JP3703619B2 - Printer paper feed mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Translated fromJapanese

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、記録紙を紙送りローラに手差し給紙するときに発生する紙送りローラのバックラッシュを、容易に取ることができるプリンタの紙送り機構に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来のプリンタの紙送り機構は、図６に示すように、紙送りローラ１１と、この紙送りローラ１１の歯車部１１ｂに噛み合う中間歯車１２と、この中間歯車１２の歯車部１２ａに噛み合う歯車部１３ｂを有するモータ等から成る駆動源１３と、前記紙送りローラ１１に圧接し、紙送りローラ１１の回転に従動して回転する従動ローラ１４とから構成されている。
このような構成の従来のプリンタの紙送り機構の動作は、記録部材８を手差しで矢印Ｒ方向に送る。そして、駆動源１３を矢印Ｂ方向に回転させて、中間歯車１２を介して矢印Ｄ方向に回転状態の紙送りローラ１１で記録部材８を下流側に若干搬送する。
【０００３】
前記駆動源１３、中間歯車１２、紙送りローラ１１の、歯車部１１ａ、１２ａ１３ｂが互いに噛み合った状態の、歯先部分には図示しない微小な隙間が発生し、この微小な隙間により紙送りローラ１１にバックラッシュが発生する。
このようなバックラッシュのあるプリンタの紙送り機構を用いて印刷すると、バックラッシュの寸法だけ、紙送りローラ１１の回転がバラツキ、記録部材８の送りズレが発生したりして、記録部材に印刷した画像の印刷品質が悪くなる問題があった。
前述のような歯車のバックラッシュをなくするには、歯山の形状、および寸法にバラツキのない、高精度な歯車が要求される。しかし、このような高精度な歯車は非常に高価なので、低価格が要求される小型のプリンタ等においては、使用するのが難しい状況であった。
【０００４】
そこで、バックラッシュがあっても、印刷品質を悪くしない従来のプリンタの紙送り機構の動作は、手差しで記録部材８を紙送りローラ１１側に送り、駆動源１３を矢印Ｂ方向に回転させて、中間歯車１２を介して、紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向に回転させ、前記手差し状態のままの記録部材８を、下流側に若干搬送して、駆動源１３の回転を一旦停止させる。
その後、駆動源１３の回転を矢印Ｅ方向に反転させ、中間歯車１２を介して、紙送りローラ３を矢印Ｇ方向に回転させて、記録部材８を紙送りローラ１１から外れない程度まで、矢印Ｌ方向の上流側に若干戻す。
【０００５】
次に、駆動源１３を再度矢印Ｂ方向に回転させ、中間歯車１２を介して紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向に所定量回転させて、記録部材８の頭出しを行う。
この記録部材８の頭出し後、記録部材８に所望の画像を印刷し、紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向に回転させて、印刷後の記録部材８を紙送りローラ１１の下流側に排出する。
前述のように、従来のプリンタの紙送り機構は、手差しと、矢印Ｄ方向の回転状態の紙送りローラ１１とで記録部材８を若干紙送りローラ１１の下流側に搬送後、紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｇ方向に一旦逆転させて、記録部材８を矢印Ｌ方向の上流側に戻す。
その後再度紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向に回転させて、記録部材８を下流側に搬送して、印刷後の画像にバックラッシュの影響がでないようにしていた。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、前述のような従来の紙送り機構は、紙送りローラ１１に記録部材８が送られてくると、記録部材８を下流側に送る動作と、上流側に戻す動作とで紙送りローラ１１のバックラッシュを取るようにしていたので、操作者が記録部材８の搬送を開始してから印刷が終了するまでの時間（スループット）が長くなる問題があった。
本発明は紙送りローラ１１のバックラッシュの影響をなくして、常に安定した高品質の印刷画像を得ると共に、前記スループットを向上させ、印刷時間を短縮することができるプリンタの紙送り機構を提供するものである
