JP4092855B2 - Printer unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer unit for printing long sheets such as receipts and tickets, which includes a printer for printing on recording paper and guide means for introducing printed recording paper discharged from the printer to a discharge port. In particular, the present invention relates to a printer unit having a space for storing printed recording paper between a printer and a guide unit so that the printed recording paper is not discharged from a discharge port until printing is completed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A printer unit that prints and issues receipts, tickets, and the like is configured to be able to be cut out by a cutter device or the like and taken out from a discharge port after printing a predetermined length from a long recording paper such as roll paper. In such a printer unit, if the recording paper is long and the recording paper can be taken out from the discharge port before the printing is completed, a printing failure or device caused by being pulled manually during printing. There is a concern that it may cause damage. In addition, when the discharge port is blocked, a paper jam inside the printer unit can be imagined. In addition, private information and money-related information may be printed on the issue for use, and measures to prevent it from being handed over to a person other than the person who intends to issue it are also required from a security standpoint.
[0003]
On the other hand, in order to reduce the replenishment frequency of the recording paper and to be able to issue receipt tickets and the like having various printing lengths, roll-shaped recording paper is usually used in many cases. Strong curl remains on the recording paper transported from near the core diameter, and the recording paper strays to the outside from the regular path or does not run smoothly due to the configuration in the middle of the path transported to the printer unit. , Paper jam easily occurs. Also, depending on the recording paper, the winding direction when set in the printer unit is left and right, and paper jams may occur depending on the difference in the winding direction. Therefore, when transporting the printer unit, the recording paper is transported and discharged along a predetermined route, and thus regulation by a guide member or the like is required.
[0004]
Conventionally, in such a printer unit, recording paper is stored in a storage space provided in the printer unit during printing so that the recording paper cannot be taken out from the discharge port until printing is completed. It was configured to be cut by a cutter device or the like and conveyed to a discharge port. When the recording paper is not taken out in a state where the printed recording paper can be taken out, as a security measure described above, the printed recording paper is pulled back into the printer unit after a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As an apparatus having such an object and configuration, for example, there is JP-A-9-142708. In this apparatus, a flexible guide piece is used to guide the front end of the printed recording paper immediately after being discharged from the printer main body in the direction of the discharge port, and the printed recording paper is looped using the flexibility. Stored in a storage space.
[0006]
However, in such a configuration, there is a change in the force applied to the guide piece depending on the thickness of the recording paper, and so-called “winding habit” due to the winding direction of the recording paper, and the amount of deflection displacement of the guide piece changes. , Which should be the feature, “the guide function that reliably guides the front end of the printed recording sheet in the direction of the discharge port” and “storing the recording sheet in a storage space in a loop” are incompatible. In other words, the stiffness of the paper increases or decreases depending on the thickness of the recording paper if the paper width is the same. Therefore, in order to improve the guideability of the thick recording paper, the strength of the guide piece must be increased to suppress the deflection amount. A sufficient amount of deflection for looping the paper cannot be secured. If the strength of the guide piece is lowered to ensure the amount of bending, there is a problem that the guide property is lost, and the recording paper enters the paper path and becomes jammed. A guide piece may be prepared for each recording sheet and a guide piece suitable for the recording sheet may be used, but it is not versatile and impractical. In addition, as described above, depending on the recording paper, the winding direction when setting it in the printer unit is left and right, and the direction of the curl is different, so the direction of the force acting on the guide piece is also different, so pay attention to the setting of the guide piece. Cost. In order to solve these problems, the guide member has a double structure, a member with a small amount of bending is lengthened and the tip thereof is arranged in the vicinity of the outlet of the printer main body, ensuring a loop of the recording paper, and a side farther than that However, the reliability of the thick paper is improved, but in any case, the reliability is poor because it relies on an unstable element such as bending.
[0007]
Therefore, in the present invention, regardless of the form of the recording paper, (1) guiding the recording paper to the regular transport path, and (2) looping the recording paper and storing it inside the printer unit are ensured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer unit that can be used.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the printer unit of the present invention forms at least a part of a paper path in the thickness direction of the conveyed paper, and the guide member that does not deform even when pressed by the paper, and the guide member includes: The guide member is arranged so as to be displaced between a position where the paper path is formed by regulating in the thickness direction of the paper and a position where the paper path wider in the thickness direction than the position where the paper path is formed. A support mechanism that supports the lock mechanism, and a lock mechanism that locks the guide member at a position where the paper path is formed. When the leading edge of the paper reaches a predetermined position as the paper is conveyed, the lock mechanism is locked. It is released.
