JPS60257268A - Printer for postal card or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print on a postal card or the like while continuously feeding it at a high velocity, by a method wherein postal cards or the like contained in a containing part are sequentially fed one at a time from the side of an attachment to the side of a main body of a printer, and are printed. CONSTITUTION:The postal cards 2 contained in the containing part 1 are discharged one at a time, are fed downward by a main feeding roller 9, and are fed further by rollers 10, 11. When the postal card is fed to a predetermined position, the leading end thereof is detected by a photo-sensor 15, a solenoid 16 is operated to oscillate a support plate 20 in the direction of an arrow (e), the roller 9 is oscillated in the same direction to come off a feeding passage 52 for the postal card 2, and the postal card 2 is fed into the main body 46 of the printer. When a trailing end of the postal card is detected by a photo-sensor 35, an eccentirc shaft 12 is turned about 90 deg. in the direction of an arrow (c), and the roller 10 is made to be eccentric to come off the passage 52. Simultaneously, a lever 34 is turned through an arm 33, pinch rollers 49, 49 in the main body 46 are energized to the side of a platen 48, and the postal card 2 is clamped between the rollers 49 and the platen 48. Then, an address, a name or the like is printed on the postal card 2 by a printing head 47.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer for postcards and the like, and more particularly to improvements in small-sized printers for directly printing addresses, names, etc. on postcards and the like.

In the past, when printing addresses, names, etc. on postcards, it was often done directly with a printer, but in general, small printers were not originally designed for printing postcards, so their functions were limited. The fatal drawback is that it is not possible to print multiple postcards in succession at high speed, and as a result, even though a printer is used, the efficiency of printing on postcards is not improved at all. There was a serious problem.

Additionally, in order to solve this problem, models that can print multiple postcards in succession have been developed, but such models are generally large and multi-functional and general-purpose products. Although it is very expensive and can print a large number of postcards in succession, it is almost impossible to print at high speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve all of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide an apparatus that can print a large number of postcards in succession at high speed and at a low cost.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a storage section for storing postcards, etc., a main feed roller and a pair of sub-feed rollers for transporting the postcards etc. discharged from the storage section, and each roller. a detection means for detecting the position of the tip of a postcard, etc., transferred to a predetermined position by the
and a detaching means for detaching the main feed roller from the transfer path of the postcard, etc. when this is detected, and a rear end portion of the postcard, etc. when the one postcard, etc. is transferred to the printing position of the main body of the printer. A detection means for detecting the position of the postcard, etc., and a detachment means for detaching one of the sub-feed rollers from the postcard, etc. transport path at the time of detection, are transferred to the print head, the platen, and the platen side. The printer is detachably attached to the main body of the printer and has a pressure roller for pressing and holding the printer.

To explain the operation of a printer for postcards with such a configuration, first, a large number of postcards are sequentially ejected one by one from the storage section, and then transported to a predetermined position by a main feed roller and a sub feed roller. At this time, the position of the leading end of one postcard or the like is detected by the detection means, and the main feed roller is removed from the postcard or the like transfer path, thereby prohibiting the transfer of subsequent postcards or the like.

When only one postcard, etc. is inserted into the main body of the printer and sent to the print head, the position of the rear end of the postcard, etc. is detected by the detection means, and one sub-feed roller is activated to transport the postcard, etc. At the same time or afterwards, a pressing roller on the printer main body side presses the postcard etc. that has been sent to the position of the print head towards the platen side and fixes it, and printing is performed on the postcard etc. in this state. When the printing is completed, the printed postcards, etc. are ejected from the main body of the printer, and at the same time as printing is completed, the main feed roller and one of the sub-feed rollers, which had been separated from the transport path for the postcards, etc., are restored. Then, it will be installed again along the transfer path. Therefore, subsequent postcards, etc. will be sent in the same way as the above postcards, etc.
The sheets are sequentially transferred to the main body of the printer and printed by the print head.

