JP4048899B2 - Printer paper guide mechanism and printer having the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper guide mechanism for a printer that performs printing on printing paper such as cut paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a printer performs printing on a print sheet by a print head while conveying the print sheet along a predetermined conveyance path. In the transport path, there may be a level difference at the joint or delivery part between the parts forming the transport path, and when the printing paper is transported, its end may be caught in the level difference and cause a paper jam or other poor transport. is there. In particular, in a printer that prints on a cut sheet, the edge of the cut sheet passes through a joint between parts and a transfer unit every time printing is performed, and thus a conveyance failure such as a paper jam is likely to occur. For this reason, conventionally, at the joints and delivery portions between the parts in the transport path, the height of the transport path is gradually narrowed with respect to the traveling direction of the printing paper (hereinafter referred to as “rake shape”). Smooth transport is possible.
[0003]
For example, in a printer (slip printer) that prints on printing paper such as a cut sheet inserted from an insertion slot, the height of the conveyance path near the insertion slot is widened, and the printing paper is placed at a predetermined reference position (insertion depth). ) Can be inserted smoothly. The insertion depth is defined by a positioning stopper (foam stopper) provided so as to be able to advance and retreat (in and out) with respect to the conveyance path. The form stopper includes a locking end that can come into contact with the front end of the printing paper, and the printer waits for insertion of the printing paper in a state where the locking end protrudes into the conveyance path. The operator can set the printing paper at a predetermined reference position by inserting the printing paper until the leading end of the printing paper comes into contact with the locking end (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-347714
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if a rake shape or the like is provided, if the leading edge of the printing paper is bent or curled, a conveyance failure may occur. Making the rake shape larger (deeper) can also be an effective measure to cope with the bending or curling of these printing papers, but there is a problem that the conveyance path space becomes larger when the rake shape is made larger.
[0006]
In the slip printer, the printing paper inserted from the insertion port is usually conveyed only in one direction, printed by the print head, and then discharged from a discharge port provided separately from the insertion port. However, if the insertion port and the discharge port are different, an operation space for inserting and removing printing paper is required in front of the insertion port and the discharge port. Therefore, when it is desired to reduce the installation space of the printer, a printer that can discharge the printed paper after printing from the insertion slot is desired from the viewpoint of saving the operation space. In such a case, after printing is completed, the conveyance roller is driven in reverse to convey the printing paper toward the insertion port, and the printing paper is discharged from the insertion port. Normally, the delivery part of the printing paper between the parts forming the conveyance path is set at a position where the downstream part is retracted by one step from the upstream part in the conveyance direction of the printing paper, and therefore there is a step in the conveyance path. It is formed. Therefore, even when the printing paper is transported smoothly from the insertion port toward the inside of the printer, when the printing paper is transported from the inside of the printer toward the insertion port, the end of the printing paper is There is a risk that a conveyance failure such as a paper jam may occur due to a bump between the parts forming the conveyance path.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the position of the guide member that forms a part of the conveyance path can be displaced to an appropriate position in accordance with insertion and conveyance of the printing paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing paper guide mechanism and a printer including the printing paper guide mechanism.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A paper guide mechanism of a printer according to one aspect of the present invention is a paper guide mechanism that constitutes a part of a conveyance path that conveys printing paper, and has a locking portion that engages with the leading edge of the printing paper at one end. A foam stopper having a guide part for guiding the conveyance of the printing paper at the other end, a first position where the locking part protrudes into the conveyance path and the guide part widely opens the conveyance path, and the locking part is the conveyance path. Is a supporting member that supports the foam stopper so that the guide portion moves to a second position that defines the transport path, and the foam stopper is rotated about the rotation center of the transport roller that transports the printing paper. A support member that is movably supported and an elastic member that urges the foam stopper to the first position. The foam stopper is urged by the elastic member and is positioned at the first position when waiting for insertion of the printing paper. ,printing During conveyance of the paper is thus being moved to the second position the locking part is pressed against the conveying direction of the printing paper by the tip portion of the printing paper. According to this aspect, since the locking portion and the guide portion are integrally provided at both ends of the foam stopper, both the locking portion and the guide portion can be moved simultaneously by rotating the foam stopper. it can. Therefore, the position of the guide portion can be switched to an appropriate position in conjunction with the position switching of the locking portion.
