JPH0439075A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a sheet of recording paper from getting in contact with other parts, causing an increase in friction when the recording paper is transferred, and from being caught by other parts when the recording paper of small or large size is used, by providing independent two recording paper guide plates which are formed in a column shape and penetrate a main body from the right side to the left side. CONSTITUTION:After a sheet of recording paper 4 is held by line-direction paper feed rollers 6, the recording paper 4 is fed by the line-direction paper feed rollers 6 toward a main body along a paper guide plate 3a. At this time, column-direction paper feed rollers 7 in a pair are separated from each other with a small clearance so that the recording paper is smoothly fed, and a platen roller 8 is also separated from a printer head 10 and an ink ribbon 9. After that, the recording paper 4 is gradually sent into the main body and rolled up into a column shape along the paper guide plate 3a. When the end of the recording paper 4 is detected by a paper detecting photo sensor 11, paper feeding is stopped. When a line of printing is finished, the direction of paper feeding is changed to the direction toward a recording paper guide plate 3b by a paper feed path changeover device 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a paper feeding device for printers such as facsimiles, typewriters, and printers for computer terminals.

``Prior Art'' Prior to the present invention, a printer was invented which had independent moving means for moving recording paper in the vertical direction and moving means for moving it in the horizontal direction. The present invention will be described below with reference to the above invention as a prior art. In Figure 5 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e),
This is a perspective external view of a printer that prints by moving recording paper vertically and horizontally with a fixed head. 1 is the printer main body, 2 is a printing head unit fixed inside the printer main body, and 3 is a recording device. A paper guiding guide guides the paper, 4 is a recording paper, and 5 is a slit-shaped paper insertion opening provided in the main body of the printer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional printer mechanism, where 6 is a paper feed roller that feeds the inserted recording paper 4 in the row direction, and 7 is a paper feed roller 8 that feeds the inserted recording paper 4 in the digit direction. 9 is an ink ribbon for thermal transfer when printing with a thermal head, 10 is a thermal head for printing, and 11 is a photosensor for detecting the presence or absence of recording paper 4.

When printing, as shown in FIG. 5(a), lightly insert the recording paper 4 so that one end of the recording paper 4 is parallel to the slit-shaped paper insertion opening 5 provided in the printer body 1. do. Insertion of recording paper 4 is detected by a photo sensor 11 for paper detection installed in the printer body. When the insertion of paper is detected, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched and fixed by a pair of paper feed rollers 6 in the row direction. After the recording paper 4 is fixed by the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction, as shown in FIG. Sent along. At this time, the pair of paper feed rollers 7 in the digit direction are separated by a slight gap so that the paper can be fed smoothly. Similarly, the platen roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 are separated from each other. After that, recording paper 4
is gradually fed along the paper guide 3 inside the main body so as to be caught in a cylindrical paper guide.

When the end of the recording paper 4 is detected by the photo sensor 11 for paper detection, paper feeding is stopped in the state shown in FIG. 5(c). Through the series of operations up to now, the setting of the recording paper 4 in the printer body is completed.

Next, the pair of paper feed rollers 7 in the digit direction sandwich the recording paper 4. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction leaves a slight gap so that the recording paper 4 can move smoothly in the column direction without resistance. And Figure 5 (
As shown in d), place the recording paper 4 at the beginning position to start printing.
is sent by a paper feed roller 7 in the digit direction. The leading position at which printing starts is detected by a photo sensor 11 for paper detection, and the printing is stopped at an arbitrary position.

Next, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched between the platen roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 to prepare for printing. After the head contacts the paper, the paper feed roller 7 and platen roller 8 in the digit direction are driven to feed the paper in the digit direction while printing. Printing is performed by applying a voltage to a thermal print head 10 equipped with a plurality of heat generating pairs in the longitudinal direction, thereby melting the ink on the ink ribbon 9 with heat and transferring the ink to the paper. Characters and figures are printed as a dot matrix by moving the recording paper and ink ribbon parallel to the print head. After the transfer is completed, the ink ribbon is wound up according to the amount of paper feed.

When printing for one line is completed in this manner, the platen roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 are separated with a slight gap to allow smooth paper feeding. Then, the paper is moved to a position where the paper can be fed in the row direction by the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction. Or, if the paper stops at a position where it can be fed at the end of printing, the platen opening
Only the roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 are separated. Then, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched between the paper feed rollers 6 in the row direction to prepare for the next paper feed. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 7 in the digit direction is also rotated with a slight gap so that the paper feed can be carried out smoothly in the same way as the platen roller. Then, as shown in FIG. 5(j), the recording paper 4 is fed by the paper feed roller in the line direction by an amount necessary for printing the next line.

Then, when the recording paper 4 is fed to the printing position of the next line, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched between the pair of paper feed rollers 7 in the digit direction. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction leaves a slight gap so that the recording paper 4 can move smoothly in the column direction without resistance.

