JPH0392373A - Image processing machine equipped with thermal printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To mutually position a thermal printing head and a backup means certainly and stably with sufficient accuracy by elastically putting the thermal printing head aside in the pressing direction vertical to a backup means in such a state that the second unit is at a closed position and elastically putting a printing head aside on the downstream or upstream side in a thermal paper feed direction. CONSTITUTION:A leaf spring 72 constituted of the first elastic putting-aside means elastically puts a mounting frame body 28 and the thermal printing head 22 fixed thereto aside in the pressing direction almost vertical to roller (backup means) 30 in such a state that a sub-unit 4 is set at a closed position and presses the printing surface of the thermal printing head 22 to the roller 30. A leaf spring 76 constituting the second putting-aside means elastically puts the mounting frame body 38 and the thermal printing head 22 fixed thereto aside to the downstream side in a thermal paper feed direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing machine such as a facsimile or a printer, and more particularly to an image processing machine equipped with a thermal printing device.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art In image processing machines such as facsimile machines and printers, it is widely practiced to use thermal paper as printing paper and to perform desired printing on the thermal paper using a thermal printing device. The thermal printing device includes a thermal printing head and a backup means by which the thermal printing head is pressed through thermal paper. Backup means are usually
It consists of a rotatably mounted roller. Thermal paper is generally in the form of a roll.

From the standpoint of loading thermal paper, cleaning or repairing the thermal print head and backup means, and handling when thermal paper is blocked, it is important that the thermal paper transport path through which thermal paper is transported is openable. Therefore, the image processing device is controlled from at least two units, namely a first unit and a second unit mounted on the first unit so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position. When the second unit is placed in the closed position, a thermal paper transport path is defined between the first unit and the second unit, and when the second unit is placed in the open position, a thermal paper transport path is defined between the first unit and the second unit. is forcing the public to open up. The thermal printing head and the backup means of the thermal printing device must be located opposite each other on both sides of the thermal paper transport path, so that the thermal printing head is connected to the first unit and the second unit. The backup means is attached to the other of the first unit and the second unit.

[Problems with conventional technology]

In a thermal printing device equipped with a thermal print head and a backup means by which the thermal print head is pressed, the thermal print head must be sufficiently connected to the backup means in order to achieve the desired high-quality printing. It is important that it is precisely positioned and pressed against the backup means. In more detail regarding the positioning, the widthwise extending print line in the thermal print head extends across the thermal paper at right angles to the conveying direction of the thermal paper with sufficient precision, and
It is important that the thermal print head is pressed against the backup means with sufficient precision at the location of the print line.

However, in a conventional image processing machine, one of the first unit and the second unit is equipped with a thermal print head, and the other of the first unit and the second unit is equipped with a backup means. Due to their relative freedom of movement, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to position the thermal print head with sufficient precision relative to the backup hand, or it may require a fairly complex and expensive mounting mechanism. It was necessary to adopt it. Further, when the second unit is repeatedly opened and closed relative to the first unit, the position of the thermal print head relative to the backup means is often changed.

[Problem of invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and its main technical problem is to improve the image processing machine of the above-mentioned form so that a first unit and a second unit to which a thermal print head is attached are connected. Although one of the first unit and the second unit to which the backup means is mounted are relatively movable, the backup means can be mounted without requiring a complicated and expensive mounting mechanism. The thermal print head can be positioned with sufficient precision relative to the pack-up means, and repeated opening and closing of the second unit relative to the first unit can also ensure sufficiently precise positioning of the thermal print head relative to the pack-up means. The aim is to ensure that it is maintained.

[Means for solving the invention]

The solution of the invention provides that (1) the thermal print head is mounted movably in any direction on both sides thereof, and (2) when the second unit is placed in the closed position, the thermal print head is thermally sensitive to the backup means. A restricting means is provided to restrict downstream or upstream movement in the paper transport direction to a predetermined position, and (3) heat is applied in a pressing direction substantially perpendicular to the backup hand when the second unit is in the closed position. Along with the first elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the print head, a second elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the thermal print head is disposed downstream or upstream in the thermal paper transport direction.

