U.S. patent application number 14/616344 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-13 for paper guide mechanism of printer.
The applicant listed for this patent is DATECS Ltd., SANEI ELECTRIC INC.. Invention is credited to Mikio MORIYA, Tsuyoshi SAKAINO.
Application Number | 20150225198 14/616344 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52813878 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150225198 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAKAINO; Tsuyoshi ; et
al. |
August 13, 2015 |
PAPER GUIDE MECHANISM OF PRINTER
Abstract
A printer is provided with a printer body that includes a paper
roll holder; first and second paper guides that come in contact
with both end surfaces of a paper roll in the paper roll holder and
prevent a positional shift of the paper roll in a central axis
direction; first and second guide rails that restrict movement
directions of the first and second paper guides so as to allow the
first and second paper guides to slide in the central axis
direction of the paper roll; and a link lever that connects the
first paper guide and the second paper guide. The link lever
enables the first and second paper guides to slide in conjunction
with each other and to move closer to or away from each other.
Inventors: |
SAKAINO; Tsuyoshi; (TOKYO,
JP) ; MORIYA; Mikio; (TOKYO, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SANEI ELECTRIC INC.
DATECS Ltd. |
TOKYO
SOFIA |
|
JP
BG |
|
|
Family ID: |
52813878 |
Appl. No.: |
14/616344 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 16/06 20130101;
B65H 2801/12 20130101; B41J 15/042 20130101; B65H 2511/12 20130101;
B41J 11/0025 20130101; B65H 2402/344 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 23/04 20060101
B65H023/04; B65H 16/06 20060101 B65H016/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 13, 2014 |
JP |
2014-025468 |
Claims
1. A paper guide mechanism of a printer comprising: a printer body
that includes a paper roll holder; first and second paper guides
that come in contact with both end surfaces, respectively, of a
paper roll in the paper roll holder and prevent a positional shift
of the paper roll in a central axis direction; first and second
guide rails that restrict movement directions of the first and
second paper guides so as to allow the first and second paper
guides to slide in the central axis direction of the paper roll;
and a link lever that connects the first paper guide and the second
paper guide, wherein the first and second paper guides engage with
one end of a longitudinal side of the link lever and the other end,
respectively, a central portion of the longitudinal side of the
link lever is pivotally supported on the printer body via a
rotation shaft, and the link lever enables the first and second
paper guides to slide in conjunction with each other and to move
closer to or away from each other.
2. The paper guide mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further includes
a cover that opens or closes the paper roll holder, wherein the
cover includes a ratchet section that is fitted onto the first
paper guide and the second paper guide when the cover is closed and
fix positions of the first and second paper guides.
3. The paper guide mechanism as claimed in claim wherein the link
lever includes a plate spring section, and the plate spring section
engages, in a frictional manner, with an uneven surface that is
located in a pressing direction thereof and is provided on a side
of the printer body.
4. The paper guide mechanism as claimed in claim wherein the first
and second paper guides are identical in shape, and the first and
second paper guides are dyad symmetrical.
5. The paper guide mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further
includes: a third guide rail that is disposed on an extension of
the second guide rail and restricts the movement direction of the
first paper guide so as to allow the first paper guide to slide in
the central axis direction of the paper roll; and a fourth guide
rail that is disposed on an extension of the first guide rail and
restricts the movement direction of the second paper guide so as to
allow the second paper guide to slide in the central axis direction
of the paper roll, wherein the first paper guide includes a first
fitting portion that is fitted onto the first guide rail, and a
second fitting portion that is fitted onto the third guide rail,
the second paper guide includes a third fitting portion that is
fitted onto the second guide rail, and a fourth fitting portion
that is fitted onto the fourth guide rail, the first and third
fitting portions are C-shaped or O-shaped in cross section in order
not to allow the first and third fitting portions to be detached in
a direction perpendicular to extending directions of the first and
second guide rails, and the second and fourth fitting portions are
U-shaped in cross section in order to allow the second and fourth
fitting portions to be attached or detached in a direction
perpendicular to extending directions of the third and fourth guide
rails.
6. The paper guide mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
first to fourth guide rails are formed integrally with the printer
body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a paper guide mechanism of
a printer, and particularly to a slide mechanism for a pair of
paper guides that keep both end surfaces of a paper roll.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In recent years, small printers of a type that prints a
paper roll have been widely used. There are several defined sizes
for the commercial paper rolls. In order to support a plurality of
sizes, this kind of printer is equipped with a paper guide
mechanism to allow a paper roll of any size to be properly set in a
predetermined location inside the printer and be sent in a
predetermined direction.
