JP6908893B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints using a thermal head.

There is known a printing apparatus capable of printing with a thermal head while transporting a print medium in the forward feed direction and transporting the print medium in the reverse feed direction opposite to the forward feed direction. Patent Document 1 discloses a printer provided with a presser roller, a bearing roller, and a rod on the upstream side of the print head and the platen. The presser roller, the bearing roller, and the rod stabilize the posture of the label paper on the upstream side of the print head and the platen when the label paper is conveyed in the reverse feed direction, and prevent the label paper from being caught.

JP-A-2015-199212

When the print medium is conveyed in the reverse feed direction, the print medium may be caught on the holding portion holding the thermal head or the end face of the thermal head on the downstream side of the thermal head and the platen roller. In particular, when a die-cut label in which the label is divided is used as the print medium, there is a high possibility that the label will be caught on the holding portion or the end face of the thermal head.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of suppressing the print medium from being caught in the holding portion or the thermal head on the downstream side of the thermal head and the platen roller when the print medium is conveyed in the reverse feed direction. be.

In the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing medium is placed between a head holding portion that holds a thermal head that prints on a printing medium having a heat-sensitive label attached to a release paper, and the thermal head. A first roller that can be pinched and can rotate about the first axis, and a set roller provided on the downstream side of the first roller and the head holding portion in the transport direction of the print medium. It has a second roller and a third roller that face each other, and when the print medium is sandwiched between the second roller and the third roller and each of them rotates, the upstream side in the transport direction or the third roller. The set roller capable of transporting the print medium is provided on the downstream side, and the transport path of the print medium conveyed to the upstream side by the set roller extends from the set roller in a predetermined traveling direction, and the said. The traveling direction is inclined toward the first axis side with respect to the direction along the first virtual plane in contact with the first roller at the position closest to the thermal head among the first rollers, and the traveling direction of the second roller among the most proximate position to the third roller, than the first imaginary plane being disposed on the first shaft side, characterized in Rukoto.

The printing apparatus can convey the printing medium to the upstream side and the downstream side according to the rotation of the second roller and the third roller of the set roller. When the print medium is conveyed upstream by the assembly roller, the transfer path extends from the assembly roller in the traveling direction inclined toward the first axis side with respect to the first virtual plane. In this case, the print medium is in a state of being bent toward the first axis of the first roller with respect to the head holding portion. That is, the print medium bends in a direction away from the head holding portion and extends from the assembled roller, curves and extends toward the head holding portion, and reaches a portion between the first roller and the thermal head. In this case, it is possible to prevent the print medium from being caught in the head holding portion on the downstream side of the thermal head and the first roller in the process of transporting the print medium to the upstream side.
In the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the printing medium is placed between the head holding portion that holds the thermal head that prints on the printing medium on which the heat-sensitive label is affixed to the release paper, and the thermal head. A first roller that can be pinched and can rotate about the first axis, and a set roller provided on the downstream side of the first roller and the head holding portion in the transport direction of the print medium. It has a second roller and a third roller that face each other, and when the print medium is sandwiched between the second roller and the third roller and each of them rotates, the upstream side in the transport direction or the third roller. The set roller capable of transporting the print medium is provided on the downstream side, and the transfer path of the print medium conveyed to the upstream side by the set roller extends from the set roller in a predetermined traveling direction, and the said. The traveling direction is inclined toward the first axis side with respect to the direction along the first virtual plane in contact with the first roller at the position closest to the thermal head among the first rollers, and the assembled roller is described as described above. A guiding member that guides the printing medium in the traveling direction toward the upstream side, and is the first roller, between the first roller and the head holding portion, and the assembled roller, and from the first virtual plane. The guide member is provided on the shaft side and is guided by contacting with the print medium from a side opposite to the first shaft side. When the set roller comes into contact with the print medium from the side opposite to the first axis side on the first axis side of the first virtual plane and the set roller conveys the print medium to the downstream side, it is separated from the print medium. It is characterized by doing.
In the printing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the printing medium is placed between the head holding portion that holds the thermal head that prints on the printing medium on which the heat-sensitive label is affixed to the release paper, and the thermal head. A first roller that can be pinched and can rotate about the first axis, and a set roller provided on the downstream side of the first roller and the head holding portion in the transport direction of the print medium. It has a second roller and a third roller that face each other, and when the print medium is sandwiched between the second roller and the third roller and each of them rotates, the upstream side in the transport direction or the third roller. The set roller capable of transporting the print medium is provided on the downstream side, and the transfer path of the print medium conveyed to the upstream side by the set roller extends from the set roller in a predetermined traveling direction, and the said. The traveling direction is inclined toward the first axis side with respect to the direction along the first virtual plane in contact with the first roller at the position closest to the thermal head among the first rollers, and the first roller is inclined. The print medium can be conveyed to the upstream side or the downstream side according to the rotation with the print medium sandwiched between the thermal head and the thermal head, and the print medium can be conveyed by the rotation of the assembly roller. The speed is characterized in that it is higher than the transport speed of the print medium due to the rotation of the first roller.