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前記課題を解決するための第１の手段として本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構は、回転可能な紙送りローラと、この紙送りローラに圧接すると共に前記紙送りローラの回転に従動して回転する従動ローラと、前記紙送りローラと前記従動ローラとに狭持されて搬送される記録部材と、この記録部材に所望の画像を印刷する記録ヘッドと、前記紙送りローラを回転駆動させる駆動源とを備え、
前記従動ローラを前記紙送りローラの圧接させた状態で前記紙送りローラを回転させて前記記録部材を手差し給紙と前記紙送りローラの回転とで下流側に若干搬送した後前記紙送りローラの回転を一時停止させる第１の紙送り動作と、この第１の紙送り動作後、前記紙送りローラの回転で前記記録部材を更に下流側に送り、前記記録部材の印刷開始部を前記記録ヘッドまで送る第２の紙送り動作とで、前記記録部材の頭出しを行うようにした構成とした。
【０００８】
また、前記課題を解決するための第２の手段として本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構は、前記紙送ローラと前記駆動源とに歯車部を形成し、この紙送ローラと前記駆動源との間に中間歯車を配設し、前記駆動源の回転を前記中間歯車を介して前記紙送りローラに伝達するようにした構成とした。
【０００９】
また、前記課題を解決するための第３の手段として本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構は、前記紙送ローラの上流側に用紙検出部材を配設し、この用紙検出部材が前記記録部材が送られてきたことを検出すると、前記駆動源により前記紙送りローラを回転させて、前記第１の紙送り動作を行うようにした構成とした。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構を、例えばサーマルプリンタを基に図１〜図５を用いて説明する。また、従来の部品と同一のものは同一の記号を付与して説明する。
まず、図１に示すサーマルプリンタの概略構成は、下方側に樹脂材料等から成る筺体（図示せず）を構成する底板１が配設され、この底板１の上部に平坦状のゴム等から成るプラテン２が取付られている。
このプラテン２の図示左右には、紙ガイド３、４がそれぞれ配設され、後述する記録紙８を搬送する搬送経路Ｈが構成されている。
この搬送経路Ｈの上方側にはヘッド取付部材５が支持ピン５ａ、５ｂに取り付けられて上下動可能に配設されている。
また、ヘッド取付部材５の下面側で前記プラテン２の上方には、サーマルヘッド等から成る記録ヘッド６が取り付けられている。
この記録ヘッド６の図示左側には、後述する記録部材８が搬送経路Ｈに送られてきたことを検出する、光学式のセンサ等から成る用紙検出部材７が取り付けられている。
【００１１】
また、搬送経路Ｈには上流側から矢印Ｒ方向に、サーマル紙等から成る記録部材８が手差しで搬送されて来るようになっている。
前記搬送経路Ｈの紙ガイド４の下流側には、送られてきた記録部材８を下流側に搬送する紙送りローラ１１が配設されている。
この紙送りローラ１１は外周部がゴム等から成り、図２に示すように、紙送りローラ１１の回転軸１１ａに歯車部１１ｂが取り付けられ、この歯車部１１ｂは外周部に所定の数の歯山１１ｃが形成されている。
また、図２に示す紙送りローラ１１の図示左上方には中間歯車１２が配設され、この中間歯車１２の外周部に複数の歯山から成る歯車部１２ａが形成されている。 この歯車部１２ａに前記紙送りローラ１１の歯車部１１ｂが噛み合った状態になっている。
【００１２】
また、中間歯車１２の図示左側には、モータ等から成る駆動源１３が配設され、この駆動源１３の回転軸１３ａに所定の歯数を有する駆動歯車１３ｂが取り付けられている。前記駆動源１３の回転が中間歯車１２を介して紙送りローラ１１に伝達されるようになっている。
前記紙送りローラ１１の図示下方には、この紙送りローラ１１に圧接すると共に、紙送りローラ１１の回転に従動して回転する従動ローラ１４が配設されている。
前記紙送りローラ１１と従動ローラ１４とに、記録部材８が手差し給紙されると、紙送りローラ１１が回転して、記録部材８が紙送りローラ１１と従動ローラ１４とに狭持され、下流側に搬送可能になっている。
前述のような紙送りローラ１１の回転トルクは、従動ローラ１４が圧接されていても、低トルクで回転するようになっているので、駆動源１３の駆動トルクを小さくすることができるようになっている。
【００１３】
このような構成の本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構で記録部材８の頭出しを行う動作は、第１と第２の紙送り動作からなり、この第１の紙送り動作は、記録部材８を手差しで搬送経路Ｈ内を矢印Ｒ方向に挿入する。
すると、前記記録部材８の先端部８ａが、用紙検出部材７の下部を経て、プラテン２と記録ヘッド６の間を通過し、紙送りローラ１１の外周部に当接する。
