JP3977729B2 - Core material for printer roll paper - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a core material used when a strip-shaped roll paper is loaded into a printer (for example, a sublimation printer).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a sublimation printer, for example, roll paper obtained by winding a recording paper into a cylindrical shape is used as a recording medium for forming an image. This roll paper is loaded into a sublimation printer with a core material inserted in the center hole. The sublimation printer appropriately pulls out the recording paper from the roll paper, and prints an image on this paper (note that the roll paper The width is standardized to two types of minimum 127mm and maximum 152mm).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the core material of the conventional roll paper for printers has a width of a portion (a portion having a diameter inscribed in the central hole is referred to as a large diameter portion) inserted into the central hole. It was bigger than By doing so, since the roll paper is in contact with the large diameter portion at the full width, the sublimation printer can stably pull out the recording paper. On the other hand, the width of the large diameter portion is the same as that of the roll paper. Since it is almost the same as the width (effective dimension) of the loading portion to be loaded, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure a working space when loading the roll paper in the sublimation printer, and the workability is poor.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a core material for printer roll paper that can improve workability when the printer roll paper is loaded into the printer. .
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the core material of the roll paper for printer according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A large-diameter portion having a diameter inscribed in the center hole of the roll paper for printer, and a small-diameter portion protruding from both ends of the large-diameter portion and pivotally supported in the printer, and the printer roll paper is loaded into the printer In the core material of the roll paper for printers to
A width of the large diameter portion is narrower than that of the printer roll paper.
[0006]
Further, the width of the large diameter portion is in the range of 70% to 90% of the width of the printer roll paper.
[0007]
Alternatively, the width of the large-diameter portion is a width that forms a gap that allows a fingertip to be inserted into both ends of the center hole of the printer roll paper.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
[First Embodiment]
In the description of the present embodiment, first, the overall configuration and operation of a sublimation type printer that is an example of a printer to which the core material of the roll paper for printer according to the present invention is applied will be described. The core material of the roll paper for the printer will be described in detail.
[0010]
<Overall configuration of sublimation printer>
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a sublimation printer loaded with roll paper. The sublimation printer 100 includes a printer main body 101 and a drawer 102 provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the printer main body 101, and is assumed to be a printer for photo printing.
[0011]
A cover 101 a that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper surface of the printer main body 101. When the cover 101a is rotated (arrow D1) to be opened, the inside of the printer main body 101 is exposed, and the ink ribbon cassette 120 can be mounted in a replaceable manner (arrow D3). The ink ribbon cassette 120 is rotatably provided with a supply spool 120a around which the ink ribbon R is wound and a take-up spool 120b that winds up the used ink ribbon R from the supply spool 120a. Further, a slit 101 b through which the recording paper printed by the sublimation printer 100 is discharged is provided near the center of the front surface of the printer main body 101.
[0012]
The drawer portion 102 includes a front panel 1021 and a pair of left and right side plates 1022. The drawer portion 102 is pulled out from the printer main body portion 101 (arrow D 2) by operating a handle 1021 a provided on the front panel 1021. Can be returned.
[0013]
Roll paper RP is loaded between the side plates 1022 in the drawer 102 so as to be replaceable. Bearings 1023 are attached to the inner sides of the respective side plates 1022, and the large-diameter portion 103-1 fitted into the center hole of the roll paper RP is a small-diameter portion 103 that is axially passed through the large-diameter portion 103-1. -2 is supported by the bearing 1023 and is configured to be rotatable. The bearing 1023 has a notch opened upward, and the small diameter portion 103-2 is dropped into the notch to support the notch. When the large-diameter portion 103-1 is lifted upward, the small-diameter portion 103-2 is removed from the bearing 1023, whereby the roll paper RP can be replaced.
[0014]
A pair of left and right guide rails 1024 extending to the rear of the drawer portion 102 are provided at the bottom of the drawer portion 102. The guide rail 1024 is supported by a guide 104 fixed on the bottom plate of the printer main body 101. The guide rail 1024 is guided by the guide 104, so that the drawer portion 102 can be taken in and out of the printer main body 101. can do.
[0015]
On the back surface of the front panel 1021 of the drawer portion 102, a container 1028 having an open top for accommodating a cut piece of the roll paper RP is detachably mounted.
[0016]
A pair of rollers 1025 and 1026 that sandwich and convey the roll paper RP is provided behind the drawer unit 102. The roller 1025 is rotatably supported between the side plates 1022, and the roller 1026 is rotatably supported between a pair of rotating plates 1027 that are rotatably supported by the side plates 1022 via pins 1027a. ing. The pair of rotating plates 1027 and the rollers 1026 are formed in a U-shaped frame and rotate as a whole around the pin 1027a.
