Printer

Abstract

To correct skewing of a rolled medium easily with a simple structure in a printer.SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes: a print part 20 which makes prints on a rolled medium R unrolled from a supply shaft 10 supporting the rolled medium R; a first frame 31 which holds the supply shaft 10 at one end side (an X direction front side) in an axial direction (an X direction) of the supply shaft 10; a second frame 32 which holds the print part 20 at the one end side (the X direction front side) in the axial direction (the X direction) of the supply shaft 10; and an eccentric stud 40 (an example of an adjustment part) for adjusting a fixed position of the second frame 32 relative to the first frame 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a roll-shaped medium.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a mechanism for correcting skew conveyance of a medium in a printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a printing apparatus that unwinds a roll-shaped medium such as roll paper from a supply shaft and performs printing, the roll-shaped medium may be conveyed obliquely and come into contact with a frame or the like, causing the end faces (both end portions in the width direction) of the roll-shaped medium to fold or jam. Therefore, it is conceivable to correct the skew of the roll-shaped medium by tilting the printing unit and attaching it to the frame.

[0005] However, in order to tilt the mounting position of the printing unit with respect to the frame, for example, it is necessary to unitize the printing unit having a platen roller, a print head, etc. like a small assembly and adjust the position of the printing unit integrally with respect to the frame, which increases the number of parts. Further, in order to correct the skew of the roll-shaped medium, since it is necessary to attach the printing unit to the frame while moving it integrally, fine adjustment cannot be performed, adjustment is difficult, and workability is poor.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can easily correct the skew of a roll-shaped medium with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In one aspect, a printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on the roll-shaped medium unwound from a supply shaft that supports the roll-shaped medium, a first frame that holds the supply shaft on one end side in the axial direction of the supply shaft, a second frame that holds the printing unit on the one end side in the axial direction, and an adjustment unit for adjusting a fixed position of the second frame with respect to the first frame.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the above aspect, the skew of the roll-shaped medium can be easily corrected with a simple configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

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

[0011] FIGS. 1 to 4 are a perspective view (omitting the roll-shaped medium R), a perspective view, a front view, and a rear view showing the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing the eccentric stud 40, the printing unit 20, etc.

[0012] Note that the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. 6 to 11 described later are an example when the axial direction of the supply shaft 10 is the X direction and the vertical direction is the Z direction. The X direction and the Y direction are horizontal directions orthogonal to each other. And in this specification, there are cases where the X direction is described as the front-rear direction, the Y direction as the left-right direction, and the Z direction as the height direction (vertical direction) to explain the configuration. However, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction can be other directions depending on the posture (orientation) of the printing apparatus 1 and the arrangement of each part of the printing apparatus 1.

[0013] The printing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a supply shaft 10, a printing unit 20, a first frame 31, a second frame 32, a third frame 33, a bottom plate 34, an eccentric stud 40, a take-up shaft 50, a platen drive unit 60, a take-up drive unit 70, a control board 80, and fixing screws 91, and performs printing on a roll-shaped medium R, such as roll paper. As this roll-shaped medium R, other media such as label paper (seal paper) in which a label is overlaid on roll-shaped release paper may also be used.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the supply shaft 10 extends in the X direction (axial direction), and supports the roll-shaped medium R by setting the roll-shaped medium R so as to penetrate the center of the roll-shaped medium R. The end portion of the supply shaft 10 on the positive side in the X direction is held by the first frame 31, and the end portion of the supply shaft 10 on the negative side in the X direction is held by the third frame 33. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the supply shaft 10 is provided separately in a portion on the positive side in the X direction and a portion on the negative side in the X direction. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the roll-shaped medium R is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the printing unit 20 has a platen roller 21 and a print head 22, and performs printing on the roll-shaped medium R unwound from the supply shaft 10. Although it is an example, the printing unit 20 is arranged in a voting ticket handling device for public competitions, and prints the processing content (such as ticket issuance history) at this handling position on the roll-shaped medium R.

