JPH06126995A - Printing head position adjusting mechanism for thermal plotter or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out the adjustment of position of a printing head to head frames in the state of locking the head frames on the given printing position. CONSTITUTION:Head frames 32a and 32b can be locked removably on the main body side of the printing position. At the time of printing, a delivery section of a roll paper 22 is disposed between a printing head 34 and a platen roller 48, and the delivery section of the roll paper 22 is carried in the given direction by the rotation of the platen roller 48, and printing is carried on the delivery section of the roll paper 22 by the printing head 34. Openings 88 are formed on the sections of side plates 18a and 18b facing the head position adjusting means, and the position of the printing head 34 to the head frames 32a and 32b can be adjusted through the openings 88 by an operator while test printing is carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print head mounting position adjusting mechanism for a thermal plotter or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of thermal plotter or the like, when adjusting the contact position of the print head with respect to the platen roller, the head frame is removed from the plotter body, and then the print head is attached to the head frame. I was adjusting the position.

[0003]

In the conventional position adjustment of the print head, since the head frame is once removed from the plotter body, after adjusting the position of the print head with respect to the head frame, the head frame is again adjusted. The position of the print head with respect to the platen roller when attached to the plotter body was unknown. Moreover, it was not known what the print output state would be after head position adjustment. The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a pair of side plates provided in a plotter body and facing each other in parallel with a predetermined distance, and a pair of side plates supported between the side plates. Head frame, a platen roller rotatably supported between the side plates, a drive device for rotationally driving the platen roller in a predetermined direction, and a head frame supported so as to be able to contact the platen roller. In a print head position adjusting mechanism in a thermal plotter or the like having a long print head, a position adjustment for adjusting a mounting position of the print head with respect to the head frame on an outer surface of the head frame facing the side plate. Means is provided, and an opening for operating the position adjusting means from the outside of the side plate is provided in a portion of the side plate facing the position adjusting means. Part one in which a is provided.

[0005]

When the platen roller is rotationally driven, the paper inserted and arranged between the platen roller and the print head in contact with the platen roller is fed in a predetermined conveying direction by a frictional force with the platen roller. At this time, the print head prints on the paper in contact therewith. The print output state changes depending on the contact position of the print head with the platen roller. The operator can adjust the position of the print head from the opening of the side plate while actually driving the plotter and observing the print output state.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Reference numeral 16 is a main body of the thermal plotter, and the main body 16 is supported by legs 18 at a predetermined height above the floor surface.

The body 16 is a pair of side plates 18 which are perpendicular to a pair of floor surfaces and which face each other in parallel at a predetermined interval.
a, 18b. Rim receivers 20a and 20b are fixed to the rear portions of the side plates 18a and 18b, and
A semicircular recess 22 having an open top is formed.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a heat-sensitive roll paper wound around a tubular core body 24, and the flange 2 is provided at both ends of the core body 24.
A tubular portion 28 protruding to the inner surface of 6a, 26b is press-fitted and fixed in a removable manner.

Cylindrical rims 30a and 30b are provided at the centers of the outer surfaces of the flanges 26a and 26b, and the rims 30a and 30b are rotatably fitted in the recesses 22 of the rim receiving portions 20a and 20b. It is mounted together.

Reference numerals 32a and 32b denote a pair of head frames, which are fixed to both ends of a long connecting member 33, and the frames 32a and 32b are arranged close to the inner side surfaces of the side plates 18a and 18b. The head frame 32
A thermal line print head 34 is arranged between a and 32b, and head pins 98 are coaxially projected on both end faces of the print head 34. (See Figure 4)

The head pins 98 are loosely fitted in the holes 100 of the corresponding head frames 32a and 32b, and the head pins 98 are slidably fitted in the elongated holes 104 of the head Y adjusting plate 102 extending in the Y-axis direction. I am fit. Further, the head pin 98 is connected to the head Z fixing plate 10.
6 is fitted in the pin hole 108. The print head 3
Both end surfaces of the head frame 32 in the longitudinal direction are
It is slidably in contact with 32b. The other side of the print head 34 also has the same structure as in FIG.

