Printer and paper pressing module

Abstract

The invention discloses a printer and a platen module, which can improve maintainability of a platen roller, a periphery of the platen roller and a cutter unit. The printer includes: a print head configured to print on belt-shaped paper; a platen roller that sandwiches a paper sheet between the platen roller and the print head and is rotationally driven to convey the paper sheet; a cutter unit provided on the downstream side of the platen roller in the conveyance direction of the paper, the cutter unit having a fixed blade and a movable blade that moves and cuts the paper sandwiched between the movable blade and the fixed blade; and a guide member that is attachable and detachable at a position covering the movable blade, the movable blade being located at a position away from the fixed blade, the guide member being provided at a position embedded in a gap between the cutter unit and the platen roller, and the guide member including a guide portion and a support portion, the guide portion being attachable and detachable at a position covering the movable blade. And a support portion that guides the paper sheet so as to prevent the paper sheet from being drawn into the gap, and that rotatably supports both end portions of a shaft of the platen roller.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority from a Japanese application with an application date of January 26, 2024 and an application number of JP2024-010136, and incorporates the content of the above application by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a printer and a paper pressing module. Background Art

[0003] Currently, in printers that use web paper wound from a strip of paper, there are structures such as a structure in which a paper pressing roller is detachably provided on a frame, and a structure in which a movable blade is moved and exposed when cleaning a cutter so that the movable blade protrudes from a storage slit or the like. Such structures are for replacing the paper pressing roller and cleaning the cutter.

[0004] Examples of the paper include bill paper, label paper, or linerless labels. Bill paper is non-adhesive paper used for bills and the like. Label paper is paper formed by pasting labels cut into a predetermined size onto a strip of liner paper. The label has an adhesive layer (adhesive layer) provided on the back surface of the printing surface. Linerless labels are formed by providing an adhesive layer on the back surface of a strip of paper.

[0005] In recent years, linerless labels have been widely used. Linerless labels are cut by a cutter unit provided in a printer at the time of dispensing. In the case of linerless labels, the adhesive of the label adheres to the cutter unit, the paper pressing roller, and the surrounding paper guiding members, so it is necessary to clean or replace them regularly.

[0006] However, in the current structure, for example, even if the paper pressing roller can be disassembled and cleaned or replaced, the cleaning of the surrounding paper guiding members and the movable blade is a separate operation, so it is very complicated. In addition, when cleaning the movable blade, it is necessary to move and expose the movable blade so that it protrudes from a storage slit or the like, but since the work is carried out with the cutting blade protruding, there is a risk, so it is not preferable. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a printer and a paper pressing module that can improve the maintainability of a paper pressing roller and its surroundings and a cutter unit.

[0008] To solve the above problems, the printer of the embodiment includes: a print head that prints on a strip-shaped paper; a paper feed roller that clamps the paper between itself and the print head and is rotationally driven to convey the paper; a cutter unit that is provided on the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction of the paper feed roller and has a fixed blade and a movable blade, and the movable blade moves to cut the paper clamped between itself and the fixed blade; and a guide member that includes a guide portion and a support portion and can be attached and detached at a position covering the movable blade. Among them, the movable blade is located at a position away from the fixed blade, the guide portion is provided at a position where it is inserted into the gap between the cutter unit and the paper feed roller and guides the paper to prevent the paper from being caught in the gap, and the support portion rotatably supports both ends of the shaft of the paper feed roller.

[0009] According to the above printer, the maintainability of the paper feed roller and its surroundings and the cutter unit can be improved.

[0010] In the above printer, the cutter unit includes a storage cover and a bracket. The storage cover stores the movable blade in such a way that the cutting edge of the movable blade can freely enter and exit. The bracket holds the storage cover. The storage cover has a shape that exposes a specified range of the cutting blade including the stored movable blade. The guide member is detachably configured on the bracket through a fixing member.

[0011] According to the above printer, the guide member can be attached and detached on the bracket through the fixing member.

[0012] In the above printer, the paper feed roller is positioned by fitting with the concavo-convex shape on the contact surface between the guide member and the bracket.

[0013] According to the above printer, the paper feed roller can be positioned at the correct position.

