JP2696820B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in the following order. A. Industrial application fields B. Summary of the invention C. Prior art [Fig. 5] D. Problems to be solved by the invention E. Means for solving the problems F. Action G. Embodiment [ 1 to 4] a. First state of use [FIGS. 1 and 2] b. Second state of use [FIGS. 3 and 4] H. Effects of the invention (A. Industrial BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer capable of printing from the start to the end without leaving an unprintable area at the end of a sheet. (B. Summary of the Invention) In the present invention, a paper feed unit for feeding paper is provided in a printer so that printing can be performed from the beginning to the end without leaving an unprintable area at the end of the paper. It is provided not only on the paper feeding side of the printing unit but also on the paper discharging side. (C. Prior Art) [FIG. 5] The printer inserts the paper b downward on the back side of the platen a as shown in FIG. 5 in order to improve the space factor in most cases and to make the text after printing easier to see. The direction of the paper b is changed by about 180 ° by a paper feed unit including a paper feed drive roller c and a paper feed driven roller d, and the paper b is fed from below to a position between the platen a and the head e. The portion projects upward from between the platen a and the head e. Further, the paper feeding section including the driving roller and the driven roller is provided only on the paper feeding side of the printing section including the platen a and the head e. (D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The printer shown in FIG. 5 has a problem that an unprintable area is formed at the lower end (end) of the sheet b. That is, in such a printer, there is a paper feed unit including a paper feed drive roller c and a paper feed driven roller d on the paper feed side of the print unit, but a paper feed unit on the paper discharge side of the print unit. This is because, at the point in time when the paper feed by the paper feed unit for the paper b is completed, the area of the paper b located between the paper feed unit and the printing unit cannot be printed. . Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to enable printing from the beginning to the end without leaving an unprintable area at the end of the sheet. (E. Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the printer of the present invention has a first paper supply port for inserting printing paper, a second paper supply opening for inserting printing paper, and a printing paper. A feeding direction changing unit for changing a feeding direction of the sheet, a feeding side paper feeding unit having a pair of rollers for feeding a printing sheet inserted from the first feeding port and the second feeding port to a printing unit, A discharge-side paper feed unit having a pair of rollers that is positioned on a side of the printing unit opposite to the paper-supply-side paper feed unit and feeds the print paper discharged from the print unit; A paper exit for discharging the fed printing paper,
Wherein the second paper supply port is disposed on a surface opposite to the surface on which the paper discharge port is disposed, and the first paper supply port is disposed on a surface different from the second paper supply port. The printing paper inserted from the first paper feed port is supplied to the paper feed side paper feed unit via a transport direction conversion unit. (F. Function) According to the printer of the present invention, the ordinary soft print paper passes through a curved paper guide path from the first paper feed port to the paper discharge port through the transport direction conversion unit and the print unit, thereby achieving the conventional printing paper. Paper can be fed and printed in exactly the same way as a printer. For thick or hard rigid paper, the paper is passed through a paper guide path to a paper outlet through a second paper feed port and a printing section. Can be fed and printed without bending. Further, according to the printer of the present invention, since the second paper feed port is disposed on the surface opposite to the surface on which the paper discharge port is disposed, the curvature of the paper in the printer and the size of the printer itself are substantially independent. Therefore, even a small-sized, particularly thin printer can be supplied with a curvature of substantially 0 (radius of curvature is almost infinite). However, printing can be performed on hard paper without difficulty. (G. Embodiment) [FIGS. 1 to 4] Hereinafter, the printer of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIGS. 1 to 4 are views for explaining an embodiment of the printer of the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the printer in a first use state, and FIGS. Second
2 shows the printer in the use state of FIG. (A. First Use State) [FIGS. 1 and 2] First, the printer in the first use state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a flat platen, 2 denotes a carriage which holds an ink ribbon 3 and a head 4 which forms a printing unit, and is reciprocated in parallel with the platen 1 by an endless rack 5. In FIG. 1 (and FIG. 3), illustration of the teeth of the endless rack 5 is omitted. 6 is a guide shaft,
It serves to guide the carriage 2 parallel to the platen 1. Reference numeral 7 denotes a head holding unit which holds the head 4 in an upright state, is slidably held by the carriage 2 in a direction perpendicular to the platen 1, and has a spring 8 [only the tip is shown in the drawings (FIGS. 2 and 4). To the platen 1 side. The head 4 is pressed against the platen 1 by the urging force. Reference numeral 9 denotes an opening lever for moving the head holding unit 7 toward the platen 1 against the urging force of the spring 8, and one end of which is rotatably fitted on a support shaft 10 provided below the carriage 2. The rotation end is loosely inserted into the lever play insertion hole 11 on the bottom surface of the carriage 2 and is engaged with the lever engagement hole 12 of the head holding portion 7. Reference numeral 13 denotes a lever piece protrudingly formed at a position slightly away from the pivot point of the opening lever 9. Reference numeral 14 denotes a holding plate, which has an L-shaped cross section, has substantially the same length as the platen 1, has arms (not shown) formed at both ends, and is rotatably supported by the guide shaft 6 with the arms. When the lever piece 13 is pressed from above by the pressing plate 14, the release lever 9 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 to move the head holding portion 7 toward the platen 1 side.
