JP3302264B2 - Roll paper storage device - 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 storage device provided in a printing apparatus or the like using roll paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A roll paper storage device of this type is provided, for example, in a print medium storage portion of a printer using roll paper as a print medium, and takes out the leading end of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage device to the printing portion. It is conveyed and printed, cut at a predetermined length, and discharged.

As shown in FIG. 5, such a roll paper storage device 1 includes a roll paper storage portion 2 for storing roll paper for printing, a spare roll paper storage portion 3 connected to the roll paper storage portion 2, A pair of side plates 4 facing each other as side surfaces of the roll paper storage unit 2 and the spare roll paper storage unit 3, and a bottom portion of the roll paper storage unit 2, and a printing unit (not shown) provided downstream of the roll paper storage device 1. Transport belt 5 for sending out the leading end of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage device 1 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, from the top along the outer diameter of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit 2 A curved plate 6 extending forward and covering the roll paper is provided.

Further, when the roll paper in the roll paper storage unit 2 runs out, the roll paper storage unit 1 can store the bottom of the spare roll paper storage unit 3 and the roll paper storage unit 2 and the spare roll paper storage unit 3. A swing plate 8 is provided to guide the spare roll paper stored in the preliminary roll paper storage unit 3 toward the roll paper storage unit 2 by swinging between the roll paper storage units 3.

The rocking plate 8 has its base end pivotally supported by the side plate 4 and is urged by the urging spring 9 toward the roll paper storage unit 2. The swinging plate 8 is provided with a swinging plate guide plate 11 that supports an intermediate portion thereof and swings with the upstream end of the transport belt 5 as a base end.

The swinging plate guide plate 11 normally positions the swinging plate 8 at the bottom of the spare roll paper storage unit 3 against the urging force of the urging spring 9, and stores the preliminary roll paper in the roll paper storage unit. When setting to the second side, the urging force of the urging spring 9 is released and the rocking plate 8 is raised. Thus, the preliminary roll paper is rolled from the preliminary roll paper storage unit 3 into the roll paper storage unit 2 and set.

A roll paper stopper mechanism 21 as shown in FIG. 6 is provided outside the side plate 4. The roll paper stopper mechanism 21 is locked by a hook 22a at the tip of the stopper plate 22 so that the roll paper stopper mechanism 21 does not roll into the roll paper storage section 2 when the preliminary roll paper 12 is inserted into the preliminary roll paper storage section 3. It is.

More specifically, the stopper plate 22
Is screwed with a coil spring 23 interposed so that the hook portion 22a can advance and retreat from the hole 4a of the side plate 4. The side plate 4 is attached to the stopper plate 22.
A protruding portion 22b protruding toward the side is provided, and the tip of the protruding portion 22b is inclined. On the other hand, the side plate 4 has a support portion 24 on which the inclined portion of the protruding portion 22b slidably abuts.
Has been fixed.

The projecting portion 22b of the stopper plate 22
Is the tip 2 of the extension of the lever 25 that extends in the horizontal direction.
5a. That is, when the distal end portion 25a of the lever 25 pushes the projecting portion 22b of the stopper plate 22 downward from the state shown by the solid line in FIG.
Slides downward against the urging force of. Then, since the protruding portion 22b moves along the slope of the support portion 24, the stopper plate 22 gradually moves outward from the side plate 4, and the hook portion 22a at the tip thereof retreats from the hole 4a of the side plate 4. .

A solenoid 26 is mounted on the lever 25, and the tip end 25a of the lever 25 swings up and down together with the biasing force of the coil spring 27 when the solenoid 26 is turned on and off. . A hook 25b is formed below the lever 25. The hook portion 25b releasably locks a regulating shaft 8a that regulates a moving range of the swing plate 8 and the swing plate guide plate 11. That is, when the solenoid 26 is turned on, the distal end portion 25a of the lever 25 pushes down the protruding portion 22b of the stopper plate 22 and releases the regulating shaft 8a. As a result, the hook portion 22a of the stopper plate 22 retreats from the hole portion 4a of the side plate 4 to make the roll paper free, and the rocking plate 8 and the rocking plate guide plate 11 rise up.
Then, the roll paper is set from the preliminary roll paper storage unit 3 to the front roll paper storage unit 2.

