JP5490762B2 - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Description

  One embodiment relates to a thermal printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a thermal printer that conveys a sheet material by printing information on each product with a thermal head on a label surface of a label temporarily attached to release paper (for example, see Patent Document 1). Non-adhesive to the tip of the movable blade and fixed blade of the cutter unit (see Patent Document 2, for example) or non-adhesive treatment that reduces the frictional resistance with the side of the roll paper on the side that regulates the side of the roll paper There is known a printer (see, for example, Patent Document 3) coated with the above.

JP 2006-168193 A Japanese Patent No. 4665189 JP 2010-179462 A

  However, if the sealing paper composed of release paper, adhesive, stamp paper and label paper is fed out from the paper storage unit and the leading end on the winding side is conveyed to the printing unit, the adhesive may adhere to the paper conveyance path. is there. For example, when a sticker sheet with the adhesive adhesive surface facing downward passes through a paper conveyance path composed of an upper plate and a lower plate, the adhesive adheres to the upper surface of the lower plate. An adhesive may adhere to the guide walls at both ends in the conveyance path width direction. The sticker sticks to the transport surface or wall surface by the adhesive. A jam (paper jam) occurs in the enclosed space. It is difficult to remove sticker paper from a narrow space conveyance path.

  In order to solve such a problem, according to one embodiment, the first storage portion of the thermal paper, the second storage portion of the print medium in which an adhesive is applied to at least one of the front surface and the back surface, and these A housing having a discharge port through which the thermal paper and the print medium are discharged, a first paper feed path through which the thermal paper from the first storage portion of the housing passes, and a second storage portion. A sheet feeding unit having a second sheet feeding path through which the print medium passes, and a sheet conveying direction formed from the merging position of the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path. A merging section for sending the thermal paper or the printing medium downstream; a conveying mechanism for conveying the thermal paper or the printing medium in the sheet conveying direction from the merging section to the discharge port and for conveying in the opposite direction; This transport mechanism transports At least one printing section that performs printing on the thermal paper and the printing medium, and a paper conveyance path that is provided between the printing section and the merging section, and is common between the thermal paper and the printing medium. A thermal printer is provided in which an adhesive amount reduction process for reducing the adhesive amount of the adhesive is performed on the paper conveyance path and the second paper supply path of the paper supply unit. .

1 is a perspective view of a thermal printer according to an embodiment. 1 is a side view of a thermal printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view illustrating a first paper feed path, a second paper feed path, and a paper transport path of a thermal printer according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the part to which the adhesion amount reduction process was performed by the thermal printer which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the 2nd paper feed path of the thermal printer which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the thermal paper and printing medium of the thermal printer which concern on one Embodiment are not loaded. It is a side view when the unit which consists of a paper feed unit and a plurality of printing parts of a thermal printer concerning one embodiment is an open position. It is an expansion perspective view of the paper feed unit of the thermal printer concerning one embodiment. It is an expansion perspective view of the equivalent location of the thermal printer which concerns on a comparative example. (A) is a top view of the transport part in the thermal printer which concerns on one Embodiment, (b) is a top view of the equivalent location of the thermal printer which concerns on a comparative example. (A) is a figure which shows an example of a wrinkle pattern, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the pattern of a rib, (c) is a figure which shows an example of the pattern which has both a wrinkle and a rib.

  Hereinafter, a thermal printer according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawings, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermal printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of a thermal printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing two paper feed paths and a paper transport path of the thermal printer according to the embodiment. In these drawings, elements having the same reference numerals represent the same elements.

  The thermal printer 10 (the thermal printer according to the embodiment) includes a thermal paper 11 wound in a roll shape, a thermal seal paper 12 (printing medium) wound in a roll shape, and a thermal paper 11 A first thermal head and a second thermal head for the seal paper 12; the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12 is drawn individually; and the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12 is heated by each thermal head. Printer for color printing.

  The thermal printer 10 includes a storage unit 13 (first storage unit) for the thermal paper 11, a storage unit 14 (second storage unit) for the seal paper 12, and a discharge port 15 for the thermal paper 11 and the seal paper 12. A paper feed unit 19 having a housing 16 having a paper feed path 17 (first paper feed path) through which the thermal paper 11 passes and a paper feed path 18 (second paper feed path) through which the seal paper 12 passes. And a merging portion 20 that feeds the thermal paper 11 or the sealing paper 12 from the merging position of the paper feeding paths 17 and 18 to the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction. Furthermore, the thermal printer 10 transports the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12 from the junction 20 to the discharge port 15 in the paper transport direction and transports it in the opposite direction, and the thermal paper 11 transported by the transport mechanism 21. A printing unit 22 that performs printing on the sheet, a printing unit 23 that performs printing on the sticker sheet 12, and a sheet conveyance path 24 that is provided between the merging unit 20 and the printing unit 23 and is common between the thermal sheet 11 and the sealing sheet 12. ing. The sheet conveyance path 24 and the sheet feeding path 18 in the sheet feeding unit 19 are subjected to an adhesion amount reduction process for reducing the adhesion amount of the adhesive by Teflon (registered trademark) coating (PTFE [polytetrafluoroethylene] coating). Has been.