[0014] In the above printer, the printer has a housing and a cover portion. The cover portion is rotatably mounted at the end of the opening of the housing and moves between a position closing the opening of the housing and a position opening the opening of the housing. The fixed blade is fixed inside the housing, and the movable blade is mounted on the cover portion.

[0015] According to the above printer, the movable blade can be easily cleaned by rotating the cover portion.

[0016] In the above printer, the print head is a line-type thermal print head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in the paper width direction.

[0017] According to the above printer, the maintainability of a printer having a line-type thermal print head can be improved.

[0018] The above printer further includes: a sensor for detecting whether there is paper at the paper outlet.

[0019] According to the above-described printer, it is possible to detect whether the cut paper is removed from the paper discharge port.

[0020] In the above printer, the support portion is provided at both ends of the guide portion and rotatably supports both ends of the platen roller via substantially U-shaped recessed portions.

[0021] According to the above-described printer, the platen roller can be stably supported.

[0022] In the above printer, the movable blade includes a surface and a cutting blade provided at an end of the surface, and a plurality of holes are formed in the surface near the cutting blade and aligned along the cutting blade.

[0023] According to the above-described printer, accumulation of adhesive, paper dust, and the like can be reduced, making malfunctions less likely to occur.

[0024] In the above-mentioned printer, the cutting blade of the movable blade is provided at an end portion of the surface of the movable blade, and the movable blade has a hole. The holes are located near the cutting blade on the surface and are exposed when the movable blade is stored in the storage cover, and a plurality of holes are arranged along the cutting blade.

[0025] According to the above-described printer, adhesive, paper dust, and the like can be easily cleaned.

[0026] A paper pressing module according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a paper pressing roller, which clamps a strip of paper between the roller and the print head and is driven to rotate to convey the paper; and a guide component, including a guide portion and a support portion, which can be loaded and unloaded at a position covering the movable blade, wherein the movable blade is located at a position away from the fixed blade, the guide portion is provided at a position embedded in the gap between the cutter unit and the paper pressing roller and guides the paper to prevent the paper from being caught in the gap, the movable blade of the cutter unit moves and cuts the paper clamped between the fixed blade, and the support portion rotatably supports both end portions of the shaft of the paper pressing roller.

[0027] According to the above-described platen module, the maintainability of the platen roller and its surroundings, and the cutter unit can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the printer according to the embodiment.

[0029] Figure 2It is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of a printer.

[0030] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view showing the printer with the cover part open.

[0031] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing the printer with the cover part open.

[0032] Figure 5 It is a perspective view in a state where the paper pressing module is removed from the cover part.

[0033] Figure 6 It is a perspective view in a state where the paper pressing module is removed from the cover part.

[0034] Figure 7 It is a perspective view of the cover part from which the paper pressing module is removed.

[0035] Explanation of reference numerals 1 Printer 2 Housing 3 Cover part 35 Shaft 4 Holding part 5 Print head 6 Paper pressing module 61 Paper pressing roller 611 Shaft 7 Guide member 71 Support part 72 Guide part 78 Mounting hole 8 Cutter unit 81 Fixed blade 82 Movable blade 821 Surface 825 Cutting blade 826 Hole 83 Storage cover 831 Slit 85 First bracket (an example of a bracket) 851 Protrusion (an example of a concavo-convex shape) 86 Second bracket 861 Recess 88 Screw hole 9 Paper discharge port Detailed implementation manners

[0036] (First embodiment) The embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the printer 1 of the embodiment. Figure 1 The perspective view shows a state where the front and right sides of the printer 1 can be observed, and the left side and back side of the printer 1 cannot be observed. Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the printer 1. The printer 1 includes a housing 2, a cover part 3, a holding part 4, a print head 5, a paper pressing module 6, a cutter unit 8, etc. The paper pressing module 6 includes a paper pressing roller 61 and a guide member 7.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the printer 1 with the cover 3 opened. Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the printer 1 with the cover 3 opened.

