JPH05536A - Printing gap-setting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure a necessary printing gap at high speed by a method wherein a pressure sensor is provided to a mechanism part holding a platen, and the platen is transferred toward a printing head side until a pressure detected value with the pressure sensor reaches a specific value to be transferred by a specific distance in the reverse direction. CONSTITUTION:A bankbook 11 is set between a platen 1 and a printing head 9. At that time the printing head is not yet detected, and a gap between the platen 1 and the printing head 9 has come to be broad. Then, when the platen 1 is transferred in the arrow B direction by operating a stepping motor 7, the bankbook 11 is pushed up with the platen 1 and the bankbook 11 comes in contact with the printing head 9. At that time contact pressure is detected with a pressure sensor 2. When the pressure sensor 2 detects appropriate pressure which has been preliminarily set, the stepping motor 7 is reversely rotated by the number of steps which has been preliminarily set, and the platen 1 is transferred by a specific distance in the arrow C direction. Thereby, a required printing gap can be secured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing gap setting device for a printing device that prints on passbooks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printing apparatus for printing on passbooks sets a printing gap by using a one-way clutch.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of such a conventional print gap setting device, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the operation of the example of FIG.

The print gap setting device shown in FIG. 3 includes a platen 21 and a pair of feeds for moving the platen 21 in a direction (direction of arrow B and direction C) of moving toward or away from the print head 29. A step motor 27, a pulley 31 with a one-way clutch attached to the shaft of the step motor 27, and a timing belt 26 wound around the pulley 31 to drive the feed screw 25. Is provided. The one-way clutch of the pulley 31 is configured to be in a locked state when the platen 21 is moved in the direction of arrow C and to slide when the platen 21 is moved in the direction of arrow B. The platen 21 is moved by the spring 32 in the direction of arrow B. Pressed.

The printer thus constructed operates as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows a state in which the passbook 11 is set between the platen 21 and the print head 29.
At this time, the print gap has not been detected yet, and the distance between the platen 21 and the print head 29 is wide. The platen 21 is held in a fixed position against the spring 32 by the holding force of the step motor 27.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the step motor 27 is operated to move the platen 21 in the direction of arrow B, the pulley is placed at a position where the passbook 11 is sandwiched between the platen 21 and the print head 29. The one-way clutch 31 slides and the platen 21 stops moving.

At this time, since the thickness of the passbook 11 is not known in advance, the platen 2 is attached to the step motor 27.
Even after 1 and the print head 29 have contacted the passbook 11, the rotation of the number of steps must be given to the position where the platen 21 and the print head 29 directly contact each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4C, although the movement of the platen 21 is already stopped, the step motor 27 still rotates.

After that, as shown in FIG. 4D, the step motor 27 is operated to move the platen 21 in the direction of arrow C by a predetermined distance to secure a necessary printing gap.

[0010]

In the conventional printing gap setting device of the printing device as described above, since the printing gap is detected by the one-way clutch and the spring, the load on the step motor is large, and
The platen 2 in which the platen 21 and the print head 29 are in contact with each other
Even when the print head 1 and the print head 29 come into contact with the passbook 11, the step motor has to be further rotated, which makes it difficult to increase the speed.

[0011]

A print gap setting device of the present invention is provided with a pressure sensor in a mechanism portion for holding a platen, and the platen is attached to a print head until a pressure detection value by the pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value. It is designed to be moved in one direction and then in the opposite direction by a predetermined amount.

That is, the print gap setting device of the present invention includes a platen provided so as to face the print head, and a platen base for rotatably connecting the platen at a rotation center provided at one end of the platen. A pressure sensor disposed between the other end of the platen and the platen base, a feed screw for moving the platen base in a direction of moving toward or away from the print head, and the feed screw And a drive motor connected to the drive pulley via a timing belt, and a step motor having the drive pulley fixed to the tip of the shaft.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

In FIG. 1, the platen 1 is rotatably connected to a platen base 3 at a rotation center 4 provided at one end, and the other end of the platen 1 is connected to the platen base 3. The pressure sensor 2 is arranged between them. The feed screw 5 moves the platen base 3 toward or away from the print head 9 (direction of arrow A).
Move to. The drive pulley 8 is the step motor 7
Fixed to the shaft of the feed screw 5 and drive pulley 8
And are connected by a timing belt 6. Therefore, the platen base 3 can be moved in the direction of arrow A by rotating the step motor 7 forward or backward. The print head 9 prints on the passbook via the ink ribbon 10.

The printing device thus constructed operates as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2A shows a state in which the passbook 11 is set between the platen 1 and the print head 9. At this time, the print gap has not been detected yet, and the distance between the platen 1 and the print head 9 is wide.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the step motor 7 is operated to move the platen 1 in the direction of arrow B, the platen 1 pushes up the passbook 11 and the passbook 1
1 contacts the print head 9. At this time, the pressure sensor 2
The contact pressure is detected by.

When the pressure sensor 2 detects an appropriate preset pressure, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the step motor 7 is reversed by a preset number of steps to move the platen 1 in the direction of arrow C. Move a specified distance to secure the necessary printing gap.

[0020]

As described above, the print gap setting device of the present invention is provided with the pressure sensor in the mechanism portion for holding the platen, and the platen is attached to the print head until the pressure detected by the pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value. It is possible to secure a necessary print gap at high speed by moving the print head toward the opposite side and then moving it in the opposite direction by a predetermined amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional print gap setting device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the operation of the example of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Platen 2 Pressure Sensor 3 Platen Base 4 Rotation Center 5 Feed Screw 6 Timing Belt 7 Step Motor 8 Drive Pulley 9 Print Head 10 Ink Ribbon 11 Passbook 21 Platen 25 Feed Screw 26 Timing Belt 27 Step Motor 29 Print Head 31 Pulley 32 Spring

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A pressure sensor is provided in a mechanism portion for holding a platen, and the platen is moved toward a print head until a pressure detection value by the pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value.
After that, the printing gap setting device is characterized in that it is moved in a reverse direction by a predetermined amount. 2. A platen provided to face the print head, a platen base rotatably connecting the platen at a rotation center provided at one end of the platen, and the other end of the platen. A pressure sensor disposed between the platen base, a feed screw for moving the platen base in a direction of moving toward and away from the print head, and a feed screw connected to the feed screw via a timing belt. A printing gap setting device, comprising: a drive pulley which is attached to the shaft; and a step motor which fixes the drive pulley to the tip of a shaft.