JP6691189B2 - Roll paper accommodation structure and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a roll paper accommodation structure and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, it is known to provide a roller that contacts the roll paper in the storage unit so as not to impede the rotation of the roll paper stored in the storage unit (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a rotatable holding roller is provided at a position in front of the roll paper accommodation unit and in contact with the roll paper. Thus, the paper supplied from the roll paper can be smoothly pulled out and conveyed.

JP, 2007-76280, A

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when the roll paper is fed, due to friction between the rotating roll paper and the bottom plate portion that supports the roll paper, the impact or vibration of rolling due to the rotation of the roll paper is caused. There is a problem in that it cannot be suppressed.

  Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a roll paper accommodation structure capable of suppressing the impact and vibration caused by rolling of the roll paper when the roll paper is fed.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the roll paper accommodation structure of the present invention is such that the roll paper is rolled in a rolling direction, which is a direction in which the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper abuts on the bottom surface of the accommodation portion and the accommodated roll paper rolls. A front wall that is provided on the downstream side of the roll paper and that supports the roll paper, an abutting portion that is abutted on the front wall and that can abut the roll paper, and the abutting portion is the rolling direction. An urging member capable of urging in the opposite direction, wherein the abutting portion includes a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion disposed below the first abutting portion , Inclining the arm portion arranged between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the arm portion connecting the first contact portion and the second contact portion, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion. And a supporting portion that is urged by the urging member and that is supported by the urging member .

  The roll paper accommodation structure of the present invention configured as described above can suppress the impact and vibration of rolling due to the rotation of the roll paper when the roll paper is fed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the front cover of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment is in the closed position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the front cover of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment is in the open position. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the thermal printer according to the first exemplary embodiment with the front cover in a closed position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a front cover according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a damper member and its periphery according to the first embodiment. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a front cover of Example 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a damper member of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the damper member of the first embodiment with respect to roll paper having a large roll diameter. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the damper member of the first embodiment with respect to roll paper having a large roll diameter. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an operation of the damper member of the first embodiment with respect to roll paper having a small roll diameter. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a damper member of Example 2. FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for realizing a roll paper accommodation structure and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on Embodiment 1 shown in the drawings.

  The roll paper accommodation structure and the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment are applied to a thermal type thermal printer that prints on thermal paper.

[Configuration of thermal printer]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front cover of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment is in a closed position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the front cover of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment is in the open position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment with the front cover in the closed position. The configuration of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  Note that the width direction of the thermal printer 1 is the width direction X, the front-back direction of the thermal printer 1 is the front-back direction Y, and the vertical direction of the thermal printer 1 is the vertical direction Z. In the front-rear direction Y, the front direction is the front direction F and the rear direction is the rear direction B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal printer 1 as an image forming apparatus has a casing 1A including a casing main body 2 and a front cover 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing body 2 is formed in a box shape having an opening 2a on the front side of the thermal printer 1. The front cover 3 is pivotally supported on the lower edge of the opening 2a and is rotatable between a closed position that closes the opening 2a and an open position that opens the opening 2a. The front cover 3 is opened from the erected state in the front direction F to the open position, and is erected from the erected state to the closed position in the front direction F to be opened and closed.

  Inside the housing body 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a housing portion 10 and a thermal head unit 5 are provided.

  The storage section 10 is composed of a bottom partition section 11, a rear partition section 12, and an upper partition section 13, and can accommodate the roll paper R. The roll paper R is a continuous continuous paper wound in a roll shape.

  The bottom partition portion 11 is formed in the vicinity of the bottom surface inside the housing main body 2 with a slope inclined downward toward the front direction F of the thermal printer 1. The rear partition 12 is formed so as to stand upright from the rear end of the bottom partition 11. The upper partition portion 13 is formed to extend from the upper end of the rear partition portion 12 in the front direction F.

