JP5459591B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer provided with a correcting means for correcting paper curl.

  Conventionally, this type of printer is configured to be able to print on a sheet that is printed and conveyed in the length direction, and includes a correcting means for correcting the curl of the sheet. The correction means is known to be composed of a decurling roller that bends the sheet and corrects the curl in the length direction of the sheet (see Patent Document 1 below).

  As another example, the correcting means includes a first conveying means and a second conveying means arranged in parallel in the print conveying direction, and the first conveying means and the second conveying means are different in conveying speed, A configuration is known in which a lengthwise loop is generated on a sheet between a first transport unit and a second transport unit (see Patent Document 2 below).

  In any of these printers, the correcting means is configured to correct the curl in the length direction with respect to the sheet. Using such correction means, for example, by curving the paper in the opposite direction to the paper lengthwise curl formed by the paper winding state or warping during printing, the paper lengthwise curl is produced. It is something to be corrected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-7622 JP 2000-272803 A

  However, in any of the above printers, the correcting means is configured to bend the paper in the length direction. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is difficult to sufficiently correct the curl of the paper.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can reliably correct the winding in the length direction due to the winding state of a sheet.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a printer according to the present invention corrects paper curl in a printer having printing means for printing on a sheet that is conveyed in the length direction. Correction means, and the correction means increases the amount of winding of the paper wound around the bending means, bending means for winding the paper and bending the paper in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper so as to, and a pressing means for pressing the curved section of the paper, the pressing means is provided on the printed conveying direction upstream of the bending means, the curved and the paper by pressing the paper in the thickness direction thereof consists winding multiplying for wrapping roller means, said printing means includes a thermal head having a transfer surface for heat transfer to the printing surface or the sheet to heat the sheet, the server provided on the back side of the paper And a counter arranged platen roller heads or others, the bending means is constituted by said thermal head for bending by sandwiching the sheet between the platen roller, an ink ribbon supplied to the printing means, supply ink ribbon A print position where the thermal head approaches the platen roller and prints the paper, and the print head is separated from the platen roller and does not print the paper. The ink ribbon arranged on the printing surface of the paper at the time of printing is sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller together with the paper and printed and conveyed, so that the ink ribbon Is heated on the transfer surface of the thermal head to transfer the ink onto the paper. The winding roller is configured to move in synchronization with the thermal head, and is configured to be in a winding position during print conveyance and in a non-winding position during feed conveyance. A printer configured to push a sheet toward the back side of the sheet passage path so as to be wound around the platen roller .

  In the printer having the above configuration, the paper is bent in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction by the bending means, so-called stiffness is given to the paper, and the winding amount of the paper wound around the bending means by the pressing means is increased. By pressing the paper against the bending means as described above, the paper is squeezed by the pressing means and the bending means, so that the curl of the paper is reliably corrected.

Further, the printer according to the present invention may be configured such that a transport unit for printing and transporting the paper is disposed downstream of the bending unit in the print transport direction.

  According to such a configuration, the sheet can be wound around the bending unit in a state where tension is applied in the length direction by print conveyance by the conveyance unit, and accordingly, a sufficiently so-called stiffness is given to the winding portion of the sheet. Then correct the curl with the pressing means.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the winding roller is disposed in the vicinity of the platen roller .

As described above, the printer according to the present invention includes a correcting means for correcting the curl of the paper, and the correcting means is a bending means for winding and curving the paper in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. And a pressing unit that presses the sheet against the bending unit so as to increase the amount of the sheet wound around the bending unit, so that the sheet is bent in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by the bending unit. Thus, a so-called stiffness is given to the paper, and the paper is pressed between the pressing means and the bending means by pressing the paper against the bending means so as to increase the amount of paper wound around the bending means by the pressing means. Since it is used, paper curling can be reliably corrected.

1 is a schematic overall view showing a first embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. It is the schematic which expanded the printing part of the printer, and is a figure which shows the mode at the time of print conveyance. It is the schematic which expanded the printing part of the printer, and is a figure which shows the mode at the time of sending conveyance. It is a schematic front view showing the printing means of the printer, (a) shows the separation position of the thermal head, (b) is a diagram showing the approach position of the thermal head. It is a schematic front view which shows other embodiment of the correction | amendment means, and shows the separation position of a thermal head, (b) is a figure which shows the approach position of a thermal head. It is a schematic side view which shows 2nd embodiment of the printer which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a correction means (curvature means) of the printer, wherein (a) shows a separated position of a sub-pinch roller, and (b) shows an approach position of the sub-pinch roller. It is a schematic front view of the correction | amendment means (bending means) which shows other embodiment, (a) shows the separation position of a sub pinch roller, (b) is a figure which shows the approach position of a sub pinch roller. It is a schematic side view which shows 3rd embodiment of the printer based on this invention, (a) It is a figure in case a correction means is provided between a conveyance means and a feed means, (b) is a correction means. FIG. 6 is a diagram when the printing unit is provided on the print conveyance direction side with respect to the conveyance unit. It is a schematic side view which shows 4th embodiment of the printer which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, first to fourth embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 show a printer A in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer A is a thermal transfer type printer A, specifically, a sublimation type printer using an ink ribbon Q. It is configured to feed and transport toward the transfer unit, print and transport in the direction of winding the fed and transported paper P, and print on the paper P. The paper P may be, for example, an X-ray film in addition to normal printer paper. In addition, a two-dot chain line shown in each drawing indicates a passage path K1 (so-called pass line) of the paper P, and a one-dot chain line indicates a passage path K2 of the ink ribbon Q.

