JP4487934B2 - Sticky note printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sticky note printer for printing on sticky note paper partially attached to an adherend.

  Conventionally, as a printer, a printer that prints a recording medium that is not partially glued, such as A4 size paper or a tape-like member, is widely known. There are no known ones.

  Incidentally, the sticky note paper is a special medium in which the paper is partially provided with the adhesive property of a tape-like member. The sticky note is usually provided to the market in the form of a bundle of sticky notes in which a large number of sticky notes are laminated by partially gluing one end of the sticky note. It is stuck on the adherend. Therefore, when a sticky note is to be printed as a printer, it is desirable that at least the current handling and convenience by the user be ensured.

  The present invention has been made in view of the specific form of sticky notes, and can appropriately print on sticky notes provided in a bundle of many sheets and can handle the existing sticky notes. An object of the present invention is to provide a sticky note printer that can be followed as much as possible.

The sticky note printer of the present invention is a sticky note holder for setting a sticky note bundle made up of a large number of sticky notes glued at one end, and the top sticky note of the set sticky note bundle is rolled up, and the sticky note is raised. The sticky paper feed mechanism that moves the free end of the paper upward and peels off the sticky note from the sticky note bundle in this state and feeds it with the free end of the sticky note as the head. A sticky note printing mechanism that faces the coming sticky note and prints on the sticky note from the free end side, and the sticky note feed mechanism rolls up from the top to the free end of the top sticky note and rolls it up A pickup roller, and a pair of rotating arms configured to be rotatable about the base end portion while holding the pickup roller rotatably at both ends at the distal end portion. On the swivel arm Rotate between the rolling contact position for rolling contact with the sticky note paper and the printing position for pressing the sticky note raised to the thermal head of the sticky note printing mechanism, and perform the lifting operation of the sticky note paper at the rolling contact position, It is characterized in that a sticky note is printed and fed at a printing position .

  In this case, the sticky note feed mechanism further includes a guide roller that is close to the thermal head and sandwiches the printed sticky note between the pick-up roller and rotates following the pick-up roller, and the pick-up roller and the guide roller It is preferable to send the printed sticky note paper toward the sticky note discharge port.

  Hereinafter, a sticky note printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This sticky note printer is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer), and prints various data such as characters, figures, and contents of e-mails created and selected by the personal computer on sticky notes. Specifically, the sticky note printer sets a bundle of sticky notes made by partially pasting a large number of sticky notes, and then picks up the sticky notes one by one from the set of sticky notes and tears them off the glued part. And print various data on a personal computer to create a printed sticky note.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a sticky note printer, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the sticky note printer with the device case omitted. As shown in both drawings, the sticky note printer 1 is composed of a printer main body 3 having an outer case formed by an apparatus case 2 and a sticky note bundle 4 as a printing object set in the printer main body 3. The sticky note bundle 4 is formed by laminating a plurality of congruent sticky note papers 4a by pasting a part of the back side proximal end side at the same position. The sticky note 4a is configured to be peelable from the sticky note bundle 4 one by one, and is configured to be re-stickable to an adherend such as paper via the glued portion 4b after peeling. .

  The device case 2 is small in size and formed in a mouse shape, and a sticky note introduction opening 5 for introducing a bundle of sticky notes 4 into the case from below and a printed sticky note at the front center. A horizontal slit-like sticky note discharge port 6 for feeding the paper 4a out of the case is formed. The device case 2 is attached with an opening / closing lid 7 whose outer surface forms a part of the upper surface of the device case 2.

  The opening / closing lid 7 is configured to be opened / closed in the vertical direction by a hinge built in the rear end portion, and a ribbon cartridge 8 for accommodating the ink ribbon R is detachable inside the opening / closing lid 7 as shown in FIG. It is attached to. This sticky note printer 1 lifts the topmost sticky note 4a one by one from the sticky note bundle 4 introduced and set through the sticky note introduction opening 5, and obliquely upwards while peeling it from the glued portion 4b. At the same time, printing is performed via the ink ribbon R, and the paper is discharged from the sticky note paper discharge port 6 with the printing surface facing up.

  A printer frame 10 is disposed inside the device case 2 of the printer main body 3. The sticker bundle 4 is detachably held on the printer frame 10 so as to face the sticky note introduction opening 5. A sticky note holder 11 to be attached, a sticky note printing mechanism 12 that is positioned above the sticky note holder 11 and prints on the sticky note paper 4a, and a sticky note held in the sticky note holder 11 by the rotation of a pickup roller 52 described later. A sticky paper supply mechanism 13 that lifts and peels the sticky paper 4a from the paper bundle 4 one by one and sends the sticky paper 4a to the sticky paper printing mechanism 12 and discharges it from the sticky paper discharge port 6 is supported. Yes.

  The printer frame 10 includes a flat main frame 14 that extends in the vertical direction, and a sub-frame 15 that is attached to the lower portion of the main frame 14 and has a “C” shape in plan view. Each component of the sticky note supply mechanism 13 and the sticky note printing mechanism 12 is mainly supported by the main frame 14 in a cantilever manner. In addition, the sticky note holder 11 is supported immovably in the opening surrounded by the main frame 14 and the subframe 15.