  The thermal head unit 5 is attached inside the housing main body 2. When the front cover 3 is in the closed position, the platen roller 4 attached to the front cover 3 is arranged so as to face the thermal head unit 5. The thermal head unit 5 performs thermal printing on the recording paper P in a state in which the thermal head unit 5 is biased in the direction in which it contacts the platen roller 4.

  The platen roller 4 and the front wall 15 are attached to the back surface of the front cover 3. The platen roller 4 is connected to a motor (not shown) and serves as a paper feed roller that conveys the recording paper P fed from the roll paper R to the discharge port 6.

  The front wall 15 supports the roll paper R stored in the storage unit 10 from the front side when the front cover 3 is in the closed position. That is, the front wall 15 plays a role of preventing the roll paper R from rolling in the rolling direction E of the roll paper R. The rolling direction E is a direction in which the roll paper R is about to move (leftward in FIG. 3) when the roll paper R is rotated by the paper feed from the roll paper R.

  The space surrounded by the front wall 15, the bottom partition part 11, the rear partition part 12, and the upper partition part 13 constitutes an accommodation space S for accommodating the roll paper R.

  In the thermal printer 1 thus configured, the recording paper P is fed out from the roll paper R by the rotation of the platen roller 4. The recording paper P fed from the roll paper R is conveyed in the conveyance direction G, and thermal printing is performed by the thermal head unit 5. The recording paper P on which the thermal printing has been performed is discharged from the discharge port 6.

[Composition of damper member and surroundings]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the front cover 3 of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the damper member 20 and its periphery according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the front cover 3 of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the damper member 20 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the damper member and its surroundings according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

  The damper member 20 is attached to the front wall 15 attached to the back surface of the front cover 3, and urges the roll paper R in the direction opposite to the rolling direction E. That is, the damper member 20 biases the roll paper R in the rearward direction B from the front side of the roll paper R.

(Structure of front wall)
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the front wall 15 includes a front wall body 15a and front wall side portions 15b and 15c provided at both ends of the front wall body 15a in the width direction X.

  The front wall body 15a is formed in an arcuate cross section so as to substantially follow the shape of the roll paper R having the largest diameter. An opening 15d is formed in the front wall body 15a. The opening 15d is formed substantially in the center of the front wall body 15a in the vertical direction Z. A part of the damper member 20 is inserted into the opening 15d.

  The front wall side portions 15b and 15c include a projecting portion 15e projecting in the front direction F, a first cutout portion 15h located above the projecting portion 15e, and a second cutout portion located below the projecting portion 15e. And a part 15i.

  The projecting portion 15e is provided in the approximate center of the opening 15d in the vertical direction Z. A substantially U-shaped notch 15f is provided at the tip of the protrusion 15e. At the base end of the protruding portion 15e, there is a hooking portion 15g for hooking one end 30a of the biasing member 30 described later.

  The first cutout portion 15h is provided above the protruding portion 15e. The first cutout portion 15h is formed in a rectangular cross section so as to open in the front direction F.

  The second cutout portion 15i is provided below the protruding portion 15e. The second cutout portion 15i is formed in a rectangular cross section so as to open in the front direction F.

(Structure of damper member)
The damper member 20 is provided near the center of the front wall 15 in the vertical direction Z, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the damper member 20 includes an arm portion 23, a first contact portion 21 as a contact portion provided at an upper end of the arm portion 23, and a contact portion provided at a lower end of the arm portion 23. Second contact portion 22, a support portion 24 that supports the arm portion 23, a first convex portion 25 that can abut the first cutout portion 15h, and a first protrusion 25 that can abut the second cutout portion 15i. The second convex portion 26 and the biasing member 30 that biases the arm portion 23 in the rearward direction B are provided.

  The arm portion 23 is formed in a plate shape extending in the width direction X. The arm portion 23 has an upper end located in the rearward direction B from the lower end, and is provided in an inclined posture S1.

