JPH10109450A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printer device capable of guiding photographic sheets and ribbon cassettes without providing a single guiding member, and capable of reducing the size, thickness, and weight of the device. provide. SOLUTION: A ribbon cassette 22 is mounted on an outer casing case 20, and printing is performed on printing paper 40 using a ribbon film 24. Feeding mechanism for printing paper 40, thermal head 3
Each mechanism including a zero moving mechanism and a feeding mechanism for the ribbon film 24 is assembled to the chassis 60. Guiding portions 62 and 64 for guiding the printing paper 40 are provided on the bottom plate portion 60A of the chassis 60. The printing paper 40 that has passed through the printing position is guided by the guiding units 62 and 6.
4 and guided by gaps 60a and 60b between the lower surface of the chassis 60 and the inner wall surface of the outer casing case 20, the vehicle can travel smoothly in the outer casing case 20, and can contribute to downsizing of the apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing on a printing sheet using a printing head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a configuration example of a conventional printer. This printer device is a so-called sublimation type or transfer type in which printing is performed on printing paper 10 by a thermal head 6 using a ribbon film 4 stored in a ribbon cassette 2. The ribbon cassette 2 has a ribbon film 4 stretched between a supply reel 2A and a take-up reel 2B. During a printing operation, the take-up reel 2B is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) to drive the ribbon film 4 Feed.

[0003] The thermal head 6 is supported by a thermal head moving mechanism 6A. That is, the thermal head moving mechanism 6A moves the thermal head 6 to the arm 6a.
The arm 6a is swingably displaced by a head position drive gear 6b to control the movement of the thermal head 6 in the forward and backward directions.

Then, the thermal head 6 is advanced to the ribbon cassette 2 side from the home position of the thermal head 6 shown in FIG. 6, and the ribbon film 4 is pulled out to a printing position where the ribbon film 4 comes into contact with the platen 8 on the opposite side. The printing is performed by sandwiching the printing paper 10 between the printing paper 10 and the printer. The printing paper 10 is accommodated in a paper tray 10A, and is fed one by one from an insertion opening 10a to a printing position side by a paper feeding mechanism 10B.

During the printing operation, the paper is held between a pinch roller 10C and a capstan roller 10D provided in a stage preceding the platen 8, and the traveling direction and the rotation of the capstan roller 10D are rotated by a paper feed motor (not shown). Feed control is performed in the backward direction. The pinch roller 10C is linked with the thermal head moving mechanism 6A, and comes into pressure contact with the capstan roller 10D while the thermal head 6 moves forward and moves to the sheet feeding position close to the platen 8. In this state, the printing paper 10 is sandwiched between the pinch roller 10C and the capstan roller 10D, and the feeding control of the paper 10 in synchronization with the printing operation is performed.

[0006] The printer shown in FIG. 6 prints a color image.
Areas for each color component of yellow, magenta, and cyan for color printing are sequentially provided for each predetermined length, and
An identifier for locating the area of each color component is provided,
It is detected by the cue sensor 16.

When performing color printing, after printing of a certain color component is performed by cueing the ribbon film 4, the printing paper 10 is returned to the original position by the reversal drive of the capstan roller 10D. On the other hand, the ribbon film 4 is fed in the forward feed direction to find the next color component area. Then, the printing paper 10 is fed again by the normal rotation of the capstan roller 10D, and printing of the next color component is performed. By repeating such an operation, a color image can be printed.

In the printing operation described above, the leading end portion of the printing paper 10 that has passed through the printing position is guided by the guiding member 12, and is positioned between the lower surface of the guiding member 12 and the upper surface of the chassis 14. It is guided to the rear corner of the apparatus case 18, and after the printing operation is completed, the paper is fed to the paper discharge port 10b side by the reversal drive of the capstan roller 10D and discharged from the paper discharge port 10b. You. The guiding member 12 is made of, for example, an integrally molded product of a synthetic resin, and is assembled on the chassis 14 by screwing or the like. The front end portion of the printing paper 10 is fixed to the chassis by an arc portion 12A provided on the printing position. It leads to the 14 side.

The upper surface of the guiding member 12 is shaped to receive a part of the ribbon cassette 2,
Guidance is performed when the ribbon cassette 2 is inserted and mounted. The chassis 14 includes the above-described thermal head moving mechanism 6A and the printing paper 1.
The members constituting the zero feed mechanism, the ribbon film 4 feed mechanism, and the like are assembled in a positioning state.

