JPH0880650A - Paper feeding device of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make it possible to ensure the running space of paper under backward feeding state by a method wherein paper resetting members, each of which separates under paper feeding state from and abuts under backward feeding state against the top surface at the tip part of the uppermost sheet of the sheets of paper laid on a paper laying plate, are equipped. CONSTITUTION: This paper feeding device is equipped with laying quantity controlling members 60, which are provided on a paper laying plate 23 and control the maximum laying quantity to be laid on the paper laying plate 23, and laying quality controlling member driving means 73, which advance the controlling members 60 towards the top surface of the paper laying plate 23 under stand-by state and retreat then from the paper laying plate 23 under backward feeding state. A laying plate moving position controlling means 78, which controls so as to set the positions of the paper laying plate under stand-by state and backward feeding state to the position being separated from the laying quantity controlling members 60, and paper resetting members 25, each of which is attachably and detachably actuated so as to separate under paper feeding state from and abut under the backward feeding state against the top surface at the tip part of the uppermost sheet of the sheets of paper 14 laid on the paper laying plate 23, are equipped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer paper feeder, and more particularly, to a paper feeder for a printer suitable for a printer capable of back-feeding and carrying out color printing by conveying the paper in forward and reverse directions. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, various color printers such as a thermal transfer color printer and a color page printer capable of performing color printing on plain paper, OHP paper, thick paper and the like have high printing quality, low noise and low cost. It is used as an output device for computers, word processors, facsimiles, etc. for reasons such as ease of maintenance.

A color thermal transfer printer will be described as an example of such a general color printer. In the conventional color thermal transfer printer, a sheet is provided in front of the platen and a base film is made of three primary colors such as magenta, yellow and cyan. A multi-color ink ribbon formed by applying inks of a plurality of colors is sandwiched between a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged and a platen, and a plurality of heating elements aligned in the thermal head For each line printing, heat is selectively generated based on the print information for the same number of times as the number of colors of the multi-color ink ribbon, so that each color ink is partially melted to reach the desired print position on the paper. It is configured to transfer and color-print a desired image or the like on a sheet.

Further, in the conventional color thermal transfer printer,
Stack multiple sheets of paper and place them one by one from above.
A sheet feeding device called a cut sheet feeder is used to automatically feed sheets one by one toward a printing position.

An example of a conventional printer paper feeding device will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 21 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of a sheet feeding device of a conventional printer.

As shown in FIG. 21, a paper feeding device 1 of a conventional printer has a tray main body 2 whose upper surface is open. Inside the tray main body 2, plain paper, OHP paper, thick paper are provided. A sheet placing plate 4 formed in a substantially flat plate shape for stacking and placing sheets 3 selected from postcards and the like is provided. The sheet placing plate 4 is pivoted about the support pin 5 in the vertical direction by supporting the support pin 5 attached to the base end portion on both side surfaces of the tray body 2 so as to be rotatable. The sheet placing plate 4 is provided on the lower surface side near the leading end of the sheet placing plate 4 as shown in FIG.
A pressing spring 6 is provided for constantly urging the spring.

Further, the corners of the leading end of the sheet placing plate 4 are engaged with the corners of the leading end of the sheet 3 positioned at the top of the plurality of sheets 3 placed on the sheet placing plate 4. A separating claw 7 is provided. The separating claw 7 has a rotating shaft 8 attached to the base end thereof, which is rotatably supported by a mounting portion 9 provided upright on the bottom of the tray main body 2, so that the rotating shaft 8 is centered on the rotating shaft 8. It is movable so as to rotate in the vertical direction.

On the lower surface side of the sheet placing plate 4 and on the rear end side of the tray body 2, the lower end of the lowermost sheet 3 placed on the sheet placing plate 4 is supported from below. A paper support guide 10 is provided. The paper support guide 10 is movable back and forth in the front-rear direction, and is movable according to the front-rear size (length) of the paper 3.

Separation claw 7 above the tray body 2
In the vicinity of the sheet feeding roller 11 which is in contact with the uppermost sheet 3 of the sheet 3 placed on the sheet placing plate 4 and which has a circular cross section for feeding the uppermost sheet 3 Are rotatably arranged.

In such a conventional paper feeder 1 of a printer, a plurality of sheets 3 are stacked and placed on the upper surface of a sheet placing plate 4, and the top corners of the uppermost sheet 3 are placed. By locking the lower surface side of the separation claw 7, the paper 3 is transferred to the tray main body 2
To hold.

Then, the uppermost sheet 3 stacked on the sheet placing plate 4 is pressed against the lower surface of the sheet feeding roller 11 by the urging force of the pressing spring 6 to the upper side of the sheet placing plate 4, and a standby state is established. To be done. In this standby state, the sheet feeding roller 11 is rotated by the driving force of a sheet feeding motor (not shown) to enter the sheet feeding state.
The upper sheet 3 stacked on the sheet stacking plate 4 is about to be conveyed by the frictional force with the sheet placing plate 4. However, only the uppermost sheet 3 of the sheets 3 to be conveyed is separated by the separating claw 7. 21 is separated from the lower sheet 3 and the arrow A in FIG.
The paper 3 is sent in the paper feed direction indicated by
Is conveyed toward a print position (specifically, a paper feed roller) inside the printer body (not shown) to feed the paper. The delivery distance of the uppermost sheet 3 stacked on the sheet placement plate 4 by the sheet feeding roller 11 is
The leading edge of the uppermost sheet 3 stacked on the sheet placement plate 4 is slightly longer than the moving distance until reaching the sheet feed roller inside the printer body (not shown), for example, about 80 mm.

Further, as the sheets 3 stacked on the sheet mounting plate 4 are sequentially sent out one by one from the uppermost side, the remaining amount of the sheets 3 stacked on the sheet mounting plate 4 decreases. Then, due to the upward biasing force of the sheet placing plate 4, the sheet placing plate 4 rotates upward with the support pin 5 as a center, and the sheet 3 at the uppermost position is always moved to the sheet feeding roller 11. It is designed to be pressed.

Paper feeding device 1 of such a conventional printer
Is attached to the printer body (both not shown) of the color thermal transfer printer, and the sheet 3 is fed toward the print position inside the printer body based on the control command. The color thermal transfer printer is configured to perform color printing on the paper 3 by printing each color for each line of printing, and there is a problem that the printing speed is slow.

In order to cope with such a problem, a paper feed motor (not shown) for driving a paper feed roller for carrying the paper 3 in the printer main body without printing each color for each line is provided. The paper 3 can be back-fed by rotating the paper feed roller (not shown) in the forward direction or the reverse direction by driving the paper 3 in the forward rotation or the reverse rotation.
For example, when only the three primary colors are used, the first color is printed by the first forward conveyance of the paper 3 by the forward rotation of the paper feed roller, and the paper with the first color is printed. Three
The paper 3 which is conveyed in the opposite direction to the original conveying direction by the reverse rotation of the paper feed roller is back-fed to print the second color, and the paper 3 with the second color is fed. By feeding the third color again by feeding again in the same forward direction as the first feeding direction by the rotation drive of the rollers in the positive direction, each color is printed on each sheet 3 (each page). As a configuration for performing color printing by using a color thermal transfer printer, a color thermal transfer printer that can improve the printing speed has been proposed.