[0017]
<Description of operation of sublimation printer>
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the printer 100. After the setting of the roll paper RP is completed, the drawer unit 102 is returned to the original position, and the print standby state is entered.
[0018]
Thus, the roll paper RP set with its leading end held between the rollers 1025 and 1026 is first conveyed upward in the drawing by energizing the roller 1025 with a rotational force. The rotational force urged by the roller 1025 is generated by the motor 105 and transmitted through the belt 106 and the pulley 107. A gear that meshes with a gear 1025a attached to the roller 1025 is attached to the pulley 107, and when the pulley 107 rotates, the roller 1025 also rotates.
[0019]
By the rotation of the roller 1025, the leading edge of the roll paper RP is next guided by the guide plate 108a toward the guide guide 109 that changes the conveyance direction of the roll paper RP to a substantially right angle. The guide guide 109 has an inner curved surface whose surface is smoothed, and a guide roller 110 is provided facing the inner curved surface. The leading edge of the roll paper RP passes through a gap between the inner curved surface of the guide guide 109 and the guide roller 110, and is guided by the inner curved surface of the guide guide 109 and bends at a substantially right angle.
[0020]
When the leading edge of the roll paper RP passes through the guide roller 110, it is sandwiched between the pinch roller 111 and the conveying roller 112 and further conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller 112. The conveyance roller 112 is attached to the pulley 112a, and rotates when the rotational force of the motor 105 is transmitted to the conveyance roller 112 via the belt 106 and the pulley 112a.
[0021]
The roll paper RP is inserted between the thermal head 113 and the platen roller 114 by the rotation of the transport roller 112. An ink ribbon R is inserted between the thermal head 113 and the platen roller 114, and the ink on the ink ribbon R is sublimated by the thermal head 113 to perform image printing on the roll paper RP. In the case of color printing, the ink ribbon R is provided with an ink layer of each color of yellow, cyan, and magenta and an overcoat layer that serves as a protective layer repeatedly in predetermined units. By repeatedly reciprocating the roll paper RP, printing of each color and overcoat are performed. The used ink ribbon R is sequentially wound by a winding roller 120a that is rotated by a driving mechanism (not shown).
[0022]
The printed roll paper RP is guided by the guide plate 108c to the cutting machine 115, and is cut into a single photograph by being cut at a predetermined size. The cutting machine 115 cuts the blank space provided between the photographs. Thereafter, the photograph is guided by the guide plate 108d, and discharged from the slit 101b to the outside of the sublimation printer 100 by its own weight. On the other hand, the cut piece CS generated by cutting the blank portion of the roll paper RP falls due to its own weight and is accommodated in the container 1028 disposed at the dropping position (below the cutting machine 115). It becomes.
[0023]
The container 1028 is made of metal, is detachably attached to the front panel 1021 by a magnet 1021b fixed to the back surface of the front panel 1021, and is positioned by a guide member 1021c attached to the front panel 1021. By repeating the above procedure, images such as photographs are sequentially printed.
[0024]
<Core for roll paper for printer>
4A and 4B are a plan view and a side view showing a state in which the roll paper in which the core material of the roll paper for printer according to the embodiment of the present invention is fitted in the center hole is loaded in the drawer portion 102. FIG. In order to clarify the characteristics of the core material of the roll paper for printer according to the present invention, the core material of the conventional roll paper for printer is also shown in comparison (FIG. 3).
[0025]
3A and 3B are side views and FIG. 3B are plan views when the roll paper is loaded into the drawer portion 102 with the core material of the conventional roll paper for a printer. FIG. 4A is a side view when the roll paper is loaded into the drawer 102 using the core material of the printer roll paper according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a plan view. is there. 3 and 4, the same numbers represent the same parts. Also, reference numerals 1022 to 1027 in the figure correspond to the numbers added in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0026]
3B, the width of the conventional large-diameter portion is larger than both of the two types of paper widths 152 mm (maximum width roll paper) and 127 mm (minimum width roll paper) 182 mm. On the other hand, since the effective dimension of the device (the inner dimension of the drawer portion 102) was 216.8 mm, the large diameter portion was fitted so that the center position in the width direction of the large diameter portion coincided with the center position in the width direction of the paper. When it was passed, the space near the bearing 1023 was only (216.8-182) /2=17.2 mm, and the workability when loading the roll paper was very poor.
