JP3284428B2 - Tractor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tractor used for printing on continuous paper in a printer or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tractor for transporting continuous paper provided with holes on both sides, and more particularly, to a tractor capable of smoothly transporting continuous paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows an example of a tractor used in a printer.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a pin belt as a rotating body, which has pins 1a which engage with holes provided on both sides of the continuous paper 2. The pin belt 1 is hung on a driving pulley 3 a and a driven pulley 3 b supported by the main body 3, and is driven to rotate by a shaft 4. 5 is a lid,
It is attached to the main body 3 so as to be openable and closable, and when closed, gently presses the continuous paper 2 with the pin belt 1. The cover 5 has an escape hole 5 for allowing the pin 1a of the pin belt 1 to escape.
a is formed.

The setting of the continuous paper 2 is performed by opening the lid 5, fitting the holes of the continuous paper 2 to the pins 1 a of the pin belt, and then closing the lid 5.

When the pin belt 1 is driven to rotate by the shaft 4,
The continuous paper 2 is transported. The conveyed continuous paper 2 is guided to a platen 7 by a guide plate 6, wound around the platen 7, and printed by a print head 8.

[0006]

In the conventional tractor described above, the continuous paper 2 is supplied between the tractor and the platen 7 until the continuous paper 2 is completely wound around the platen 7 at the beginning of the supply of the continuous paper 2. Of the continuous paper 2
However, there is a problem that the paper may not be transported smoothly.

In order to solve such a problem, the lid 5
In addition, it is conceivable to provide a guide that extends in the conveying direction of the continuous paper 2 from a position where the pin belt 1 and the continuous paper 2 are disengaged.

However, with such a structure,
Another problem arises:

As shown in FIG. 7, the tractor T transports the continuous paper 2 in pairs, and the interval between the pins 1a of the tractor and the hole 2b of the continuous paper 2 is determined by the user. It is set to fit. However, the setting of the interval between the tractors T by the user may not be set properly, and may be set small. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 7, the leading end central portion 2c of the continuous paper 2 is in a raised state.

In such a situation, assuming that a guide extending in the direction of transport of the continuous paper 2 is provided as described above, the continuous paper 2 is connected to the guide plate 6 with its leading end 2c raised. Since the sheet enters the space between the platen 7 and the center 2c of the leading end collides with the platen 7, there is a problem that the continuous paper 2 cannot be smoothly conveyed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a tractor capable of smoothly transporting continuous paper.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tractor, comprising: a rotating body having pins engaged with holes provided on both sides of a continuous paper; A lid body openably and closably attached to the main body, and having a release hole for loosely pressing the continuous paper between the rotary body and the pin of the rotary body when closed when closed. A tractor for transporting continuous paper by rotation of the rotary body, wherein the lid is provided with a guide extending in a continuous paper transport direction from a position where the rotary body and the continuous paper are disengaged from each other. In addition, the tip of the guide is formed to be inclined from the inside to the outside in the continuous paper transport direction.

[0013]

According to the tractor according to the first aspect, the setting of the continuous paper is performed by opening the lid, fitting the holes of the continuous paper into the pins of the rotating body, and then closing the lid. The continuous paper is conveyed by the rotation of.

Since the lid is provided with a guide extending in the direction in which the continuous paper is transported from the position at which the rotating body is disengaged from the continuous paper, the continuous paper is initially moved in the transport direction when the continuous paper is supplied. Even if the continuous paper is likely to be slackened before being subjected to the conveying force by the conveying means such as a platen provided on the downstream side, the slack is regulated by the guide. Therefore, the continuous paper is smoothly transported.

Further, the leading end of the guide is formed so as to be inclined from the inside to the outside in the continuous paper transport direction, so that if the distance between the paired tractors is set small by the user, the continuous When the paper is conveyed in a state in which the center of the leading end is raised, the height of the swell gradually decreases in the process of being conveyed. Therefore, the continuous paper is easily transported.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a tractor unit using a pair of tractors according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the tractor, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the internal structure of a printer equipped with the tractor unit. FIG.

In FIG. 1, 20 and 20 are frames of the tractor unit, 21 is a drive shaft rotatably supported by the frames 20 and 20, and 22 is a guide shaft fixed to the frames 20 and 20.