すると、用紙検出部材７が記録部材８を検出してＯＮして、駆動源１３を回転させて、中間歯車１２を矢印Ｃ方向に回転させ、紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向に回転させる。
この紙送りローラ１１の矢印Ｄ方向への回転で、前記手差し給紙された記録部材８の先端部８ａが、紙送りローラ１１と従動ローラ１４とに狭持される。そして、紙送りローラ１１の矢印Ｄ方向への回転状態において、記録部材８を手差し給紙と紙送りローラ１１の回転とで、図２に示すように先端部８ａが紙送りローラ１１の下流側に若干搬送した後、紙送りローラ１１の回転を一時停止させて、第１の紙送り動作が終了する。
この第１の紙送り動作が終了したときの、中間歯車１２の歯車部１２ａに噛み合っている紙送りローラ１１の歯山１１ｃは、図３に示すように歯山１１ｃの右側壁にバックラッシュＢ２が発生した状態になっている。
このような、駆動源１３を回転させて中間歯車１２を矢印Ｃ方向に回転させたのに、紙送りローラ１１の歯山１１ｃの右側壁にバックラッシュＢ２が発生する理由は、前記紙送りローラ１１が回転状態でも、手差し給紙が継続され、この手差し給紙による記録部材８の挿入力で、紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向に回転させようとする回転力が加わって、図３に示すようなバックラッシュＢ２が生じることになる。
【００１４】
前記第１の紙送り動作後、前記ヘッド取付部材５の内部の制御部材（図示せず）からの指示により、第２の紙送り動作を行う。
この第２の紙送り動作は、記録部材８から手を離した状態で、前記第１の紙送り動作と同じ回転方向の矢印Ｄ方向に紙送りローラ８を回転させて、記録部材８を図２に示す状態から、図４に示すように更に下流側に送る動作で、記録部材８の印字開始部（図示せず）を記録ヘッド６の下方まで送って、記録部材８の頭出しを行う。
この第２の紙送り動作では、紙送りローラ１１を回転させようとする力は中間歯車１２だけなので、図５に示すように紙送りローラ１１の歯山１１ｃの左側壁にバックラッシュＢ１が発生する。
前記第１と第２の紙送り動作で記録部材８の頭出し後、ヘッド取付部材５を降下させ、記録ヘッド６をプラテン２側に移動させ、記録部材８を記録ヘッド６とプラテン２とで圧接狭持して、記録ヘッド６で記録部材８に所望の画像を印刷する。
そして、紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向に回転させ、印刷後の記録部材８を引っ張って、紙送りローラ１１の下流側に記録部材８を排出して、本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構による印刷が終了する。
【００１５】
本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構は、第１と第２の紙送り動作のどちらも、紙送りローラ１１を矢印Ｄ方向の同方向に回転させ、その後も矢印Ｄ方向にだけ紙送りローラ１１を回転させて、記録部材８に印刷するようにしているので、前記第２の動作から後は、図５に示すように、中間歯車１２の歯車部１２ａが、常に紙送りローラ１１の歯山１１ｃの右側壁に接した状態で、駆動源１３の回転が紙送りローラ１１に伝達されるので、歯山１１ｃの左側壁にバックラッシュＢ１があっても、紙送りローラ１１の回転を回転ムラ等のない回転を得ることができ、紙送りムラのない、安定した紙送り量での記録部材８の送りを行うことができる。
また、本発明の実施の形態では、サーマルプリンタを例に説明したが、本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構はサーマルプリンタに限定されるものでなく、その他のプリンタ、例えばインクジェットプリンタ等にも実施することが可能である
【００１６】
【発明の効果】
本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構は、紙送りローラの回転状態において、手差し給紙で前記記録部材を前記紙送りローラで下流側に若干搬送した後、前記紙送りローラの回転を一時停止させる第１の紙送り動作と、この第１の紙送り動作後、前記紙送りローラの回転で前記記録部材を下流側に送り、前記記録部材の印刷開始部を前記記録ヘッドまで送る第２の紙送り動作とで、前記記録部材の頭出しを行うようにしたので、常に駆動源を同方向に回転させて紙送りを行うことで、スループットを速くすることができる。また、前記第１と第２の紙送り動作で印刷品質にバックラッシュの影響がでない、送りムラのない安定した紙送りを行うことができ、高印刷品質を得ることができるプリンタの紙送り機構を提供することができる。
【００１７】
また、紙送りローラと駆動源とに歯車部を形成し、この搬送ローラと前記駆動源との間に中間歯車を配設し、前記駆動源の回転を前記中間歯車を介して前記紙送りローラに伝達するようにしたので、紙送りローラに対して駆動源の配設位置が限定されず、設計の自由度を増やすことができる。