  The thermal paper 11 has a heat-sensitive layer formed on one side, and is fed out to the paper supply unit 19 with the heat-sensitive surface facing outward, that is, upward. The thermal paper 11 is used as a receipt paper. The seal paper 12 is composed of a long release paper, a layer of adhesive applied on one side of the release paper, and a row of printed pieces temporarily attached on one side of the release paper via this layer. The seal paper 12 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical core. The printed piece refers to a seal-type stamp (stamp paper) or a label (label paper) such as a delivery destination attached to a package or the like. A sticker sheet as a stamp sheet or a label sheet is provided with a heat-sensitive layer that develops color when heated on one side, and is fed so that the heat-sensitive surface faces downward. The storage unit 13 holds the thermal paper 11 by the shaft unit 25. The storage unit 14 holds the sticker sheet 12 by the core unit 26. The discharge port 15 is located at the downstream end of the paper transport path 24 in the paper transport direction. The housing 16 spans the shaft portion 25 and the core portion 26 between the side plates so that they are parallel to each other.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a portion that has been subjected to the adhesion amount reduction processing, and shows the first paper feed path 17, the second paper feed path 18, and the paper transport path 24. The above described symbols represent the same elements. The paper feed path 17 for the thermal paper 11 has an upper plate 17a and a lower plate 17b opposed to the lower side of the upper plate 17a. The paper feed path 17 allows the thermal paper 11 to pass through a gap between the lower surface of the upper plate 17a and the upper surface of the lower plate 17b. The upper plate 17a and the lower plate 17b are, for example, sheet metal, and an inclined surface with respect to the thermal paper 11 is given by bending the sheet metal in advance.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second paper feed path 18. The above described symbols represent the same elements. The sheet feed path 18 for the seal paper 12 includes a pair of upper plates 18a and 18a parallel to each other, a lower plate 18b facing the lower side of the upper plate 18a, and a PTFE provided on the upper surface of the lower plate 18b. And a coating layer 27. The pair of upper plates 18a and 18a are upper paper guides. The lower plate 18b is a lower paper guide. The two upper plates 18a and one lower plate 18b are bent metal plates and form a sheet inclined surface. A bent synthetic resin may be used for the upper plate 18a and the lower plate 18b. The PTFE coating layer 27 is generated by attaching a PTFE material to a sheet metal and then firing the sheet metal together, or attaching a PTFE film or a PTFE sheet to the sheet metal. The process for forming the PTFE coating layer 27 is an adhesion amount reducing process. The paper feed path 18 allows the gap between the upper surface of the PTFE coating layer 27 and the lower surfaces of the two upper plates 18 a to pass through the seal paper 12.

  The paper feed unit 19 (FIGS. 2, 3 and the like) holds a paper feed path 17 and 18 respectively, and a pair of left and right frames 28 that can rotate with respect to the housing 16, and each of these frames 28. A pair of left and right plate pieces 29 fixed to the side surfaces, and a bearing mechanism 30 that is supported by all of the frame 28 and the plate pieces 29 are provided. Left and right refer to the left and right sides in the paper transport direction. The outer surface of the frame 28 refers to the surface on the side plate side of the housing 16. The pair of plate pieces 29 rotate with respect to the housing 16 together with the pair of frames 28. A cutout 31 is formed in each frame 28, and the left and right cutouts 31 are fitted into a shaft 32 spanned between walls connected to the side plate of the housing 16. A case 33 is attached to the outer surface of each plate piece 29, and a gear train connected to the shaft of the motor 35 is housed in a space surrounded by the case 33 and the plate piece 29. The paper feed paths 17 and 18, the left and right frames 28, the plate pieces 29, and the transport mechanism 21 are integrated to form a dual feeder unit (paper feed unit) 80. The dual feeder unit 80 selectively feeds either the thermal paper 11 or the sticker paper 12 to the paper transport path 24. The dual feeder unit 80 has a position where the dual feeder unit 80 is mounted on the casing 16 and a position where the dual feeder unit 80 is raised upward with an inclination angle of 45 degrees, for example, with the shaft center of the bearing mechanism 30 as a rotation fulcrum. And come to take.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the junction 20 is a space that includes the end of the paper feed path 17, the end of the paper feed path 18, and a part of the upper sheet transport path 34. When the paper feed paths 17 and 18 are both lifted upward by the rotation of the dual feeder unit 80, the paper feed paths 17 and 18 are separated from the upper paper transport path 34, and the dual feeder unit 80 is pushed into the housing 16. As a result, the merging portion 20 is formed.

