JPH04149493A - Electrostatic recording device for label printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent continuous recording paper from becoming slack before a couple of fixing rolls by arranging a continuous recording paper conveying means behind the fixing rolls and decreasing contact pressure when the part of only a mount of the continuous recording paper between labels passes between the fixing rolls. CONSTITUTION:The recording paper conveying means 10 which conveys the continuous recording paper A by engaging feed holes is arranged beyond the fixing roll couple when viewed from a photosensitive drum 1 so as to prevent the recording paper A from snaking even after passing the fixing roll couple 8 from the photosensitive drum 1. Further, when the part of only the mount of the continuous recording paper A between labels passes between the fixing rolls, the contact pressure between the fixing rolls 8 is reduced. Consequently, when the part of only the mount passes between the fixing rolls, the recording paper conveying means 10 operates positively to prevent the continuous recording paper A becoming slack in front of the fixation part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an electrostatic recording device for label printing in which the continuous recording paper is prevented from loosening before a fixing section.

(Prior art and its problems) Printing various types of information on each label using continuous recording paper, in which labels are cut into appropriate shapes from label base paper and temporarily attached to a backing paper, has been difficult to date. In some cases, this is done using a thermal printer, but recently electrostatic recording devices have also been used.

For labels that have only a separation cut line and are temporarily attached to the backing paper without any gaps (waste = unnecessary parts),
Labels are die-cut from label base paper and unnecessary (scrap)
Labels of the type that are temporarily attached on a backing paper at predetermined intervals with parts removed, can be designed with rounded corners, circles, triangles, hexagons, flowers, etc. Because of the ease of peeling and the difference in light transmittance between the laminated part of the label and backing paper and the part with only the backing paper, it is not recommended to mark the label pitch (the label pitch (the backing material of each label)). It was chosen and widely used because it can be used as a detection area (temporary attachment interval).

As shown in FIG. 4, the continuous recording paper A is made by temporarily adhering the labels L, which have been cut out from the label base paper and temporarily pasted onto the mount S at predetermined intervals, in such a way that the portion of the mount S where the label L does not exist is , - is shown as a surface to which a silicone release agent has been applied. Moreover, the thickness is different between the laminated part of the label L and the mount S and the part of only the mount S.

In an electrostatic recording device, generally, the rotational circumferential speeds of the photosensitive drum and the fixing roll (fixing section) are completely matched, and this becomes the transport speed of the continuous recording paper.

When a conventional electrostatic recording device is loaded with continuous recording paper A as described above and printed, the part where only the mount S is coated with a release agent has a low coefficient of friction, and the label L and the mount When switching from the laminated part of paper S to the part with only mount paper S, or vice versa, slipping occurs between the fixing roll and continuous recording paper A due to the fixing roll (heat roll) moving up and down. .

As a result, the amount of conveyance of the continuous recording paper is smaller at the fixing roll pair part than at the photosensitive drum part, and the continuous recording paper becomes slack before the fixing section. If this phenomenon is accumulated during continuous printing, it may cause problems such as paper jams.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional apparatus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic recording apparatus for label printing in which continuous recording paper does not slacken before the fixing roll.

(Summary of the invention) The continuous recording paper A is called fanfold paper as shown in FIG. Perforation M
There are two types: one that can be folded and the other that is a so-called roll type. In this case, after printing different types of data consecutively, the printed material (label) of the necessary data is torn off in the middle. A description will be given by taking as an example a fanfold paper type paper, which has advantages such as being easy to pull out and not requiring a winding mechanism.

Therefore, in order to ensure that the continuous recording paper is set on the pair of fixing rolls in the fixing unit and to prevent the recording paper from meandering even after passing from the photosensitive drum to the pair of fixing rolls, it is necessary to A recording paper transporting means for transporting the continuous recording paper by engaging with and disengaging from the feeding hole is disposed at a position past the pair of fixing rolls.