[0011]

In such a roll paper storage device, when it is desired to take out the roll paper from the roll paper storage section 2 when the roll paper is jammed, the swing plate 8 is required.
In addition, the roll paper is pulled out while tilting the swinging plate guide plate 11.

In this case, the swing plate 8 and the swing plate guide plate 11
When the lever is lowered, the regulating shaft 8a also moves down along the guide groove 4b of the side plate 4, and the hook portion 25b of the lever 25 is
5 is restrained again by hooking the regulating shaft 8a by the urging force of the coil spring 27. Accordingly, the distal end portion 25a of the lever 25 also moves upward, so that the stopper plate 22 also moves upward and is urged toward the side plate 4 by the urging force of the coil spring 23. As a result, the hook portion 22a of the stopper plate 22 projects from the hole 4a of the side plate 4.

Therefore, when the roll paper is rolled up to the swinging plate guide plate 11 as shown in FIG. 7 while the roll paper is being taken out from the roll paper storage section 2, the hook portions 22a of the stopper plate 22 are inserted into the hole portions 4a of the side plate 4. In some cases. In such a case, the hook portion 22a of the stopper plate 22 enters the space at the center of the roll paper. If the roll paper is forcibly taken out in this state, the side surface of the roll paper is damaged by the tip of the hook portion 22a, and there is a problem that the roll paper cannot be easily taken out.

Even if the hook 22a of the stopper plate 22 does not enter the space at the center of the roll paper, the hook 22a of the stopper plate 22 If the roll paper protrudes from the hole 4a, the side surface of the roll paper may be damaged.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a roll paper storage device which can easily take out the roll paper without damaging it.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided a roll paper storage unit for storing roll paper to be used, and a spare roll paper for communicating with the roll paper storage unit and storing a spare roll paper. A storage unit, a spare roll paper storage unit, a bottom plate of the preliminary roll paper storage unit pivotally supported between the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit, and a bottom plate of the preliminary roll paper storage unit; A bottom plate biasing spring for biasing the bottom plate in the upright direction;
When the stopper part falls down to the bottom of the spare roll paper storage part, it protrudes above the front of this spare roll paper storage part bottom plate and rotates to the rear side of the spare roll paper storage part, and the preliminary roll
Spare roll paper protruding above the front of the paper storage unit bottom plate
Roll paper stopper for preventing the roll paper storage unit from rolling into the roll paper storage unit, a stopper biasing spring for biasing the roll paper stopper toward the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit, and a bottom plate biasing spring for the preliminary roll paper storage unit bottom plate. And the stopper of the roll paper stopper projects above the bottom of the spare roll paper storage unit bottom plate against the urging force of the stopper urging spring. the Bei <br/> example a locking means for locking so as to not rotate it from the front in a state, the stopper portion of the roll paper stopper pre with locking means
The roll paper storage unit is locked while protruding above the front of the bottom plate.
In the state where it is pressed against the urging force of the stopper urging spring.
To be able to rotate to the rear side of the spare roll paper storage
Roll paper compartment and wherein the that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the roll paper storage device according to the first aspect, wherein a roll paper protection means is provided at a roll paper contact portion of the roll paper stopper.

In the present invention having such a configuration, the bottom plate of the preliminary roll paper storage portion is locked to the bottom position of the preliminary roll paper storage portion by the locking means, and the roll paper stopper is connected to the bottom plate of the preliminary roll paper storage portion. When the preliminary roll paper is inserted into the preliminary roll paper storage section in the state where it is projected upward and locked (initial state), the preliminary roll paper cannot be rotated forward because the preliminary roll paper cannot rotate forward. While being placed on the bottom plate of the paper storage unit, it stands still with the roll paper stopper supporting it.