[0010]

However, in the conventional printer described above, the chassis 1 is used for guiding the printing paper 10 and guiding the ribbon cassette 2.
Since the dedicated guiding member 12 is provided on the base 4, the chassis 14 and the guiding member 12 are overlapped with each other, and there is a problem that it becomes an obstacle in reducing the size, thickness, and weight of the device. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer device that can guide a printing sheet or a ribbon cassette without providing a single guiding member, and can reduce the size, thickness, and weight of the device. It is in.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing sheet feeding mechanism for feeding a printing sheet in both directions, and a printing head which sandwiches the printing sheet between a printing head and a platen. A printing mechanism for performing printing by the printer, the print sheet feeding mechanism and a chassis in which the printing mechanism is assembled, and the front end of a printing sheet fed by the printing sheet feeding mechanism through a printing position of the printing mechanism. A guiding portion for guiding a portion of the printing sheet, wherein the guiding portion is formed integrally with the chassis, and a leading end portion of the printing sheet is formed between the chassis and an inner wall surface of an outer casing case constituting the printer apparatus. It is characterized in that it is led to the gap between them.

In the printer apparatus of the present invention, the printing sheet fed by the printing sheet feeding mechanism is provided between the chassis and the inner wall surface of the outer casing case by the guiding portion formed integrally with the chassis. Since the printing sheet is guided to the printing section, even when the printing sheet is repeatedly fed bidirectionally for printing, the end of the printing sheet can be guided in a stable state, and a highly reliable printing operation can be performed. . Further, such a guiding portion can be used for guiding a ribbon cassette. Therefore, the printing sheet can be guided and the ribbon cassette can be guided without providing a single guiding member, and the apparatus can be reduced in size, thickness, and weight.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration example of a printer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a chassis provided in the printer device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing an outline of operations of printing paper feeding control and thermal head movement control in the printer device shown in FIG. In this printer device, a ribbon cassette 22 is detachably mounted from a mounting opening (not shown) provided in an outer casing case 20, and printing is performed on printing paper using a ribbon film 24 stored in the ribbon cassette 22. Things.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the ribbon cassette 22. As shown in FIG. As shown, the ribbon cassette 22
Is provided with a pair of cylindrical portions 22A and 22B for accommodating a supply reel 26 and a take-up reel 28, which are connected in parallel by a connecting portion 22C.
A and 22B are provided with an opening 22D through which the thermal head 30 can enter.
6 shows the ribbon film 24 passed over the take-up reel 28 and the take-up reel 28. In addition, the ribbon film 24 is provided with regions of color components of yellow, magenta, and cyan for color printing in order of a predetermined length in order to print a color image. An identifier for cueing each color component region is provided at a boundary portion of, and is detected by a cueing sensor 52 described later.

When performing color printing, a certain color component area of the ribbon film 24 is located, and the printing paper 40 is fed in the traveling direction to print a certain color component. Feed in the reverse direction to return to the original position. On the other hand, the ribbon film 24 is fed in the forward feed direction to find the next color component area. Then, the printing paper 40 is sent again in the traveling direction, and printing of the next color component is performed. These operations are repeated to print a color image.

In FIG. 1, the thermal head 30
Is provided at the tip of the arm 32. Arm 32
A cam groove 32A is formed at a base end of the head position driving gear 34, and a pin 34A provided on the head position driving gear 34 is engaged with the cam groove 32A. That is, the arm 32 includes the cam groove 32A and the pin 34.
The positively-moving cam mechanism constituted by A and swings as the head position driving gear 34 rotates.

The swing of the arm 32 causes the thermal head 30 to move from the home position (H0) shown in FIG. 3 to the paper feed position (H1) shown in FIG. The printing position is moved to the indicated printing position (H2). Then, the thermal head 30
Is advanced to the printing position, the thermal head 30 is pressed against the platen 58 with the ribbon film 24 and the printing paper 40 interposed therebetween, and the printing operation is performed.

On the side surface of the head position driving gear 34, annular shutter portions 34B and 34C are provided in a circumferential direction over a predetermined range.
4B and 34C are located at a pair of transmissive photocouplers 36,
38, the rotation angle of the head position drive gear 34 is detected to control the drive motor (not shown) of the head position drive gear 34, and the thermal head 30 is moved to the home position (H0), Position position (H1)
And it moves to the printing position (H2).

On the other hand, a paper detecting sensor 42 for detecting the insertion of the printing paper 40 is provided in the feeding path of the printing paper 40, and a pinch roller 44 and a capstan roller 46 for feeding the printing paper 40 downstream thereof. Is provided. The pinch roller 44 is linked to the base end of the arm 32 by a link mechanism 48 and the like. When the thermal head 30 is moved from the sheet feeding position to the printing position, the capstan roller is moved by the spring force of the coil spring 50. It is pressed against 46.

The printing paper sandwiched between the pinch roller 44 and the capstan roller 46 is controlled to be fed in the advancing direction and the retreating direction by the rotation of the capstan roller 46 by a paper feeding motor (not shown). . Also,
The running position of the ribbon film 24 includes the ribbon film 2
A cueing sensor 52 for performing the above-described cueing of No. 4 is provided.

