U.S. patent application number 09/757493 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-20 for supply magazine for containing recording material roll.
Invention is credited to Inana, Katsuya, Kono, Tomohiko.
Application Number | 20010052559 09/757493 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18531232 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010052559 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Inana, Katsuya ; et
al. |
December 20, 2001 |
Supply magazine for containing recording material roll
Abstract
A supply magazine contains a recording paper roll constituted by
continuous thermosensitive recording paper wound in a roll form.
The recording paper is fed by a supply roller. In the supply
magazine, a magazine body receives the recording paper roll. A
magazine lid closes the magazine body openably. Two retention
levers are shiftable between retaining and releasing positions,
press an outermost turn of the recording paper roll to the supply
roller when in the retaining position, and release the recording
paper roll from the supply roller when in the releasing position. A
combination of two linking plates has first and second ends. The
first end is connected with the magazine lid. The second end is
connected with each of the retention levers. The linking plates
shift each retention lever from the releasing position to the
retaining position in response to closing of the magazine lid.
Inventors: |
Inana, Katsuya; (Saitama,
JP) ; Kono, Tomohiko; (Saitama, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE, MION, ZINN, MACPEAK & SEAS
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
18531232 |
Appl. No.: |
09/757493 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/348 ;
242/422.5; 242/598.3; 242/598.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 16/06 20130101;
B65H 2402/52 20130101; B65H 19/126 20130101; B65H 2301/41306
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/348 ;
242/422.5; 242/598.3; 242/598.6 |
International
Class: |
B65H 016/02; B65H
016/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2000 |
JP |
2000-002086 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A supply magazine for containing a recording material roll
having continuous recording material wound in a roll form, inside
which said recording material roll is rotated by a supply roller
for unwinding and winding said recording material, said supply
magazine comprising: a magazine body for receiving said recording
material roll; a magazine lid for closing said magazine body
openably; at least one retention lever, shiftable between retaining
and releasing positions, for pressing an outermost turn of said
recording material roll to said supply roller when in said
retaining position, and for releasing said recording material roll
from said supply roller when in said releasing position; and a
linking mechanism, having first and second ends, said first end
being connected with said magazine lid, said second end being
connected with said retention lever, said linking mechanism
shifting said retention lever from said releasing position to said
retaining position in response to closing of said magazine lid.
2. A supply magazine as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a
magazine opening, formed in said magazine body and closed by said
magazine lid after being loaded with said recording material roll;
a hinge for keeping said magazine lid pivotally movable on said
magazine body between closed and open positions.
3. A supply magazine as defined in claim 2, wherein said supply
roller is contained in said magazine body.
4. A supply magazine as defined in claim 3, further comprising an
exit passageway, formed in said magazine body and close to said
supply roller, for passage of said recording material.
5. A supply magazine as defined in claim 4, wherein said magazine
lid and said magazine opening are disposed at a top of said
magazine body, and said exit passageway is formed in a lower wall
of said magazine body; further comprising a lower lid for closing
said exit passageway openably.
6. A supply magazine as defined in claim 5, further comprising: a
roll holder, secured to said recording material roll, and having
first and second axial end parts disposed outside said recording
material roll; first and second support plates, disposed in said
magazine body, and opposed to each other; first and second cutouts,
formed through said first and second support plates, for receiving
insertion of said first and second axial end parts; wherein said at
least one retention lever comprises first and second retention
levers for pushing respectively said first and second axial end
parts directly or indirectly.
7. A supply magazine as defined in claim 6, wherein said first and
second retention levers push portions of respectively said first
and second axial end parts located outside said first and second
support plates.
8. A supply magazine as defined in claim 6, wherein said linking
mechanism includes at least first and second linking plates, said
first linking plate having said first end and a third end, said
second linking plate having said second end and a fourth end
connected with said third end in a pivotally movable manner, said
first and second linking plates transmitting rotation of said
magazine lid to said retention lever when said magazine lid is
positioned within a limited section between said closed and open
positions.