When the locked state is released, the bottom plate of the preparatory roll paper storage section is erected toward the roll paper storage section by the urging force of the bottom plate urging spring, and the roll paper stopper is provided with a stopper urging spring. The force falls to the bottom of the spare roll paper storage unit. Thereby, the preliminary roll paper placed in the preliminary roll paper storage unit is rolled into the roll paper storage unit and set.

When the roll paper set in the roll paper storage section is taken out due to a jam or the like, the bottom plate of the spare roll paper storage section and the roll paper stopper are returned to the initial state by the locking means. At this time, the roll paper stopper cannot rotate forward but can rotate backward, so that when the roll paper is pulled out from the roll paper storage section to the spare roll paper storage section, the roll paper stopper Even if the roll paper abuts, the roll paper falls backward against the urging force of the stopper urging spring, so that the roll paper is easily taken out and the roll paper is not damaged.

Further, if roll paper protecting means is provided at the roll paper contact portion of the roll paper stopper, damage to the roll paper can be more effectively prevented.

[0022]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a roll paper storage device 31 according to the present invention, and 32 is one side plate.
The roll paper storage device 31 includes a roll paper storage unit 34 for storing roll paper for performing printing or the like, and a spare roll paper storage unit 35 connected to the roll paper storage unit 34 and storing a spare roll paper 33. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the roll paper storage section 34 includes a pair of side plates 32 forming side surfaces and the roll paper storage section 3.
Conveyor belt 3 extending from the bottom of 4 to the upstream side
6, and a roll paper can be stored in a space surrounded by a curved plate 55 (see FIG. 4) described later.

The transport belt 36 sends out the leading end of the roll paper in the direction of the arrow in the figure toward a printing unit (not shown) provided on the downstream side of the roll paper storage unit 31. A bottom belt 36a which constitutes a bottom portion and is provided at a slight inclination above the opening side;
and a delivery belt 36b provided continuously on the downstream side of a and inclined obliquely upward toward the downstream side.

The leading end of the roll paper sent out of the roll paper storage device 31 by the transport belt 36 is nipped by a transport roller (not shown) provided on the downstream side of the roll paper storage device 31. After that, paper is fed to the printing unit by these transport rollers and the like.

The rear portion of the roll paper storage section 34 is open and communicates with the spare roll paper storage section 35. A rocking plate 38 is provided at the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35 as a bottom plate of the preliminary roll paper storage unit. The swinging plate 38 is pivotally supported by the side plate 32 at a position where the base end of the swinging plate 38 is opposed to the bottom belt 36a of the transport belt 36 near the lower side of the opening of the roll paper storage unit 34. The space between the bottom of the roller 35 and the opening of the roll paper storage unit 34 is vertically swingable (turnable).

The swing plate 38 is provided with a swing plate guide plate 40 which supports an intermediate portion thereof and swings with the upstream end of the bottom belt 36a as a base end. A guide shaft 41 is provided on the tip side of the swing plate guide plate 40, and an end of the guide shaft 41 is formed in a long hole 38 a formed in a side surface of the swing plate 38 and the side plate 32. The guide groove 32 a is inserted into the guide groove 32 a and protrudes outward from the side plate 32.

The guide shaft 41 has a swing plate 38
One end of an oscillating plate urging spring 39 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure) as a bottom plate urging spring for urging in the direction in which the arm is raised. The oscillating plate urging spring 39 is formed of, for example, a coil spring and is provided outside the side plate 32. The other end of the oscillating plate urging spring 39 is attached to the roll paper storage section 34 above the side plate 32.

