JPS6330763Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an improvement of a roll paper remaining amount detection device provided in various paper feeding devices such as data input/output devices equipped with a printing mechanism, facsimiles, and copying machines. .

[Prior art] Generally, as a conventional roll paper remaining amount detection device,
As shown in FIG. 1, photoelectric elements 2, 2 are provided at the paper passing position of the roll paper 1, and when there is no paper between both photoelectric elements, the photoelectric elements 2, 2 are turned on.
A device configured to send out a detection signal is known. However, this type of device
Since the structure is such that the paper is detected at the position where the paper passes as it is being fed out, a detection signal is generated even when the paper is no longer present between the phototransfer elements 2 and 2 due to the roll paper being damaged or cut during feeding. There was a shortcoming when it was sent out. Furthermore, it has not been possible to send out a detection signal when the remaining amount of roll paper reaches a certain specific amount. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a detection member 5 equipped with a lever or the like that presses against the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper 3 and a switch 6 that is activated by this detection member and sends out a detection signal are provided. Devices that can detect the remaining amount have also been proposed. In this device, as the diameter of the roll paper 3 decreases, a pressure contact lever 4 that is in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper 3 is rotated clockwise about a pivot 9 by a tensile force in the A direction by a spring 8. The actuator of the switch 6 is pressed by the actuating lever 7 to turn on the switch and send out a detection signal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sending of false detection signals due to paper damage or cutting during feeding, and it is also possible to send a detection signal when the remaining amount of the roll paper 3 reaches a certain specific amount. It has the following advantages.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, such a device also draws an arcuate trajectory S from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the chain line until the detection member 5 is switched on, and during that time the spring 8
Because the pressure lever 4 is always in strong pressure contact with the outer circumferential surface of the roll paper 3, the tension of the spring 8 must be made large. Therefore, when the roll paper 3 is used for copying, There was an inconvenience in that the pressure contact lever left traces on the copy paper.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve this problem, the present invention configures the bottom plate of the roll paper box assembled to the support plate as an inclined surface that slopes away from the support plate. An opening is provided in a part of the roll paper box so that the switch is fixed on the support plate at a lower position of the roll paper box so that its fixing position can be freely adjusted. It is characterized by being configured so as to face the paper roll and engage with the outer circumferential surface of the stored roll paper.

[Function] Therefore, when the roll paper is fed out to a predetermined amount from the box, the actuating piece that is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the roll paper by a light pressure contact turns on the switch and releases the remaining amount. In addition to reliably sending out a detection signal, since the fixed position of the switch is freely adjustable, the operating position of the switch, in other words, the remaining amount detection position can be appropriately selected.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the example shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the reference numeral 11 indicates a roll of paper wound around a cylindrical core 12, and this roll of paper is moved from a drive source (not shown) by an arrow
In response to the unwinding force in this direction, it is unrolled one after another while constantly rotating clockwise. Reference numeral 13 denotes a roll paper box constituting the roll paper storage section 14, which is assembled to a support plate 20 fixed to the housing 19 with screws. This roll paper box is composed of side plates 15, 15, a front plate 16 configured as a sloped surface downward to the left, and a bottom plate 17 configured as a slope downward to the right toward the front plate side. ing. Also, this roll paper box 1
3 is provided with an opening 18 which extends from a part of the bottom plate 17 to the lower end of the front plate 16 and is penetrated by a switch operating piece 21, which will be described later. Reference numeral 23 denotes a switch, which is fixed on a mounting plate 24 formed integrally with the support plate 20 with screws 25 and 26. Here, one of the screw holes 27 of the mounting plate 24 is formed into an elongated hole, so that the fixed posture of the switch 23 can be freely adjusted with respect to the mounting plate 24 via the screw 25. That is, the fourth
In the figure, with the screws 25 and 26 loosened,
After turning the switch 23 in the direction a,
By tightening 5 and 26, the mounting posture can be adjusted as appropriate. The operating piece 21 of the switch 23 is pivoted to the switch so that its free end projects inward from the opening 18 of the roll paper box 13. And actuating piece 2
1 presses the pusher 22 of the switch 23 by turning it clockwise, turning it on.
Further, by adjusting the fixed posture of the switch 23 described above, the position of its free end inside the roll paper box 13 is adjusted in the vertical direction. 28
is a package cover formed to cover the internal mechanism accommodated between the support plate 20 and the other support plate 29, and is fixed to the bent portion of the support plate 29 with screws. A pair of paper guides 30, 30 are provided on the upper surface of this package cover 28.
is provided. These paper guides 30, 30 are
A mounting piece 31 with a long groove and an L-shaped guide piece 32
It is made up of. That is, the paper guide 30,
30 is movable in the direction of arrow b along the long groove as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the package cover 28
It can be fixed to