  The sub-frame 15 includes a connecting plate portion 16 that faces the main frame 14 in parallel, and a pair of side plate portions 17 that are formed by bending both ends of the connecting plate portion 16 toward the main frame 14. Is fixed to the main frame 14 at a portion bent inwardly in parallel with the main frame 14. In the connecting plate portion 16 of the sub-frame 15, support engagement holes 18 for supporting the sticky note holder 11 are formed in a total of four locations, and correspondingly, the main frame 14 supports a total of four locations in the lower portion thereof. An engagement hole 18 is formed (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 4, the sticky note holder 11 has a rectangular set stage 21 on which the sticky note bundle 4 is horizontally placed, and a quadrilateral frame-like shape that guides the set stage 21 slidably in the vertical direction. It is comprised by the introduction guide 22 and the cover body 23 which supports the set stage 21 from the lower side via the biasing member 24 (refer FIG. 5). After the set stage 21 is inserted into the introduction guide 22, the lid 23 is fixed to the lower surface of the introduction guide 22 and closes the sticky note introduction opening 5 in this state.

  The introduction guide 22 is formed corresponding to the shape of the sticky note 4 a, and its inner surface communicates with the sticky note introduction opening 5 to guide the introduction of the sticky note bundle 4 and the set stage 21. The introduction guide 22 positions the front and rear of the set of sticky note bundles 4 in the longitudinal direction. Note that four engagement projections 39 corresponding to the four support engagement holes 18 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the introduction guide 22, whereby the sticky note holder 11 is fixed to the printer frame 10. It has come to be. In addition, each support engagement hole 18 may be formed so as to extend in a horizontal slit shape in the front-rear direction so that the position of the sticky note holder 11 can be slightly adjusted in the front-rear direction.

  Before and after the upper opening of the introduction guide 22, a pair of position restricting portions 26 that relatively press the front end portion (free end side) and the rear end portion (glue portion side) of the sticky note bundle 4 project inwardly. ing. That is, the position restricting unit 26 is set so as to sandwich the sticky note bundle 4 with the set stage 21 and restricts the position of the uppermost sticky note 4a horizontally and at a fixed position. The set stage 21 is formed with an arrow-shaped display portion 37 indicating the setting direction of the sticky note bundle 4 on the placement surface, and the free end of the sticky note bundle 4 is directed in the direction of the arrow tip. The paper bundle 4 is set appropriately.

  Note that the set stage 21 of the embodiment has a width capable of setting a plurality of types of sticky note bundles 4 having different widths. For this reason, it is preferable that a setting plate 25 serving as a width adjusting member when the sticky note bundle 4 is set on the set stage 21 is provided on the mounting surface of the set stage 21 (see FIG. 4). However, if the sticky note printer 1 is turned upside down and the sticky note bundle 4 is inserted and set, and then the set stage 21 is inserted, the set plate 25 is unnecessary. Although not particularly illustrated, it is preferable that the lower end portion of the introduction guide 22 is formed to expand toward the sticky note introduction opening 5 so as to guide the introduction of the set stage 21 and the sticky note bundle 4 (FIG. 5). reference).

  The lid body 23 has an outer shape substantially the same as that of the set stage 21 and is fitted into the lower opening of the introduction guide 22. And it is screwed and fixed to the lower surface of the introduction guide 22 by the protrusion fixing | fixed part 38 which protruded and formed in the four sides of the cover body 23. FIG. In this state, the lid 23 closes the sticky note introduction opening 5, and the lower surface thereof is flush with the lower surface of the apparatus case 2. It should be noted that a hook type lid structure can be used instead of the screw fixing type.

  The urging member 24 is located between the set stage 21 and the lid body 23 and includes four pressure springs 24a disposed at these four corners. One end of each pressure spring 24 a is locked to the lower surface of the set stage 21, and the other end of each pressure spring 24 a is locked to the upper surface of the lid 23. By the four pressure springs 24a, the set stage 21 is urged upward in a well-balanced manner by receiving the lid body 23.

  That is, the sticky note bundle 4 is pressed against the set position (the position restricting portion 26 of the introduction guide 22) with a uniform force through the set stage 21. For this reason, even if the sticky note bundles 4a are fed out one by one and diminished, the height level of the sticky note 4a located at the top is always maintained at a fixed position. The urging member 24 is not limited to the four pressure springs 24a, and a plurality of pressure springs may be arranged in a well-balanced manner. In particular, when reducing the number of parts and the cost thereof, What is necessary is just to comprise with two pressurization springs which consist of a large diameter.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the sticky note printing mechanism 12 includes a partial frame 27 fixed to the main frame 14, a thermal head 28 fixed integrally to the partial frame 27, and ink of the ribbon cartridge 8. And a ribbon take-up mechanism 29 for taking up the ribbon R. The thermal head 28 includes a head main body 30 and a head holder 31 that supports the head main body 30, and the head holder 31 is formed by bending a partial frame 27 horizontally. In addition, it is preferable that the arrangement length of the heating elements provided in the head main body 30 corresponds to the sticky paper 4a having the minimum width or the maximum width. When the minimum width is used as in the embodiment, the non-printed portion of the maximum width of the sticky note 4a becomes a handwritten space (margin).