By repeating the above operations in the same manner, the required number of lines are printed.

In this way, the portion of the recording paper 4 where printing has been completed moves in the digit direction in conjunction with the printed portion while being separated from the printer main body 1.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' However, in conventional paper feeding devices, if the portion of the paper that is ejected from the printer body at the end of printing is no longer supported by the force of the recording paper to support itself. When trying to move the recording paper in the row direction or column direction, the load due to friction at the contact area increased or it got caught on other objects. Especially when it comes to large-sized recording paper such as AO or A1 size, it is difficult to reduce the load if it gets caught because the supporting force of the paper itself is small.

The purpose of the present invention is to avoid the possibility that even when using recording paper that has a small supporting force or is large in size, the friction that occurs when it comes into contact with other parts and moves it becomes large, or when it comes into contact with other objects. To provide a paper feeding device that does not get caught.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention comprises: (1) a printer main body, a print head fixedly installed at a specific position on the printer main body, a paper feeding mechanism for holding or moving recording paper, and the printer main body; The paper feeding mechanism consists of a recording paper running and holding section cut out in a cylindrical shape from the right side to the left side, and the paper feeding mechanism has a moving means for moving the recording paper in the vertical direction and a moving means for moving the recording paper in the horizontal direction independently. The printer is characterized by having two independent recording paper holding parts cut out in a cylindrical shape from the right side to the left side of the main body.

(2) A printer body, a print head fixedly installed at a specific position on the printer body, a paper feeding mechanism for holding or moving the recording paper, and a cylindrical notch cut out from the right side to the left side of the printer body. The paper feeding mechanism is connected to a recording paper insertion slot in a printer having separate moving means for moving the recording paper in the vertical direction and moving means for moving the recording paper in the horizontal direction. It is characterized by having a planar or linear recording paper holding section.

``Function'' The paper feed device of the present invention has two independent recording paper running and holding parts cut out in a cylindrical shape from the right side to the left side of the printer body, or has one side connected to the recording paper insertion slot. The above object is achieved by having a recording paper holder in the shape of a shape or a line.

"Example" Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of the paper feeding device of a printer according to the present invention, in which 1 is the printer body, 2 is a print head unit, and 3a and 3b are two cylindrical recording paper guide guides. , 4 is a recording paper, 5 is a paper insertion slot, and 13 is a paper feed path switching mechanism. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the printer mechanism inside the printer main body for carrying out the method of the present invention, in which 6 is a paper feed roller that feeds the inserted recording paper 4 in the row direction, and 7 is a diagram showing the inserted recording paper 4. 8 is a paper feed roller that feeds the paper 4 in the digit direction; 8 is a head platen roller; 9 is an ink ribbon for thermal transfer when printing with a thermal head; 10
11 is a thermal head for printing, and 11 is a photosensor for detecting the presence or absence of recording paper 4.

When printing, as shown in Figure 1(a), lightly insert the recording paper 4 so that one end of the recording paper 4 is parallel to the slit-shaped paper insertion slot 5 provided in the printer body 1. do. Insertion of recording paper 4 is detected by a photo sensor 11 for paper detection installed in the printer body. In addition to the photo sensor, a mechanical sensor such as a microswitch may be used as the paper detection sensor. When the insertion of paper is detected, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched and fixed by a pair of paper feed rollers 6 in the row direction. When paper is inserted, the pair of paper feed rollers in the row direction are spaced apart with a slight gap to allow paper to be inserted, or paper insertion is detected. It is optional whether the rollers separate or remain in contact with each other. After the recording paper 4 is fixed by the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction, the recording paper 4 is sent along the paper guide 3a toward the main body side by the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction. At this time, the pair of paper feed rollers 7 in the digit direction are separated by a slight gap so that the paper can be fed smoothly. Similarly, the platen roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 are separated from each other. Thereafter, the recording paper 4 is gradually fed along the paper guide 3 inside the main body along the cylindrical paper guide so as to be wound around the cylindrical paper guide. When the end of the recording paper 4 is detected by the photo sensor 11 for paper detection, paper feeding is stopped in the state shown in FIG. 1(b). Through the series of operations up to now, the setting of the recording paper 4 in the printer body is completed.

Next, the pair of paper feed rollers 7 in the digit direction sandwich the recording paper 4. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction leaves a slight gap so that the recording paper 4 can move smoothly in the column direction without resistance. Then, the recording paper 4 is fed by a paper feed roller 7 in the digit direction to the top position where printing is to be started.

The leading position at which printing starts is detected by a photo sensor 11 for paper detection, and the printing is stopped at an arbitrary position. Alternatively, it is also optional to use a plurality of sensors to detect the edge of the paper and to stop after detecting it.