  The transport mechanism 21 serves as a transport system for the seal paper 12, such as a motor 35, a pinch roller 36, a drive roller 37 that faces the pinch roller 36 across the paper feed path 18, and the paper feed path more than the paper feed path 18. 18 and a guide roller 38 located outside. A stepping motor is used as the motor 35. The pinch roller 36 and the drive roller 37 are provided with elastic members on the shafts, and the seal paper 12 is sandwiched between these elastic members. A through hole 39 is formed in the paper feed path 18. The drive roller 37 and the pinch roller 36 face each other through the through hole 39. The drive roller 37 is driven by a gear train or a clutch covered by the case 33. The guide roller 38 guides the seal paper 12 between the outer peripheral surface of the guide roller 38 and the lower surface of the upper plate 18 a of the paper feed path 18.

  The transport mechanism 21 serves as a transport system for the thermal paper 11 by using another motor, a pinch roller 40, a drive roller 41 facing the pinch roller 40 across the paper feed path 17, and the paper feed path 17. And a guide roller 42 located outside the paper path 17. The guide roller 42 guides the thermal paper 11 between the outer peripheral surface of the guide roller 42 and the lower surface of the upper plate 17a of the paper feed path 17 by rotating in the forward direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printing unit 22 includes a first thermal head 43 disposed downward so as to be in contact with the heat-sensitive layer of the thermal paper 11, and a platen opposed to the thermal head 43 with the thermal paper 11 interposed therebetween. A roller 44, an urging means 45 that presses the thermal head 43 toward the platen roller 44, and a base 46 fixed to one end of the urging means 45 are provided. The thermal head 43 has a plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the paper transport direction. The printing unit 22 prints on the thermal paper 11 by selectively heating the heating elements from these heating elements according to information necessary for printing. The platen roller 44 is rotationally driven by a motor 49 via gears 47 and 48. The platen roller 44 also functions as an element of the transport mechanism 21.

  The printing unit 23 includes a second thermal head 50 disposed upward so as to be in contact with the heat-sensitive layer of the seal paper 12, a platen roller 51 facing the thermal head 50 with the seal paper 12 interposed therebetween, and the thermal head 50. Urging means 52 that presses the platen roller 51 toward the platen roller 51, and a pedestal 53 fixed to one end of the urging means 52. The thermal head 50 has a plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction. The thermal head 50 prints on the seal paper 12 by selectively heating the heating elements from these heating elements according to information necessary for printing. The platen roller 51 is rotationally driven by another motor via a gear 54 and the like. The platen roller 51 also functions as an element of the transport mechanism 21. The printing units 22 and 23 may be provided with a heat sink 55.

  The paper transport path 24 includes an upper paper transport path 34, a middle paper transport path 56, a lower paper transport path 57, and a final paper transport path 66. The upper sheet conveyance path 34 includes upper plates 58 and 59 and a lower plate 60. The upper surface of the lower plate 60 is coated with PTFE. The middle sheet conveyance path 56 includes an upper plate 61 and a lower plate 62, and the upper surface of the lower plate 62 is coated with PTFE. The lower sheet conveyance path 57 includes an upper plate 63 and a lower plate 64, and the upper surface of the lower plate 64 is coated with PTFE. That is, the adhesive amount reduction process is performed on at least the passage side of the seal paper 12 in the conveyance surface of the paper conveyance path 24.