9. A supply magazine as defined in claim 8, further comprising a
bias mechanism for biasing said retention lever toward said
releasing position when said retention lever is between one
intermediate position and said releasing position, and for biasing
said retention lever toward said retaining position when said
retention lever is between said intermediate position and said
retaining position.
10. A supply magazine as defined in claim 9, further comprising a
pivotal pin for securing said retention lever to said magazine body
in a pivotally movable manner; wherein said bias mechanism
includes: a tension coil spring; a first securing portion for
securing one end of said tension coil spring to said magazine body;
a second securing portion, positioned in said retention lever and
on an extension of a line where said first securing portion and
said pivotal pin lies, for securing a remaining end of said tension
coil spring to said retention lever.
11. A supply magazine as defined in claim 9, wherein said magazine
lid, while swung toward said closed position, pushes said third or
fourth end, and causes said second linking plate to swing said
retention lever to said retaining position; said magazine lid,
while swung toward said open position, causes said first linking
plate to pull said second linking plate, and swings said retention
lever to said releasing position.
12. A supply magazine for containing a recording material roll
having continuous recording material wound in a roll form, said
supply magazine comprising: a magazine body for receiving said
recording material roll; a magazine lid for closing said magazine
body openably; a supply roller in said magazine body for feeding
said recording material; at least one retention lever, shiftable
between retaining and releasing positions, for pressing an
outermost turn of said recording material roll to said supply
roller when in said retaining position, and for releasing said
recording material roll from said supply roller when in said
releasing position; and a linking mechanism, having first and
second ends, said first end being connected with said magazine lid,
said second end being connected with said retention lever, said
linking mechanism shifting said retention lever from said releasing
position to said retaining position in response to closing of said
magazine lid.
13. A supply magazine as defined in claim 12, further comprising an
exit passageway, formed in said magazine body and close to said
supply roller, for passage of said recording material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a supply magazine for
containing a recording material roll. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a supply magazine for containing a
recording material roll, in which the recording material roll can
be stably in contact with a supply roller.
[0003] 2. Description Related to the Prior Art
[0004] JP-A 10-291350 discloses a supply magazine used with a
printer for containing a recording material roll. The supply
magazine includes a magazine body and a magazine lid. The magazine
body is loaded with the recording material roll. The magazine lid
closes the magazine body openably. A rotatable supply roller is
disposed in the magazine body. A drive mechanism in the printer
rotates the supply roller, and advances the recording material roll
from the supply magazine to the inside of the printer. The advance
of the recording material roll should be reliable. To this end, a
pushing mechanism is disposed in the supply magazine for pushing an
outermost turn of the recording material roll to the supply roller
in a constant manner.
[0005] The pushing mechanism includes a retention lever and a
spring. The retention lever is movable between retaining and
releasing positions. The retention lever, when in the retaining
position, presses the recording material roll against the supply
roller, and when in the releasing position, discontinues applying
pressure to the recording material roll. The spring is secured
between the retention lever and the magazine lid. When the magazine
lid is opened, the spring pulls the retention lever to the
releasing position. When the magazine lid is closed, the retention
lever is pushed by the spring to the retaining position.
[0006] However, the magazine lid swings in a large range of a
rotational angle. The spring must extend and compress according to
the swinging range, and is likely to be deformed or crept. The
pushing mechanism according to the prior art has shortcomings in
low reliability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present
invention is to provide a supply magazine for containing a
recording material roll, in which a pushing mechanism can keep the
recording material roll stably contacted on a supply roller.
[0008] In order to achieve the above and other objects and
advantages of this invention, a supply magazine contains a
recording material roll constituted by continuous recording
material wound in a roll form, the recording material being fed by
a supply roller. In the supply magazine, a magazine body receives
the recording material roll. A magazine lid closes the magazine
body openably. At least one retention lever is shiftable between
retaining and releasing positions, for pressing an outermost turn
of the recording material roll to the supply roller when in the
retaining position, and for releasing the recording material roll
from the supply roller when in the releasing position. A linking
mechanism has first and second ends, the first end being connected
with the magazine lid, the second end being connected with the
retention lever, the linking mechanism shifting the retention lever
from the releasing position to the retaining position in response
to closing of the magazine lid.