[0016]

However, the sheet feeding device 1 of the conventional printer described above is
Due to the upward biasing force of the sheet placing plate 4, the uppermost sheet 3 stacked on the sheet placing plate 4 is constantly pressed against the lower surface of the sheet feeding roller 11, and the sheet feeding roller 11 is used for the next printing. When the sheet feeding device 1 of such a conventional printer is used for a color thermal transfer printer capable of back feeding the sheet 3, the first color printing is performed. In the back-feed state in which the fed sheet 3 is back-fed, the front end portion in the traveling direction of the sheet 3 to be back-fed (the trailing edge portion of the sheet) is the sheet feeding device 1 of the printer indicated by arrow A in FIG. The paper 3 travels in the direction opposite to the feeding direction. However, when the paper 3 travels in the reverse direction, the leading end of the back-feeding paper 3 (the rear end of the paper 3) is the paper feeding device of the printer. 1 paper feed roller 11 Hampered by the contact position between the sheet 3 to be subjected to printing techniques, the sheet 3 has a problem that it is impossible to further backfeed. That is, in the sheet feeding device 1 of the conventional printer, there is a problem in that the traveling space for the sheet 3 to be back-fed cannot be secured.

In view of such a point, when the paper 3 is back-fed, the uppermost paper 3 stacked on the paper mounting plate 4 does not come into contact with the paper feed roller 11.
The sheet placing plate 4 is configured to be pushed down toward the bottom surface of the tray main body 2 to reach the one that secures the traveling space of the sheet 3 to be back-fed.

However, when the sheet 3 is simply back-fed, the sheet placing plate 4 is placed in the tray so that the uppermost sheet 3 stacked on the sheet placing plate 4 does not come into contact with the sheet feeding roller 11. In the structure in which the running space of the paper 3 to be back-fed is secured by pushing it down toward the bottom surface of the main body 2, when the paper 3 is fed at the top, the paper 3 is separated by the separation claw 7 and fed out. Since the leading end of the second sheet located below the uppermost sheet 3 and the third sheet located below the uppermost sheet 3 that is not engaged with the separation claw 7 moves forward a little, The leading end (the trailing end of the sheet) in the traveling direction collides with the leading end of the sheet 3 for the next printing, which is located at the uppermost portion of the sheet placement plate 4, so that the sheet 3 for the next printing is removed. Pushed out from the paper plate 4 , The impact when the front end portion of the back-feeding paper 3 in the traveling direction (the rear end portion of the paper) collides with the front end portion of the paper 3 for the next printing located at the uppermost position of the paper placement plate 4 There is a problem in that the print quality may be deteriorated by being transmitted to the print position of the paper 3 to be fed.

When the paper 3 is back-fed, the paper 3 located on the top of the paper loading plate 4 is pressed against the operation of pushing down the paper loading plate 4 toward the bottom surface of the tray body 2. 4 does not operate in synchronism with 4 and the upper sheet 3 bends in the front-back direction in a convex shape so that the sheet feed roller 11 and the sheet 3 for the next printing come into contact with each other, and the sheet 3 to be back-fed travels in the traveling direction. The front end portion (the rear end portion of the paper 3) is blocked at the contact position between the paper feed roller 11 and the paper 3 for the next printing, and the paper 3 may not be back fed any more. There was a point.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device of a printer which can surely secure a running space of paper in a back feed state.

[0021]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a paper feeding device of a printer according to the present invention according to claim 1 is provided with a tray body and a vertically movable body on the tray body. A sheet stacking plate for stacking and stacking a plurality of sheets, and a rotary drive driven by a driving force of a sheet feeding motor, which is arranged above the tray main body and near the leading end of the sheet stacking plate. And a paper feed roller that sends out the paper located at the uppermost position of the paper placed on the paper placing plate, and is placed above the paper placing plate and placed on the paper placing plate. In the standby state, the placement amount regulation member that regulates the maximum amount of sheets to be stacked and the placement amount regulation member are advanced toward the upper surface of the sheet placement plate to advance the sheet placement plate in the paper feed state and the back feed state. Placement to move back and forth so as to retract from the top surface A regulating member driving means, a placing plate movement position control means for regulating the position of the sheet placing plate in the standby state and the back feed state to a position separated from the above described amount regulating member, and a placing member mounted on the sheet placing plate. And a paper resetting member that is operated to come into contact with and separate from the upper surface of the leading end of the paper placed at the top of the placed paper in the paper feed state and to come into contact with the back feed state. There is.

Further, a paper feeding device of a printer according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the paper reset member is operated by the driving force of the paper feeding motor. .

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feeding device for a printer according to the first aspect, wherein the paper resetting member is operated by the platen moving position control means. The feature is that they move in and out in conjunction with each other.

[0024]

According to the paper feeding device of the printer of the present invention having the above-described structure, the mounting amount regulating member is moved forward in the standby direction by the mounting amount regulating member driving means toward the upper surface of the sheet mounting plate. In the paper feeding state and the backfeeding state, the advancing / retreating operation is performed so as to retreat from the upper surface of the sheet placing plate, and the maximum loading amount of sheets placed on the sheet placing plate in the standby state is regulated, and the placing plate moving position The control means regulates the positions of the sheet placement plate in the standby state and the back feed state to positions separated from the placement amount regulating member, and the reset plate controls the position of the sheet placed on the sheet placement plate in the back feed state. The reset plate is brought into contact with the upper surface of the leading edge of the sheet located at the uppermost position, and the reset plate is brought into contact with the leading edge of the sheet in the traveling direction (the trailing edge of the sheet). Can be prevented from colliding with the leading edge of the paper for the next printing, which is located at the uppermost portion of the sheet placing plate, and the sheet located at the uppermost portion of the sheet placing plate can be prevented from colliding. Can be linked to the operation of the sheet loading plate, and as a result, a plurality of sheets stacked on the upper surface of the sheet loading plate can be sequentially fed one by one from the uppermost side, and at the same time, placed on the upper surface of the sheet loading plate. It is possible to reliably secure the traveling space of the sheet to be back-fed in the back-feed state above the sheet located at the top of the placed sheet.

[0025]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 8 show a first embodiment in which a paper feeding device of a printer according to the present invention is used in a color thermal transfer printer for performing color printing by back-feeding paper, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a main part showing a separation claw in detail, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing a paper reset member in detail. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view, FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of a paper reset member, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a paper feed roller.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the sheet mounting amount regulating member, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the mounting plate drive gear.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the sheet feeding device 12 of the printer of this embodiment has a support frame 13 which is open in the front and rear and is formed in a substantially square front shape. Is arranged inside the printer body 16 of the color thermal transfer printer 15 for performing color printing by back-feeding the paper 14 described later.
Outside the both side walls of the support frame 13, the sub-frame 13 extending in parallel to the side wall at an appropriate interval.
a is arranged respectively.

