Roll sheet holding unit and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a roll sheet holding unit and an image forming apparatus which are capable of suppressing a loss of user convenience.SOLUTION: A flange 600 is configured to include, on an outer periphery thereof, holding portions 610 and 620 which are capable of holding an unrolled sheet 200.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a roll sheet holding unit and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a line printing type image forming device in which a roll sheet, which is a sheet wound in a roll shape around a hollow paper tube, is attached to a roll sheet holding unit and held inside the image forming device, and a recording head records on the sheet that is conveyed while being pulled out from the roll sheet. Patent Document 1 describes that the roll sheet is held on a spool, the spool holding the roll sheet is set in a printing device, and the sheet is supplied from the spool to the printing device.

[0003] When removing a roll sheet from a spool (a roll sheet holding unit) and replacing it with a different roll sheet, the flange of the spool is removed, and then the roll sheet is removed by pulling it off the spool shaft. Then, a new roll sheet is attached so that the spool shaft passes through the paper core of the roll sheet, and the removed flange is attached. This series of operations is generally performed with the spool shaft standing upright. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2023-6050 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when the roll sheet is attached to the spool with the spool shaft standing upright, the tip of the roll sheet may become unwound. When unwound, the roll sheet falls off the flange, and the user must rewind the unwound part of the roll sheet before attaching the roll sheet to the recording device, which reduces the user's convenience when replacing the roll sheet.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a rolled sheet holding unit and an image forming apparatus that can prevent a loss of convenience for a user when replacing a rolled sheet attached to the rolled sheet holding unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Therefore, the roll sheet holding unit of the present invention is a roll sheet holding unit capable of attaching and holding a roll sheet, which is a continuous sheet wound into a roll, and comprises an axis for passing the center of the roll sheet, a reference side flange attached to the axis, and a non-reference side flange attached so as to be removable from the axis, and is characterized in that the reference side flange has a sheet holding portion on the peripheral edge of the reference side flange that is capable of abutting and holding the sheet when the roll sheet holding unit is stood up so that the reference side flange is lower than the non-reference side flange and the sheet unrolls from the roll sheet attached to the roll sheet holding unit and attempts to fall from the peripheral edge of the reference side flange. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a roll sheet holding unit and an image forming apparatus that can suppress a loss of convenience for the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a roll sheet. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a roll sheet is set on a conventional spool. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flange of a spool. [Figure 7] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a first sheet holding portion and a second sheet holding portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified spool. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a first seat retaining portion of the flange. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment connected to a host computer 104. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 101 provided with an LCD / touch panel 102, which is an operation unit having an LCD and a touch panel, and a roll sheet holder 103 for loading a roll sheet on which a recording medium is wound in a roll shape. The roll sheet holder 103 is capable of mounting a roll sheet set on a spool, which will be described later. The image forming apparatus 100 records image data received from the host computer 104 on the roll sheet while conveying the roll sheet by a conveying means. The image forming apparatus 100 and the host computer 104 are connected by a printer cable 105.

[0012] 2 is a structural diagram showing a roll sheet 200 as a recording medium used in this embodiment. The roll sheet 200 is composed of a continuous backing 701 and labels 702 attached at equal intervals on the backing 701, and the image forming apparatus 100 records on the labels 702. Note that, although a label sheet is given as an example here, the roll sheet applicable to the present invention is not limited to a label sheet. Any paper on which an image can be formed on the entire surface may be used as long as it is a rolled sheet.

[0013] 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 transports the rolled sheet 200 attached to a spool 211 loaded in the rolled sheet holder 103 in the Y direction by a transport unit 201, which is a transport means. The spool 211 is attached to a mounting portion inside the image forming apparatus 100. The transport unit 201 includes a transport roller 202, a pinch roller 203, a transport belt 207, and a fan 208. The rolled sheet 200 is transported while being pressed against the transport belt 207 by negative pressure generated by the fan 208. The transport roller 202 is driven by a transport motor 206.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with an image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting liquid (hereinafter, also referred to as ink). A recording head 210 having a number of nozzles that eject ink is provided so as to face a roll sheet 200 that is transported by a transport belt 207. An ink tank (not shown) is connected to the recording head 210, and an image is formed by ejecting ink from the recording head 210 onto the roll sheet 200 that is transported by a transport unit 201. The image forming apparatus 100 is also provided with a cap (not shown) that can cover the nozzles of the recording head 210. A pump unit (not shown) is connected to the cap, and the ink in the nozzles can be sucked by creating a negative pressure inside the cap. This allows the ink inside the nozzles to be discharged, and clogging of the nozzles can be suppressed.

