JPH0462552B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to noise prevention in a printer (printing device), and particularly in a printer capable of printing on continuous paper and multiple types of slips.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional printers of this type have a continuous paper feeder ( For example, a continuous paper feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as "tractor") is attached. , the structure was such that an auto sheet feeder could not be attached as is.

However, recently there has been an increasing demand for printers that can selectively supply a plurality of types of paper, and printers that have a plurality of modes that can selectively switch between the two types of paper have been announced.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, conventional printers of the above type have multiple paper insertion openings and paper ejection openings in order to enable simultaneous use of multiple types of paper feeding means in each mode. Since the insertion opening is located on the front of the operation panel, printer operating noise often radiates directly from the unused opening, which is an unfavorable result, especially in light of recent trends in tightening noise regulations. Ta.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional examples as described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer having multiple types of printing paper usage modes that prevent internal noise during printer operation from being directly radiated to the outside. The purpose is

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, in the present invention, there is provided a printing section including a platen and a printing member that performs a printing operation in opposition to the platen, and a paper feeding means that feeds cut paper or continuous paper so that it can be printed and ejected in the printing section. In a printer that has at least one of these in the machine frame and is capable of selecting and setting a plurality of paper supply modes, a cut paper supply port opened in the machine frame to supply cut paper to the paper feeding means and a continuous a first means having a continuous paper supply port opened in a machine frame to supply paper to the paper feeding means; and a supply path switching member capable of closing the other supply port when one of the supply ports is open; a cut paper discharge port opened in the machine frame to discharge the cut sheets from the paper feeding means; a continuous paper discharge port opened in the machine frame to discharge the continuous paper after printing from the paper feeding means; a second means having a discharge path switching member capable of closing the other when the discharge port is opened; and each switching member of the first and second means so as to selectively open one of the supply ports or the discharge port; The above-mentioned object is achieved by having a drive means that operates separately for each of the paper supply ports, and by operating the drive means according to the selection setting of the paper supply mode, the supply port or the discharge port can be selectively opened. This is what I am trying to do.

[Effect]

With the above configuration, the driving means is operated according to the selection setting of a plurality of paper supply modes to selectively open the supply port or discharge port, and also to open the supply port or discharge port for cut sheets or continuous paper other than those currently being supplied. Since the outlet is closed, it is possible to minimize the direct radiation of internal printer operation noise to the outside, which can contribute to noise prevention.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on examples.
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a dot printer equipped with paper path switching means according to the present invention.

(Configuration) 1 is a printer cover (bottom), 2 is a carriage that reciprocates on rails 2a and 2b supported on both sides of the frame, which will be described later, 3 is a flatbed platen, and 4 is a printing device mounted on the carriage 2. The printing section including the head, ribbon cassette, etc. is shown. 5 is a frame (front), 6 is a paper table, 7 is a paper output tray, 8 is an auto sheet feeder for cut sheets, 9 is a continuous paper supply port (hereinafter referred to as continuous paper insertion port), and 10 is a continuous paper feed port. A ticket supply port (hereinafter referred to as a ticket insertion port), and 11 and 12 are a discharge port 1 and a discharge port 2, respectively.

Further, 13 is a tractor for feeding continuous paper; 14
and 15 are a flapper and an infrastructure flapper forming a supply route switching member or an ejection route switching member, which actuate a driving means to be described later according to selection settings of a plurality of paper supply modes to open one of the supply ports or the discharge port. It has a switching function that closes both the one and the other.

Next, the general configuration of the drive system as paper feeding means will be explained. 16 is a paper feed system motor, and a belt 17
The feed rollers 18a and 18b are driven through the
In the case of a feeding motor, feeding is performed by simple one-way rotation or forward/reverse rotation of the motor 16. The continuous paper tractor 13 is driven by a tractor motor 19 via a belt 20 . Reference numeral 21 denotes a pick-up roller for the auto sheet feeder 8, which is driven by a paper feed motor 16 to a belt pulley/gear 23/24 via belts 17 and 22, and a planetary pinion 25 to a pick-up roller by a chain gear solenoid 26. It is driven by engaging the gear 21a. 27 and 28 are paper sensors, respectively.

(Operation) Next, the operation in each paper feeding mode in the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

1 Manual ticket feed mode (Figures 2 and 3) Figure 2 shows the paper path when a ticket (slip, multi-copy paper, envelope, etc.) is manually inserted and printed. Insert the ticket manually through the ticket insertion slot 10, and follow the path shown by the broken line to the ticket outlet 1, 1.
1 and received by the paper ejection tray 7. At this time, the flapper 14 and the flapper 15 are
In each of the illustrated positions, the discharge ports 2 and 12 and the continuous paper insertion port 9 are closed directly or indirectly.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts showing the operating configuration of the flapper 14. The flapper 14 is always biased upward around the axis by a tension coil spring 31 and communicates with the discharge ports 2 and 12, and is set downward by energizing the solenoid 30 before printing starts. It is arranged to communicate with the discharge ports 1 and 11.

2. Auto sheet feeder mode (FIG. 4) FIG. 4 shows the paper path with broken lines when the auto sheet feeder 8 separates and inserts a cut sheet (cut seed, etc.) from a cassette and prints it.

First, change gear solenoid 26 (Fig. 1)
The engine gear solenoid is attracted by energizing the coil, and then the motor 16 rotates counterclockwise, and the sheet is automatically separated/inserted by the pitch roller 21, and the flapper 14 and flat flapper 15 are not shown in the figure. Since the paper is located at the position of
The cut sheet is fed by a certain amount through the feed roller 18b and is set in contact with the feed roller 18b which is rotating counterclockwise.