  In the first to fourth embodiments described below, transporting the paper P in the feeding direction is referred to as feed transport, and the transport direction is referred to as a feed transport direction X2. Further, conveying the paper P in the direction of being wound around the roll body 11 is referred to as print conveyance, and the conveyance direction is referred to as a print conveyance direction X1. The paper P is printed on one side during print conveyance.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer A includes a paper feed unit 1, a print unit 2, and a paper discharge unit 3. The paper feed unit 1 accommodates a roll body 11 in which the paper P is wound around an axis along the width direction, and is configured to feed and transport the paper P from the roll body 11. The printing unit 2 is configured to print on the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 1. The paper discharge unit 3 is configured to cut the paper P printed by the print unit 2 and discharge the paper P to the outside.

  The paper feed unit 1 is provided below a roll body 11 that is supported so as to be rotatable around a winding axis, and a guide that guides the paper P fed from the roll body 11 toward the print unit 2. And a sheet feeding unit 13 that feeds the sheet P to the printing unit 2.

  The roll body 11 is formed by winding a long sheet P in the length direction around an axis along the width direction so that the print surface P1, which is one surface, is on the inner side. Yes. The roll body 11 can be rotated around the winding axis of the roll body 11 by the power of a roll motor (not shown). Specifically, the roll body 11 feeds and conveys the paper P and prints the paper P. It is configured to be freely rotatable in any of the reverse directions.

  Therefore, by rotating the roll motor 11 in the forward direction by driving the roll motor in the forward direction, the paper P can be fed and conveyed to one side in the length direction (longitudinal direction). The paper P can be printed and conveyed to the other side in the length direction by rotating the roll body 11 in the reverse direction by driving the motor for reverse rotation. In the present embodiment, the roll body 11 is configured to be rotatable in both the normal rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction even when the roll motor is not driven.

  The paper feeding means 13 is provided on the feed conveyance direction X2 side of the guide unit 12 and the back surface P2 side, which is the other surface of the paper P, and feeds the paper P guided by the guide unit 12 toward the printing unit 2. And a paper feed pinch roller 132 that is disposed opposite to the paper feed roller 131 on the print surface P1 side of the paper P and feeds the paper P to the printing unit 2 following the paper feed roller 131. . The paper feed roller 131 and the paper feed pinch roller 132 are arranged so that their respective axes C1 and C2 are parallel to the width direction of the paper P. The paper feed roller 131 is configured to be freely rotatable in both the forward rotation direction in which the paper P is fed and conveyed by a paper feeding motor (not shown) and the reverse rotation direction in which the paper P is printed and conveyed.

  The paper feed pinch roller 132 cooperates with the paper feed roller 131 only when the paper P is fed and conveyed toward the printing unit 2. Specifically, the paper P is sandwiched between the paper feed rollers 131 and the paper P is conveyed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the print unit 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the print unit 21 in the print transport direction X1 of the print unit 21 for printing on the print surface P1 of the paper P to be transported. 1 is provided with conveyance means 22 for feeding and conveying the paper P fed from 1.

  The printing unit 21 includes a thermal head 211 disposed on the printing surface P1 side of the paper P, and a platen roller 212 provided on the back surface P2 side of the paper P and disposed to face the thermal head 211. The thermal head 211 includes a head main body 2111 and a transfer unit 2112 provided on the lower surface of the head main body 2111. The transfer portion 2112 has a plate shape formed such that its longitudinal direction extends over the entire width of the paper P along the width direction of the paper P, and the lower surface thereof is a transfer surface 21121 on which heat is transferred to the paper P. The platen roller 212 includes a roller main body 2121 having an axis C3 along the width direction of the paper P, and an elastic body 2122 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body 2121. The elastic body 2122 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example, and covers the roller body 2121 so as to cover the entire width of the paper P. This elastic body 2122 can be elastically deformed by an external force.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the transfer portion 2112 is formed on a curved surface that is curved so that a transfer surface 21121 that is a surface facing the platen roller 212 is convex toward the platen roller 212. ing. The curved surface is a surface curved around the axis with the length direction of the paper P as an axis, and the curved surface inclines upward toward both ends in the width direction with the central portion in the width direction of the transfer portion 2112 as an apex. Is formed.