Further, when the portion of the continuous recording paper that is made up of only the backing paper between the labels passes between the pair of fixing rolls, the contact pressure between the pair of fixing rolls is reduced so that the portion of the continuous recording paper that is made up of only the backing paper passes between the pair of fixing rolls. When the continuous recording paper passes between the pair of fixing rolls, the recording paper transport means actively acts to prevent the continuous recording paper from becoming slack before the fixing section.

(Embodiment of the Invention) FIG. 1 shows an electrostatic recording device for label printing using a fanfold paper type as a continuous recording paper as an example.
1 is a photosensitive drum; 2 is output light according to image data provided by an electrostatic latent image forming means such as a semiconductor laser or an LED array; 3 is a cleaning brush; 4 is a photosensitive charger;
5 is a developing device, and 6 is a transfer charger.

Further, 8 is a pair of fixing rolls, which is composed of a heat roll 8A and an auxiliary roll 8B.

Furthermore, A temporarily attaches the label L, which has been cut out from the label base paper as shown in the figure, to the backing sheet S at a predetermined interval (label pitch), and forms feeding holes P on both sides of the backing sheet S. Continuous recording paper.

In addition, IO is a well-known bin tractor mechanism, which is composed of an endless belt 11, pulleys 1, 2, 13, and a paper press plate 14, in which the feed hole P & the bin IIa to be engaged and disengaged are arranged at equal intervals. .

The endless belt 11, the pulleys 12, 13, and the paper pressing plate 14 are a pair located on both sides of the continuous recording paper A, and as is well known, depending on the different widths of the recording paper A, the center They can be moved closer to each other and separated from each other by sorting, and by moving them, positions can be set according to the width. Further, the paper pressing plate 14 is movable in the width direction, but as is well known, it is supported by a non-rotatable member in the form of a hinge, and has two positions: a position for releasing the recording paper A, and a position for pressing the recording paper A. It can be opened and closed.

Furthermore, 16 is a motor that drives the fixing roll pair 8;
It is connected to a pair of fixing rolls 8 (auxiliary roll 8B) by a timing belt 17.

The auxiliary roll 8B and the bin tractor mechanism 1O are
A pair of fixing rolls 8 connected by a timing belt 18
The circumferential rotational speed of the bin tractor mechanism 10 and the circumferential rotational speed of the bin tractor mechanism 10 are completely matched.

Furthermore, 20 is a label pitch sensor consisting of a light-emitting element 2OA and a light-receiving element 20B, which is arranged in the transport path of the continuous recording paper A, and the light-receiving element 20B determines whether only the portion of the backing paper S of the recording paper A is passing through. , a high/low output level is indicated depending on whether the laminated portion of the label L and the mount S passes through.

As shown in the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, the pitch sensor 20 is
The output pulse which is delayed by a predetermined step (the step of driving the motor 16) is outputted to the label pitch data circuit 2.
1, and outputs a pressure switching command signal to a control circuit that controls the contact pressure between the pair of fixing rolls 8. Specifically, in response to the fact that the label pitch sensor 20 detects only the portion of the backing sheet S of the continuous recording paper A, the label pitch data circuit 21 is activated to reduce the contact pressure between the fixing roll and the sheet.
When the output level of the normal rotation control circuit 22. reaches the rHJ level, the normal rotation control circuit 22. The motor 25 is rotated forward via the motor drive circuit 24.

In addition, the pitch sensor 20 detects the label L of the recording paper A and the backing paper S.
When the output level of the label pitch data circuit 21 reaches the rLJ level in order to increase and return the contact pressure between the pair of fixing rolls 8 from a low state to a steady state in response to the detection of the laminated portion with the , reversal control circuit 23. The motor 25 is rotated in reverse for a predetermined period of time via the motor drive circuit 24.