Inside the support frame 13, a tray main body 17 is provided, which has an open upper surface and is used for stacking paper 14 selected from plain paper, OHP paper, cardboard, postcards and the like. A supporting shaft 18 protruding outward from the side surface of the tray main body 17 is erected on the front upper part of the side surface of the tray main body 17, and the supporting shaft 18 is supported by the side wall of the support frame 13. Has become. Also,
A plurality of paper guides 19 formed like comb teeth are provided at the inner tip of the tray body 17, and the paper 14 is fed along the free ends of the paper guides 19. There is. Further, on the front surface of the tray body 17, a plurality of substantially rectangular cutout holes 20 are formed. The cutout holes 20 are formed between the plurality of paper guides 19, and mounting portions 21 are formed on both side surfaces of the cutout holes 20, respectively. Further, a guide hole 22 extending in the up-down direction with respect to the side surface of the tray body 17 is formed on the side surface of the tray body 17 on the rear side of the side wall of the support frame 13. The guide hole 22 has a sheet loading plate 2 to be described later.
The mounting plate actuating member 24 provided on the side surface 3 is loosely fitted. Note that the tray body 17 may be arranged so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction with a support shaft 18 that is an attachment site for the support frame 13 as a fulcrum, if necessary.

On the front side of the tray main body 17, a plurality of paper resets which are brought into contact with and separated from the upper surface of the leading end of the paper 14 located on the top of the paper 14 placed on a paper loading plate 23 described later. A member 25 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the paper reset member 25 of this embodiment has a base portion 26 arranged on the front side of the tray body 17. A main arm 27 extending toward the inside of the tray body 17 through the cutout hole 20 is formed at an upper end of the base portion 26, and a main arm 27 is provided at a lower end of the base portion 26 with respect to the main arm 27. Sub-arms 28 extending substantially in parallel extend toward the inside of the tray body 17 through the cutout holes 20.

In the paper reset member 25, both ends of a rotary support shaft 29 attached to the connection portion of the base member 26 of the paper reset member 25 and the sub-arm 28 are protruded from the front surface of the tray main body 17. By being rotatably supported by the mounting portion 21, it is rotatably disposed about the rotation support shaft 29 as indicated by a double-headed arrow B in FIG.
An inclined surface 30 that serves as a guide for the sheet 14 to be back-fed in the back-feed state is formed on the upper surface of the tip of the main arm 27. Further, the rotation support shaft 29
A torsion coil spring 31 is loosely fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the. One end of the torsion coil spring 31 is connected to the tray body 1
7 is locked to the rear surface side of the base portion 26 facing the front surface of 7, and the other end of the torsion coil spring 31 is locked to a mounting portion 21 formed on the front surface of the tray main body 17, and a paper reset member. 25 is always biased counterclockwise in FIG. 5 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 31. Furthermore, the lower surface of the leading end portion of the main arm 27 makes contact with and separates from the upper surface of the leading end portion of the paper 14 located on the uppermost portion of the paper 14 placed on the paper loading plate 23,
The upper surface of the tip of the sub-arm 28 is configured to move toward and away from the lower surface of the tip of the sheet placing plate 23.

The rotation support shaft 29 may be elongated and both ends of the rotation support shaft 29 may be supported on both side walls of the support frame 13, and the structure is particularly limited to that of this embodiment. is not.

Returning to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the tray body 1 is
Inside the sheet 7, there is provided a sheet placement plate 23 formed in a substantially flat plate shape for stacking and placing a plurality of sheets 14 thereon. The sheet loading plate 23 is constantly urged upward by a pressing spring 32 provided on the lower surface side near the tip of the sheet loading plate 23, and the support pin 33 attached to the base end thereof. Is rotatably supported on both side surfaces of the tray main body 17 so as to be vertically rotatable about the support pin 33. A plurality of recesses 34 (FIG. 1) that are loosely fitted in the paper guide 19 are formed at the tip of the paper placing plate 23. Further, on both side surfaces of the sheet mounting plate 23, a mounting plate operating member 24 is loosely fitted into guide holes 22 formed on both side surfaces of the tray main body 17 so that tips thereof protrude from the side surfaces of the tray main body 17. Are integrally formed. Further, a notch 36 having a substantially rectangular plane is formed at the corner of the leading end of the sheet placing plate 23, and a front tip corner formed by the notch 36 and the side surface of the sheet placing plate 23. Is provided with a separating claw 37 that is engaged with at least a corner portion of the leading end of the paper 14 located at least at the top of the plurality of papers 14 stacked on the paper placing plate 23. Furthermore, when the paper 14 is not placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23, the separation claw 37 is accommodated on the upper surface of the front tip corner portion formed by the cutout portion 36 and the side surface of the sheet placing plate 23. A storage recess 38 having a substantially triangular shape in plan view is formed.

The separating claw 37 is formed at the free end of a claw support plate 39 arranged along the side surface of the tray body 17, and is rotated at the base end of the claw support plate 39. The pin 40 is attached to the support portion 41 formed on the bottom surface of the tray body 17.
This pivot pin 40 is supported by being pivotally supported by
Is arranged so as to be rotatable in the up-down direction.
The rotation pin 40 attached to the base end of the claw support plate 39.
Is attached to the sheet placing plate 23 (specifically, the side surface or the bottom surface of the sheet placing plate 23), which is caused by the number of sheets 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23. It is possible to change the contact angle of the separation claw 37 with respect to the paper 14 in the plus direction according to the change in the inclination angle of the paper placement plate 23, and to maintain the contact angle suitable for the separation of the paper 14. Further, the separation claws 37 may be configured as a left and right pair so as to be engaged with both corners of the leading end portion of the sheet 14 as needed.

A side guide 42, which is movable in the left-right direction (width direction of the sheet 14) by a manual operation according to the size of the sheet 14, is disposed on the upper left side of the sheet placing plate 23. (Fig. 1). This side guide 42
Is moved in the left-right direction according to the size (size) of the paper 14 in the width direction, so that the position of the side end of the paper 14 placed on the upper surface of the paper placing plate 23 can be restricted. There is.

A sheet placing plate 2 inside the tray body 17
On the lower surface side of 3, there is provided a substantially flat plate-shaped paper support guide 43 which is manually movable in the front-back direction (the length direction of the paper 14) according to the size of the paper 14. .

