JP2007031077A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeding device simplifying charging work of a recording paper roll and putting the recording paper roll on standby after charging in a light-shielding and humidity-proof state. <P>SOLUTION: The paper feeding device 2 is constituted by a printer body side case 31; and a paper feeding tray 5. The printer body side case 31 is fixed to a printer body and the paper feeding tray 5 can be drawn out relative to the printer body. A paper feeding tray side case 40 is provided on the paper feeding tray 5. When the paper feeding tray 5 is pressed after a recording paper roll unit 3 is set, the paper feeding tray side case 40 is closed by the printer body side case 31 to be airtightly closed and the recording paper roll unit 3 gets in the light-shielding and humidity-proof state. The recording paper is fed out from a feeding out port formed on the printer body side case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feeding device that loads a recording paper roll into a printer and waits the loaded recording paper roll in a light-shielding and moisture-proof state.

  In a thermal printer, a recording paper roll in which a long thermal recording paper (hereinafter referred to as recording paper) is wound around a winding core is used, and is cut into a predetermined size after printing. When the recording paper roll is loaded into the printer, a paper feeding device such as a paper feeding magazine that is detachably attached to the printer body is used.

  A recording paper roll used in a thermal printer has a color development ability that is lowered when irradiated with light such as natural light, and a color development characteristic is changed when humidity is changed. For this reason, the recording paper roll is housed in a storage bag that can be shielded from light and moisture-proof, and is removed from the storage bag during use. However, since the recording paper roll has a large number of prints and is in the printer for a long time even after being loaded into the printer, it is necessary to keep the light shielding and moisture-proof state in the printer.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a paper feeding device that can make a recording paper roll light-shielded and moisture-proof in a printer. This paper feeding device is a paper feeding magazine, and includes a lower case in which recording paper rolls are stored, an upper case that closes the lower case in a light-tight manner, a pair of conveying rollers provided in the lower case, and a conveying roller pair. It has an outlet through which the recording paper conveyed by the roller pair passes, and a light-shielding lid that opens and closes the outlet. The recording paper roll can be loaded into the printer by closing the upper case after the recording paper roll is stored in the lower case and mounting the paper feed magazine on the printer body.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-44547

  However, in the paper feeding device described in Patent Document 1, when the recording paper roll is stored in the lower case, an operation of holding the leading end portion of the recording paper between the pair of conveying rollers and an operation of closing the upper case are required. The loading operation is not only time consuming and laborious but also dangerous.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that can simplify the loading operation of a recording paper roll and can wait for the loaded recording paper roll in a light-shielding and moisture-proof state.

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that forms a recording sheet roll unit from a recording sheet roll and a roll holder that holds the recording sheet roll, and loads the recording sheet roll unit into a printer body. A paper feed tray, a paper feed tray side case provided in the paper feed tray for storing the recording paper roll unit, and a paper feed tray side case provided in the printer main body in accordance with the pushing operation of the paper feed tray. A printer main body side case that is closed and sealed; a feeding port formed in the printer main body side case for feeding recording paper from the loaded recording paper roll unit; and a shutter that opens and closes the feeding port. Features.

  It is preferable to have a packing interposed in a contact portion between the paper feed tray side case and the printer main body side case.

  A first support portion provided in the paper feed tray side case for supporting the recording paper roll unit, and a first support portion provided in the printer main body side case in accordance with pushing and pulling operations of the paper feed tray. A second support unit that transfers the recording paper roll unit to and from the unit, and a conveyance roller that is provided in the printer main body side case and that feeds the recording paper from the recording paper roll unit supported by the second support unit It is preferable to have.

  The first support part is a first support member in which a first support groove for supporting a rotation shaft of the recording paper roll unit is formed, and the second support part is perpendicular to the moving direction of the paper feed tray. A second support groove is formed in which the support height for supporting the rotary shaft in a direction is higher than the support height by the first support groove, and the rotary shaft is driven in accordance with the pushing operation of the paper feed tray. It is preferable that the second support member has a guide surface that guides the first support groove from the first support groove to the second support groove. It is preferable that an urging member that presses the rotating shaft against the second support groove is attached to the second support member.