It is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 1A. It is a perspective view of a roller 2, a head holder 3, a path member 4, and a pair of positioning portions 5. It is the figure which looked at the roller 2, the head holder 3, and a pair of positioning portions 5 from the lower side. It is a left side view of a roller 2, a head holder 3, a path member 4, and a pair of positioning portions 5. It is a figure which looked at the roller 2, the head holding part 3B, and a pair of positioning parts 5 from the upper side. It is sectional drawing which saw the AA line of FIG. 2 from the direction of an arrow. It is a figure which shows the mode that the head holding part 3B rotates between the 1st state S1 and the 2nd state S2. It is a left side view of a head holder 3, a path member 4, and a pair of positioning portions 5. It is a figure which shows the printing apparatus 1B in the 1st modification.

Hereinafter, the printing apparatus 1A according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the lower right side, the upper left side, the upper right side, the lower left side, the upper side, and the lower side of FIG. 1 are defined as the right side, the left side, the rear side, the front side, the upper side, and the lower side of the printing apparatus 1A, respectively.

<Overview of printing device 1A>
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1A includes a housing 10A, a cover 10B, a panel 10C, a plurality of keys 11, a plurality of LEDs 12, a discharge port 13, a tray 14, and the like. The housing 10A has a box shape in which the upper portion is open. The housing 10A has a substantially rectangular shape in front view and plan view. The cover 10B is rotatably supported at the rear of the housing 10A. The cover 10B opens and closes the housing 10A by rotating the front end side up and down with a rotation shaft extending in the left-right direction as a fulcrum. The printing device 1A executes printing in a state where the upper portion of the housing 10A is covered with the cover 10B. The panel 10C is provided on the front side of the cover 10B. The plurality of keys 11 are provided on the panel 10C and are arranged in the left-right direction. The plurality of keys 11 receive an input operation for the printing device 1A. The plurality of LEDs 12 are provided behind the plurality of keys 11 in the panel 10C.

The discharge port 13 is provided on the front side of a plurality of keys 11 in the panel 10C. The discharge port 13 extends in the left-right direction and discharges the printed medium M (see FIG. 2 and the like) after printing. The tray 14 supports the printed print medium M after printing, which is discharged from the discharge port 13. As shown in FIG. 2, it is premised that the print medium M in the present embodiment is a so-called die-cut label in which a die-cut thermal label Ma is attached to a release paper Mb. The print medium M is housed inside the printing apparatus 1A in a wound state. Hereinafter, the printed medium M in a wound state is referred to as a “roll”. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1A further includes a roller 2, a head holder 3, a path member 4, a pair of positioning portions 5, and the like inside.

<Roller 2>
As shown in FIG. 2, the roller 2 includes a first roller 21 and a set roller 24. The assembly roller 24 has a second roller 22 and a third roller 23. The first roller 21, the second roller 22, and the third roller 23 each have a columnar shape. The first roller 21, the second roller 22, and the third roller 23 can rotate about an axis extending in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, the axis that is the center of rotation of the first roller 21 is referred to as "first axis 21X". The axis that serves as the center of rotation of the second roller 22 is referred to as "second axis 22X". The axis that serves as the center of rotation of the third roller 23 is referred to as the "third axis 23X".

The first roller 21 is arranged below the thermal head 36 (described later) shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The first roller 21 can convey the print medium M toward the front side or the rear side by sandwiching and rotating the print medium M with the thermal head 36. As shown in FIG. 4, the first roller 21 is closest to the thermal head 36 at the position N1 at the upper end of the peripheral surface, and comes into contact with the print medium M at the position N1 when the print medium M is conveyed. Hereinafter, the virtual plane in contact with the first roller 21 at the position N1 closest to the thermal head 36 among the peripheral surfaces of the first roller 21 is defined as the “virtual plane P11”. The virtual plane P11 extends horizontally at right angles to the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a columnar rotating shaft 21A extends outward from both left and right ends of the first roller 21. The rotating shaft 21A is rotatably supported by the housing 10A (see FIG. 1). The first roller 21 rotates by transmitting the driving force of a motor (not shown) to the rotating shaft 21A. At the time of printing by the thermal head 36, the print medium M is conveyed toward the front side by the first roller 21. Hereinafter, the upstream side and the downstream side are defined with reference to the transport direction of the print medium M at the time of printing. The front side of the printing device 1A corresponds to the downstream side in the transport direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as “downstream side”), and the rear side of the printing device 1A is referred to as the upstream side in the transport direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as “upstream side”). ) Corresponds.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the set roller 24 is provided on the downstream side of the first roller 21. The second roller 22 and the third roller 23 of the assembled roller 24 face each other in the vertical direction. The second roller 22 is arranged above the third roller 23. As shown in FIG. 4, the diameter of the third roller 23 is smaller than the diameter of the first roller 21. The diameter of the second roller 22 is smaller than the diameter of the third roller 23. The second shaft 22X of the second roller 22 is arranged on the rear side in the front-rear direction with respect to the third shaft 23X of the third roller 23. Hereinafter, a virtual plane extending through the second axis 22X and the third axis 23X is defined as a “virtual plane P13”. The virtual plane P13 is slightly inclined in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left side with respect to a virtual plane (referred to as “virtual plane Pi”) orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the rotation direction (clockwise direction / counterclockwise direction) is defined on the assumption that the state is viewed from the left side. In other words, the direction orthogonal to the virtual plane P13 is slightly inclined in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the virtual plane P11 orthogonal to the vertical direction.