In this way, in the present invention, a large number of postcards etc. stored in the storage section are sent one by one from the acquisition side to the printer main body side and printed. This has resulted in a particularly remarkable effect in that it has become possible to transport and print at high speed.

Moreover, since it is a printer with a simple structure like a conventional small printer, with an axotiment attached to it, it can be provided at a significantly lower cost than conventional general-purpose printers that can send multiple postcards continuously. It has a special advantage.

Furthermore, since the axotiment can be attached to and detached from the main body of the printer, there is the practical benefit that it can be used as a printer for postcards, etc. or as a printer for general printed matter by attaching and detaching it.

Another advantage is that it is very easy to operate.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described according to an example shown in the drawings.

1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a storage unit capable of storing approximately 500 postcards 2, and includes a pair of left and right guide plates 3.3 and a push plate 4 installed perpendicular to the guide plates 3.3. It is surrounded by and composed of. Reference numerals 5 and 5 designate leaf springs attached to both sides of the push plate 4, which are mounted in a holder 6.6 attached to the outside of the guide plate 3. It will be done. And this leaf spring 5,
5, the push plate 4 is urged in the direction in which the postcard 2 is ejected. 7 is a glue mint switch for detecting the empty state of the leaves w2 in the storage section I; 8 is an abbreviated detection lever for activating the limit switch 7; the lever is guided through a shaft 8a; It is swingably attached to the plate 3.3. A hole 4a into which the tip of the detection lever 8 can be inserted is formed in the push plate 4. 9 is a main feed roller for sending postcards 2 discharged from the storage section 1 downward, that is, toward the main body of the printer; 10.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a pair of sub-feed rollers for further downwardly feeding the postcard 2 sent from the main feed roller 9. One sub-feed roller 10 is attached to an eccentric shaft 12 so as to be freely rotatable, and the other sub-feed roller The roller 11 and the main feed roller 9 are fitted with shafts 13,14.

Both the main feed roller 9 and the sub feed rollers 10.11 are installed on the postcard 2 transport path.

15 is the main feed roller 9 and the sub feed roller 1
16 is a solenoid that can be activated when the photo sensor 15 detects the position of the tip of the postcard 2 sent at 0.11. The shaft 19 allows the rod 18 to swing.
It is pivoted on.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a substantially triangular support plate which supports a shaft 21 pivotally supported at the lower end of the swinging rod 18, a shaft 14 of the main feed roller 9, and a shaft 13 of the other sub feed roller 11. When the swinging rod 18 swings, the support plate 20 swings at the same time, and the main feed roller 9 swings to move away from the postcard 2 transport path. 22 is an interlocking roller attached to the shaft 14 together with the main feed roller 9;
23 is an interlocking roller that meshes with the interlocking roller 22, and 24 is a worm that meshes with the interlocking roller 23, which is attached to the shaft 13 together with the other sub-feed roller 11.

A third emator 28 is provided at one end of the shaft 13 via gears 25, 26 and a worm 27.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a second motor that can be driven in forward and reverse directions to eccentrically drive the sub-feed roller 10, and a gear 31 that meshes with a worm 30 provided at its lower end serves as the eccentric shaft of the sub-feed roller 10. It is attached to one end of 12. A lever 34 is connected to this gear 31 via a U-shaped rod 32 and an arm 33.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a photosensor for detecting the position of the rear end of the postcard 2 when the postcard 2 is sent to the printing position 47 of the main body 46 of the printer. The motor 29 will now operate.

°- In Fig. 6, reference numeral 36 denotes a double prevention roller, which is normally coaxially attached to a shaft 37 as the postcards 2 are transported, and when the postcards 2 are transported in an overlapping manner, the shaft 37 is The anti-doubling roller 36 comes into contact with the other sub-feeding roller 11.

Reference numeral 39 denotes a discharge roller for sending out the postcard 2 discharged from the printer main body 46, and a pressure roller 40 is provided facing the discharge roller 39. 41 is a guide for guiding the postcard 2 sent by both rollers 39 and 40, 42.43 is a discharge roller and a pressure roller for further discharging the postcard 2 sent along the guide 41 to the outside, A belt 44 is wound around both discharge rollers 39, 42, and both discharge rollers 39, 42 can be rotated by driving the motor 52. 50 is a postcard setting lever, and 51 is a guide for guiding the postcard 2.