  According to the paper feeding device of the present invention, a paper feeding tray that can be pulled out from the printer main body, a paper feeding tray side case that is provided in the paper feeding tray and houses a recording paper roll unit, and a paper feeding device provided in the printer main body. A printer body side case that closes and seals the paper feed tray side case in accordance with the pushing operation of the paper tray, and a delivery port formed in the printer body side case for sending out the recording paper from the loaded recording paper roll unit; Since it has a shutter that opens and closes this delivery port, the recording paper roll unit can be loaded by simply storing the recording paper roll unit in the paper feed tray side case of the paper feed tray and pushing the paper feed tray after this storage. Therefore, the loading operation of the recording paper roll unit is easy. Further, the loaded recording paper roll unit can be surrounded by the paper feed tray side case and the printer main body side case to stand by in a light-shielding and moisture-proof state. When the recording paper is sent out from the recording paper roll unit, the shutter may be opened and sent out from the sending outlet.

  Since the packing is provided at the contact portion between the paper feed tray side case and the printer main body side case, the light shielding property and moisture proofing property can be improved.

  A first support portion provided in the paper feed tray side case for supporting the recording paper roll unit and a first support portion provided in the printer main body side case as the paper tray is pushed and pulled out. Since it has a second support part for delivering the recording paper roll unit and a conveying roller provided in the printer body side case and supported by the second support part, the recording paper roll unit feeds the recording paper. The paper roll unit is positioned with high accuracy with respect to the printer body. As a result, the recording paper is fed out accurately, and for example, the recording paper is not fed in an oblique direction. Further, since the conveying roller is provided on the printer main body side, it is not necessary to hold the leading end portion of the recording paper between the conveying rollers when setting the recording paper roll unit on the paper feed tray, and the loading operation is simplified.

  The first support part is a first support member formed with a first support groove for supporting the rotation shaft of the recording paper roll unit, and the second support part rotates in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the paper feed tray. A second support groove is formed in which the support height for supporting the shaft is higher than the support height by the first support groove, and the rotating shaft is moved from the first support groove to the first with the pushing operation of the paper feed tray. 2 Since the second support member is formed with a guide surface that guides to the support groove, when the paper feed tray is pushed in, the recording paper roll unit is transferred from the first support member to the second support member. The recording paper roll unit is surely positioned in the second support groove by being transferred from the one support groove to the second support groove via the guide surface. When an urging member that presses the rotating shaft against the second support groove is attached to the second support member, the recording paper roll unit is positioned in a more stable state.

  1 and 2 is provided in a thermal printer, the recording paper roll unit 3 is loaded in the thermal printer, the loaded recording paper roll unit 3 is held in a light-shielding and moisture-proof state, and loaded. The thermal recording paper 4 is sent out from the subsequent recording paper roll unit 3. The sheet feeding device 2 has a sheet feeding tray 5 to be described later in detail, and takes a state in which the sheet feeding tray 5 shown in FIG. 1 is pulled out and a state in which the sheet feeding tray 5 shown in FIG. 2 is pushed in. In the following description, directions are indicated using the X, Y, and Z coordinate systems. The XY plane is a horizontal plane.

  The recording paper roll unit 3 includes a recording paper roll 11 and a pair of roll holders 12 and 13. The recording paper roll 11 is obtained by winding a long thermal recording paper 4 around a core (not shown) into a roll shape. The heat-sensitive recording paper 4 (hereinafter referred to as recording paper 4) is provided with a plurality of types of color-developing layers having different thermal sensitivities in sequence, and each color-developing layer is not colored when irradiated with light of a specific region wavelength. The coloring ability of the part is lost.

  The roll holder 12 includes a flange 14 facing the end surface of the recording paper roll 11, an annular gripping portion 15 provided on the outer surface of the flange 14 and gripped by the operator, and a recording paper provided on the inner surface of the flange 14. A fitting portion (not shown) that fits on the inner periphery of the roll core of the roll 11, a rotating shaft 16, and a shaft support portion 17 that rotatably supports the rotating shaft 16 are provided. Similar to the roll holder 12, the roll holder 13 has a flange 18, a gripping part 19, a fitting part, a rotating shaft 20, and a shaft support part 21. The roll holders 12 and 13 are integrated with the recording paper roll 11 and rotate around the rotation shafts 16 and 20.