【００１８】
また、前記搬送ローラの上流側に用紙検出部材を配設し、この用紙検出部材が前記記録紙が送られてきたことを検出すると、前記駆動源により前記紙送りローラを回転させて、前記第１と第２の紙送り動作を行うようにしたので、送られてきた記録部材を前記用紙検出部材で確実に検出することができ、記録部材が紙送りローラに送られてくると、確実に紙送りローラを回転させることができ、高精度の紙送りが可能である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構を用いたプリンタの要部概略側面図。
【図２】本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構を説明する要部側面図。
【図３】本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構を説明する要部拡大図。
【図４】本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構を説明する要部側面図。
【図５】本発明のプリンタの紙送り機構を説明する要部拡大図。
【図６】従来のプリンタの紙送り機構を説明する要部側面図。
【符号の説明】
１ 底板
２ プラテン
３、４ 紙ガイド
５ ヘッド取付部材
５ａ、５ｂ 支持ピン
６ 記録ヘッド
７ 用紙検出部材
８ 記録部材
８ａ 先端部
１１ 紙送りローラ
１１ａ 回転軸
１１ｂ 歯車部
１１ｃ 歯山
１２ 中間歯車
１３ 駆動源
１３ａ 回転軸
１３ｂ 駆動歯車
１４ 従動ローラ
Ｈ 搬送経路
Ｋ 紙送り機構[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper feeding mechanism of a printer that can easily remove backlash of a paper feeding roller that occurs when a recording paper is manually fed to a paper feeding roller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 6, the conventional paper feed mechanism of a printer includes apaper feed roller 11, anintermediate gear 12 that meshes with agear portion 11b of thepaper feed roller 11, and a gear portion that meshes with agear portion 12a of theintermediate gear 12. Thedriving source 13 is composed of a motor having amotor 13b, and a drivenroller 14 that is in pressure contact with thepaper feed roller 11 and rotates in accordance with the rotation of thepaper feed roller 11.
In the operation of the paper feeding mechanism of the conventional printer having such a configuration, therecording member 8 is manually fed in the arrow R direction. Then, thedrive source 13 is rotated in the arrow B direction, and therecording member 8 is slightly conveyed downstream by thepaper feed roller 11 rotated in the arrow D direction via theintermediate gear 12.
[0003]
A minute gap (not shown) is generated in the tooth tip portion of thedrive source 13, theintermediate gear 12, and thepaper feed roller 11 in a state where thegear portions 11 a and 12 a 13 b are engaged with each other. Backlash occurs.