[0015] A media sensor 209 that detects the presence or absence of a label affixed to the rolled sheet 200 is disposed upstream of the recording head 210 in the transport direction (Y direction) of the rolled sheet 200.

[0016] 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 executes a recording operation in response to a control signal from the control unit.

[0017] 4, main controller 301 controls the entire image forming apparatus, and has functions as a storage means for storing data, a data control means, and a setting means for changing the operation of the main body based on setting data. Main controller 301 is connected to host computer 104, and exchanges signals with host computer 104. Control programs and the like are stored in ROM 302 connected to main controller 301. Furthermore, main controller 301 uses RAM 303 as a working memory according to the programs stored in ROM 302. Image data transmitted from host computer 104 is stored in image buffer memory 304.

[0018] The head driving circuit 305 is a circuit that drives a heating element (not shown) built into the print head 210. A driver controller 306 connected to the main controller 301 controls the head driving circuit 305 according to image data in bitmap format stored in an image buffer to record an image. The driving circuit 307 is a circuit that drives a conveying motor 206 provided in a conveying unit or the like, and is controlled by the main controller 301. The main controller 301 also controls the screen displayed on the LCD of the LCD / touch panel 102, which is an operation unit, and the behavior when a user operates the touch panel. A sensor circuit 309 controls a media sensor 209 and the like.

[0019] 5 is a diagram for explaining the state of replacement work for a conventional spool 500. Spool 500 has spool shaft 501 and two substantially disk-shaped flanges 520 for restricting the roll sheet supported by spool shaft 501 from both ends. Replacement of the roll sheet is generally performed by setting one of flanges 520 so that the center hole of spool shaft 501 passes through and is set, and then removing the other flange 520 from spool 500 with spool shaft 501 in an upright position with gravity acting downward in the figure as shown in FIG. 5.

[0020] When roll sheet 510 is attached to spool 500 with spool shaft 501 in an upright position, unwinding may occur from the tip of roll sheet 510 that spreads outward from flange 520. Once unwinding occurs, the weight of the unwound sheet causes further unwinding. Narrow roll sheets, such as those shown in FIG. 5, are particularly prone to unwinding. When unwinding occurs, it is necessary to straighten the unwinding before attaching the roll sheet to the roll sheet holder, which reduces convenience.

[0021] 6(a) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the state of the roll sheet replacement work in this embodiment. Fig. 6(a) shows the state in which the reference side flange 600 is placed on a smooth surface and the non-reference side flange (and the used roll sheet) is removed. Fig. 6(b) shows the state in which a new roll sheet 200 is mounted on the spool 211 in Fig. 6(a). The non-reference side flange is omitted in both figures.

[0022] In this embodiment, the reference side flange (reference side flange) 600 is provided with a first sheet holding portion 610 capable of holding an unwound sheet at its outer periphery (peripheral edge). The first sheet holding portion 610 is provided with a wall portion (wall surface) 601 that is substantially perpendicular to a mounting surface 604 on which the rolled sheet 200 is mounted when the rolled sheet 200 is set on the spool 211, and the wall portion 601 forms a part of a first side surface 606 that becomes a side surface of the flange 600. The wall portion 601 is located at a position farther away from the spool shaft 630 than the outer periphery of the mounting surface 604, and is provided with a first surface 602 that becomes a part of the first side surface 606 of the flange 600, and a second surface 603 that becomes the back surface of the wall portion 601 relative to the first surface 602.

[0023] It should be noted that when the rolled sheet 200 is set on the spool 211, the outer periphery of the rolled sheet 200 does not exceed the outer periphery of the flange 600. In other words, when a new rolled sheet 200 is placed on the spool 211, the distance from the spool shaft 630 to the outer periphery of the flange 600 is sufficiently greater than the distance from the spool shaft 630 to the outer periphery of the rolled sheet 200.