[0005] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
H08-2407 discloses a paper guide mechanism that allows a pair of
the paper guides to move closer to or away from each other with
respect to the center by connecting the pair of paper guides to one
ends of a pair of guide arms, connecting the other ends of the pair
of guide arms together, and sliding the other ends of the guide
arms in a direction perpendicular to a slide direction of the paper
guides. Japanese Patent No. 4,776,023 discloses a paper guide
mechanism in which racks are formed on a pair of paper guides, and
a pair of racks and pinion gears are used to allow the pair of
paper guides to move closer to or away from each other. Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-154580 discloses a mechanism
in which the sliding of a pair of paper guides is locked when a lid
of a case is closed. Japanese Patent No. 4,537,541 discloses a
slide mechanism for a pair of holding plates.
[0006] In the above-described conventional paper guide mechanisms,
a pair of paper guides needs to move in conjunction with a pair of
guide arms; or a pair of racks engages with pinion gears when one
of the paper guides moves in conjunction with the other. Such a
complex mechanism makes it difficult to realize a small and
lightweight device.
[0007] In the conventional paper guide mechanisms, a locking
mechanism, such as ratchet mechanism, is provided in order to fix
the paper guides, so that the paper guides do not easily move after
adjustments are made to the guide width. However, in the case of a
paper guide mechanism equipped with such a locking mechanism, the
locking mechanism needs to be unlocked through an operation lever
or the like before the guide width is changed. Therefore, the
problem is that the mechanism is complex, and that the operability
is poor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above
problems. The object of the present invention is to provide a
printer's paper guide mechanism with a simple configuration that
allows a pair of paper guides to move closer to or away from each
other. Another object of the present invention is to provide a
paper guide mechanism that can offer an easy operation of locking
the sliding of the paper guides and an easy operation of
unlocking.
[0009] To solve the above problems, a paper guide mechanism of a
printer of the present invention includes: a printer body that
includes a paper roll holder; first and second paper guides that
come in contact with both end surfaces, respectively, of a paper
roll in the paper roll holder and prevent a positional shift of the
paper roll in a central axis direction; first and second guide
rails that restrict movement directions of the first and second
paper guides so as to allow the first and second paper guides to
slide in the central axis direction of the paper roll; and a link
lever that connects the first paper guide and the second paper
guide, wherein the first and second paper guides engage with one
end of a longitudinal side of the link lever and the other end,
respectively, a central portion of the longitudinal side of the
link lever is pivotally supported on the printer body via a
rotation shaft, and the link lever enables the first and second
paper guides to slide in conjunction with each other and to move
closer to or away from each other.
[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to
realize the paper guide mechanism with a simple configuration that
allows a pair of paper guides to move closer to or away from each
other.
[0011] The paper guide mechanism of the present invention
preferably further includes a cover that opens or closes the paper
roll holder, wherein the cover includes a ratchet section that is
fitted onto the first paper guide and the second paper guide when
the cover is closed and fix positions of the first and second paper
guides. According to this configuration, without the need to unlock
a locking mechanism through an operation lever or the like, it is
possible to fix the paper guides or unlock the fixing only by
closing or opening the cover. Therefore, it is possible to provide
the paper guide mechanism that is excellent in operability.
[0012] In the present invention, the link lever preferably includes
a plate spring section, and the plate spring section engages, in a
frictional manner, with an uneven surface that is located in a
pressing direction thereof and is provided on a side of the printer
body. This configuration enables a user to receive a click feeling
when the plate spring section goes over the uneven surface.
Therefore, it is possible to increase the positioning accuracy of
the paper guides and the operability.
[0013] In the present invention, the first and second paper guides
are preferably identical in shape, and the first and second paper
guides are dyad symmetrical. According to this configuration,
common parts can be used, resulting in a reduction in costs.
