JP3709622B2 - Printing device with auto cutter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer equipped with an auto cutter mounted on a cash register or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a printer provided with an auto cutter unit, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-118852 is known. In this printer, a head cover that protects the print head is attached to the base frame so that the paper can be easily removed when a paper jam occurs near the print unit. The included auto cutter unit was mounted on the head cover that protects the print head.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional example in which an auto cutter unit including such a drive source is provided on the head cover, the auto cutter device is disposed in front of the receipt paper discharge port when viewed from the printer operator. There was a problem that it was difficult to visually check and take out the printed state.
[0004]
Furthermore, when the receipt discharge port is arranged at a high position in accordance with the position of the auto cutter device, the height of the entire device becomes high, so that the transport amount for discharging printed receipt paper increases. In addition, there is a problem that time required for issuing a receipt and wasteful recording paper increase. In addition, when a journal printing unit is provided adjacent to the receipt printing unit, the receipt discharge port protrudes to the side of the writing table used for correcting the printing result of the journal, which is an obstacle to correction work. It was.
[0005]
Further, since the auto cutter device becomes a heat source, it is placed on the upper side of the print head to prevent the cooling of the print head, resulting in a decrease in printing speed and a deterioration in printing quality.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that is excellent in visibility of a printed result of a receipt, can issue a receipt immediately after printing is completed, and at the same time uses less receipt recording paper.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first recording medium, a printing unit that performs printing on a second recording medium arranged in parallel with the first recording medium, and an apparatus main body that includes at least the printing unit. A transport path for guiding the first and second recording media to the printing means, a platen disposed opposite to the printing means, and a cover provided on the apparatus body on the opposite side of the printing means with respect to the transport path. An end portion on the opposite side of the printing means as a rotation shaft, and an auto-cutter that is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body, and an auto-cutter provided on the cover, the cutter for fixing the auto-cutter to the cover A frame, a cutter blade movably supported by the cutter frame for cutting the first recording medium, and a cutter driving source for driving the cutter blade. And a support means for flatly supporting the non-recording surface of the second recording medium at a predetermined angle, and the auto cutter drive source is disposed in a space formed by the support means. .
[0008]
According to the above configuration, since the auto cutter mechanism and its drive source are arranged on the cover provided on the opposite side of the printing unit with respect to the transport path, the visibility of the printing result is improved. In addition, since the auto cutter mechanism serving as a heat source is not provided above the printing unit, the cooling efficiency of the printing unit can be improved. Furthermore, since the motor as the drive source is arranged using the space of the writing table as the support means, the motor does not protrude and the printing apparatus can be downsized.
[0009]
The cover provides a first recording medium guide that guides one side of the recording medium, and the apparatus main body provides a second recording medium guide that faces the first recording medium guide and guides the other side of the recording medium. The first and second recording medium guides form a conveyance path for conveying the recording medium in cooperation with each other.
[0010]
Thereby, even when a paper jam occurs around the print head, the jammed paper can be easily removed by moving the lid.
[0011]
In this case, a printing mechanism that performs printing on the first recording medium may be disposed immediately below the conveyance path.
[0013]
Furthermore, the recording medium is arranged so as to be in contact with the recording medium by the tension of the recording medium, and further includes a feeding roller for transporting the recording medium to the transport path, and the rotation fulcrum of the cover is disposed at a position lower than the feeding roller. It is desirable. In order to realize this configuration, the first paper guide may be provided on the cover so that the portion constituting the entrance of the transport path is divided and does not interfere with the rotation trajectory of the cover. desirable.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, since the paper feed port that is the insertion port for the transport path can be disposed on the upper side, that is, at a position closer to the operator, the paper feed operation can be performed while being visually recognized, so that the operability is greatly improved. .
[0015]
Furthermore, it is desirable that the feeding roller is rotationally driven via a transmission gear having a rotation center substantially coaxial with the rotation fulcrum of the cover.
