed from the roll paper R.

Therefore, according to this support structure, when the remaining diameter r (initial radius r0) of the roll paper R is large, the feeding tension F (initial tension F0) applied to the recording paper P is relatively small, and Remaining diameter r of roll paper R with consumption of paper P
Becomes smaller, the feeding tension F gradually increases (F> F
0) is obtained.

Therefore, if this supporting structure is adopted, the recording paper P which is unwound from the roll paper R and is conducted in tension on the upper end edge (reverse curl portion) 2a of the paper guide 2A is applied to the recording paper P. As the remaining diameter r decreases, a greater curl removing effect can be exerted, and thus a uniform curl removing effect can be obtained over the entire length of the recording paper P fed from the roll paper R.

It is needless to say that the recording paper reverse curling mechanism provided in combination with the roll paper supporting structure according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to the one shown in the embodiment. Also, the type of the elastic member provided on the holder inserted into the inner space of the core of the roll paper does not hinder a change from the example illustrated in the embodiment.

The roll paper support structure according to the present invention is not limited to the facsimile apparatus of the type described in the embodiment, but is applicable to an image recording apparatus of a type in which roll paper is incorporated as recording paper.
It is generally applicable as a countermeasure against curling of recording paper.

[0029]

As described above, according to the roll paper supporting structure of the present invention, when the remaining diameter of the roll paper is large, the feeding tension applied to the recording paper is relatively small, and the remaining diameter of the roll paper is small. As the distance decreases, the tension variable characteristic in which the feeding tension gradually increases is obtained. Therefore, if this support structure is used in combination with a reverse curl applying mechanism that reversely curls the recording paper fed from the roll paper in the feeding path, a uniform curl removing effect over the entire length of the recording paper P, which has not been realized until now, is obtained. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a facsimile apparatus showing an application example of a roll paper support structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the recording paper storage box shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the recording paper storage box shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the roll paper holder shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Recording paper storage box 2A Paper guide 2a Upper edge (reverse curl part) 2B Bottom cover 3 Platen roller 4 Thermal head 5 Cutter unit 9 Recording paper cover 30 Holder support part 31 Partition plate 39 Holder support part 42 Holder 43 Holder Main body 44 Elastic member (holding claw) 44a Projection 45 Mounting piece R Roll paper C Core (paper tube) P Recording paper

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A roll paper supporting structure in which a holder is inserted from both sides into an inner space of a roll paper core to support the roll paper rotatably around the holder. So that it is elastically deformed in a state where the inner space of the roll paper core is inserted and presses against the inner circumferential surface of the roll core. A support structure for roll paper, comprising: an elastic member that imparts the following.