Above the tray main body 17 and in the vicinity of the leading end of the sheet placing plate 23, the sheet 14 positioned at the top of the plurality of sheets 14 placed on the sheet placing plate 23 is delivered. A plurality of paper feed rollers 44 for rotatably arranging them are rotatably arranged.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B,
The paper feed roller 44 of this embodiment has a roller body 45 formed in a substantially D-shaped side surface.
A through hole 46 formed in a substantially D shape is formed in the axis center of the. Flange portions 47 are formed on both side surfaces of the roller body 45, and an endless annular rubber-like elastic body 48 is formed between the flange portions 47 on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 45. It is installed. The outer peripheral surface of the rubber-like elastic body 48 is located radially outside the tip of the flange portion 47 of the roller body 45. The arc-shaped portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rubber-like elastic body 48 is used for feeding the paper 14 located at the top of the plurality of papers 14 placed on the paper placing plate 23. The paper delivery surface 49 is a
The circumference of the paper feeding surface 4 is, for example, about 80 mm.
The circumference of 9 is the delivery distance of the paper 14. Further, the rubber-like elastic body 48 located inside the circle including the paper delivery surface 49
The outer peripheral surface of is a cutout surface 50 that is not used for feeding the paper 14.

Returning to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, each of the paper feed rollers 44 has a rotary shaft 51 formed in a D-shaped cross section so as to penetrate both side walls of the support frame 13 toward the outside.
The rotation shaft 51 is fitted in the through hole 46 of each paper feed roller 44, thereby preventing the rotation of each paper feed roller 44 with respect to the rotation shaft 51.

One end of the rotary shaft 51 (right side of FIG. 1, FIG. 2)
Is located outside the sub-frame 13a by penetrating a side wall located on the right side when viewed from the front of the support frame 13, and a paper feed gear 52 is fixed to the tip thereof. The paper feed gear 52 is connectable to a planet gear 54 via two reduction gears 53, and the planet gear 54 is meshed with a sun gear 55. The planet gear 54 is rotatably supported on the side surface of the spur gear 56, and the sun gear 55 meshing with the planet gear 54 is coaxially attached to the spur gear 56 so as to rotate integrally with the spur gear 56. . Further, the spur gear 56 is attached to an output shaft 57a of a sheet feeding motor 57 such as a stepping motor disposed below a surface facing the side wall of the sub frame 13a located on the right side when viewed from the front of the support frame 13. The drive gear 58 is connected (engaged).

The other end of the rotary shaft 51 (on the left side in FIG. 1) is
It penetrates a side wall located on the left side when viewed from the front of the support frame 13, is located between this side wall and the sub frame 13a, and a transmission gear 59 is fixed to the tip thereof.

The rotary shaft 51 is provided with a plurality of placement amount regulating members 60 for regulating the maximum loading amount of the sheets 14 placed on the sheet placing plate 23. This mounting amount regulation member 60
In the present embodiment, the number is the same as the number of the paper feed rollers 44 fixed to the rotary shaft 51, and each mounting amount regulating member 60 is
Are arranged beside each paper feed roller 44.

As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting amount regulating member 60 of this embodiment has a base portion 61 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the base portion 61 is rotatably supported by the rotary shaft 51. Has been done. Then, on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 61, the two arms 6 formed in a substantially flat plate shape extending outward in the radial direction.
2 are provided. In FIG. 7, one arm 62 extending from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 61 obliquely downward to the right is
The placement amount control arm 62A is configured to move forward and backward with respect to the upper surface of the sheet placement plate 23 by the rotation operation of the base portion 61 with respect to the rotation shaft 51, and the other extends upward from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 61 in FIG. The arm 62 is a drive arm 62B that rotates the base 61 with respect to the rotation shaft 51 to move the stacking amount regulating arm 62A into and out of the upper surface of the sheet stacking plate 23. A through hole 63 extending parallel to the axis of the base 61 is formed near the free end of the drive arm 62B.
An actuating shaft 64 as a movable actuating member for actuating the mounting amount regulating member 60 is inserted through the shaft 3.

Returning to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, one end (right side in FIG. 1, FIG. 2) of the actuating shaft 64 has a substantially long hole formed in an upper portion of a side wall located on the right side as viewed from the front of the support frame 13. The sub-frame 1 is located outside the sub-frame 13a so as to pass through the shape-moving position guide 65, and its front end portion meshes with the paper-feed gear 52.
It is supported by a cam 67 that is integrally formed on the side surface of a rotatable actuating member drive gear 66 that is disposed at 3a. Then, the other end (left side in FIG. 1) of the operating shaft 64 penetrates a substantially elongated hole-shaped movement position guide 65 (not shown) formed on the upper side wall located on the left side when viewed from the front of the support frame 13. However, it is located between this side wall and the sub-frame 13a, and its tip is formed on the rotatable actuating member drive gear 66 arranged on the sub-frame 13a so as to mesh with the transmission gear 59. It is supported by a cam 67.

The cam 67 is formed coaxially on the side surface of the operating member driving gear 66, and the operating member driving gear 66.
The large-diameter cam surface 68 formed by the surface of the outer peripheral surface having a diameter larger than the tip circle diameter and the surface of the outer peripheral surface having an outer diameter slightly larger than the tip circle diameter of the operating member drive gear 66. The small diameter cam surface 69 is formed, and each cam surface 68, 69 is connected by two step portions 70 extending in the radial direction.

Further, in the vicinity of both ends of the operating shaft 64,
One end of the spring member 71 is locked, and the spring member 7
The other end of 1 is locked to a locking pin 72 that is provided upright on the upper side of the side wall of the support frame 13.

That is, the operating shaft 64 is constantly urged by the spring member 71 toward the rear end portion (right side in FIG. 2) of the moving position guide 65.

In the present embodiment, the operating shaft 64 serving as the operating member, the moving position guide 65, the operating member drive gear 66, the cam 67 and the spring member 71 are used to place the paper amount control member 60 in the standby state. Table 23
A loading amount regulating member driving means 73 is configured to move forward in the upper surface direction and to move back and forth so as to retract from the upper surface of the paper loading plate 23 in the paper feeding state and the back feeding state.

A mounting plate drive gear 74 is disposed at the upper rear end of the side wall of the support frame 13. The mounting plate drive gear 74 is connected to the sheet feeding motor 5 via a transmission gear 75.
It is connected to a reduction gear 53 that drives a paper feed gear 52 that is driven with the driving force of 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, the mounting plate drive gear 74
Is attached to the tip of a rotary gear shaft 76 which is rotatably supported by the side wall of the support frame 13 and the subframe 13a and has a D-shaped cross section. Includes a cam lever 7 that comes into contact with and separates from a platen plate operating member 24 arranged on the side surface of the sheet platen 23.
7 is attached. The mounting plate drive gear 74 and the rotary gear shaft 76, or the rotary gear shaft 76 and the cam lever 77.
May be integrally formed, and is not particularly limited to the structure of this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the position of the sheet placing plate 23 in the standby state and the back feed state is described by the placing plate actuating member 24, the placing plate drive gear 74, the rotating gear shaft 76 and the cam lever 77. Storage amount control member 6
A mounting plate movement position control means 78 that regulates the position away from 0 is configured.