Then, the head 4 is separated from the platen 1 and the space therebetween is opened. Reference numeral 15 denotes an outer plate for guiding paper, which forms the back surface of the printer, and is formed integrally with the bottom plate 16 of the printer. Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper guide inner plate provided slightly inside the paper guide outer plate 15, and an opening formed between the inner plate 17 and the outer plate 15 is a first paper. It becomes the paper insertion port 18 of the guide route. Reference numeral 19 denotes a paper feed drive roller, which is externally mounted on a drive shaft rotated by a motor (not shown), and is slightly apart from the bottom plate 6 by the thickness of the paper and located just below the platen 1. Are located. Reference numeral 20 denotes a paper feed driven roller, and a paper feed drive roller 10 is provided just below the head 4.
The paper feed drive roller 19 and the paper feed driven roller 20 form a paper feed section on the paper feed side, and a pressure contact section between the roller 19 and the roller 20 is provided. Is located substantially on the same plane as the contact surface between the platen 1 and the head 4 in the form of a flat plate. Reference numeral 21 denotes a discharge drive roller, which is externally attached to a drive shaft rotated via a gear (not shown) by a motor for driving the paper feed drive roller 19, and is disposed directly above the platen 1. Have been. Reference numeral 22 denotes a paper discharge driven roller, which has arms (not shown) at both ends, and the second arm is rotated by rotation of the arm.
As shown in the figure, it is located above the head 4 and is in a state of being pressed against the paper ejection drive roller 21, or it is in a state of being largely separated from the paper ejection drive roller 21 and being opened therebetween. Or The driven roller 22 and the drive roller 21 form a paper-discharge-side paper feed unit.
The pressure contact portion in a state where the pressure contact is performed is located substantially on the same plane as the contact surface between the platen 1 and the head 4 in a plate shape. Reference numeral 23 denotes a paper insertion hole formed in the bottom plate 16, which is arranged on the same plane as the contact surface between the platen 1 and the head 4. 24 is a printer storage case for storing the printer, the upper surface is open, the bottom plate 25 is formed with a paper insertion hole 26,
When the printer is stored in the printer storage case 24, a paper insertion hole 26 and a paper insertion hole formed in the bottom plate 16 of the printer.
23 and match. Reference numeral 27 denotes a table on which a printer storage case 24 containing a printer is placed. Usually, (ie, when printing on ordinary thin paper), the printer is placed on the table 27 in the orientation shown in FIGS. It is placed and used. Such a use state is referred to as a first use state in this specification. In the first use state, the paper P is inserted into the paper insertion slot 18 and the paper feed driving roller 19 and the paper feed driven roller 20 pass between the paper guide outer plate 15 and the paper guide inner plate 17. Feed paper between Then, the sheet P is sandwiched between the sheet feeding driving roller 19 driven by the sheet feeding motor and the sheet feeding driven roller 20 driven by the sheet feeding motor 19, and is folded upward to be folded. Paper is fed between Printing is performed by pressing the paper P against the platen 1 via the ink tape 28 by the head 4. Then, when the start end of the sheet P reaches between the discharge drive roller 21 and the discharge driven roller 22 driven by the discharge roller 21, thereafter, the sheet P advances while being sandwiched therebetween. The rollers 21 and 22 follow the movement of the sheet P. Then, the end of the paper P reaches between the paper feed drive roller 19 and the paper feed driven roller 20 driven by the same, and the roller 1
9, when the paper cannot be fed by the paper feeding unit including the roller 20, the discharge driving roller 21 is driven by the paper feeding motor (not shown),
The paper is fed by the roller 21 and the discharge-side driven roller 22 driven by the roller 21, and printing is continued. Then, printing is performed from the start end to the end, and even when the end end passes between the head 4 and the platen 1, the paper feeding is continued and the paper is discharged. Therefore, it is possible to perform printing from the beginning to the end without leaving an unprintable area at the end of the sheet P. As described above, the printer is guided downward from the paper insertion port 18 and is driven by the paper feed drive roller 19 and the paper feed driven roller.
20, the sheet is turned almost 180 ° and turned substantially straight upward, is fed to a position between the platen 1 and the head 4, and is disposed above the platen 1 and the head 4. The sheet 22 has a sheet guide path that is discharged upward. The paper guide path that is bent as seen from the side, that is, in which the paper P is folded back by the paper feed mechanism, is referred to as a first paper guide path in this specification. (B. Second use state) [FIGS. 3 and 4] When printing on thick or hard paper, the opening of the printer storage case 24 is located at the front as shown in FIGS. Printer storage case 24
Replace with 27. And it is used in such a state, and such a use state is called a 2nd use state in this specification. And printer storage case 24
The paper P is inserted into the paper insertion hole 26 of the bottom plate 25 from the rear side. Then, the sheet P is driven by the sheet feeding drive roller 19 and the sheet feeding driven roller 19 through the sheet insertion hole 26 and the sheet insertion hole 23 of the bottom plate 16.