The position N2 of the peripheral surface of the second roller 22 that intersects the virtual plane P13 corresponds to the position of the second roller 22 that is closest to the third roller 23. The position N3 of the peripheral surface of the third roller 23 that intersects the virtual plane P13 corresponds to the position of the third roller 23 that is closest to the second roller 22. The positions N2 and N3 are both arranged below the virtual plane P11, that is, on the same side as the side on which the first axis 21X of the first roller 21 is arranged with respect to the virtual plane P11.

As shown in FIG. 2, a columnar rotating shaft 22A extends outward from both left and right ends of the second roller 22. A columnar rotating shaft 23A extends outward from both left and right ends of the third roller 23. The rotating shafts 22A and 23A are rotatably supported by the housing 10A (see FIG. 1). The second roller 22 and the third roller 23 rotate by transmitting the driving force of the motor (not shown) to the rotating shafts 22A and 23A. The second roller 22 and the third roller 23 can convey the print medium M to the upstream side or the downstream side by sandwiching the print medium M between them and rotating each of them. As shown in FIG. 4, when the print medium M is conveyed, the second roller 22 comes into contact with the print medium M at position N2, and the third roller 23 comes into contact with the print medium M at position N3. Hereinafter, the virtual plane in contact with the second roller 22 at the position N2 closest to the third roller 23 among the peripheral surfaces of the second roller 22 is defined as the “virtual plane P12”. The virtual plane P12 is orthogonal to the virtual plane P13 passing through the second axis 22X and the third axis 23X, and is slightly inclined in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the virtual plane P11 orthogonal to the vertical direction.

The transfer speed of the print medium M conveyed to the upstream side or the downstream side by the rotation of the first roller 21 is referred to as “V1”. The transfer speed of the print medium M conveyed to the upstream side or the downstream side by the rotation of the assembly roller 24 is referred to as “V2”. In this case, in the printing apparatus 1A, the rotation speed of the roller 2 is adjusted by a motor (not shown) so that V2 becomes faster than V1. Hereinafter, the rotation direction of the roller 2 when the print medium M is conveyed toward the downstream side is referred to as a "forward rotation direction", and the rotation direction of the roller 2 when the print medium M is conveyed toward the upstream side. Is called the "reversal direction".

<Path member 4>
As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the path member 4 is provided on the rear side and the lower side of the first roller 21. The path member 4 has a bent plate shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the path member 4 has a first portion 41, a second portion 42, and a third portion 43. The first portion 41 extends from the rear end portion toward the front diagonally upper side. The second portion 42 bends from the front end portion of the first portion 41 and extends horizontally to the rear side of the first roller 21 to the front side. The third portion 43 bends downward from the front end portion of the second portion 42, and extends forward while curving downward along the peripheral surface of the first roller 21.

<Transfer route of print medium M>
The transport path of the print medium M transported by the roller 2 along the path member 4 extends in the front-rear direction while bending. The details are as follows. As shown in FIG. 4, the portion of the transport path of the print medium M on the upstream side of the first roller 21 is defined by the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 of the path member 4. The print medium M is fed toward the path member 4 from a roll housed in the rear side of the first portion 41 of the path member 4 inside the printing apparatus 1A. The transport path extends in the front-rear direction along the upper surfaces of the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 of the path member 4. The transport path bends at the connecting portion between the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 of the route member 4.

The portion of the transport path of the print medium M in the vicinity of the first roller 21 is defined as follows. The direction Y11 from the first roller 21 toward the upstream side along the transport path extends in the direction along the virtual plane P11 from the position N1 of the first roller 21 toward the upstream side. The direction Y11 corresponds to the traveling direction when the print medium M, which receives a force in response to the rotation of the first roller 21 in the reverse direction, is conveyed to the upstream side in the vicinity of the first roller 21.

On the other hand, the direction Y12 from the first roller 21 toward the downstream side along the transport path is inclined downward from the position N1 of the first roller 21 toward the downstream side with respect to the direction along the virtual plane P11. Extend. In other words, the direction Y12 is inclined to the side where the first axis 21X of the first roller 21 is arranged with respect to the virtual plane P11 and extends downstream with respect to the direction along the virtual plane P11. The direction Y12 corresponds to the traveling direction when the print medium M, which receives a force in response to the rotation of the first roller 21 in the forward rotation direction, is conveyed to the downstream side in the vicinity of the first roller 21.