[0014] The paper guide mechanism of the present invention
preferably further includes: a third guide rail that is disposed on
an extension of the second guide rail and restricts the movement
direction of the first paper guide so as to allow the first paper
guide to slide in the central axis direction of the paper roll; and
a fourth guide rail that is disposed on an extension of the first
guide rail and restricts the movement direction of the second paper
guide so as to allow the second paper guide to slide in the central
axis direction of the paper roll, wherein the first paper guide
includes a first fitting portion that is fitted onto the first
guide rail, and a second fitting portion that is fitted onto the
third guide rail, the second paper guide includes a third fitting
portion that is fitted onto the second guide rail, and a fourth
fitting portion that is fitted onto the fourth guide rail, the
first and third fitting portions are C-shaped or O-shaped in cross
section in order not to allow the first and third fitting portions
to be detached in a direction perpendicular to extending directions
of the first and second guide rails, and the second and fourth
fitting portions are U-shaped in cross section in order to allow
the second and fourth fitting portions to be attached or detached
in a direction perpendicular to extending directions of the third
and fourth guide rails. According to this configuration, it is
possible to support the first and second paper guides in a stable
manner while allowing the first and second paper guides to slide
smoothly.
[0015] In the present invention, the first to fourth guide rails
are preferably formed integrally with the printer body. According
to this configuration, it is possible to realize the slide
mechanism for the paper guides easily and at low cost.
[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to
provide a printer's paper guide mechanism with a simple
configuration that allows a pair of paper guides to move closer to
or away from each other. Moreover, according to the present
invention, it is possible to provide a paper guide mechanism that
can offer an easy operation of locking the sliding of the paper
guides and an easy operation of unlocking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the
configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the
configuration of a paper guide mechanism;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a frame of
the printer body, and particularly, a schematic perspective view
showing in detail the configuration of a bottom portion (or a
surface that faces the link lever) of the printer body;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a plate spring
section of the link lever taken along line X-X in FIGS. 2 and
3;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a connecting
structure of a pair of paper guides and the link lever; and
[0022] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing relation between the
paper guide and guide rails, and particularly, FIG. 6A is a
schematic perspective view, and FIG. 6B is a schematic side
view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the
configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 1 shows a situation where a cover is being
opened.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 of the present embodiment
includes a printer body 10, which includes a paper roll holder 11;
a label printing unit 12, which includes a thermal head; and a
cover 13, which is provided above the paper roll holder 11. The
paper roll holder 11 is located in a rear portion of the printer
body 10. The label printing unit 12 is provided in a front portion
of the printer body 10 so as to be located ahead of the paper roll
holder 11. A rotation shaft 13a of the cover 13 is provided in a
rear end portion of the printer body 10. When an unlocking button
13b is pushed, the cover 13 is unlocked with respect to the printer
body 10; the cover 13 can be opened by lifting up a front end
portion of the cover 13.
[0026] The paper roll 2 is housed in the paper roll holder 11. A
pair of paper guides 15L and 15R are provided on both sides of the
paper roll 2 in the width direction. The paper guides 15L and 15R
are in contact with the left and right sides of the paper roll 2 in
order to prevent a positional shift of the paper roll in a central
axis direction. In a front end portion of the cover 13, a platen
roller 16 is mounted. The platen roller 16 is positioned so as to
face a thermal head (not shown) of the label printing unit 12 when
the cover 13 is closed.
[0027] While the details will be described later, on a back surface
of the cover 13, ratchet sections 13c are provided. When the cover
13 is being closed, upper end portions of the paper guides 15L and
15R engage with corresponding ratchet sections 13c to ensure that
the positions of the paper guides 15L and 15R are fixed.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the
configuration of a paper guide mechanism.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the paper guide mechanism includes the
pair of paper guides 15L and 15R; guide rails 17a and 17c, which
define a sliding direction of one paper guide 15L (first paper
guide); guide rails 17b and 17d, which define a sliding direction
of the other paper guide 15R (second paper guide); and a link lever
18, which connects the first paper guide 15L and the second paper
guide 15R. The sliding direction of the paper guides 15L and 15R is
the same as a central axis direction of the paper roll (Refer to
FIG. 1).
[0030] In the present embodiment, the guide rails 17a to 17d are
provided in a bottom of the paper roll holder 11, and are formed
integrally with the printer body 10. The first paper guide 15L is
mounted on the two guide rails 17a and 17c that are parallel to one
another. The second paper guide 15R, is mounted on the two guide
rails 17b and 17d that are parallel to one another. The first paper
guide 15L includes a first fitting portion 15a, which is fitted
onto the first guide rail 17a; and a second fitting portion 15b,
which is fitted onto the third guide rail 17c. The second paper
guide 15R includes a third fitting portion 15c, which is fitted
onto the second guide rail 17b; and a fourth fitting portion 15d,
which is fitted onto the fourth guide rail 17d.