Further, the paper feed roller 4 in the present embodiment.
The driving force of No. 4 is configured to drive the paper feed roller 44, the placement amount regulation member driving unit 73, and the placement plate moving position control unit 78.

Here, the sheet feeding device 1 of the printer of this embodiment
FIG. 9 shows the color thermal transfer printer 15 to which No. 2 is applied.
And FIG. 10 demonstrates.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a main part of a color thermal transfer printer to which the paper feeding device of the printer of this embodiment is applied, and FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing the main part.

As shown in FIG. 9, the paper feeding device 12 of the printer of this embodiment is inclined so that the rear end of the tray main body 17 is located obliquely above the printer main body 16 of the color thermal transfer printer 15. Have been installed.

As shown in FIG. 10, a flat platen 79 is disposed inside the printer body 16 of the color thermal transfer printer 15 so that its printing surface is substantially horizontal. A thermal head 80 is disposed above the platen 79 so as to face the platen 79 and can be brought into and out of contact with the platen 79 by a drive mechanism (not shown). The contact position between the thermal head 80 and the platen 79 in the head-down state where the platen 79 is in contact with the platen 79 is the printing position PP. Further, the platen 79 is provided between the platen 79 and the thermal head 80.
Magenta on the paper 14 and the base film in order from the side,
Supply a multi-color ink ribbon formed by applying inks of multiple colors such as the three primary colors of yellow and cyan, or a plurality of single color ink ribbons (both not shown) formed by applying the three primary colors of magenta, yellow, and cyan to the base film, respectively. It is supposed to be done.

On the upstream side of the print position PP in the paper transport direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. 10, the paper feed roller 8 which transports the paper 14 toward the print position PP at a predetermined speed.
1 is provided. The paper feed roller 81 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown). An auxiliary roller 82, which is in contact with the paper feed roller 81, is rotatably disposed above the paper feed roller 81. The auxiliary roller 82 is driven by the paper feed roller 81 to rotate. ing. That is, paper 1
The sheet 4 is horizontally held so as to be sandwiched between the paper feed roller 81 and the auxiliary roller 82. Further, between the paper feed roller 81 and the paper feeding device 12 of the printer, the paper 1 fed from the paper feeding device 12 of the printer is
A paper guide plate 83 for horizontally transporting the sheet 4 toward the paper feed roller 81 is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the print position PP in the paper transport direction, a rotationally driven paper discharge roller (not shown) for discharging the printed paper 14 from the inside of the printer body 16 to the outside is provided. Has been done.

When the paper 14 fed by the paper feed roller 44 of the paper feed device 12 of the printer is run, the leading end of the paper 14 fed from the paper feed device 12 of the printer in the running direction is a paper feed roller 81 and an auxiliary roller. The feeding of the paper 14 by the paper feed roller 44 is stopped when the contact with the paper 82 is reached, and the subsequent conveyance of the paper 14 is taken over by the paper feed roller 81.

In the color thermal transfer printer 15, a paper feed motor (not shown) in the printer body 16 is driven to rotate in the forward or reverse direction to drive the paper feed roller 81.
Can be rotationally driven in the forward or reverse direction, so that the paper 14 can be back-fed. For example, in the case of a color ink ribbon using only the three primary colors, the paper is fed by rotationally driving the paper feed roller 81 in the forward direction. The first color is printed by the forward conveyance indicated by the first arrow C 14 in FIG. 10 (FIG. 10), and the paper 14 on which the first color is printed is first rotated by the reverse rotation drive of the paper feed roller 81. The paper 14 conveyed in the opposite direction to the conveyance direction is back-fed to perform printing of the second color, and the paper 14 on which the second color is printed is first driven by the forward rotation drive of the paper feed roller 81. By conveying again in the same forward direction as the conveying direction and performing printing of the third color, printing of each color is performed for each sheet of paper 14 (for each page).

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 11 to 16.

1 to 4 show a standby state, FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a sheet feeding state in which a sheet is delivered, and FIG. 12 shows a sheet feeding state in which a sheet is delivered. Figure 3
13 is a diagram similar to FIG. 4 showing a sheet feeding state in which a sheet is sent out, and FIG. 14 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2 showing a backfeed state in which the sheet can be backfeeded. FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a back feed state in which the paper can be back fed, and FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a back feed state in which the paper can be back fed. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the standby state of the sheet feeding device 12 of the printer of this embodiment, the cutout surface 50 of the sheet feeding roller 44 is made to substantially face the sheet placing plate 23. The paper feed motor 57 is stopped. The actuation shaft 64 that constitutes the mounting amount regulation member drive means 73 is located on the surface of the small diameter cam surface 69 of the cam 67 that is formed coaxially on the side surface of the actuation member drive gear 66, and the spring The urging force of the member 71 makes contact with the right step portion 70a (right side in FIG. 2) of the cam 67 and the rear end portion (right side in FIG. 2) inside the movement position guide 65. Further, since the actuating shaft 64 is located at the rear end portion in the movement position guide 65, the tip of the placement amount regulation arm 62A of the placement amount regulation member 60 substantially opposes the upper surface of the sheet placement plate 23. And move to the forward position. Also,
Cam lever 77 that constitutes the mounting plate movement position control means 78
Touches the placement plate operating member 24 formed on the side surface of the sheet placement plate 23 and pushes down the placement plate operating member 24, whereby the placement plate moving position control means 78 presses. The moving position of the sheet stacking plate 23, which is constantly biased upward by the spring 32, is controlled so as to be positioned downward with the support pin 33 as the center, against the biasing force of the pressing spring 32 (FIG. 3, FIG. 4). Further, the paper reset member 25
Of the sub-arm 28, the upper surface of the tip of the sub-arm 28 is in contact with the lower surface of the tip of the sheet placing plate 23 as the sheet placing plate 23 moves, whereby the paper reset member 25 causes the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 31. In contrast to the above, the rotary shaft 29 is rotated clockwise in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the maximum loading amount of the sheets 14 loaded on the upper surface of the sheet loading plate 23 is set by the tip of the loading amount regulating arm 62A located above the sheet loading plate 23 ( The maximum number of stacked sheets D) is regulated, and the position of the sheet 14 positioned on the top of the sheet 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23 is positioned. Further, both widthwise end portions of the plurality of sheets 14 stacked on the upper surface of the sheet stacking plate 23 are arranged on the right side surface inside the tray body 17 and the sheet 1
It is positioned by the side guide 42 which is movable in the width direction. Further, the separation claw 37 is engaged with the tip corner portion of the paper 14 located at least at the top of the plurality of papers 14 placed on the upper surface of the paper placement plate 23. Furthermore, the main arm 2 of the paper reset member 25
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface of the leading end portion of the sheet 7 is rotated clockwise, and the upper surface of the leading end portion of the sheet 14 located on the uppermost portion of the plurality of sheets 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23. Is positioned so as to abut.