Each of the mechanical units of the printer described above, that is, each unit including the moving mechanism of the thermal head 30, the feeding mechanism of the printing paper 40, and the feeding mechanism of the ribbon film 24 is a chassis shown in FIG. 60. The chassis 60 is formed by, for example, sheet metal processing, and is formed in an outer casing case 2 of a printer device.
A bottom plate portion 60A arranged along the bottom of the bottom plate portion 0, and side plate portions 60B vertically erected on both sides of the bottom plate portion 60A;
60C. The bottom plate 6 of the chassis 60
0A, the printing paper 40 passing through the printing position
Guiding portions 62 and 64 for guiding the guide are provided. Each of the guiding portions 62 and 64 is
0 are formed integrally at the time of sheet metal working, and are each cut and raised in an arc shape above the bottom plate portion 60A.

The first guiding portion 62 is disposed so as to face the above-described printing position. The first guiding portion 62 guides the leading end portion of the printing paper 40 that has entered from the printing position by an arc-shaped lower surface. It is guided to the lower surface side. In addition, a gap 60 a having a sufficient interval for inserting the printing paper 40 is formed between the lower surface of the chassis 60 and the inner wall surface on the bottom side of the outer casing case 20. The second guiding portion 64 has an arc shape along the rear inner wall surface of the outer casing case 20, and forms a gap 60b with the inner wall surface. In detail, an arc-shaped guide surface 20a for guiding the leading end of the printing paper 40 passing through the gap 60a upward is formed on the rear inner wall portion of the outer casing case 20,
The second guiding portion 64 extends along the guide surface 20a.
Are formed in an arc shape.

The gap 60b between the guide surface 20a and the second guiding portion 64 has a sufficient space for inserting the printing paper 40, like the gap 60a. Due to the shape of the chassis 60 as described above, the leading end portion of the printing paper 40 that has passed through the printing position is
Guided by the lower surface of the chassis 60 including the guiding portions 62 and 64 and the inner wall surface of the outer casing case 20 including the guide surface 20a, the vehicle can smoothly travel through the gaps 60a and 60b.

The arc shape of the first guiding portion 62 is formed along the outer peripheral shape of the supply reel 26 of the ribbon cassette 22. The upper surface of the first guiding portion 62 is formed as a guide surface that guides the lower surface of the supply reel 26 of the ribbon cassette 22, and guides the mounting position of the ribbon cassette 22 during the mounting operation. Rear ribbon cassette 22
It functions as a guide for receiving the information.
FIG. 2 omits detailed structures that are not directly related to the characteristic structure of the present invention,
It is assumed that mounting holes and the like for assembling the above-described respective mechanical units are appropriately formed in an actual chassis.

Next, an outline of the operation of the printer will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG.
In this case, the insertion opening 20A formed in the outer casing case 20
When the photographic paper 40 is inserted, the paper detection sensor 4
2, the head position drive gear 34 is activated, the arm 32 is displaced, and the thermal head 30 is moved from the home position to the sheet feeding position shown in FIG.

When the thermal head 30 moves to the paper feed position, the pinch roller 44 is pressed against the capstan roller 46 in conjunction with the movement, and the roller 44
The printing paper nipped between the capstan rollers 46 is
Is fed toward the inside of the printer by the rotation of. Next, when the end of the printing paper is detected by the paper detection sensor 42, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper feeding motor further rotates by a predetermined amount, and the paper feeding is completed. Then, the cueing sensor 52 performs cueing of the necessary color component area of the ribbon film 24.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the thermal head 30 moves to the printing position, the capstan roller 46 rotates in the reverse direction, and at the same time, image data and voltage are applied to the thermal head 30 to execute printing. , FIG.
The state shown in FIG. Note that in the case of a color printer as described above, color printing is performed by superimposing yellow, magenta, and cyan, so that the operations from (1) to (3) in FIG. 3 are repeated three times. When the printing is completed, as shown in FIG.
Moves to the paper feed position, and the printed paper is discharged out of the printer as shown in FIG. When the ejection is completed, as shown in FIG.
0 returns to the home position.

In the printing operation as described above, the leading end portion of the printing paper 40 which has advanced to the head position driving gear 34 through the printing position is guided by the guiding portion 62 provided on the chassis 60 to form the chassis 60. It is guided to the lower surface and inserted into the gap 20 a formed between the chassis 60 and the bottom inner wall surface of the outer casing case 20.