  The first contact portion 21 is provided on the upper end of the arm portion 23. The first contact portion 21 is formed of a roller to reduce the sliding resistance with the roll paper R, and contacts the roll paper R so as to be rotatable. A plurality of the first contact portions 21 are arranged in the width direction X. The first contact portion 21 is provided so that a part thereof projects in the rearward direction B from the opening 15d.

  The second contact portion 22 is provided at the lower end of the arm portion 23. The second contact portion 22 is formed of a roller to reduce the sliding resistance with the roll paper R, and contacts the roll paper R to be rotatable. A plurality of second contact portions 22 are arranged in the width direction X. The second contact portion 22 is provided so that a part thereof protrudes in the rearward direction B from the opening 15d.

  The support portion 24 is provided at the substantially center of the arm portion 23 in the vertical direction Z. The support portion 24 is pivotally supported by the arm support shaft 31. The arm support shaft 31 is supported by the cutout portion 15f. The cutout portion 15f is set so as to be substantially fitted to the arm support shaft 31 in the width in the Z direction. Therefore, the arm support shaft 31 can move in the front-rear direction Y along the cutout portion 15f, but cannot move in the vertical direction Z. The arm portion 23 is rotatable about the arm support shaft 31 via the support portion 24. That is, the arm portion 23 is tiltably supported by the support portion 24.

  The first convex portion 25 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and protrudes outward from both ends of the arm portion 23 in the width direction X. The first convex portion 25 is provided on the upper side of the arm portion 23 in the vertical direction Z. The first convex portion 25 can contact the first cutout portion 15h.

  The second convex portion 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and protrudes outward from both ends of the arm portion 23 in the width direction X. The second convex portion 26 is provided below the arm portion 23 in the vertical direction Z. The 2nd convex part 26 can contact | abut to the 2nd notch part 15i.

  The biasing member 30 is, for example, a tension spring. The biasing members 30 are provided near both sides in the width direction X of the arm portion 23. One end portion 30a of the biasing member 30 is formed in a hook shape and is hooked on the hook portion 15g. The other end 30b of the biasing member 30 is formed in a hook shape and hooked on the arm support shaft 31.

  As a result, the arm support shaft 31 is biased in the backward direction B. That is, the support portion 24 is biased by the biasing member 30 via the arm support shaft 31. In other words, the damper member 20 is biased in the rearward direction B.

[Operation of damper member]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the damper member 20 according to the first embodiment with respect to roll paper having a large roll diameter. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the damper member 20 according to the first embodiment with respect to roll paper having a large roll diameter. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the damper member 20 of the first embodiment with respect to roll paper having a small roll diameter. Hereinafter, the operation of the damper member 20 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

(Roll paper with large roll diameter)
It is assumed that the storage unit 10 stores roll paper R1 having a large roll diameter D1. In this case, when the platen roller 4 rotates and the roll paper R1 starts to feed the recording paper P, the roll paper R1 tries to move in the rolling direction E. As shown in FIG. 8, since the roll paper R1 is in contact with the first contact portion 21, pushing the first contact portion 21 in the forward direction F causes the biasing member 30 to move in the rearward direction B. Biasing force works.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the arm portion 23 rotates about the second convex portion 26 that is in contact with the second cutout portion 15i as a fulcrum. Then, the arm portion 23 changes from the inclined posture S1 in which the upper end is slightly inclined in the rearward direction B to the vertical posture S2 in which it is vertical.

  In the vertical posture S2, the roll paper R1 contacts the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22. Then, the roll paper R1 pushes the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 in the forward direction F, but the biasing force of the biasing member 30 acts in the backward direction B.

  As a result, the damper member 20 suppresses rolling impact and vibration associated with the rotation of the roll paper R1.