  The paper feeding device 2 is disposed on a base 30 that constitutes a part of the printer main body, and includes a paper feeding tray 5 that is movable in the Y-axis direction, and a printer main body side case 31 that is fixed to the base 30. A support mechanism 32 (second support portion) that supports the loaded recording paper roll unit 3, a transport mechanism 33 (see FIG. 3) that feeds the recording paper 4 from the loaded recording paper roll unit 3, and the printer main body side. And a shutter mechanism 34 (see FIG. 3) that opens and closes the delivery port 70 formed in the case 31.

  The paper feed tray 5 is provided with a paper feed tray side case 40 for storing the recording paper roll unit 3. The feed tray side case 40 has an opening 40a on the Y axis plus side. Inside the paper feed tray side case 40, two plate-like first support members 41 and 42 are provided side by side in the X-axis direction. The first support member 41 is formed with a U-shaped first support groove 41 a that supports the rotary shaft 16, and the first support member 42 is formed with a U-shaped first support groove 42 a that supports the rotary shaft 20. Has been. The interval between the first support members 41 and 42 is slightly wider than the interval between the gripping portions 15 and 19 of the recording paper roll unit 3.

  The sheet feed tray 5 is provided with two movable rails 43 and 44. The movable rails 43 and 44 are respectively formed with convex portions 43a and 44a along the length direction. The base 30 is provided with two fixed rails 45 and 46. Recesses 45a and 46a are formed in the fixed rails 45 and 46, respectively, along the length direction. The convex portion 43a is fitted into the concave portion 45a, and the convex portion 44a is fitted into the concave portion 46a. When the paper feed tray 5 is moved, the convex portions 43a and 44a slide in the concave portions 45a and 46a.

  The movable rails 43 and 44 are provided with lock pins 47 and 48, respectively. These lock pins 47 and 48 are locked by a lock mechanism (not shown) when the paper feed tray 5 is pushed all the way. The paper feed tray 5 is provided with a handle 50 that rotates about a shaft 49. The handle 50 is spring-biased clockwise when viewed from the X-axis minus side, and is operated by putting a hand under the handle 50. The lock pins 47 and 48 can be unlocked by rotating the handle portion 50 counterclockwise. However, since the lock is not released even when the handle 50 is operated when the recording paper 4 is transported, the paper feed tray 5 is prevented from being accidentally pulled out when the recording paper 4 is transported. It is possible to prevent the paper conveyance operation and the image recording operation from being adversely affected.

  The printer main body side case 31 has an opening 31a on the Y axis minus side. The support mechanism 32 is disposed inside the printer main body side case 31. The support mechanism 32 includes two second support members 60 and 61 and leaf springs (biasing members) 62 and 63 attached to the second support members 60 and 61. The second support members 60 and 61 are arranged in the X-axis direction, and the interval between the second support members 60 and 61 is slightly wider than the interval between the first support members 41 and 42.

  The second support member 60 is formed with an inverted triangular second support groove 60 a for supporting the rotating shaft 16 of the recording paper roll unit 3. The bottom portion of the second support groove 60a is higher than the bottom portion of the first support groove 41a by a height h (see FIG. 3). Thereby, the height of the rotating shaft 16 of the recording paper roll unit 3 supported by the second support groove 60a is made higher than when the recording paper roll unit 3 is supported by the first support groove 41a. In the second support member 60, a guide surface 60b is formed on the Y axis minus side from the position where the second support groove 60a is formed. The guide surface 60b guides the rotary shaft 16 to the second support groove 60a when the rotary shaft 16 is transferred from the first support member 41 to the second support member 60. The leaf spring 62 presses the rotating shaft 16 against the second support groove 60a.