[0016]
According to the above configuration, since the transmission gear is located at the substantially rotation fulcrum, even if the cover is rotated, the distance between the feeding roller and the transmission gear does not change, and the meshing relationship is kept substantially constant, It will not come off.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 6 show an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the printer 35 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view (side view) of FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the printer 35, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an auto cutter mechanism 36 provided in the printer 35, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a drive source 37. FIG.
[0018]
The printer 35 of this embodiment is a dot impact printer incorporated in a cash register or the like, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a printer main body 38 to which the ribbon cassette 2 can be attached and detached, and an upper portion of the printer main body 38. The clamshell movable portion 39 (corresponding to the cover according to claim 1) is rotatably supported at a position near the rear portion.
[0019]
The printer main body 38 has a printing mechanism (not shown) for reciprocally moving a carriage on which the print head 5 is mounted in the width direction of the recording papers 7 and 8, and a printing mechanism (not shown) for sending the recording papers 7 and 8 to the printing position by the printing head 5 A paper feed mechanism and a drive motor 11a, which is a drive source common to these printing mechanisms and paper feed mechanisms, are provided.
[0020]
On the other hand, the clamshell movable portion 39 is disposed above the paper feed mechanism including the platen 65, the paper feed roller 66, and the paper pressing roller 67 that presses the recording paper against the platen 65, and cuts the receipt paper 8. The auto cutter mechanism 36 and an upper paper guide 62 made of resin, and other components are mounted on the upper paper guide 62 as a base. Note that the auto-cutter mechanism 36 is unitized to be optional equipment and can be removed.
[0021]
The upper paper guide 62 is formed with a projection (not shown) that engages with a hole 23a disposed in the frame of the printer main body 38, and this projection is engaged with the hole to turn the central axis 23 of the clamshell movable portion. Configure. The upper paper guide 62 is also formed with a locking portion (not shown) that engages with a claw portion (not shown) that is rotatably mounted on the printer body. With the above configuration, the upper paper guide 62 is normally fixed at a fixed position by the claw portion, and the rotation center shaft 23 which is a support portion by the printer main body 38 by releasing the engagement between the claw portion and the locking portion. Is turned around.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, the clamshell movable unit 39 is configured to expose the paper path 24 formed by the upper paper guide 62 and the lower paper guide 64 from the paper feed ports 40 and 41 at the rear of the printer to the printing position. 38 is rotatably mounted at the position of the rear upper part of 38. In FIG. 3, the solid line indicates the closed state of the clamshell movable portion 39, and the phantom line (two-dot chain line) indicates the open state of the clamshell movable portion 39.
[0023]
The recording paper 7 fed to the paper feed slot 40 is a journal paper stored on the store side in order to manage sales and inventory. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printed journal paper 7 is sequentially wound on the take-up reel 16 attached to the rear portion of the printer body 38 through the clamshell movable portion 39. The take-up reel 16 is rotationally driven by a take-up belt 17 interlocked with a paper feed mechanism in the printer main body 38.
[0024]
The recording paper fed to the paper feed port 41 is the receipt paper 8 to be delivered to the customer. After printing, the recording paper is sent to the receipt discharge port 18 provided on the upper surface of the clamshell movable portion 39.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4, a stamp set 20 for imprinting a store name or the like is detachably mounted below the paper feed port 41 through which the receipt paper 8 is fed. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 1, the stamp set 20 is not shown. However, in order to show the insertion direction of the stamp set 20 and the positional relationship in the printer body, the arrows in FIG. The position of the stamp set 20 viewed from the B direction is illustrated in FIG. 3 using a two-dot chain line.
[0026]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the paper feed ports 40 and 41 are arranged side by side at the rear of the clamshell movable portion 39, and these paper feed ports 40 and 41 include journal paper. 7 and a delivery roller 22 for delivering receipt paper 8 are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the feeding roller 22 is disposed at a position raised by a predetermined amount from the rotation center shaft 23 of the clamshell movable portion 39, that is, a position near the upper end of the rear portion of the clamshell movable portion 39. ing.
[0027]
The feeding roller 22 is always rotated during operation of the printer, and when the paper is fed by the driving force generated by the paper feeding roller when the journal paper 7 and the receipt paper 8 are fed, the feeding roller 22 A frictional force is generated between the paper and the paper is fed out in the transport direction. As a result, the paper feeding load caused by the inertial mass of the roll paper can be reduced.