The portion of the transport path of the print medium M in the vicinity of the set roller 24 is defined as follows. The direction Y21 from the assembled roller 24 toward the upstream side along the transport path extends in the direction along the virtual plane P12 from the position N2 of the second roller 22 toward the upstream side. In other words, the direction Y21 is inclined downward with respect to the direction along the virtual plane P11, that is, toward the side where the first axis 21X of the first roller 21 is arranged with respect to the virtual plane P11 and extends upstream. .. The direction Y21 corresponds to the traveling direction when the print medium M, which receives a force in response to the rotation of the assembly roller 24 in the reverse direction, is conveyed to the upstream side in the vicinity of the assembly roller 24.

On the other hand, the direction Y22 from the assembled roller 24 toward the downstream side along the transport path extends in the direction along the virtual plane P12 from the position N2 of the second roller 22 toward the downstream side. In other words, the direction Y22 extends upward with respect to the direction along the virtual plane P11. The direction Y22 corresponds to the traveling direction when the print medium M, which receives a force in response to the rotation of the assembly roller 24 in the forward rotation direction, is conveyed to the downstream side in the vicinity of the assembly roller 24. The print medium M printed by the thermal head 36, which will be described later, is conveyed downstream from the assembly roller 24 in the direction Y22 and is discharged from the discharge port 13 (see FIG. 1).

The transport path of the print medium M is a line segment extending along the direction Y11 from the position N1 of the first roller 21 toward the downstream side and a direction toward the upstream side from the position N2 of the second roller 22 of the assembled rollers 24. It bends at the intersection with the line segment extending along Y21. The transport path is arranged below the virtual plane P11.

<Head holder 3>
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the head holder 3 has a base portion 3A, a head holding portion 3B, and a first biasing portion 3C (see FIGS. 4 to 6). The base 3A has a bent plate shape and has a first portion 31 and a second portion 32. The first portion 31 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view and is orthogonal to the vertical direction. The first portion 31 is arranged above the first roller 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the length of the first portion 31 in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the first roller 21 in the left-right direction. The front end portion of the first portion 31 is arranged on the front side of the front end portion of the first roller 21. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second portion 32 extends downward from the rear end portion of the first portion 31. As shown in FIG. 6, a recess 33 recessed toward the right side is provided at the left end portion of the second portion 32. The recess 33 extends to the center of the second portion 32 in the left-right direction. The inner wall portion of the recess 33 is curved in a convex shape. The inner wall portion of the recess 33 protrudes most inward at the central portion in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the head holding portion 3B has a plate shape and has a third portion 34 and a fourth portion 35. The third portion 34 and the fourth portion 35 are orthogonal to each other in the vertical direction. The third portion 34 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The rear end portion of the third portion 34 extends in a direction in which it is inclined toward the center in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal head 36 is held on the lower surface of the third portion 34. The thermal head 36 is made of a rectangular substrate and is fixed to the third portion 34. The thermal head 36 is a so-called line thermal head, and has a plurality of heat generating elements 36A arranged linearly in the left-right direction on the lower surface. The thermal head 36 is arranged on the upper side of the first roller 21. The thermal head 36 prints on the heat-sensitive label Ma by heating a plurality of heat generating elements 36A in a state where the printing medium M is sandwiched between the first roller 21 and the thermal head 36. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a contact portion 38 having a curved corner is provided at the front end portion of the third portion 34. As shown in FIG. 4, the contact portion 38 projects forward with respect to the first portion 31 of the base portion 3A and is arranged behind the assembly roller 24.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fourth portion 35 extends from the center of the rear end portion of the third portion 34 in the left-right direction to the rear side. The fourth portion 35 enters the recess 33 provided in the second portion 32 of the base portion 3A from the front side and projects to the rear side of the second portion 32. The inner wall portion of the recess 33 comes into contact with the fourth portion 35 from above and below. The head holding portion 3B is supported with respect to the base portion 3A so as to be rotatable about the fourth axis 35X extending in the left-right direction and movable in the front-rear direction.

Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 7, the state of the head holding portion 3B that is most rotated in the clockwise direction is referred to as “first state S1”. The head holding portion 3B approaches the first roller 21 in the first state S1 and extends horizontally in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the state of the head holding portion 3B that rotates most in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left side is referred to as "second state S2". The head holding portion 3B is separated from the first roller 21 in the second state S2. The rotation angle of the head holding portion 3B that rotates between the first state S1 and the second state S2 is referred to as “θ1”.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first urging portion 3C is provided on the upper surface of the third portion 34 of the head holding portion 3B. The first urging portion 3C is two compression springs arranged in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the first urging portion 3C is interposed between the first portion 31 of the base portion 3A and the third portion 34 of the head holding portion 3B, and the head holding portion 3B is moved from the second state S2 to the second state S2. Bounce towards one state S1. The first urging unit 3C presses the plurality of heat generating elements 36A of the thermal head 36 against the print medium M from above with the print medium M sandwiched between the thermal head 36 and the first roller 21. Make them stick together.