When printing is performed using the paper feed mechanism of a printer having such a backlash, the rotation of thepaper feed roller 11 is varied by the size of the backlash, and therecording member 8 is displaced, and printing is performed on the recording member. There was a problem that the print quality of the obtained image deteriorated.
In order to eliminate the backlash of the gear as described above, a highly accurate gear without variation in tooth shape and size is required. However, since such a high-precision gear is very expensive, it has been difficult to use in a small printer or the like that requires a low price.
[0004]
Therefore, the operation of the paper feeding mechanism of the conventional printer that does not deteriorate the print quality even if backlash occurs, manually feeds therecording member 8 to thepaper feeding roller 11 side and rotates thedrive source 13 in the direction of arrow B. Then, thepaper feed roller 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow D via theintermediate gear 12, and therecording member 8 in the manual feed state is slightly conveyed to the downstream side, and the rotation of thedrive source 13 is temporarily stopped.
Thereafter, the rotation of thedrive source 13 is reversed in the direction of arrow E, and thepaper feed roller 3 is rotated in the direction of arrow G via theintermediate gear 12 until therecording member 8 is not detached from thepaper feed roller 11. Return slightly to the upstream side in the L direction.
[0005]
Next, thedrive source 13 is rotated again in the direction of arrow B, and thepaper feed roller 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow D by a predetermined amount via theintermediate gear 12 to cue therecording member 8.
After cueing therecording member 8, a desired image is printed on therecording member 8, thepaper feed roller 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow D, and the printedrecording member 8 is discharged to the downstream side of thepaper feed roller 11. .
As described above, the paper feeding mechanism of the conventional printer is such that therecording member 8 is slightly conveyed downstream of thepaper feeding roller 11 by manual feeding and thepaper feeding roller 11 rotated in the direction of arrow D, and then thepaper feeding roller 11. Is once reversed in the direction of arrow G, and therecording member 8 is returned to the upstream side in the direction of arrow L.
Thereafter, thepaper feed roller 11 is rotated again in the direction of the arrow D, and therecording member 8 is conveyed to the downstream side so that the printed image is not affected by backlash.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional paper feeding mechanism as described above, when therecording member 8 is fed to thepaper feeding roller 11, thepaper feeding roller 11 is divided into an operation for feeding therecording member 8 to the downstream side and an operation for returning therecording member 8 to the upstream side. Therefore, there is a problem that the time (throughput) from the start of conveyance of therecording member 8 to the end of printing becomes long.
The present invention provides a paper feed mechanism for a printer that can eliminate the influence of backlash of thepaper feed roller 11 and always obtain a stable and high-quality printed image, improve the throughput, and shorten the printing time. It is a thing.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention as a first means of orderto that to solve the above problem, a paper feeding roller rotatable, driven by the rotation ofthe paper feed rollerco When pressed against the paper feed roller Driven roller, a recording member that is nipped and conveyed by the paper feeding roller and the driven roller, a recording head that prints a desired image on the recording member, and the paper feeding roller. A drive source,
Before SL paper feed rollerafter transporting slightly downstream in the rotation of the paper feed roller the recording memberis rotated with manual feedof the paper feed rollerin the state of the driven roller is pressed against the paper feed roller A first paper feeding operation for temporarily stopping the rotation of the recording member, and after the first paper feeding operation, the recording member is fedfurther downstream by the rotation of the paper feeding roller, and the print start portion of the recording member is moved to the recording The recording member is cued in the second paper feeding operation for feeding to the head.
[0008]
Further, the paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention, the gear portion is formed in said driving source and said paper feed roller, the drive source and the Kamioku roller as a second means of orderto you solve the problems An intermediate gear is disposed between and the rotation of the drive source is transmitted to the paper feed roller via the intermediate gear.