(Roll paper with small roll diameter)
It is assumed that the accommodation unit 10 accommodates roll paper R2 having a roll diameter D2 smaller than the roll diameter D1. In this case, when the platen roller 4 rotates and the roll paper R2 starts feeding the recording paper P, the roll paper R2 tends to move in the rolling direction E. Since the roll paper R2 is in contact with the second contact portion 22, the second contact portion 22 is pushed in the forward direction F against the biasing force of the biasing member 30 in the rearward direction B.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the arm portion 23 rotates about the first convex portion 25 that is in contact with the first cutout portion 15h as a fulcrum. Then, the arm portion 23 changes from the inclined posture S1 in which the upper end is slightly inclined in the rearward direction B to the second inclined posture S3 in which the upper end is further inclined.

  Then, the roll paper R2 pushes the second contact portion 22 in the forward direction F, but the biasing force of the biasing member 30 acts in the backward direction B.

  As a result, the damper member 20 suppresses rolling impact and vibration associated with the rotation of the roll paper R2.

[Operation of Roll Paper Storage Structure and Image Forming Apparatus]
The operation of the roll paper accommodation structure and the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus (thermal printer 1) according to the first exemplary embodiment includes a front wall, which is provided on the downstream side of the roll paper R in the rolling direction E of the roll paper R stored in the storage unit 10 and supports the roll paper R. 15, a contact portion (first contact portion 21, second contact portion 22) disposed on the front wall 15 and capable of contacting the roll paper R, and a contact portion (first contact portion 21, And a biasing member 30 that can bias the second contact portion 22) in the direction opposite to the rolling direction E (FIG. 8).

  As a result, when the roll paper R moves in the rolling direction E, the impact that collides with the front wall 15 is mitigated. Therefore, the vibration generated by the collision and the frictional force between the roll paper R and the front wall 15 can be reduced, and an excessive load can be prevented from being applied to the paper feed roller (platen roller 4). As a result, it is possible to prevent the print from being disturbed.

  In the image forming apparatus (thermal printer 1) of the first embodiment, the contact portion includes the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 disposed below the first contact portion 21 ( (Figure 8).

  As a result, the roll paper R1 having a large roll diameter D1 can be brought into contact with the first contact portion 21, and the roll paper R2 having a small roll diameter D2 can be brought into contact with the second contact portion 22. Therefore, for the roll papers R1 and R2 having different roll diameters, one damper member 20 can prevent the print disorder.

  In the image forming apparatus (thermal printer 1) of the first embodiment, the arm portion 23 that connects the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 and the biasing force that supports the arm portion 23 so as to be tiltable. And a support portion 24 that is biased by the member 30 (FIG. 8).

  As a result, with respect to the roll paper R1 having a large roll diameter D1, the arm portion 23 can be tilted and brought into contact with the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22. Therefore, a load can be stably applied to the roll paper R1 having a large roll diameter D1.

  In the image forming apparatus (thermal printer 1) of the first embodiment, the contact portions (first contact portion 21, second contact portion 22) are rollers (FIG. 7).

  Thereby, when the roll paper R rotates, the friction between the roll paper R and the contact portions (the first contact portion 21, the second contact portion 22) can be reduced. Therefore, the print quality can be improved.

  In the image forming apparatus (thermal printer 1) of the first embodiment, the front wall 15 is formed on the front cover 3 that can be opened and closed in the front direction F (FIG. 2).

  By the way, the abutting portions (the first abutting portion 21 and the second abutting portion 22) are biased by the biasing member 30 and project from the front wall body 15a. However, when the front cover 3 is opened and a new roll paper R is stored in the storage portion 10, the contact portions (the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22) are moved forward by the weight of the roll paper R. It sinks to the wall body 15a side and retracts. Therefore, the abutting portions (the first abutting portion 21 and the second abutting portion 22) do not get in the way and the roll paper R can be easily set. As a result, the size of the device is reduced by a simple structure in which the abutting portions (the first abutting portion 21 and the second abutting portion 22) are urged by the urging member 30 so as to protrude from the front wall body 15a. can do.

  The roll paper accommodation structure and the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment are different from the roll paper accommodation structure and the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment in that the positions of the supporting portions of the arm portions are different.