That is, according to the present invention, between the first unit and the closed position in which the thermal paper transport path is defined between the first unit and the open position in which the thermal paper transport path is opened. and a second unit movably attached to the first unit, and a thermal print head of a thermal printing device is attached to one of the first unit and the second unit. In the image processing machine, the other of the first unit and the second unit is equipped with a backup means for the thermal printing device, the thermal printing head can be moved in any direction on both sides thereof. a limiting hand which is movably mounted and limits movement of the thermal print head downstream or upstream in the thermal paper conveyance direction to a predetermined position with respect to the backup means when the second unit is placed in the closed position; a first elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the thermal print head in a pressing direction substantially perpendicular to the pack-up means when the second unit is in the closed position; In addition, there is provided an image processing machine characterized in that a second elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the thermal print head is disposed downstream or upstream in the thermal paper conveyance direction.

[Action of the invention]

In the image processing machine of the present invention, when the second unit is placed in the closed position with respect to the first unit, the thermal print head is elastically pressed against the backup means by the action of the first elastic biasing means. together with a second elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the thermal print head downstream or upstream in the thermal paper conveyance direction; and a limiting means for restricting movement of the thermal print head downstream or upstream in the thermal paper conveyance direction with respect to the backup means. The print line in the thermal print head is positioned with sufficient precision at the required position in the direction of transport of the thermal paper, and also extends across the thermal paper at right angles to the direction of transport of the thermal paper with sufficient precision. located in the state. Therefore, even if the second unit is repeatedly opened and closed with respect to the first unit, as long as the configuration regarding the restricted hand is set with sufficient precision, the thermal print head can be set with sufficient precision for the backup means. positioned in position. The configuration of the restriction means, as well as the manner of mounting of the thermal printhead, may be relatively simple and inexpensive and do not significantly increase manufacturing costs.

[Preferred specific example]

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention embodied as a facsimile will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated facsimile machine is
Main unit (first unit) 2 and sub unit (second unit)
unit) 4.

One half (the left half in FIG. 1) of the main unit 2 has a housing 12 having a bottom wall 6, an end wall 8 extending upward from the tip of the bottom wall 6, and an intermediate wall 10 extending upward from the bottom wall 6.
is taking shape. The upper surface and the upper half of one end surface of the housing 12 are open. A pair of upright support side plates 14 (FIG. 2) are disposed within the housing 12 at predetermined intervals in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1). A thermal paper loading section 16, which may be a substantially semicircular recess, is formed between the pair of upright support side plates 14. The thermal paper roll 18 is rotatably loaded into the thermal paper loading 816. The above pair of upright side plates l4
In between, there is a thermal printing device 20 (7) and a thermal printing head 22.
(thermal head) is attached. Thermal print head 2
The second mounting style will be explained in more detail later. The sub-unit 4 includes a frame 24. A horizontally extending support bin 26 is attached to each of the pair of upright side plates 14 of the main unit 2, and the frame 24 of the sub unit 4 can be moved between a closed position shown by a solid line and an open position shown by a two-dot chain line. The support pin 26 is attached to the support pin 26 so as to be able to rotate freely between the two. A rotating shaft 28 extending in the width direction is rotatably mounted on the frame 24, and a roller 30 is fixed to the rotating shaft 28. When the sub unit 4 is brought to the closed position shown by the solid line,
The roller 30 is pressed against the surface of the thermal print head 22 (this point will be described in more detail later), and a thermal paper conveyance path 32 is defined between the two, through which the thermal paper is conveyed. That is, the thermal paper unwound from the thermal paper roll l8 is inserted between the thermal print head 22 and the roller 30,
Then, it is led out to the outside through a discharge opening 34 formed between the upper end of the intermediate wall 10 in the main unit 2 and the frame 24 in the sub unit 4. When the sub unit 4 is placed in the open position shown by the two-dot chain line, the roller 30 is separated from the thermal print head 22 and the thermal paper conveyance path 3 is moved away from the thermal print head 22.
2 is released. The rotating shaft 28 to which the roller 30 is fixed is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown), which may be an electric motor, and the rotating shaft 28 and the roller 30 fixed thereto rotate in the direction shown by the arrow. Driven.

The roller 30 functions as a backup means for the thermal printing device 20, and also functions as a conveying roller that conveys the thermal paper in the direction indicated by the arrow.