  Further, a guide roller 32 is attached to the partial frame 27 in the vicinity of and parallel to the thermal head 28. The guide roller 32 includes a guide roller shaft 33 that is cantilevered and fixed to the partial frame 27, and a guide roller body 34 that is pivotally supported by the guide roller shaft 33 so as to be freely rotatable. The guide roller 32 is driven to rotate by receiving the rotation of the pickup roller 52 moved upward to the printing position, and rotates and feeds the sticky note 4a between the guide roller 32 and the pickup roller 52 (details will be described later).

  The partial frame 27 is fixed to the main frame 14 via a pair of leg pieces 35, 35. A circular fitting hole 36 is formed in the partial frame 27 so as to face the gap between the leg pieces 35, 35. It is formed through. The main part of the ribbon take-up mechanism 29 is included between the leg pieces 35 and 35, and the ribbon take-up shaft 40 of the ribbon take-up mechanism 29 is parallel to the thermal head 28 through the fitting hole 36. Protruding.

  The ribbon take-up mechanism 29 includes a ribbon take-up shaft 40 that engages with the ribbon take-up reel 49 of the ribbon cartridge 8, a ribbon take-up gear 41 that is integrally fixed to the ribbon take-up shaft 40, and a ribbon take-up shaft. 40 and the ribbon take-up gear 41 are rotatably supported by a first pin shaft 42, the take-up intermediate gear 43 is meshed with the ribbon take-up gear 41, and the second pin shaft 44 is rotatably supported by the take-up intermediate gear 43. And.

  The first pin shaft 42 and the second pin shaft 44 are fixed to the main frame 14 in parallel and in a cantilever manner. The winding intermediate gear 43 is integrally formed with a small gear 45 that meshes with the ribbon winding gear 41 and a large gear 46 that meshes with a roller gear 63 of a pickup roller 52 described later. Although details will be described later, power to the ribbon take-up mechanism 29 is input from the roller gear 63 of the pickup roller 52 that has moved up to the printing position, and the ink ribbon R is taken up.

  The ribbon cartridge 8 has an outer shape formed by a cartridge case 47 having a two-divided structure formed in an oval shape in plan view. Inside the cartridge case 47, a ribbon supply reel 48 around which the ink ribbon R is drawn out freely and a ribbon take-up reel 49 around which the ink ribbon R is taken up are rotatably accommodated. The ribbon supply reel 48 is configured to be freely rotatable, and the ribbon take-up reel 49 engages with the ribbon take-up shaft 40 and rotates to drive the ink ribbon R fed from the ribbon supply reel 48.

  On the lower surface of the cartridge case 47 between the ribbon supply reel 48 and the ribbon take-up reel 49, a head opening (not shown) that faces the opening of the sticky note holder 11 and faces the thermal head 28 is formed. The ink ribbon R is fed out from the ribbon feeding reel 48 and once faces the head opening so as to bypass the underside of the thermal head 28. After the ink ribbon R overlaps with the sticky note 4a at the position of the thermal head 28, the ribbon winding is performed. The reel 49 is wound up. That is, the sticky note 4a and the ink ribbon R are sandwiched between the pickup roller 52 and the thermal head 28, and printing is performed on the sticky note 4a by the heat generation drive of the heating element while feeding them in the same direction.

  Here, a case where the user uses the sticky note printer 1 to print on the sticky note 4a will be briefly described. First, the sticky note printer 1 and the personal computer PC are connected to each other by USB or cable. Thereby, the sticky note printer 1 is in a communication connection state with the personal computer PC. Next, the lid 23 is removed from the sticky note printer 1 together with the set stage 21, and the sticky note bundle 4 is positioned by the set plate 25 and placed on the set stage 21 according to the display of the set direction. In this state, the sticky note bundle 4 and the setting stage 21 are guided to the introduction guide 22 from below vertically, and the sticky note introduction opening 5 is closed by the lid 23, whereby the sticky note bundle 4 is set at a fixed position.

  Also, before or after setting the sticky note bundle 4, the opening / closing lid 7 is opened and closed to mount the ribbon cartridge 8. At this time, when the head opening of the ribbon cartridge 8 is guided to the thermal head 28 and the ribbon cartridge 8 is mounted, the ink ribbon R pulled out from the head opening with some slack is positioned below the thermal head 28, The ribbon take-up reel 49 is engaged with the ribbon take-up shaft 40. As a result, the sticky note printer 1 enters a print standby state.

  Here, the personal computer is operated to create / select desired print data, and command to execute printing. When the execution of printing is instructed, the uppermost sticky note paper 4 a rises from the sticky note bundle 4 and rides on the pickup roller 52. Subsequently, the pickup roller 52 is moved upward, and the sticky note 4a and the ink ribbon R are sandwiched between the pickup head 52 and the thermal head 28 at the upper moving end position. 4a is pinched. As the pickup roller 52 rotates, the sticky note 4a and the ink ribbon R are simultaneously fed, and the thermal head 28 is appropriately driven to generate heat so that the ink on the ink ribbon R is thermally transferred to print on the sticky note 4a.

  The printed ink ribbon R is wound up in the ribbon cartridge 8, but the printed sticky note 4 a is peeled off from the sticky note bundle 4 and sent out from the sticky note discharge port 6 with the upper printing surface facing up. I'm going. At this time, the printed sticky note paper 4 a to be sent out is stopped at the sticky note paper discharge port 6 and is not dropped from the sticky note paper discharge port 6.