[0009] Furthermore, a magazine opening is formed in the magazine
body and closed by the magazine lid. A hinge mechanism is secured
to an edge of the magazine opening, for keeping the magazine lid
pivotally movable on the magazine body between closed and open
positions.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the supply magazine comprises the
supply roller contained in the magazine body.
[0011] Furthermore, an exit passageway is formed in the magazine
body and close to the supply roller, for exiting the recording
material.
[0012] Furthermore, a roll holder is secured to a rotational axis
of the recording material roll, has first and second axial end
parts, supports the recording material roll. The at least one
retention lever comprises first and second retention levers for
pushing respectively the first and second axial end parts directly
or indirectly.
[0013] The magazine lid and the magazine opening are disposed at a
top of the magazine body, and the exit passageway is formed in a
lower wall of the magazine body. Furthermore, a lower lid closes
the exit passageway openably.
[0014] Furthermore, first and second support plates are disposed in
the magazine body, and opposed to each other. First and second
cutouts are formed through the first and second support plates, for
receiving insertion of the first and second axial end parts. The
first and second retention levers push portions of respectively the
first and second axial end parts located outside the first and
second support plates.
[0015] The linking mechanism includes at least first and second
linking plates, the first linking plate having the first end and a
third end, the second linking plate having the second end and a
fourth end connected with the third end in a pivotally movable
manner, the first and second linking plates transmitting rotation
of the magazine lid to the retention lever when a rotational
position of the magazine lid is within a limited section between
the closed and open positions.
[0016] Furthermore, a bias mechanism biases the retention lever
toward the releasing position when the retention lever is between
one intermediate position and the releasing position, and biases
the retention lever toward the retaining position when the
retention lever is between the intermediate position and the
retaining position.
[0017] Furthermore, a pivotal pin supports the retention lever on
the magazine body in a pivotally movable manner. The bias mechanism
includes a tension coil spring. A first securing portion secures
one end of the tension coil spring to the magazine body. A second
securing portion is disposed in the retention lever and on an
extension of a line where the first securing portion and the
pivotal pin lies, for securing a remaining end of the tension coil
spring to the retention lever.
[0018] The magazine lid, while swung toward the closed position,
pushes the third or fourth end, and causes the second linking plate
to swing the retention lever to the retaining position. The
magazine lid, while swung toward the open position, causes the
first linking plate to pull the second linking plate, and swings
the retention lever to the releasing position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating a supply magazine of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustrating the supply magazine and
a recording material roll with a roll holder;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross section illustrating the same as FIG. 2
but in a contained state;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustrating the recording material
roll with the roll holder;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a vertical section illustrating the roll holder
and the recording material roll;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective illustrating a supply roller and a
pair of support plates;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective illustrating a retention lever and
two linking plates with relevant elements;
[0027] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view, partially in section,
illustrating the supply magazine and the recording material roll
with the roll holder and in a state with a magazine lid open;
[0028] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view, partially in section,
illustrating the same as FIG. 8 and in a state of a start of
closing of the magazine lid;
[0029] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view, partially in section,
illustrating the same as FIG. 8 and in a state of halfway closing
of the magazine lid;
[0030] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view, partially in section,
illustrating the same as FIG. 8 and in a state where the magazine
lid is closed and the recording material roll is used up;
[0031] FIG. 12 is an explanatory view, partially in section,
illustrating the same as FIG. 12 and but a state in which a
recording material roll is unused with a great diameter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0032] The supply magazine of the present invention is effective in
supplying recording paper upon being mechanically driven by a
printer, and also in protecting the recording paper in a state
shielded from ambient light, air and moisture.
