JPS6273971A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the printing to the upper end part of printing paper, by driving a printing head for the purpose of printing when the upper end part of the printing paper fed by a drive means reached a printing position. CONSTITUTION:When the upper end of fed printing paper 18 passes a photocoupler 17, the driving of a stepping motor 7 feeding the printing paper 18 is suspended and a printing head 25 is driven for the purpose of printing on the basis of the dot pattern data transferred from a print buffer region while a carriage 21 is moved along the printing line on the upper end part of the printing paper 18. When the upper end of the printing paper 17 is fed to the closed position of a paper bail arm 27 according to printing operation, the paper bail arm 27 is revolved from the closed position thereof to the open position thereof to allow the upper end part of the printing paper 18 to position between a pressure contact roller 31 and a platen 5 and, thereafter, the paper bail arm 27 is returned to the closed position to perform printing while the printing paper 18 is pressed on the platen 5 by the pressure contact roller 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a 41 printing device capable of printing on the upper end of printing paper.

[Prior Art] In order to enable printing on the lower edge of printing paper, a conventional printing device rotates a paper holding member having a plurality of pressure rollers that come into contact with the circumferential surface of the platen on the paper discharge side of the platen. It is movably mounted.

In order to feed the upper end of the printing paper between the pressure roller and the platen when the printing paper is loaded, the paper holding member is rotated by the biasing member to an open position where the pressure roller and the platen come into contact with each other. The platen and pressure roller are rotated to an open position where they are separated by an N magnetic solenoid or the like. However, a printing device equipped with this type of paper holding member requires many expensive parts, and has the problem of increasing the cost of the device itself.

For this reason, the present applicant previously disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-21278 that when loading printing paper, the paper holding member is rotated from the closed position to the open position in conjunction with the movement of the print head relative to one end of the platen. In addition, we have proposed a paper holding device that allows the upper end of printing paper to be positioned between the pressure roller and the platen.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the printing device equipped with the above-described paper holding device, it is difficult to close the upper end of the supplied printing paper with the paper holding member rotated to the open position. Since the printing paper is fed to a position according to the position, many blank spaces where printing is impossible are formed at the upper end of the printing paper.

In particular, for printing paper such as postcards that have a small overall printing area, it is necessary to print on the top edge as well, but it was impossible to print on the top edge with conventional paper holding devices. .

[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that is an improvement on the invention of JP-A-60-21278 and is capable of efficiently printing even on the upper end of printing paper.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention provides a first driving means for rotationally driving the platen, a second driving means for reciprocating the print head along the print line of the platen, and a plurality of A pressure roller is rotatably supported and moves between a closed position where the pressure roller and the platen are in contact with each other on the side in the rotational direction of the platen from the printing position, and the same position where the platen and the pressure roller are separated from each other. a biasing member that biases the paper press member toward the closed position; and a biasing member that biases the paper press member toward the closed position; an actuating member that moves the paper pressing member from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the biasing member; and the first drive unit that is driven by a required amount until the leading edge of the printing paper reaches the printing position; Driving the second driving means and controlling the printing of the print head, when the driving amount of the first driving means accompanying the printing operation reaches a required amount,
Once the print head is moved to one end of the platen, the second driving means is driven to move the paper holding member from the open position to the same position, and then the print head is moved back to the print position. driving the second driving means to
The printing device includes a control means for controlling printing so as to restart the printing operation.

[Operation 1 of the Invention Since the present invention is configured as described above, the first driving means is driven by the required amount, and when the upper end of the supplied printing paper reaches the printing position, the printing head is driven for printing. This makes it possible to print on the upper edge of the printing paper. Then, the first driving means is driven by a required amount as the paper is fed during the printing operation, and when the upper end of the printing paper reaches the closed position of the paper holding member, the printing head is moved toward one end of the platen. The paper holding member is rotated from the closed position to the open position in conjunction with the movement of the paper holding member, and the upper end of the printing paper is positioned between the platen and the paper holding member, and then the print head is moved back to the printing position. Accordingly, by returning the paper holding member from the open position to the closed position, the printing paper is pressed against the platen and the printing operation is resumed4.This makes it possible to print on the upper edge of the printing paper, which was previously impossible. There is.

[Example] The present invention will be described below according to an example in which the present invention is implemented in a dot impact printer.