  Specifically, the sticky note discharge port 6 is formed with a sticky note holder that holds the base end side of the sent sticky note 4a from the lower side (not shown). The printed sticky note 4a is held with the tip of 4a protruding from the sticky note discharge port 6. By providing this sticky note holding part, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the back surface glue part 4b (adhesive) due to the fall of the printed sticky note 4a, and the user can make a sticky note without touching the glue part 4b. The paper 4a can be gripped from the leading end side, taken out from the sticky note discharge port 6, and easily attached to an adherend such as paper.

  Next, the sticky note supply mechanism 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 7. The sticky note supply mechanism 13 includes a drive motor 51 serving as a drive source, the above-described pickup roller 52 (friction roller), a reduction gear train 53 that transmits rotational power from the drive motor 51 to the pickup roller 52, and a pickup roller 52. And a pickup unit 54 that is rotatably held and moves up and down.

  The drive motor 51 is composed of a commutator type DC motor, and is held by a motor storage case 56 and supported by the rear portion of the main frame 14. On the output shaft of the drive motor 51, a worm gear 57 and a pulse disk 58 are fixed on the tip side of the worm gear 57. On the other hand, a photo interrupter 59 facing the pulse disk 58 is incorporated in the upper part of the motor storage case 56. The photo interrupter 59 and the pulse disk 58 constitute an encoder, and the heat generation drive of the thermal head 28 is controlled based on the pulse signal detected by the encoder.

  The pickup roller 52 faces the leading end side (free end side) of the sticky note bundle 4 from the upper side, and has a roller shaft 61 supported by the pickup unit 54 at both ends, and a sticky note paper that is rotatably attached to the roller shaft 61. 4a, and a roller gear 63 that rotates integrally with the roller body 62. The roller shaft 61 extends in parallel with the thermal head 28 and is supported by the pickup unit 54 with both ends. The roller body 62 is disposed close to one half of the roller shaft 61, and a resinous core portion 64 rotatably mounted on the roller shaft 61, and a rubber roll 65 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core portion 64. It consists of

  The rubber roll 65 is made of a heat-resistant high friction material such as silicon rubber, and the pickup roller 52 is a platen roller that cooperates with the thermal head 28 and a function of rolling up and rolling up the sticky note 4a. It has both functions. The roller gear 63 is adjacent to the core portion 64 of the roller body 62 and is formed integrally therewith. The pickup roller 52 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 when the roller gear 63 receives rotational power through the reduction gear train 53.

  The reduction gear train 53 is a small transmission gear 66 (worm wheel and small spur gear) meshed with the worm gear 57 on the drive motor 51 side, a medium transmission gear 67 meshed with the small transmission gear 66, and a large meshed with the medium transmission gear 67. The pin shaft of each gear is fixed to the main frame 14 in a cantilever manner. The input gear 68 meshes with the roller gear 63 of the pickup roller 52, and the power of the drive motor 51 is transmitted in the order of the worm gear 57, the small transmission gear 66, the medium transmission gear 67, and the input gear 68, via the roller gear 63. The pickup roller 52 is rotated.

  An annular end face cam groove 80 is formed on the end face of the input gear 68 on the main frame 14 side, and a cam link member 55 that forms an end face cam mechanism with the end face cam groove 80 overlaps the input gear 68. (See FIG. 7). The end face cam mechanism converts the rotation operation of the input gear 68 into the rotation operation of the pickup unit 54 via the cam link member 55 (details will be described later).

  The pick-up unit 54 holds the pick-up roller 52 at both ends so that it can rotate freely, and a pair of rotating arms 70 configured to be rotatable around the base end portion and a pair of escape arms that escape the pick-up roller 52. The connecting arm 71 that integrally connects the distal ends of the rotating arms 70 is formed in an inverted “U” shape. The pair of rotating arms 70 includes a pickup arm 72 that is rotatably supported by the main frame 14 and a support auxiliary arm 73 that is rotatably supported by the subframe 15.

  The support auxiliary arm 73 is pivotally supported by the upper end shaft portion 19 of the connecting plate portion 16 of the sub-frame 15 so that the base end portion is rotatable. On the other hand, the pickup arm 72 is pivotally supported on the main frame 14 at the base end via the pin shaft of the input gear 68. That is, the pickup arm 72 is pivotally supported by a common pin shaft that pivotally supports the input gear 68 so that the base end portion thereof is rotatable. The pin shaft and the upper end shaft portion 19 of the sub-frame 15 are disposed in parallel to the pickup roller 52 and on the same axis.

  In the support auxiliary arm 73 and the pickup arm 72, a bearing portion 74 having a slightly long hole shape in the vertical direction (rotating direction) is formed at a tip portion that supports both ends of the roller shaft 61 of the pickup roller 52. At the same time (see FIG. 5), a support spring 75 for biasing the roller shaft 61 (pickup roller 52) upward is interposed between each arm and the roller shaft 61. Accordingly, the pick-up roller 52 is supported so as to be slightly movable relative to the pick-up unit 54, and thereby the thermal head 28 can be elastically pressed in the abutting direction.