The long hole 38a of the rocking plate 38 is
8 is formed along the side surface. Thus, the swing plate 38 swings according to the operation of the swing plate guide plate 40. Specifically, when the swing plate guide plate 40 is rotated downward, the swing plate 38 also moves downward against the urging force of the swing plate urging spring 39. Conversely, when the swing plate guide plate 40 is rotated upward, the urging force of the swing plate urging spring 39 is released, and the swing plate 38 also moves upward.

The guide groove 32a of the side plate 32 is
The lower end portion and the upper end portion limit the swing range of the swing plate 38. That is, when the guide shaft 41 of the swing plate guide plate 40 is located at the lower end of the guide groove 32a, the swing plate 38 is located at the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35,
In addition, it is in a state of being inclined so as to be connected to the bottom belt 36a on substantially the same inclined surface. When the guide shaft 41 of the swing plate guide plate 40 is located at the upper end of the guide groove 32a,
The rocking plate 38 is in an upright state so as to cover the opening of the roll paper storage unit 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, a lever 38b is provided above the side of the rocking plate 38 so as to extend to the side. The lever 38b is inserted into the guide groove 32b formed in the side plate 32, so that that project outward of the side plate 32. The lever 38b is for manually moving the swing plate 38 from outside the side plate 32. For example, it is used to remove the roll paper set in the roll paper storage unit 34 due to a roll paper jam or the like, or to push down the swing plate 38 in the upright state.

Below the opening of the roll paper storage section 34, the spare roll paper 3 stored in the preliminary roll paper storage section 35 is provided.
A roll paper stopper 42 is provided via a stopper stay 46 for stopping the roll 3 from rolling into the roll paper storage unit 34.

The roll paper stopper 42 is connected to the swing plate 38
Is located at the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage portion 35, a stopper portion 42a which can protrude above the upper surface of the swinging plate 38, and a bent portion formed at the rear end of the stopper portion 42a. 42b. The roll paper stopper 42 is pivotally supported by a stopper stay 46 at a connecting portion between the stopper portion 42a and the bent portion 42b.

Stopper portion 4 of roll paper stopper 42
2a and the bent portion 42b, as shown in FIG.
When b is substantially horizontal, the stopper 42a is inclined at an angle above the roll paper storage unit 34. However, this angle may be changed according to the size of the roll paper, the size of the storage section, or the like so as to be most suitable for holding the roll paper.

A torsion spring 45 as a stopper urging spring is attached to the pivot shaft 44 supporting the roll paper stopper 42. As shown in FIG. 3, the torsion spring 45 is free when the stopper portion 42a of the roll paper stopper 42 is tilted substantially horizontally, and
It is mounted so that the direction in which the 2a stands up is a winding state. That is, in FIG. 2, the roll paper stopper 42 is urged counterclockwise by the torsion spring 45.

The bent portion 42b of the roll paper stopper 42
The guide shaft 41 is brought into contact with the upper part of the torsion spring 45 to push down the bent portion 42b against the urging force of the torsion spring 45. As shown in FIG. 2, when the swinging plate 38 is located at the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35, that is, when the guide shaft 41 is located at the lower end of the guide groove 32a, the roll paper stopper The bent portion 42b is substantially horizontal, and the stopper portion 42a is locked in a state of projecting obliquely upward from the upper surface of the rocking plate 38.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, since the bent portion 42b of the roll paper stopper 42 is pressed by the guide shaft 41, it does not rotate counterclockwise in the drawing. On the other hand, the bent portion 42 of the roll paper stopper 42
Since b is regulated clockwise in the figure by the urging force of only the torsion spring 45, b can be easily rotated by applying a force. A notch 42d is formed at the base end of the stopper portion 42a of the roll paper stopper 42 on the side of the preliminary roll paper storage portion 35, and the notch 42d is formed by the guide shaft 41 as shown in FIG. It can rotate clockwise until it touches.