Reference numerals 10 and 10 denote tractors, and a drive shaft 21
And slidably mounted on the guide shaft 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tractor 10 includes an endless pin belt 11 forming a rotating body, a main frame 13 and a sub-frame 14 forming a main body, a driving pulley 15, a lock lever 18, a plate-shaped (Hereinafter referred to as a cover plate) 19.

The main frame 13 and the sub-frame 14 are joined by joining means (for example, an adhesive) (not shown), and are slidably attached to the drive shaft 21 and the guide shaft 22.

Main frame 13 and sub-frame 1
4 have holes 13d for inserting the drive shaft 21, respectively.
A drive pulley 15 is rotatably provided so as to straddle these holes 13d and 14d.

The drive pulley 15 is slidable with respect to the drive shaft 21, and is driven by engaging with a concave groove 21a formed in the drive shaft 21.

The main frame 13 and the sub-frame 14 have holes 13 through which the guide shafts 22 are inserted.
e, and a cylindrical portion 14e. These holes 1
A cylindrical member 18a integral with the lock lever 18 is fitted into the cylindrical member 3e and the cylindrical portion 14e.
The guide shaft 22 is inserted through. When the lock lever 18 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3, the cylindrical body 18 a presses the main frame 13 and the sub-frame 14 and the guide shaft 22 to rotate the tractor 1.
0 is fixed to the guide shaft 22, and when the lock lever 18 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the pressing is released and the tractor 10 can be slid.

The pin belt 11 includes a drive pulley 15 and a substantially semi-cylindrical guide 1 formed on the sub-frame 14.
4f, and is circulated by the drive pulley 15. Note that a driven pulley may be provided instead of the cylindrical guide portion 14f.

On the outer surface of the pin belt 11, pins 12 each having a substantially conical shape (more precisely, a bullet tip shape) are arranged at regular intervals.
A row is provided, and a hole 2b (see FIG. 1) of the continuous paper 2 is engaged with the pin row so that the continuous paper is transported in the direction of the arrow c1 in FIG. The inner surface of the pin belt 11 has teeth that mesh with the teeth of the drive pulley 15.

The movement range of the pin belt 11 in the direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the direction of transport of the continuous paper (the direction of arrow c1 in FIG. 1) is limited to the main frame 13 and the sub-frame in the portion wound around the guide portion 14f. The frame 14 is regulated by being in contact with the inner surfaces 13g and 14g, which are set at a relatively large distance, and the portion wound around the drive pulley 15 is in contact with the inner surfaces 13h and 14h at a relatively small distance. It is regulated by contact.

Therefore, the pin belt 11 can be tilted within the above-mentioned range with respect to the direction of transport of the continuous paper.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover plate 19 is attached to the main frame 13 so as to be openable and closable with a shaft 19b. An opening 19 a for allowing the pins 12 of the pin belt 11 to escape is formed in the cover plate 19 in a shape corresponding to the inclination range of the pin belt 11.

The lid 19 is formed with a guide 19g. The guide 19g extends in the direction of conveyance of the continuous paper (c1 direction) from a position 19c at which the pin belt 11 and the continuous paper 2 are disengaged. It is formed in a slanted shape.

In the tractor unit as described above, the frames 20, 20 are connected to the side frames 30 of the printer 30.
f, 30f to be attached to the printer (see FIG. 3).

Next, the setting operation and the operation of the continuous paper in the tractor as described above will be described.

First, the cover plate 19 is opened as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 3, the continuous paper 2 is set so that the holes 2b of the continuous paper 2 (see FIG. 1) are aligned with the pins 12 of the pin belt 11, and then the holes are opened. The cover plate 19 is closed so that 2b does not come off the pin 12. Since the tip 19t of the guide 19g is formed to be inclined from the inside to the outside in the continuous paper transport direction, the guide 19g does not interfere with the paper guide 31 of the printer when the cover plate 19 is opened. If necessary, the fixing by the lock lever 18 is released and the position of the tractor 10 is adjusted.

In this state, when the drive shaft 21 is rotated by the drive of a motor or the like (not shown), the pin belt 11 is rotated by the drive pulley 15, and the continuous paper 2 is conveyed in the direction of arrow c1 in FIG.

The conveyed continuous paper 2 is guided to a platen 34 through a paper feed path 33 formed by a lower surface of a paper guide 31 and an upper surface of a guide plate 32,
And printed by the print head 35. The printed continuous paper 2 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus via a discharge roller 36.