[0016] The platen roller 21 rotates by the drive of the platen drive unit 60 described later, and unwinds the roll-shaped medium R from the supply shaft 10. The print head 22 faces the platen roller 21 and performs printing on the roll-shaped medium R. The print head 22 is, for example, a thermal head that performs printing on a roll-shaped medium R made of thermal paper, and is biased by a spring toward the platen roller 21.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first frame 31 holds the supply shaft 10 at one end side (positive X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10. Also, the first frame 31 holds the take-up shaft 50 (supply shaft 10) at one end side (positive X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the take-up shaft 50. For example, the first frame 31 holds the supply shaft 10 and the take-up shaft 50 in a groove extending from the upper end to the negative Z direction and the negative Y direction.

[0018] The second frame 32 holds the printing unit 20 at one end side (positive X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10. For example, the second frame 32 holds the printing unit 20 by fixing each part such as the platen roller 21 and the print head 22 of the printing unit 20 with screws. In this way, the printing unit 20 has the platen roller 21 and the print head 22 individually fixed to the second frame 32.

[0019] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the second frame 32 is provided with a stud elongated hole 32a longer in the Z direction than in the Y direction and four screw elongated holes 32b longer in the Y direction than in the Z direction. An eccentric stud 40 described later is inserted into the stud elongated hole 32a. The second frame 32 is fixed to the first frame 31 with its position in the Y direction variable by fixing screws 91 (only two are shown) in each of the four screw elongated holes 32b.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the third frame 33 holds the supply shaft 10, the printing unit 20, and the take-up shaft 50 at the other end side (negative X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10. For example, the third frame 33 holds the supply shaft 10 and the take-up shaft 50 in a groove extending from the upper end to the negative Z direction and the negative Y direction. Also, the third frame 33 holds the printing unit 20 by fixing each part such as the platen roller 21 and the print head 22 of the printing unit 20 with screws.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the bottom plate 34 is fixed to the first frame 31 and the third frame 33, and is a sheet metal located below the roll-shaped medium R between the first frame 31 and the third frame 33. The bottom plate 34 extends upward while curving toward the printing unit 20 over the end on the negative Y side, and guides the roll-shaped medium R.

[0022] The eccentric stud 40 shown in FIG. 5 is an example of an adjustment unit for adjusting the fixing position of the second frame 32 with respect to the first frame 31, and extends parallel to the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10.

[0023] The eccentric stud 40 has a first portion 41 and a second portion 42. These first portion 41 and second portion 42 are, for example, continuously and integrally provided in the X direction. The first portion 41 is held by the first frame 31 so as not to be movable in a direction intersecting the X direction, for example, by being inserted into a hole having the same diameter in the first frame 31. The second portion 42 has a central axis C2 different from that of the first portion 41 (central axis C1: see FIG. 6(a)), and moves the second frame 32 according to the rotational position of the eccentric stud 40.

[0024] For example, the eccentric stud 40 moves the second frame 32 in a first direction D1 (Y direction) orthogonal to the axial direction (X direction) according to the rotational position. The stud elongated hole 32a of the second frame 32 has the same length as the second portion 42 in the first direction D1, and is longer than the second portion 42 in a second direction D2 (Z direction) orthogonal to the axial direction (X direction) and the first direction D1 (Y direction).

[0025] Specifically, when the eccentric stud 40 is rotated clockwise as shown in Fig. 7(a) from the reference positions shown in Figs. 6(a) and (b), since the first part 41 is held immovably in the first frame 31, the second part 42 rotates clockwise while pressing the left end of the long hole 32a for the stud, and moves the second frame 32 to the left. As a result, as shown in Fig. 7(b), the printing unit 20 held by the second frame 32 also moves to the left at the positive X-direction end. In Fig. 7(a), the long hole 32a for the stud at the reference position is shown by a two-dot chain line, and in Fig. 7(b), the printing unit 20 at the reference position is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0026] Also, when the eccentric stud 40 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in Fig. 8(a) from the reference positions shown in Figs. 6(a) and (b), since the first part 41 is held immovably in the first frame 31, the second part 42 rotates counterclockwise while pressing the right end of the long hole 32a for the stud, and moves the second frame 32 to the right. As a result, as shown in Fig. 8(b), the printing unit 20 held by the second frame 32 also moves to the right at the positive X-direction end. Similar to Figs. 7(a) and (b), in Fig. 8(a), the long hole 32a for the stud at the reference position is shown by a two-dot chain line, and in Fig. 8(b), the printing unit 20 at the reference position is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0027] Here, the position adjustment of the second frame 32 by the rotation of the eccentric stud 40 may be performed, for example, when skewing of the roll-shaped medium R described later is detected as a result of an operation test (such as test printing) before the product shipment of the printing apparatus 1. Then, the position adjustment of the second frame 32 is performed with the fixing screw 91 that fixes the second frame 32 to the first frame 31 loosened, and after the position adjustment is performed, the fixing screw 91 is tightened to fix the second frame 32 to the first frame 31. Note that the rotation of the eccentric stud 40 may be performed using a tool such as a minus driver or by the operator's bare hands. Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on each of the portion of the first frame 31 that is exposed from the stud elongated hole 32a and above the stud elongated hole 32a in the second frame 32, a line extending in the Z direction is preferably provided as a mark so that the positions in the Y direction at the reference positions overlap.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the take-up shaft 50 extends in the X direction (axial direction), and the roll-shaped medium R is wound around the take-up shaft 50 so as to penetrate the center of the roll-shaped medium R, thereby taking up the roll-shaped medium R. The end portion of the take-up shaft 50 on the positive X direction side is held by the first frame 31, and the end portion on the negative X direction side is held by the third frame 33.