[0024] The flange 600 has a shape of a substantially dodecagonal prism. In the figure, a first side surface 606 and a second side surface 607 are adjacent side surfaces of the dodecagonal prism. The first side surface 606 includes a wall portion 601, and here, the outer surface of the wall portion 601 is called a first surface 602, and the inner surface is called a second surface 603. The second surface 603 and the mounting surface 604 are connected by an inclined surface 605 that is inclined downward with respect to the mounting surface 604. The inclined surface 605 is connected to the second side surface 607 adjacent to the first side surface 606, and becomes lower in the direction away from the spool shaft 630. Also, in FIG. 6(a), an end portion 608 that is the upper end portion of the wall portion 601 is configured to be located lower than the mounting surface 604. By positioning the end 608 lower than the mounting surface 604, when the roll sheet 200 is set on the spool 211 and attached to the roll sheet holder 103 and the sheet is pulled out from the spool 211, the sheet being pulled out can be prevented from coming into contact with the wall portion 601.

[0025] In the first sheet holding section 610, the wall section 601 extends away from the mounting surface 604 in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow A, and can stop the unwinding of the sheet in the direction of arrow A. The unwound sheet falls along the outer periphery of the flange 600 as it unravels and circles around the outer periphery. However, by providing the first sheet holding section 610, the unwound sheet slides down the inclined surface 605 of the first sheet holding section 610 and comes into contact with the second surface (contact section) 603 of the wall section 601, stopping the unwinding (see FIG. 6(b)).

[0026] The flange 600 includes a second sheet holding portion 620 that stops the sheet from unwinding in the direction of the arrow B, in addition to the first sheet holding portion 610. In the second sheet holding portion 620, the wall portion 601 extends away from the mounting surface 604 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow B, and can stop the sheet from unwinding in the direction of the arrow B. That is, it can stop the unwinding when the rolled sheet 200 is set on the spool 211 in the opposite direction to the rolled sheet 200 shown in FIG. 6(b). The first sheet holding portion 610 and the second sheet holding portion 620 have the same configuration, except that their directions with respect to the flange 600 are different. The flange 600 includes a plurality of first sheet holding portions 610 and a plurality of second sheet holding portions 620. As described above, the flange 600 has a shape of a substantially dodecagonal prism, and the first sheet holding parts 610 are provided on each of the opposing sides of the dodecagon, and the second sheet holding parts 620 are also provided on each of the opposing sides of the dodecagon. That is, the flange 600 is provided with the first sheet holding parts 610 at two locations and the second sheet holding parts 620 at two locations (two pieces). As a result, when unwinding occurs in the direction of the arrow A (one direction), the unwinding is stopped by one of the first sheet holding parts 610 provided at two locations. When unwinding occurs in the direction of the arrow B (the other direction), the unwinding is stopped by one of the second sheet holding parts 620 provided at two locations.

[0027] Similarly, a flange on the non-reference side (not shown) also includes a first sheet holding portion and a second sheet holding portion.

[0028] FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing a first sheet holding unit 610 that stops the unwinding of the sheet in the direction of the arrow A, and FIG. 7(b) is a diagram showing a second sheet holding unit 620 that stops the unwinding of the sheet in the direction of the arrow B. Both the first sheet holding unit 610 and the second sheet holding unit 620 can stop the unwinding by catching and holding the unwound sheet on the inclined surface 605. Once the unwinding has stopped, it will not occur again unless the sheet hanging on the inclined surface 605 goes over the wall portion 601. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in user convenience when replacing the roll sheet.

[0029] In this embodiment, both of the two flanges 600 are removable from the spool shaft 630 and can be either the reference flange or the non-reference flange. With this configuration, the user can attach a new rolled sheet to the spool 211 without knowing the orientation of the rolled sheet (right-handed or left-handed).

[0030] However, the present invention is not limited to this. The reference side flange and the non-reference side flange may be determined in advance, and the mounting position of each flange in the device (either left or right side in the conveying direction) may be determined in advance. In this case, the user sets the roll sheet in a specified orientation, and each flange only needs to have a sheet holding portion provided in the direction that stops unwinding.

[0031] In this way, a sheet holding portion capable of holding an unrolled sheet is provided on the outer periphery of the flange 600. This makes it possible to provide a rolled sheet holding unit and an image forming apparatus that can prevent loss of convenience for the user.

[0032] (Modification) 8 is a diagram showing a spool 211 according to a modification of this embodiment. The flange 600 of the spool 211 according to this modification has an inclined surface 605 that is roughened to create frictional resistance against the sheet sliding. In this way, the inclined surface 605 creates frictional resistance against the sheet, so that unwinding can be stopped more reliably.

[0033] Second embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that since the basic configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the following will describe its characteristic configuration.