  The pickup arm 72 has an engaging pin 76 (input portion) protruding outward from an intermediate portion in the extending direction. The engaging pin 76 engages with the arm engaging portion 94 of the cam link member 55. (See FIG. 7). As a result, the pickup arm 72 rotates by the cam link member 55 being actuated so that the engaging pin 76 slides relatively in the arm engaging portion 94 and power is transmitted in the rotational direction. It will be. Then, when the pickup arm 72 rotates, the support auxiliary arm 73 follows the connecting arm 71 and rotates in the same direction. In other words, when the pickup arm 72 rotates with the base end portion as a fulcrum and the engaging pin 76 as a power point, the pickup roller 52 rotates, that is, moves up and down while maintaining a parallel horizontal posture.

  At this time, the pickup roller 52 moves in a driving rotation state in which the meshing state between the roller gear 63 and the input gear 68 is maintained. That is, in the pickup roller 52, the roller gear 63 functions as a satellite gear with respect to the input gear 68 (the input gear 68 corresponds to the sun gear, the roller gear 63 corresponds to the satellite gear, and the pickup arm 72 corresponds to the carrier). Centering on the pin axis of the (pickup arm 72), a circular motion is made substantially vertically while maintaining the drive rotation. Then, the circular motion of the pickup roller 52 is regulated by the end face cam mechanism so as to be reciprocally rotated.

  That is, the pickup roller 52 is located between a rolling contact position where the pickup roller 52 is in contact with the surface of the sticky note 4 a on the sticky note bundle 4 in the print standby state and a printing position where the pickup roller 52 is separated from the sticky note bundle 4 and contacts the thermal head 28. It is configured to move as appropriate. More specifically, the pickup roller 52 performs a lifting operation of the sticky note 4a at the rolling contact position that is the lower moving end position, and then moves up by the end face cam mechanism, and the printing position that is the upper moving end position. The sticky note paper 4a is pressed against the thermal head 28 and simultaneously printed. At that time, the roller gear 63 meshes with the winding intermediate gear 43, and the sticky note 4a and the ink ribbon R sandwiched between the pickup roller 52 and the thermal head 28 run side by side for printing. The pickup roller 52 (roller gear 63) receives rotational power from the input gear 68 and continues to rotate even when it moves up and down (however, it is somewhat decelerated as a satellite gear).

  The cam link member 55 is disposed so that the proximal end side of the pickup arm 72 is sandwiched between the input gear 68 and a donut-shaped link that forms a main part and penetrates an arm engaging part 94 having a long hole. The main body 90 and a guide pin 91 that protrudes from the front surface side of the link main body 90 and engages with the end face cam groove 80 of the input gear 68 are configured. The link main body 90 has a pin shaft of the input gear 68 inserted through the main body insertion hole 92 penetratingly formed in the center portion with sufficient play, and the lower right end portion (the lower left end portion in FIG. 7) projects into the main frame 14. It is pivotally supported by a rotation support shaft 93 provided.

  An engagement pin 76 of the pickup arm 72 is engaged with the arm engagement portion 94 with play. As a result, the engagement pin 76 can be moved microscopically within the long hole without difficulty, and the force can be smoothly transmitted to the pickup arm 72. On the other hand, the guide pin 91 is a so-called cam follower configured to be slidable in the end surface cam groove 80, and constitutes the above-described end surface cam mechanism with the end surface cam groove 80.

  The end cam mechanism causes the guide pin 91 to have a force point and the arm engagement portion 94 to have an action point with respect to the cam link member 55, with the lower right end portion (rotating support shaft 93) of the link body 90 as a fulcrum. Thus, the rotational force of the input gear 68 is converted into a rotational movement of the pickup arm 72 via the cam link member 55 and transmitted. As shown in FIG. 8, the end face cam groove 80 includes an inner diameter arc groove section 81 (rolling groove section), an outer diameter arc groove section 82 (printing groove section), and two moving groove sections connecting the inner diameter arc groove section 81 and the outer shape arc groove section. (In the figure, the reference numerals of the moving groove portions are omitted).

  When the guide pin 91 slides relatively within the inner diameter arc groove 81, the end face cam mechanism pulls the engagement pin 76 of the pickup arm 72 in the inner direction of the arm engagement portion 94 and rolls the pickup roller 52. Let it face the position. On the other hand, when the guide pin 91 slides relatively in the outer diameter arc groove portion 82, the engaging pin 76 is attracted toward the outer side of the arm engaging portion 94 so that the pickup roller 52 faces the printing position. That is, one rotation of the input gear 68 having the end face cam groove 80 causes the pickup arm 72 to perform one reciprocating rotation, and the pickup roller 52 performs one vertical movement between the rolling contact position and the printing position. I let you. As will be described later, the cam curve formed by the end face cam groove 80 has a timing at which the pickup roller 52 is moved away from the sticky note 4a and a timing at which the pickup roller 52 is moved from the printing position to the rolling position. The two moving grooves are skillfully maintained.

  Here, a series of operations of the pickup roller 52 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In the print standby state, the pickup roller 52 is in the rolling contact position and is in contact with the surface of the uppermost sticky note 4a of the sticky note bundle 4 set in the sticky note holder 11 (FIG. 5A). Due to the drive rotation of the drive motor 51, the pick-up roller 52 starts to rotate and starts a sticky paper roll-up operation. When the pickup roller 52 rotates, only the topmost sticky note 4a (the free end side thereof) is pulled out from the position restricting portion 26 on the leading end side, and the middle portion in the longitudinal direction is bent so as to bend upward gradually. ((B) in the figure).