[0033] In FIGS. 1-3, a magazine/roll combination 10 includes a
supply magazine 11, a roll/holder combination 13, a pair of pushing
mechanisms 14 and 15 and a supply roller 16. The supply magazine 11
has a shape of a rectangular parallelepipedon. The roll/holder
combination 13 is contained in the supply magazine 11. The supply
magazine 11 is constituted of a magazine lid 17 and a magazine body
18. The magazine body 18 is disposed about the roll/holder
combination 13. A hinge mechanism 19 secures the magazine lid 17 to
the magazine body 18 in a pivotally movable manner. A magazine
opening 20 is defined as an upper gap of the magazine body 18. The
magazine lid 17 is movable between open and closed positions with a
difference in the rotational angle more than 90 degrees, and when
in the open position of FIG. 1, opens the magazine opening 20, and
when in the closed position of FIG. 2, closes the magazine opening
20.
[0034] Buckles 21 are provided on the magazine body 18, and movable
between locked and unlocked positions, and when in the locked
position, lock the magazine lid 17 in the closed state, and when in
the unlocked position, allow the magazine lid 17 to open. In FIG.
3, a packing 22 is secured to the magazine body 18 on a juncture
edge to receive the magazine lid 17, and shields the inside of the
magazine body 18 from air or moisture.
[0035] An exit passageway 23 is formed in a lower wall of the
magazine body 18. Continuous recording paper 12 as continuous
recording material exits through the exit passageway 23. A lower
lid 24 is secured to close the exit passageway 23. The lower lid 24
is movable between open and closed positions to open and close the
exit passageway 23. A spring 25 biases the lower lid 24 toward the
closed position. A drive mechanism in a printer is connected to the
lower lid 24, and pushes the lower lid 24 at the time of paper
supply to the open position.
[0036] In FIG. 4, the roll/holder combination 13 is constituted by
a recording paper roll 30 as recording material roll and a roll
holder 31. A tubular spool 32 is included in the recording paper
roll 30, has a hollow shape, and is provided with the recording
paper 12 wound in a roll form. The roll holder 31, when removed
from the recording paper roll 30, is set on an unused recording
paper roll.
[0037] The roll holder 31 is constituted by a shorter holder 33 and
a longer holder 34. An axial hole 32a is formed at an end of the
tubular spool 32, and receives the longer holder 34 fitted therein
with tightness. An axial hole 32b is formed at a remaining end of
the tubular spool 32, and receives the shorter holder 33 fitted
therein with tightness. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the shorter
holder 33 includes a drum 35, a drum shaft 37 and an axial end part
39. The longer holder 34 includes a drum 36, a drum shaft 38 and an
axial end part 40. The drums 35 and 36 support the tubular spool 32
in contact with its inner surface. The drum shafts 37 and 38
support the drums 35 and 36.
[0038] The axial end parts 39 and 40 support axial ends of the drum
shafts 37 and 38 protruding outside the tubular spool 32 in a
rotatable manner. A connection sleeve 41 is secured to the longer
holder 34 at a central end of the drum shaft 38. A connection core
42 is formed with the shorter holder 33 and a central end of the
drum shaft 37. A retention mechanism 43 for engagement with a click
is incorporated in the connection sleeve 41 and the connection core
42. The retention mechanism 43 is readily actuated for engagement
and disengagement of the connection sleeve 41 and the connection
core 42 in response to application of pulling force or compressing
force to the same in an axial direction of the drum shafts 37 and
38. When the retention mechanism 43 comes in an engaged state, the
drum shafts 37 and 38 are combined in a coaxial manner with each
other in a straight manner. The drums 35 and 36 are combined with
each other in a manner of a single drum.