In the above-mentioned facsimile, when an image signal is received, the roller 30 is driven to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow, and the thermal paper is conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow. At this time, the thermal print head 22 prints on the thermal paper in accordance with the received signal. The printed thermal paper discharged from the discharge opening 34 is separated from the thermal paper roll 18 by manual cutting using a knife edge 36 formed at the upper end of the intermediate wall 10.

Although not shown, the other half of the main unit 2 (the right half in FIG. F) is provided with a transmitting means for performing a facsimile transmitting function.

The transmitting means includes a document conveyance path through which a document to be transmitted is conveyed, and a document reading means is disposed on this document conveyance path.

Therefore, the above-described configuration and operation of the illustrated facsimile machine do not constitute a novel improvement according to the present invention, but are merely an example of the configuration and operation of a facsimile machine to which the novel improvement according to the present invention can be applied. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the above-mentioned configuration and operation will be omitted in this specification.

Next, number two! ! The manner in which the thermal print head 22 of the thermal print type printing device 20 is mounted will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. A mounting frame 38 is fixed to the thermal printing head 22, which extends in the width direction and is of a well-known configuration, by suitable means such as adhesive or set screws. The mounting frame 38 includes a main wall 39 extending along the back surface of the thermal printing head 22 , both side walls 40 covering both sides of the thermal printing head 22 , and a lower wall extending below the thermal printing head 22 . 41
(Figure 3). Each of the side walls 40 of the mounting frame 38 has a screw hole (first screw hole) 42 located at the bottom and a rectangular expansion opening (second screw hole) located at the rear of the vertically intermediate portion.
44 (expansion opening) 44 is present. Furthermore, both side walls 4
0 is formed with a protruding piece 46 that projects forwardly beyond the surface of the thermal print head 22. Such protruding piece 4
The upper edge of 6 is the printing surface 48 of the thermal print head 22 (the printing line 50 extends widthwise on such printing surface).
It protrudes almost perpendicularly to the As will be further described later, the protruding piece 46 constitutes a restricted member in the restricting means. The mounting frame 38 to which the thermal print head 22 is fixed is mounted between the pair of supporting side plates 14. More specifically, each of the side walls 40 located on both sides of the thermal print head 22 is
By being attached to each of the pair of support side plates 14, the attachment frame 38 and the thermal print head 22 fixed thereto
is attached between the pair of supporting side plates 14. The widthwise dimension of the mounting frame 38 is set to be somewhat shorter than the distance between the pair of support side plates 14. Each of the pair of supporting side plates l4 includes
The expansion opening (
A first expansion opening) 52 and a screw hole (second screw hole) 54 located corresponding to the expansion opening 44 are formed.The expansion opening 52 may be a long hole extending vertically.

A first attachment member 56 and a second attachment member 58 are used to attach each of the side walls 40 to each of the pair of support side plates 14 . The first mounting member 56 has an enlarged head 60, a support shaft 62, and a threaded tip 64. The outer diameter of the enlarged head 60 is larger than the lateral dimension of the enlarged opening 52.

The outer diameter of the support shaft portion 62 is somewhat smaller than not only the vertical dimension but also the lateral dimension of the expansion opening 52. Further, the axial length of the support shaft portion 62 is somewhat larger than the thickness of each of the pair of support side plates 14 . The second mounting member 58 has an enlarged head 66 and a threaded portion 68. The outer diameter of the threaded portion 68 is
It is smaller than the vertical dimension and lateral dimension of the expansion opening 44. Further, the axial length of the threaded portion 68 is considerably longer than the thickness of each of the pair of supporting side plates 14. As can be easily understood by referring to FIG. 3 together with the second rIA, the first mounting member 56 has its support shaft portion 62 inserted through the expansion opening 52 of the support side plate 14, and its distal end threaded portion 64. is screwed into the screw hole 42 of the side wall 40 of the mounting frame 38. The second mounting member 58 has a threaded portion 680 thereof.
The base (that is, the middle part of the second mounting member 58) is the support side plate 1
4, and the distal end of the threaded portion 68 is inserted into the expansion opening 44 of the side wall 40 of the mounting frame 38.