[0009]
Further, the paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention as a third means of orderto that to solve the above problems, the paper feeding the paper detection member is disposed upstream of the roller, the paper detection member is the recording member Is detected, the paper feed roller is rotated by the drive source to perform thefirst paper feed operation.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The paper feed mechanism of the printer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Also, the same parts as those of the conventional parts will be described with the same symbols.
First, in the schematic configuration of the thermal printer shown in FIG. 1, abottom plate 1 constituting a housing (not shown) made of a resin material or the like is disposed on the lower side, and a flat rubber or the like is formed on the top of thebottom plate 1. Aplaten 2 is attached.
Paper guides 3 and 4 are disposed on the left and right sides of theplaten 2 to form a transport path H for transporting arecording paper 8 to be described later.
On the upper side of the transport path H, ahead mounting member 5 is mounted onsupport pins 5a and 5b so as to be movable up and down.
Arecording head 6 made of a thermal head or the like is mounted on the lower surface side of thehead mounting member 5 and above theplaten 2.
On the left side of therecording head 6 shown in the drawing, a sheet detecting member 7 composed of an optical sensor or the like for detecting that a recording member 8 (described later) is sent to the transport path H is attached.
[0011]
Further, therecording member 8 made of thermal paper or the like is manually conveyed to the conveyance path H in the direction of arrow R from the upstream side.
On the downstream side of thepaper guide 4 in the transport path H, apaper feed roller 11 for transporting the sentrecording member 8 to the downstream side is disposed.
The outer periphery of thepaper feed roller 11 is made of rubber or the like, and as shown in FIG. 2, agear portion 11b is attached to the rotatingshaft 11a of thepaper feed roller 11, and thegear portion 11b has a predetermined number of teeth on the outer periphery. Amountain 11c is formed.
Further, anintermediate gear 12 is disposed on the upper left side of thepaper feed roller 11 shown in FIG. 2, and agear portion 12 a made up of a plurality of teeth is formed on the outer peripheral portion of theintermediate gear 12. Thegear portion 11a of thepaper feed roller 11 is engaged with thegear portion 12a.
[0012]
Adrive source 13 composed of a motor or the like is disposed on the left side of theintermediate gear 12 in the drawing, and adrive gear 13b having a predetermined number of teeth is attached to arotation shaft 13a of thedrive source 13. The rotation of thedrive source 13 is transmitted to thepaper feed roller 11 via theintermediate gear 12.
Below thepaper feed roller 11, a drivenroller 14 that is in pressure contact with thepaper feed roller 11 and that rotates following the rotation of thepaper feed roller 11 is disposed.
When therecording member 8 is manually fed to thepaper feed roller 11 and the drivenroller 14, thepaper feed roller 11 rotates and therecording member 8 is held between thepaper feed roller 11 and the drivenroller 14. It can be transported downstream.
The rotational torque of thepaper feed roller 11 as described above can be rotated with a low torque even when the drivenroller 14 is in pressure contact, so that the drive torque of thedrive source 13 can be reduced. ing.
[0013]
The operation of cueing therecording member 8 by the paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention having the above-described configuration includes first and second paper feeding operations. The inside of the conveyance path H is manually inserted in the direction of arrow R.
Then, theleading end portion 8 a of therecording member 8 passes between theplaten 2 and therecording head 6 through the lower portion of the paper detection member 7 and comes into contact with the outer peripheral portion of thepaper feed roller 11.
Then, the sheet detection member 7 detects therecording member 8 and turns ON, rotates thedrive source 13, rotates theintermediate gear 12 in the arrow C direction, and rotates thepaper feed roller 11 in the arrow D direction.
By rotation of thepaper feed roller 11 in the direction of arrow D, theleading end 8 a of the manually fedrecording member 8 is held between thepaper feed roller 11 and the drivenroller 14. When thepaper feed roller 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow D, theleading end 8a is located downstream of thepaper feed roller 11 as shown in FIG. Then, the rotation of thepaper feed roller 11 is temporarily stopped, and the first paper feed operation is completed.