Here, the guide member has an engaging portion, and the lock mechanism has a locking member having an engaging portion that engages with the engaging portion of the guide member, and the engaging portion of the guide member and the lock And a moving mechanism for moving at least one of the guide member and the lock member between a position where the engaging portion of the member is engaged and a position where the engaging portion is not engaged.
The lock member is disposed to face the guide member and forms at least a part of the paper path together with the guide member, and the guide member extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper path. The support mechanism includes a support shaft that engages with the engagement hole of the guide member and rotatably supports the guide member, and the moving mechanism includes the engagement hole and the engagement hole. And the support shaft.
The printer unit of the present invention is a guide member that forms at least a part of a paper path in a thickness direction of a sheet to be conveyed and does not deform even when pressed by the paper, and includes an engaging portion and the paper path. An elongated engagement hole extending in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the guide member, and the guide member is displaced between a position where the paper path is formed and a position where the paper path is opened. A support shaft that engages with the engagement hole of the guide member and rotatably supports the guide member; and is disposed opposite the guide member to form at least a part of the paper path together with the guide member; A lock member that regulates the guide member in a thickness direction of the paper and locks it at a position where the paper path is formed, and includes a lock member that engages with an engagement portion of the guide member; The guide member A moving mechanism for moving at least one of the guide member and the lock member between a position where the engagement portion and the engagement portion of the lock member are engaged and a position where the engagement portion is not engaged. And a moving mechanism including the support shaft.
[0009]
In the state where the engaging portion of the guide member and the engaging portion of the lock member are engaged, the narrowest portion of the gap formed by the guide member and the lock member is the thickness of the sheet. The engagement margin of each engaging portion in the engaged state is smaller than the thickness of the sheet.
Further, the guide member and the lock member are provided with respective engaging portions on both sides in the width direction of the paper.
Further, the support mechanism is characterized in that the guide member is rotatably supported so that the upstream side opens the paper path.
Further, the paper is a continuous paper.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment according to the present invention.
[0012]
The printer unit 6 is roughly composed of a supply unit 4 for the roll-shaped thermal paper 5, a printer body 3, and a transport unit 2. The supply unit 4 has a function of holding the thermal paper 5 and promoting the stable running of the thermal paper 5, and the printer body 3 has a function of cutting the thermal paper 5 from a roll shape to a sheet shape after printing. Bear. The transport unit 2 has a function of storing the thermal paper 5 so as not to be exposed to the outside of the printer unit 6 until printing of the thermal paper 5 is completed, and a function of transporting the thermal paper 5 to the outside after the printing is completed. . Further, the transport unit 2 is guided to the guide groove 20a of the unit base 20 via the guide pins 21 so that the printer main body 3 can be exposed, and the maintainability in the printer main body 3 and the transport unit 2 is improved. ing.
[0013]
First, the configuration of the supply unit 4 will be described. The roll-shaped thermal paper 5 is rotatably held by the roll paper holder 40. The roll paper guide roller 41 serves as a guide when the thermal paper 5 is introduced into the front paper guides 31 and 32 of the printer body 3, and serves as a buffer mechanism for realizing stable running of the thermal paper 5 in the printer body 3. It has become. A guide plate 42 is fixed to the base plate 43 in front of the printer body 3. The guide plate 42 is formed by bending both ends to the dimension of the paper width + α of the thermal paper 5 and regulates the width direction of the thermal paper 5.
[0014]
Next, the configuration of the printer main body 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0015]
Like the guide plate 42, the front paper guide 31 and the rear paper guide 32 for introducing the thermal paper 5 having passed through the supply unit 4 into the printer body 3 are formed in the size of the thermal paper 5 paper width + α. 5 is regulated in the width direction. Further, a transmissive photosensor 34 using a lever 33 that can be rotated by the running of the thermal paper 5 is attached to the rear paper guide 32. The lever 33 is formed with an axial shape 33a and is normally biased by a spring. When the lever 33 is rotated, the other end 33b blocks the light of the photosensor 34 and outputs a signal.
[0016]
The photo sensor 34 serves to detect two items, that is, the thermal paper 5 inserted into the printer main body 3 and that the thermal paper 5 does not exist inside the printer main body 3. The thermal head 30 and the platen 36 are kept in a pressure contact state by applying a certain load. A platen gear 36a is fixed to one shaft end of the platen 36, and the driving force from the motor 35 is transmitted from the reduction gear 38 and the intermediate gear 39 so as to be rotatable. The thermal paper 5 conveyed to the gap between the thermal head 30 and the platen 36 is printed while being pressed with the thermal head 30 by this rotational driving force, and is sent in the conveyance direction A. The printer body 3 includes a cutter unit 37 that cuts the thermal paper 5 in synchronization with the completion of printing.