The outer diameter of the support shaft portion 62 of the first mounting member 56 is the same as that of the support side plate 1.
4, and the outer diameter of the tip of the second mounting member 58 is smaller than the dimension in any direction of the expansion opening 52 of No.
The dimension in the width direction of the mounting frame 38 is smaller than the distance between the pair of supporting side plates 14. Depending on the situation, mounting frame 3
8 and the thermal printing head 22 fixed thereto are mounted between the pair of supporting side plates 14 so as to be movable in any direction within a predetermined range.

As clearly shown in FIG. 3, a spring rest 70 is disposed within the housing 12 of the first unit 2 and located below the thermal print head 22. As shown in FIG. And this spring stand 70
, a plurality of leaf springs 72 (one of which is shown in FIG.
One end (one of which is shown) is fixed by a set screw 74. The leaf spring 72 extends upward, and its free end is brought into contact with the upper rear surface of the mounting frame 38. The leaf spring 72, which biases the first elastic biasing means, is applied to the mounting frame 38 and the mounting frame 38 in a pressing direction substantially perpendicular to the roller (backup means) 30 when the sub unit 4 is in the closed position. The fixed thermal print head 22 is elastically biased and the printing surface 4 of the thermal print head 22 is
8 (more specifically, the printing line 50) is pressed against the roller 30. On the other hand, on the lower surface of the lower wall 41 of the mounting frame 38 to which the thermal print head 22 is fixed, a plurality of leaf springs 7 (if desired, only one leaf spring 7 is provided) spaced apart in the width direction.
6 is fixed at one end by a set screw 78. The free end of the leaf spring 76 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the spring base 70. The leaf spring 76, which acts as the second elastic biasing means, elastically biases the mounting frame 38 and the thermal print head 22 fixed thereto upwardly, that is, downstream in the thermal paper transport direction indicated by the arrow. When the sub unit 4 is in the open position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The support shaft portion 62 contacts a specific edge of the expansion opening 52, and the tip of the second mounting member 58 contacts a specific edge of the expansion opening 44 (the mounting frame 3
The inner surface of the end of the main wall 39 of No.

Continuing the explanation with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the roller 30 is fixed to the rotating shaft 28 of the sub unit 4, and an annular collar member 8o is rotatable on both sides of the roller 30. is installed on. An annular collar member 80 located concentrically with the roller 30 is attached to the protruding pieces (
The restricting member which cooperates with the restricted member (restricted member) 46 constitutes a restricting means. To explain with reference to FIGS. The annular collar member (limiting member) 80 is a protruding piece (limited member) of the mounting frame 38 in the main unit 2.
46. As a result, the mounting frame 38
The thermal print head 22 fixed thereto is moved somewhat downward (upstream in the thermal paper conveyance direction) against the elastic biasing action of the leaf spring 76.
Thus, the printing line 50 of the thermal printing head 22 is positioned with sufficient precision at a predetermined position in the thermal paper conveyance direction with respect to the roller 30, and the annular collar member 80 acts on the protruding piece 46 on both sides in the width direction. Thus, the print line 50 of the thermal print head 22 is positioned so that it extends perpendicularly to the thermal paper with sufficient precision. The annular collar member 80 acting on the protruding piece 46 of the mounting frame 38 restricts the movement of the mounting frame 38 and the thermal print head 22 fixed thereto downstream in the thermal paper conveying direction to a predetermined position. 22 in a predetermined position.

If desired, a restriction member, which can be removed from the annular collar member 80, limits the upstream movement of the thermal print head 22 in the thermal paper transport direction to position the thermal print head 22 in a predetermined position. (In this case, the leaf spring 76 constituting the second elastic biasing means is required to elastically bias the thermal printing head 22 upstream in the thermal paper transport direction). Further, when the sub-unit 4 is moved to the closed position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, the roller 30 is brought into contact with the printing surface 48 of the thermal print head 22. As a result, the thermal printing head 22 and the mounting frame 38 to which it is fixed are moved somewhat to the right in FIGS. 1 and 3 against the elastic biasing action of the leaf spring 72, and the surface of the roller 30 is and the printing surface 48 of the thermal printing head 22 are pressed together with thermal paper interposed therebetween. The pressing of the printing surface 48 against the roller 30 is achieved along the printing line 50 with sufficient precision. If the annular collar member 80 that guards the restricting member and the protruding piece 46 that constitutes the restricted member are arranged with sufficient precision, the thermal print head 22 can be positioned as described above reliably, stably, and with sufficient precision. Even if the auxiliary unit 4 is repeatedly opened and closed, it will not be damaged.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the image processing machine constructed according to the present invention, although the unit to which the thermal printing unit is installed and the unit to which the backup means is installed can be relatively opened and closed, there is a unique feature in the installation of the thermal printing unit. By employing a configuration in which the thermal print head and the back-up means are reliably, stably and sufficiently precisely positioned relative to each other,
Therefore, good printing can be achieved reliably and stably.