[0009]
Further , according to this aspect, when the locking portion moves to the first position, the guide portion opens the conveyance path widely, and the guide portion is upstream with respect to the insertion direction of the printing paper and the conveyance path is The printing paper is moved to a position retracted from the guide component to be formed, and the printing paper is guided until its leading end comes into contact with the locking portion. When the locking portion moves to the second position, the guide portion moves to a predetermined position that defines the conveyance path, and the guide portion moves to a position protruding from other guide parts that form the conveyance path. The printing paper is guided in both forward and reverse directions.
[0010]
Further , according to this aspect, since the rotation axis of the transport roller and the rotation axis of the foam stopper can be set at the same position, the structure can be simplified and the arrangement space can be effectively used. In particular, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the mounting structure by rotatably mounting the foam stopper on the rotating shaft of the conveying roller or the bearing of the rotating shaft.
[0011]
Further, in this aspect, since the foam stopper is rotated using the driving force of the conveying roller, a special driving mechanism is not necessary, and the printer can be reduced in size and cost.
[0013]
Another aspect of the present invention is a printer including the paper guide mechanism described above. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a printer with less conveyance failure such as paper jam.
[0014]
Further, the printer according to one aspect of the present invention includes a conveyance path that guides the cut sheet inserted from the insertion port, a conveyance roller that conveys the cut sheet, and a downstream side of the conveyance roller. A positioning stopper that forms a part of the conveyance path and is rotatable about the rotation axis of the conveyance roller, and is located at the downstream end of the rotation axis. The locking portion is biased to the first position where the locking portion protrudes into the conveyance path and the guide portion retracts from the conveyance path, with the locking portion provided with the guide portion at the upstream end thereof. The positioning stopper is pressed by the cut sheet conveyed by the conveying roller , and the locking portion is retracted from the conveying path and the guide portion is displaced to the second position close to the conveying path. It is characterized by.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a paper guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a foam stopper 10 is in a first position. The lower side of the conveyance path 20 that conveys printing paper (cut sheet paper 50 or the like) is configured by a lower guide member 21, and the upper side of the conveyance path 20 is an upper guide member 22, an insertion guide 25, and the form stopper 10. Etc. Inside the printer, a paper detector 33, a pair of transport rollers 30, 32, and a print head 35 are arranged in this order from the insertion port 23 side for manually inserting the cut sheet 50 along the transport path 20. The paper detector 33 is composed of, for example, a transmissive or reflective photosensor, and detects the presence or absence of the cut sheet 50. The conveyance roller pairs 30 and 32 include a driving roller 30 and a pressing roller 32 that are opposed to each other with the conveyance path 20 interposed therebetween, and sandwich and convey the cut sheet 50. The driving roller 30 is fixed to a rotating shaft 31 that is capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions when power from a motor (not shown) is transmitted, and the pressing roller 32 is movable forward and backward with respect to the driving roller 30. A switching operation is performed between a posture in which the cut sheet 50 is pressed against the driving roller 30 and a posture in which the cut sheet 50 is allowed to pass by being retracted from the driving roller 30. The print head 35 is, for example, an inkjet system, and performs printing on the cut sheet 50 that is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance roller pairs 30 and 32.