[0038] The housing 2 is a container having an opening that is opened and closed by the cover 3. The cover 3 is rotatably mounted about a shaft 35 provided at one end to the end of the opening of the housing 2, and moves between a position closing the opening of the housing 2 (closed position) and a position opening the opening (open position) as it rotates. In a state where the cover 3 is in the closed position, a paper discharge port 9 is formed in the gap between the other end of the cover 3 (the end opposite to the one end) and the housing 2.

[0039] The holding unit 4 is an example of a web holder, which determines and holds the position of the web in the width direction. The web is formed by winding a strip of paper. The paper is ordinary paper such as ticket paper, paper with a label of a specified size adhered to a strip of backing paper, or a label strip without backing paper (label without backing paper), etc. In addition, an adhesive layer is provided on one side (the back of the printing surface) of the sheet. The sheet can be a plastic film or the like in addition to paper.

[0040] The print head 5 prints on the paper held between it and the platen roller 61, and is, for example, a line thermal print head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged along the width direction of the paper. The platen roller 61 is a cylindrical roller having elasticity on its surface, and conveys the paper held between it and the print head 5 by being rotationally driven about a shaft 611.

[0041] The print head 5 is provided in the housing 2, and the platen roller 61 is mounted on the cover 3 and approaches and separates from the print head 5 and the platen roller 61 as the cover 3 rotates and moves. In addition, by separating the print head 5 from the platen roller 61, the paper conveyance path is opened.

[0042] A part of the cutter unit 8 is mounted on the cover 3, is provided on the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction of the print head 5 and the platen roller 61, and cuts the printed paper.

[0043] The cutter unit 8 includes, for example, a fixed blade 81 and a movable blade 82. The cutting blades of the fixed blade 81 and the movable blade 82 face each other, and are arranged with the paper conveyance path therebetween in the paper thickness direction. The fixed blade 81 is fixed in the housing 2. The movable blade 82 is mounted on the cover 3 and moves in a direction approaching and separating from the fixed blade 81 by receiving a driving force. By the cutting blade of the movable blade 82 coming into contact with and sliding on the cutting blade of the fixed blade 81, the paper held therebetween is cut.

[0044] In the printer 1 with this structure, the cover portion 3 is opened and the web is held on the holding portion 4 inside the housing 2. The paper drawn out from the web is positioned while being clamped between the print head 5 and the paper feed roller 61, and the cover portion 3 is closed. Accordingly, the printer 1 becomes a state where it can operate, that is, a state where it can print.

[0045] During operation, the printer 1 rotates and drives the paper feed roller 61, thereby feeding the paper clamped between the printer 1 and the print head 5 while driving the print head 5 to perform printing on the paper. In addition, the printer 1 controls the cutter unit 8 to cut the paper at an appropriate position. More specifically, drive control for moving the movable blade 82 is performed.

[0046] When the paper is a linerless label, each time the cutter unit 8 cuts the paper, the printer 1 stands by until the cut paper is removed from the paper discharge port 9, and performs the next printing after the removal. For this control, the printer 1 includes a sensor for detecting whether there is paper at the paper discharge port 9. In the printer 1 using a linerless label, printing can be performed when the sensor does not detect paper.

[0047] Figure 5 It is a perspective view in a state where the paper feed module 6 is removed from the cover portion 3. Figure 6 It is a perspective view of the paper feed module 6 removed from the cover portion 3. The paper feed roller 61 of the present embodiment and the guide member 7 together constitute the paper feed module 6.

[0048] The guide member 7 includes a pair of support portions 71 and a guide portion 72, and is detachable at a position covering the movable blade 82 located away from the fixed blade 81 (that is, in a state of being retracted without being exposed on the paper conveyance path). The support portions 71 are provided at both ends of the guide portion 72, and rotatably support both ends of the shaft 611 of the paper feed roller 61 through a substantially U-shaped recess. The guide portion 72 is provided along the length direction of the paper feed roller 61 at a position where the gap between the cutter unit 8 and the paper feed roller 61 is embedded, and guides the paper to prevent the paper from being caught in the gap.

[0049] The paper feed module 6 is installed on the inner side surface of the cover portion 3 by screws 79 (fixing members) and is detachable from the cover portion 3. The screws 79 pass through the mounting holes 78 formed in each of the support portions of the support portion 71 of the guide member 7 and are inserted into the screw holes 88 formed in the first bracket 85 of the cutter unit 8.