Further, the head holding portion 3B is urged to the front side by a second urging portion (not shown). Although the details will be described later, when the head holding portion 3B is moved to the front side according to the urging force of the second urging portion, the contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B is rearward to the pair of positioning portions 5 described later. It is suppressed by contacting from.

<Pair of positioning units 5>
As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of positioning portions 5 have positioning portions 5A and 5B. The positioning portions 5A and 5B each have a substantially square plate shape. The positioning portion 5A is arranged on the front side near the left end portion of the contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B. The positioning portion 5B is arranged on the front side near the right end of the contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the pair of positioning portions 5 have a radius when the head holding portion 3B rotates between the first state S1 (see FIG. 7) and the second state S2 (see FIG. 7). In the direction, the head holding portion 3B is arranged on the front side of the fourth axis 35X, that is, on the first axis 21X side of the first roller 21 with respect to the fourth axis 35X. The radial direction corresponds to the direction extending from the fourth axis 35X toward the contact portion 38 among the directions extending in the direction orthogonal to the fourth axis 35X.

The contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B abuts on the rear surface of each of the positioning portions 5A and 5B from the rear side. The movement of the head holding portion 3B to the front side according to the urging force of the second urging portion (not shown) is regulated by the pair of positioning portions 5. The details are as follows. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the pair of positioning portions 5 abuts with the abutting portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B in the first state S1 at the first contacted position C1. Each of the pair of positioning portions 5 comes into contact with the contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B in the second state S2 at the second contacted position C2. The shape of the rear surface of each of the positioning portions 5A and 5B is such that at least in the portion between the first contacted position C1 and the second contacted position C2, the first contacted position C1 and the second contacted position C1 and the second contacted position C2. It has a planar shape that passes through position C2. Hereinafter, the portion between the first contacted position C1 and the second contacted position C2 on the rear surfaces of the positioning portions 5A and 5B is referred to as a “positioning plane 50”.

Hereinafter, a virtual plane that passes through the fourth axis 35X of the head holding portion 3B and extends along the head holding portion 3B in the first state S1 is defined as a “virtual plane P21”. The plate thickness of the head holding portion 3B and the thermal head 36 is very small with respect to the length between the fourth shaft 35X and the plurality of heat generating elements 36A. Therefore, the virtual plane P21 can be regarded as a virtual plane passing through the fourth axis 35X of the head holding portion 3B and the plurality of heat generating elements 36A of the head holding portion 3B in the first state S1. Further, a virtual plane orthogonal to the virtual plane P21 and passing through the first contacted position C1 is defined as a "virtual plane P22". In this case, the second contacted position C2 is arranged on the front side with respect to the virtual plane P22, in other words, on the side opposite to the fourth axis 35X with respect to the virtual plane P22. Further, when the angle formed by the virtual plane P22 and the positioning plane 50 is described as "θ2", θ2 is the rotation angle of the head holding portion 3B that rotates between the first state S1 and the second state S2. Consistent with θ1.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the head holding portion 3B rotates from the first state S1 to the second state S2, the contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B forms the positioning plane 50 of the pair of positioning portions 5. It moves from the first contacted position C1 to the second contacted position C2 while contacting. Here, as described above, the second contacted position C2 is arranged on the front side (opposite to the fourth axis 35X) with respect to the virtual plane P22 passing through the first contacted position C1. Therefore, when the contact portion 38 moves from the first contacted position C1 to the second contacted position C2 in response to the rotation of the head holding portion 3B, the head holding portion 3B moves to the front side (fourth axis). Move to the opposite side of 35X). When the movement of the head holding portion 3B in the front-rear direction is restricted, the positions of the plurality of heat generating elements 36A of the thermal head 36 in the front-rear direction move to the rear side according to the rotation of the head holding portion 3B. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the positions of the plurality of heat generating elements 36A of the thermal head 36 in the front-rear direction are difficult to change because the head holding portion 3B moves to the front side in accordance with the rotation.

<Printing operation>
As the roller 2 is rotated in the forward rotation direction by a motor (not shown), the print medium M is unwound from the roll and is conveyed downstream along the conveying path. The print medium M passes between the thermal head 36 of the head holder 3 and the first roller 21. The thermal head 36 is pressed against the print medium M according to the urging force of the first urging portion 3C of the head holder 3. In this state, the plurality of heat generating elements 36A of the thermal head 36 are heated to print the print image on the label Ma of the print medium M. The printed medium M after printing passes between the second roller 22 and the third roller 23 of the set roller 24, is further conveyed to the downstream side, and is discharged from the discharge port 13.