[0028]
More specifically, the feed roller 22 has a roller shaft drive gear 59 disposed on the clamshell movable portion 39 side, and is rotatably attached to a part 63 of the upper paper guide 62 that forms the paper feed ports 40 and 41. It has been. In this embodiment, the upper paper guide can be removed by being elastically deformed. Further, a transmission gear 60 that meshes with the roller shaft drive gear 59 to rotate the feeding roller 22 is supported on the printer main body 38 side coaxially with the rotation center shaft 23 of the clamshell movable portion 39. With this configuration, the roller shaft driving gear 59 on the clamshell movable portion 39 side and the transmission gear 60 on the printer main body 38 side are not disengaged even when the clamshell movable portion 39 is opened.
[0029]
The rotation shaft of the transmission gear 60 may use the rotation center axis of the clamshell movable portion 39 as in this example, or may be another component on the extension line of the rotation center axis. Further, the rotational axis of the transmission gear 60 and the rotational central axis of the clamshell movable part are slightly different, and as the clamshell movable part 39 is opened, the central axis of the roller shaft drive gear 59 and the transmission gear 60 are increased. It is also possible to arrange it so that the distance from the central axis is large as long as the meshing of both gears is not disengaged.
[0030]
The stamp set 20 is located immediately below the paper path 24 that guides the recording paper fed by the feeding roller 22.
[0031]
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 6, an auto cutter mechanism 36 that cuts continuous receipt paper 8 and a cutter drive source 37 that drives the auto cutter mechanism 36 are installed in the clamshell movable portion 39. ing.
[0032]
Here, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the auto cutter mechanism 36 moves the movable blade 26 for cutting the receipt paper 8 in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of the receipt paper 8 by a crank-shaped swing lever 27 (in FIG. 5). The receipt paper 8 is sandwiched between the fixed blade 28 provided at the opening of the cutter frame 43 of the clamshell movable portion 39 and cut. The cutter drive source 37 for driving the auto cutter mechanism 36 is a high torque type motor, as shown in FIG. 4, below the writing base 44a for correcting journal printing provided in the cutter frame 43 of the clamshell movable portion 39. And is covered with a motor cover 44b in consideration of operational safety.
[0033]
In order to make it easier for an operator such as a store clerk to visually recognize a print result of a receipt or the like when the printer is horizontally disposed, it is preferable to transport the journal paper so as to be orthogonal to the line of sight. The metal plate is formed by pressing, and a space is formed below the metal plate. In this example, a DC motor which is a cutter drive source 37 is arranged using the space below. The writing table 44a may be formed by obliquely machining a part of the cutter frame 43.
[0034]
The output shaft of the cutter drive source 37 rotationally drives a gear 47 configured integrally with the cam plate 46 via a gear train 45. A drive pin 48 is implanted in the gear 47, and the drive pin 48 is engaged with a guide hole 49 formed in the swing lever 27, so that the swing lever according to the rotation of the gear 47. 27 is swung around the swing center axis 50.
[0035]
A pin 51 projecting from the tip of the swing lever 27 is inserted into a guide hole 52 formed in the cutter frame 43 and engaged with the movable blade 26 slidably stacked on the cutter frame 43. The swinging motion of the swinging lever 27 fitted in the groove 53 causes the movable blade 26 to reciprocate via the pin 51.
[0036]
A plate-like upper cover 54 is provided on the cutter frame 43 so as to cover the movable blade 26. Therefore, the movable blade 26 slides in the gap between the cutter frame 43 and the upper cover 54 according to the swing lever 27.
[0037]
The support frame 56 that rotatably supports the rocking center shaft 50 of the rocking lever 27 is fixed to the cutter frame 43 with the upper ends 56a and 56b of the side wall portions standing on both ends thereof, so that the gear train 45 and an operating space for the swing lever 27 are formed.