When the guide shaft 41 moves upward along the guide groove 32a, the bent portion 42b of the roll paper stopper 42 is also gradually released. This allows
The stopper 42a of the roll paper stopper 42 falls down by the urging force of the torsion spring 45 in conjunction with the swing plate 38.

That is, the stopper portion 42a of the roll paper stopper 42 projects from the upper surface of the rocking plate 38 when the roll paper still remains in the roll paper storage portion 34,
When the roll paper in the roll paper storage unit 34 is exhausted and the spare roll paper 33 is set, the roll paper falls down and sinks from the surface of the rocking plate 38.

Further, at the leading end portion of the stopper portion 42a of the roll paper stopper 42 which is in contact with the roll paper, a roll paper as a roll paper protection means made of rubber material or resin material (mold material) is provided. The protection roller 42c is attached.

A hook mechanism 51 for releasably locking the guide shaft 41 is provided outside the side plate 32. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hook mechanism 51 locks the guide shaft 41 in a state where the swinging plate 38 is pressed against the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35,
2 is provided. The hook portion 52 is urged by a spring or the like (not shown) in a direction in which the guide shaft 41 is locked. Further, a lever 52a for manually driving the hook portion 52 and releasing the guide shaft 41 is provided above the hook portion 52. The hook mechanism 51 and the guide shaft 41 constitute locking means.

As shown in FIG. 4, the side plate 32 has a curved plate 55 extending forward from the upper portion thereof along the outer diameter of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage section 34 to cover the roll paper.
Are rotatably supported by a shaft 56. This curved plate 55
When the roll paper is stored in the roll paper storage unit 34, the roll paper is covered. When the roll paper is rotated around the shaft 56, the roll paper is moved in the direction of the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35. Can be removed as if scraped. The curved plate 55 is omitted in FIGS. 1 to 3 for convenience of explanation.

In the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, the guide shaft 41 is formed by the hook 52 of the hook mechanism 51.
Is locked, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 8 is located at the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35, and the roll paper stopper 42 is locked in the counterclockwise direction with the stopper 42a protruding from the surface of the swing plate 38.

In this state, when the preliminary roll paper 33 is inserted into the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35 and placed on the rocking plate 38,
The spare roll paper 33 is set in a state in which it comes into contact with the stopper portion 42a of the roll paper stopper 42. This can prevent the preliminary roll paper 33 from rolling into the roll paper storage unit 34.

Next, when the preliminary roll paper 33 stored in the preliminary roll paper storage section 35 is set in the roll paper storage section 34, the hook section 52 of the hook mechanism 51 is operated by the solenoid 53 shown in FIG. 1 or manually. Guide shaft 4
Release 1. Then, the rocking plate 38 is released from being locked by the guide shaft 41, and rotates along the guide grooves 32 a and 32 b by the urging force of the rocking plate urging spring 39.

At this time, the roll paper stopper 42 is also released from being locked by the guide shaft 41 and falls down by the urging force of the torsion spring 45. As a result, the preliminary roll paper 33 placed on the rocking plate 38 is released from the roll paper stopper 42 and pushed by the rocking plate 38 to be rolled into the roll paper storage portion 34 and set, as shown in FIG. State.
Thus, the roll paper in the spare roll paper storage unit 35 is automatically set in the roll paper storage unit 34.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the roll paper is set in the roll paper storage unit 35 and it is necessary to take out the roll paper due to a jam or the like,
First, the standing rocking plate 38 is pulled down by its lever 38b. Then, the guide shaft 41 is locked by the urging force of the hook portion 52. As a result, the swing plate 38 is locked by the guide shaft 41 in a state of being located at the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit 35, and the roll paper stopper 42 is locked in a state of facing obliquely upward.

At this time, since the roll paper stopper 42 is locked by the guide shaft 41, the roll paper stopper 42 does not rotate in the counterclockwise direction. However, the roll paper stopper 42 rotates clockwise until the notch 42d of the roll paper stopper 42 comes into contact with the guide shaft 41. It is rotatable. Therefore, the roll paper to be taken out from the roll paper storage unit 34 can be easily taken out without being caught by the roll paper stopper 42.