[0031] The third guide rail 17c is disposed on an extension of the
second guide rail 17b. The fourth guide rail 17d is disposed on an
extension of the first guide rail 17a. That is, the first and
fourth guide rails 17a and 17d appear to have been formed by
splitting one guide rail in half; the second and third guide rails
17b and 17c also appear to have been formed by splitting one guide
rail in half. The reason why the guide rails are formed in such a
manner is to allow the first paper guide 15L to be fitted from the
tips of the guide rails 17a and 17c, and to allow the second paper
guide 15R to be fitted from the tips of the guide rails 17b and
17d, thereby making it easier to attach the paper guides to the
guide rails. Accordingly, the space between the tips of the first
and fourth guide rails 17a and 17d that face each other, and the
space between the tips of the second and third guide rails 17c and
17b that face each other are set wider in width than the paper
guides 15L and 15R.
[0032] The link lever 18 is an elongated plate made of metal or
resin. The link lever 18 is placed below the paper roll holder 11.
When the thin link lever 18 is disposed below the paper roll holder
11, the paper guide mechanism can be mounted without interfering
with the layout of other components. As a result, it is possible to
realize a compact and lightweight printer.
[0033] The first paper guide 15L engages with one end of a
longitudinal side of the link lever 18. The second paper guide 15R
engages with the other end of the longitudinal side of the link
lever 18. A central portion of the longitudinal side of the link
lever 18 is pivotally supported on the printer body 10 via a
rotation shaft 18a. The rotation shaft 18a of the link lever 18 is
located at the center of the width direction of the paper roll
holder 11. It is more preferred that the rotation shaft 18a of the
link lever 18 be located at the center of a front-rear direction
that is perpendicular to the width direction of the paper roll
holder 11.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a frame of
the printer body 10. In particular, FIG. 3 is a schematic
perspective view showing in detail the configuration of a bottom
portion (or a surface that faces the link lever 18) of the printer
body 10. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a plate
spring section of the link lever 18 taken along line X-X in FIGS. 2
and 3.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the link lever 18 includes a
pair of plate spring sections 18b and 18b, which are formed by
partially slitting the link lever 18. While the details will be
described later, projections (bosses) 18c that are formed at the
tips of the plate spring sections 18b and 18b engage with uneven
grooves 10a in a frictional manner; the uneven grooves 10a are
formed on a facing surface of the printer body 10. The projections
18c are pressed against the uneven grooves 10a by elastic force of
the plate spring sections 18b. As the link lever 18 is rotated, the
projections 18c go over peaks of the uneven grooves 10a, thereby
giving a user a click feeling when the user slides the paper guides
15L and 15R. Therefore, the user can fine-tune where the paper
guides 15L and 15R are fixed.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a connecting
structure of a pair of paper guides 15L and 15R and the link lever
18.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, a first engagement pin 15e is provided
below the first fitting portion 15a of the first paper guide 15L. A
second engagement pin 15f is provided below the third fitting
portion 15c of the second paper guide 15R. The first and second
engagement pins 15e and 15f engage with long holes 18d (or
elongated slits) that are formed in the one end of the link lever
18 and the other end. That is, the first paper guide 15L engages
with the one end of the link lever 18 via the first engagement pin
15e; the second paper guide 15R engages with the other end of the
link lever 18 via the second engagement pin 15f. As the link lever
18 is rotated, the first and second engagement pins 15e and 15f
slide inside the long holes 18d. In this manner, the first and
second paper guides 15L and 15R are subjected only to a
slide-direction force from the link lever 18.
[0038] The first and second paper guides 15L and 15R are connected
via the link lever 18 as described above. Therefore, one of the
paper guides 15L and 15R slides in conjunction with the other. When
the first paper guide 15L slides in a direction toward the second
paper guide 15R, the one end of the link lever 18 turns in the same
direction as the first paper guide 15L, while the other end of the
link lever 18 turns in a direction toward the first paper guide
15L. As a result, the second paper guide 15R slides in the same
direction as the other end of the link lever 18. When the first
paper guide 15L slides in a direction away from the second paper
guide 15R, the second paper guide 15R slides in a direction away
from the first paper guide 15L. In this manner, one of the paper
guides 15L and 15R slides in conjunction with the other. The link
lever 18 enables the paper guides 15L and 15R to move closer to or
away from one another.