That is, the paper feed roller 44 has a cutout surface 50.
Is positioned so as to substantially face the sheet placing plate 23,
The placement amount regulation member drive means 73 is positioned at the forward position where the placement amount regulation member 60 is advanced so as to substantially face the upper surface of the sheet placement plate 23, and the placement plate movement position control means 78 is provided.
Supports the support pin 3 against the sheet placing plate 23, which is constantly urged upward by the pressing spring 32, against the urging force of the pressing spring 32.
It is positioned so that it is located below 3 as a center,
The paper reset member 25 includes a plurality of sheets of paper 14 with the lower end of the main arm 27 placed on the upper surface of the paper placing plate 23.
Is positioned so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the leading end portion of the sheet 14 located at the uppermost position.

In this embodiment, the tray body 17 is made thin by the substantially D-shaped paper feed roller 44 and the mounting amount regulating member 60 in the vertical direction, and as much paper 14 as possible is printed. It can be placed on the placing plate 23. Then, by changing the length dimension of the placement amount regulation arm 62A, the maximum loading amount D of the paper 14 is set.
Can be easily increased or decreased. Further, in the standby state, the lower surface of the leading end portion of the main arm 27 of the paper reset member 25 is the upper surface of the leading end portion of the paper 14 positioned on the uppermost part of the plurality of sheets of paper 14 placed on the upper surface of the paper loading plate 23. The main arm 27 of the paper resetting member 25 has a lower end of the leading end of the paper reset member 25 positioned above the upper end of the top of the plurality of sheets of paper 14 as necessary. May be

Next, the paper feeding device 1 of the printer of this embodiment
When the paper feeding operation of the paper 14 by 2 is started, the paper feeding motor 57 is driven based on the control command to enter the paper feeding state. The driving force of the sheet feeding motor 57 causes the sheet feeding gear 52 to rotate in the clockwise direction and the mounting plate driving gear 74 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
Rotate 5 counterclockwise.

The clockwise rotation of the paper feed gear 52 shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 causes the paper feed roller 44 to rotate clockwise in FIG.

The counterclockwise rotation of the mounting plate drive gear 74 shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 causes the cam lever 77 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, whereby the sheet mounting plate 2 is rotated.
The tip end portion of the cam lever 77, which is in contact with the mounting plate operating member 24 disposed on the side surface of the reference numeral 3, is separated from the mounting plate operating member 24. By separating the cam lever 77 from the placing plate operating member 24, the restraining force that pushes down the moving position of the sheet placing plate 23 in the standby state against the urging force of the pressing spring 32 is released, and the sheet placing plate is released. The mounting plate 23 is a pressing spring 3.
The urging force of 2 moves the support pin 33 upward as a center.

As the sheet loading plate 23 moves upward, the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet loading plate 23 is moved to the sheet reset member 25.
It is separated from the upper surface of the tip of the sub-arm 28. By separating the sheet placing plate from the sub-arm 28, the constraint force for positioning the sheet reset member 25 in the standby state by rotating it clockwise in FIG. 4 against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 31 is released. The paper reset member 25 is
It is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 about the rotation support shaft 29 by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 31, and is positioned at the top of the plurality of sheets 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23. The lower surface of the tip of the main arm 27, which is in contact with the upper surface of the leading edge of the sheet 14, is located at the uppermost position of the plurality of sheets of paper 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet loading plate 23. The paper guide 19 is moved away from the front end of the paper guide 19 so as to be retracted to the front side of the tray body 17.

Rotation of the operating member drive gear 55 in the counterclockwise direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 causes the cam 67, which is formed coaxially with the operating member drive gear 55, to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. . With the counterclockwise rotation of the cam 67, the cam 67 is supported by the small diameter cam surface 69 of the cam 67, and the right step portion 70a (right side in FIG. 2) of the cam 67 and the rear end portion in the movement position guide 65 (see FIG. 2 is located on the right side of the cam 67.
The spring member 71 is pushed by and is moved in the movement position guide 65 toward the tip (left side in FIG. 2) while extending the spring member 71 against the biasing force of the spring member 71.

With the movement of the actuating shaft 64, the drive arm 62B of the mounting amount regulating member 60 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3 about the rotary shaft 51.
The rotation of the drive arm 62B in the counterclockwise direction rotates the tip of the mounting amount regulating arm 62A in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, and advances so as to substantially face the sheet mounting plate 23 in the standby state. The mounting amount regulation arm 62 located at the position
The tip of A is rotated counterclockwise and moved toward the retracted position.

The actuating shaft 64, which is pushed by the right step portion 70 of the cam 67, is located immediately before the distal end portion (left side in FIG. 2) of the moving position guide 65, and is located right before the cam 67.
2 to move to the large diameter cam surface 68 of the cam 67 and resist the urging force of the spring member 71 to be supported by the large diameter cam surface 68 of the cam 67. ) Side, by this, the mounting amount regulation arm 62
The tip of A is held in the retracted position.

That is, as the paper feed roller 44 rotates clockwise in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting amount regulating member driving means 73 moves the mounting amount regulating member 60 from the forward position to the retracted position. Then, the placement plate moving position control means 78 releases the restrained movement position of the sheet placement plate 23, so that the sheet delivery surface 49 of the sheet feed roller 44 is placed on the upper surface of the sheet placement plate 23. The sheet 14 at the top of the plurality of placed sheets 14 comes into contact with the sheet 14, and only the sheet 14 at the top is moved in the sheet feeding direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. 3 by the separating function of the separating claw 37. Send out. At this time,
The leading end of the paper reset member 25 extends from the top of the top of the paper 14 located at the top of the plurality of sheets of paper 14 placed on the top of the paper loading plate 23 to the end of the paper guide 19 to the tray main body 17. It is separated so as to be retracted to the front side, and does not interfere with the delivery of the paper 14. Further, the circumference of the paper delivery surface 49 is the delivery distance of the paper 14.

By driving the paper feeding motor 57,
The paper delivery surface 49 of the paper feed roller 44 comes into contact with the uppermost sheet 14 of the plurality of sheets 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23, and the uppermost sheet 14 is printed. Send to the position. This paper feed state is shown in FIGS. 11 to 13.

Next, the paper feeding device 1 of the printer of this embodiment
2 completes the paper feeding operation of the paper 14 by the paper feeding motor 5
7 is stopped, and as shown in FIG. 14 to FIG.
4 is set in a back feed state in which back feed is possible.

