JPH07205491A - Thermal line printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print either or both of two recording papers by a method wherein line type thermal heads are provided at two places of the periphery of a paper feed means and a take-up roller for winding one of the two printed recording papers is made to rotate by using the paper feed means. CONSTITUTION:First and second line type thermal heads 6 and 7 are provided on the same peripheral face of a paper feed means 5. The recording papers 3 and 4 from recording paper holders 1 and 2 are held between each of the thermal heads 6 and 7 and the paper feed means 5 and, in this condition, the thermal heads 6 and 7 are so controlled as to apply their pressing action against the recording papers 3 and 4 by first and second head-upadown mechanisms 8 and 9 following the control signals from a driving circuit 11, whereby the recording papers 3 and 4 are printed in a simultaneous operation. On the other hand, either of head-up-down mechanisms 8 and 9 is so set as to separate either of line type thermal heads 6 and 7 from the recording papers 3 and 4, whereby the one recording paper alone is printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal line printer which uses two thermal heads and simultaneously prints two papers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the fields of POS, ECR, etc., thermal line printers have been increasingly used from serial type dot impact printers.

The conventional technique will be described below. In the conventional configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, two line type thermal heads (not shown) are provided in parallel, and one sheet 101
Was used for issuing printing, and the other sheet 102 was used for printing for printing.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, two line type thermal heads and two line type thermal heads are used.
Since the two recording sheets 101 and 102 are provided in parallel, the width of the printer device needs to be about twice the recording sheet width.
The apparatus itself such as S and ECR is dominated by the lateral width of the printer apparatus, and there is a problem that the size cannot be reduced.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reduces the width of the printer to about 1/2 of that of the conventional printer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal line printer in which devices in the fields of S and ECR are downsized.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, a thermal line printer according to the present invention has two recording paper holders for holding recording papers and recording papers held by these two recording paper holders. Paper feeding means, a line type thermal head which is provided at two positions on the same circumference of the paper feeding means and prints characters and figures, and a head up-down mechanism for pushing or pulling the recording paper to or from the line type thermal head. And a line type thermal head and a drive circuit for driving the paper feeding means.

Further, the paper feeding means has a paper feeding roller at both ends via two gears, and a line type thermal head is provided on the circumference of the paper feeding roller.
A take-up roller for taking up one of the two recording papers and a take-up means for rotating the take-up roller by using a paper feeding means are provided, and the take-up roller is wound so that the coloring surfaces of the recording papers face each other. As a result, one recording paper holder is provided.

[0008]

With the above-described structure, the present invention allows two line type thermal heads to simultaneously print on the recording paper held by one or two recording paper holders, issue one of them, and keep one side in reserve. Further, by separating one of the line-type thermal heads from the recording paper by the head up / down mechanism, it is possible to print on only one recording paper by the one line-type thermal head.

Further, it is possible to wind up the recording paper for printing, which has been printed by the winding means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are side views of thermal line printers according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a first recording paper holder that holds a first recording paper 3, 2 is a second recording paper holder that holds a second recording paper 4, and 5 is a first and second recording paper. It is a paper feeding means for feeding the first and second recording papers 3 and 4 held by the holders 1 and 2. 6 is a first line type thermal head which is provided on the same circumference of the first paper feeding means 5 and prints characters, figures, etc. on the first recording paper 3, and 7 is on the same circumference of the paper feeding means 5. A second line type thermal head for printing characters, figures, etc. on the second recording sheet 4 provided, and a first head-up 8 for pushing or pulling the first recording sheet 3 against the first line type thermal head 6. Down mechanism 9, 9 is a second head up-down mechanism for pressing or separating the second recording paper 4 from the second line type thermal head 7, 10 is the first and second recording paper holders 1, 2 and paper feed A frame for holding the means 5, the first and second line type thermal heads 6 and 7, and the first and second head up / down mechanisms 8 and 9, and 11 is the first line type thermal heads 6 and 7 and paper feed. It is a drive circuit for driving the means 5.