The pins 110 and 112 projecting from the head frames 32a and 32b are attached to the head Y adjusting plate 102.
, Which are slidably fitted in the elongated holes 114 and 116 for pins extending in the Y-axis direction. Head frames 32a, 32
Threaded holes 118, 120 are provided in each of b, and corresponding to these threaded holes 118, 120, elongated head holes 122, 124 for screws extending in the Y-axis direction are formed in the head Y adjustment plate 102.
Is transparently installed. The Y adjustment plate 102 has screw holes 1
26 is transparently provided, and corresponding to the screw hole 126, the head Z fixing plate 106 is provided with a long slot for screw 1 extending in the Z-axis direction.
28 is transparently provided.

A pin 130 is provided coaxially at a portion of both end faces of the print head 34, which is separated from the head pin 98 (see FIG. 3), and the pin 130 is formed in the head frames 32a and 32b. Long hole 13 extending in the Z-axis direction
4 is slidably fitted. The print head 34
A screw hole is formed in the vicinity of the pin 130 on both end faces of the shaft, and the shaft portion of the screw 132 screwed into the screw hole is loosely fitted in the hole provided in the head frames 32a and 32b.

A screw hole is transparently provided in the upper horizontal portion of the head frames 32a and 32b, and a head Y-axis adjusting screw 136 is inserted into the hole, and the screw 136 is Y-shaped.
The adjusting plate 102 is screwed into a screw hole in the horizontal portion. The adjusting plate 102 and the fixing plate 108 for adjusting the position of the print head 34 with respect to the head frames 32a and 32b in the left-right direction (Z-axis direction) and the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) in FIG. The head position adjusting mechanism is constituted, and the screws 140, 142, 144 used in the adjusting mechanism and the screw 136 constitute a head position adjusting means.

In the printing state in which the printing portion of the print head 34 is in contact with the platen roller 48 as shown in FIG. 2, the operator uses the head position adjusting means to move the side plate 18
It is constructed so that it can be operated from holes or openings 88 provided in a and 18b.

A pair of pivot shafts 36a, 3 located coaxially with each other at eccentric positions of the head frames 32a, 32b.
6b is projected. The pivots 36a and 36b are rotatably fitted in support holes provided through the front portions of the side plates 18a and 18b.

A positioning mechanism (not shown) is attached to each of the pivots 36a and 36b to lock the movement of these pivots in the axial direction. A hook 38 is fixed to the head frames 32a and 32b. 40 is the side plate 1
A lock plate is rotatably supported by 8a and 18b, and a stopper shaft 42 for receiving the hook 38 is projectingly provided on the lock plate.

The lock plate 40 is urged by a spring 43 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the side surface of the lock plate 40 is urged by this urging force.
It is elastically contacted with stopper shafts 46 fixed to a and 18b, respectively.

Reference numeral 48 is a platen roller, and a support shaft projecting from both ends thereof is rotatably supported by the side plates 18a and 18b so as not to be displaced in the axial direction. One of the platen rollers 48 is connected to an output shaft of a motor 50 fixed to the side plate 18b via a power transmission mechanism.

The platen roller 48 includes the side plate 18
The backup roller 52 rotatably supported between a and 18b is in pressure contact with the backup roller 52. The head frames 32a, 3
In the state where the hook 38 of 2b is engaged with the stopper shaft 42, the head frames 32a and 32b have
Depending on the weight of the print head 34, its pivots 36a, 3
Rotational force is generated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 around 6b.

When the head frames 32a and 32b are locked to the stopper shaft 42, the printing portion of the print head 34, as shown in FIG. The roller 48 is configured to be in pressure contact with the peripheral surface thereof.

Spring guide shafts 56 are projectingly provided at a plurality of positions of the cover 54 provided on the head frames 32a and 32b. A head pressing spring 58 composed of a coil spring is fitted and inserted on the spring guide shaft 56. Due to the elasticity of the spring 58, the print head 34
The back surface in the longitudinal direction of is pressed against the platen roller 48.