  Similar to the second support member 60, the second support member 61 is formed with a second support groove 61a and a guide surface 61b. The second support groove 61a is for supporting the rotating shaft 20, and the bottom of the second support groove 61a is higher than the bottom of the first support groove 42a by a height h.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the transport mechanism 33 includes a transport roller 64, a holding arm 65, a spring 66, and a transport roller driving unit 67. The conveying roller 64, the holding arm 65, and the spring 66 are disposed inside the printer main body side case 31. The transport roller 64 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 68 provided at the tip of the holding arm 65, and sends the recording paper 4 in pressure contact with the peripheral surface of the recording paper roll 11 (see FIG. 1) after loading. Is. The holding arm 65 can rotate around a rotation shaft 69 provided in the printer main body side case 31 and is urged clockwise by a spring 66 when viewed from the X-axis minus side. The holding arm 65 is formed with an opening 65a through which the recording paper 4 fed from the recording paper roll 11 passes. The conveyance roller driving unit 67 operates based on an instruction from a system control unit (not shown) that controls the entire thermal printer, and rotates the conveyance roller 64. A guide member (not shown) for guiding the recording paper 4 sent out by driving of the transport roller 64 to the delivery port 70 through the opening 65 a of the holding arm 65 is arranged inside the case 31 on the printer main body side. Yes. The delivery port 70 is an opening provided on the Y axis plus side of the printer main body side case 31.

  The shutter mechanism 34 opens and closes the delivery port 70, and includes a shutter 71 and a shutter driving unit 72 that drives the shutter 71. The shutter 71 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 73, and is between a closed position (indicated by a solid line in the figure) for closing the delivery port 70 and an open position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure) for opening the delivery port 70. Move with. The shutter driving unit 72 operates based on an instruction from the system control unit and moves the shutter 71. The shutter has been described as a swing type that rotates about a rotation axis, but may be a slide type that moves in parallel along the opening surface of the delivery port.

  A groove 31b having a depth in the Y-axis direction is formed at the edge of the printer main body side case 31, and a packing 80 is disposed in the groove 31b. In addition, a protrusion 40 b that protrudes in the Y-axis direction is formed at the edge of the paper feed tray side case 40. The protrusion 40b has a size that can be inserted into the groove 31b. When the paper feed tray side case 40 is pressed against the printer main body side case 31, the protrusion 40b is pressed against the packing 80, and the inside of the case is hermetically and airtightly sealed.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when the paper feed tray 5 is pulled out in the negative Y-axis direction, the recording paper roll unit 3 can be set in the paper feed tray 5. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the description will be given using only the members arranged on the X-axis minus side among the paired members (for example, the first support member 41 of the first support member 41 and the first support member 42). However, the member on the X axis plus side performs the same operation as the member on the X axis minus side.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, the rotary shafts 16 and 20 of the recording paper roll unit 3 are supported by first support members 41 and 42, respectively, so that the recording paper roll unit 3 is placed in the paper feed tray side case. 40. When the paper feed tray 5 is pushed in the Y-axis plus direction, the movable rails 43 and 44 are guided by the fixed rails 45 and 46, respectively, and the paper feed tray 5 is pushed in the Y-axis plus direction.

  When the paper feed tray 5 is pushed in, the rotating shaft 16 eventually comes into contact with the second support member 60. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the rotating shaft 16 comes into contact with the guide surface 60b, the rotating shaft 16 receives a force in the positive direction of the Z axis and moves away from the bottom of the first support groove 41a along the guide surface 60b. And move.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, the rotary shaft 16 that has moved along the guide surface 60b comes into the second support groove 60a before coming into contact with the leaf spring 62 and being pressed in the negative Z-axis direction. The rotary shaft 16 is pressed against the second support groove 60a, and the recording paper roll unit 3 is positioned with respect to the printer body.

  As the paper feed tray 5 is pushed in, the paper feed tray side case 40 is pressed against the printer main body side case 31, and the protrusion 40b is pressed against the packing 80 of the groove 31b. The shutter 71 is in the closed position, and the space surrounded by the paper feed tray side case 40 and the printer main body side case 31 is hermetically and airtightly sealed. As a result, the recording paper roll unit 3 is in a light-shielding and moisture-proof state. As the paper feed tray 5 is pushed in, the conveying roller 64 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the recording paper roll 11 by the biasing force of the spring 66, and the recording paper 4 can be fed out. When the paper feed tray 5 is pushed in all the way, the lock pins 47 and 48 of the paper feed tray 5 are locked. Thus, the loading of the recording paper roll unit 3 into the printer main body is completed.