The mounting style adopted for mounting the thermal print head and the restricting means provided for the mutual positioning of the thermal print head and the backup means can be relatively simple and inexpensive; The manufacturing cost of the image processing machine does not increase significantly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a part of a facsimile machine which is a preferred example of an image processing machine constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing how the thermal print head is mounted and positioned in the facsimile machine of FIG. 1; 3 is a partial side view showing how the thermal print head is mounted and positioned in the facsimile machine of FIG. 1; FIG. 2. 4. 14. 18. 20. 22. 30. 32. 38. 40. 42. 44. 46. 52. 54. 56. ・Main (first) unit・Sub (second) unit・Support Side plate, thermal paper roll, thermal printing device, thermal printing head, roller (backup means), thermal paper transport path, mounting frame, side wall of mounting frame, (first) screw hole, (second) Expansion opening/projection piece (restricted member) - (first) expansion opening - (second) screw hole - first mounting member 58, 72, 76, 80 - second mounting member - leaf spring (・Plate spring (second elastic biasing means) ・Annular collar member (limiting means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Between a first unit and a closed position that cooperates with the first unit to define a thermal paper transport path between them and an open position that opens the thermal paper transport path. and a second unit movably attached to the first unit, and a thermal print head of a thermal printing device is attached to one of the first unit and the second unit. In the image processing machine, the other of the first unit and the second unit is equipped with a backup means for the thermal printing device, the thermal printing head can be moved in any direction on both sides thereof. The second unit is movably mounted, and when the second unit is placed in the closed position, a restricting means for restricting movement of the thermal print head downstream or upstream in the thermal paper conveying direction relative to the backup means to a predetermined position. with a first resilient biasing means disposed for resiliently biasing the thermal print head in a pressing direction substantially perpendicular to the backup means when the second unit is in the closed position; An image processing machine characterized in that second elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the thermal print head is disposed downstream or upstream in the thermal paper conveyance direction. 2. A mounting frame is attached to the thermal printing head, and the mounting frame has both side walls located on both sides of the thermal printing head, and the mounting frame has walls between the first unit and the second unit. A pair of supporting side plates are disposed at intervals in the width direction on one side, and the mounting frame and the thermal print head are arranged between the pair of supporting side plates, and the mounting frame is arranged on both sides of the mounting frame. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the walls is attached to each of the pair of support side plates so as to be movable in any direction. 3. Each of the pair of support side plates has a first expansion opening and a second expansion opening.
screw holes are formed in each of the side walls of the mounting frame, and a first screw hole located corresponding to the first expansion opening and a screw hole located corresponding to the second screw hole are formed in each of the side walls of the mounting frame. A second expansion opening is formed to extend the intermediate portion of the first mounting member to the first expansion opening.
The distal end portion of the first mounting member is inserted into the expansion opening of the first mounting member and screwed into the first screw hole, and the intermediate portion of the second mounting member is screwed into the second screw hole to screw the second mounting member into the second screw hole. By inserting the distal end of the attachment member into the second expansion opening, each of the side walls of the attachment frame is attached to each of the pair of support side plates, and the first expansion opening is inserted into the second expansion opening. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cross section of the intermediate portion of the first mounting member is larger than the cross section of the second mounting member, and the second expansion opening is larger than the cross section of the distal end portion of the second mounting member. 4. According to claim 2 or 3, the limiting means is comprised of a restricted member disposed on each of the both side walls of the mounting frame and a limiting member disposed on both sides of the backup means. image processing machine. 5. The image processing according to claim 4, wherein the backup means comprises a rotatably mounted roller, and the limiting member is an annular collar member mounted on both sides of the roller concentrically with the roller. Machine.