  Immediately after the tip of the sticky note 4a that has been rolled up passes below the pickup roller 52, the pickup roller 52 is moved upward while being rotated and separated from the sticky note bundle 4, so that the sticky note 4a is picked up by the pickup roller 52. Is repelled upward by the rotational force and rides on the pickup roller 52 ((c) in the figure). That is, the sticky note 4a is once bent and then repelled from the tip, and the tip turns around the pickup roller 52 and is placed thereon.

  During this lifting operation, the pick-up roller 52 moves so that it only contacts the uppermost sticky note 4a, that is, immediately before the tip of the sticky note 4a is repelled. More precisely, the pickup roller 52 is moved when the leading end of the sticky note 4a that is bent passes under the rotating pickup roller 52 and the leading end is caught by the peripheral surface of the pickup roller 52. Since the movement timing of the pickup roller 52 is adjusted by the end face cam mechanism, the sticky note 4a is rolled up, and at the same time, the sticky note immediately below it is not piled up.

  The pick-up roller 52 on which the sticky note 4a is placed is then moved up to the printing position (up and down while rotating and revolving) (FIG. 4D), and the sticky note 4a is placed between the thermal head 28 and the guide roller 32. These are in contact with each other so as to sandwich them. At the same time, power is input to the sticky note printing mechanism 12 through the roller gear 63 ((e) in the figure). The pick-up roller 52 feeds the sticky paper 4a tilted greatly to the front so as to be peeled off from the glued portion 4b (FIG. 5 (f)), and at the same time, performs printing in cooperation with the thermal head 28. . When the sticky note 4a is peeled off from the glued portion 4b, the tail end side of the sticky note 4a is pulled out somewhat from the position restricting portion 26 (FIG. 5G), but when the peeling is completed, it returns to its original position. Return.

  The sticky note paper 4a completely peeled off during printing is further sent out from the printed portion toward the sticky note discharge port 6 by the pickup roller 52 and the guide roller 32. When the printed sticky note 4a is sent out from the sticky note discharge port 6, the pickup roller 52 is retracted from the printing position and returned to the rolling contact position at the next timing ((h) in the figure). At this time, since the pickup roller 52 is separated from the sticky note printing mechanism 12, the gear connection is released and the traveling of the ink ribbon R is also stopped.

  As described above, according to the sticky note printer 1 of the present embodiment, the sticky paper 4a is appropriately lifted one by one from the set of sticky note bundles 4 and sent while being peeled off by a series of rotational driving of the pickup roller 52. Can be printed and then discharged out of the printer. Thereby, it is possible to easily create the sticky note 4a on which desired print data is printed.

  In order to prevent the sticky paper 4a from being rolled over by the pick-up roller 52, the pick-up roller 52 is adjusted to the end-face cam mechanism immediately after the sticky paper 4a to be in contact with rolling is slightly bent. On the other hand, it may be separated while moving toward the glued portion 4b side. Alternatively, immediately after the pickup roller 52 lifts up the sticky note 4a, the drive motor 51 may be stopped to temporarily stop the rotation of the pickup roller 52.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the pickup roller 52 may be arranged at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction instead of being arranged on the leading end side of the sticky note bundle 4. In this case, when the pickup roller 52 rotates at the rolling contact position, the uppermost sticky note 4a is bent and bent greatly toward the gluing portion 4b while slipping between the next sticky notes. . That is, the sticky note 4a bends in a substantially “le” shape, and comes into contact with the pickup roller 52 based on this bend. In this state (immediately after being bent into a “le” shape), the sticky paper 4 a can be reliably rolled up by moving the pickup roller 52 upward.

  Note that the guide roller 32 provided in the sticky note printing mechanism 12 is omitted by exerting a sufficient frictional force between the pickup roller 52 and the thermal head 28 so that the sticky note 4a can be peeled off and sent out. Also good. Further, instead of the sticky note bundle 4 of the present embodiment, a sticky note bundle in a form in which only the end face on the base end side of the sticky note 4a is glued and laminated may be used. Furthermore, the sticky note 4a may be configured as a heat sensitive type, and the ribbon cartridge 8 may be unnecessary. Needless to say, the sticky note printer 1 of the present embodiment can use a sheet bundle in which general sheets not partially glued are stacked as a print object.

  Next, a sticky note printing system including the sticky note printer 1 and the personal computer PC will be described with reference to FIGS. The personal computer PC includes a keyboard 100 that can input data, a monitor 101 that displays data input by the keyboard 100, and a mouse 102 that designates and selects data displayed on the monitor 101, and a CD-ROM 103. An external recording medium such as the above can be inserted. The sticky note printer 1 in which the input / output terminals are connected to the personal computer PC by USB or the like is used for print data input and edited by the keyboard 100 while referring to the monitor 101 on the personal computer PC, or for Internet information or E By designating / selecting a print area with the mouse 102 and issuing a print command for existing created print data such as the contents of an email, the designated / selected print data is printed on the sticky note 4a, and the printed sticky note Paper 4a is created.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the main control unit of the personal computer PC includes a CPU 110 for performing various controls, a ROM 111, a RAM 112, a CD-ROM 103 as an external recording medium, and a P-CON 113. They are connected to each other via a bus 114. The ROM 111 has an area for storing a control program processed by the CPU 110 and control data. The RAM 112 is used as various work areas for control processing. The CD-ROM 103 stores data such as application software and device drivers related to the sticky note printer 1.