[0027]
On the other hand, as apparent from FIG. 4B, the width of the large-diameter portion according to the present invention is smaller than both the widths 152 mm and 127 mm of the two types of roll paper, and is only 107 mm (that is, roll paper). 70% of the maximum width and 84% of the minimum width). Since the effective dimension of the apparatus is 216.8 mm as in FIG. 3B, the large diameter portion is inserted so that the center position in the width direction of the large diameter portion matches the center position in the width direction of the roll paper. In this case, the space near the bearing 1023 is (216.8−152) /2=32.4 mm when the width of the roll paper is 152 mm, which is about 88% wider than the space near the conventional bearing 1023. . Further, when the width of the roll paper is 127 mm, (216.8-127) /2=44.9 mm, and the space is expanded by about 161% compared to the space near the conventional bearing 1023.
[0028]
In other words, by making the cylindrical large diameter portion inserted through the center hole of the roll paper smaller than the width of the roll paper, while maintaining the length of the small diameter portion so that it can be loaded into a conventional sublimation printer, The exposed part of the small diameter part having a smaller outer diameter than the large diameter part becomes larger. As a result, a work space for loading roll paper can be secured without increasing the width of the drawer portion 102 of the sublimation printer, and the workability is greatly improved.
[0029]
Further, as in the present embodiment, by reducing the width of the large diameter portion to be smaller than the minimum width of the roll paper, the roll paper can be easily held and loaded into the printer without soiling the side surface of the roll paper. There is also an incidental effect that it becomes possible.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the roll paper is loaded (the arrow indicates the loading direction). FIG. 5A shows a case where roll paper is loaded using a core material of a conventional roll paper for a printer. Since the work space is small, the side of the roll paper has to be held with both hands. . On the other hand, when using the core material of the roll paper for printer according to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5B, the fingertips are inserted and held at both ends of the center hole of the roll paper. It becomes possible to load the paper without polluting the side surface of the roll paper.
[0031]
[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the width of the large-diameter portion is set to 107 mm (the width that is smaller than the minimum width of the roll paper and can be held by inserting fingertips at both ends into the center hole of the roll paper having the minimum width). Not limited to this. In order to secure a work space for the roll paper loading operation, it is sufficient that the width of the large diameter portion is at least smaller than the maximum width of the roll paper (152 mm). Furthermore, it is desirable that the side of the roll paper is not held when the roll paper of the maximum width is loaded, but that the fingertips can be held at both ends of the center hole of the roll paper. It suffices if a gap is formed so that a fingertip can be inserted at both ends of the center hole. The width of the part = 132 mm = about 87% of the maximum width of the roll paper).
[0032]
In this case, the width of the large-diameter portion is larger than that of the minimum width roll paper (127 mm). For the minimum width roll paper, it is possible to hold the fingertip in the center hole of the roll paper. become unable. However, it is possible to secure a work space near the bearing 1023 and improve workability. Therefore, even if the width of the large diameter portion is a maximum of 132 mm (about 87% of the maximum width of the roll paper), the object of the present application (improvement of the work space for the roll paper loading operation) can be achieved.
[0033]
On the other hand, in order to secure the work space for the roll paper loading operation and to hold the roll paper with the minimum width in the center hole of the roll paper (that is, the roll paper) In order to make the holding of the roll paper easy and prevent the side surface of the roll paper from being stained), as described in the first embodiment, the width of the large diameter portion is 107 mm (70% of the maximum width of the roll paper). ) Is necessary.
[0034]
Considering the above, it is desirable that the width dimension of the large diameter portion is in the range of 70% to 90% (preferably about 87%) of the maximum width of the roll paper.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve workability when the printer roll paper is loaded into the printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a sublimation printer 100 loaded with roll paper.
FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the sublimation printer 100. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a core material of a conventional roll paper for a printer.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a core material of a roll paper for a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an improvement in workability of a roll paper loading operation when a conventional roll paper core material for a printer is used and when a roll paper core material for a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Sublimation type printer 101 Printer main body part 102 Drawer part 103-1 Large diameter part 103-2 Small diameter part 104 Guide

Claims (3)

A large-diameter portion having a diameter inscribed in the center hole of the roll paper for printer, and a small-diameter portion protruding from both ends of the large-diameter portion and pivotally supported in the printer, and the printer roll paper is loaded into the printer In the core material of the roll paper for printers to
A core material for a roll paper for printer, wherein the width of the large diameter portion is narrower than that for the roll paper for printer. 2. The core material for printer roll paper according to claim 1, wherein the width of the large diameter portion is in a range of 70% to 90% of the maximum width of the printer roll paper. The width of the large diameter portion is
The core material of the roll paper for printer according to claim 1, wherein the width is such that a gap is formed so that a fingertip can be inserted at both ends of the center hole of the roll paper for printer.

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