[0016]
The foam stopper 10 includes a locking end portion 11 formed at an end portion on the print head 35 side, and a guide end portion 12 formed on an end portion on the insertion guide 25 side, and the rotation of the driving roller 30. The shaft 31 is provided so as to be rotatable about a fulcrum. The locking end portion 11 positions the cut sheet 50 inserted manually from the insertion port 23, protrudes into the conveyance path 20, and holds the leading end of the cut sheet 50. The operation is switched to the posture of retracting and allowing the cut sheet 50 to pass. Further, the guide end portion 12 is for smoothly inserting and transporting the cut sheet 50 (including the discharging operation from the insertion port 23), and is retracted from the transport path 20 and inserted from the insertion port 23. The operation is switched between a posture for guiding the cut paper 50 and a posture for guiding the cut paper 50 conveyed toward the insertion port 23 in the vicinity of the lower guide member 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the foam stopper 10 receives a biasing force of the elastic member 14, and the locking end 11 protrudes into the conveyance path 20 and the guide end 12 is retracted from the conveyance path 20. It waits for the slip 50 to be inserted. As a result, the paper path 26 in the vicinity where the guide end portion 12 is located is widely opened to facilitate the insertion of the cut paper 50, and the leading end portion 51 of the cut paper 50 is locked to the locking end portion 11. The slip 50 is positioned. A scooping portion 24 is provided in the vicinity of the guide end portion 12 of the lower guide member 21.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the foam stopper 10 is in the second position. In the second position, the foam stopper 10 is retracted from the conveying path 20 and the guide end 12 is close to the lower guide member 21 at the second position. This allows the leading end 51 of the cut paper 50 to be conveyed through the locking end 11 and, when the cut paper 50 is fed back, to the insertion guide 25 at the rear end 52. Prevents catching. That is, by narrowing the conveyance path 26 in the vicinity where the guide end portion 12 is located, the cut sheet 50 is smoothly conveyed without the rear end portion 52 hitting the insertion guide 25. At this time, by moving the guide end portion 12 to a position slightly closer to the lower guide 21 than the insertion guide 25, the cut sheet 50 can be more reliably conveyed toward the insertion port 23.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the foam stopper 10 moves from the first position to the second position. The foam stopper 10 waits for insertion of the cut sheet 50 at the first position, and the cut sheet 50 is manually inserted to a position where the leading end 51 abuts the locking end 11 (FIG. 3A). ). When insertion of the cut sheet 50 is detected by the sheet detector 33, the press roller 32 is switched to the closed state, and the cut sheet 50 is sandwiched between the drive roller 30 (FIG. 3B). Thereafter, the drive roller 30 is driven to rotate forward for printing processing (FIG. 3C), and the cut sheet 50 is conveyed in the direction of the print head 35 (FIG. 3D). As the cut sheet 50 is transported, the foam stopper 10 moves from the first position to the second position, and the transport path 20 is opened. That is, the leading end portion 51 of the cut sheet 50 rotates the engaging end portion 11 of the foam stopper 10 to the immersive side against the urging force of the elastic member 14 due to the waist and conveying force of the paper.
[0019]
Here, the rotation center of the foam stopper 10 can be freely set as long as the locking end portion 11 and the guide end portion 12 perform the functions as described above. However, as in this embodiment, the driving roller It is preferable that 30 rotation shafts 31 be used as the rotation center. By sharing the rotating shaft 31, the structure can be simplified and the space can be effectively used. In particular, as will be described later, the foam stopper 10 is rotatably attached to the rotating shaft 31 of the conveying roller 30 or the bearing 36 of the rotating shaft 31, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the mounting structure. Further, the conveyance roller pair 30 and 32 can be provided near the locking end portion 11, whereby the cut sheet 50 is nipped and driven by the conveyance roller pair 30 and 32, and the leading end of the cut sheet 50. Since the distance to 51 is shortened, the foam stopper 10 can be rotated more reliably. Further, since it is not necessary to consider the interference with the driving roller 30 for the mounting of the foam stopper 10, the overall shape of the foam stopper 10 can be simplified, and the fine shape of the stop end and the guide end can be adjusted. It becomes easy.
[0020]
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, a coil spring is illustrated as the elastic member 14, but a torsion spring, a leaf spring, a rubber, or other elastic material may be used. Further, although the foam stopper 10 is provided on the driving roller 30 side, it can also be provided on the pressing roller 32 side.
[0021]
4 is a perspective view showing a foam stopper 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the foam stopper 60 of FIG. Three end portions 61a, 61b, 61c are provided at one end of the foam stopper 60, and a guide end portion 62 is provided at the other end. The guide end 62 is provided in a comb shape, and the insertion guide 70 is disposed in a space 65 therebetween. The foam stopper 60 is provided with two openings 63a and 63b, and the surfaces of the drive rollers 30a and 30b fixed to the rotating shaft 31 protrude from the openings 63a and 63b on the conveyance path. Both end portions of the rotating shaft 31 are supported by a frame (not shown) via bearings 36. The foam stopper 60 includes at least two rotation support portions 64, and the rotation support portions 64 are pivotally fixed to the bearings 36 of the rotation shaft 31. However, the foam stopper 60 may be directly supported on the rotation shaft 31 of the drive roller 30. In this case, the foam stopper 60 is somewhat affected by the rotational moment of the drive roller 30, but there is no problem because the rotational movement of the foam stopper 60 is linked to the rotational movement of the drive roller.
