JPH05318848A - Carrier mechanism for blank form in printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily engage the pins of a tractor with the sprocket holes of a blank form by specifying the stop positions of the pins of the tractor for the blank form. CONSTITUTION:When absence of a blank form 1 is confirmed by a photosensor 32, the pins 9, 19 of a tractor are stopped in such the position by a photosensor 32 that the loci of the vertexes in the pins 9, 19 of the tractor are not passed through the end face side apart from the sprocket holes 13a, 23a nearest to the end face of the blank form 1 when the blank form 1 is inserted to the position abutting against the pins 9, 19 of the tractor. Thereby the pins 9, 19 of the tractor are easily engaged with the blank form 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper transporting mechanism for a printer equipped with a pin tractor for transporting paper having a feed hole, such as continuous form paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer equipped with a pin tractor that conveys a sheet having a feed hole by engaging the feed hole, in order to convey the sheet by the pin tractor, Manually move the pin tractor to the position where the paper feed hole and the pin of the pin tractor match, and open the lid that holds the paper at the top of the pin tractor, and engage the paper feed hole with the pin of the pin tractor. It was necessary to set the paper, such as closing the lid after combining them.

[0003]

However, since the work of engaging the paper feed holes with the pins of such a pin tractor is complicated and time-consuming, the paper can be more easily attached to the pin tractor. Development of technology is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a paper transport mechanism in a printer equipped with a pin tractor, which can easily and accurately mount a paper on the pin tractor.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pin for transporting a sheet by engaging pins provided at regular intervals on the circumference of a belt with sheet feeding holes. In a printer equipped with a tractor, a paper guide for guiding the paper to the pin tractor,
Prior to the mounting of the paper, if the tip of the paper is inserted to a position where it abuts on the pin of the pin tractor, the line connecting the vertices of the pins is fed from the feeding hole closest to the tip of the paper. And a control means for controlling the stop position of the pin of the pin tractor so as not to pass through the tip end side.

[0005]

According to the above structure, when the leading end of the sheet is inserted to the position where it abuts on the pin of the pin tractor prior to the mounting of the sheet, the line connecting the vertices of the pin is closest to the leading end of the sheet. The pin stop position of the pin tractor is controlled so that it does not pass through the feed hole toward the leading edge of the paper. Then, the leading edge of the paper is inserted along the paper guide to a position where it abuts the pin of the pin tractor, and when the pin tractor is driven in the paper feeding direction, the pin of the pin tractor and the paper feeding hole are engaged, Is accurately attached to the pin tractor and transported.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show the overall configuration of a paper transport mechanism of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. A paper under guide 2 serving as a conveyance path for the paper 1 is attached to a printer side plate (not shown), and the left end of the paper under guide 2 contacts the left end of the paper 1 to guide the paper 1 in the paper insertion direction. The paper guide plate 4 is provided upright. Also,
Below the paper under guide 2, a photo sensor 31 for detecting the presence or absence of the paper 1 is provided through an opening 2a formed in the vicinity of the left end on the downstream side in the paper insertion direction.

Support shafts 5 and 6 and a drive shaft 7 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper insertion direction are held near a downstream side of the paper under guide 2 in the paper insertion direction at predetermined intervals by a printer side plate (not shown). Pin tractors 8 and 18 for transporting the sheet 1 are provided on the left and right of these shafts. These pin tractors 8 and 18 are belt-shaped members provided with tractor pins 9 and 19 on the circumference at regular intervals. On the other hand, the left pin tractor 8 is rotatably supported by the roller 10 and the drive shafts 5 and 6 that are interlocked with the rotation of the drive shaft 7, and has a diameter smaller than that of the roller 10.
It is supported by 12 and tensioned by the roller 12. These rollers 10, 11, 12 do not move in the axial direction, and the left pin tractor 8 and the tractor pin 9 of the left pin feed hole 13 of the paper 1 in which the left end is aligned with the paper guide plate 4. And are provided at positions that match each other in the paper insertion direction. Further, above the left pin tractor 8, a paper presser 14 that prevents the paper 1 engaged with the tractor pin 9 from floating is provided and is fixed to a printer side plate (not shown). further,
A photo sensor 32 for detecting the position of the tractor pin 9 is provided below the left pin tractor 8.

A paper guide 1 that faces the paper guide plate 4 and contacts the right end of the paper 1 to guide the paper 1 in the paper insertion direction.
5 is supported by the support shafts 5, 6 and the drive shaft 7 so as to be slidable on the paper under guide 2 in a direction orthogonal to the paper insertion direction. Further, a protrusion 16 formed on a part of the lower end of the paper guide 15 is fitted into the opening 3 extending in the paper under guide 2 in a direction orthogonal to the paper insertion direction, and is orthogonal to the paper insertion direction of the paper guide 15. It guides the slide movement in the direction. An upper surface plate 17 for preventing the paper 1 from rising from the upper end of the paper guide 15 is formed in parallel with the paper under guide 2 with an appropriate width corresponding to the paper 1 to be used. Is provided with a handle 17a which is a cut-and-raised piece for slidingly moving the paper guide 15.