Pins 60 are respectively provided on the side plates 18a and 18b so as to project from the side plates 18a and 18b.
A coil spring 64 connects the pins 62 projecting from a and 32b.

With the hook 38 engaged with the stopper shaft 42, the head frames 32a, 32b.
Is urged counterclockwise in FIG. 5 about the pivots 36a and 36b.

The biasing direction of the coil spring 64 with respect to the head frames 32a, 32b is such that when the head frames 32a, 32b are swung counterclockwise about their pivots 36a, 36b, the printing portion of the print head 34 is moved. When the print head is directed upward and reaches the completely open position of the print head, the conversion is performed in the opposite direction.

A head frame opening / closing lever 66 is fixedly mounted on the lock plate 40. When the operator presses the open / close lever 66 and rotates the lock plate 40 counterclockwise about the shaft 44 against the elastic force of the spring 43, the stopper 42 and the hook 38 are engaged with each other. It is configured to be released.

Reference numeral 68 is a leaf spring having one end fixed to the rim receiving portion 20a, and the open end side thereof has the rim 30a.
Elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rim 30a to apply a braking force to the rotational movement of the rim 30a. The leaf spring 68 is also attached to the rim receiving portion 20b.
Is provided. Reference numerals 70, 74, 76, and 78 denote sheet conveyance guides, which are fixed to the main body 2.

Reference numeral 72 is a paper conveyance guide, which is provided between the head frames 32a and 32b. 80
Is a cutter held by a cutting unit (not shown), and the cutting unit is movably attached to a guide rail 82 extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. The cutting unit is configured to automatically move along the guide rail 82 by a driving device.

Reference numeral 84 is a top cover, one end of which is rotatably supported by a shaft 86 on the side plates 18a and 18b. Reference numeral 88 is a hole formed through the side plates 18a and 18b, and reference numerals 92 and 94 are flexible elastic sheets disposed at the sheet outlet 90 of the main body 16.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The position adjustment of the print head 34 with respect to the head frames 32a and 32b in the two axial directions is performed by the head frames 32a and 32b.
Is locked to the side plates 18a and 18b, and the screw 136 is loosened most, and then the screw 136 is rotated to move the Y adjustment plate 102 upward with respect to the head frames 32a and 32b. While printing the head position adjustment pattern, the vertical and horizontal positions of the print head 34 are adjusted.
The Y adjustment plate 102 is fixed to the head frames 32a and 32b by tightly screwing into the screw holes 118 and 120 via 124, and the position of the print head 34 in the Y-axis direction is fixed.

Next, the screw 144 is tightly screwed into the screw 126 from the long hole 128 to fix the head Z fixing plate 106 to the head Y adjusting plate 102, whereby the print head 3
The position of No. 4 with respect to the head frames 32a and 32b in the Z-axis direction is fixed.

Next, the screw 132 is tightly screwed into the screw hole of the print head 34 to firmly fix the print head 34 to the head frames 32a, 32b side. During printing, the roll paper held by the core body 24 is fed toward the print head 34, and the fed portion is supplied between the platen roller 48 and the print surface of the print head 34 via the guide 70.

Normally, the head frames 32a and 32b are
The hook portion 38 engages with the stopper shaft 42, and in the engaged state, the print head 34 moves the head frame 32.
Depending on the weights of the sides a and 32b, the platen roller 48 is abutted against the platen roller 48 via the roll paper 22 at a predetermined pressure.

When the hook portions 38 are engaged with the stopper shaft 42 and the head frames 32a and 32b are rotated about their pivots 36a and 36b in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Rotation is blocked.

With the hook portion 38 engaged with the stopper shaft 42, the head frames 32a and 32b are
The pulling force of the spring 64 causes the pivots 36a and 36b in FIG.
Rotational force is acting counterclockwise around. This rotational force is set to be slightly smaller than the rotational force due to the gravity of the head frames 32a and 32b.

