JPH10194478A - Paper tray locking mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the separation of a paper tray from a casing, by installing a locking pawl on an outer face in the inserting direction, of the paper tray, for preventing the pushing for a specific stroke by a push open unit which can take a lock releasing position for releasing the lock to a locking pawl. SOLUTION: A locking position for locking a locking pawl 3b of a paper tray 3 in accompany with an inserting operation of a paper tray 3, and a lock releasing position where the locking pawl 3b is pushed by a specific stroke from the lock position to release the lock by the locking pawl 3b, can be taken. A casing 2 comprises a sliding member 31 slidable in opposition to an outer face 3a in an inserting direction, of the paper tray 3. A push open unit comprises a pair of levers 21a, 21b. One edge part 31a of the sliding member 31 acts as the sopper, when the paper tray 3 is pushed in the direction of an arrow S1 (depth side) during the printing operation, thereby the pushing operation of the paper tray 3 is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper tray locking mechanism used in a thermal transfer printer or a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a paper tray used in a thermal transfer printer or a copying machine is detachably mounted in a housing of an apparatus. Is locked by a locking mechanism so as not to hinder the conveyance of the recording paper.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a conventional paper tray locking mechanism, and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a general thermal transfer printer. Before describing a paper tray locking mechanism in a conventional example, a general thermal transfer printer to which the paper tray is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, below a housing 2 of a general thermal transfer printer 1, a paper tray (also referred to as a paper feed tray), which stores recording paper K in a stacked state, is described later.
3 is detachably attached. A paper feed roller 4 is provided above the paper tray 3 so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the uppermost recording paper K.

A paper discharge tray 5 is fixed above the paper feed roller 4, and further switches between a paper feed path and a paper discharge path between the paper tray 3 and the paper discharge tray 5. The switching guide plate 6 is rotatably supported. Paper tray 3
Are pressed against each other to reciprocate the recording paper K at a constant speed, and a pair of rollers 8, 9 having one connected to a motor 7 is rotated while the recording paper K is in contact with the pair. The platen roller 10 is provided.

A transfer paper T coated with three color inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is laid over guides 11 and 12 above the platen roller 10. A reel 13 and a take-up reel 14, a transfer paper take-up motor 15 connected to the take-up reel 14 to take up the transfer paper T in the direction of arrow A1, and a back side of the transfer paper T on the ink color side and connected to the cam wheel 16 Arm 1 that rotates
And a thermal head 18 supported on the platen roller 10 and supported by the platen roller 10.

Next, the operation of the general thermal transfer printer 1 having the above configuration will be briefly described. First, the uppermost recording paper K stacked on the paper tray 3 is fed to the paper feed roller 4.
The recording paper K is transported to the pair of rollers 8 and 9 by the platen roller 1 which is rotatably supported while being nipped and driven between the pair of rollers 8 and 9 connected to the motor 7.
Attached on 0.

Thereafter, when printing the recording paper K, the arm 17 which rotates in connection with the cam wheel 16 is rotated toward the platen roller 10 and the thermal head 18 supported by the arm 17 is transferred to the transfer paper T. , The transfer paper T is pressed by the thermal head 18 on the recording paper K attached to the platen roller 10, where the thermal paper 18 corresponds to the first color yellow (Y). Since the printing information is supplied, the recording paper K is transported in the direction of arrow B2, and the transfer paper T is wound in the direction of arrow A1, and the first color of yellow (Y) is printed by the thermal head 18.

Then, at the printing end position of the first color yellow (Y), the thermal head 18 is separated from the platen roller 10 side, and the rotation of the roller 8 is reversed so that the recording paper K is rotated by the pair of rollers 8 and 9. After the sheet is transported in the direction of the paper tray 3 while returning to the direction of arrow B1, the rotation of the roller 8 is again rotated in the same direction as the first color, and the magenta (M) for the second color and the cyan (C) for the third Print in order).

Here, a conventional paper tray locking mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the paper tray 3 storing the recording paper K is detachably mounted in the housing 2 as described above.
During the printing operation on the recording paper K, the paper tray 3 is locked by the locking mechanism 20 so as not to hinder the conveyance of the recording paper K. That is, in the paper tray locking mechanism 20 in the conventional example, a locking claw 3b and a protruding piece 3c having a locking hole 3c1 formed on the outer side surface 3a of the paper tray 3 in the insertion direction. , And are integrally formed so as to protrude.