In FIG. 2, 12 is a first recording paper holder for holding a first recording paper 14, 13 is a second recording paper 15
A second recording paper holder 16 for holding the first and second recording paper holders 16 for holding the first and second recording paper holders 12 and 13.
Paper feed means for feeding 4, 15 and 17, paper feed means 1
The first line type thermal head 18 is provided on the same circumference of 6 and prints characters and figures on the first recording paper 14, and the numeral 18 is provided on the same circumference of the paper feeding means 16 to the second recording paper 15. A second line type thermal head for printing characters and figures, 1
Reference numeral 9 is a first head up / down mechanism for pressing or separating the first recording paper 14 to the first line type thermal head 17, and 20 is pressing the second recording paper 15 to the second line type thermal head 18. Alternatively, a second head up-down mechanism 21 for pulling it apart, 21 for the first and second recording paper holders 12, 13, the paper feeding means 16, the first and second line type thermal heads 17, 18 for the first and second thermal heads. A frame that holds the head up / down mechanisms 19 and 20, and 22 is a drive circuit that drives the first and second line type thermal heads 17 and 18 and the paper feeding unit 16.

The operation of the thermal line printer constructed as described above will be described below.

First, the first and second recording paper holders are provided between the paper feeding means 5 and the first and second line type thermal heads 6 and 7 provided on the same circumference of the paper feeding means 5. The first and second recording papers 3 and 4 held by 1 and 2 are sandwiched, and simultaneous printing is performed on the first and second recording papers 3 and 4 by a control signal of the drive circuit 11. At this time, the first and second head up / down mechanisms 8 and 9 press the first and second line type thermal heads 6 and 7 against the first and second recording papers 3 and 4.

Further, the first and second line type thermal heads 6 and 7 connected to the first and second head up / down mechanisms 8 and 9 are separated from the first and second recording papers 3 and 4. If one of the first and second head up / down mechanisms 8 and 9 is set, printing on one recording sheet becomes possible.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the first and second line type thermal heads 6 and 7 on the same circumference of the paper feeding means 5, the first and second recordings are carried out. Simultaneous printing on papers 3 and 4 or one first and second recording paper 3
Ordinary printing on 4 or 4 can realize a thermal line printer having a width substantially equal to the width of the first or second recording paper 3 or 4, and the width of the thermal line printer can be reduced to about 1/2 of the conventional width.

It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 2, the second recording paper 15 printed as a reserve by arranging the first and second line type thermal heads 17 and 18 in the vertical direction utilizes gravity. It can be folded and placed, and it has an effect of automatically dropping printing dust generated during printing from the first and second recording papers 14 and 15 downward.

The third and fourth embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 3 and 4 are side views of the thermal line printer according to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, 23 is a first recording paper holder for holding a first recording paper 25, and 24 is a second recording paper 26.
Is a second recording paper holder for holding the second recording paper, and 27 is a first recording paper holder for feeding the second recording paper 26 held by the second recording paper holder 24.
Paper feeding means 28, second paper feeding means 28 for feeding the first recording paper 25 held by the first recording paper holder 23, 2
Reference numeral 9 is a first paper feed gear that is rotated by the force of the first paper feed means 27, and 30 is a second paper feed that is rotated by the force of the first paper feed gear 29 and that rotates the second paper feed means 28. The gear 31 is provided on the circumference of the first paper feeding means 27 and the second recording paper 26 is provided.
A first line type thermal head for printing characters, figures, etc. on a second line type, 32 is provided on the circumference of the second paper feeding means 28 for printing characters, figures, etc. on the first recording paper 25. The thermal head 33 is the first line type thermal head 3
The second recording paper 26 is pressed against or pulled apart from the first
The head up / down mechanism 34 is a second head up / down mechanism for pressing the second recording paper 25 against or pulling it away from the second line type thermal head 32. Reference numeral 35 designates first and second recording paper holders 23 and 24, first and second paper feeding means 27 and 28, and first and second paper feeding gears 29 and 3.
A frame for holding 0 and the first and second line type thermal heads 31, 32 and the first and second head up / down mechanisms 33, 34, and 36 for the first and second line type thermal heads 31, 32 It is a drive circuit for driving the paper feeding means 27.