When the printing paper 40 is further fed in the traveling direction, the leading end of the printing paper 40 passing through the gap 20a is guided by the guide surface 20a formed on the inner wall surface on the rear side of the outer casing case 20. Gap 20b between portion 64
Guided along. As a result, the leading end portion of the printing paper 40 that has passed the printing position is disposed in the gaps 20a and 20b along the inner wall surface of the outer casing case 20 by the guiding portions 62 and 64, and can move smoothly. Therefore, even when the above-described two-way feeding operation is repeated, the leading end of the printing paper 40 is engaged with each mechanism in the apparatus, and a paper jam does not occur. Is obtained.

Further, the configuration in which the printing paper 40 is guided in an arc shape along the inner wall surface of the outer casing case 20 makes the outer casing case 20 of the printer apparatus compact with respect to the size of the printing paper 40 and the stroke during the printing operation. It can be configured, and the size of the device can be reduced. Further, in this example, since the upper surface of the guiding portion 62 is also used as a guide for the ribbon cassette 22, various functions can be integrated in the integrated chassis 60, and high functions can be obtained with a simple configuration.

In the above-described example, the configuration in which the printing paper 40 is inserted into the apparatus through the insertion opening 20A of the outer casing case 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and similar to the configuration shown in FIG. The present invention may be applied to a printer capable of automatically feeding paper from a paper tray. Further, as described above, the configuration is not such that the insertion port 20A of the printing paper 40 is also used as a paper discharge port.
A printer device having separate insertion ports and discharge ports may be used.

Further, the present invention is not limited to a printer using a ribbon film, but can be applied to a printer using a recording head configured to discharge ink, for example. You may apply to an apparatus. That is, even in such a printer device, by providing the guiding portion integrally formed on the chassis, both the guiding function of the printing sheet and the reduction in size and weight of the device can be realized, and a sufficient effect can be obtained. .

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the guiding portion for guiding the printing sheet passing through the printing position to obtain a smooth feeding state is formed integrally with the mechanical chassis of the apparatus. . For this reason, the printing sheet can be guided without providing a single guiding member, and the size, thickness, and weight of the apparatus can be reduced, and the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly process can be simplified to reduce costs. Down can be planned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration example of a printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a chassis provided in the printer device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an outline of operation of feeding control of printing paper and movement control of a thermal head of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing an outline of operation of feeding control of printing paper and movement control of a thermal head of the printer device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a ribbon cassette used in the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing an example of a conventional printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... outer casing case, 20a ... guide surface, 22 ... ribbon cassette, 24 ... ribbon film, 30 ... thermal head, 32 ... arm, 34 ... head position drive gear, 40 ... printing paper, 42 ... paper detection sensor, 4
4 ... Pinch roller, 46 ... Capstan roller, 5
2 ... cueing sensor, 58 ... platen, 60 ... chassis, 60a, 60b ... gap, 62, 64 ... guiding part.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A printing sheet feeding mechanism for feeding a printing sheet in both directions, a printing mechanism for sandwiching a printing sheet between a printing head and a platen and printing by the printing head, and the printing sheet feeding mechanism. A chassis incorporating the printing mechanism; and a guiding portion for guiding a leading end portion of the printing sheet fed through the printing position of the printing mechanism by the printing sheet feeding mechanism. The printing portion is formed integrally with the chassis, and guides a leading end portion of the printing sheet to a gap between the chassis and an inner wall surface of an outer casing case constituting the printer device. Printer device. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding portion is formed in a shape along an inner wall surface of the outer casing case. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the guiding portion is formed integrally when the chassis is manufactured. 4. The printing sheet feeding mechanism feeds a printing sheet inserted from an insertion port provided in the outer casing case to the guiding portion side through the printing position, and further includes the fed printing sheet. 4. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is fed in an opposite direction and is discharged from a discharge port. 5. The printer device according to claim 4, wherein said insertion port and said paper discharge port are shared. 6. The printing mechanism is a sublimation type or transfer type printing mechanism that performs printing by supplying a ribbon film between a printing sheet and a printing head, and a ribbon film feeding mechanism that supplies the ribbon film. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printer device is provided on the chassis. 7. The printer device according to claim 6, wherein a cassette mounting portion for mounting a ribbon cassette accommodating the ribbon film is provided on the chassis. 8. The printer device according to claim 7, wherein the guiding portion guides a mounting operation of the ribbon cassette and a state after the mounting by using a surface opposite to a surface for guiding the printing sheet. 9. A second guide for guiding the leading end of the printing sheet, which has passed through a gap between the chassis and the inner wall surface of the outer casing case, along the inner wall surface of the outer casing case. 9. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding portion is formed integrally. 10. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing mechanism performs multi-color printing on the printing sheet by a repetitive feeding operation of the printing sheet by the printing sheet feeding mechanism. apparatus. 11. The printing mechanism has a printing head moving mechanism for controlling the movement of a printing head from a home position to a printing position.
0. The printer according to claim 1,