In FIG. 1 schematically showing a dot impact printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 showing a side view of the printer, and FIG. 3 showing operating members, a pair of left and right frames in a printer 1 as a printing device are shown. A step motor 7 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) is connected to the platen 5 as a first driving means, and the platen 5 is rotated in a desired direction as the step motor 7 is driven. Ru. A paper guide plate 9, which is curved according to the circumferential surface of the platen 5, is provided between the frames 3 so as to face the circumferential surface of the platen 5 at a required interval on the paper supply side of the platen 5. Installed. A frame 3 corresponding to the paper guide plate 9
In between, two paper feed rollers 11 and 13 are in contact with the circumferential surface of the paper supply side of the platen 5 and are rotatably supported. At the front end of the paper guide plate 9, there is a paper holding film 15 made of elastically deformable synthetic resin, and its upper end is pressed against the circumferential surface of the platen 5 in front of the printing position of the platen 5.
It is attached so that it abuts over almost the entire axial direction. Notch 15 formed in the paper holding film 15
A photocoupler 17 constituting paper detection means is arranged at a. , the first cover 17 outputs a paper detection signal when the upper end of the printing paper 1B, which is fed as the platen 5 and paper feed rollers 11 and 13 rotate, passes.

Two guide shafts 19 are horizontally suspended between the frames 3 in parallel to the axis of the platen 5. A carriage 21 is supported on the guide shaft 19 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the guide @II 19. The carriage 21 has a carriage drive motor 23 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) such as a step motor or a DC motor constituting a second drive means.
are connected, and the carriage 21 is reciprocated parallel to the axis of the platen 5. A dot impact type print head 25 is mounted on the carriage 21. The print head 25 magnetically drives a large number of built-in electromagnet devices based on print data, prints by driving print wires (none of which are shown) corresponding to the electromagnet devices, and transfers the print data to the driver 1.
-Print in matrix.

A pair of left and right paper pail arms 27 (only one paper pail arm 27 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) constituting a paper holding member is attached to the support shaft 26 fixed to the frame 3, as shown in FIG. It is rotatably supported between a closed position shown by a solid line and a closed position shown by a two-dot chain line. A support shaft 29 is fixed to the tip of each paper pail arm 27 so as to be substantially parallel to the axis of the platen 5.

A large number of pressure rollers 31 are rotatably supported on the support @29 at required intervals in the axial direction. Further, a large number of guide claws 33 are provided on the support shaft 29 to support the pressure roller 3.
It is attached to both shaft ends of 1. A bin 35 is fixed to the lower end of each paper pail arm 27.
One end of the spring 36 is hooked to the hook hole 3a of the frame 3 (not shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2), and the other end of the spring 36 is hooked to the spring 36 as a biasing means. As a result, the paper pail arm 27 is rotated clockwise about the support shaft 26 in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. Ru.

In the frame 3 corresponding to the right end side in the axial direction of the platen 5 shown in FIG. Possibly supported. The first arm 37a of the operating lever 37 is inserted into a lever opening 45 formed at the lower end of the paper pail arm 27 through an opening 43 formed in the frame 3. The second of the operating lever 37
A projection 47 is formed at the tip of the arm 37b.

Then, when the carriage 21 moves to the right end side in the axial direction of the platen 5, the protrusion 47 slides on the cam surface 49a of the cam member 49 that constitutes a part of the operating member attached to the carriage 21, and the bottle 41 The actuating lever 37 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 3 about the center. An engagement recess 51 is formed at the tip of the third arm portion 37c of the actuation lever 37.

When the operating lever 37 rotates counterclockwise about the pin 41 as the protrusion 47 slides against the cam surface 49a, the engagement recess 51 is inserted into the engagement pin fixed to the carriage 21. 53.

Next, in FIG. 4 showing an outline of control of the printer 1 configured as described above, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 61 as a control means is equipped with external devices (not shown) such as a computer and a keyboard. is connected via the interface 63, and various print data are sent from the external device to C.
It is input to PU61. Further, a photocoupler 17 is connected to the CPU 61, and a paper detection signal is input from the photocoupler 17. A ROM 65 and a RAM 67 are connected to the CPU 61, respectively. The ROM 65 has a program data area 69, a pattern data area 71, and a step number data area 73. Said program data area 1! '69 stores various program data such as feeding data to be printed on the upper end of the printing paper 18, which will be described later. The pattern data area 71 stores dot pattern data corresponding to various print data. '#i Subj number data area 73 stores first step number data N1 and second step number data N2, which will be described later. The first step number data N1 is the number of driving steps of the step motor 7 until the upper end of the printing paper 18 that has passed the photocoupler 17 reaches the printing position. Further, the second step number data N2 is the step motor 7 until the upper end of the printing paper 18 that has passed the photocoupler 17 reaches the closed position of the paper pail arm 27.
is the number of driving steps. The RAM 67 has an input buffer area 75, a print buffer area 77, and seven step number counter areas. The input buffer area 75 stores, for example, print data of a - print line valve input from an external device.

The print buffer area 77 includes an input buffer area 7.
The dot pattern data transferred from the pattern data area 71 based on the print data stored in 5 is stored. The step number counter area 79 is a photocoupler 1
When the paper detection signal is output from 7, the step motor 7
The feeding amount of the printing paper 18 is measured by sequentially incrementing each step of driving.