[0050] The paper feed module 6 installed on the cover portion 3 covers and hides at least a part of the cutter unit 8. Here, Figure 7 It is a perspective view of the cover portion 3 after the paper feed module 6 is removed. Specifically, the above-mentioned part is a specified range including the cutting blade 825 of the surface 821 of the movable blade 82.

[0051] In addition, Figure 7 the movable blade 82 shown is in a state of protruding from the slit 831 of the storage cover 83. The cutter unit 8 further includes a storage cover 83, a first bracket 85, and a second bracket 86.

[0052] The storage cover 83 stores the movable blade 82 and allows the cutting blade 825 of the movable blade 82 to freely enter and exit. The storage cover 83 surrounds the movable blade 82 to protect the movable blade 82 from accidental damage and the like, and ensures the movement range of the movable blade 82. During the cutting operation, the movable blade 82 enters and exits from the slit 831. The storage cover 83 has a shape that exposes a specified range including the cutting blade 825 of the stored movable blade 82.

[0053] The first bracket 85 holds both side portions of the storage cover 83. The second bracket 86 holds both end portions of the paper pressing module 6 through the recess 861 formed between it and the first bracket 85.

[0054] In addition, the first bracket 85 has a concavo-convex shape (a convex portion 851 in this embodiment) for positioning the paper pressing module 6 at the correct installation position on the surface on the side of the second bracket 86. The guide member 7 has a concavo-convex shape (a concave portion in this embodiment) for positioning at the same position at a position opposite to the convex portion 851. By fitting the concave portion of the guide member 7 into the convex portion 851 of the first bracket 85, the paper pressing module 6 is positioned at the correct position relative to the print head 5 via the cutter unit 8 having the first bracket 85, the cover portion 3, and the housing 2. That is, the paper pressing roller 61 is positioned by fitting with the concavo-convex shape (the convex portion 851 and the opposite concave portion) on the contact surface between the guide member 7 and the first bracket 85.

[0055] Incidentally, Figure 7 the drawings are shown for convenience of explanation. Except during the cutting operation, the movable blade 82 is in the Figure 5 position shown, etc. That is, when not in the cutting operation, the movable blade 82 exposes a specified range including the cutting blade 825 from the slit 831 of the storage cover 83, but does not expose the cutting blade 825 from the guide portion 72. The movable blade 82 has a surface 821 and a cutting blade 825 provided at an end of the surface 821.

[0056] The paper pressing module 6 also serves as a member that covers the surface 821 on the side of the paper pressing roller 61 of the movable blade 82 included in the cutter unit 8. Thus, by removing the paper pressing module 6 from the cover portion 3, the surface 821 of the movable blade 82 is exposed.

[0057] Near the cutting blade 825 on the surface 821 of the movable blade 82, a plurality of holes 826 are formed along the cutting blade 825. The positions where the holes 826 are formed are included within a specified range that includes the above-mentioned cutting blade 825. That is, at a position near the cutting blade 825 on the surface 821 of the movable blade 82 and at a position where the movable blade 82 is exposed in a state of being housed in the housing cover 83, a plurality of holes 826 are arranged along the cutting blade 825.

[0058] In the holes 826, when the paper is, for example, a label without backing paper, the adhesive transferred from the adhesive layer on the back of the printing surface to the movable blade 82 is transferred and remains through contact sliding between the movable blade 82 and the paper, etc. If there are no holes 826, the adhesive transferred to the movable blade 82 will remain on the surface 821, etc., and accumulate together with paper powder, etc., thus becoming a cause of malfunctions. The accumulation of adhesive, paper powder, etc. is reduced by the holes 826, so that malfunctions are less likely to occur.

[0059] Currently, in addition to the movable blade 82 and the fixed blade 81, a coating with properties such as preventing adhesive adhesion is applied to the paper pressing roller 61 and the guide portion 72 as well. However, although the above coating reduces the transfer and accumulation of the adhesive, it does not completely eliminate it. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the cutter unit 8, especially the movable blade 82, and it is necessary to appropriately clean or replace the paper pressing roller 61 and the guide portion 72.