As described above, the roll paper is stored in the roll paper storage section 34.
When the roll paper is removed from the roll paper stopper 42, the roll paper comes into contact with the tip of the roll paper stopper 42. However, since the roll paper protection roller 42c is provided at the tip of the roll paper stopper 42, it is possible to prevent the surface of the roll paper from being damaged.

Further, since the curved plate 55 is rotatably supported by the shaft 56, when the roll paper in the roll paper storage portion 34 is taken out, the curved plate 55 is manually rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. By pivoting with, it can be taken out like a scrape. Thereby, the roll paper can be more easily taken out.

Further, since the roll paper protection roller 42c of the roll paper stopper 42 rotates freely, there is almost no friction even when the roll paper comes in contact when the roll paper is taken out. For this reason, the roll paper can be more easily taken out. Further, when the roll paper protection roller 42c is made of a resin material (mold material), it is particularly effective because even if the roll paper protection roller 42c is in contact with the roll paper for a long time, the roll paper will not be scarred or deformed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a roll paper protection roller 42 c is provided at the tip of the roll paper stopper 42.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the leading end of the roll paper stopper 42 may be curved. This also allows the roll paper storage unit 34
The roll paper can be taken out without damaging it.

[0054]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a roll paper storage device which can easily take out the roll paper without damaging the roll paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a roll paper storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the roll paper storage device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation when setting roll paper in a roll paper storage unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation when the roll paper is removed from the roll paper storage unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional roll paper storage device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a roll paper stopper mechanism in a conventional roll paper storage device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a roll paper stopper mechanism in a conventional roll paper storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Roll paper storage apparatus 33 ... Preparatory roll paper 34 ... Roll paper storage part 35 ... Preparatory roll paper storage part 38 ... Rocking plate (preliminary roll paper storage part bottom plate) 39 ... Rocking plate biasing spring (bottom plate biasing spring) 41: guide shaft 42: roll paper stopper 42c: roll paper protection roller (roll paper protection means) 45: torsion spring (stopper biasing spring) 51: hook mechanism

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A roll paper storage section for storing roll paper to be used, a spare roll paper storage section communicating with the roll paper storage section and storing a spare roll paper, the spare roll paper storage section and the roll A spare roll paper storage bottom plate pivotally supported between the paper storage portion and the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage portion, and a bottom plate for urging the preliminary roll paper storage portion bottom plate in the upright direction. A biasing spring, which is pivotally supported by the bottom of the spare roll paper storage unit, protrudes above the front of the spare roll paper storage unit bottom plate from a state in which at least the stopper unit has fallen into the bottom of the spare roll paper storage unit, and further has a preliminary roll paper. Rotate to the rear side of the storage section, in front of the bottom plate of the spare roll paper storage section
Roll paper storage of spare roll paper in a state where it protrudes upward
A roll paper stopper for preventing rolling of the auxiliary roll paper storage unit, a stopper biasing spring for biasing the roll paper stopper toward the bottom of the preliminary roll paper storage unit, and a bottom plate biasing spring for the preliminary roll paper storage unit bottom plate. The preliminary roll paper storage unit is locked at the bottom position against the urging force, and the stopper of the roll paper stopper is moved forward of the preliminary roll paper storage unit bottom plate against the urging force of the stopper urging spring. Locking means for locking so as to be unable to rotate forward in a state in which it is projected upward, and a stopper portion of the roll paper stopper is provided with the locking means.
In the state of protruding above the front of the bottom plate of the spare roll paper storage unit
The stopper biasing spring
To the rear side of the spare roll paper storage section against the urging force of
A roll paper storage device characterized in that it can be rolled. 2. A roll paper protection means is provided at a roll paper contact portion of the roll paper stopper.
The roll paper storage device according to the above.