[0029] The platen drive unit 60 shown in FIG. 4 drives the platen roller 21. The platen drive unit 60 is, for example, an actuator such as a motor. The platen drive unit 60 is held by the third frame 33.

[0030] The take-up drive unit 70 drives the take-up shaft 50 in synchronization with the driving of the platen roller 21 by the platen drive unit 60. The take-up drive unit 70 is fixed to the bottom plate 34, for example, at the end portion on the negative X direction side of the bottom surface of the bottom plate 34.

[0031] The control board 80 is held by the first frame 31 and the third frame 33, for example, below the bottom plate 34. The control board 80 has a processor, a memory, etc. for performing drive control of the take-up shaft 50 and the platen drive unit 60, print control of the print head 22, etc.

[0032] Hereinafter, skew correction of the roll-shaped medium R in the printing apparatus 1 described above will be described.

[0033] FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining normal conveyance of the roll-shaped medium R, FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining skew of the roll-shaped medium R, and FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining skew correction by position adjustment of the second frame 32.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 9, when the roll-shaped medium R is being normally conveyed, the roll-shaped medium R is unwound from the supply shaft 10, printing is performed while being guided by the platen roller 21, and in the process of being wound around the take-up shaft 50, it does not contact the first frame 31, the third frame 33, the flange portions at both ends of the take-up shaft 50, etc.

[0035] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, when the roll-shaped medium R is being conveyed while tilted, for example, to the positive side in the X direction, the roll-shaped medium R contacts the first frame 31 in the process of printing and being wound around the take-up shaft 50, and end face breakage or clogging of the roll-shaped medium R occurs. In FIGS. 10 and 11 described later, the roll-shaped medium R during normal conveyance is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0036] Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the eccentric stud 40 is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 7(a) to move the second frame 32 to the left, and the positive-X-direction end portion of the printing unit 20 (platen roller 21) shown in FIG. 7(b) held by this second frame 32 is moved to the left.

[0037] As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the platen roller 21 (printing unit 20) is inclined from a state parallel to the supply shaft 10 to a state in which the end on the positive X direction side is positioned on the left side (positive Y direction side) (the platen roller 21 before inclination is shown by a two-dot chain line). Note that since the inclination of the printing unit 20 is achieved by slightly moving the second frame 32, for example, by 1 mm or less in the Y direction, it hardly affects the holding by the first frame 31 and the third frame 33. However, the printing unit 20 may be screwed to the second frame 32 and the third frame 33 with a gap therebetween, for example, so that the printing unit 20 is held by the first frame 31 and the third frame 33 as described above while allowing the inclination of the printing unit 20. Note that, contrary to the example in FIG. 10, when the roll-shaped medium R is conveyed while being inclined in the negative X direction, the second frame 32 may be moved rightward by rotating the eccentric stud 40 counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 8(a).

[0038] In the above description, the eccentric stud 40 has been described as an example of the adjustment unit for adjusting the fixing position of the second frame 32 with respect to the first frame 31. However, the adjustment unit may be, for example, a gripping portion of the second frame 32 that is gripped by an operator to move the second frame 32 in the Y direction. In this case, the operator may loosen the fixing screw 91, grip the gripping portion of the second frame 32, finely adjust the second frame 32 in the Y direction, and then tighten the fixing screw 91 to fix the second frame 32 to the first frame 31.