[0039] The axial end part 39 has a handle 44, a guide surface 46
and a driven end rod 48. The axial end part 40 has a handle 45, a
guide surface 47 and a driven end rod 49. The handles 44 and 45 are
movable to and away from an edge of the recording paper 12, and
operate in two manners of a grip and a regulating plate. The
handles 44 and 45, as grip, are grasped to raise and convey the
recording paper roll 30 manually, and as regulator, push and neaten
end faces of the recording paper roll 30. The guide surfaces 46 and
47 and the driven end rods 48 and 49 are disposed on extensions of
respectively the drum shafts 37 and 38. The guide surfaces 46 and
47 are inserted in guide cutouts which will be later described. A
retention lever 59 pushes each of the driven end rods 48 and 49,
which have shapes of flanges projecting from the guide surfaces 46
and 47 with a greater diameter.
[0040] In FIG. 6, a pair of support plates 50 and 51 are secured to
the inside of the magazine body 18, opposed to each other, and
constituted of a single plate bent in a channel shape. The support
plates 50 and 51 support ends of the supply roller 16 in a
rotatable manner. Guide cutouts 52 and 53 are formed in the support
plates 50 and 51 and receive insertion of the guide surfaces 46 and
47. A gear 54 is secured to one axial end of the supply roller 16
and rotated by a mechanism in the printer. In FIG. 2, the gear 54
is disposed outside the supply magazine 11.
[0041] Entrances 55 and 56 are formed in the support plates 50 and
51, and introduce the guide surfaces 46 and 47 toward the guide
cutouts 52 and 53. The guide cutouts 52 and 53 have such a
direction and length as to guide the roll/holder combination 13 to
the supply roller 16 to keep an outer turn of the recording paper
12 in contact with the supply roller 16 irrespective of the
diameter of the recording paper roll 30.
[0042] The pushing mechanism 14 is disposed between the support
plate 51 and a lateral wall of the magazine body 18. The pushing
mechanism 15 is disposed between the support plate 50 and a wall of
the magazine body 18. The pushing mechanisms 14 and 15 are actuated
in response to opening and closing movement of the magazine lid 17,
and when the magazine lid 17 is closed, push the recording paper 12
toward the supply roller 16 and blocks removal of the roll/holder
combination 13. The pushing mechanisms 14 and 15, when the magazine
lid 17 is opened, allows removal of the roll/holder combination
13.
[0043] In FIG. 7, the pushing mechanism 14 is constituted by a
first linking plate 57, a second linking plate 58 and the retention
lever 59, any of which have sufficiently high rigidity. The first
and second linking plates 57 and 58 are included in a linking
mechanism. A plate end 57a in the first linking plate 57 or a first
end is connected with a pin 60 in a rotatable manner. A plate end
57b in the first linking plate 57 is connected with a plate end 58a
in the second linking plate 58 in a rotatable manner. A plate end
58b in the second linking plate 58 or a second end is connected
with a lever end 59a of the retention lever 59 in a rotatable
manner.
[0044] There are a pivotal pin 59b and a driving edge 61 in the
retention lever 59. The pivotal pin 59b is supported on the
magazine body 18 in a rotatable manner. The retention lever 59
rotates about a center at the pivotal pin 59b, and when in an
retaining position, presses the driving edge 61 against the driven
end rods 48 and 49, and when in an releasing position, discontinues
applying pressure to the driven end rods 48 and 49. A stopper 62 is
contacted by the retention lever 59 in the releasing position.
[0045] A tension coil spring 63 in the bias mechanism is connected
with the retention lever 59. The bias mechanism has a dead point
defined within a rotating range of the magazine lid 17, and
operates as a toggle spring in such a manner that the tension coil
spring 63 biases the retention lever 59 toward a selected one of
the retaining and releasing positions when the magazine lid 17
comes past the dead point. Note that the pushing mechanism 15 is
structurally the same as the pushing mechanism 14 described with
FIG. 7.