Among the printing means 21, the thermal head 211 is configured to be movable between a printing position M1 (see FIG. 2) for printing the paper P and a non-printing position M2 (see FIG. 3) where the paper P is not printed. Specifically, the thermal head 211 has an approach position M3 approaching the platen roller 212 (see FIG. 4B) and a separation position M4 separated from the platen roller 212 (see FIG. 4A). And is configured to be movable. The thermal head 211 prints on the print surface P1 of the paper P in cooperation with the platen roller 212 (that is, sandwiches the paper P) when positioned at the approach position M3, and is separated from the paper P when positioned at the separation position M4. And do not print.
At the approach position M3, the paper P is sandwiched between the transfer surface 21121 of the transfer portion 2112 of the thermal head 211 and the outer peripheral surface 212a of the platen roller 212, and in this state, the paper P is printed and conveyed to print the paper P. Thermal transfer (printing) is performed on the surface P1.

At the approach position M3 of the thermal head 211, the platen roller 212 is pressed against the transfer surface 21121. Then, since the transfer surface 21121 is a curved surface that is convex toward the platen roller 212, the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 212 is deformed so as to be curved following the shape of the transfer surface 21121.
Further, at the separation position M4, the sandwiching of the transfer surface 21121 and the outer peripheral surface 212a with respect to the paper P is released, and the paper P becomes free.

The transport unit 22 includes a feed roller 221 and a pinch roller 222.
The feed roller 221 is arranged on the back surface P2 side of the paper P, and is configured to send and transport the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 1 to the printing means 21 and to print and transport the paper P printed by the printing means 21. Has been. The pinch roller 222 is disposed to face the feed roller 221 on the print surface P1 side of the paper P, and is configured to sandwich the paper P between the feed roller 221 and to feed or print the paper P. The feed roller 221 and the pinch roller 222 are arranged so that the respective axes C4 and C5 are parallel to the width direction of the paper P.

  The feed roller 221 and the pinch roller 222 are configured to cooperate to convey the paper P during both feed conveyance and print conveyance, and the pinch roller 222 is rotated by being driven by the feed roller 221. It is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing unit 2 is arranged on the upstream side in the print transport direction X1 with respect to the print unit 21, and feed unit 23 that feeds and transports the paper P. And a detection unit 24 that detects that the sheet P is disposed and sent to the print start position.

  The feeding means 23 is arranged on the back surface P2 side of the paper P and feeds and conveys the paper P toward the detection unit 24, and is arranged on the print surface P1 side of the paper P and cooperates with the sub-feed roller 231. And a sub-pinch roller 232 for moving and feeding the paper P. The sub-feed roller 231 and the sub-pinch roller 232 are arranged so that the respective axes C6 and C7 are parallel to the width direction of the paper P.

  The sub-pinch roller 232 cooperates with the sub-feed roller 231 only when the paper P is fed and conveyed toward the paper discharge unit 3, specifically, the paper P is sandwiched between the sub-feed roller 231 and the paper P It will be in the state which conveys P. That is, the feeding unit 23 is configured to be in a transport state when the paper P is transported and transported, and to be in a non-transport state when the paper P is transported in print.

  Note that each of the feed roller 221, the platen roller 212, and the sub-feed roller 231 is connected to a transport motor (not shown) via a transmission mechanism including, for example, a gear and a belt. Further, it is configured so as to be able to be driven and rotated in both the normal rotation direction for feeding and conveying the paper P and the reverse rotation direction for printing and conveying the paper P by the driving force of the conveyance motor. Further, the feed roller 221 and the sub-feed roller 231 are arranged so that their axis lines C4 and C6 are at substantially the same height position. The platen roller 212 is arranged such that its axis C3 is positioned above the axis C4 of the feed roller 221 and the axis C6 of the sub-feed roller 231.

  The printing unit 2 further includes a ribbon unit 25 configured to supply the ink ribbon Q to the printing unit 21 and collect the supplied ink ribbon Q. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ribbon portion 25 is disposed on the print surface P1 side of the paper P, between the thermal head 211 and the platen roller 212, and on the print surface P1 of the paper P. The ink ribbon Q is supplied to the top, and the supplied ink ribbon Q is wound up and collected.

  The ribbon portion 25 includes a supply-side ribbon 251 around which the ink ribbon Q is wound, and a take-up ribbon 252 that winds and collects the ink ribbon Q that is rewound from the supply-side ribbon 251 and supplied to the printing unit 21. And a ribbon guide for guiding the ink ribbon Q so that the ink ribbon Q rewound from the supply side ribbon 251 passes between the thermal head 211 and the platen roller 212 and is taken up by the take-up side ribbon 252. A roller 253.