[0034] 9 is a diagram showing a first sheet holding portion 610 of a flange 600 in this embodiment. The first sheet holding portion 610 in this embodiment does not have a wall portion as in the first embodiment, but has a pole 900 on an inclined surface 605. The pole 900 may be a protrusion that protrudes upward from the inclined surface 605. In FIG. 9, the upper end of the pole 900 is configured to be lower than the mounting surface 604. This makes it possible to prevent the pulled-out sheet from coming into contact with the pole 900 when the rolled sheet 200 is set on the spool 211 and attached to the rolled sheet holder 103 to pull out the sheet from the spool 211.

[0035] Of course, second sheet holding section 620 may also include pole 900. By providing pole 900 on inclined surface 605 in this manner, the sheet comes into contact with pole 900 and is held by being hooked on inclined surface 605, thereby stopping unwinding.

[0036] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration.

[0037] (Configuration 1) A rolled sheet holding unit capable of holding a rolled sheet, which is a continuous sheet wound in a roll shape, comprising: A shaft for passing through the center of the roll sheet; a reference side flange attached to the shaft; a non-reference side flange removably attached to the shaft; Equipped with The roll sheet holding unit is characterized in that the reference side flange has a sheet holding portion on the peripheral edge of the reference side flange that is capable of abutting and holding the sheet when the roll sheet holding unit is upright so that the reference side flange is lower than the non-reference side flange and the sheet unrolls from the roll sheet attached to the roll sheet holding unit and attempts to fall from the peripheral edge of the reference side flange.

[0038] (Configuration 2) the reference side flange has a mounting surface that serves as a surface for mounting the rolled sheet when the rolled sheet is set on the rolled sheet holding unit, The rolled sheet holding unit of configuration 1, characterized in that the sheet holding portion has a wall surface that is approximately perpendicular to the mounting surface and that abuts against the sheet that is about to be unwound from the rolled sheet.

[0039] (Configuration 3) The roll sheet holding unit described in configuration 2, characterized in that when the reference side flange is lower than the non-reference side flange and the axis is upright, the sheet holding portion has an inclined surface that connects the mounting surface and the wall surface and becomes lower in a direction away from the axis.

[0040] (Configuration 4) A roll sheet holding unit as described in configuration 2 or 3, characterized in that when the reference side flange is lower than the non-reference side flange and the shaft is in an upright position, the upper end of the wall surface is at a lower position than the mounting surface.

[0041] (Configuration 5) The roll sheet holding unit described in configuration 3, characterized in that when the axis is upright with the reference side flange below the non-reference side flange, the sheet holding portion comprises a first sheet holding portion having an inclined surface that lowers in one direction along the peripheral edge of the reference side flange, and a second sheet holding portion having an inclined surface that lowers in the other direction along the peripheral edge of the reference side flange.

[0042] (Configuration 6) The rolled sheet holding unit according to configuration 5, wherein the reference side flange has a plurality of the first sheet holding portions and a plurality of the second sheet holding portions.

[0043] (Configuration 7) 7. The rolled sheet holding unit according to claim 6, wherein the reference side flange has two of the first sheet holding portions and two of the second sheet holding portions.

[0044] (Configuration 8) The roll sheet holding unit according to configuration 3, wherein the inclined surface is treated to generate frictional resistance against sliding of the sheet.

[0045] (Configuration 9) the sheet holding portion has a wall surface that is approximately perpendicular to a mounting surface that serves as a surface for mounting the rolled sheet when the rolled sheet is set on the rolled sheet holding unit, and abuts against the sheet that is about to be unwound from the rolled sheet, and an inclined surface that connects the wall surface and the mounting surface and becomes lower in a direction away from the axis, 2. The rolled sheet holding unit according to claim 1, wherein the sheet holding portion has a pole protruding from the inclined surface approximately perpendicular to the mounting surface.

[0046] (Configuration 10) The roll sheet holding unit according to configuration 9, characterized in that, in a position in which the shaft is erected on the reference side flange, the upper end of the pole is located at a position lower than the mounting surface.