[0046] In FIGS. 8-10, while the magazine lid 17 swings from the
open position to an intermediate position or dead point, the first
and second linking plates 57 and 58 do not transmit rotation of the
magazine lid 17 to the retention lever 59, because the plate ends
57b and 58a move in reverse to the closing direction of the
magazine lid 17. When the magazine lid 17 starts swinging from the
intermediate position to the closed position, the plate ends 57b
and 58a are pushed by the magazine lid 17 and transmit rotation of
the magazine lid 17 to the retention lever 59. Consequently, the
opening and closing movement of the magazine lid 17 is transmitted
indirectly with respect to the retention lever 59. This is
effective in preventing such accidents that a user's fingers might
be squeezed between the magazine body 18 and the magazine lid 17
closed by the tension coil spring 63.
[0047] The effective position or retaining position of the
retention lever 59 changes according to a change in the diameter of
the recording paper roll 30. In FIG. 11, even when the roll/holder
combination 13 comes close to the supply roller 16 with the
recording paper 12 decreased, the retention lever 59 is swung by
the tension coil spring 63 to follow the recording paper roll 30.
The retention lever 59 has an arc-shaped edge between the pivotal
pin 59b and the lever end 59a. The driving edge 61 is disposed on a
tangential line that lies through the center of the pivotal pin 59b
and is tangential to the arc-shaped edge. No matter how the
effective position or retaining position of the retention lever 59
changes, the retention lever 59 can push the driven end rod 49
toward the supply roller 16. So the outermost turn of the recording
paper 12 can be contacted by the supply roller 16 stably
irrespective of the roll diameter.
[0048] At the time of opening the magazine lid 17 from the closed
position of FIGS. 11 and 12, the first and second linking plates 57
and 58 do not transmit movement of the magazine lid 17 to the
retention lever 59 in a section from the closed position to an
intermediate position. When the magazine lid 17 is in a position in
a section from the intermediate position to the open position, the
first and second linking plates 57 and 58 transmit movement of the
magazine lid 17 to the retention lever 59. Therefore, the first and
second linking plates 57 and 58 become free when the magazine lid
17 is in the closed position. The retention lever 59 is allowed to
shift at an amount according to a decreasing diameter of the
roll.
[0049] The operation of the above embodiment is described now. To
assemble the roll/holder combination 13, the roll holder 31 is set
on the recording paper roll 30 in an unused state. The shorter and
longer holders 33 and 34 are fitted in the axial holes 32a and 32b
of the tubular spool 32. Then the connection sleeve 41 and the
connection core 42 are connected to each other inside the tubular
spool 32. A user grasps the handles 44 and 45 manually. So the
handles 44 and 45 rotate to the positions indicated by the phantom
lines in FIG. 5 to neaten end faces of the recording paper roll 30,
and also operate to facilitate handling of the roll/holder
combination 13 as a single component.
[0050] The roll/holder combination 13 being obtained is then
inserted into the magazine body 18. The guide surfaces 46 and 47
are simultaneously set into the guide cutouts 52 and 53. The guide
surface 46 is entered in the entrance 56 of the support plate 50
and moved to the guide cutout 53. Also, the guide surface 47 is
entered in the entrance 55 of the support plate 51 and moved to the
guide cutout 52. After the insertion, the recording paper roll 30
comes close to the supply roller 16 by sliding of the guide
surfaces 46 and 47 through the guide cutouts 52 and 53. Finally,
the magazine lid 17 is closed.
[0051] In FIG. 9, while the magazine lid 17 swings from the open
position to the intermediate position, the rotation of the magazine
lid 17 is not transmitted to the retention lever 59, because the
plate ends 57b and 58a of the first and second linking plates 57
and 58 move in reverse to the closing direction of the magazine lid
17. The retention lever 59 still remains in the releasing position
and in contact with the stopper 62. When the magazine lid 17 swings
from the intermediate position to the phantom line position of FIG.
9 in the closing direction, the plate ends 57b and 58a of the first
and second linking plates 57 and 58 are pushed by the inside of the
magazine lid 17 and transmit the rotation of the magazine lid 17 to
the retention lever 59. Therefore, the retention lever 59 starts
swinging toward the retaining position against the tension coil
spring 63. For closing movement of the magazine lid 17, the user's
hand can touch a swinging edge of the magazine lid 17 the farthest
from the hinge mechanism 19. An inner portion of the magazine lid
17 pushing the plate ends 57b and 58a is nearer to the hinge
mechanism 19 than the swinging edge of the magazine lid 17.