  The paper feed paths 17 and 18 are integrated with the dual feeder unit 80 and are movable with respect to the housing 16. The shafts of the gears 47 and 48, the platen roller 44, the lower plate 60 of the upper sheet conveyance path 34, and members below the thermal head 50 of the printing unit 23 are held in the casing 16 and are fixed. The gear 54, the platen roller 51, the members above the thermal head 43 of the printing unit 22, the upper plates 58 and 59 of the upper paper conveyance path 34, the middle paper conveyance path 56, the lower paper conveyance path 57, and the final paper conveyance path 66. Is movable relative to the housing 16. The gear 54, the platen roller 51, the printing unit 22 above the thermal head 43, the upper plates 58 and 59, the middle sheet conveyance path 56, the lower sheet conveyance path 57, and the final sheet conveyance path 66 are integrated with the frame 76. Thus, a sticker sheet printing unit 81 is configured. The sticker sheet printing unit 81 has a position at which the sticker sheet print unit 81 is mounted on the housing 16 and a position that is raised upward from the housing 16 with an inclination angle of 45 degrees, for example, with the axis of the shaft 32 as a pivot. And come to take.

  The thermal printer 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3) further includes a cutter 65 provided on the discharge side of the discharge port 15, a final-stage paper conveyance path 66 provided on the downstream side of the cutter 65 in the conveyance direction, It includes a bowl-shaped transport unit 67 that issues the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12 continuously cut into the corrugated paper conveyance path 66, and a controller 82 that performs paper conveyance control. The cutter 65 is provided in the frame 76 together with the final stage paper conveyance path 66. The final-stage sheet conveyance path 66 includes an upper plate 66a and a lower plate 66b, and the upper surface of the lower plate 66b is coated with PTFE.

  FIG. 10A is a top view of the transport unit 67. The above described symbols represent the same elements. The transport unit 67 includes a plate 68 that is continuous to the rear side of the discharge port 15, an endless belt 69 that rotates on the plate 68 while pressing the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12 against the belt surface, and a belt 69. It has a driving roller 70 that applies driving force and a driven roller 71 that rotates with the driving roller 70, and a motor 72 that runs the belt 69 in the direction in which printing of the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12 is issued. The top surface of the plate 68 is coated with PTFE. The belt 69 includes upper and lower belt portions that run in opposite directions between the driving roller 70 and the driven roller 71. The belt surface of the lower belt portion presses the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12 on the conveying surface. The motor 72 constitutes a belt drive mechanism together with the gear train. Further, the transport unit 67 is provided with a pair of plate-like guide portions 77 arranged to face each other with a portion through which the thermal paper 11 or the sheet paper 12 passes, and a plate 68 on the passage surface of the thermal paper 11 or the seal paper 12. You may provide the sheet | seat part 78 spread | laid. The pair of left and right guide portions 77 are upper paper guides, and the lower surfaces of the guide portions 77 are in contact with the sheet in the same manner as the functions of the upper plates 18a and 18a. The lower surface of the sheet portion 78 is fixed on the plate surface, and the upper surface of the sheet portion 78 is coated with PTFE. The side plate 79 supports the guide portion 77.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the controller 82 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The controller 82 collects signals from a plurality of sensors 73 provided at positions through which the thermal paper 11 and the sticker paper 12 pass, and detects the presence or absence of a jam. Each sensor 73 is a light shielding sensor. The sensor 73 includes, for example, a laser diode, a photodiode, and a detection circuit that notifies the controller 82 of a signal indicating that there is paper or no paper according to the detection current being turned on or off. The sensor 73 is provided in the paper feed paths 17 and 18, the paper transport path 24, and the transport unit 67. The plate material or the plate material has openings formed at a plurality of locations. A light beam for detection is transmitted and received through these openings.

  In the thermal printer 10 having such a configuration, before the thermal paper 11 and the sticker paper 12 are set, the dual feeder unit 80 and the sticker paper printing unit 81 are in the open position.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the thermal paper 11 and the sticker paper 12 are not loaded. FIG. 7 is a side view of the thermal printer 10 when the dual feeder unit 80 and the sticker sheet printing unit 81 are in the open position. In these drawings, the above-described symbols represent the same elements. A person attaches the thermal paper 11 and the sticker paper 12 to the housing 16. The thermal paper 11 is attached to the shaft portion 25. The seal paper 12 is inserted into the shaft portion 25 so that the outer peripheral surface of the core portion 26 is in contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the seal paper 12. The core portion 26 regulates the shift of the seal paper 12 in the conveyance path width direction by a flange or the like. After a person visually determines that the paper feed paths 17 and 18 and the paper transport path 24 are free of dirt such as adhesive residue, the dual feeder unit 80 and the seal paper printing unit 81 are closed. The notch 31 of the dual feeder unit 80 is fitted to the shaft 32. The shaft 74 of the sticker sheet printing unit 81 is fitted into the notch 75 on the housing 16 side. A person pulls out the thermal paper 11 and the seal paper 12 from the storage units 13 and 14 and guides them to the guide rollers 42 and 38, respectively. The state at this time is shown in FIG. 1, and the dual hopper portion is configured by the housing 16, the shaft portion 25, the core portion 26, and the like. When the controller 82 receives a print command by a user operation, the controller 82 starts to drive the transport mechanism 21.