Motor 16 is stopped and solenoid 26 is turned off. Next, the motor 16 rotates clockwise, and the ticket is fed until it passes the paper sensor 27, and then stops. Then, the motor 16 rotates counterclockwise again, sets the cut sheet at a predetermined printing start position, and starts printing. At this time, solenoid 30 (third
(Fig.) is energized, the flapper 14 is in the same position as in Fig. 2, and after printing is completed, the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 7 via the ejection ports 1 and 11. In this case, if necessary, the discharge ports 2 and 12 may be
Of course, it can be discharged.

In this supply mode, the supply port other than the supply
The outlet is closed.

3. Continuous paper mode (FIGS. 5 and 6) FIG. 5 shows the paper path in broken lines when printing using continuous paper. Then, the continuous paper is sent from the continuous paper insertion slot 9 to the discharge port 12 according to the path shown by the broken line.
is discharged. At this time, the infrastructure flapper 15 and the flapper 14 are in the illustrated positions, and even in this supply mode, the supply ports and discharge ports are closed except during supply. Further, FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of a main part illustrating the released state of the roller system in this mode. Reference numeral 60 denotes a torso roller pressed onto each feed roller 18a, 18b by a leaf spring 61, and 62 a paper guide. Also, 6
3 is a lever, 64 is a link, 65 is a cam, 66 is a limit switch, and 67 and 68 are spring presser arms.

In manual feed mode 1) and auto sheet feeder mode 2), the lever 63 is in the position shown by the broken line, and the pressure of each spring 61 is applied to the Masatsu roller 60 via the spring presser arms 67 and 68. In the past, the cut sheet was held between the feed rollers 18a and 18b and fed by the machine, but in the continuous paper mode, the lever 63 is set to the solid line position (this operation can be done manually or by using the solenoid/motor). ), Masatsu roller 6
0 is in a state where no spring force acts, and at the same time,
The tractor pivot cam 65 connected via the link 64 is rotated counterclockwise to rotate the infrastructure support 1.
Push up the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet 5 to close the ticket insertion slot 10, and at the same time secure the paper path to the continuous paper insertion slot 9. Also, at this time, the limit switch 66 is turned on, and the tractor motor 19 can rotate in synchronization with the paper feed motor 16. In this state, feeding/printing of continuous paper is executed, and the paper is ejected to the ejection ports 2 and 12. The discharge ports 1 and 11 are closed by a flapper 14.

(Other Embodiments) In the embodiments described above, single sheet use mode 1),
2), the infrastructural paper insert 15 rotates downward and indirectly blocks the continuous paper insertion slot from inside the printing section.
As shown in the enlarged sectional view of another embodiment of the hinge portion of No. 5, the continuous paper insertion opening shutter plate 70 is arranged to be pushed up and biased from below by a compression coil spring (not shown) or the like, and the infrastructural paper insert 15 is When switching from the continuous paper mode (dotted line position) to the single sheet mode (solid line position), the cam means 15a provided at the hinge part
By pushing down the top of the shutter plate 70 against the unillustrated spring, etc., the continuous paper insertion opening 9 can be completely closed, thereby further enhancing the soundproofing effect during printing.

Furthermore, although the above embodiments have been described with respect to an impact printer having a flat head type platen, the principles of the present invention are not limited thereto, but can be applied. In addition, the solenoid 30, lever 63, link 64, tractor pivot cam 65, and cam means 15
a. Switching members 14 and 15 using shutter plate 70, etc.
It forms a drive means that operates separately.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above based on the examples,
According to the present invention, with a simple configuration, the paper feeding means for supplying cut paper or continuous paper is provided, and the driving means is operated according to the selection setting among a plurality of paper feeding modes to either the supply port or the discharge port. It is possible to feed, print, and eject paper while the printer is operating by selectively opening the cut paper or continuous paper and closing the feed or ejection port for cut sheets or continuous paper other than those currently being fed. This contributed to the prevention of noise during operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a dot printer equipped with a paper path switching means according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the paper path when printing is performed by manually inserting a ticket, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the main parts showing the operating configuration of the flapper 14, and FIG. 4 shows the auto sheet feeder 8. Figure 5 shows the paper path when printing is performed by separating and inserting a ticket from the cassette, and Figure 6 shows the paper path when printing using continuous paper. FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a main part for explaining the released state of the roller system, and FIG. In the figure, 3...platen, 4...printing section,
8...Auto sheet feeder, 9...Continuous paper supply port, 10...Single sheet supply port, 11/12...Discharge port 1/2, 13...Tractor, 14...Flapper,
15...Infratupa.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A printing unit comprising a platen and a printing member that performs a printing operation in opposition to the platen, and a paper feeding means that feeds cut paper or continuous paper so that it can be printed and ejected in the printing unit. In a printer that has at least one of these in the machine frame and is capable of selecting and setting a plurality of paper supply modes, a cut paper supply port and continuous paper opened in the machine frame to supply cut paper to the paper feeding means. a first means having a continuous paper supply port opened in a machine frame so as to supply paper to the paper feeding means; and a supply path switching member capable of closing the other supply port when one of the supply ports is open; A cut paper ejection port opened in the machine frame to eject cut sheets from the paper feeding means, a continuous paper ejection port opened in the machine frame to eject continuous paper after printing from the paper feeding means, and either one of the paper ejection ports. a second means having a discharge path switching member capable of closing the other when the outlet is opened; and each switching member of the first and second means is configured to selectively open one of the supply ports or the discharge ports A printer characterized in that the printer has a drive means that operates separately, and the drive means operates in accordance with the selection setting of the paper supply mode to selectively open the supply port or the discharge port.