In FIG. 4, 37 is a first recording paper holder for holding a first recording paper 39, and 38 is a second recording paper 40.
The second recording paper holder 41 holds the first recording paper 39 held by the first recording paper holder 37.
Is a paper feeding means, and 42 is a second paper feeding means for feeding the second recording paper 40 held by the second recording paper holder 38. 43 is a first paper feed gear that is rotated by the force of the first paper feed means 41, and 44 is a second paper feed that is rotated by the force of the first paper feed gear 43 and that rotates the second paper feed means 42. gear,
Reference numeral 45 denotes a first line type thermal head which is provided on the circumference of the first paper feeding means 41 and prints characters, figures, etc. on the first recording paper 39, and 46 denotes a circumference of the second paper feeding means 42. It is a second line type thermal head for printing characters, figures, etc. on the second recording paper 40 provided in the. Reference numeral 47 is a first head up / down mechanism for pressing or separating the first recording paper 39 to the first line type thermal head 45, and 48 is pressing the second recording paper 40 to the second line type thermal head 46. Alternatively, it is a second head-up / down mechanism for separating. Reference numeral 49 denotes the first and second recording paper holders 37 and 38, the first and second paper feeding means 41 and 42, the first and second paper feeding gears 43 and 44, and the first and second line type thermals. Heads 45 and 46 and first and second head up / down mechanism 4
A frame that holds 7, 48, and a drive circuit 50 that drives the first and second line type thermal heads 45, 46 and the paper feeding means 41.

The operation of the thermal line printer constructed as above will be described below. Between the first and second paper feed means 27 and 28 connected to the first and second paper feed gears 29 and 30 and the first and second line type thermal heads 31 and 32, the first and second paper feed gears 31 and 32 are provided. 2 recording paper holder 2
Simultaneous printing is performed on the first and second recording papers 25 and 26 by sandwiching the first and second recording papers 25 and 26 held by 3, 24 and a control signal from the drive circuit 36. At this time, the first and second head up / down mechanisms 33 and 34 press the first and second line-type thermal heads 31 and 32 against the first and second recording papers 25 and 26, respectively.

Further, the first and second line type thermal heads 31 and 32 connected to the first and second head up / down mechanisms 33 and 34 are separated from the first and second recording papers 25 and 26. First and second head up / down mechanism 3
If either one of 3 and 34 is set, printing on one recording sheet becomes possible.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the first and second paper feed gears 2 are provided to the first and second paper feed means 27 and 28.
By connecting 9 and 30, simultaneous printing of the first and second recording papers 25 and 26 or normal printing to one of the first and second recording papers 25 and 26 can be performed. Paper 2
A thermal line printer having a width substantially equal to 5 or 26 can be realized, and the width of the thermal line printer can be reduced to about 1/2 of the conventional width.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second line-type thermal heads 45 and 46 are vertically arranged so that the first recording paper 39 printed as a reserve is used by gravity. It can be folded and placed, and it has an effect of automatically dropping printing dust generated during printing from the first and second recording papers 39 and 40 downward.

The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5
In 51, 51 is a first recording paper holder for holding a first recording paper 53, 52 is a second recording paper holder for holding a second recording paper 54, and 55 is a first and second recording paper holder 51. ，
A paper feed unit that feeds the first and second recording papers 53 and 54 held by 52. Reference numeral 56 is a winding means that rotates by the force of the paper feeding means 55, and 57 is a winding roller connected to the winding means 56. Numeral 58 is a first line type thermal head which is provided on the circumference of the paper feeding means 55 and prints characters and figures on the first recording paper 53, and 59 is a second recording which is provided on the circumference of the paper feeding means 55. Second printing of characters and figures on paper 54
Line type thermal head. Reference numeral 60 denotes a first head up-down mechanism that pushes or separates the first recording paper 53 to the first line type thermal head 58, and 61 denotes a second recording sheet 54 to the second line type thermal head 59.
Is a second head-up / down mechanism that pushes or pulls away. 62 is a first and second recording paper holder 51, 5
2, paper feeding means 55, winding means 56, and winding roller 5
7, a frame for holding the first and second line type thermal heads 58 and 59 and the first and second head up / down mechanisms 60 and 61, and 63 to the first and second line type thermal heads 58 and 59. This is a drive circuit for driving the paper feeding unit 55.