[0038]
The cam plate 46 integrated with the gear 47 that drives the swing lever 27 is positioned at a predetermined rotational position by a rotation detection sensor 57 having a substantially U-shaped cross section disposed so as to sandwich the periphery of the cam plate 46. The operation of the DC motor which is the cutter drive source 37 is controlled by the detected and output from the rotation detection sensor 57. That is, the cam plate 46 includes a first portion 46a having a larger radius and a second portion 46b having a smaller radius. When the cam plate 46 rotates in a predetermined direction, the rotation detection sensor The position where the start end portion of the first portion 46a is detected by 57 is defined as a reference position, and the position where the end portion of the first portion 46a is detected by the rotation detection sensor 57 is defined as a partial cut position. At the same time as the power is turned on or at the time of the reset operation, the DC motor 37 is controlled and the cam plate 46 is positioned at the reference position. Thereby, the cutter movable blade 26 is set to a predetermined standby position. At the time of partial cut, when the cam plate 46 is moved from the reference position to the partial cut position by the DC motor 37, the rotation of the DC motor 37 is reversed and the cam plate 46 is returned to the reference position again. Thereby, the receipt paper is partially cut. The full cut is performed when the DC motor 37 rotates in a predetermined direction from the reference position to the reference position.
[0039]
Next, the upper paper guide 62 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, a part 63 of the upper paper guide 62 located near the paper feed ports 40 and 41 at the rear of the printer guides the lower surface of the recording paper. The side paper guide has a function. With this configuration, when the clamshell movable portion 39 rotates about the rotation center shaft 23, the paper feed port forming portion of the upper paper guide 62 is provided. 68 does not interfere with the lower paper guide. That is, a part of the lower paper guide in the rotation locus of the paper feed port forming portion 68 corresponds to the part 63 of the upper paper guide in this example, and this part is separated from the lower paper guide and It was designed to rotate with it. Thereby, the rotation of the clamshell movable part 39 at a desired angle could be secured.
[0040]
In the printer 35 described above, the auto cutter mechanism 36 that requires a large driving torque is driven by a dedicated cutter drive source 37 provided in the clamshell movable portion 39, so that the drive motor provided on the printer body 38 side is used. Makes it possible to use a small low-torque motor whose drive target is limited to a printing mechanism or a paper feed mechanism that requires a relatively small driving torque, and the specifications of the driving motor provided on the printer body 38 side. It is possible to achieve a reduction in production costs and a reduction in the size of the apparatus.
[0041]
In addition, even if a paper jam occurs in the auto cutter mechanism 36 of the clam shell movable portion 39, the cutter drive source 37 dedicated to the auto cutter mechanism 36 is provided in the clam shell movable portion 39, so While visually recognizing the state where the shell movable portion 39 is opened and bitten, the movable blade of the cutter can be moved to remove the bitten paper. Thereby, the removal of the obstacle becomes easy and excellent maintainability can be obtained.
[0042]
Further, the space under the writing table 44a for correcting journal printing has not been used at all in the past. However, the space under the writing table 44a is obtained by arranging the cutter drive source 37 under the writing table 44a. Can be effectively utilized, and it is possible to prevent the clamshell movable portion 39 from being enlarged due to the equipment of the cutter drive source 37.
[0043]
In the above embodiment, the auto cutter mechanism 36 includes the movable blade 26 and the fixed blade 28. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fixed blade 28 is separated from the auto cutter mechanism 36. It may be fixed to the printer main body 38. As a result, when the receipt paper is loaded by opening the clamshell movable portion 39, the operation of passing the receipt paper through the opening of the auto cutter mechanism 36 becomes unnecessary, so that the receipt paper can be easily loaded. it can.
[0044]
Further, the feeding roller 22 and its shaft are arranged at a position below the rotation center axis 23 of the clamshell movable part so that it does not interfere with the clamshell movable part when it is opened, It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the stamp set 20 for imprinting a name or the like is disposed immediately below the passage 24 through which the paper fed by the feeding roller 22 passes. However, in such a configuration, the paper feed port arranged at the rear of the printer and the insertion position of the stamp set 20 are set at positions considerably below the clamshell movable part, When paper is inserted or ink is supplied to the stamp set 20, it is difficult to visually recognize the problem, and the handleability is poor.