In the above printing process, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the printing medium M1 having a thin relative thickness is used, the head holding portion 3B rotates clockwise and approaches the first state S1. On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the print medium M2 having a large relative thickness is used, the head holding portion 3B rotates in the counterclockwise direction and approaches the second state S2. However, in either case, since the contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B moves along the positioning plane 50 of the pair of positioning portions 5, the head holding portion 3B also moves in the front-rear direction, so that a plurality of heat generating elements are generated. The movement of 36A in the front-rear direction is suppressed. Therefore, even if the head holding portion 3B rotates, the plurality of heat generating elements 36A can appropriately contact the print medium M and heat the label Ma under good conditions.

On the other hand, as the roller 2 is rotated in the reverse direction by a motor (not shown), the print medium M is conveyed upstream along the transfer path. Here, the transport path of the print medium M between the first roller 21 and the assembly roller 24 extends along the direction Y21 from the position N2 of the second roller 22 of the assembly roller 24 toward the upstream side, and extends upward. It bends to reach the first roller 21. That is, the print medium M passes through a position separated from the thermal head 36 and approaches the first roller 21 in the process of being conveyed upstream from the assembly roller 24. Therefore, the label Ma of the print medium M is unlikely to be caught by the thermal head 36.
<Action and effect of this embodiment>
The printing device 1A can convey the print medium M to the upstream side and the downstream side in response to the rotation of the second roller 22 and the third roller 23 of the assembly roller 24. When the print medium M is conveyed upstream by the assembly roller 24, the transfer path extends from the assembly roller 24 in the direction Y21 inclined downward (first axis 21X side) with respect to the virtual plane P11. In this case, the print medium M is in a state of being bent toward the side separated from the head holding portion 3B. That is, the print medium M bends in a direction away from the head holding portion 3B and extends from the assembled roller 24, curves and extends toward the head holding portion 3B, and reaches a portion between the first roller 21 and the thermal head 36. .. In this case, in the process of transporting the print medium M to the upstream side, the print medium M is a part of the head holding portion 3B (for example, the contact portion 38) or a part of the head holding portion 3B on the downstream side of the plurality of heat generating elements 36A and the first roller 21. It is possible to prevent the thermal head 36 from being caught on the downstream end surface. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the label Ma from peeling from the release paper Mb when the print medium M comes into contact with the contact portion 38 of the head holding portion 3B from the downstream side.

The print medium M comes into contact with the second roller 22 at the position N2 closest to the third roller 23 of the second roller 22. The direction extending upstream along the virtual plane P12 in contact with the second roller 22 at the position N2 corresponds to the traveling direction when the print medium M is conveyed toward the upstream side by the second roller 22 and the third roller 23. And coincides with direction Y21. In this case, the printing apparatus 1 can easily incline the traveling direction (direction Y21) of the printing medium M conveyed by the second roller 22 and the third roller 23 to the lower side (first axis 25X side). .. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 does not need to be configured to incline the direction Y21 downward, so that the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified.

The direction orthogonal to the second axis 22X of the second roller 22 and the virtual plane P13 passing through the third axis 23X of the third roller 23 corresponds to the direction extending along the virtual plane P12 and coincides with the direction Y21. .. Here, the direction Y21 is inclined with respect to the virtual plane P11. That is, the printing apparatus 1 suppresses the placement of the first roller 21 on the extension of the traveling direction (direction Y21) of the printing medium M conveyed to the upstream side by the set roller 24. As a result, the printing apparatus 1 can easily bend the transport path of the print medium M transported to the upstream side to the lower side (first axis 21X side), and it is appropriate that the print medium M comes into contact with the head holding portion 3B. Can be prevented.

The second roller 22 comes into contact with the print medium M at the position N2 and conveys the print medium M by rotation. Here, the position N2 is arranged below the virtual plane P11 (first axis 21X side). In this case, the printing apparatus 1 can easily increase the amount of bending of the printing medium M that bends toward the first axis 21X with respect to the virtual plane P11. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can more appropriately prevent the printing medium M, which is conveyed upstream by the set roller 24, from being caught by the head holding portion 3B.

In the printing apparatus 1, the transfer speed V2 of the print medium M conveyed by the rotation of the set roller 24 is faster than the transfer speed V1 of the print medium M conveyed by the rotation of the first roller 21. The rotation speed of the roller 2 is adjusted by the motor shown in the figure. In this case, when the print medium M is conveyed to the downstream side, the print medium M is pulled toward the set roller side (downstream side) between the first roller 21 and the set roller 24. In this case, it is possible to prevent the printing medium M from bending between the printing device 1, the first roller 21, and the assembled roller 24. On the other hand, when the print medium M is conveyed to the upstream side, the print medium M is supplied more to the first roller 21 side (upstream side) between the first roller 21 and the assembled roller 24, and is easily bent. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can easily bend the printing medium M between the first roller 21 and the assembled roller 24 and prevent the printing medium M from being caught in the head holding portion 3B.