  The ribbon unit 25 includes a peeling roller 254 that assists in peeling the ink ribbon Q from the print surface P1 of the paper P. The peeling roller 254 abuts on the ink ribbon Q printed (thermally transferred) by the printing means 21 and attached to the print surface P1 of the paper P, that is, the portion of the ink ribbon Q overlapping the print surface P1 of the paper P. It is configured as follows. In addition, the ink ribbon Q attached to the paper P has a function of assisting in reliably peeling the ink ribbon Q from the paper P. Specifically, the peeling roller 254 has an axis C8 parallel to the width direction of the paper P and is formed over the entire width of the paper P. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the peeling roller 254 is in contact with the ink ribbon Q to assist peeling, and an auxiliary position M5 (see FIG. 2) and a non-auxiliary position M6 spaced from the ink ribbon Q (FIG. 3). It is configured to be movable between (see). Further, it is configured to be the auxiliary position M5 at the time of print conveyance and to the non-auxiliary position M6 at the time of conveyance. The peeling roller 254 is disposed between the printing unit 21 and the conveyance unit 22, specifically, closer to the printing unit 21 side in the printing conveyance direction X1 side of the printing unit 21 and the printing conveyance direction X1 side of the conveyance unit 22. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printing unit 2 is provided with a correcting means for correcting the curl of the paper P. The correction means winds the paper P so that the paper P is bent in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P, and the amount of paper P wound around the bending means is increased. Pressing means for pressing P against the bending means. In particular, the pressing means is configured to hook the paper P around the width direction with respect to the bending means.
In the first embodiment, the printing unit 21 is also used as the bending unit. That is, the bending means is composed of the thermal head 211 and the platen roller 212. Since the configuration of the thermal head 211 and the platen roller 212 is as described above, the description thereof is omitted.

The pressing means includes a winding roller 52 having an axis C11 along the width direction of the paper P.
In the first embodiment, the pressing means, that is, the winding roller 52 is disposed only on the upstream side in the print conveying direction X1 with respect to the bending means, and the sheet P is pushed in the thickness direction to the platen roller 212 of the bending means. It is configured to wind. The winding roller 52 may be, for example, a driving type that is driven and rotated by a motor or the like, or a driven type that does not give a driving force by a motor or the like.

  2 and 3, the winding roller 52 includes a winding position M11 (see FIG. 2) where the paper P is wound around the platen roller 212, and a non-winding position where the paper P is not wound around the platen roller 212. M12 (refer FIG. 3) is comprised so that a movement is possible. Specifically, the winding roller 52 is disposed in the vicinity of the platen roller 212 on the feed conveyance direction X2 side of the platen roller 212 and on the print surface P1 side of the paper P. Then, the paper P is pushed in the thickness direction so as to be movable between a winding position M11 where the paper P is wound around a part of the outer periphery of the platen roller 212, and a non-winding position M12 which is separated from the winding position M11 and does not press the paper P. It is configured.

Here, the winding position M11 and the non-winding position M12 will be described in more detail. When the winding roller 52 is in the winding position M11, the bending means, that is, the position where the transfer portion 2112 and the platen roller 212 of the thermal head 211 sandwich the paper P, and the sub-feed roller 231 and the sub-pinch roller 232 of the feeding means 23 are paper. It exists in the position which cross | intersects the plane S which passes the position which pinches | interposes P (refer FIG. 2).
On the other hand, the winding roller 52 is located at a position away from the plane S at the non-winding position M12 (see FIG. 3).

The winding roller 52 is configured to move in synchronization with the thermal head 211. Specifically, the winding roller 52 is configured to move with the movement of the position of the thermal head 211 (a component of the bending means). That is, the thermal head 211 is configured to be in the winding position M11 when the thermal head 211 is positioned at the printing position M1, and is configured to be in the non-wrapping position M12 when the thermal head 211 is positioned in the non-printing position M2. .
More specifically, the winding roller 52 is configured to move together with the transfer unit 2112. When the transfer unit 2112 is located at the approach position M3, the winding roller 52 becomes the winding position M11, and the transfer unit 2112 is separated. It is configured to be in the non-winding position M12 when it is located at the position M4.