[0039] Further, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 1 includes the supply shaft 10. However, the supply shaft 10 may be provided integrally with the roll-shaped medium R, and the roll-shaped medium R may be set in the printing apparatus 1 together with the supply shaft 10.

[0040] Further, in the above description, the printing apparatus 1 includes the take-up shaft 50. However, when the roll-shaped medium R printed by the printing unit 20 is not taken up and is discharged from the printing apparatus 1 as it is or after being cut, the take-up shaft 50 can be omitted.

[0041] In the above description, the printing unit 20 is tilted by moving the second frame 32 in the Y direction, and thus the skew correction of the roll-shaped medium R is performed. However, the skew correction of the roll-shaped medium R may be performed by moving the second frame 32 in the Z direction.

[0042] In the above description, the first frame 31 and the third frame 33 function as fixed frames, and the second frame 32 functions as a movable frame. However, the third frame 33 may be divided into a portion that holds the supply shaft 10 and a portion that holds the printing unit 20. Further, in that case, a configuration may be adopted in which the fixed position of the portion of the third frame 33 that holds the printing unit 20 can be adjusted, for example, in the Z direction or the like, with respect to the portion of the third frame 33 that holds the supply shaft 10. In this case, the printing unit 20 can be tilted more freely, and thus the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be corrected.

[0043] In the above description, the first frame 31, the second frame 32, and the bottom plate 34 are described as separate members, but at least two of these may be provided integrally.

[0044] In the above description, an example in which the printing unit 20 includes a platen roller 21 and a printing head 22 such as a thermal head is described. However, the printing unit 20 may be any device that performs printing on the roll-shaped medium R unwound from the supply shaft 10, and the printing method and configuration of the printing unit 20 can be changed as appropriate.

[0045] In the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 20 that performs printing on a roll-shaped medium R unwound from a supply shaft 10 that supports the roll-shaped medium R, a first frame 31 that holds the supply shaft 10 on one end side (positive side in the X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10, a second frame 32 that holds the printing unit 20 on the one end side (positive side in the X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10, and an eccentric stud 40 (an example of an adjustment unit) for adjusting the fixed position of the second frame 32 with respect to the first frame 31.

[0046] Therefore, by simply moving the second frame 32, the inclination of the printing unit 20 can be finely adjusted, and thus the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be corrected. As a result, it is possible to suppress the end face of the roll-shaped medium R from being folded or the roll-shaped medium R from being jammed. Further, compared with an aspect (a comparative example different from the present embodiment) in which the attachment position of the printing unit 20 to the second frame 32 is adjusted for correcting the skew of the roll-shaped medium R, unitizing the printing unit 20 in order to attach the printing unit 20 to the second frame 32 all at once is avoided, and each part such as the platen roller 21 and the print head 22 can be individually fixed to the second frame 32. Therefore, the printing unit 20 can have a simple configuration with a small number of parts. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be easily corrected with a simple configuration.

[0047] Further, in the present embodiment, the adjustment unit for adjusting the fixing position of the second frame 32 with respect to the first frame 31 is an eccentric stud 40 that extends parallel to the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10. The eccentric stud 40 includes a first portion 41 that is held by the first frame 31 so as not to move in a direction intersecting the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10, and a second portion 42 whose central axis C2 is different from that of the first portion 41 (central axis C1) and that moves the second frame 32 according to the rotational position of the eccentric stud 40.

[0048] Thereby, by simply rotating the eccentric stud 40, the second frame 32 can be moved to adjust the inclination of the printing unit 20, and thus correct the skew of the roll-shaped medium R.

[0049] Further, in the present embodiment, the eccentric stud 40 moves the second frame 32 in a first direction D1 (Y direction) orthogonal to the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10 according to the rotational position. The second frame 32 has a long hole 32a for the stud. The long hole 32a for the stud has the same length as the second portion 42 of the eccentric stud 40 in the first direction D1 and is longer than the second portion 42 of the eccentric stud 40 in a second direction D2 (Z direction) orthogonal to the axial direction (X direction) and the first direction D1 (Y direction).