FIG. 3 shows a control mechanism for the pair of fixing rolls 8, and numeral 31 denotes a roll support lever pivotally connected to a shaft 32, and one end of the control mechanism for the pair of fixing rolls 8.
A heat roll 8A is pivotally supported at the other end, and a bin 31a is attached to the other end.
are being planted. Reference numeral 33 designates a roll operation lever pivotally attached to the shaft 32, which forms an arm portion 33a facing the bin 31a of the roll support lever 31, and has a bin 33b implanted therein. 34 is a spring for applying roll pressure applied between the roll support lever 31 and the roll operation lever 33, and mainly acts as a force for turning the lever 31 to the right. 35 is pivotally connected to the shaft 36. With variable pressure lever,
A cam body 37 and a gear 38 are integrally supported at one end, and a bottle 35a is implanted at the other end. The cam body 37 is in sliding contact with the bin 33b of the roll operation lever 33. 3
Reference numeral 9 denotes a spring for separating the heat roll 8A from the auxiliary roll 8B, which imparts levorotation to the roll operating lever 33. A gear 40 is supported by a rotating shaft of a motor (not shown) and is meshed with the gear 38, which controls the movement of the heat roll 8A toward and away from the auxiliary roll 8B. A cam body 41 is supported by the rotating shaft of the motor 25 shown in FIG. 2, and is in sliding contact with the bin 35a of the variable pressure lever 35.

With the above configuration, each operating mechanism such as the electrostatic latent image forming means that outputs the output light 2 and the photosensitive drum 1 is controlled and driven by the control device of the entire apparatus (not shown) to continuously record desired image information. This is to be printed on label L on paper A and output.

Continuous recording paper A is conveyed from the left side of photosensitive drum 1 in FIG. It passes through the tractor mechanism 10 and is discharged to the right.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the continuous recording paper A has labels L temporarily attached to the mount S at predetermined intervals, and the mount S
There are intermittent parts where only the mount S is present, and the parts where only the mount S is exposed as the surface coated with the release agent and have a low coefficient of friction.
Since the thickness of the laminated part of the label L and the part only made of the backing paper S are different, the contact pressure between the pair of fixing rolls 8 remains constant to properly fix the toner to the label L. When the paper A passes between the fixing roll pair 8, the fixing roll pair 8 (heat roll 8A) moves up and down, etc.
Slip may occur between the pair of fixing rolls 8 and the continuous recording paper A, and if this slip is accumulated, it may cause problems such as paper jams.

In the present invention, when the label pitch sensor 20 detects only the mount S of the continuous recording paper A, the label pitch data circuit 21 outputs the pressure switching command signal rHJ in response to the detection, and the normal rotation control circuit 22° The motor 25 is rotated forward via the motor drive circuit 24. As a result, the cam body 41
rotates from a state where the high cam surface is in contact with the bin 35a to a state where the low cam surface is in contact with the bottle 35a. Therefore, the variable pressure lever 35 is operated so that the bin 35a follows the displacement of the cam body 41, and while rolling the gear 38 onto the gear 40,
As the cam body 37 is displaced, it is rotated to the left together with the roll operating lever 33 due to the tension of the spring 39. Therefore, the tension of the spring 34 is relaxed in response to the passage of only the backing paper S onto the continuous recording paper between the pair of fixing rolls 8, so that the contact pressure of the heat roll 8A against the auxiliary roll 8B is reduced.

As a result, while the contact pressure between the pair of fixing rolls 8 is reduced, the continuous recording paper A is moved by the pin tractor mechanism lO, which is set at a transport speed for the recording paper A that matches the rotational circumferential speed of the pair of fixing rolls 8. transferred to the subject.

Also, when the pinch sensor 20 detects the laminated portion of the label L and backing sheet S of the continuous recording paper A, the
inch data circuit 21 outputs the pressure switching command signal rLJ, and the reverse rotation control circuit 23. The motor 25 is reversed via the motor drive circuit 24.