In the back-feed state, the cutout surface 50 of the sheet feed roller 44 substantially faces the sheet placing plate 23 (more specifically, it is located on the front side (clockwise side) of the position in the standby state). Thus, the paper feed motor 57 is stopped. Then, the mounting amount regulation member drive means 73
The operating shaft 64 that constitutes the
Located on the surface of the large-diameter cam surface 68 of the cam 67 coaxially formed on the side surface of the cam 67, and resisting the biasing force of the spring member 71, the left step portion 70 (left side in FIG. 11) of the cam 67 and It is positioned so as to contact the tip (left side in FIG. 11) in the movement position guide 65. Further, the operating shaft 64
Is located at the tip of the moving position guide 65,
The tip of the mounting amount regulating arm 62A of the mounting amount regulating member 60 is held at the retracted position rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Further, the cam lever 77 that constitutes the placement plate moving position control means 78 contacts the placement plate actuating member 24 formed on the side surface of the sheet placement plate 23 (more specifically, the contact position in the standby state than the contact position). The mounting plate actuating member 24 located at the front (clockwise side) and in contact therewith is pushed downward, whereby the mounting plate movement position control means 78.
Controls the moving position of the sheet placing plate 23, which is constantly urged upward by the pressing spring 32, to be positioned below the support pin 33 against the urging force of the pressing spring 32. . Furthermore, as the sheet placing plate 23 moves downward, the upper end portion of the sub-arm 28 of the paper reset member 25 comes into contact with the lower surface of the leading end portion of the sheet placing plate 23 to move the lower end portion of the sub-arm 28 downward. The paper reset member 25 is rotated clockwise about the rotation support shaft 29 in FIG. 16 against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 31.

That is, the paper feed roller 44 has a cutout surface 50.
Is positioned so as to substantially face the sheet placing plate 23,
The mounting amount regulating member drive means 73 positions the mounting amount regulating member 60 at the retracted position, and the mounting plate moving position control means 78,
The paper resetting member 25 is positioned so that the moving position of the sheet placing plate 23, which is always biased upward by the pressing spring 32, is positioned below the supporting pin 33 against the biasing force of the pressing spring 32. 16 resists the urging force of the torsion coil spring 31 and rotates clockwise about the rotation support shaft 29 in FIG. 16, and as a result, the uppermost portion of the sheet 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23 is moved. Above the paper 14 located at, the paper feeding roller 81 in the printer body 16 can reliably secure a traveling space for the paper 14 to be back-fed in the paper transport direction indicated by the arrow F in FIGS. 15 and 16. it can.

By rotating the paper reset member 25 in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 16, the lower surface of the leading end portion of the main arm 27 is placed on the upper surface of the paper mounting plate 23 and is the uppermost portion of the plurality of sheets of paper 14. The upper surface of the leading end portion of the sheet 14 positioned on the upper side is pressed against from above and brought into contact with the main arm 27.
The inclined surface 30 formed on the upper surface of the tip of the
Will be located above the leading edge of the sheet 14 located at the top of the plurality of sheets 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet. As a result, the front end portion of the back-feeding paper 14 in the traveling direction travels with the inclined surface 30 formed on the upper surface of the front end portion of the main arm 27 of the paper reset member 25 as a guide, and the back-feeding paper 14 travels. The leading end in the direction is collided with the leading end of the sheet 14 positioned on the uppermost side of the sheet placing plate 23 for the next printing that has been advanced by being attached to the uppermost sheet 14 separated by the separating claw 37 at the time of feeding. It can be surely prevented. By avoiding this collision, the front end portion (rear end portion of the paper) of the back-feeding paper 14 in the traveling direction is located at the uppermost position of the paper placement plate 23, and the paper 14 is placed for the next printing. Paper 14 that is extruded from the plate 23 or back-fed
It is possible to surely prevent the conventional inconvenience that the print quality is deteriorated.

The clockwise rotation of the paper resetting member 25 in FIG. 16 is interlocked with the downward movement of the paper placing plate 23 so that the lower surface of the leading end portion of the main arm 27 moves upward in the paper feeding state. The upper end of the paper 14 located at the top of the plurality of papers 14 placed on the upper surface of the paper placement plate 23 is pressed down toward the upper surface of the paper placement plate 23. As a result, the sheets 14 positioned on the upper portion of the sheet placing plate 23 can be reliably operated in synchronization with the operation of pushing down the sheet placing plate 23 toward the bottom surface of the tray main body 17 as a result. Mounting plate 23
Sheet 1 located above the sheet stacking plate 23 with respect to the operation of
When the sheets 4 are not synchronized with each other, a convex bending in the front-rear direction of the upper sheet 14 and the sheet 14 due to the contact between the sheet feeding roller 38 and the sheet 14 for the next printing are surely kept. It is possible to reliably prevent the inconvenience of being unable to back feed.

Then, the paper 14 fed back by the paper feed roller 81 in the printer body 16 above the paper 14 located on the top of the paper 14 placed on the upper surface of the paper placing plate 23 is the printer body. The paper feed roller 81 in 16 conveys the paper toward the print position in the printer body 16. When this back-fed paper 14 is conveyed toward the print position by the paper feed roller 81 provided inside the printer body 16, the paper feed motor 57 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2 based on the control command. The printer is driven as shown to return each part of the sheet feeding device 12 of the printer to the standby state.

17 and 18 show a second embodiment in which the paper feeding device of the printer according to the present invention is used in a color thermal transfer printer for back-feeding paper to perform color printing, and FIG. 17 is a main part. 18 is a front view showing FIG.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of a paper reset member.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the paper reset member 25a used in the paper feeding device 12a of the printer of this embodiment includes the sub-arm 28 of the first embodiment described above.
Is not provided, but instead, an operating arm 84 that is obliquely inclined from the lower end of the base portion 26 toward the lower left is provided. Further, the sheet feeding device 12a of the printer of this embodiment
The notch hole 20a is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section from the front surface of the tray body 17 to the tip of the bottom of the tray body 17 (FIG. 18). Further, a rod body 85 is arranged near the lower portion on the front side of the tray body 17. This rod body 85 is rotatably supported by both side walls of the support frame 13, and the right end shown on the right side in FIG. 17 penetrates the side wall located on the right side when viewed from the front of the support frame 13 and is the sub frame 13a. Is located on the outer side, and the operation arm drive gear 86 is fixed to the right end (tip) thereof. The operating arm drive gear 86 is connected (engaged) with the spur gear 56 driven by the sheet feeding motor 57 of the first embodiment (not shown). Further, a plurality of lever bodies 87 corresponding to the number of the paper reset members 25a are fixed to the rod body 85, and the rod body 8 is driven by the driving force of the paper feeding motor 57.
When 5 is rotationally driven, the free end of the lever body 87 comes into contact with and separates from the operating arm 84, and the paper reset member 25a.
Is configured to drive.

That is, the paper feeding device 12a of the printer of this embodiment uses the driving force of the paper feeding motor 57 to control the paper reset member 25a, the paper feeding roller 44, the mounting amount regulating member driving means 73, and the mounting plate moving position. It is arranged to drive the means 78. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20.

FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged side sectional view of a main part showing the paper reset member in the standby state and the paper feed state, and FIG. 20 is a main part showing the paper reset member in the back feed state. It is a partial expanded side sectional view.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the standby state of the sheet feeding device 12a of the printer of this embodiment, the sheet feeding motor 57 is stopped, and the driving force of the sheet feeding motor 57 is used to drive the operating arm driving gear 86. The lever body 87, which is fixed to the rod body 85 that is rotationally driven via, stops at a state where its free end is separated from the operation arm 84, and the paper reset member 25a is urged by the torsion coil spring 31. 19 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 19 about the rotation support shaft 29, and the lower surface of the leading end portion of the main arm 27 is located at the uppermost portion of the plurality of sheets 14 placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate 23. The sheet 14 is positioned so as to be separated from the upper surface of the leading end portion of the sheet 14 to be retracted from the leading end surface of the paper guide 19 to the front side of the tray body 17.

