JP3564907B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that can use both cut paper and roll paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The facsimile apparatus includes an image recording unit for recording received image data or image data read by a scanner as a visible image on paper. A thermal recording method, a thermal transfer recording method, an ink jet recording method, an electrophotographic method, and the like are applied to the recording unit.
[0003]
Of these, the electrophotographic system has a complicated configuration of a recording unit and requires a certain size, and is therefore adopted in medium to large facsimile machines mainly used in offices and the like. In these facsimile apparatuses, paper cut into a predetermined size such as A3, A4, B5 or the like (hereinafter referred to as cut paper) specified by the International Standards Organization (ISO) is used as recording paper.
[0004]
On the other hand, in small offices or homes such as private shops, small to medium-sized facsimile machines are used. In these small to medium-sized facsimile apparatuses, a thermal recording system, a thermal transfer recording system, and an ink jet recording system are adopted in a recording unit. Further, cut paper or roll paper is adopted as the paper. In particular, in a facsimile apparatus of a thermal recording system, a thermal recording paper wound in a roll shape is used.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the facsimile apparatus using the roll paper, a reception record having a length corresponding to the length of the transmitted document in the sub-scanning direction can be obtained. For example, a long document such as an electrocardiogram chart is conveniently recorded on roll paper without being divided. However, it is inconvenient to file because the length of the recorded paper varies depending on the document.
[0006]
On the other hand, in a facsimile apparatus using cut sheets, the length of recorded sheets is the same, which is convenient for files. However, a long document such as the chart described above is divided and recorded on a plurality of sheets, and thus has a problem that it is difficult to see. In addition, there is a problem that even a document as short as a memo is uneconomical because one cut sheet is completely used.
[0007]
Since the conventional facsimile machine uses only roll paper or cut paper, the user has to select and buy either facsimile machine in consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of both when purchasing the facsimile machine.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a facsimile apparatus in which a user can freely select and use either cut paper or roll paper.
[0009]
A paper transport unit that transports paper, a recording unit that records on paper transported by the paper transport unit, a cut paper holding unit that supplies cut paper to the paper transport unit, and roll paper that supports both ends of roll paper A roll paper holding portion having a support shaft and an engaging portion detachably engaged with the apparatus so that all or a part of the roll paper is exposed, and a paper discharge from which the cut paper or the roll paper on which the recording is completed is discharged A recording device comprising:
The cut paper holding portion has a cut paper holding plate that supports the cut paper, and a cut paper holding plate that is detachable from a locking portion of the cut paper holding plate ,
The detachable cut paper holding plate is removed, and the roll paper holding portion is attached by engaging the engaging portion of the roll paper holding portion with the locking portion of the cut paper holding plate .
[0010]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user who uses the cut sheet loads the cut sheet into the cut sheet holding section. Further, the user who uses the roll paper attaches the roll paper holding unit to the apparatus, holds the roll paper in the roll paper holding unit, and performs recording. As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, cut paper or roll paper can be freely selected and used according to the user's request.
[0011]
The cut sheet holding section is provided on the apparatus in a state where the cut sheet holding section is inclined downward toward the sheet separation roller on one side of the apparatus, and the sheet discharge section is provided on the other side of the apparatus .
[0012]
Before SL paper discharge unit, characterized in that the cutter to operate only when using roll paper are deployable.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a heat-sensitive roll paper can be used in a thermal transfer type cut paper facsimile machine.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the facsimile apparatus F in a state in which cut paper is used. In the facsimile machine F, the document reading section 1 is disposed in the upper half, and the recording section 8 and the paper transport section 15 are disposed in the lower half. The document reading unit 1 includes a document separation roller 2, a document separation pad 3, document conveyance rollers 4a and 4b, a platen roller 5, and a contact image sensor 6.
[0015]
The document separation roller 2 and the document separation pad 3 cooperate to separate the documents inserted into the document insertion slot 1a one by one and send them to the transport rollers 4a and 4b. The transport rollers 4 a and 4 b send the document to the contact image sensor 6. The contact image sensor 6 photoelectrically converts an image on the surface of the document and outputs an image signal.