[0045]
In this embodiment, the paper feed ports 40 and 41 at the rear of the printer are set at the rear of the clamshell movable portion 39 and the recording paper journal papers 7 and 8 inserted into the paper feed ports 40 and 41 are used as the print head 5. The feeding roller 22 that is fed out to the side is disposed above the rotation center shaft 23 of the clamshell movable portion 39 so that the positions of the paper feed ports 40 and 41 and the mounting position of the stamp set 20 can be relatively controlled at the rear of the printer. Can be set to a higher position. As a result, it is easy to perform the paper insertion operation to the paper feed ports 40 and 41 at the rear of the printer and the ink supply operation to the stamp set 20 while visually recognizing from the front of the printer, and the handling is improved. Become.
[0046]
Further, the position of the feeding roller shaft 22 is improved upward, so that the winding range of the paper around the feeding roller shaft 22 is increased, and the rotational torque transmitted to the feeding roller shaft 22 is recorded with less loss. It can be transmitted to the papers 7 and 8.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, even when a failure occurs in which paper is caught in the auto cutter provided on the cover, the cutter drive source is provided on the cover. While visually confirming the biting state, the cutter blade can be moved to easily remove the biting paper, and excellent maintainability can be obtained.
[0048]
Furthermore, the space formed by the support means for supporting the non-recording surface of the second recording medium on which printing has been performed has not been used at all in the past, but since the cutter driving source is arranged in the space, the space is formed. Can be effectively utilized, and it is possible to prevent an increase in the size of the cover due to the equipment of the cutter drive source.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view (side view) taken along arrow B in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view as seen from the rear side of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an auto cutter mechanism provided in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a cutter driving source for driving the auto cutter mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
5 Print Head 7, 8 Recording Paper 17 Winding Belt 20 Stamp Set 22 Feeding Roller Shaft 24 Passage 26 Movable Blade 27 Oscillating Lever 28 Fixed Blade 36 Auto Cutter Mechanism 37 Cutter Drive Source 38 Printer Main Body 39 Clamshell Movable Parts 40, 41 Paper feed port 43 Cutter frame 44 Writing stand 45 Gear train 46 Cam plate 54 Upper cover 59 Roller shaft drive gear 60 Transmission gear 62 Upper paper guide 64 Lower paper guide

Claims (7)

Printing means for printing on a first recording medium and a second recording medium arranged in parallel with the first recording medium;
An apparatus main body including at least the printing unit;
A transport path for guiding the first and second recording media to the printing means;
A platen disposed opposite to the printing means;
A cover provided on the main body of the apparatus on the opposite side of the printing unit with respect to the transport path, and rotatably supported on the main body of the apparatus with an end portion on the opposite side of the printing means as a rotation shaft. What was done,
An auto cutter provided in the cover, a cutter frame for fixing the auto cutter to the cover, and a cutter blade supported movably on the cutter frame for cutting the first recording medium And a cutter driving source for driving the cutter blade,
The cover has a support means for supporting the non-recording surface of the second recording medium on which the printing has been performed flat at a predetermined angle,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auto cutter driving source is disposed in a space formed by the support means.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing mechanism that is located immediately below the conveyance path and performs printing on the first recording medium. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is a first recording medium guide for guiding a first surface of the recording medium, and the apparatus main body is opposed to the first recording medium guide and the first of the recording medium. Each having a second recording medium guide for guiding a second surface opposite to the first surface;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second recording medium guides jointly constitute the transport path.   4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cover includes a third recording medium guide that configures an entrance of the conveyance path and guides the second surface of the recording medium together with the second recording medium guide. A printing device. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a feeding roller that is disposed so as to come into contact with the recording medium by tension of the recording medium, and that conveys the recording medium to the conveyance path,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rotation fulcrum of the cover is disposed at a position lower than the feeding roller.   6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the feeding roller is rotationally driven via a transmission gear having a rotation center substantially coaxial with a rotation fulcrum of the cover.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platen is provided on the cover.

Images