[0017]
Next, the configuration of the transport unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the upper paper guide 11 and the lower paper guide 12 are arranged at positions where the thermal paper 5 is sandwiched to constitute the guide unit 1. The upper paper guide 11 is made of resin, is held by a shaft 23, and is rotatable in the B and C directions. The leading end 11a of the upper paper guide 11 has a shape opened to the printer main body 3 side so that the thermal paper 5 conveyed from the printer main body 3 can be surely guided onto the path. On the other hand, it is continuously formed on the inclined surface 11b having a taper. The shaft hole 11g corresponding to the shaft 23 is a long hole in the vertical direction with respect to the traveling direction A, and the outside thereof is formed in a shape in which the long hole is offset by the thickness. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, an engaging portion 11 c having a shape opened to the lower paper guide 12 side is formed outside the paper width of the thermal paper 5. The distal end portion 11 d of the engaging portion 11 c is formed up to the center vertical line of the shaft 23. On the other hand, the lower paper guide 12 has a horizontal surface shape as the conveying surface 12a with which the back surface of the thermal paper 5 is in contact, and the leading end side is formed up to the center vertical line of the shaft 23, and a certain amount of meat as the engaging surface 12b. It is formed with a thickness.
[0019]
The end 11e of the upper paper guide 11 is in contact with the surface 11a of the holding plate 13 and is restricted from rotating in the C direction. In this state, the upper paper guide 11 is pivoted by its own weight. 23 is lowered to a position where it contacts the upper R surface 11f of the shaft hole 11g, and the engaging portion 11c is in contact with the engaging surface 12b of the lower paper guide 12. In this state, the upper paper guide 11 is restricted from rotating in the B direction by the contact state between the engaging portion 11c and the engaging surface 12b. A space 14 outside the radius of rotation of the upper paper guide 11 in the B direction is secured above the upper paper guide 11.
[0020]
Subsequent to the conveyance direction A side, as shown in FIG. 4A, a first conveyance roller pair 24 composed of a first upper roller 24a and a first lower roller 24b facing each other is arranged. In the first lower roller 24b, a rubber roller is formed on a shaft 22. A gear 25 is fixed to one end of the shaft 22 as shown in FIG. Each is fixed. The gear 25 meshes with the intermediate gear 28, and the intermediate gear 28 meshes with the gear 27 a of the transport motor 27. The first upper roller 24a is a member in which a resin member is rotatably held on the shaft 23, and is in close contact with the first lower roller 24b under a certain pressing force in the closed state of the transport unit 2. It has become. A transmissive first photosensor 50 is installed in the conveyance range of the thermal paper 5. A second transport roller pair 51 composed of a second upper roller 51a and a second lower roller 51b facing each other is disposed, and the second transport roller pair 51 has the same configuration as the first transport roller pair 24. Yes. The pulley 26 of the first lower roller 24b and the pulley 52 of the second lower roller 51b rotate in the same direction in synchronization with the sync belt 53. A transmissive second photosensor 54 is installed between the second transport roller pair 51 and the discharge port 60. The path from the first transport roller pair 24 to the discharge port 60 is configured by a paper transport upper guide 55 and a paper transport lower guide 56 of the sheet metal members facing each other. Two detection windows for the photosensor 50 and the second photosensor 54 are provided.
[0021]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Note that detailed control of the operation, details of the drive signal, and the like are omitted because they are not directly related to the present invention, and the operation will be described in time series.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the printer unit 6 of this embodiment.
[0023]
First, as shown in FIG. 1, the thermal paper 5 is set in the roll paper holder 40 of the supply unit 4, and the leading end is pulled out and entangled with the roll paper guide roller 41. The thermal paper 5 can be printed only on one side (hereinafter referred to as a printing surface 5a) coated with a color former, and both types of printing surface 5a are distributed on the front side and the back side of the roll state. When the printing surface = front surface, the thermal paper 5 is set so as to be in the direction shown in FIG. If the print side is the back side, set it so that it is in the direction of A. Then, the thermal paper 5 is regulated in the width direction by the guide plate 42, and the thermal paper 5 is inserted into the gap formed by the front paper guide 31 and the rear paper guide 32. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the thermal paper 5 rotates the lever 33 fixed to the rear paper guide 32. Then, the other end 33a of the lever 33 blocks the optical axis 34a of the photosensor 34 to detect that the thermal paper 5 has been inserted into the printer body 3, and the motor 35 is driven to cause the thermal paper 5 to thermally By loading the head 30 and the platen 36 and transporting a certain distance, the loading of the thermal paper 5 onto the printer main body 3 is completed. When a predetermined print signal is given, the heating element of the thermal head 30 generates heat in parallel with the conveyance of the thermal paper 5 by the thermal head 30 and the platen 36, and printing is performed on the thermal paper 5. In this state, the cutter unit 37 is not operating.