The axotiment 45 for sending and discharging postcards constructed as described above is detachably attached to the upper part of the printer body 46. 47 is a print head for printing on the postcard 2; 48 is a platen provided within the printer body 46 facing the print head 47; 49.
Reference numeral 49 denotes a pressure roller for pressing and supporting the postcard 2 toward the platen 48, and is urged toward the platen 48 at the same time as the lever 34 is rotated.

In this way, the printer body 46 and the acknowledgment 45 constitute a postcard printer.

Next, the operation of the postcard printer having such a configuration will be explained.

First, by pulling out the lever 50 for postcards, the push plate 4 is pulled toward one end of the storage section 1 against the elastic force of the leaf spring 5, and a large number of postcards (approx. 500 pieces)
When you release the lever 50 after storing and setting the postcard 2,
Due to the elastic force of the leaf spring 5, the large number of leaves W2 are pressed against the push plate 4 and are discharged one by one from the other end side of the storage section 1, that is, from the discharge side.

Next, when the first motor 28 is driven, both blade feed rollers 1. At the same time as Llo rotates in the arrow direction and convex direction in FIG. 2, the rotation of the worm 24, which is coaxial with the other sub-feed roller, causes an upward interlocking movement through the rotation of the interlocking rollers 22 and 23. The main feed roller 9, which is provided coaxially with the roller 22, rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

Then, by this main feed roller 90 rotations, the most advanced postcard 2 located on the ejection side of the storage section 1 is transferred downward, and furthermore, the double feed rollers that have already been rotated by the drive of the first moke 28 10.11, it is transferred to the printer main body 46 side. In this case, if two or more postcards 2 are to be transferred in a pile, the 6th
As shown in Figure (B), at the same time that the overlapping postcards 2 hit the double prevention roller 36, the double prevention roller 36 comes into contact with one of the sub feed rollers 10 due to the swinging of the arm 38, and as a result, both of the postcards 2 hit the double prevention roller 36. Feed roller 10.1
The rotation of postcard 1 is stopped, and the transfer of postcard 2 is immediately stopped. Therefore, sending double postcards 2, that is, sending two or more postcards overlapping each other, is completely prohibited.

Next, the main roller 9 and the sub feed roller 1.0
．． 1], when the postcard 2 sent is transferred to a predetermined position, that is, the position immediately before entering the printer main body 46, the position of the leading edge of the postcard 2 is detected by the photosensor 1.
5 is detected, and the solenoid 16 is actuated by the detection, causing the tension rod 17 to move upward and the swinging rod 18 to move as shown in FIG.
The support plate 20 swings in the direction of the arrow H through the swinging in the two directions of the arrows, and as a result, the main feed roller 9 swings in the same direction and leaves the transport path 52 for the postcard 2. Become.

Therefore, even if the one postcard 2 is fed into the main body 46 of the printer, the subsequent postcards 2 will be transferred to the main feed roller 9.
As a result of the detachment, the paper is not sent to the printer main body 46 and remains stored in the storage section 1.

The one postcard 2 is transferred to the main feed roller 9
Even after the postcard 2 is detached, the postcard 2 is continuously transferred and fed into the blink body 46, and when the leading end of the postcard 2 is transported to the position of the print head 47, the position of the trailing end of the postcard 2 is detected by the photosensor 35. is detected, and the second mork 2 is detected by that detection.
9 is activated. The operation of the second motor 29 causes the shaft 30 to rotate, and the gear 3 meshed with the worm 30 to rotate, thereby rotating the eccentric shaft 12 by about 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, one of the sub-feeding rollers 10 becomes eccentric and separates from the postcard 2 transport path 52.