[Structure of roll paper storage structure]
FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the structure of the damper member of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the damper member according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that description of the same or equivalent parts as the contents described in the above embodiment will be made using the same terms or the same reference numerals.

  The support portion 124 of the damper member 120 according to the second embodiment is provided above the center of the arm portion 23 in the vertical direction Z. In other words, the support portion 124 is provided at a position in the vertical direction Z at a distance L1 from the first contact portion 21 and a distance L2 longer than the distance L1 from the second contact portion 22.

[Operation of Roll Paper Storage Structure and Image Forming Apparatus]
The operation of the roll paper accommodation structure and the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment will be described. In the image forming apparatus (thermal printer 1) of the second embodiment, the support portion 124 is provided above the center of the arm portion 23 (FIG. 11).

  By the way, when the printing speed is constant, the impact force due to the rolling of the roll paper R becomes stronger as the roll diameter of the roll paper R becomes larger (as the mass increases). Therefore, when the roll diameter of the roll paper R is large, a large impact can be absorbed by increasing the biasing force of the first contact portion 21 that abuts on the roll paper R and absorbs the impact. Further, when the roll diameter of the roll paper R becomes smaller, the impact force due to the rolling of the roll paper R becomes weaker. Therefore, when the roll diameter of the roll paper R is small, the second contact portion 22 that abuts and absorbs the impact. The biasing force may be weaker than the biasing force of the first contact portion 21.

  That is, by making the biasing force of the first contact portion 21 larger than the biasing force of the second contact portion 22, it is possible to obtain a shock absorbing force suitable for the size of the roll paper R.

  The rest of the configuration, functions and effects are substantially the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention has been described above based on the first and second embodiments. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these examples, and design changes and additions are allowed without departing from the gist of the invention according to each claim of the claims.

  In the first and second embodiments, the arm portion 23 is an example in which the arm support shaft 31 is rotatable about the center axis. However, the arm portion may be fixed to the arm support shaft.

  In the first and second embodiments, the contact portions are the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22. However, the number of contact portions may be one, or three or more.

  In the first and second embodiments, the biasing member 30 is a compression spring. However, the urging member is not limited to this mode, and may be any member that urges the arm support shaft in the rearward direction B.

  In the first and second embodiments, the first abutting portion 21 and the second abutting portion 22 are configured as rollers. However, the first contact portion and the second contact portion are not limited to this aspect, and for example, the contact portion with the roll paper may be a curved surface having an arcuate cross section.

  In the first and second embodiments, the thermal printer 1 includes the front cover 3 whose front side is open. However, the thermal printer may include an upper cover that opens on the upper side.

  In the first and second embodiments, the present invention is applied to the roll paper accommodation structure in which the roll paper R rolls in the forward direction F. However, the present invention can also be applied to a roll paper accommodation structure in which the roll paper rolls in the backward direction B.

  In the first and second embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a thermal type thermal printer that prints on thermal paper is shown. However, the present invention can be applied to a thermal printer using an ink ribbon. Further, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as an impact printer, a laser printer, an inkjet printer, a plotter, a word processor, a facsimile, a copying machine, or a composite machine having two or more of these functions. .

1 Thermal printer (an example of image forming device)
3 Front cover 4 Support part 10 Storage part 15 Front wall 21 1st contact part (an example of contact part)
22 2nd contact part (an example of contact part)
23 Arm part 30 Biasing member E Rolling direction R Roll paper

Claims (1)

In the rolling direction, which is the rolling direction of the rolled paper stored in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rolled paper on the bottom surface of the storage portion, provided on the downstream side of the rolled paper, and a front wall that supports the rolled paper. ,
An abutting portion arranged on the front wall, which can abut the roll paper,
A biasing member capable of biasing the contact portion in a direction opposite to the rolling direction,
The contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion arranged below the first contact portion ,
An arm portion connecting between the first contact portion and the second contact portion,
A support portion that is disposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion and that tiltably supports the arm portion and that is biased by the biasing member. The roll paper storage structure.