According to the lever operation, it is sufficient for the user's
hand to exert relatively small force to the magazine lid 17 to be
closed.
[0052] The closing movement of the magazine lid 17 rotates the
retention lever 59 toward the retaining position. When the
retention lever 59 rotates beyond the intermediate position of the
bias mechanism including the tension coil spring 63, the direction
of the bias changes over to a direction toward the retaining
position. Therefore, the tension coil spring 63 rotates the
retention lever 59 toward the retaining position. In FIG. 10, the
driving edge 61 comes in contact with the driven end rod 49. The
retention lever 59 is maintained in the retaining position. The
user manually swings the magazine lid 17 to the closed position.
While the magazine lid 17 swings, the plate end 57b of the first
linking plate 57 and the plate end 58a of the second linking plate
58 move away toward the hinge mechanism 19. The retention lever 59
becomes free with respect to the magazine lid 17 and the first and
second linking plates 57 and 58. After the magazine lid 17 is
closed, the buckles 21 are locked. Therefore, the inside of the
supply magazine is enclosed in an air-tight state. See FIG. 12.
[0053] The supply magazine 11 is loaded with the recording paper
12, for example thermosensitive recording sheet of a continuous
form, and set in a chamber in a color thermal printer well-known in
the art. When a starting signal is entered in the printer, the
drive mechanism is driven to open the lower lid 24. Also, a feeding
motor in the printer rotates the supply roller 16 to cause the
recording paper 12 to advance through the exit passageway 23 and
into the printer.
[0054] The recording paper 12, when supplied into the printer, is
fed by feeder rollers to a printing unit according to three-color
frame-sequential recording. The printing unit feeds the recording
paper 12 in forward and backward directions, and when in the
forward feeding, prints and fixes yellow, magenta and cyan colors.
Accordingly, the supply roller 16 is rotated back and forth during
the printing and fixing operation.
[0055] After the recording, the recording paper 12 is fed to a
cutter in the printer. A cutting line of the recording paper 12 is
positioned at the cutter, which is actuated so as to cut away one
print sheet from the recording paper 12 with an image recorded. The
print sheet is ejected from the printer. If further printing
operation is desired consecutively, then a front edge of the
recording paper 12 is returned. Another image is recorded to the
recording paper 12 in a similar manner. After the printing
operation, the feeder rollers and the supply roller 16 are rotated
backwards to wind back the front edge portion of the recording
paper 12 into the supply magazine 11. Note that an amount of
winding back is so predetermined that the front edge of the
recording paper 12 will not come short of the supply roller 16.
[0056] Renewal of the recording paper roll 30 is described now.
When the magazine/roll combination 10 is removed from the chamber
in the printer, the roll/holder combination 13 is in a position
shifted close to the supply roller 16 as illustrated in FIG. 11,
because the amount of the recording paper 12 has become zero. The
retention lever 59 is in the retaining position where it contacts
the driven end rod 49.
[0057] After the removal of the magazine/roll combination 10, the
buckles 21 are unlocked. The magazine lid 17 is allowed to open.
Then the user pulls the magazine lid 17 open. Even when the
magazine lid 17 comes to the intermediate position of FIG. 10, the
retention lever 59 still remains in the retaining position, because
the plate end 57b of the first linking plate 57 and the plate end
58a of the second linking plate 58 are shifted in the position
close to the hinge mechanism 19.