<Modification example>
The printing apparatus 1B in the modified example will be described with reference to FIG. The printing device 1B differs from the printing device 1A in that it has the guiding member 6. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the printing apparatus 1A, the description thereof will be omitted.

The guide member 6 is arranged on the upper side of the transport path of the print medium M and in the vicinity of the assembly roller 24. The guiding member 6 has a driven roller 61, a guiding roller 62, and a connecting portion 63. The driven roller 61 and the induction roller 62 can rotate about an axis extending in the left-right direction. The driven roller 61 is arranged diagonally above the rear of the second roller 22. The shaft portion 61A extending outward from the driven roller 61 to the left and right is rotatably supported by the housing 10A. The driven roller 61 comes into contact with the second roller 22 and rotates according to the rotation of the second roller 22. The connecting portion 63 has a pair of plate-shaped portions facing each other in the left-right direction. The pair of plate-shaped portions have through holes at both ends. The shaft portion 61A of the driven roller 61 is inserted into the through hole on one end side of the pair of plate-shaped portions from the inside. The connecting portion 63 is rotatably supported around the shaft portion 61A of the driven roller 61. The shaft portion 62A of the induction roller 62 is inserted into the through hole on the other end side of the pair of plate-shaped portions from the inside. The induction roller 62 is rotatably supported by the connecting portion 63.

FIG. 9A shows a case where the print medium M is conveyed to the upstream side by the set roller 24. In this case, the second roller 22 rotates clockwise. In response to the rotation of the second roller 22, the driven roller 61 of the guiding member 6 rotates counterclockwise. Further, the connecting portion 63 of the guiding member 6 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in response to the rotation of the driven roller 61. As a result, the induction roller 62 comes into contact with the print medium M between the first roller 21, the head holding portion 3B, and the assembled roller 24 from above, and is placed on the lower side, which is on the first axis 21X side with respect to the virtual plane P11. Aim and press the print medium M. The contact position between the print medium M and the guide roller 62 moves below the virtual plane P11. As a result, the print medium M is guided below the virtual plane P11.

FIG. 9B shows a case where the print medium M is conveyed to the downstream side by the set roller 24. In this case, the second roller 22 rotates counterclockwise. In response to the rotation of the second roller 22, the driven roller 61 of the guiding member 6 rotates in the clockwise direction. Further, the connecting portion 63 of the guiding member 6 rotates in the clockwise direction in response to the rotation of the driven roller 61. As a result, the induction roller 62 moves upward from the virtual plane P11 and separates upward from the print medium M. As a result, the guidance of the print medium M by the guidance roller 62 is released.

As described above, the induction roller 62 can guide the traveling direction of the print medium M conveyed upstream by the assembly roller 24 to the downwardly inclined direction Y21. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1B can appropriately convey the printing medium M in the direction of tilting toward the first axis 21X with respect to the virtual plane P11. Further, when the print medium M is conveyed to the upstream side, the guide roller 62 comes into contact with the print medium M on the first axis 21X side of the virtual plane P11. On the other hand, when the print medium M is conveyed to the downstream side, the guide roller 62 is arranged on the side opposite to the first axis 21X side with respect to the virtual plane P11 and is separated from the print medium M. In this case, the printing apparatus 1B can prevent the guide roller 62 from hindering the transport of the print medium M when the print medium M is transported to the downstream side.

The configuration of the guide member 6 is not limited to the above modification. For example, the induction member 6 may be directly driven by a motor (not shown). Instead of the induction roller 62, another member (for example, a rod-shaped member extending in the left-right direction) that can come into contact with the print medium M from above may be used. The guide roller 62 of the guide member 6 may always come into contact with the print medium M from above and push it downward, regardless of the transport state of the print medium M. The contact position between the print medium M and the guide roller 62 may always be located below the virtual plane P11.

<Other variants>
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. The head holding portion 3B of the printing apparatus 1 may be fixed to the base portion 3A of the head holder 3 and may not be rotatable. In the above, the direction Y21 may extend in the direction (horizontal direction) along the virtual plane P11, and may not be inclined downward (the first axis 21X side). Even in this case, by arranging the position N2 of the second roller 22 below the virtual plane P11, the print medium M is kept separated from the head holding portion 3B, and the print medium M is directed toward the upstream side from the set roller 24. The print medium M can be conveyed. On the other hand, in the above, the position of the set roller 24 may be adjusted so that the position N2 of the second roller 22 is arranged on the virtual plane P11. Even in this case, by inclining the direction Y21 downward (the first axis 21X side) with respect to the virtual plane P11, the set roller is maintained while the print medium M is separated from the head holding portion 3B. The print medium M can be conveyed from 24 toward the upstream side.

The transfer speed V1 of the print medium M conveyed by the rotation of the first roller 21 and the transfer speed V2 of the print medium M conveyed by the rotation of the set roller 24 may be substantially the same, or the transfer speed V1. May be faster than the transport speed V2. For example, when the print medium M is conveyed to the downstream side, the transfer speeds V1 and V2 may be set to the same value, and when the print medium M is conveyed to the upstream side, the transfer speed V2 may be larger than the transfer speed V1. ..