[0024]
The thermal paper leading edge 5b is conveyed between the upper paper guide 11 and the lower paper guide 12, and the thermal paper leading edge 5b first comes into contact with the inclined surface 11b of the upper paper guide. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, the thermal paper leading edge 5b presses the inclined surface 11b in the direction of rotating in the B direction. However, depending on the contact state between the engaging portion 11c and the engaging surface 12b, Since the rotation in the direction is restricted, the thermal paper 5 is reliably guided in the transport direction A. Since the contact state between the engagement portion 11c and the engagement surface 12b is strong, the thermal paper 5 is surely guided in the transport direction A regardless of the strength of the curl of the thermal paper 5 and the strength and winding direction of the stiffness. It becomes possible. At this time, the convex portion 11h of the upper paper guide 11 and the transport surface 12a of the lower paper guide 12 are in close contact with each other at the portion a. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the leading edge 5b is transported to the portion “A”, the thermal paper 5 advances so as to enter between the convex portion 11h of the upper paper guide 11 and the transport surface 12a. Then, since the thermal paper 5 moves in the D direction along the shaft hole 11g of the upper paper guide 11, the contact state between the engagement portion 11c and the engagement surface 12b is released, as shown in FIG. Thus, the upper paper guide 11 is in a state in which the rotation restriction in the B direction is also released.
[0025]
Then, the thermal paper 5 further proceeds, the front end 5b is gripped by the first transport roller pair 24, and is transported in the transport direction A. As shown in FIG. 7, when the front end 5 b reaches the detection position of the first photosensor 50, the transport motor 27 is stopped, and the first transport roller pair 24 stops while holding the thermal paper 5. At this time, since the motor 35 for driving the platen gear 36a is operating and the printing operation is continuing, the conveyance of the thermal paper 5 is not stopped. Accordingly, the thermal paper 5 in which the leading edge 5b is stopped travels in a loop toward the space 14 while pushing the upper paper guide 11 in the B direction.
[0026]
After the printing is completed, as shown in FIG. 8, the thermal paper 5 is cut by the cutter unit 37. After the cutting is completed, the carry motor 27 is activated, and the first carry rollers 24a and 24b and the second carry rollers 62a, The thermal paper 5 is conveyed from the discharge port 70 to the outside of the printer unit 6 by 62b. At this time, the upper paper guide 11 returns to its own rotation in the C direction by its own weight and returns to the contact state between the engagement portion 11c and the engagement surface 12b, thereby entering a standby state.
[0027]
In the case of such a configuration, when the leading edge of the thermal paper that has been conveyed contacts the inclined surface of the leading edge of the upper paper guide, it engages with the lower paper guide to prevent rotation of the upper paper guide. Regardless of the stiffness of the thermal paper, the strength and curl of the curl, and the winding direction, the leading edge can be reliably guided into the transport path, so that the thermal paper can be prevented from being jammed in the printer unit.
[0028]
The leading edge of the thermal paper enters the bottom surface from the side surface of the upper paper guide to lift the upper paper guide upward so that the contact state between the engaging portion and the engaging surface can be released. When the pair is stopped by holding the thermal paper and is in the thermal paper storage state, the thermal paper that is being transported itself rotates the upper paper guide and advances in a loop to the storage space Only when it is necessary to store the thermal paper, it can be looped and stored in the storage space, and the thermal paper is not damaged such as folds.
[0029]
Furthermore, the function of the guide member can be automatically switched in a scene where the guide property and the loop property are required by the running of the thermal paper itself, and a drive source for that purpose is not required.
[0030]
Moreover, since the deformation of the guide member is not used, stable operation can be realized.
[0031]
In this embodiment, the upper paper guide is moved, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as it is a member having a recording paper guide and a loop function.
[0032]
Further, although the rotational movement is described, the present invention is not limited to the rotational movement as long as at least one member that bears the recording paper guide is movable.
[0033]
Further, although the engagement state with the lower sheet guide is maintained by the weight of the upper sheet guide, a weight or the like can be added when the engagement state is further ensured.