[0016]
The platen roller 5 brings the original into close contact with the contact image sensor 6 and applies a conveying force to the original so that the original is discharged from the original discharge port 1b. The document separation roller 2, the transport rollers 4a and 4b, and the platen roller 5 are driven to rotate by a stepping motor (not shown).
[0017]
A cover 7 is attached to a document insertion opening 1a of the document reading unit 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. The cover 7 has a function as a tray for supporting the original when reading the original. However, the cover 7 covers the original insertion slot except when reading the original, and prevents dust and the like from entering the original reading unit 1.
[0018]
The recording unit 8 includes a thermal print head 9, a platen roller 10, a separator 11, and an ink donor film 12. The separator 11 separates the ink donor film 12 from the cut paper. The ink donor film 12 passes through the space between the thermal print head 9 and the platen roller 10 from the feeding roll 12a, passes through the separator 11, and is wound on the winding roll 12b.
[0019]
The feed roll 12a and the take-up roll 12b are supported on a cassette (not shown), so that the ink donor film can be easily attached to and detached from the facsimile apparatus F. In addition, 13 is a guide for guiding the ink donor film, and 14 is a discharge roller for discharging cut paper.
[0020]
The platen roller 10 is pressed against the thermal print head 9. When cut paper is used, the ink donor film 12 and the cut paper are pressed against the thermal print head 9 to give a conveying force. The thermal print head 9 is formed by arranging heating elements in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). By selectively generating heat from these heating elements, the ink on the ink donor film 12 is softened and adhered to cut paper to form an image.
[0021]
The paper transport unit 15 is provided adjacent to the lower end of the cut paper holding unit 19. The paper transporting section 15 is provided with a paper separating roller 16 and a separating member 17. A separating member 17 is pressed against the sheet separating roller 16, and the cut sheets P held by the cut sheet holding section 19 are separated one by one due to a difference between the two frictional forces. The separated cut sheet is conveyed along a guide 18 and guided between the thermal print head 9 and the platen roller 10.
[0022]
The cut sheet holding unit 19 includes cut sheet holding plates 20 and 21, a push-up plate 22, and a spring 23. The cut paper holding plate 20 is provided on the facsimile machine F in an inclined state. The upper end of the push-up plate 22 is attached to the cut paper holding plate 20. The push-up plate 22 rotates around its upper end as a central axis. The spring 23 applies a force in a diagonally upper left direction in FIG. 1 to the lower end of the push-up plate 22 to press the lower end of the cut sheet P against the sheet separating roller 16.
[0023]
A detachable cut paper holding plate 21 is attached to an upper portion of the cut paper holding plate 20. The cut paper holding plates 20 and 21 are engaged by locking portions 21a, 20a, and the cut paper holding plate 21 supports the upper end of the cut paper P. The separation roller 16, platen roller 10, sheet discharge roller 14, and take-up roll 12b are driven by a stepping motor (not shown) to rotate.
[0024]
When recording on a cut sheet, the sheet separating roller 16 rotates to separate the top sheet of the cut sheet P and convey it to the thermal print head 9. The cut sheet is guided by a guide 18 and reaches between the thermal print head 9 and the platen roller 10 together with the ink donor film 12. Thereafter, the transmission of the rotational driving force to the separation roller 16 is cut off, and the separation roller 16 idles in accordance with the movement of the cut sheet.
[0025]
On the cut sheet, an image is formed for each main scanning line by the heat generated by the thermal print head 9. The cut paper on which the recording has been completed is separated from the ink donor film 12 by the separator 11 and discharged to the outside through the discharge port 8a.
[0026]
Next, a case where roll paper for thermal recording (hereinafter simply referred to as roll paper) is used will be described with reference to FIGS. When roll paper is used, a roll paper holding box 24 is used instead of the cut paper holding plate 21. The roll paper holding box 24 has the same engaging portions 24a and 24a as the cut paper holding plate 21, and can engage like the engaging portions 20a and 20a of the cut paper holding plate 20.
[0027]
The roll paper holding box 24 has a box shape with an open top, and a concave portion 24b that is open upward but does not reach the bottom surface is formed on the inner side surface. The width of the recess 24b is slightly larger than the diameter of the small-diameter ends 25a, 25a of the roll paper support shaft 25, and the ends 25a, 25a are held. The roll paper support shaft 25 is slightly longer than the axial length of the roll paper R.