Next, the paper feeding device 1 of the printer of this embodiment.
When the sheet feeding operation of the sheet 14 by the sheet 2a is started, the sheet feeding motor 57 is driven based on the control command to enter the sheet feeding state. The driving force of the sheet feeding motor 57 causes the operating arm driving gear 86 to rotate counterclockwise as shown by an arrow G in FIG. 19, but in the sheet feeding state, the lever body fixed to the rod body 85 is used. 87 has an operating arm 84 at its free end.
The paper reset member 25a is rotated counterclockwise about the rotation support shaft 29 by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 31 as in the standby state. The lower surface of the leading end portion 27 of the sheet 27 is separated from the upper surface of the leading end portion of the paper 14 located on the uppermost portion of the plurality of sheets of paper 14 placed on the upper surface of the paper loading plate 23, and the paper guide 1
The state of being positioned so as to retract from the front end surface of the tray body 9 to the front surface side of the tray body 17 is maintained.

Next, the paper feeding device 1 of the printer of this embodiment.
When the sheet feeding operation of the sheet 14 by the sheet 2a is completed, the sheet feeding motor 57 is stopped, and the sheet 14 is set to the back-feed state in which the sheet 14 can be fed back, as shown in FIG.

In the back feed state shown in FIG. 20, the lever body 87 fixed to the rod body 85 which is rotationally driven by the driving force of the sheet feeding motor 57 is in a state where its free end is in contact with the operating arm 84. The paper reset member 25a is stopped, and is rotated clockwise about the rotation support shaft 29 in FIG. 20 against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 31, and the main arm 27 of the paper reset member 25a is rotated. The lower surface of the leading end portion is positioned so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the leading end portion of the paper 14 located at the top of the plurality of sheets of paper 14 placed on the upper surface of the paper placement plate 23. Other functions are similar to those of the first embodiment described above.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above is obtained, and the tip of the main arm 27 of the paper resetting member 25a in the standby state is placed on the upper surface of the paper placing plate 23. Since it is possible to separate from the upper surface of the leading end of the paper 14 located at the top of the plurality of placed papers 14, the paper reset member 25 can be set when the paper 14 is set on the upper surface of the paper placement plate 23 in the standby state. Does not get in the way.

The paper reset member 25a may be any structure as long as it operates with the driving force of the paper feed motor 57, and is not particularly limited to the structure of this embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified as required.

[0093]

As described above, according to the paper feeding device of the printer of the present invention, it is possible to sequentially feed a plurality of sheets placed on the upper surface of the sheet placing plate one by one from the uppermost side. In addition, it is possible to surely secure a traveling space for the paper to be back-fed above the paper located at the top of the paper placed on the upper surface of the paper placement plate when the paper is back-fed. Produce an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a standby state of a main part of a first embodiment used in a color thermal transfer printer for performing color printing by back-feeding paper with a paper feeding device of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a main part showing the separation claw in detail.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing the paper reset member in detail.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of a paper reset member.

6A and 6B are enlarged views showing a sheet feeding roller, FIG. 6A is a side view, and FIG. 6B is a longitudinal sectional view.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a sheet mounting amount regulating member.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a mounting plate movement position control means.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a main part of a color thermal transfer printer to which the paper feeding device of the printer according to the present embodiment is applied.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a color thermal transfer printer to which the paper feeding device of the printer according to the present embodiment is applied.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a paper feed state.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a paper feed state.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a paper feed state.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a back feed state in which paper can be back fed.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a back feed state in which paper can be back fed.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a back feed state in which paper can be back fed.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing a standby state and a sheet feeding state of a main part of a second embodiment used in a color thermal transfer printer for performing color printing by back-feeding a sheet in a sheet feeding device of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of a paper reset member of a second embodiment used in a color thermal transfer printer that performs color printing by back-feeding paper in a paper feeding device of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a detailed view of a standby member and a paper feed state paper resetting member of a second embodiment used in a color thermal transfer printer for performing color printing by back feeding a paper sheet in a paper feeding device of a printer according to the present invention. Partial enlarged side sectional view

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 showing the back-feed state of the second embodiment in which the sheet feeding device of the printer according to the present invention is used in a color thermal transfer printer for back-feeding a sheet for color printing

FIG. 21 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of a sheet feeding device of a conventional printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12, 12a Printer's paper feeding device 13 Support frame 14 Paper 17 Tray body 20, 20a Cutout hole 23 Paper loading plate 24 Loading plate operating member 25, 25a Paper resetting member 27 Main arm 28 Sub arm 31 Torsional coil spring 44 Paper feeding Roller 49 Paper feeding surface 50 Notch surface 51 Rotating shaft 52 Paper feeding gear 57 Paper feeding motor 60 Loading amount regulating member 62 Arm 62A Loading amount regulating arm 62B Drive arm 64 Actuating shaft 65 Moving position guide 66 Operation member drive gear 67 Cam 71 Spring member 73 Placement amount regulating member drive means 74 Placement plate drive gear 76 Rotation gear shaft 77 Cam lever 78 Placement plate movement position control means 84 Actuation arm 85 Rod body 86 Actuation arm drive gear 87 Lever Body D maximum load capacity

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tray main body, a paper placing plate movably arranged in the tray main body in a vertical direction for stacking and placing a plurality of sheets, and above the tray main body. A paper feeding roller which is disposed near the leading end of the paper placing plate and is driven to rotate by a driving force of a paper feeding motor to send out the paper located at the top of the paper placed on the paper placing plate. A loading amount regulation member disposed above the sheet loading plate to regulate the maximum loading amount of the sheets loaded on the sheet loading plate; and the loading amount regulation member in the standby state. A loading amount regulating member drive means for advancing in the direction of the upper surface of the loading plate to move forward and backward so as to retract from the upper surface of the paper loading plate in the feeding state and the backfeeding state, and the standby state and back of the paper loading plate. The position in the feed state is described above. A platen plate moving position control means for restricting the position to a position separated from the amount restricting member, and a platen separated from the upper surface of the leading end portion of the paper placed on the paper platen in the paper feeding state. A paper feeding device for a printer, comprising: a paper reset member that is operated to come into contact with and separate from the back feed state. 2. The paper feeding device for a printer according to claim 1, wherein the paper reset member is operated in a contacting / separating manner by a driving force of the paper feeding motor. 3. The paper feed for a printer according to claim 1, wherein the paper reset member is operated in contact and separation in conjunction with the operation of the paper placement plate by the placement plate moving position control means. apparatus.