The platen roller 48 shown in FIG.
By the rotational drive in the counterclockwise direction, the feeding portion of the roll paper 22 passes through the print surface of the print head 34 at a predetermined transport speed due to the friction with the platen roller 48, and is fed between the guides 72 and 74, and 76. , 78 and paper discharge port 90
Is discharged to the outside of the main body 16.

The feeding portion of the roll paper 22 is the print head 3
When passing 4, the print head 34 performs a predetermined visible image forming operation, that is, a print image, on the feeding portion of the roll paper 22.

During this printing operation, the platen roller 48
Due to the rotational force of the print head 34, a press-down force is generated in the print head 34 that is pressed against the print head 34. Due to the pushing-down force on the print head 34, the head frames 32a and 32b try to move clockwise in FIG. 5 against the elastic force of the spring 43 about the pivots 36a and 36b.

However, with respect to this moving force, the tensile force of the spring 64 acts in the opposite direction, and the head frames 32a, 3
2b holds a stationary state during printing. When the printing operation is completed, the platen roller 48 stops rotating.

Next, at the feeding portion of the roll paper 22, the boundary between the printed portion and the unprinted portion is automatically cut by the cutter 80, and the printed portion of the feeding portion of the roll paper 22 is cut. , Separated from the unprinted area and stored in the paper tray.

When a paper jam occurs or when the print head is inspected, repaired, or cleaned, the upper cover 84 is opened, the lever 66 is lifted, the lock plate 40 is repulsed by the spring 43. Counterclockwise in FIG. 5 to rotate the stopper shaft 4 against the stopper shaft 4.
The engagement between 2 and the hook portion 38 is released.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the head frames 32a, 32b are pivoted by hand with the pivots 36a, 36, respectively.
By making a large counterclockwise rotation about b, the print surface of the print head 34 can be largely separated from the platen roller 48, and the print surface of the print head 34 can be opened. Head frame 32a,
When the 32b is rotated in the opening direction, the head frames 32a and 32b can be lightly lifted by the force of the spring 64.

[0043]

[Effect] Since the present invention is configured as described above, there is an effect that the position of the print head can be adjusted while actually performing test printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a main body of a thermal plotter.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a part of the main body of the thermal plotter.

FIG. 3 is a side view of head position adjusting means of the thermal plotter.

FIG. 4 is an external view of head position adjusting means of the thermal plotter.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the thermal plotter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Plotter body 4 Top cover 6 Axis 8 Print head 10 Platen roller 12 Roll paper 14 Pressing spring 16 Plotter body 18a Side plate 18b Side plate 20a Rim receiving part 20b Rim receiving part 22 Roll paper 24 Core body 26a Flange 26b Flange 28 Tubular part 30a Rim 30b rim 32a head frame 34 print head 36a pivot 36b pivot 38 hook 40 lock plate 43 spring 44 shaft 46 stopper shaft 48 platen roller 50 motor 52 backup roller 54 cover 56 spring guide shaft 58 head pressing spring 60 pin 62 pin 64 coil spring 66 Lever 68 Leaf spring 70 Paper transport guide 72 Paper transport guide 74 Paper transport guide 76 Paper transport guide 78 Paper transport guide 80 Cutter 82 Guide tray 84 upper surface cover 86 shaft 88 hole 90 outlet 92 elastic sheet 94 elastic sheet 102 head Y adjustment plate 106 head Z fixing plate

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B43L 13/00 D 8705-2C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of side plates provided on a plotter body in parallel with each other and facing each other at a predetermined interval, a pair of head frames supported between the side plates, and rotatably supported between the side plates. In a thermal plotter or the like including a platen roller, a drive device that rotationally drives the platen roller in a predetermined direction, and a long print head supported between the head frames so as to come into contact with the platen roller. In the print head position adjusting mechanism, a position adjusting means for adjusting a mounting position of the print head with respect to the head frame is provided on an outer surface of the head frame facing the side plate, and the position adjusting means of the side plate faces the position adjusting means. In a thermal putter or the like characterized in that an opening for operating the position adjusting means from the outside of the side plate is provided Print head position adjustment mechanism.