Next, the operation of transmitting the roll paper remaining amount detection signal of the apparatus of the embodiment will be explained. First, one end of the roll paper 11 is let out, passed between paper guides 30, 30 on the package cover 28, and sent to a drive section and printing mechanism section (not shown). In this state,
The roll paper 11 housed inside the roll paper box 13 is supported with its outer peripheral surface in contact with the front plate 16 and the bottom plate 17. Here, when the roll paper 11 is hardly fed out and its outer diameter is large, the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper 11 contacts the front plate 16 and the bottom plate 17 of the roll paper storage box 13 at a position above the inclined surface. Supported. Therefore, in this state, as shown in FIG. 4, the switch operating piece 21 is not operated by the roll paper 11 at all. When the roll paper 11 receives a driving force from a drive source (not shown), the roll paper 11 is sequentially fed out while rotating within the storage section 14 due to the tensile force thereof, and the paper is fed in the direction of the arrow X. As a result, the remaining amount of the roll paper 11 gradually decreases.
Its outer diameter decreases. And roll paper 11
is gradually rolled downward along the inclined surfaces of the front plate 16 and bottom plate 17 of the roll paper box 13 due to its own weight. As shown in FIG.
1 and further rolls, in other words, when the roll paper 11 reaches a predetermined amount, the switch operating piece 21 moves along an arcuate trajectory t in the figure. After that, switch presser 2
2 is pressed to turn on the switch 23 and send out a detection signal. In response to this detection signal, an alarm device (not shown) is activated to notify the operator of this fact, and the operator replaces the roll paper 11 that has run out of remaining amount. In addition, the screw 25,
26, and turn the switch 2 using the screw 25 as the pivot.
3 within the range of the elongated hole 27, the tip position of the actuating piece 21 protruding into the inside of the roll paper box 13 can be adjusted, and thereby the remaining amount detection position of the roll paper 11 can be appropriately set. can.

[Effects of the invention] As explained in detail above, according to the invention,
The bottom plate of the roll paper box assembled on the support plate is constructed as an inclined surface that slopes gradually away from the support plate, and an opening is provided in a part of the bottom plate, and a switch can be attached to the support plate from this opening in a freely adjustable manner. Since the switch is configured so that the actuating piece faces inside the box, the actuating piece of the switch presses against the outer circumferential surface of the roll paper, but the switch does not operate with a large pressure like in conventional devices of this type. By applying the necessary elastic force to move the piece a short distance from when it comes into contact with the roll paper to when the switch is turned on, it is possible to ensure that the remaining amount of roll paper is not left behind on the copy paper. Detection can be performed. In addition, since the position for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper can be set arbitrarily, it is possible to replace the roll paper relatively quickly. Alternatively, if it takes time to replace or the amount used is large, efficient management can be performed by operating the switch at a position where there is a relatively large amount remaining.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are side views showing a conventional roll paper remaining amount detection device, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a roll paper remaining amount detection device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing a conventional roll paper remaining amount detection device. A side view showing a state in which paper is placed;
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are also sectional views of the main parts. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Roll paper, 13... Roll paper box, 17... Bottom plate, 18... Opening, 20... Support plate, 21... Switch operating piece, 23... Switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A roll paper box assembled to a support plate, the bottom plate of which is configured as an inclined surface that gradually slopes away from the support plate and has an opening in a part of the bottom plate, and a lower position of the roll paper box. A switch is adjustably fixed to the support plate, and its protruding position is changed in accordance with the fixed posture of the switch to protrude from the opening into the inside of the roll paper box and engage with the outer peripheral surface of the stored roll paper. A roll paper remaining amount detection device consisting of a switch operating piece.