On the other hand, a push-open unit 21 is mounted in the housing 2 so as to face a locking claw 3b formed on the outer surface 3a of the paper tray 3. The push open unit 21 includes a pair of openable and closable levers 21.
a and 21b are provided movably in the directions of arrows S1 and S2 in the case 21c, and a lock member 21d urged by a spring is provided in the case 21c. The operation of the push open unit 21 is such that the locking claw 3b of the paper tray 3 is engaged with the pair of levers 21a and 21b in accordance with the insertion operation of the paper tray 3, and is locked at the locking position by the lock member 21d. You. On the other hand, when releasing the locking of the paper tray 3 with the locking claw 3, the locking claw 3 is
When the paper tray 3 is further pushed in the direction of the arrow S1 (rearward) by a predetermined stroke in a state of being engaged with the locking members 1a and 21b, the locking claw 3 is unlocked from the locking member 21d so that the locking claw 3 is turned into a pair of levers 21a. , 21b. Therefore, push open unit 2
In the case where the paper tray 3 is locked by only 1, if the paper tray 3 is further pushed in from the locked state, the locking is released.

Therefore, a locking lever 22 is provided in the housing 2 so as to be rotatable in the locking hole 3c1 of the protruding piece 3c formed on the outer surface 3a of the paper tray 3. The locking lever 22 has a protruding portion 22a1 that engages with the locking hole 3c1 protrudingly formed at the tip of an arm 22a on one end side via a rotation shaft 23, and the other end side via the rotation shaft 23. A spring 24 is mounted on the arm 22b, and an eccentric cam 26 that rotates about a shaft 25 is in contact with the arm 22b.

During the printing operation on the recording paper K, a projection 22 projecting from the tip of the arm 22a of the locking lever 22 is provided.
The eccentric cam 26 rotates to a position where a1 enters the locking hole 3c1 formed in the paper tray 3, and the paper tray 3 is completely locked in the housing 2. Cannot be removed from the housing 2. Of course, except during the printing operation on the recording paper K, the eccentric cam 26 rotates to a position where the protruding portion 22a1 protruding from the tip of the arm 22a of the locking lever 22 retreats from the locking hole 3c1 formed in the paper tray 3. ing.

[0014]

The paper tray locking mechanism 20 in the above-mentioned conventional example cannot prevent the paper tray 3 from being detached from the inside of the housing 2 during the printing operation on the recording paper K. However, for this purpose, a protruding piece 3c having a locking hole 3c1 formed in the outer surface 3a of the paper tray 3 and a locking lever 22 rotatably supported in the housing 2 are required, which is complicated. It has become a locking mechanism.

Therefore, in the paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention, a projection piece 3c having a locking hole 3c1 is not provided on the outer side surface 3a of the paper tray 3, and the paper tray 3 is not used for printing on the recording paper K. An object of the present invention is to make it impossible to detach the tray 3 from the inside of the housing 2 and to make the paper tray 3 detachable except during a printing operation.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances. And a locking mechanism for locking the paper tray during a copying operation, wherein a locking claw provided on an outer surface of the paper tray in the insertion direction of the paper tray is provided in the housing in opposition to the locking claw. A locking position for locking the locking claw in accordance with the tray insertion operation, and a locking for the locking claw by being pushed in by a predetermined stroke from the locking position in accordance with the pushing operation of the paper tray. A push-open unit that can take an unlocking position to release the lock, and a predetermined stroke provided by the push-open unit during the printing operation or the copying operation on the recording paper provided in the housing. There is provided a locking mechanism of the paper tray, characterized in that a means for preventing the pushing.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic partial views for explaining the operation of the paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention. 2 (A) is a plan view of the locked state, and FIG. 2 (B) is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view of the unlocking permitted state, and FIG. 3 (B) is a side view thereof. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent members as those shown in the conventional example, and the description is appropriately given. In this embodiment, the points different from the conventional example will be mainly described.

The paper tray locking mechanism 30 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is configured to be applicable to the thermal transfer printer 1 described above with reference to FIG. . Also in this embodiment, a paper tray 3 is provided in a housing 2 of a thermal transfer printer 1 or a copying machine (not shown).
The paper tray 3 is locked by the locking mechanism 30 so as not to hinder the conveyance of the recording paper K during a printing operation or a copying operation on the recording paper K. I have. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper tray locking mechanism 30 according to the present invention has a locking claw 3b on the outer surface 3a in the insertion direction of the paper tray 3, as described in the conventional example. , And are integrally formed so as to protrude. On the other hand, inside the housing 2, the outer surface 3 a of the paper tray 3 is provided.
The push-open unit 21 is attached to face the locking claw 3b formed in the above.

The push-open unit 21 has the same structure as that described in the prior art example with reference to FIG. 4. Here, the reference numerals of the components of the push-open unit 21 are shown, and the detailed description is omitted. However, paper tray 3
When the paper tray 3 is pushed into the locking claw 3b by a predetermined stroke from the locking position for locking the locking claw 3b of the paper tray 3 with the insertion operation of the paper tray 3, And a lock release position for releasing the lock.