The paper feed drive roller 19 and the paper feed driven roller 20 which are guided by the
Thus, the sheet is fed straight between the platen 1 and the head 4. Then, the portion where the printing of the paper P is completed is discharged straight by the discharge drive roller 21 and the discharge driven roller 22. As described in the description of the first use state, it is possible to perform printing from the beginning to the end without leaving an unprintable area at the end of the paper P. Further, as described above, the paper discharge drive roller 21 is in pressure contact with the paper discharge driven roller 22, the paper feed drive roller 19 is in pressure contact with the paper driven follower 20, and the paper insertion hole 23 in the bottom plate 16 of the printer.
In addition, the paper insertion holes 26 of the printer storage case 24 are all located substantially on the same plane as the contact surface between the platen 1 and the head 4. Therefore, this printer is pushed in from the paper insertion hole 26, guided by the paper insertion hole 26 and the paper insertion hole 23, and furthermore, the paper feed drive roller 19 and the paper feed driven roller 20 separate the platen 1 and the head 4 from each other. The paper guide path is straight when viewed from the side such that paper is fed to the center and is discharged by the discharge drive roller 21 and the discharge driven roller 22. In this specification, this is referred to as a second paper guide path. As described above, if printing is performed through the paper P in the second paper guide path in the second use state, printing can be performed without bending the paper P, and the paper P is thick and strong. Also, the paper can be fed and discharged smoothly, and there is no fear that an unnecessary force such as weakening the pressing force on the head 4 during printing is applied. In the illustrated printer, only a sheet feeding means including a pair of rollers (a sheet feeding driving roller 19 and a sheet feeding driven roller 20) is provided on a sheet feeding side of a portion where the head 4 and the platen 1 are in contact with each other. In addition, a paper discharging means including a pair of rollers (a paper discharging drive roller 21 and a paper discharging driven roller 22) is arranged on the paper discharging side very close to the head 4 and the platen 1. This is a feature of the present printer. Because of this feature, it is possible to obtain the effect that the paper P can be printed from the upper end to the lower end without leaving an area where printing cannot be performed at the lower end (end). (H. Effect of the Invention) As described above, the printer of the present invention changes the first paper feed port for inserting print paper, the second paper feed port for inserting print paper, and the transport direction of print paper. A feeding direction changing unit, a feeding side paper feeding unit having a pair of rollers for feeding printing paper inserted from the first paper feeding port and the second paper feeding port to a printing unit, and a counter feeding of the printing unit. A discharge-side paper feed unit having a pair of rollers positioned on the paper-side paper feed unit and configured to feed the print paper discharged from the printing unit; and a print fed from the discharge-side paper feed unit. A paper discharge port for discharging paper, wherein the second paper supply port is disposed on a surface opposite to the surface on which the paper discharge port is disposed, and the first paper supply port is provided with the second paper supply port. The printing paper, which is arranged on a different surface from the paper feeding port and inserted from the first paper feeding port, is fed to the paper feeding side via a conveyance direction changing unit. It is characterized in that adapted to be supplied to the feed unit. Therefore, according to the printer of the present invention, soft ordinary print paper passes through a curved paper guide path from the first paper feed port to the transport direction conversion unit and the paper output port through the print unit, thereby reducing the case of the conventional printer. And feed it in exactly the same way as
For printing on thick or hard rigid paper, the paper can be fed without bending by passing the paper through the paper guide path to the paper outlet through the second paper feed port and printing section. it can. Further, according to the printer of the present invention, since the second paper feed port is disposed on the surface opposite to the surface on which the paper discharge port is disposed, the curvature of the paper in the printer and the size of the printer itself are substantially independent. Therefore, even a small, particularly thin printer can be supplied with a curvature of substantially 0 (radius of curvature is almost infinite). However, printing can be performed on hard paper without difficulty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are views for explaining one embodiment of the printer of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the printer in a first use state, FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the printer in the second use state, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part of a conventional example. Explanation of reference numerals 1 ... platen (printing section), 4 ... head, 18 ... first
.., Paper feed section, 21, 22..., Discharge side paper feed section, 23, 26... Paper insertion holes in the second paper guide path.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A first paper supply port for inserting a print paper, a second paper supply port for inserting a print paper, a transport direction conversion unit for changing a transport direction of the print paper, and a first paper supply port and a second paper supply port. A paper feed unit having a pair of rollers for feeding the inserted print paper to the print unit; and a print discharged from the print unit, the print unit being positioned on the side of the print unit opposite to the paper feed unit. A second paper feed port, comprising: a paper discharge side paper feed section having a pair of rollers for feeding paper; and a paper discharge port for discharging print paper fed from the paper discharge side paper feed section. Is disposed on a surface opposite to the surface on which the paper discharge port is disposed. The first paper supply port is disposed on a different surface from the second paper supply port.
1. The printer, wherein the printing paper inserted from the first paper feed port is supplied to the paper feed side paper feed unit via a transport direction conversion unit. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein one of the rollers of the paper feed unit on the discharge side is movable in a direction in which the distance between the rollers and the other roller is changed. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the second paper feed port, the paper discharge port, and the print head are arranged on substantially the same plane. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first paper supply port and the paper discharge port are arranged on the same surface.