Since the cover 19 is provided with a guide 19g extending in the direction in which the continuous paper 2 is transported, at the beginning of the continuous paper supply, before the continuous paper 2 is subjected to the transport force by the platen 34, the paper feed path 33 Entrance 33a and the tractor body (1
Even if the continuous paper 2 is likely to be slackened between C and (3, 14), the slack is regulated by the guide 19g. Therefore, the continuous paper 2 is smoothly transported.

Further, since the leading end 19t of the guide 19g is formed to be inclined from the inside to the outside in the continuous paper transport direction, the setting of the interval between the paired tractors 10 in FIG. When the setting is made, even if the leading end central portion 2c of the continuous paper 2 is conveyed in a swelled state, the height of the swelling gradually decreases during the conveyance.
Therefore, the continuous paper 2 is easily transported smoothly.

This point will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When the distance between the paired tractors 10 is set small by the user, the leading end central portion 2c of the continuous paper 2 is raised as described above.

Assuming that the height of the central portion 2c is h, the height h becomes smaller as the distance L between the positions 2d where the upward bending of the continuous paper 2 is restricted by the cover plate 19 of the tractor 10 is smaller. Get higher. Conversely, as the distance L increases, the height h decreases.

According to the tractor of this embodiment, the guide 19
g is formed so as to be inclined from the inside to the outside in the continuous paper transport direction, so that the continuous paper 2
Is conveyed in the course of transporting the control position, the restricting position 2d gradually moves outward (the restricting position in the moving process is shown as 2d 'in FIGS. 4 and 1).

Conversely, the distance L gradually increases (the distance in the process of increasing is shown in FIG. 4 as L1).

Accordingly, the swell height h of the central portion 2c of the leading end of the continuous paper 2 gradually decreases in the process of transporting the continuous paper 2 (the height of the lowering process is shown as h1 in FIG. 4).

Therefore, the continuous paper 2 is easily transported smoothly.

As described above, according to the tractor of the present embodiment, the guide 1 extending in the transport direction of the continuous paper 2 is provided on the cover plate 19.
9g, and the tip 1 of the guide 19g.
9t is formed to be inclined from the inside to the outside in the continuous paper transport direction, so that the continuous paper 2 can be transported smoothly.

The tractor unit described above is similar to the tractor unit shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), the continuous paper 2 can be used by pulling the continuous paper 2 attached to the downstream side of the paper discharge roller 36. In this case, when the paper feed amount of the platen 34 becomes larger than the paper feed amount of the tractor due to the dimensional tolerance of the outer diameter of the platen 34, thermal expansion, or the like, even if the paper loosens between the platen 34 and the tractor. , Can be prevented from loosening.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0048]

According to the present invention, continuous paper can be transported smoothly.

[0049]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a tractor unit using a pair of tractors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the tractor.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the internal structure of the printer on which the tractor unit is mounted.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the tractor.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing different use states of the tractor unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Continuous paper 2b Hole 10 Tractor 11 Pin belt 12 Pin 13 Main frame 14 Subframe 19 Cover plate 19a Release hole 19g Guide 19t Tip of guide

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yukihiro Uchiyama 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko Epson Corporation (72) Inventor Masaki Shimomura 3-5-35 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano (56) References JP-A-3-36060 (JP, A) JP-A-3-76671 (JP, A) JP-A-63-57464 (JP, A) JP-A-5-338286 ( JP, A) JP-A-3-8557 (JP, U) JP-A-3-21051 (JP, U) JP-A-63-1951 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , (DB name) B65H 20/20 B41J 11/34 B41J 15/04

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotating body having pins that engage with holes provided on both sides of a continuous paper, a main body that supports the rotating body, and a body that is attached to the main body so as to be openable and closable, and is closed. A cover having a release hole for loosely pressing the continuous paper between the rotary body and the pin of the rotary body and for transporting the continuous paper by rotation of the rotary body, The lid is provided with a guide extending in a direction in which the continuous member is disengaged from the rotating body in a direction in which the continuous sheet is conveyed, and a tip of the guide is directed from the inside to the outside in the direction in which the continuous sheet is conveyed. A tractor characterized by being formed in an inclined shape.