[0034]
As an example, a thermal printer is adopted as the printer body. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any printer that performs printing / printing on recording paper or the like.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the printer unit of the present invention, at least one member of the guide means has an engaging means with another guide member or a constituent member of the printer unit, and at least one of the engaging means. One member is characterized by having moving means capable of slight movement. Therefore, it has the following effects.
a. Since the engaging state of the guide means is released by the moving means of the engaged member, the engaged state is maintained when the guide property is required, and is engaged by the moving means when the recording paper is required to be looped. Since the state can be released, both guideability and looping can be achieved. In addition, since the deformation of the guide means is not used, guideability and looping can be performed reliably regardless of the thickness, stiffness, and winding direction of the recording paper, and paper jams in the printer unit can be prevented. Can be prevented.
b. Guidance and looping are realized with only the guide member, so the structure is simple and no power source is used, so that stable operation can be guaranteed without failure.
c. Since the engagement state of the guide member can be released by running the recording paper itself, the functions of both can be switched without any control when the guide property and the looping are required.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a printer main body built in the printer unit of the embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a schematic side view showing a guide portion of the present embodiment.
(B) It is an upper surface schematic diagram.
FIG. 4A is a schematic side view showing a guide portion of the present embodiment.
(B) It is an upper surface schematic diagram.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a thermal paper transport operation of the printer unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which thermal paper is conveyed to the guide unit of the present embodiment.
(B) It is the schematic which shows the state by which the guide part was disengaged with the thermal paper. (C) It is the schematic which shows the state which the rotational movement of the guide part is possible.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a thermal paper looping operation of the printer unit of the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a thermal paper discharge operation of the printer unit according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 .... Guide part 2 ... Conveying part 3 ... Printer main body 4 ... Supply part 5 ... Thermal paper 6 ... Printer unit 11 ... Upper paper guide 11a ··· Tip 11b · · Inclined surface 11c · · Engagement portion 11d · · Tip portion 11e · · End portion 11f · · Upper R surface 11g · · Shaft hole 11h · · Convex portion 12 · Lower paper guide 12a · · Conveying surface 12b .. engaging surface 13 .. holding plate 14 .. space 20... Unit base 20a .. guide groove 21... Guide pin 22. First transport roller pair 24a, first upper roller 24b, first lower roller 25, gear 26, pulley 27, transport motor 27a, gear 28, intermediate gear 30, thermal Head 31 ... front paper guide 32 ... rear paper guide 33 ... lever 33a Shape 33b ··· the other end 34 ··· photo sensor 35 · · · motor 36 · · · platen 36a · · · platen gear 37 · · · cutter unit 38 · · · reduction gear 39 · · · intermediate gear 40 · · · roll paper Holder 41 ... Roll paper guide roller 42 ... Guide plate 43 ... Base plate 50 ... First photosensor 51 ... Second transport roller pair 51a ... Second upper roller 51b ... Second Lower roller 52 ... pulley 53 ... sync belt 54 ... first photo sensor 55 ... paper transport upper guide 56 ... paper transport lower guide 60 ... discharge port A ... transport direction B ... Looping rotation direction C ... Guide standby direction D ... Disengagement direction A ... Upper paper guide / lower paper guide contact position

Claims (7)

A guide member that forms at least a part of the paper path in the thickness direction of the paper to be conveyed and does not deform even when pressed against the paper ;
The guide member is displaced between a position where the paper path is formed by regulating in the thickness direction of the paper and a position where the paper path wider in the thickness direction than the position where the paper path is formed. A support mechanism for supporting the guide member;
A lock mechanism for locking the guide member at a position where the paper path is formed;
The printer unit, wherein the lock mechanism is unlocked when the leading edge of the paper reaches a predetermined position as the paper is conveyed. The guide member has an engaging portion,
The locking mechanism is
A locking member having an engaging portion that engages with the engaging portion of the guide member;
A moving mechanism for moving at least one of the guide member and the lock member between a position where the engagement portion of the guide member and an engagement portion of the lock member are engaged and a position where the engagement portion is not engaged. The printer unit according to claim 1, wherein: The lock member is disposed to face the guide member, and forms at least a part of the paper path together with the guide member;
The guide member includes an elongated engagement hole extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper path,
The support mechanism includes a support shaft that engages with the engagement hole of the guide member and rotatably supports the guide member;
The printer unit according to claim 2, wherein the moving mechanism includes the engagement hole and the support shaft.   In a state where the engaging portion of the guide member and the engaging portion of the lock member are engaged, the narrowest portion of the gap formed by the guide member and the lock member is narrower than the thickness of the sheet. The printer unit according to claim 3, wherein an engagement allowance of each engagement portion formed in the engagement state is smaller than a thickness of the sheet. It said guide member and said locking member, the respective engagement portions, the printer unit according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that it comprises on both sides in the width direction of the paper. The support mechanism, the guide member, the printer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the upstream side, characterized in that rotatably supported to open the paper path. The printer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheet is a continuous sheet.

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