  After the recording paper roll unit 3 is completely loaded, the shutter drive unit 72 and the conveyance roller drive unit 67 are operated according to an instruction from the system control unit, the shutter 71 is moved to the open position, the delivery port 70 is opened, and the conveyance roller 64 is moved. The recording paper 4 is sent out from the recording paper roll 11 by rotating. The fed recording paper 4 passes through the opening 65a of the holding arm 65 and is conveyed from the feed outlet 70 to the printer main body. An image is recorded on the recording paper 4, and the recorded area is cut and discharged from the printer main body. When the image recording operation is finished, the conveyance roller 64 rotates in the reverse direction, the recording paper 4 is rewound, the shutter 71 moves to the closed position, and the delivery port 70 is closed.

  When all the recording paper rolls 11 of the recording paper roll unit 3 are used, the paper feed tray 5 is pulled out and the used recording paper roll unit is replaced with an unused recording paper roll unit. When the paper feed tray 5 is pulled out, the rotary shaft 16 moves out of the second support groove 60a and moves to the guide surface 60b. When the paper feed tray 5 is further pulled out, the rotating shaft 16 moves along the guide surface 60b and eventually is separated from the guide surface 60b and supported by the first support groove 41a. When the paper feed tray 5 is sufficiently pulled out, the used recording paper roll unit can be taken out.

  According to this apparatus, since the recording paper roll unit 3 is simply set and pushed into the paper feed tray 5, the loading operation is simplified and the loaded recording paper roll unit can be in a light-shielding and moisture-proof state. In addition, the loaded recording paper roll unit 3 can be positioned with high accuracy.

  In the above embodiment, the XY plane is a horizontal plane. However, the XY plane may be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane as long as there is no problem in the delivery of the recording paper roll unit.

  In the above embodiment, the thermal recording paper has been described. However, other types of recording paper may be used as long as light shielding or moisture prevention is required. The type of printer is not limited to a thermal printer.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the sheet feeding device when the sheet feeding tray is pulled out. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the sheet feeding device when the sheet feeding tray is pushed in. It is principal part sectional drawing of a paper feeder. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a loading operation of a recording paper roll unit.

Explanation of symbols

2 paper feeding device 3 recording paper roll 5 paper feed tray 31 printer body side case 33 transport mechanism 34 shutter mechanism 40 paper feed tray side case 41, 42 first support member 60, 61 second support member 62, 63 leaf spring 64 transport Roller 71 Shutter

Claims (5)

In a paper feeding device that constitutes a recording paper roll unit from a recording paper roll and a roll holder that holds the recording paper roll, and loads the recording paper roll unit into a printer body,
A paper feed tray that can be pulled out from the printer body;
A paper feed tray side case that is provided in the paper feed tray and houses the recording paper roll unit;
A printer main body side case that is provided in the printer main body, and closes and seals the paper supply tray side case as the paper tray is pushed in;
In order to send out the recording paper from the recording paper roll unit after loading, a delivery port formed in the case on the printer main body side;
A sheet feeding device having a shutter for opening and closing the delivery port.   2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a packing disposed at a contact portion between the sheet feeding tray side case and the printer main body side case. A first support provided in the paper feed tray side case and supporting the recording paper roll unit;
A second support portion provided in the printer main body side case, for transferring the recording paper roll unit to and from the first support portion in accordance with a pushing operation and a drawing operation of the paper feed tray;
3. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyance roller that is provided in the printer main body side case and feeds the recording paper from the recording paper roll unit supported by the second support portion. The first support portion is a first support member in which a first support groove for supporting a rotating shaft of the recording paper roll unit is formed,
The second support portion is formed with a second support groove in which a support height for supporting the rotating shaft in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the paper feed tray is higher than a support height by the first support groove. And a second support member formed with a guide surface for guiding the rotating shaft from the first support groove to the second support groove in accordance with the pushing operation of the paper feed tray. The sheet feeding device according to claim 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 4, wherein a biasing member that presses the rotating shaft against the second support groove is attached to the second support member.

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