  The P-CON 113 incorporates a logic circuit that complements the functions of the CPU 110 and handles signals with peripheral circuits. A keyboard 100, a monitor 101, a mouse 102, and the like are connected via a driver, and sticky notes A printer 1 is connected. In relation to the sticky note printer 1, the CPU 110 inputs various detection signals, various instructions, various data, etc. via the P-CON 113 according to a program for sticky note printing in the CD-ROM 103. Are processed, and a control signal is output to the sticky note printer 1 via the P-CON 113. That is, the thermal head 28 and the drive motor 51 are controlled in the sticky note printer 1 by the control signal from the personal computer PC.

  More specifically, when the user uses the sticky note printer 1 through communication connection with a personal computer PC, as shown in FIG. 13, the print data 120 including text 120a or object 120b displayed on the screen of the monitor 101 is displayed. A necessary area to be printed is selected with the mouse 102 and dragged and dropped onto an icon 121 set in advance on the screen of the monitor 101. Then, printing on the sticky note 4a is instructed, printing is performed on the sticky note 4a by thermal transfer, and a desired printed sticky note 4a is discharged from the sticky note discharge port 6. In the personal computer PC, the monitor 101 can check the presence / absence of the ribbon cartridge 8 in the sticky note printer 1, the presence / absence of the sticky note bundle 4, and the type detection result.

  Next, a second embodiment of the sticky note supply mechanism 13 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the pick-up roller 52 is configured to be movable up and down, but does not serve as a platen roller, and mainly lifts, peels off, and feeds the sticky note paper 4a, and a platen provided separately. The sticky note 4a is sent to the roller 132. Hereinafter, although it demonstrates centering around difference with 1st Embodiment, the code | symbol is made as common as possible with 1st Embodiment.

  The pickup roller 52 is disposed on the tip end side of the sticky note bundle 4, the rubber roll 65 of the roller main body 62 is in rolling contact with the sticky note 4 a, and the roller gear 63 formed at the end of the roller main body 62 is connected to the input gear 68. Meshed. The input gear 68 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the pickup arm 72 that holds the pickup roller 52 rotatably at the tip and moves up and down, and has an end surface between the input gear 68 and the substantially “L” -shaped cam link member 55. A cam mechanism is configured. The end face cam mechanism includes an end face cam groove 80 of the input gear 68 and a guide pin 91 of the cam link member 55 that engages with the end face cam groove 80, and allows the input gear 68 to rotate through the cam link member 55. This is converted into a rotational movement of the pickup arm 72.

  That is, the arm engagement portion 94 formed through the distal end portion of the “L” shape of the cam link member 55 relatively slides the engagement pin 76 formed at the proximal end portion of the pickup arm 72, so that the pickup arm 72 72 is rotated according to the end face cam mechanism. As a result, the pickup roller 52 is a passive roller 130 provided between the rolling contact position where the pickup roller 52 is in contact with the uppermost sticky note 4 a on the sticky note bundle 4 and the sticky note printing mechanism 12 above the rolling contact position. The sticky note bundle 4 is moved away from and in contact with the nipping position where it comes into contact.

  The passive roller 130 is made of a friction material such as rubber, and is pivotally supported by the printer frame 10 (not shown) in a cantilever manner so as to be rotatable in parallel with the pickup roller 52. The passive roller 130 is configured to be freely rotatable, and is driven to rotate by receiving the drive rotation of the pickup roller 52 in the clamping position. As a result, the sticky note 4a rolled up and picked up by the pickup roller 52 is rotationally fed while being sandwiched between the pickup roller 52 and the passive roller 130 at the holding position, and is peeled off from the pasting portion 4b. .

  A platen roller 132 facing the thermal head 28 is disposed near the passive roller 130 and above the sticky note feeding direction. The platen roller 132 is rotatably supported by the printer frame 10, receives the sticky note 4 a from the tip thereof, and performs printing on this in cooperation with the thermal head 28. A platen gear 133 is provided at the base end of the platen roller 132, and the platen gear 133 meshes with the upper ribbon winding mechanism 29 (the ribbon winding gear 41 or the winding intermediate gear 43).

  Further, in the vicinity of the platen roller 132, a platen transmission gear 134 is rotatably supported on the printer frame 10 between the platen roller 132 and the passive roller 130. A platen gear 133 meshes with the platen transmission gear 134 and meshes with the roller gear 63 of the pickup roller 52 in the clamping position. That is, the platen roller 132 is rotated by receiving power when the pickup roller 52 reaches the clamping position, and transmits power to the ribbon take-up reel 49 to rotate it.