[0047] (Configuration 11) a mounting portion for mounting the roll sheet holding unit according to claim 1; a conveying means for conveying a sheet pulled out from the rolled sheet held by the rolled sheet holding unit attached to the mounting portion; an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means; An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0048] (Configuration 12) A rolled sheet holding unit capable of holding a rolled sheet, which is a continuous sheet wound in a roll shape, comprising: A shaft for passing through the center of the roll sheet; a reference side flange attached to the shaft; a non-reference side flange removably attached to the shaft; Equipped with the reference side flange has a seat holding portion on a peripheral edge thereof, The sheet holding portion is a sloped surface that slopes downward in a direction away from the axis; a contact portion that contacts the sheet that is about to unwind from the rolled sheet attached to the rolled sheet holding unit and fall off the peripheral portion of the reference side flange when the rolled sheet holding unit is erected so that the reference side flange is lower than the non-reference side flange; A roll sheet holding unit comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 100 Image forming device 200 roll sheets 211 Spool 600 flange 605 Slope 601 Wall section 610 First sheet holding part 620 Second sheet holding part 900 pole

Claims

1. A rolled sheet holding unit capable of holding a rolled sheet, which is a continuous sheet wound in a roll shape, comprising: A shaft for passing through the center of the roll sheet; a reference side flange attached to the shaft; a non-reference side flange removably attached to the shaft; Equipped with The roll sheet holding unit is characterized in that the reference side flange has a sheet holding portion on the peripheral edge of the reference side flange that is capable of abutting and holding the sheet when the roll sheet holding unit is upright so that the reference side flange is lower than the non-reference side flange and the sheet unrolls from the roll sheet attached to the roll sheet holding unit and attempts to fall from the peripheral edge of the reference side flange.

2. the reference side flange has a mounting surface that serves as a surface for mounting the rolled sheet when the rolled sheet is set on the rolled sheet holding unit, 2. The rolled sheet holding unit according to claim 1, wherein the sheet holding portion has a wall surface that is substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface and that abuts against the sheet that is about to be unwound from the rolled sheet.

3. A roll sheet holding unit as described in claim 2, characterized in that when the axis is upright with the reference side flange lower than the non-reference side flange, the sheet holding portion has an inclined surface that connects the mounting surface and the wall surface and becomes lower in a direction away from the axis.

4. 3. The roll sheet holding unit according to claim 2, wherein when the shaft is held upright with the reference side flange lower than the non-reference side flange, the upper end of the wall surface is located lower than the mounting surface.

5. A roll sheet holding unit as described in claim 3, characterized in that when the axis is upright with the reference side flange below the non-reference side flange, the sheet holding portion comprises a first sheet holding portion having an inclined surface that lowers in one direction along the peripheral edge of the reference side flange, and a second sheet holding portion having an inclined surface that lowers in the other direction along the peripheral edge of the reference side flange.

6. The rolled sheet holding unit according to claim 5 , wherein the reference side flange has a plurality of the first sheet holding portions and a plurality of the second sheet holding portions.

7. 7. The rolled sheet holding unit according to claim 6, wherein the reference side flange has two of the first sheet holding portions and two of the second sheet holding portions.

8. 4. The rolled sheet holding unit according to claim 3, wherein the inclined surface is treated to generate frictional resistance against sliding of the sheet.

9. the sheet holding portion has a wall surface that is approximately perpendicular to a mounting surface that serves as a surface for mounting the rolled sheet when the rolled sheet is set on the rolled sheet holding unit, and abuts against the sheet that is about to be unwound from the rolled sheet, and an inclined surface that connects the wall surface and the mounting surface and becomes lower in a direction away from the axis, 2. The rolled sheet holding unit according to claim 1, wherein the sheet holding portion has a pole protruding from the inclined surface substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface.

10. 10. The roll sheet holding unit according to claim 9, wherein, in a position in which the shaft stands upright on the reference side flange, an upper end of the pole is located lower than the mounting surface.

11. a mounting portion for mounting the roll sheet holding unit according to claim 1; a conveying means for conveying a sheet pulled out from the rolled sheet held by the rolled sheet holding unit attached to the mounting portion; an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means; An image forming apparatus comprising:

12. A rolled sheet holding unit capable of holding a rolled sheet, which is a continuous sheet wound in a roll shape, comprising: A shaft for passing through the center of the roll sheet; a reference side flange attached to the shaft; a non-reference side flange removably attached to the shaft; Equipped with the reference side flange has a seat holding portion on a peripheral edge thereof, The sheet holding portion is a sloped surface that slopes downward in a direction away from the axis; a contact portion that contacts the sheet that is about to unwind from the rolled sheet attached to the rolled sheet holding unit and fall off the peripheral portion of the reference side flange when the rolled sheet holding unit is erected so that the reference side flange is lower than the non-reference side flange; A roll sheet holding unit comprising:

Images