The operation of the thermal line printer configured as described above will be described below. The operation up to printing on the first and second recording papers 53 and 54 is the same as the operation shown in the first embodiment, but printing is performed by the take-up roller 57 via the paper feeding means 55 and the take-up means 56. Of the first and second recording papers 53 and 54 to be printed later, the second recording paper 54 for backup is taken up.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the winding means 56 is connected to the paper feeding means 55, and the winding roller is connected to the winding means 56, so that the second recording paper 54 for backup is connected. Can be wound into a roll after printing, and a thermal line printer having a width substantially equal to that of the first recording paper 53 or the second recording paper 54 can be realized. Can be

The sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6
In the figure, 64 is a recording paper holder for holding a recording paper 65, and this recording paper 65 is a recording paper wound so that the color development surfaces face each other. Reference numeral 66 is a first paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper 65 held by the recording paper holder 64, and 67 is a second paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper 65 held by the recording paper holder 64. 68 is a first paper feed gear that is rotated by the force of the first paper feed means 66, and 69 is a first paper feed gear 68.
This is a second paper feed gear that rotates by the force of 1 to rotate the paper feed means 67. Reference numeral 70 denotes a first line type thermal head which is provided on the circumference of the first paper feeding means 66 and prints characters, figures, etc. on the recording paper 65, and 71 is provided on the circumference of the second paper feeding means 67 for recording. This is a second line-type thermal head that prints characters, figures, etc. on the paper 65. Reference numeral 72 denotes a first head up / down mechanism that pushes or pulls the recording paper 65 onto the first line-type thermal head 70, and 73 denotes a second head that pushes or pulls the recording paper 65 onto the second line-type thermal head 71. It is an up-down mechanism. 74 is a recording paper holder 64 and first and second paper feeding means 66, 67.
And a frame for holding the first and second paper feed gears 68 and 69, the first and second line type thermal heads 70 and 71, and the first and second head up / down mechanisms 72 and 73. 75 is the first and second line type thermal heads 70,
71 is a drive circuit for driving the paper feeding means 66.

The operation of the thermal line printer configured as described above will be described below. The recording paper 65 held by the recording paper holder 64 and wound so that the coloring surfaces face each other is used as the first and second line type thermal heads 7.
It is sandwiched between 0 and 71 and the first and second paper feeding means 66 and 67, and simultaneous printing is performed by the control signal of the drive circuit 75. At this time, the first and second head up / down mechanisms 7
2, 73 are the first and second line type thermal heads 70,
71 is pressed against the recording paper 65.

Further, the first and second head-up mechanisms 72 and 73 are connected to the first and second line-type thermal heads 70 and 71 so that they are separated from the recording paper 65. If either one of the down mechanisms 72, 73 is set, printing on one recording sheet becomes possible.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, if the recording paper 65 wound so that the color-developing surfaces face each other is used, only one recording paper holder 64 is provided and two recording papers can be formed. Simultaneous printing or normal printing on one recording paper can realize a thermal line printer whose width is almost equal to that of the recording paper 65.
Can be