Next, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched between the platen roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 to prepare for printing. After the head contacts the paper, the paper feed roller 7 and platen roller 8 in the digit direction are driven to feed the paper in the digit direction while printing. Printing is performed by applying voltage to a thermal print head 10 equipped with a plurality of heat generating pairs in the longitudinal direction, thereby melting the ink on the ink ribbon 9 with heat and transferring the ink to the paper. Characters and figures are printed as a dot matrix by moving the recording paper and ink ribbon parallel to the print head. After the transfer is completed, the ink ribbon is wound up according to the amount of paper feed. However, the methods for printing on the recording paper 4 include the direct method using thermal paper, the thermal transfer method using an ink ribbon, the inkjet method with multiple ink nozzles, and the digital method with type fonts. - A wheel method, a wire tod method that transfers ink ribbons using a wire, a color inkjet method that has multiple inkjet heads of different colors, a thermal transfer method that uses ink ribbons of different colors, a wire tod method, etc. are optional. .

When printing for one line is completed in this manner, the platen roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 are separated with a slight gap to allow smooth paper feeding. Then, the paper is moved to a position where the paper can be fed in the row direction by the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction. Alternatively, if the printer stops at a position where paper can be fed at the end of printing, only the platen roller 8, print head 10, and ink ribbon 9 are separated. Then, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched between the paper feed rollers 6 in the row direction to prepare for the next paper feed.

Thereafter, the paper feed roller 7 in the digit direction is also separated with a slight gap so that the paper can be fed smoothly, similarly to the platen roller. Then, the paper feeding path switching mechanism 13 switches the paper feeding direction to the direction of the separately provided recording paper guide 3b. Alternatively, switching of the paper path may be optionally performed after the recording paper has been set in the printer body and before the paper is fed in the row direction. Then, the recording paper 4 is fed by the paper feed roller in the line direction by an amount necessary for printing the next line.

When the recording paper 4 is fed to the printing position of the next line, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched between the paper feed rollers 7 in the column direction. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction leaves a slight gap so that the recording paper 4 can move smoothly in the column direction without resistance.

In the same manner, the required number of lines are printed by repeating the operation at step 7. At this time, the portion of the recording paper where printing has been completed is rolled up into a cylindrical shape along the paper feed guide 3b.

When all printing is completed and the paper is to be ejected, the paper feed roller in the row direction returns to the original paper feed guide 3a.
After the paper is wound up once more, the paper detection sensor stops the winding, and the paper feeding path switching mechanism 13 switches the paper feeding direction to the paper insertion slot 5. Thereafter, the paper is ejected from the paper insertion slot 5 by the paper feed roller 6 in the row direction.

Alternatively, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, it is optional to eject the paper directly from another paper path using a paper feed roller in the row direction.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show another embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a planar or linear recording paper holder connected to the recording paper insertion slot 5.

When performing printing, the printing operation is performed in the same manner as in the embodiment described above, and at that time, the printed and ejected portion of the recording paper 4 is supported by the recording paper holder 12. After printing is completed, the paper is ejected from the paper insertion slot 5 by the row direction paper feed roller 6.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the paper feeding device of the present invention, even when using recording paper that has a small supporting force or a large size, the friction that occurs when it comes into contact with other parts and moves it is reduced. The recording paper can be moved without becoming large or getting caught on other objects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a), (b), and (c) are cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the paper feeding device of the printer according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are a sectional view and a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. The external view is shown in Figure 5 (
a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) are perspective external views for explaining the prior art, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the printer mechanism of the prior art. 1 ・ 2 ・ 3 ・ 4 ・ 5 ・ 6 ・ 7 ・ 8 ・ 9 Photo sensor for head paper detection Recording paper holding unit Paper feed path switching mechanism Applicant: Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Representative patent attorney Kizobe Suzuki (and one other person) Figure 1 (C) Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure (α) Figure 5 (b) Figure 5 (d) Figure 5 (e)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A printer body, a print head fixedly installed at a specific position on the printer body, a paper feeding mechanism for holding or moving recording paper, and a cylindrical notch cut out from the right side to the left side of the printer body. In a printer that has independent moving means for moving the recording paper in the vertical direction and moving means for moving the recording paper in the horizontal direction, the paper feeding mechanism moves from the right side to the left side of the main body. A paper feeding device characterized by having two independent recording paper holding parts each having a cylindrical cutout. (2) A printer body, a print head fixedly installed at a specific position on the printer body, a paper feeding mechanism for holding or moving the recording paper, and a cylindrical notch cut out from the right side to the left side of the printer body. The paper feeding mechanism is connected to a recording paper insertion slot in a printer having separate moving means for moving the recording paper in the vertical direction and moving means for moving the recording paper in the horizontal direction. A paper feeding device characterized by having a planar or linear recording paper holding section.