A print head drive circuit 81 is connected to the CPLJ 61. The print head drive circuit 81 selectively drives the electromagnet device of the print head 25 based on the dot pattern data transferred from the print buffer area 77, and drives the print wire corresponding to the electromagnet device for printing. A platen drive circuit 83 is connected to the CPU 61. The platen drive circuit 83 drives the step motor 7 based on paper feeding data input from an external device to feed the printing paper 18. A carriage drive circuit 85 is connected to the CPtJ61. The carriage drive circuit 85
drives the carriage drive motor 23 based on print instruction data input from an external device, and moves the cut ridge 21. Further, the carriage drive circuit 85 operates the carriage drive motor 2 based on the paper pail release command data.
3 to move the carriage 21 to the right end side of the platen 5 in the axial direction beyond the normal printing range.

Next, the paper feeding operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9.

Figure 5 shows the flow for printing on the top edge of the printing paper;
In FIGS. 6 to 8 showing the paper feeding state and FIG. 9 showing the paper pail opening operation, the CPU 61 drives the step motor 7 in step 91 based on paper feeding data input from an external device. . As a result, the printing paper 18 supplied between the platen 5 and the paper guide plate 9 is fed to the printing position side by the platen 5 and the paper feed rollers 11 and 13 that rotate in the opposite direction in synchronization with the platen 5. . Then, in step 93, the CPU 61 determines whether the upper end of the printing paper 18 being fed has passed the photocoupler 17 and a paper detection signal has been output from the photocoupler 17.

If the printing paper 18 to be fed has not been fed to the photocoupler 17 and the determination is NO, the process returns to step 91. On the other hand, if the paper detection signal is output from the photocoupler 17 and the determination is Y[S, the CPU 61 sequentially increments the step number counter area 79 by one in step 95 for every one step drive of the step motor 7. Then, in step 97, the CPU 61 determines whether the number of steps stored in the step number counter area 79 has reached the number of steps of the first step number data N1 stored in the step number data area 73. If the number of steps stored in the step number counter area 79 is less than or equal to the number of steps of the first step number data N1 and the upper end of the printing paper 18 has not reached the printing position, the determination becomes NO and the step number is Return to 95. On the other hand, when the number of steps stored in the step number counter area 79 reaches the number of steps of the first step number data N1, the determination becomes YES. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper end of the printing paper 18 mounted on the platen 5 is fed to the printing position. Next, the CPtJ 61 temporarily interrupts the driving of the step motor 7 in step 99, and then moves the carriage 21 along the print line at the upper end of the printing paper 18 while moving the print head 25 to print the dot pattern transferred from the Boleyn 1 buffer area 77. Printing is driven based on the data. As a result, print data is printed on the upper end of the printing paper 18 in a dot matrix format.

Then, in step 101, the CPtJ61 sequentially increments the step number counter area 79 every time the step motor 7 is driven in accordance with the printing operation, and the number of steps stored in the step number counter area 79 becomes the number of steps in the second step number data N2. Determine whether or not. If the number of steps stored in the step number counter area 79 is less than or equal to the number of steps of the second step number data N2 and the upper end of the printing paper 18 has not been fed to the position corresponding to the closed position of the vapor pale arm 27, Step 1
01 becomes No and returns to step 9. On the contrary, the seventh
As shown in the figure, when the number of steps stored in the step number counter area 79 corresponds to the second step number data N2, the upper end of the printing paper 18 reaches the closed position of the paper pail arm 27, and the determination is YES. If the CPU
61 drives the carriage drive motor 23 based on the vapor pale release command data in step 103, so that the protrusion 47 of the second arm 37b slides on the cam surface 49a of the cam member 49, as shown in FIG. The operating lever 37 is rotated counterclockwise about the pin 41. As shown in FIG. 8, as the operating lever 37 rotates, the paper pail arm 27 engaged with the first arm 37a of the operating lever 37 is moved against the elastic force of the spring 36 to support the support shaft 26. It rotates counterclockwise around the center to move the pressure contact row 531 from the closed position to the open position. At this time, the guide claw 33
crosses the upper edge of the printing paper 18, so the printing paper 18
An upper end portion of the pressure roller 31 is located between the pressure roller 31 and the platen 5. In addition, the engagement recess 51 of the third arm portion 37C engages with the engagement pin 53 to maintain the rotating state of the paper pail arm 27.