[0050] As a result, the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be corrected with a simple configuration using the stud elongated holes 32a of the second frame 32 and the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 of the eccentric stud 40.

[0051] Further, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 1 further includes a take-up shaft 50 that takes up the roll-shaped medium R printed by the printing unit 20, and the first frame 31 further holds the take-up shaft 50 on one end side (positive side in the X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10.

[0052] As a result, the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be corrected with a simple configuration in which the second frame 32 that holds the printing unit 20 is moved with respect to the first frame 31 that holds the supply shaft 10 and the take-up shaft 50.

[0053] Further, in the present embodiment, on the other end side (negative side in the X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10, a third frame 33 that holds the supply shaft 10 and the printing unit 20 is further provided.

[0054] As a result, on the positive side in the X direction of the printing apparatus 1, the first frame 31 that holds the supply shaft 10 and the second frame 32 that holds the printing unit 20 are used, while on the negative side in the X direction of the printing apparatus 1, the supply shaft 10 and the printing unit 20 can be held by a single third frame 33. Therefore, the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be corrected with a simple configuration.

[0055] Further, in the present embodiment, the third frame 33 further holds the take-up shaft 50 on the other end side (negative side in the X direction) in the axial direction (X direction) of the supply shaft 10.

[0056] As a result, since the single third frame 33 can hold not only the supply shaft 10 and the printing unit 20 but also the take-up shaft 50, the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be corrected with a simpler configuration.

[0057] In addition, in the present embodiment, the printing unit 20 includes a platen roller 21 that unwinds the roll-shaped medium R from the supply shaft 10, and a print head 22 that faces the platen roller 21 and prints on the roll-shaped medium R. The printing apparatus 1 further includes a platen drive unit 60 that drives the platen roller 21, and the third frame 33 further holds the platen drive unit 60.

[0058] As a result, the single third frame 33 can hold not only the supply shaft 10 and the printing unit 20 but also the platen drive unit 60, so that the skew of the roll-shaped medium R can be corrected with a simpler configuration.

[0059] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist thereof at the implementation stage. Also, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiments. For example, all the components shown in the embodiments may be appropriately combined. Thus, various modifications and applications of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 1 Printing apparatus 10 Supply shaft 20 Printing unit 21 Platen roller 22 Print head 31 First frame 32 Second frame 32a Stud elongated hole 32b Screw elongated hole 33 Third frame 34 Bottom plate 40 Eccentric stud 41 First part 42 Second part 50 Take-up shaft 60 Platen drive unit 70 Take-up drive unit 80 Control board 91 Fixing screw Central axes of C1 and C2 D1 First direction D2 Second direction R Roll-shaped medium

Claims

1. A printing unit that performs printing on the roll-shaped medium unwound from a supply shaft that supports the roll-shaped medium, a first frame that holds the supply shaft on one end side in the axial direction of the supply shaft, a second frame that holds the printing unit on the one end side in the axial direction, and an adjustment unit for adjusting a fixed position of the second frame with respect to the first frame A printing apparatus characterized by comprising.

2. The adjustment unit is an eccentric stud that extends parallel to the axial direction, The eccentric stud includes a first portion that is held by the first frame so as not to move in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and a second portion that has a different central axis from the first portion and moves the second frame depending on the rotational position of the eccentric stud. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The eccentric stud moves the second frame in a first direction orthogonal to the axial direction depending on the rotational position, The second frame has a stud elongated hole that is the same length as the second portion in the first direction and longer than the second portion in a second direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the first direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. Further comprising a take-up shaft for taking up the roll-shaped medium printed by the printing unit, The first frame further holds the take-up shaft on the one end side in the axial direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

5. Further comprising a third frame that holds the supply shaft and the printing unit on the other end side in the axial direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

6. Further comprising a take-up shaft for taking up the roll-shaped medium printed by the printing unit, The third frame further holds the take-up shaft on the other end side in the axial direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by the above.

7. The printing unit has a platen roller that unwinds the roll-shaped medium from the supply shaft, and a print head that faces the platen roller and performs printing on the roll-shaped medium. The printing apparatus further comprises a platen drive unit that drives the platen roller, The third frame further holds the platen drive unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by the above.

Images