  Thereby, since the sticky note 4a is sandwiched at a higher position, the form is further inclined at a steep angle. For this reason, the sticky note paper 4 a is subjected to a sufficient peeling force, pulled out from the gluing portion 4 b, used for printing, and discharged out of the apparatus case 2 by the platen roller 132. The pick-up roller 52 is retracted from the printing position and returned to the rolling position after the platen roller 132 sends out and discharges the printed sticky note 4a by the end face cam mechanism.

  According to the sticky note supply mechanism 13 of the present embodiment, after the sticky note 4a is rolled up by the pickup roller 52, the sticky note 4a is once sandwiched between the passive roller 130 and the sticky note paper with respect to the platen roller 132 having a higher height. Since the 4a is conveyed, the sticky note 4a can be appropriately peeled off from the glued portion 4b. Further, since the sticky note 4a is delivered to the platen roller 132 from the leading end side, printing can be performed from the leading end of the sticky note 4a.

  Next, a sticky note supply method for picking up the sticky note 4a and supplying it to the other side will be described. In this method, there is no difference in rolling up the pick-up roller 52 of both the above-described embodiments with respect to the sticky note 4a, but the sticky note 4a is more easily raised. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the pick-up roller 52 disposed at the tip of the sticky note bundle 4 is moved to the base end side of the sticky note 4a during the sticky note turning operation. It may be made to move away from the sticky note bundle 4 while rolling. Alternatively, the sticky note holder 11 that holds the sticky note bundle 4 may be moved relative to the pickup roller 52 as described above. Thereby, further bending of the sticky note 4a can be promoted, and the sticky note 4a can be smoothly raised.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (c), prior to the sticking paper 4a being lifted by the pickup roller 52, the sticky paper bundle 4 is in a state where its intermediate portion is bent downward from the horizontal position. Good. As a result, the tip of the sticky note paper 4a is repelled vigorously by its own restoring force. In this case, the sticky note holder 11 may be configured to hold both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sticky note bundle 4 and push down the intermediate portion thereof.

  Note that the sticky note supply method and the sticky note supply mechanism of each of the embodiments described above may be applied not only to the pre-printing of the above-described embodiment, but also to lifting of the sticky note after printing. For example, in the sticky note printer described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-243609 filed earlier by the present applicant, the sticky paper supply mechanism and the sticky paper supply of each of the embodiments described above are used to peel off the printed sticky paper entrusted to the user. Can be applied to the method. This saves the user from having to do complicated work.

  According to the sticky note printer of the present invention, the sticky note is introduced as a sticky note bundle into the case from the sticky note introduction opening and set in a horizontal posture. The paper is peeled off one by one, sent to the front while maintaining a horizontal posture, printed, and discharged out of the case. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a set of sticky note bundles and a printed sticky note in a form that follows the way of handling the existing sticky note bundles, and the user can handle the sticky notes without a sense of incongruity.

1 is an overall perspective view of a sticky note printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which abbreviate | omits the apparatus case of a sticky note printer and shows an internal structure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sticky note printer with a ribbon cartridge installed in FIG. 2. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the internal structure of a sticky note printer. It is a partial cross section front view which abbreviate | omits the apparatus case of a sticky note printer and shows an internal structure. It is a bottom view of a sticky note printer. It is a perspective view around a sticky note supply mechanism. It is a front view around the sticky note supply mechanism showing the operation by the end face cam mechanism. It is a flowchart which shows a series of operation | movement by a sticky note paper supply mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which simplifies and shows the modification of a sticky note supply mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which linked the personal computer and the sticky note printer. It is a block diagram of the state which linked the personal computer and the sticky note printer. Explanatory drawing which shows operation on the monitor screen by a personal computer. It is a front view around the sticky note supply mechanism according to the second embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other sticky note supply method.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sticky paper printer 4 ... Sticky paper bundle 4a ... Sticky paper 4b ... Glue part 6 ... Sticky paper discharge port 11 ... Sticky paper holder 12 ... Sticky paper printing mechanism 13 ... Sticky paper supply mechanism 28 ... Thermal head 32 ... Guide roller 52 ... Pickup roller 70 ... Rotating arm

Claims (2)

A sticky note holder for setting a bundle of sticky notes made up of many sticky notes glued at one end;
While rolling up the topmost sticky note of the set of sticky note bundles, moving the free end of the sticky note sticked up upwards, in this state while peeling the sticky note from the sticky note bundle, A sticky note feed mechanism that prints and feeds the free end of the sticky note as the head,
A sticky note printing mechanism that faces the sticky note sent by the sticky note feeding mechanism and performs printing on the sticky note from the free end side,
The sticky note feed mechanism is a pick-up roller that rolls on the free end of the topmost sticky note from above and rolls it up,
A pair of rotating arms configured to be rotatable about the base end portion, while holding the pickup roller rotatably at both ends at the distal end portion;
The pick-up roller is rotated by the pair of rotating arms between a rolling contact position for rolling contact with the sticky note paper and a printing position for pressing the sticky note raised to the thermal head of the sticky note printing mechanism, A sticky paper printer , wherein the sticky paper is rolled up at the rolling position and the sticky paper is printed at the printing position . The sticky note paper feed mechanism further includes a guide roller that is close to the thermal head and sandwiches the printed sticky note paper between the pick-up roller and rotates following the pick-up roller. The pick-up roller The sticky note printer according to claim 1 , wherein the guide roller feeds the sticky note after printing toward a sticky note discharge port.

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