<Others>
Direction Y21 is an example of the "traveling direction" of the present invention. The virtual plane P11 is an example of the "first virtual plane" of the present invention. The virtual plane P12 is an example of the "second virtual plane" of the present invention.

1A, 1B: Printing device 3B: Head holding part 3C: First urging part 4: Path member 5, 5A, 5B: Positioning part 21: First roller 21X: First axis 22: Second roller 22X: Second axis 23: Third roller 23X: Third axis 24: Assembly roller 35X: Fourth axis 36: Thermal head 36A: Multiple heat generating elements 38: Contact portion 50: Positioning plane 50A: Positioning curved surface 50B: First plane 50C: First 2 planes C1: 1st contact position C2: 2nd contact positions M, M1, M2: Print media P11, P12, P13, P21, P22: Virtual plane S1: 1st state S2: 2nd state Y11, Y12, Y21, Y22: Direction

Claims (6)

A head holding part that holds a thermal head that prints on a printing medium with a heat-sensitive label attached to a release paper,
A first roller capable of sandwiching the print medium between the thermal head and rotating around the first axis, and a first roller.
A set roller provided on the downstream side of the print medium in the transport direction with respect to the first roller and the head holding portion.
It has a second roller and a third roller that face each other,
The set roller capable of transporting the print medium to the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction in response to rotation of the print medium sandwiched between the second roller and the third roller. When,
With
The transport path of the print medium transported to the upstream side by the assembly roller extends from the assembly roller in a predetermined traveling direction.
The direction of travel is
At the position closest to the thermal head of the first roller, it is inclined toward the first axis with respect to the direction along the first virtual plane in contact with the first roller.
The closest located in the third roller of the second roller to a printing apparatus according to claim Rukoto disposed in the first shaft side than the first imaginary plane. A head holding part that holds a thermal head that prints on a printing medium with a heat-sensitive label attached to a release paper,
A first roller capable of sandwiching the print medium between the thermal head and rotating around the first axis, and a first roller.
A set roller provided on the downstream side of the print medium in the transport direction with respect to the first roller and the head holding portion.
It has a second roller and a third roller that face each other,
The set roller capable of transporting the print medium to the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction in response to rotation of the print medium sandwiched between the second roller and the third roller. When,
With
The transport path of the print medium transported to the upstream side by the assembly roller extends from the assembly roller in a predetermined traveling direction.
The direction of travel is
At the position closest to the thermal head of the first roller, it is inclined toward the first axis with respect to the direction along the first virtual plane in contact with the first roller.
An guiding member that guides the print medium in the traveling direction from the assembled roller toward the upstream side, between the first roller and the head holding portion and the assembled roller, and the first virtual plane. The guide member is provided on the first shaft side, and is guided by contacting the print medium from the side opposite to the first shaft side.
The guide member is
When the group roller conveys the print medium to the upstream side, it comes into contact with the print medium from the side opposite to the first axis side on the first axis side of the first virtual plane.
If the set roller transports the print medium to the downstream side, printing device characterized in that spaced apart from the print medium. A head holding part that holds a thermal head that prints on a printing medium with a heat-sensitive label attached to a release paper,
A first roller capable of sandwiching the print medium between the thermal head and rotating around the first axis, and a first roller.
A set roller provided on the downstream side of the print medium in the transport direction with respect to the first roller and the head holding portion.
It has a second roller and a third roller that face each other,
The set roller capable of transporting the print medium to the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction in response to rotation of the print medium sandwiched between the second roller and the third roller. When,
With
The transport path of the print medium transported to the upstream side by the assembly roller extends from the assembly roller in a predetermined traveling direction.
The direction of travel is
At the position closest to the thermal head of the first roller, it is inclined toward the first axis with respect to the direction along the first virtual plane in contact with the first roller.
The first roller
The print medium can be conveyed to the upstream side or the downstream side according to the rotation with the print medium sandwiched between the thermal head and the print medium.
Conveying speed of the print medium by the rotation of the set roller, printing device you being greater than the conveying speed of the print medium by the rotation of the first roller. The direction of travel is
Any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second roller coincides with the direction extending toward the upstream side along the second virtual plane in contact with the second roller at a position closest to the third roller. the printing apparatus according to either. The second roller can rotate about a second axis extending parallel to the first axis, and the third roller can rotate about a third axis extending parallel to the first axis.
The printing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the direction orthogonal to the second axis and the third virtual plane passing through the third axis is inclined with respect to the first virtual plane. An guiding member that guides the print medium in the traveling direction from the assembled roller toward the upstream side, between the first roller and the head holding portion and the assembled roller, and the first virtual plane. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 3 , further comprising the guiding member for guiding the printing medium in contact with the printing medium from the side opposite to the first shaft side.

Images