The other right pin tractor 18 facing the left pin tractor 8 is rotatably supported by a roller 20 and support shafts 5 and 6 which are interlocked with the rotation of the drive shaft 7, and has a diameter larger than that of the roller 20. It is supported by small rollers 21 and 22 (see FIG. 2) and is tensioned by the roller 22. These rollers 20, 21, 22
Is attached to each of the shafts 5, 6 and 7 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the right pin tractor 18 is movable in the axial direction and slides integrally with the paper guide 15. Is configured. Further, the right pin tractor 18 is arranged so that when the paper guide 15 is aligned with the right end of the paper 1, the tractor pin 19 and the right feed hole 23 of the paper 1 are aligned in the paper insertion direction. Further, above the right pin tractor 18, a paper retainer 24 that is engaged with the tractor pin 19 and prevents the paper 1 from floating is integrally formed with the paper guide 15.

The pin tractors 8 and 18 are tensioned by rollers 12 and 22 which are rotatably supported by the support shaft 6 and paper pressing members 14 and 24.
Is inclined upward at a slight angle so that the upstream portion in the paper insertion direction is separated from the pin tractors 8 and 18. As a result, the sheet introduction openings of the pin tractors 8 and 18 are formed at an angle at which the sheet 1 can be easily inserted. Further, in the downstream area of the paper presser 14 and 24 in the paper transport direction, the tractor pin 9 is located closer to the belt flat surface of the tractor pin 18 than the outer diameter line of the tip of the tractor pin 9 or 19. Slot 14 through which 9 and 19 pass
a and 24a are formed.

Further, a roller 27, a paper pan 28, a platen 29 and a print head 30 are disposed downstream of the pin tractors 8 and 18 in the sheet feeding direction and are conveyed by the pin tractors 8 and 18. The paper 1 is wound around the platen 29 and printed by the print head 30.

The positional relationship between the tractor pins 9 and 19 of the pin tractors 8 and 18 and the pin holes 13 and 23 of the sheet 1 when setting the sheet in the sheet conveying mechanism having such a structure will be described with reference to FIG. To do. The sheet 1 is provided with perforations, and by cutting the sheet here, the distance between the leading end portion of the sheet and the pin holes 13a and 23a (hereinafter referred to as the leading end pin hole) closest to the leading end portion becomes constant. ing.
In addition, the pin holes 13 and 23 of the paper 1 and the tractor pin 9,
Each pitch of 19 is assumed to be the same. These pin holes 13 and 23 and the left and right tractor pins 9 and 19
Are symmetrically provided, only one (right side) is shown in FIG.

First, the paper guide 15 is moved so that the left end of the paper guide 15 contacts the right end of the paper 1 along the paper guide 4. Then, the sheet 1 is inserted and set to a position where the leading end of the sheet 1 contacts the tractor pins 9 and 19.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a line (hereinafter, referred to as a pin tractor outer diameter line) 26 connecting the apexes of the pin of the pin tractor passes through the tip pin holes 13a and 23a, or FIG. As shown in b), when the pin tractor outer diameter wire 26 passes behind the leading end pin holes 13a and 23a toward the rear side of the sheet, when the pin tractors 8 and 18 are driven to rotate, the tractor pins 9 and 19 and the sheet 1 are rotated. Pin hole 13,
23 is automatically engaged, and the sheet 1 is automatically inserted.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the pin tractor outer diameter wire 26 passes through the leading end side of the paper from the tip pin holes 13a and 23a, the tractor pins 9 and 19 and the pin hole 13 of the paper 1 are connected. , 23 are not automatically engaged, and the sheet 1 is not automatically inserted.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a control unit 35 is provided for controlling the stop positions of the pins of the pin tractors 8 and 18 when the photo sensor 31 detects the end of the paper 1 or the absence of the paper. There is. The control unit 35 controls a drive motor 36 that is a drive source of the pin tractors 8 and 18, and when the photo sensor 31 detects the end portion of the paper 1 or the absence of paper, the control unit 35 controls the drive motor 36. The tractors 8 and 18 are driven for a predetermined time. This is to release the engagement between the feed holes 13 and 23 at the end of the sheet 1 and the tractor pins 9 and 19. Then, by detecting the positions of the tractor pins 9 and 19 with the photo sensor 32, the pins of the pin tractors 8 and 18 are inserted into a predetermined position, that is, the position where the leading end of the paper 1 comes into contact with the tractor pins 9 and 19. If it is assumed that the pin tractor outer diameter wire 26 has the tip pin holes 13a, 2
It is stopped at a position where it does not pass through the leading edge side of the paper from 3a.