Also, at the same time as the sub-feed roller 10 is detached, the gear 3
1, the lever 34 rotates via the U-shaped rod 32 and the arm 33, and as a result, the pressure rollers 49 and 49 in the printer main body 46 are urged toward the platen 48, and the pressure rollers 49 and the platen are Postcard 2 is held between 48 and 48. In this state, the address, name, etc. are printed on the postcard 2 by the print head 47.

Next, the postcard 2 printed in this manner is ejected from the printer main body 46 and is sent by the ejection roller 39 and the pressure roller 40, and then moved along the guide 41 to the other ejection roller 42 and the pressure roller 40. From there, it will be discharged to the outside of the attachment 45.

The main feed roller 9 and one of the sub-feed rollers 10, which had been separated from the postcard 2 transfer path 52, are restored after the printing by the printing hand 47 is completed and are installed in the postcard 2 transfer path again. .

Then, the subsequent postcards 2 are sent one by one by the main feed roller 9 and the sub feed roller 1 in the same way as the printed postcards 2.
0.11, and after being printed by the print head 47 in the printer main body 46, it is discharged to the Aku 2-chimen 1-45 side, and further passes through each roller 39, 40, 42, 43 to the attachment 45. They are sequentially taken out to the outside.

A large number of postcards 2 stored in the storage section 1 in this way
are printed continuously and automatically, and the printing and postcard 2
This means that the transportation will be carried out at high speed.

In addition, when the postcards 2 in the storage section 1 become empty, the push plate 4
is located on the discharge side of the storage section 1, so the tip of the detection lever 8 is inserted into the hole 4a of the push plate 4, and the detection lever 8 swings in the direction of arrow T in FIG. Then, one end of the shaft 8a suspending the detection lever 8 presses the button 7a of the limit switch 7, the limit switch 7 is activated, and the empty state of the postcard 2 is detected.

In the above embodiment, the postcard 2 in the storage section 1 is pressed by the push plate 4 by the biasing force of the leaf spring 5 and ejected from the storage section 1, but the configuration inside the storage section 1 never changes. The present invention is not limited to this, but any structure may be used as long as a large number of postcards 2 are sent out one by one from the storage section 1.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the detection lever 8 and the limit switch 7 are provided to detect when the postcard 2 in the storage section 1 is empty, the device can not operate even when the inside of the storage section 1 is empty. However, these limit switches 7 and the like are by no means essential to the present invention.

Furthermore, the means for removing the main feed roller 9 from the postcard transport path is by no means limited to the means using the solenoid I6, the tension rod 17, the swing rod 18, the support plate 20, etc. as in the embodiment. , there are no questions asked about the means. Similarly, the means for removing one sub-feed roller 10 is not limited to the interlocking mechanism of the second motor, worm gear, or eccentric shaft 12 as in the embodiment. In short, when the position of the leading edge of the postcard 2 is detected by the photosensor 15, the main feed roller 9 leaves the transport path of the postcard 2, and after the postcard 2 is sent to the position of the print head 47 by the photosensor 35. It is only necessary that the sub-feeding roller 1o (1) is configured to leave the transport path of the postcard 2 when the position of the end portion is detected.

Furthermore, these means for detecting the position of the postcard 2 are by no means limited to the photosensors 15, 35 of the embodiment, but may be, for example, a limit switch or the like.

Further, in this embodiment, the lever 34 is automatically operated by the drive of the second motor 29, so that the postcard 2 can be held between the suppression rollers 49, 49 and the platen 48.
This lever 34 does not necessarily need to be operated automatically, but may be operated manually. Further, it is not necessarily necessary to configure it in conjunction with one of the sub feed rollers 10 as in the embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, since the double-preventing roller 36 is provided, a desirable advantage is obtained in that two or more postcards 2 are not sent redundantly, but this double-preventing roller 36 is by no means essential to the present invention. It doesn't belong to.

Furthermore, the main feed roller 9 and the sub feed roller 10
The transmission mechanism of each roller, such as, is by no means limited to the embodiment, and the rotation driving means for the main feed roller 9, sub-feed rollers 10, 11, etc. is also by no means limited to the first motor 28 of the embodiment. It's not a thing.