[0028]
The roll paper support shaft 25 is passed through the core of the roll paper R, and is rotatably held so that the peripheral surface of the roll paper R does not contact the inner surface of the roll paper holding box 24. It is made to pay out smoothly. The roll paper support shaft 25 is not always necessary and can be omitted.
[0029]
The roll paper Ra fed from the roll paper holding box 24 is guided into the cut paper holding unit 19. The roll paper Ra is guided to the guide 18 along the peripheral surface of the paper separation roller 16, reaches the space between the thermal print head 9 and the platen roller 10, and records an image. When the sheet feeding resistance is high, a mechanism that separates at least one of the push-up plate 22 and the separating member 17 from the peripheral surface of the sheet separating roller 16 may be employed.
[0030]
In this case, since the thermal recording paper is used, the ink donor film 12 (including the delivery roll 12a and the take-up roll 12b) has been removed. When plain roll paper is used, the ink donor film 12 is mounted in the same manner as in FIG.
[0031]
The roll paper Rb on which recording has been completed is discharged from the paper discharge unit 8a to the outside of the apparatus via the discharge rollers 14. The discharged roll paper Rb is torn by the user by hand and carried away from the facsimile machine F. At this time, a dividing line may be recorded between pages so that a page or communication can be easily divided. Also, a cutter that operates only when using roll paper can be provided in the paper discharge unit 8a.
[0032]
When starting the next recording, the platen roller 10 and the separation roller 16 are rotated in the reverse direction so that the leading end of the roll paper Rb is pulled back to the position of the thermal print head 9. In this case, a blank portion of the roll paper does not occur between recordings, and the roll paper can be used economically.
[0033]
FIG. 4 shows a modification of the roll paper holding unit. The roll paper holding unit 26 is configured by rolling a wire. Both ends 26b of the roll paper holding unit 26 are inserted into the core of the roll paper R, and support the roll paper R so that the roll paper R can be easily rotated. The engaging portion 26a is engaged with the engaging portion 20a of the roll paper holding plate 20, and the roll paper holding portion 26 is detachably attached to the upper portion of the roll paper holding plate 20. If the roll paper holding section is made of wire as described above, the cost can be reduced.
[0034]
In this embodiment, a facsimile apparatus for thermal transfer recording / thermal recording has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to other facsimile apparatuses of a recording method, for example, an ink jet method and an electrophotographic method. In the above embodiment, the roll paper transport path and the cut paper path are common, but a part or all of both paper paths may be different paper paths.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has an advantage that a user can freely select and use either cut paper or roll paper.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where cut paper is used.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the facsimile apparatus in a state where roll paper is used.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the facsimile machine.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the facsimile machine, showing a deformation of the roll paper holding unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
9: Thermal print head F: Facsimile machine 10: Platen roller P: Cut paper 12: Ink donor film R: Roll paper 16: Paper separation roller 19: Cut paper holding unit 24: Roll paper holding box 26: Roll paper holding unit

Claims (3)

A paper transport unit that transports paper, a recording unit that records on paper transported by the paper transport unit, a cut paper holding unit that supplies cut paper to the paper transport unit, and roll paper that supports both ends of roll paper A roll paper holding portion having a support shaft and an engaging portion detachably engaged with the apparatus so that all or a part of the roll paper is exposed, and a paper discharge from which the cut paper or the roll paper on which the recording is completed is discharged A recording device comprising:
The cut paper holding portion has a cut paper holding plate that supports the cut paper, and a cut paper holding plate that is detachable from a locking portion of the cut paper holding plate ,
The recording paper is characterized in that the detachable cut paper holding plate is removed, and the roll paper holding portion is attached by engaging the engaging portion of the roll paper holding portion with the locking portion of the cut paper holding plate. apparatus. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cut sheet holding section is provided on the apparatus in a state where the cut sheet holding section is inclined downward toward a sheet separating roller on one side of the apparatus, and the sheet discharge section is provided on the other side of the apparatus. apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cutter that operates only when using roll paper can be provided in the paper discharge unit .

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