Here, the locking claw 3b formed on the outer surface 3a of the paper tray 3 is engaged with the pair of levers 21a and 21b constituting the push-open unit 21 and is locked at the locking position. In order to prohibit the pushing operation of the paper tray 3, it is noted that the pair of levers 21a and 21b may be prevented from moving in the direction of the arrow S1 (backward) by a predetermined stroke.

Therefore, a sliding member 31 which is slidable in the housing 2 is opposed to the outer surface 3a in the insertion direction of the paper tray 3.
Is provided. The sliding member 31 is linearly slidable in substantially the same direction as the moving directions (arrows S1 and S2 directions) of the pair of levers 21a and 21b constituting the push-open unit 21. A cam abutting portion 31b is formed so as to come into contact with and separate from the outer side surface 3a of the tray 3 and protrude upward in the middle.

On the other hand, a cam 33 rotating about a shaft 32
Is formed with a cutout portion 33a and a circular portion 33b. At this time, the cutout portion 33a of the cam 33 and the circular portion 33b are formed.
It is assumed that the difference d from b has a dimensional difference substantially equivalent to a predetermined stroke between the locked position and the unlocked position of the push open unit 21.

Next, the operation of the paper tray locking mechanism 30 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 2, a locking claw 3b formed on the outer side surface 3a of the paper tray 3 is engaged with a pair of levers 21a and 21b constituting the push open unit 21 and locked at the locking position. State. In this state, the pair of levers 21
a, 21b have reached the locking position moved in the direction of arrow S1. Here, when there is a print command on the recording paper K, the circular portion 33b of the cam 33 is moved to the cam contact portion 31b of the sliding member 31.
The cam 33 rotates to a position where the cam 33 comes into contact. This allows
One end 31a of the sliding member 31 is pushed out to the outer surface 3a side of the paper tray 3 by the circular portion 33b,
a moves to a position where it abuts the outer surface 3a of the paper tray 3.

Therefore, even if the paper tray 3 is pushed in the direction of arrow S1 (rearward) during the printing operation, the one end 31a of the sliding member 31 acts as a stopper to prevent the pushing operation of the paper tray 3. Therefore, during the printing operation, the paper tray 3 is locked by the push-open unit 21 and cannot be unlocked, so that the paper tray 3 cannot be detached from the housing 2.

Next, the state shown in FIG. 3 is a state in which the locking of the paper tray 3 by the push open unit 21 can be released except during the printing operation. Here, the one end 31a of the sliding member 31 has moved to a position sufficiently retracted from the outer side surface 3a of the paper tray 3 by the circular portion 33b. Therefore, since the pushing operation of the paper tray 3 is allowed, the paper tray 3 is
If the user pushes in a predetermined stroke from the lock position 1, the lock claw 3b of the paper tray 3 is released from the pair of levers 21a and 21b at the lock release position.

In the embodiment, the slide member 31 interlocked with the cam 34 has been described as a means for preventing the release of the lock of the paper tray 3 during the printing operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is not shown, for example. Even if a solenoid or the like is used, it is possible to prevent the push-open unit 21 from being pushed for a predetermined stroke.

[0027]

According to the paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention described in detail above, the locking claws provided on the outer surface in the paper tray insertion direction are connected to the push-open unit provided in the housing 2. Means are provided for preventing the locking claw of the paper tray from being pushed from the locked position by a predetermined stroke into the unlocked position during the printing operation or the copying operation in the locked state at the locked position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the paper tray from being detached from the inside of the housing at the time of a printing operation or a copying operation, and to simplify the locking mechanism of the paper tray as compared with the related art, thereby contributing to improvement in reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a locked state for explaining the operation of a paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an unlocking permitted state for explaining the operation of the paper tray locking mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a paper tray locking mechanism in a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a general thermal transfer printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermal transfer type printer, 2 ... Case, 3 ... Paper tray, 3a ... Outer side surface, 3b ... Locking claw, 21 ... Push open unit, 30 ... Paper tray locking mechanism, 31 ... Sliding member, 33 ... Cam, 33a: notch, 33b: circular part, K: recording paper.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Kobe 3-12 Moriyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Japan Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A paper tray locking mechanism for locking a paper tray detachably mounted in a housing such as a thermal transfer printer or a copying machine at the time of printing operation or copying operation on recording paper. A locking claw provided on an outer surface in a tray insertion direction, a locking position provided in the housing so as to face the locking claw, and locking the locking claw with the paper tray insertion operation. A push-open unit capable of taking a lock release position for releasing a lock on the locking claw by being pressed from the locking position by a predetermined stroke in accordance with the pressing operation of the paper tray; and Means for preventing the push-open unit from being pushed for a predetermined stroke during a printing operation or a copying operation on the recording paper. The locking mechanism of.