Next, the operation of inserting the sheet 1 will be described. Place the paper 1 on the paper under guide 2 with its left end in contact with the left paper guide plate 4, and slide the right paper guide 15 in the direction orthogonal to the paper insertion direction.
The paper guide 15 is brought into contact with the right end of the paper 1. Next, the paper 1 is inserted and set up to the position where the leading end of the paper 1 contacts the tractor pins 9 and 19. In this state, the left and right pin holes 13 and 23 of the sheet 1 and the tractor pins 9 and 19 of the pin tractors 8 and 18 respectively match in the sheet inserting direction, and the pin tractor outer diameter line 26 is the tip pin hole 13a. It does not pass through the leading edge of the paper from 23a. Therefore, in this state, when the shaft 7 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 36 and the pin tractors 8 and 18 are rotationally driven in the paper inserting direction, the pin holes 13 and 23 of the paper 1 and the tractor pins 9 and 1 are driven.
9 engages with the rotation of the pin tractors 8 and 18,
The sheet 1 will be automatically inserted.

As described above, when the leading end of the sheet 1 is inserted to the position where it comes into contact with the tractor pins 9 and 19, the pin tractor outer diameter wire 26 is provided at the leading end pin holes 13a and 23.
Since the control unit 35 for controlling the stop positions of the tractor pins 9 and 19 is provided so as not to pass through the leading edge side of the paper from a, the leading edge of the paper 1 is placed on the tractor pins 9 and 19.
The sheet 1 can be easily attached to the pin tractors 8 and 18 by rotating the pin tractors 8 and 18 only by inserting and setting the sheet 1 to the position where the sheet 1 comes into contact with the pin tractors 8 and 18.

Further, the paper guide plate 4 for guiding the paper 1 in the paper insertion direction by contacting the left end of the paper 1 and the left pin tractor 8 are fixed, and the paper 1 is contacted with the right end of the paper 1 for holding the paper 1 in place. Since the paper guide 15 that guides the paper in the paper insertion direction is provided so as to move in conjunction with the right pin tractor 18, the pin tractor 8 can be simply moved by sliding the paper guide 15 to match the width of the paper 1. 18 and paper 1
The feed holes 13 and 23 can be aligned with each other in the paper insertion direction, and the paper 1 can be accurately attached to the pin tractors 8 and 18.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the left side of the sheet 1 is used as a reference, but both sides may be movable. Further, the pin tractors 8 and 18 may be configured so as to be supported at two positions, that is, a roller that is interlocked with the rotation of the drive shaft and a roller that is rotatably supported by the support shaft.

In the above embodiment, the photo sensor 31 is used.
Detects the end of paper 1 or the absence of paper,
The control unit 35 controls the stop position of the pins of the pin tractors 8 and 18, but the stop position is controlled each time the power is turned on or a predetermined switch is pressed. You may comprise.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the leading edge of the sheet is inserted to the position where it comes into contact with the pin of the pin tractor before the sheet is mounted, the line connecting the vertices of the pin is the sheet. The stop position of the pin of the pin tractor is controlled so as not to pass through the tip end side of the feed hole closest to the tip end of the pin tractor. Thus, the paper can be automatically inserted by the rotation of the pin tractor only by a simple operation of inserting the paper along the paper guide until the tip of the paper comes into contact with the pin of the pin tractor. Therefore, the troublesome work of manually engaging the paper feed hole and the pin of the pin tractor as in the related art is eliminated, and the paper can be attached to the pin tractor easily and accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper transport mechanism of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the paper transport mechanism according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a main part of a paper transport mechanism showing a positional relationship between a tractor pin and a pin hole when a paper is set according to the present embodiment, and (a) and (b) are capable of automatically inserting paper. 3C shows a state where automatic insertion of paper is impossible.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Left pin tractor 9 Tractor pin 15 Paper guide 18 Right pin tractor 19 Tractor pin 35 Control section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer equipped with a pin tractor that conveys the paper by engaging pins provided at regular intervals on the circumference of the belt with feed holes of the paper,
A paper guide that guides the paper to the pin tractor, and a line that connects the vertices of the pins when the leading end of the paper is inserted to a position where it abuts the pin of the pin tractor prior to mounting the paper. So that it does not pass through the leading edge of the paper from the feed hole closest to the leading edge of the paper,
A paper transport mechanism for a printer, comprising: a control unit that controls a stop position of a pin of the pin tractor.