As a result, the cam body 41 is rotated from a state in which the lower cam surface is in contact with the bin 35a to a state in which it is in contact with the higher cam surface. Therefore, the variable pressure lever 35 is rotated to the right, causing the gear 38 to roll onto the gear 40, while the cam body 37
Displace. The cam body 37 uses this displacement to push up the bottle 33b, and moves the roll operation lever 33 to the spring 3.
9 to the right to tension the spring 34, which is hooked between it and the roll support lever 31, from a somewhat loosened state. Therefore, as the label L portion of the continuous recording paper A passes between the pair of fixing rolls 8, the heat roll 8A applies contact pressure to the auxiliary roll 8B in a steady state to properly fix the toner on the label L. He was raised back to normal.

The above operation is performed depending on the detection state of the continuous recording paper A by the label pitch sensor 20, depending on whether only the part of the backing paper S to the recording paper has passed through the fixing roll pair 8, or whether the stacked part of the label L and the backing paper S has passed through the pair of fixing rolls 8. It is repeated depending on whether it is passed.

Further, in the fixing roll pair 8, after the printing operation is completed and the fixing operation is no longer necessary, the heat roll 8A is separated from the auxiliary roll 8B, but at that time, the gear 40 is rotated by a predetermined amount by a motor (not shown). I am made to do so. As a result, the gear 38 rotates, and the cam body 37 is integrally rotated from a state in which the high cam surface is in contact with the bin 33b to a state in which it is in contact with the low cam surface. Then, roll operation lever 3
3, the bottle 33b rotates to the left due to the tension of the spring 39 so as to follow the displacement of the cam body 37, and from the middle thereof, the arm portion 33a rotates to the left.
contacts the bin 31a, and thereafter rotates to the left together with the roll support lever 31.

Therefore, the heat roll 8A separates from the auxiliary roll 8B.

Note that the above-mentioned cam body 41 is relative to the bottle 35a.

In order to make the high cam surface and the low cam surface correspond appropriately, an electrical or mechanical limiter may be provided as necessary.

Further, in the embodiment, the recording paper transport means may be of the type shown as a bin tractor mechanism or a sprocket wheel having a bin provided on the circumference of a rotating body.

Furthermore, a cam body 37 (motor) that controls the contact and separation of the heat roll 8A with respect to the auxiliary roll 8B.

Although a configuration is shown in which a cam body 41 (motor 25) for controlling the contact pressure of the heat roll 8A against the auxiliary roll 8B is provided separately, it is also possible to have a configuration in which both are controlled by one cam body.

Furthermore, as the continuous recording paper, not only fanfold paper type but also roll paper type can be applied.

(Effects of the Invention) The present invention provides an electrostatic recording device for label printing that uses continuous recording paper in which labels from which die-cut scraps have been removed from label base paper are temporarily attached to a mount at predetermined intervals. When only the part of the backing paper that may cause slip passes between the pair of fixing rolls, the contact pressure between the pair of fixing rolls is lowered and the conveyance of the continuous recording paper is placed behind the pair of fixing rolls. Since the transfer is carried out mainly by the recording paper transport means, the recording paper does not slip, and the transfer is carried out appropriately, making it extremely effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram for switching the contact pressure between the pair of fixing rolls, and FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the pair of fixing rolls (IIIN configuration, 4
The figure is a perspective explanatory view showing an example of continuous recording paper. 1... Photosensitive drum 8... Fixing roll 8A.
...Heat roll 8B...Auxiliary roll 10...
・Bin tractor mechanism 20...Label pitch sensor 21...Label pitch data circuit 25...Motor 31...Roll support lever 33...Roll operation lever 34...Spring 35
...Variable pressure lever 37...Cam body 38...
Gear 39...Spring 40...Gear
41...Cam body A...Continuous recording paper
S... Mount L... Label.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In an electrostatic recording device using continuous recording paper in which a label is cut into an appropriate shape from a label base paper and a label is temporarily attached to a mount, the rear of the fixing roll pair as viewed from the photosensitive drum. A recording paper transporting means for transporting the continuous recording paper is disposed, and when only the backing paper between the labels of the continuous recording paper passes between the pair of fixing rolls, the fixing roll An electrostatic recording device for label printing, characterized in that the contact pressure between the pairs is reduced.