When the first paper feeding operation is completed, thetooth crest 11c of thepaper feeding roller 11 meshed with thegear portion 12a of theintermediate gear 12 is backlash B2 on the right wall of thetooth crest 11c as shown in FIG. Has occurred.
The reason why the backlash B2 occurs on the right side wall of thetooth crest 11c of thepaper feed roller 11 even when thedrive source 13 is rotated and theintermediate gear 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow C is that thepaper feed roller 11 in therotation state, the manual feed is continued, with the insertion force of therecording member 8 according to this manual feeding, the rotational force is applied to rotate thepaper feed roller 11 in the direction of arrow D, Figure 3 As shown, backlash B2 occurs.
[0014]
After the first paper feeding operation, a second paper feeding operation is performed according to an instruction from a control member (not shown) inside thehead mounting member 5.
In the second paper feeding operation, with the hand released from therecording member 8, thepaper feeding roller 8 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D in the same rotational direction as the first paper feeding operation, so that therecording member 8 is moved. From the state shown in FIG. 2, in the operation of sending further downstream as shown in FIG. 4, the printing start portion (not shown) of therecording member 8 is sent to the lower part of therecording head 6 to cue therecording member 8. .
In this second paper feeding operation, theintermediate gear 12 is the only force to rotate thepaper feeding roller 11, so that a backlash B1 occurs on the left side wall of thetooth crest 11c of thepaper feeding roller 11 as shown in FIG. To do.
After therecording member 8 is cued by the first and second paper feeding operations, thehead mounting member 5 is lowered, therecording head 6 is moved to theplaten 2 side, and therecording member 8 is moved between therecording head 6 and theplaten 2. A desired image is printed on therecording member 8 by therecording head 6 with the pressure contact.
Then, thepaper feed roller 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow D, the printedrecording member 8 is pulled, and therecording member 8 is discharged to the downstream side of thepaper feed roller 11, and printing by the paper feed mechanism of the printer of the present invention. Ends.
[0015]
The paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention rotates thepaper feeding roller 11 in the same direction as the arrow D in both the first and second paper feeding operations, and thereafter thepaper feeding roller 11 is moved only in the direction of the arrow D. Since the printing is performed on therecording member 8 after the rotation, thegear portion 12a of theintermediate gear 12 always has thetooth crest 11c of thepaper feed roller 11 after the second operation as shown in FIG. Since the rotation of thedrive source 13 is transmitted to thepaper feed roller 11 in contact with the right side wall, even if there is a backlash B1 on the left side wall of thetooth crest 11c, the rotation of thepaper feed roller 11 is uneven. Rotation can be obtained, and therecording member 8 can be fed at a stable paper feed amount with no paper feed unevenness.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the thermal printer has been described as an example. However, the paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention is not limited to the thermal printer, and may be implemented in other printers such as an ink jet printer. It is possible [0016]
【The invention's effect】
The paper feed mechanism of the printer according to the present invention is configured to temporarily stop the rotation of the paper feed roller after the recording member is transported slightly by the paper feed roller to the downstream side by manual paper feed in the rotation state of the paper feed roller. 1 paper feeding operation, and after this first paper feeding operation, the recording member is sent to the downstream side by the rotation of the paper feeding roller, and the second paper feeding is sent to the recording head by the print start portion of the recording member. Since the recording member is cued in the operation, the throughput can be increased by always feeding the paper while rotating the drive source in the same direction. In addition, the paper feeding mechanism of the printer which can perform stable paper feeding without unevenness in feeding without affecting the printing quality by the first and second paper feeding operations, and can obtain high printing quality. Can be provided.
[0017]
Further, a gear portion is formed between the paper feed roller and the drive source, an intermediate gear is disposed between the transport roller and the drive source, and the rotation of the drive source is transmitted through the intermediate gear to the paper feed roller. Since the position of the drive source is not limited with respect to the paper feed roller, the degree of freedom in design can be increased.