[0058] Movement of the magazine lid 17 to a solid-line position
indicated in FIG. 9 short of the open position causes the plate end
57b of the first linking plate 57 and the plate end 58a of the
second linking plate 58 to lie on a line that passes the plate end
57a of the first linking plate 57 and the plate end 58b of the
second linking plate 58. Thus, the first linking plate 57 pulls the
second linking plate 58 to start transmission of rotation to the
retention lever 59. Therefore, the retention lever 59 rotates to
the releasing position against the bias of the tension coil spring
63. Before the retention lever 59 moves past the intermediate
position, manual force to open the magazine lid 17 needs be
stronger than the bias of the tension coil spring 63. However, once
the retention lever 59 swings to pass the intermediate position,
the tension coil spring 63 exerts force to swing the retention
lever 59 to the releasing position. This also makes it easy to open
the magazine lid 17.
[0059] The retention lever 59, when swung past the intermediate
position, is swung by the tension coil spring 63 toward the
releasing position, and comes in contact with the stopper 62 before
coming of the magazine lid 17 to the open position. The retention
lever 59 remains in the releasing position in contact with the
stopper 62 of FIG. 9. Then the magazine lid 17 continues swinging
in the opening direction. Upon coming to the open position, the
magazine lid 17 is kept open by the hinge mechanism 19 as
illustrated in FIG. 8. The entrance 55 is in a fully uncovered
state.
[0060] Then the roll/holder combination 13 is removed from the
magazine body 18. The roll holder 31 is removed from the tubular
spool 32. The shorter and longer holders 33 and 34 are pulled away
from each other. The retention of the retention mechanism 43 is
easily discontinued to disconnect the shorter holder 33 from the
longer holder 34.
[0061] In the above embodiment, the first and second linking plates
57 and 58 link the magazine lid 17 to the retention lever 59.
Furthermore, a linking mechanism may be constituted by three or
more elements connected with one another. In the above embodiment,
the recording paper roll 30 is pressed against the supply roller
16. Alternatively, it is possible to shift the supply roller 16
toward the recording paper roll 30. Furthermore, it is possible
that one mechanism shifts the recording paper roll 30 toward the
supply roller 16 and a second mechanism shifts the supply roller 16
toward the recording paper roll 30 for the purpose of reliably
tight contact.
[0062] In the above embodiment, the supply roller 16 is contained
in the supply magazine 11. However, the supply magazine 11 may not
have the supply roller 16 according to the present invention. The
supply magazine 11 without the supply roller 16 is used with a
printer having the supply roller 16. An insertion opening is formed
in the magazine body 18 for insertion of the supply roller 16 into
the supply magazine 11 upon setting of the supply magazine 11 into
the printer. The supply roller 16 comes in contact with the
outermost turn of the recording paper roll 30. Again, the recording
paper roll 30 is pressed by the retention lever 59 toward the
supply roller 16. Note that it is preferable that the magazine body
18 can have a lid for closing the insertion opening in the magazine
body 18 upon removal of the supply magazine 11 from the
printer.
[0063] In the above embodiment, the guide cutouts 52 and 53 are
formed in the support plates 50 and 51. Alternatively, lateral wall
of the magazine body may be provided with inner guide rails or
inner guide ridges to guide the guide surfaces 46 and 47.
[0064] In the above embodiments, the supply magazine 11 is used
with the color thermal printer. However, a supply magazine of the
invention may be constructed for use with a photographic printer in
which photographic paper of a silver halide type is used. The
recording paper 12 may be an ordinary PPC type of paper that does
not require shielding from light or moisture. Also in such a use,
the recording paper roll 30 can be set in the printer very easily
with portability, and the recording paper 12 can be advanced
reliably.
[0065] In the above embodiment, rotation of the magazine lid 17 in
a closing direction is transmitted to the retention lever 59 when
the plate ends 57b and 58a are pushed by the magazine lid 17. To be
precise, the inner surface of the magazine lid 17 pushes only the
plate end 57b directly. Furthermore, the inside of the magazine lid
17 can push both of the plate ends 57b and 58a, or push only the
plate end 58a.
[0066] Although the present invention has been fully described by
way of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the
accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be
apparent to those having skill in this field. Therefore, unless
otherwise these changes and modifications depart from the scope of
the present invention, they should be construed as included
therein.
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