  First, the thermal printer 10 prints on the sticker sheet 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the controller 82 feeds the sticker sheet 12 toward the merging portion 20 by the forward rotation of the transport mechanism 21, and the sticker sheet 12 is placed with the label sheet to be printed facing downward. It is conveyed to the printing unit 23. As shown in FIG. 5, the dimension A between the outer edges of the two upper plates 18 a is larger than the sheet width C of the sticker sheet 12. The sheet width C is smaller than the dimension B between the inner edges of the upper plate 18a. The seal paper 12 is conveyed without protruding from the gap between the upper plates 18a. During the conveyance of the sticker sheet 12, the controller 82 keeps the thermal sheet 11 waiting at the standby position on the sheet feeding path 17. The controller 82 detects that the position of the thermal paper 11 is the standby position and that the sticker paper 12 is the print start position by the sensors 73 provided in the vicinity of these positions. When the controller 82 detects that the print start position of the sticker sheet 12 has reached the thermal head 50, the controller 82 causes the printing unit 23 to start printing.

  When the controller 82 finishes the sticker printing, the controller 82 conveys the sticker paper 12 by a specified amount. The controller 82 separates one label sheet piece from the sticker sheet 12 by the cutter 65. The controller 82 activates the transport unit 67. The transport unit 67 issues a label sheet piece from the issue port 83. For example, a label in a seal form is issued for a delivery company to receive a payment from a customer and attach it to a package of a package. For example, a seal-type postage stamp or a stamp attached to an envelope or the like instead of a stamp fee or a postage is issued.

  Subsequently, the controller 82 causes the transport mechanism 21 to transport the cut seal paper 12 in the reverse direction (back feed). The controller 82 returns the sticker sheet 12 by a predetermined amount by the sensor 73 and stops it again at the standby position on the sheet feeding path 18. Friction resistance at the time of sliding contact between the PTFE coating layer 27 and the sealing paper 12 by the PTFE coating layer 27 on the upper surface of the sheet material on the lower side of each of the paper feed path 17, the paper transport path 24 and the final stage paper transport path 66. The power is reduced. The PTFE coating layer 27 conveys the paper while exhibiting wear resistance.

  Next, the thermal printer 10 prints on the thermal paper 11. The controller 82 pulls out the thermal paper 11 to the paper transport path 24 via the junction 20 by the forward rotation of the transport mechanism 21. The transport mechanism 21 sends the thermal paper 11 to the printing unit 22 with the heat sensitive layer facing upward. When the controller 82 detects that the print start position of the thermal paper 11 has reached the thermal head 43, it causes the printing unit 22 to start printing. The controller 82 prints transaction result information and the like on the thermal paper 11. The controller 82 transports the thermal paper 11 by a specified amount after printing. The controller 82 separates one receipt piece from the thermal paper 11 by the cutter 65. The transport unit 67 issues a receipt piece from the issue port 83. A receipt printed with transaction result information is issued. The controller 82 conveys the cut thermal paper 11 in the reverse direction. The controller 82 returns the thermal paper 11 by a specified amount and stops it again at the standby position on the paper feed path 17.

  Further, it is assumed that the sensor 73 continues to output a paper presence signal while the controller 82 causes the transport mechanism 21 to execute a forward / reverse transport or stop sequence. Generates an interrupt for controller 82 jam processing. For example, when the cutting edge portion of the thermal paper 11 or the sticker paper 12 is raised, the crushing is caught on the unevenness of the conveying surface, and a jam occurs. The thermal printer 10 secures a space for inserting a finger between the upper plates 18a, 18a arranged on the left and right, and flips the dual feeder unit 80 upward. A jam is removed by putting a finger into this space. This space will be described by comparing the thermal printer 10 with a comparative example with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the dual feeder unit 80 including a pair of upper plates 18a and 18a. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an equivalent portion of the thermal printer according to the comparative example. In FIG. 8, the above-described symbols represent the same elements. In FIG. 9, the above-described symbols represent the equivalent elements. The guide plate 101 in FIG. 9 is an upper paper guide. Unlike the upper plates 18a and 18a of FIG. 8, the guide plate 101 is a single plate material that is not divided into left and right. Assume that a jam occurs inside the thermal printer according to the comparative example while printing is issued, and the label paper is peeled off from the release paper. The adhesive surface of the label paper may stick to the thermal head, platen roller, or paper transport path. Alternatively, the adhesive may stick to the thermal head, the platen roller, or the paper conveyance path by the adhesive that protrudes from the side of the thin paper of the label paper. In the thermal printer according to the comparative example, even if the guide plate 101 is provided with the opening 100, the guide plate 101 blocks most of the conveyance path, and there is not enough space for a finger to take label paper. The guide plate 101 and the paper feed unit including the guide plate 101 are fixed to the housing 16. It is very difficult to remove jams and clean them. When the sticker sheet 12 with release paper is used, it is important for the user that the printer body has a mechanism that can easily release a jam during printing.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the thermal printer 10 can lift the dual feeder unit 80 upward with the bearing mechanism 30 as a fulcrum, and a space for inserting a finger is secured. It is possible to make contact with many of the sheet conveyance paths 24 without the finger being blocked. The upper plate 18a of the paper feed path 18 can be exposed. The through hole 39 can secure a space for a finger to enter. Even if the label paper is peeled off from the sticker paper 12 or a jam occurs, a space for removing the label paper or removing the jam is generated, and it becomes easy to perform the jam removal and cleaning work.