That is, the winding roller 52 is configured to be in the winding position M11 during print conveyance and to the non-wrapping position M12 in feed conveyance. At the winding position M11, the paper P is fed from the pass line at the time of conveyance. Is also pushed to the back surface P2 side and wound around the platen roller 212. The winding amount of the paper P around the platen roller 212 increases as the winding roller 52 reaches the winding position M11.
The winding roller 52 has an axial length that allows the sheet P to be pressed against the platen roller 212 over the entire width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper discharge unit 3 includes a cutter 31 for cutting the paper P, a paper discharge unit 32 that feeds and conveys the printed paper P, and a paper P that is fed and conveyed by the paper discharge unit 32. And a paper discharge port (not shown) for discharging the paper to the outside.
The paper discharge unit 32 includes a paper discharge roller 321 and a paper discharge pinch roller 322. The paper discharge roller 321 is arranged on the back surface P2 side of the paper P and feeds the cut paper P to the paper discharge port for conveyance. The paper discharge pinch roller 322 is disposed so as to face the paper discharge roller 321 on the print surface P1 side of the paper P, and discharges the paper P following the paper discharge roller 321.
The paper discharge roller 321 and the paper discharge pinch roller 322 are arranged so that the respective axes C9 and C10 are parallel to the width direction of the paper P. The paper discharge roller 321 is configured to be freely rotatable in both the forward rotation direction in which the paper P is fed and conveyed by a paper discharge motor (not shown) and the reverse rotation direction in which the paper P is printed and conveyed.

  Further, the paper discharge pinch roller 322 cooperates with the paper discharge roller 321 only when the paper P is fed and conveyed toward the paper discharge port. Specifically, the paper P is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller 321. In this state, the paper P is conveyed. That is, the paper discharge unit 32 is configured to be in a transport state when the paper P is fed and transported, and to be in a non-transport state when the paper P is transported by printing.

Next, the operation of the printer A having the above configuration will be described.
First, the roll body 11 is accommodated in the paper feed unit 1, the paper P is fed from the accommodated roll body 11, and the paper P is guided by the guide unit 12 between the paper feed roller 131 and the paper feed pinch roller 132. Hold and load. Loading means that a roll motor (not shown) is driven to feed the paper P, and the paper P is fed by the paper feed means 13 and the transport means 22 to the standby position downstream of the print means 21 in the transport direction X2. It means feeding and conveying.

When loading is completed and the paper P is transported to the standby position, the paper P is further transported from the standby position to the transport direction X2 by the paper feeding unit 13, the transport unit 22, and the feed unit 23, and the detection unit When the paper 24 detects the paper P, the paper P is transported to the print start position and the transport of the paper P is stopped. Until the paper P is fed and positioned at the print start position, the printing means 21 is in the non-print position M2, that is, the separation position M4 where the thermal head 211 is separated from the platen roller 212. That is, the transfer portion 2112 of the thermal head 211 is separated from the platen roller 212.
Further, the winding roller 52 as the pressing means is located at the non-winding position M12. The peeling roller 254 is located at the non-auxiliary position M6.

When the ink ribbon Q is appropriately disposed on the print surface P1 of the paper P from between the winding roller 52 and the platen roller 212 to between the thermal head 211 and the platen roller 212, as shown in FIG. Then, the thermal head 211 moves to the print position M1.
Specifically, the thermal head 211 at the separation position M4 moves to the approach position M3, and the paper P is sandwiched between the transfer surface 21121 of the transfer unit 2112 and the outer peripheral surface 212a of the platen roller 212. In other words, the thermal head 211 moves to the approach position M3, and the paper P is sandwiched between the transfer surface 21121 of the transfer unit 2112 and the outer peripheral surface 212a of the platen roller 212.
In this sandwiched state, as shown in FIG. 4B, the outer peripheral surface 212a of the platen roller 212 is pressed by the transfer surface 21121 of the transfer portion 2112 and elastically deforms so as to follow the curved shape of the transfer surface 21121. ing.
Further, the winding roller 52 moves to the winding position M11 and winds the paper P (and the ink ribbon Q overlapping the paper P) around a part of the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 212.
The peeling roller 254 moves to the auxiliary position M5 and indirectly contacts the paper P via the ink ribbon Q. At this time, both the sheet feeding unit 13 and the feeding unit 23 are in a non-conveying state. Further, the ink ribbon Q disposed on the print surface P <b> 1 is sandwiched between the thermal head 211 and the platen roller 212 together with the paper P.

  From this state, while the roll body 11 is driven and rotated in the reverse direction, the conveying means 22 is driven and rotated in the reverse direction to print and convey the paper P, and the ink ribbon Q from the supply side ribbon 251 is the same as the print conveying speed of the paper P. It is rewound at a speed and wound on the winding side ribbon 252. As a result, the ink ribbon Q is heated by the transfer portion 2112 of the thermal head 211, and Y (yellow) ink, for example, is transferred to the paper P. At this time, the platen roller 212 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction.

  At the time of print conveyance in such transfer, the thermal head 211 is located at the print position M1, the winding roller 52 is located at the winding position M11, and the conveyance means 22 is capable of conveyance in the print conveyance direction X1. Is in a state. Therefore, the paper P is pulled toward the print transport direction X1 by the transport unit 22 on the downstream side of the print unit 21 in the print transport direction X1, and tension is applied in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the paper P is pressed by the winding roller 52 and wound around the platen roller 212 on the print conveyance direction X1 side with respect to the printing means 21, and the transfer surface 21121 of the thermal head 211 and the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 212. 212a.