[0039] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing relation between the
first paper guide 15L and a pair of guide rails 17a and 17c. In
particular, FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view, and FIG. 6B is
a schematic side view. Incidentally, the relation between the
second paper guide 15R and a pair of guide rails 17b and 17d is
identical to the relation between the first paper guide 15L and a
pair of guide rails 17a and 17c. Accordingly, only the first paper
guide 15L will be described, and the second paper guide 15R will
not be described.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a knob portion 15g is provided
in an upper end portion of the paper guide 15L so as to protrude
upward. A user of the printer 1 can adjust the position of the
paper guide 15L by holding the knob portion 15g and moving the
paper guide 15L. The tip of the knob portion 15g is tapered. When
the cover 13 is closed, the tip of the knob portion 15g engages
with the ratchet sections 13c, and the position of the paper guide
15L is therefore fixed. When the cover 13 is opened, the paper
guide 15L is automatically unlocked.
[0041] The paper guide 15L includes the first fitting portion 15a,
which is fitted onto one guide rail 17a; and the second fitting
portion 15b, which is fitted onto the other guide rail 17c. The
first fitting portion 15a is C-shaped (or O-shaped) in cross
section so that the first fitting portion 15a cannot be detached
from the guide rail 17a in a direction perpendicular to the
extending direction of the guide rail 17a; the shape only allows
the first fitting portion 15a to slide. On the other hand, the
second fitting portion 15b is U-shaped in cross section so that the
second fitting portion 15b can be attached to or detached from the
guide rail 17c in a direction perpendicular to the extending
direction of the guide rail 17c. In this manner, the paper guide
15L is fixed only to one guide rail 17a in so to be slidable, while
the paper guide 15L has play at a position where the paper guide
15L is fitted onto the other guide rail 17c. Therefore, it is
possible to support the paper guide 15L in a stable manner while
allowing the paper guide 15L to slide smoothly.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the link lever 18 is provided so
as to extend in a diagonal direction of the paper roll holder 11.
The one end of the link lever 18 and the other end are positioned
in the front and rear portions of the printer, respectively. When
seen from the front side of the printer body 10, the first
engagement pin 15e of the first paper guide 15L, which is disposed
on the left side, is connected to the one end of the link lever 18.
When seen from the front side of the printer body 10, the second
engagement pin 15f of the second paper guide 15R, which is disposed
on the right side, is connected to the other end of the link lever
18. That is, the second paper guide 15R is the equivalent of the
first paper guide 15L that has turned 180 degrees. The first paper
guide 15L and the second paper guide 15R are dyad symmetrical. The
paper guides 15L and 15R are identical in shape and have the
engagement pins in the same location. According to the
configuration of the paper guides, common parts can be used,
resulting in a reduction in costs.
[0043] As described above, the printer's paper guide mechanism of
the present embodiment includes the link lever 18, which connects
the pair of paper guides 15L and 15R. The link lever 18 enables one
of the paper guides to slide in conjunction with the other.
Therefore, it is possible to realize the simple paper guide
mechanism that allows the pair of paper guides to move closer to or
away from each other. When a user tries to change the paper guide
width, the user does not have to unlock a locking mechanism through
an operation lever or the like. Thus, it is possible to provide the
paper guide mechanism that is excellent in operability.
[0044] It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to
the above embodiments, but may be modified and changed without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0045] For example, according to the above embodiment, two guide
rails are provided for one paper guide. However, two guide rails
are not necessarily required. Only one guide rail may be provided
for one paper guide. That is, there may be the first guide rail
17a, which restricts the movement direction of the first paper
guide 15L, and the second guide rail 17b, which restricts the
movement direction of the second paper guide 15R. Furthermore, each
guide rail is not necessarily required to be formed integrally with
the printer body. The guide rails may be added to the printer body
later.
[0046] In the above embodiment, the first and second paper guides
15L and 15R are identical in shape. However, the first and second
paper guides 15L and 15R may be different in shape.
[0047] In the above embodiment, the frictional engagement between
the plate spring portion, which is formed on the link lever, and
the uneven surface of the printer body gives a user a click feeling
when the user slides the paper guides. However, such a structure is
not necessarily required for the present invention. Other methods
may be employed to produce a click feeling.
* * * * *