  FIG. 10B is a top view of the transport portion of the thermal printer according to the comparative example. In the figure, the above-described symbols represent the equivalent elements. The transport unit 120 is provided with a single guide plate 121 as an upper paper guide. In the thermal printer according to the comparative example, when the conveyance path is blocked by the guide plate 121 and a jam occurs, the label paper cannot be taken out. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, since the pair of guide portions 77 and 77 are opposed to each other with the paper passage portion as an upper paper guide, the label paper should be Even if it sticks to 78, the label paper can be removed.

  In this way, PTFE coating is applied to the paper feed path 18 and the paper transport path 24 so that the sticker paper 12 does not stick to these transport surfaces. Therefore, even if a jam occurs inside the thermal printer 10, the sticker paper 12 can be easily removed. Can be removed. You can quickly return to normal printing.

  Since the paper feeding path 18 is divided into the left and right upper plates 18a, 18a and a work space is provided to easily remove the printing medium, a maintenance access area for removing stamp paper and label paper can be provided. Even when a jam occurs in the paper transport path 24 during printing in the dual feeder unit 80 and the transport unit 67, it is possible to quickly return to normal printing during printing.

  Even when a jam occurs during printing and the print medium sticks to the transport surface (paper path surface) of the paper feed path 17 or the paper transport path 24, the dual feeder unit 80 opens the jammed paper by 45 degrees or more. A working space can be created for removal. The swing angle is determined by whether or not the dual feeder unit 80 and the housing 16 are in contact with each other. Furthermore, this swing angle is a value determined by the relationship between the dual feeder unit 80, the structure of the casing 16, and the shape of the paper transport path 24, and can be wider or narrower than 45 degrees. The print medium can be easily removed regardless of which swing angle is employed. By rotating the dual feeder unit 80, even if stamp paper or label paper adheres to the printing unit 23, a finger for removing the stamp paper or label paper is inserted into the stamp paper or label paper. Can be easily accessed.

  When a jam occurs in the closed paper feeding space or conveyance space, it is difficult to remove the sticker sheet with the adhesive from these spaces. A transport mechanism 21, a gear train, and printing units 22 and 23 are provided around the paper transport path 24, and the housing 16 has a large opening for removing the sealed paper in a clogged state. I can't. In the thermal printer according to the comparative example, in order to remove the sticker sheets stacked from a narrow space, in the worst case, it is necessary to disassemble and open the paper feed unit. According to the thermal printer 10, such a problem can be prevented from occurring.

  Further, in the comparative example, even when a situation where jam does not occur continues, if the adhesive adheres to the conveyance surface or wall surface, a contact resistance due to friction acts between the seal paper and the conveyance path. The speed at which the sticker paper is fed and the speed at which it is conveyed become slower than the set value. According to the thermal printer 10, the amount of adhesion can be reduced by PTFE coating, and contact resistance can be prevented from being substantially generated.

(First modification)
In the thermal printer according to the embodiment, as a coating material, for example, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyacetal (POM), polyamide (PA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamide imide (PAI), polyether imide (PEI) , Polyimide (PI), phenol resin (PF), or the like may be used. By coating these polyetheretherketone and the like, low friction and wear resistance can be realized.

(Second modification)
In the above-described embodiment and the first modification, the transport surfaces of the paper feed paths 17 and 18, the paper transport path 24, and the plate 68 are coated with the coating layer 27. A surface finishing treatment may be applied to the contacting part.

  FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example of a texture pattern. In the thermal printer according to the embodiment, for example, the paper feeding surface and the conveying surface may be subjected to a texture treatment using a texture pattern 84 having a pear (pear) background pattern. By this embossing process, the contact resistance between the conveyance surface, the paper feed path surface, and the adhesive surface of the seal paper 12 is reduced. The embossing process may be formed on guide wall surfaces provided at both ends of the paper transport path 24 in the transport path width direction and guide wall surfaces provided at both ends of the paper feed path 18 in the width direction. The guide wall surface reduces the amount of adhesion due to the adhesive protruding from the sheet paper 12.

  FIG. 11B shows an example of a rib pattern. In the thermal printer according to the embodiment, the rib pattern 85 may be formed on the transport surface and the paper feed path surface by making the rib ridges slender vertically and flattening the others. The wrinkle pattern and rib pattern can be variously changed.

  FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating an example of a pattern having both a texture and a rib. The thermal printer according to the embodiment includes a pattern 86 that combines two types of ribs in which rib ridges cross each other in an oblique manner, and a texture treatment applied to the ridge portions of these ribs. It may be formed on the road surface.

  Further, the processing of FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C may be processed into the sheet portion 78 of the transport portion 67.

(Other)
In the above embodiment, the thermal heads 43 and 50 are provided for the two types of thermal layers of the thermal paper 11 and the sticker paper 12, respectively. However, the thermal printer according to the embodiment uses a single thermal head to perform thermal printing. Heat can be applied to both the heat-sensitive layers of the paper 11 and the sticker paper 12. As an example, the thermal head is urged from the upper side to the lower side to provide a platen roller below the thermal head, and the printing surface of the thermal paper 11 and the printing surface of the seal paper 12 are the same surface, for example, the lower surface The contact surface of the thermal paper 11 with respect to the core portion is changed to the opposite side to the above example. By making the heat-sensitive layer of the thermal paper 11 and the heat-sensitive layer of the sealing paper 12 face each other with respect to a single thermal head, it becomes possible to issue receipt paper and stamp / label paper with one thermal head and a platen roller. .

  In addition, the thermal printer according to the embodiment can use a sticker sheet in which an adhesive is attached to both sides and the adhesive region is exposed, such as a linerless label without release paper. In this case, the lower surface of the upper plate 18a of the paper feed path 18 is also subjected to an adhesive amount reduction process such as PTFE coating, embossing or ribbed. The above adhesive amount reduction processing may be performed on the guide wall surfaces on both sides in the conveyance path direction so that the label does not stick due to the adhesive protruding from the side of the thin sheet of the linerless label.

  Further, the thermal printer according to the embodiment can use an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) label as a printing medium instead of the sticker sheet 12.

  It should be noted that the above embodiment is not limited as it is, and the constituent elements can be modified and embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention in the implementation stage. For example, the plate length along the conveying direction of the upper and lower plate members constituting the sheet feeding paths 17 and 18 and the sheet conveying path 24 shown in each drawing, the degree of bending, or the magnitude of the inclination can be variously changed. The shape of the housing 16, the diameters and shaft positions of the shafts and rollers, the diameters and shaft positions of the pulleys, the arrangement of the components of the transport mechanism, and the like are merely examples, and these can be variously modified. The superiority of the present embodiment is not spoiled at all with respect to the embodiment that is simply implemented by changing the paper feed paths 17 and 18, the paper transport path 24, the housing shape and the motor position.

  The thermal printer according to the embodiment uses stickers or decals that are printed on the surface of a sheet of paper or synthetic resin as a sticker sheet and are coated with an adhesive on the back side, or a thin line or strip as a sticker sheet The tape may be used. The superiority of the present embodiment is not impaired even with respect to an embodiment that is carried out only by using a print-receiving piece that is merely a difference in names or a difference in paper width.