  Therefore, the paper P has a so-called stiffness at the portion around the platen roller 212 due to the tension by the conveying means 22 and the winding by the winding roller 52. In addition, the winding amount of the paper P around the platen roller 212 is increased by the winding roller 52 being in the winding position M11, so that the platen roller 212 is nipped by the printing means 21 and the print conveyance by the conveyance means 22. Thus, the winding portion of the sheet P having a stiffness corresponding to the shape of the transfer surface 21121 is squeezed so as to change the conveyance direction, so that the curl of the sheet P is reliably corrected. be able to.

Further, since the peeling roller 254 is in contact with the paper P via the ink ribbon Q between the printing unit 21 and the conveying unit 22, the curl of the paper P can be corrected more reliably.
That is, the peeling roller 254 directly or indirectly contacts the print surface P1 of the paper P on the print conveyance direction X1 side of the printing means 21, thereby causing the printing means 21 (curving means) to curl the paper P. It functions as a correction assisting means for assisting correction.

  Subsequently, the print conveyance is stopped, and as shown in FIG. 3, the thermal head 211 moves to the separation position M4 that is separated from the platen roller 212, and the printing means 21 moves to the non-printing position M2. At the same time, the winding roller 52 moves to the non-winding position M12 to release the winding of the paper P on the platen roller 212, and the peeling roller 254 moves to the non-auxiliary position M6 to the ink ribbon Q. Is released. Then, the sheet feeding unit 13, the conveying unit 22, and the feeding unit 23 are set in a conveying state in which the sheet P can be conveyed and conveyed, and the sheet P is conveyed and conveyed to a position where the detecting unit 24 detects the sheet P (print start position).

  When the printing is completed in this way, the paper P is fed and conveyed to the paper discharge unit 3 side (feed conveyance direction X2 side) by the paper supply unit 13, the conveyance unit 22, and the feed unit 23, and in the paper discharge unit 3 by the cutter 31. Cut to a predetermined length. Then, the cut print completion paper P is further fed and conveyed by the paper discharge means 32 and discharged to the outside through a paper discharge port.

In the printer A having the above configuration, the paper P is bent by the printing means 21 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and the paper P is bent by the winding roller 52 in a state where the paper P is bent by the printing means 21. The printing means 21 (platen roller 212) is pressed. Therefore, the sheet P has a so-called stiffness at the curved portion of the printing means 21, and the portion having the stiffness is squeezed by the winding roller 52, so that the curl of the paper P is reliably corrected. be able to.
In the first embodiment, the roll body 11 is an inner volume in which the paper P is wound so that the print surface P1 of the paper P is on the inner side. Therefore, the paper P has an inner winding curl, specifically, a longitudinal curl where the print surface P1 of the paper P is concave. With respect to the inner winding curl, the inner winding curl of the paper P can be corrected by curving the paper P in the width direction so that the printing surface P1 is concave by the correcting means.

  The winding roller 52 pushes the paper P in the thickness direction (direction from the print surface P1 side to the back surface P2 side) and winds the paper P around the platen roller 212. Therefore, the paper P is reliably wound around the platen roller 212. Therefore, the curl of the paper P can be reliably corrected.

  Further, the paper P is pulled by the conveying means 22 on the print conveying direction X1 side of the printing means 21 and is tensioned in the longitudinal direction thereof, while the paper P is wound in the feeding and conveying direction X2 than the printing means 21. The sheet P is pushed by the roller 52 and wound around the platen roller 212, and is further sandwiched between the transfer surface 21121 of the thermal head 211 and the outer peripheral surface 212 a of the platen roller 212. The winding portion with respect to the platen roller 212 has a sufficient so-called stiffness by the winding by the hanging roller 52, and the so-called winding portion having a so-called stiffness is obtained by the clamping by the printing means 21 and the printing conveyance by the conveying means 22. It will be spent. For this reason, the paper P curl can be reliably corrected.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the transfer surface 21121 has a curl that is convex with respect to the platen roller 212 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the curl that is concave with respect to the platen roller 212 is described. You may have. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the transfer surface 21121 may have a longitudinal curl of the transfer portion 2112 that is concave with respect to the platen roller 212. . In this case, by curving the inner surface of the paper P in the width direction so that the print surface P1 becomes a convex surface, the inner surface of the paper P can be corrected. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a state where the transfer portion 2112 having the transfer surface 21121 is located at the separation position M4, and FIG. 5B is a view where the transfer portion 2112 is located at the approach position M3. FIG.