[0022]
Thus, by adopting a structure in which the switching of the guide end portion 12 is interlocked with the switching of the locking end portion 11, the guide end portion 12 can be automatically displaced to an appropriate position according to the time of insertion and conveyance. As a result, the easy insertion and smooth conveyance of the cut sheet 50 can be realized. Further, by adopting a structure in which the form stopper 10 is rotated by the movement of the cut sheet 50, a special drive mechanism for rotating the form stopper 10 is not required, and the printer can be reduced in size and cost. Can do. However, a drive mechanism using an electromagnetic magnet or the like may be provided in order to cause the foam stopper 10 to rotate more reliably.
[0023]
In the above description, the paper guide mechanism of the present invention has been described using the form stopper of the slip printer. However, in a printer in which the conveyance of the printing paper is temporarily stopped in the middle of the conveyance path and the conveyance is started by a predetermined trigger. In addition, the present invention can be applied.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a positioning stopper having a locking portion at the downstream end and a guide portion at the upstream end is provided across the rotation shaft, and the position of the locking portion is switched. By switching the position of the guide portion in conjunction with the operation, the printing paper can be smoothly inserted and bidirectionally conveyed, and the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a paper guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention showing a state in which a foam stopper is in a first position.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a paper guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention showing a state in which a foam stopper is in a second position.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the foam stopper according to the embodiment of the present invention moves from a first position to a second position.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a foam stopper according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the foam stopper of FIG. 4 is mounted on a drive roller rotating shaft. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Form stopper, 11 Locking end part 12 Guide end part, 14 Elastic member 20 Conveyance path, 21 Lower guide 22 Upper guide, 23 Insertion opening 24 Rake part, 25 Insertion guide 26 Conveyance path, 30 Drive roller 31 Rotating shaft, 32 Presser roller 33 Paper detector, 35 Print head 36 Bearing, 50 Cut paper 51 Front end, 52 Rear end 60 Foam stopper, 61a, 61b, 61c Locking end 62 Guide end, 63a, 63b Opening 64 times Dynamic support, 65 Space 70 Insertion guide

Claims (3)

A paper guide mechanism constituting a part of a conveyance path for conveying printing paper,
A foam stopper having a locking portion that engages with the leading end of the printing paper at one end, and a guide portion that guides the conveyance of the printing paper at the other end;
A first position where the locking portion protrudes into the conveyance path and the guide portion opens the conveyance path widely; a first position where the locking portion retracts from the conveyance path and the guide portion defines the conveyance path; A support member that supports the foam stopper so as to move to the position 2 and supports the foam stopper in a pivotable manner with a rotation center of a conveyance roller that conveys the printing paper as a rotation fulcrum. When,
An elastic member that biases the foam stopper to the first position;
The foam stopper is biased by the elastic member to be positioned at the first position when waiting for insertion of the printing paper, and the locking portion is held by the leading edge of the printing paper when the printing paper is conveyed. The paper guide mechanism of the printer is moved in the second position when pressed in the transport direction . A printer comprising the paper guide mechanism according to claim 1 . A conveyance path for guiding the cut sheet inserted from the insertion slot;
A transport roller for transporting the cut sheet;
A print head disposed on the downstream side of the transport roller and performing printing on the cut sheet;
A positioning stopper that forms a part of the transport path and is rotatably provided with the rotation shaft of the transport roller as a fulcrum, with a locking portion at the downstream end of the rotation shaft, The one provided with a guide portion at its upstream end ,
An elastic member that biases the positioning stopper to a first position where the locking portion protrudes into the conveyance path and the guide portion retreats from the conveyance path ;
The positioning stopper is pressed by the cut sheet transported by the transport roller so that the locking portion is retracted from the transport path and the guide portion is displaced to a second position close to the transport path. Printer characterized by.

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