[0060] Currently, the movable blade 82 is cleaned by disassembling the cutter unit 8 or by positioning the movable blade 82 at the protruding position during cutting, but the former is very cumbersome and the latter is very dangerous. On the contrary, in the present application, when the paper pressing module 6 is removed from the cover portion 3 by removing the screw 79, the surface 821 is exposed. Accordingly, the cleaning of the surface 821, the cutting blade 825, and the holes 826 can be easily performed, and the adhesive, paper powder, etc. attached to the movable blade 82 can be removed more easily than in the prior art.

[0061] In addition, when the surface of the paper pressing roller 61 and the guide portion 72 are contaminated by the adhesive or paper powder, although the paper pressing module 6 can be removed and the paper pressing roller 61 and the guide member 7 can be cleaned separately, cleaning can be dispensed with by replacing the paper pressing module 6. Since the paper pressing roller 61 is also a consumable, by replacing it in units of the paper pressing module 6 at a timing determined based on the degree of wear, it is possible to eliminate the need to clean the paper pressing roller 61 and the guide portion 72.

[0062] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the maintainability around the paper pressing roller 61 and the cutter unit 8 of the printer 1 can be improved. That is, the effort required for maintenance can be reduced and maintenance can be made easier.

[0063] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and gist of the invention and within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

Claims

1. A printer, characterized in that, Comprising: A print head for printing on a strip of paper; A paper feed roller that clamps the paper between itself and the print head and is rotationally driven to convey the paper; A cutter unit provided on the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction of the paper feed roller, having a fixed blade and a movable blade, the movable blade moving to cut the paper clamped between it and the fixed blade; And A guide member including a guiding portion and a supporting portion, capable of being attached and detached at a position covering the movable blade, wherein the movable blade is located at a position away from the fixed blade, the guiding portion is provided at a position embedding the gap between the cutter unit and the paper feed roller and guides the paper to prevent the paper from being drawn into the gap, and the supporting portion rotatably supports both ends of the shaft of the paper feed roller.

2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein The cutter unit includes a storage cover and a bracket, the storage cover storing the movable blade in such a manner that the cutting section of the movable blade can freely enter and exit, and the bracket holds the storage cover, The storage cover is shaped to expose a specified range including the cutting blade of the stored movable blade, The guide member is configured to be attachable and detachable to the bracket by a fixing member.

3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein The paper feed roller is positioned by fitting with the concavo-convex shape on the contact surface between the guide member and the bracket.

4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein The printer has a housing and a cover portion, the cover portion being rotatably mounted at the end of the opening of the housing and movable between a position closing the opening of the housing and a position opening the opening of the housing, The fixed blade is fixed inside the housing, and the movable blade is mounted on the cover portion.

5. The printer according to claim 1, wherein The print head is a line thermal print head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in the paper width direction.

6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of paper at the paper discharge port.

7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein The supporting portion is provided at both ends of the guiding portion and rotatably supports both ends of the paper feed roller through a substantially U-shaped recess.

8. The printer according to claim 1, wherein The movable blade has a surface and a cutting blade provided at an end of the surface, Near the cutting blade on the surface, a plurality of holes are formed along the cutting blade.

9. The printer according to claim 2, wherein The cutting blade of the movable blade is provided at an end of the surface of the movable blade, The movable blade has holes, the holes being located near the cutting blade on the surface and at a position where they are exposed in a state where the movable blade is stored in the storage cover, and a plurality of them are arranged along the cutting blade.

10. A paper pressing module, characterized in that, Comprising: A paper feed roller that clamps a strip of paper between itself and a print head and is rotationally driven to convey the paper; And The guide component includes a guide portion and a support portion, and can be installed and removed at a position covering the movable blade, wherein the movable blade is located at a position away from the fixed blade, the guide portion is set at a position embedded in the gap between the cutter unit and the paper pressing roller and guides the paper to prevent the paper from being caught in the gap, the movable blade of the cutter unit moves and cuts the paper clamped between the fixed blade, and the support portion rotatably supports both end portions of the shaft of the paper pressing roller.

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