  Although several embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Thermal printer, 11 ... Thermal paper, 12 ... Sticker paper (printing medium), 13 ... Storage part (1st storage part), 14 ... Storage part (2nd storage part), 15 ... Discharge port, 16 ... Case: 17 ... paper feed path (first paper feed path), 17a ... upper plate, 17b ... lower plate, 18 ... paper feed path (second paper feed path), 18a ... upper plate, 18b ... lower plate , 19 ... paper feeding section, 20 ... merging section, 21 ... transport mechanism, 22, 23 ... printing section, 24 ... paper transport path, 25 ... shaft section, 26 ... core section, 27 ... PTFE coating layer, 28 ... frame, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 29 ... Plate piece, 30 ... Bearing mechanism, 31 ... Notch, 32 ... Shaft, 33 ... Case, 34 ... Upper sheet conveyance path, 35 ... Motor, 36 ... Pinch roller, 37 ... Drive roller, 38 ... Guide roller, 39 ... through hole, 40 ... pinch roller, 41 ... drive roller, 42 ... guide , 43 ... thermal head, 44 ... platen roller, 45 ... biasing means, 46 ... pedestal, 47, 48 ... gear, 49 ... motor, 50 ... thermal head, 51 ... platen roller, 52 ... biasing means, 53 ... Pedestal, 54 ... Gear, 55 ... Heat sink, 56 ... Intermediate sheet conveying path, 57 ... Lower sheet conveying path, 58,59 ... Upper plate, 60 ... Lower plate, 61 ... Upper plate, 62 ... Lower plate, 63 ... Upper Plate, 64 ... Lower plate, 65 ... Cutter, 66 ... Final stage paper conveyance path, 66a ... Upper plate, 66b ... Lower plate, 67 ... Transport part, 68 ... Plate, 69 ... Belt, 70 ... Drive roller, 71 ... Follower roller, 72 ... motor, 73 ... sensor, 74 ... shaft, 75 ... notch, 76 ... frame, 77 ... guide portion, 78 ... sheet portion, 79 ... side plate, 80 ... dual feeder unit (paper feed unit), 81 ... Sh Le sheet printing unit, 82 ... controller, 83 ... issue port, 84 ... grain pattern, 85 ... rib pattern, 86 ... pattern.

Claims (10)

A first storage section of thermal paper, a second storage section of a print medium coated with an adhesive on at least one of the front and back surfaces, and a housing having a discharge port through which these thermal paper and print medium are discharged When,
A paper feed unit having a first paper feed path through which the thermal paper from the first storage part of the housing passes and a second paper feed path through which the print medium from the second storage part passes. When,
A merging unit that is formed in the sheet feeding unit and that feeds the thermal paper or the printing medium from the merging position of the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path to the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction;
A transport mechanism for transporting the thermal paper or the print medium in the paper transport direction from the junction to the discharge port, and transporting in the opposite direction;
At least one printing unit for printing on the thermal paper and the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism;
A sheet conveyance path provided between the printing unit and the merging unit, and a common sheet conveyance path between the thermal sheet and the printing medium;
The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive amount reduction process for reducing an adhesive amount of the adhesive is applied to the paper conveyance path and the second paper supply path of the paper supply unit.   The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion amount reducing process is a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating.   The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion amount reduction process is a textured process formed on a portion of the print medium facing the adhesive surface.   The adhesion amount reducing process is a texture processing formed on a guide wall surface provided at an end portion of the paper transport path in the transport path width direction or an end section of the second paper feed path in the width direction. The thermal printer according to claim 3.   The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion amount reducing process is a plurality of ribs spaced apart from each other. The printing medium comprises release paper, the adhesive layer on one side of either side of the release paper, and the print-receiving paper temporarily attached on the one side of the release paper via this layer;
The thermal printer according to claim 2, wherein the adhesion amount reducing process is performed on at least the printing paper side of a conveyance surface of the sheet conveyance path. The paper feeding unit has a mechanism that takes a position where the paper feeding unit is attached to the housing and a position where the paper feeding unit is raised upward with an inclination angle from the housing,
2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism moves the sheet feeding unit upward to expose each sheet feeding path and the sheet conveying path, thereby generating a space for removing a jam of the printing medium. Thermal printer.   The first paper feed path and the second paper feed path of the paper feed unit, the transport mechanism, and the upper paper transport path among the paper transport paths configured to be divided into a plurality of parts The thermal printer according to claim 7, wherein the paper feeding unit is integrated to form a paper feeding unit, and the paper feeding unit is supported by the housing.   2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein each of the sheet feeding units includes a paper guide disposed on the left and right of the sheet conveying direction above the sheet conveying path. A sheet portion continuous with the paper conveyance path downstream of the discharge port and having a conveyance surface for the thermal paper or the print medium;
An endless belt that rotates while pressing the thermal paper or the printing medium against the conveying surface of the sheet portion by a belt surface;
A belt driving mechanism that includes a roller that applies a driving force to the belt and a driven roller that causes the belt to travel in a direction in which the thermal paper or the printing medium is printed out of the housing. ,
The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion amount reduction process is performed on the conveyance surface of the sheet portion.