A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 76 denotes a recording paper holder for holding a recording paper 77, 7
Reference numeral 7 is a recording sheet wound so that the color developing surfaces face each other, 78 is a first sheet feeding unit for feeding the recording sheet 77 held by the recording sheet holder 76, and 79 is a recording sheet held by the recording sheet holder 76. This is a second paper feeding means for feeding 77. Reference numeral 80 is a first paper feed gear that is rotated by the force of the first paper feed means 78, and 81 is a second paper feed that is rotated by the force of the first paper feed gear 80 and that rotates the second paper feed means 79. It is a gear. 8
2 is a winding means that is rotated by the force of the first paper feeding means 78,
A winding roller 83 is connected to the winding means 82.
Reference numeral 84 denotes a first line type thermal head which is provided on the circumference of the paper feeding means 78 and prints characters, figures and the like on the recording paper 77.
5 is provided on the circumference of the paper feeding means 79, and characters and
Second line type thermal head for printing figures, 86
Is a first head-up / down mechanism that pushes or pulls the recording paper 77 onto the first line-type thermal head 84, and 87 is a second head-up that pushes or pulls the recording paper 77 onto the second line-type thermal head 85. It is a down mechanism. 88 is the recording paper holder 76 and the first and second
Paper feeding means 78, 79 and the first and second paper feeding gears 8
0, 81, winding means 82, winding roller 83, first,
Second line type thermal heads 84 and 85 and first and second
This is a frame that holds the head up-down mechanism 86, 87. Reference numeral 89 is a drive circuit for driving the first and second line type thermal heads 84 and 85 and the paper feeding means 78.

The operation of the thermal line printer configured as described above will be described below. The recording paper 77 held by the recording paper holder 76 and wound so that the coloring surfaces face each other is used, and only one recording paper holder is provided to print on two recording papers. The contents are the same as those described above, but the winding means 82 connected to the paper feeding means 78 and the winding roller 83 connected to the winding means 82.
You can take a copy of the recording paper after printing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, if the recording paper 77 wound so that the color-developing surfaces face each other is used, only one recording paper holder 76 is provided and two recording papers can be formed. Simultaneous printing or normal printing on one recording paper can be realized with a thermal line printer having a width substantially equal to the width of the recording paper 77.
Can be Further, by connecting the winding means 82 to the paper feeding means 78 and connecting the winding roller 83 to the winding means 82, it is possible to wind the copy recording paper in a roll after printing.

[0034]

As described above, the present invention is provided with the line type thermal heads which are provided at two positions on the same circumference of the paper feeding means and which prints characters, figures, etc., and both ends via two gears. And a line type thermal head for printing characters, figures, etc., provided on the circumference of the paper feed roller, and for winding one of the two printed recording papers. A take-up roller and a take-up means for rotating the take-up roller using a paper feeding means, and
By winding the recording paper so that the colored surfaces face each other, 1
By providing two recording paper holders, it is possible to realize a thermal line printer that can perform simultaneous printing on two recording papers or normal printing on one recording paper, which is approximately the same as the horizontal width of the recording papers. It is possible to realize an excellent thermal line printer in which the recording paper for printing can be wound into a roll after being printed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a thermal line printer according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional thermal line printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st recording paper holder 2 2nd recording paper holder 3 1st recording paper 4 2nd recording paper 5 paper feeding means 6 1st line type thermal head 7 2nd line type thermal head 8 1st Head-up / down mechanism 9 Second head-up / down mechanism 10 Frame 11 Drive circuit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B41J 11/48 25/304 B41J 25/30 U

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of recording paper holders for holding recording papers, a paper feeding means for feeding the recording papers held by the two recording paper holders, and two locations on the same circumference of the paper feeding means. A line-type thermal head that prints characters and figures, a head up-down mechanism that presses or separates the recording paper from the line-type thermal head, the recording paper holder, the paper feeding unit, and the line-type thermal head A thermal line printer comprising a frame holding the head up-down mechanism, a line type thermal head and a drive circuit for driving the paper feeding means. 2. The thermal line printer according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding means has a paper feeding roller at both ends via two gears, and a line type thermal head is provided on the circumference of the paper feeding roller. . 3. The thermal line according to claim 1, further comprising: a take-up roller for taking up one of the two printed recording papers, and a take-up means for rotating the take-up roller by using a paper feeding means. Printer. 4. The thermal line printer according to claim 2, wherein the thermal line printer has one recording paper holder by winding the recording paper so that the coloring surfaces of the recording paper face each other. 5. A winding roller for winding one of two printed recording papers, and a winding means for rotating the winding roller by using a paper feeding means. The thermal line printer described.