Next, the CPU 61 controls the carriage 21 in step 105.
is moving toward the right end of the platen 5 in the axial direction. If the carriage 21 has not been moved to the right end side of the platen 5 in the axial direction, and therefore the pressure roller 31 has not been moved to the open position, the determination is No, and the process returns to step 103. Conversely, if the carriage 21 moves to the right end side in the axial direction of the platen 5 and the determination in step 105 is YES, the CPU 61 drives the carriage drive motor 23 in step 107 to return the print head 25 to the original printing position. let At this time, the carriage 21
According to the return movement of the pin 53, the engagement of the engagement pin 53 with the engagement recess 51 is released, and the protrusion 47 of the second arm 37b returns to its original position while driving the cam surfaces 49a of the four cam members. The actuating lever 37 is rotated clockwise about 41. As a result, the paper pail arm 27 is rotated by the elastic force of the spring 36 to a closed position where the pressure roller 31 and the platen 5 are in contact with each other, and the upper end of the printing paper 18 is struck against the platen 5. At this time, the guide claw 33 guides the upper end of the printing paper 18 toward the circumferential surface of the platen 5 as the paper bail arm 27 rotates.
This allows the printing paper 18 to be pressed against the platen 5.

Next, CPtJ61 carries out carriage 2 in step 109.
The print head 25 is driven to print while moving the print head 1 along the print line, and necessary print data is printed on the print paper 18 in a dot matrix format.

Note that the paper feeding operation when printing with a margin provided at the upper end of the printing paper 18 is the same as that described in JP-A-60-21278, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this way, in this embodiment, the printing operation is started when the upper end of the printing paper 18 is fed to the printing position before the closed position of the vapor pale arm 27, and the upper end of the printing paper 18 is fed according to the printing operation. When the paper pail arm 27 is fed to the closed position, the paper pail arm 27
is rotated once from the closed position to the open position to open the upper end of the printing paper 18.

is positioned between the pressure roller L31 and the platen 5, the paper pale arm 27 is returned to the closed position, and printing can be performed while pressing the printing paper 18 against the platen 5 by the pressure roller λ31.

Therefore, the print data can be printed without providing a margin at the upper end of the printing paper 18.

In the above explanation, the operating member is composed of the operating lever 37 and the cam member 49 as shown in Utility Model Application No. 60-14424. The operating member may be rotatably supported at one end of the platen 5, and the bevel gear may be meshed with a gear formed at the lower end of the paper pail arm 27. When the print head 25 moves toward one end of the platen 5, the actuating member rotates the rotary member in a predetermined direction by means of a shaft pin that abuts a part of the print head 25;
The paper pail arm 27 meshed with the bevel gear is rotated from the open position to the open position.

Furthermore, in the above description, after the detection means 17 detects the paper edge,
The platen 5 is rotated the required number of steps, but the edge of the paper is brought into contact with the contact point between the platen 5 and the roller 11 or the stopper provided on the guide plate 9, and from this state the platen 5 is rotated the required number of steps. You can also do that.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention can provide a printing device that can efficiently print even on the upper end of printing paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the outline of a dot impact printer, Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing the side state of the printer, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operating members, and Fig. 4 is an outline of the control. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the paper feeding operation, and FIGS. 6 to 9 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation. In the figure, 1 is a printer as a printing device, 3 is a frame, and 5
1 is a platen, 7 is a step motor as a first driving means, 17 is a photocoupler as a paper detecting means, 18 is printing paper, 23 is a carriage drive motor as a second driving means, 25 is a print head, and 27 is paper 31 is a pressure roller, 36 is a spring as a biasing member, 37 is an operating lever that is part of the operating member, 49 is a cam member that is part of the operating member,
61 is a CPU as a control means, N1 is step number data according to the number of steps, and N2 is step number data according to the number of steps. Patent applicant Brother Industries, Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Ken Ito - Figure 2, 7, Figure 3, Figure 7, Figure 9

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A first driving means for rotationally driving the platen, a second driving means for reciprocating the print head along the printing line of the platen, a plurality of pressure rollers rotatably supported, and a printing position a paper holding member movably supported between a closed position where the pressure roller and the platen are in contact with each other closer to the rotational direction of the platen and an open position where the platen and the pressure roller are separated from each other; a biasing member that biases the presser member toward the closed position; and when the print head moves toward one end of the platen, the paper presser resists the biasing force of the bias member in conjunction with the movement of the print head. an actuating member for moving the member from a closed position to an open position; and driving the first driving means by a required amount until the leading edge of the printing paper reaches the printing position, and then driving the second driving means and driving the printing head. When the drive amount of the first driving means reaches the required amount due to the printing operation, the print head is moved to one end of the platen and the paper holding member is moved from the closed position to the open position. control means for controlling printing so that the second driving means is driven so as to move the print head to the print position, the second driving means is driven so as to move the print head back to the printing position, and the printing operation is resumed; A printing device characterized by comprising: and. (2) The control means has a paper detection means in front of the printing position in the direction of rotation of the platen, and the first drive means is driven by a required amount based on a detection signal from the paper detection means. The printing device according to scope 1.