  Furthermore, although the case where the platen roller 212 is an elastic roller has been described in the first embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and a metal roller made of, for example, stainless steel that does not use the elastic member 5122 may be used. In this case, the outer peripheral surface of the metal roller that becomes the outer peripheral surface 212 a has a shape corresponding to the transfer surface 21121. That is, the outer peripheral surface 212a is not limited to the elastic deformation surface as in the first embodiment, but may be an inelastic deformation surface.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the winding roller 52 is provided only on the print conveyance direction X1 side with respect to the printing unit 21 has been described, but not limited thereto, only the feed conveyance direction X2 side or the print conveyance. You may provide in both the direction X1 side and the feed conveyance direction X2 side. Note that a plurality of winding rollers 52 may be provided on the print transport direction X1 side and the feed transport direction X2 side of the printing means 21.

  Furthermore, although the case where the peeling roller 254 is provided has been described in the first embodiment, the peeling roller 254 can be omitted. Alternatively, it may be a plate-like peeling plate formed over the entire width of the paper P.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the case where the roll body 11 is formed with the inner side of the paper P has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the outer roll is wound with the print surface P1 of the paper P facing outward. May be. In this case, the paper P has an outer winding curl, specifically, a longitudinal curl where the print surface P1 of the paper P is convex. With respect to the curl of the outer winding, the curling of the outer winding of the paper P can be corrected by curving the paper P in the width direction so that the printing surface P1 is convex or concave by the correcting means.

Subsequently, the second to fourth embodiments of the printer A according to the present invention will be described as reference examples, and these reference examples will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, components common to the first embodiment will be denoted by common reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and different configurations will be mainly described.

  6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the printer A according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the bending means is a feeding means 23, which is composed of a sub-pinch roller 232 and a sub-feed roller 231. The sub-pinch roller 232 is configured to rotate following the driving rotation of the sub-feed roller 231.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the outer peripheral surface 6111 of the sub-pinch roller 232 is curved in the direction of the axis C7 so that the central portion in the direction of the axis C7 of the sub-pinch roller 232 is convex with respect to the sub-feed roller 231. Have. Moreover, it is a substantially barrel-shaped surface that is formed over the entire circumference around the axis C7 and expands toward the center in the direction of the axis C7. As shown in FIG. 7B, the outer peripheral surface 612a of the sub-feed roller 231 is an elastic deformation surface that deforms corresponding to the shape of the outer peripheral surface 6111 when the sub-pinch roller 232 is positioned at the approach position M9. .

  The pressing means is a winding roller 62, which is disposed on both the print transport direction X1 side and the feed transport direction X2 side of the feed means 23 as shown in FIG. The winding roller 62 on the print conveyance direction X1 side with respect to the feeding means 23 is disposed above the winding roller 62 on the feed conveyance direction X2 side. Further, the winding roller 62 on the print conveyance direction X1 side has a smaller diameter than the winding roller 62 on the feed conveyance direction X2 side.

  In such a correcting means of the second embodiment, the paper P is bent at the time of feed conveyance, but the paper P is not bent at the time of print conveyance. Specifically, since the bending means is the feeding means 23, it is in the approach position M9 (see FIG. 7B) at the time of feeding and conveyance, and is at the separation position M10 (see FIG. 7A) at the time of printing and conveyance. is there.

  The winding roller 62 is positioned at the winding position M11 when the sub-pinch roller 232 is positioned at the approach position M9, and is positioned at the non-winding position M12 when the sub-pinch roller 232 is positioned at the separation position M10. Can be configured to. Alternatively, it may be configured to always be located at the winding position M11 regardless of the position of the sub-pinch roller 232.

  In the second embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 6111 of the sub-pinch roller 232 is not limited to the substantially barrel-shaped surface. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the outer peripheral surface 6111 is a curved surface in the direction of the axis C7 in which the center portion of the sub-pinch roller 232 in the direction of the axis C7 is concave with respect to the sub-feed roller 231. It can also be a substantially cylindrical surface having a diameter reduced toward the center in the direction of the axis C7, which is formed over the entire circumference around the axis C7.

  Further, the outer peripheral surface 612a of the sub-feed roller 231 is not limited to an elastic deformation surface, and may be an inelastic deformation surface having a shape corresponding to the curved shape of the outer peripheral surface 6111 of the sub-pinch roller 232. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the outer peripheral surface 612 a can be a curved surface (substantially barrel-shaped surface) that is convex with respect to the sub-pinch roller 232.

  FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the printer A according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, for example, the correction means does not use the thermal head 211 and the platen roller 212 as in the first embodiment, and does not use the sub-pinch roller 232 and the sub-feed roller 231 as in the second embodiment. It is configured by adding a new configuration.

  Specifically, in the configuration shown in FIG. 9A, the correcting means is provided between the conveying means 22 and the feeding means 23, and includes a bending means 71 having a pair of rollers, and the bending means 71. Also includes pressing means provided on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the print transport direction X1.