Further, in this embodiment, the solenoid 16 is installed perpendicularly to the guide plate 3, but it is not necessarily necessary to install it vertically, and when adjusting the swing angle of the swinging rod 18, etc., the solenoid 16 is installed vertically to the guide plate 3. It may also be installed diagonally. Further, in this embodiment, a discharge roller 39 is provided on the discharge side of the attachment 45.
42, the pressure rollers 40 and 43, and the guide 41, the postcard 2 is smoothly ejected to the outside of the attachment 45, which is a desirable advantage. The caller 39 and the like are by no means essential to the present invention; for example, they may be taken out when the printed postcard 2 is ejected from the printer main body 46.

Furthermore, although the present invention is primarily intended for use on postcards, its application is by no means limited to postcards; for example, it may be used for printing on information cards and the like.

The printer can also be used to print general documents; in this case, the attachment 45 can be removed from the printer main body 46 and documents can be printed using only the printer main body 46. That is, the present invention can have both the functions of printing on postcards and printing on general documents by attaching and detaching the attachment 45 from the printer main body 46.

All designs are subject to change within the intended scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an attachment for a postcard printer as an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal mechanism of the postcard printer. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view showing the interlocking mechanism of the main feed roller and sub feed roller. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the main part of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway schematic side view of the storage section. FIG. 6 shows the structure around the double prevention roller, (a) is a front view of the main part, and (b) is a schematic side view showing the action. FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing the detached stripes of the main feed roller. FIG. 8 is a schematic front view showing the detached state of the sub-feed roller. 1... Storage section 9... Main feed roller 10, 1
1...Sub feed roller 15.35...Photo sensor 16...Solenoid 45...Attachment 46
...Printer body 47...Print head 48...
Platen 49... Suppression roller Applicant Perfect Mechanism Co., Ltd. Applicant Ring & Ring agent Patent attorney Noboru Fujimoto Figure 6 J 0 (B) Figure 7 Figure 8 No. 9

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A storage section 1 for storing a large number of postcards, etc., a main feed roller 9 and a pair of opposing sub-feed rollers 10 for transporting the postcards etc. discharged from the storage section 1.
11 and to detect the position of the leading edge of a postcard, etc., transferred to a predetermined position by the main feed roller 9 and sub feed roller 10.11 before insertion into the platen 4 in the printer main body 46. a main feed roller detaching means for separating the main feed roller 9 from the transfer path 52 for the postcard etc. when the position of the postcard etc. is detected by the detecting means; a detection means for detecting the position of the rear end of the postcard etc. when it is sent to the position 47 for printing on the postcard, and the pair of sub-feeding rollers when detecting the position of the rear end of the postcard etc. 10. An axotiment 45 consisting of a sub-feeding roller detachment means for disengaging one of the sub-feeding rollers 10 from the transfer path 52 for postcards, etc., is used for printing on postcards etc. transferred from the axotiment 45. A printing head 47, a platen 48 provided facing the print head 47 via a transport path for postcards, etc., and a pressure roller 49 for pressing and holding the postcard etc. between the platen 48. A printer for postcards, etc., which is detachably attached to a printer body 46. 2. The printer for postcards, etc. according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the position of the leading edge of the postcard, etc. is a photosensor 15. 3 The main feed roller detachment means is a solenoid 16
2. A printer for postcards, etc. according to claim 1, wherein said means is achieved by swinging a support plate 20 provided coaxially with the main feed roller 9 under the urging force of the main feed roller 9. 4. The printer for postcards, etc. according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the position of the rear end of the postcard, etc. is a photo sensor 35. 5. The printer for postcards and the like according to claim 1, wherein the sub-feed roller detachment means is a means by rotation of an eccentric shaft 12. 6. The press roller 49 of the printer main body 46 is configured to be moved toward the platen 48 side at the same time when one sub-feed roller 10 leaves the transport path for postcards, etc. Printer for postcards, etc.