[0018]
Further, a paper detection member is disposed on the upstream side of the transport roller, and when the paper detection member detects that the recording paper has been fed, the paper feed roller is rotated by the drive source, and the first Since the first and second paper feeding operations are performed, the sent recording member can be reliably detected by the paper detection member, and when the recording member is sent to the paper feeding roller, it is ensured. The paper feed roller can be rotated, and high-precision paper feed is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a main part of a printer using a paper feeding mechanism of a printer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of an essential part for explaining a paper feed mechanism of a printer according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part for explaining the paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of an essential part for explaining a paper feeding mechanism of a printer according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part for explaining a paper feeding mechanism of the printer of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part for explaining a paper feeding mechanism of a conventional printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OFSYMBOLS 1Bottom plate 2Platen 3, 4Paper guide 5Head attachment member 5a,5b Support pin 6 Recording head 7Paper detection member 8Recording member8a Tip part 11Paper feed roller11a Rotating shaft11b Gearpart 11c Teeth 12Intermediate gear 13Drive source13a Rotating shaft13b Drive gear 14 Driven roller H Transport path K Paper feed mechanism

Claims (3)

Translated fromJapanese

回転可能な紙送りローラと、この紙送りローラに圧接すると共に前記紙送りローラの回転に従動して回転する従動ローラと、前記紙送りローラと前記従動ローラとに狭持されて搬送される記録部材と、この記録部材に所望の画像を印刷する記録ヘッドと、前記紙送りローラを回転駆動させる駆動源とを備え、
前記従動ローラを前記紙送りローラに圧接させた状態で前記紙送りローラを回転させて前記記録部材を手差し給紙と前記紙送りローラの回転とで下流側に若干搬送した後前記紙送りローラの回転を一時停止させる第１の紙送り動作と、この第１の紙送り動作後、前記紙送りローラの回転で前記記録部材を更に下流側に送り、前記記録部材の印刷開始部を前記記録ヘッドまで送る第２の紙送り動作とで、前記記録部材の頭出しを行うようにしたことを特徴とするプリンタの紙送り機構。A rotatable paper feed roller, and conveyed this when pressed against the paper feed roller and a driven roller rotated by the rotation ofthe paper feed rollerco, is sandwiched between the paper feed roller and the driven roller A recording member, a recording head for printing a desired image on the recording member, and a drive source for rotating the paper feed roller,
Before SL paper feed rollerafter transporting slightly downstream in the rotation of the paper feed roller the recording memberis rotated with manual feedof the paper feed rollerin a state in which the driven roller was pressed against the paper feed roller A first paper feeding operation for temporarily stopping the rotation of the recording member, and after the first paper feeding operation, the recording member is fedfurther downstream by the rotation of the paper feeding roller, and the print start portion of the recording member is moved to the recording A paper feeding mechanism for a printer, wherein the recording member is cued in a second paper feeding operation for feeding to the head. 前記紙送ローラと前記駆動源とに歯車部を形成し、この紙送ローラと前記駆動源との間に中間歯車を配設し、前記駆動源の回転を前記中間歯車を介して前記紙送りローラに伝達するようにしたことを特徴とする請求項１記載のプリンタの紙送り機構。  A gear portion is formed between the paper feed roller and the drive source, an intermediate gear is disposed between the paper feed roller and the drive source, and rotation of the drive source is performed via the intermediate gear. 2. The paper feeding mechanism for a printer according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding mechanism is transmitted to a roller. 前記紙送ローラの上流側に用紙検出部材を配設し、この用紙検出部材が前記記録部材が送られてきたことを検出すると、前記駆動源により前記紙送りローラを回転させて、前記第１の紙送り動作を行うようにしたことを特徴とする請求項１、または２記載のプリンタの紙送り機構。A paper detection member is disposed on the upstream side of the paper feed roller, and when the paper detection member detects that the recording member has been fed, the paper feed roller is rotated by the drive source, and thefirst 3. The paper feeding mechanism for a printer according to claim 1, whereinthe paper feeding operation is performed.

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