  The bending means 71 includes a main body roller 711 having an axis along the width direction of the paper P, and a receiving roller 712 disposed opposite to the main body roller 711 and having an axis along the width direction. The outer peripheral surface 7111 of the main body roller 711 and the outer peripheral surface 712a of the receiving roller 712 are used as a curl correction surface in the bending means 71. The pressing means is a winding roller 72, which is formed to have the same diameter.

  9B, the correcting means shown in FIG. 9A is arranged closer to the print transport direction X1 than the transport means 22. The winding roller 72 on the upstream side in the print conveyance direction X1 has a smaller diameter than the winding means 72 on the downstream side in the print conveyance direction X1.

  In addition to these, the correcting means can be provided on the side opposite to the printing means 21 with respect to the feeding means 23.

  FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of a printer A according to the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the bending means is composed of only the correction roller 811. Specifically, the correction roller 811 is disposed on the back surface P2 side of the paper P, has an axis along the width direction of the paper P, and the outer peripheral surface 8111 thereof is used as a correction surface. The pressing means is a winding roller 82, which is disposed on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the print transport direction X1 with respect to the correction roller 811. Both the winding rollers 82 are arranged on the print surface P1 side of the paper P, and each is configured to push the paper P toward the back surface P2 and wind it around the correction roller 811.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the printer A is a sublimation type printer using the ink ribbon Q has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, is a thermal printer or other type of printer. Also good.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the curl is a curved surface that is curved around the longitudinal axis of the paper P has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described curl, for example, a bent surface having a fold line along the length direction of the paper P, or a convex curve and a concave shape having the length direction of the paper P as an axis. Even a wrinkle such as a corrugated surface in which the curvature is continuous in the width direction, or a curl can be dealt with.

  Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the second correction means is a winding roller has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, for plate-shaped winding in which the longitudinal direction extends over the entire width of the sheet P. It may be a plate.

  Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the direction in which the sheet P is bent is the width direction of the sheet P, but this is not limiting, and both the length direction and the width direction of the sheet P intersect. In addition, it can be set in a direction parallel to the surface direction of the paper P. However, the direction in which the sheet P is bent is preferably set in a range of 0 ° to 45 ° with respect to the width direction of the sheet P.

  Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, as the transport direction of the paper P, the feed transport direction X2 from the paper feed unit 1 side to the paper discharge unit 3 side, and from the paper discharge unit 3 side to the paper feed unit 1 side. The case where the print transport direction X1 is set has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transport direction from the paper feed unit 1 side to the paper discharge unit 3 side can be set to the same transport direction, such as the print transport direction X1 and the feed transport direction X2. .

  The first to fourth embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper feed part, 2 ... Print part, 3 ... Paper discharge part, 13 ... Paper feed means, 21 ... Print means, 22 ... Conveyance means, 23 ... Feed means, 52 ... Rolling roller, 211 ... Thermal head, 212 ... Platen roller, 212a ... Outer peripheral surface, 2111 ... Head body, 2112 ... Transfer section, X1 ... Print transport direction, X2 ... Transport direction

Claims (3)

In a printer provided with a printing means for printing on paper conveyed in the length direction,
A correction means for correcting the curl of the paper, the correction means winding the paper and curving the paper in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction; and the paper wound around the curving means Pressing means for pressing the paper against the bending means so as to increase the winding amount of
Said pressing means, than said bending means provided on the printed conveyance direction upstream side and the paper from winding multiplying for wrapping roller in the curved section of the paper by pressing in the thickness direction thereof,
The printing means comprises a thermal head having a transfer surface for heating the paper or thermally transferring to the print surface of the paper, and a platen roller provided on the back side of the paper and disposed opposite the thermal head;
The bending means is composed of the thermal head and the platen roller that pinches and curves the paper ,
A printing unit for supplying an ink ribbon to the printing means, and a ribbon portion configured to collect the supplied ink ribbon, wherein the thermal head approaches the platen roller and prints paper; and It is configured to be movable to a non-printing position where the paper is not printed apart from the platen roller, and the ink ribbon disposed on the printing surface of the paper at the time of printing is connected to the thermal head and the platen roller together with the paper. The ink ribbon is heated on the transfer surface of the thermal head by being sandwiched between the prints and transferred, and the ink is transferred to the paper.
The winding roller is configured to move in synchronization with the thermal head, and is configured to be in a winding position at the time of print conveyance, and to be in a non-wrapping position at the time of feed conveyance. The printer is configured to be wound on the platen roller by being pushed to the back side with respect to the passage route . The printer of claim 1 in the printing transport direction downstream side of the pre-Symbol bending means, characterized by a Turkey are arranged conveying means for printing convey the sheet. Said wrapping roller, the printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is arranged in the vicinity of the platen roller.

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