Roll paper holder and printer

Abstract

To provide a structure capable of preventing a loss of a member for dealing with the widths of a plurality of sheets on a printer using a roll of paper.SOLUTION: This roll paper holder for defining a width position of a roll of paper that is a roll of a belt-like sheet of paper and holding the roll of paper comprises: a container section that contains the roll of paper in a space surrounded by a peripheral surface portion with which the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the roll of paper comes into contact and a pair of surfaces facing each other with the peripheral surface inbetween; a shaft installed between the pair of surfaces; a plate-like press portion that presses the end of the roll of paper; a grip which is for gripping the shaft so as to be rotatable along the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and movable in a longitudinal direction which has a notch for disconnecting a peripheral connection into a cylindrical shape surrounding the shaft, and which is connected to the press portion; and one or more positioning portions which are provided at the edge of the press portion and fitted in an uneven shape formed in the peripheral surface portion to position the press portion in a sheet width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD An embodiment of the present invention relates to a roll paper holder and a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Among printers that use roll paper, which is a roll of paper in a strip shape, printers that can handle multiple paper widths have traditionally been equipped with a plate-like member called a pressure plate to determine the widthwise position of the roll paper. The pressure plate is attached in a position to press down on the side edges of the roll paper.

[0003] Conventional pressure plates are detachably attached to a predetermined position within the storage compartment that stores the roll paper. For example, the pressure plate is removed from the storage compartment when using a wide roll paper, and is attached to the storage compartment when using a narrow roll paper.

[0004] However, with the above-described configuration, the pressing plate is removed from the housing when not in use and is stored away from the printer, for example, which means that the pressing plate can be lost, and improvements in this regard are desired.

[0005] Examples of printers with a pressure plate that cannot be removed from the housing include those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. However, neither of these is suitable for use in printers that have traditionally used removable pressure plates, as they require too much space or have a complex structure. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a structure that can prevent loss of components for accommodating multiple paper widths in a printer that uses roll paper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The roll paper holder of one embodiment holds roll paper wrapped with a strip of paper, determining its position in the width direction, and includes: a peripheral surface portion that contacts the cylindrical outer surface of the roll paper, and a storage portion that stores the roll paper in a space surrounded by a pair of opposing surfaces sandwiching the peripheral surface portion; a shaft portion that spans between the pair of surfaces; a plate-shaped pressing portion that presses down on the end of the roll paper; a gripping portion that grips the shaft portion so that it can rotate along the outer surface of the shaft portion and move longitudinally, and has a notch in the cylindrical shape surrounding the shaft portion that breaks the circumferential continuity, and is provided continuous with the pressing portion; and one or more positioning portions that are provided on the edge of the pressing portion and fit into uneven shapes formed on the peripheral surface portion to determine the position of the pressing portion in the paper width direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the printer. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the printer with the cover open. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the printer with the paper width guide raised. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view of the paper width guide. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the state in which the paper width guide is attached. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view, partially in cross section, of the shaft and the grip portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a grip portion in a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (First embodiment) An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a printer 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 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 3, a holder 4, a print head 6, a platen roller 7, a cutter unit 8, etc.

[0010] 1 shows the front and right side of the printer 1, but not the left side or rear of the printer 1. The printer 1 is mainly used with the cover 3 facing upward as shown in FIG. 1, or with the front side facing upward in FIG. 1.

[0011] Figure 3 shows the printer 1 with the lid 3 open. The housing 2 is a container having an opening that is opened and closed by the lid 3. The lid 3 is attached to the edge of the opening of the housing 2 so as to be rotatable around an axis 31 provided at one end, and as it rotates, it moves between a position that closes the opening of the housing 2 (closed position) and a position that opens it (open position). When the lid 3 is in the closed position, a paper outlet 9 is formed between the other end of the lid 3 (the end opposite the one end) and the housing 2.

[0012] The holder 4 is an example of a roll paper holder, and holds the roll paper while determining its position in the width direction. The roll paper is a rolled strip of paper. The paper can be ordinary paper such as receipt paper, a strip of labels of a specified size attached to a strip of paper, or a strip of labels without a paper liner.

[0013] The print head 6 prints on paper sandwiched between it and the platen roller 7, and is, for example, a line thermal head with many heating elements arranged in the paper width direction. The platen roller 7 is a roller with an elastic surface, and when rotated, transports the paper sandwiched between it and the print head 6.

[0014] The print head 6 is provided in the housing 2, and the platen roller 7 is attached to the cover 3. The print head 6 and the platen roller 7 come into contact with and separate from each other as the cover 3 rotates. When the print head 6 and the platen roller 7 separate, the paper transport path is opened.

[0015] Cutter unit 8 is attached to cover portion 3 and is located downstream of print head 6 and platen roller 7 in the paper transport direction, and cuts the paper after printing.

[0016] The cutter unit 8 has, for example, a fixed blade 81 and a movable blade 82. The fixed blade 81 and the movable blade 82 are arranged with their cutting edges facing each other and sandwiching the paper transport path in the paper thickness direction. The fixed blade 81 is fixed inside the housing 2. The movable blade 82 is attached to the cover part 3 and moves toward and away from the fixed blade 81 when it receives a driving force. The cutting edge of the movable blade 82 slides against the cutting edge of the fixed blade 81, cutting the paper sandwiched between them.

[0017] (Details of holding part 4) Here, the holding section 4 includes a storage section 41 and a paper width guide 5. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the printer 1 with the paper width guide 5 raised.

[0018] The storage section 41 stores roll paper in a space surrounded by a peripheral surface 411 and a pair of side walls 412. This space is provided inside the housing 2 and is opened and closed by the lid 3. The cylindrical outer surface of the roll paper contacts the peripheral surface 411. The side walls 412 form a pair of opposing surfaces sandwiching the peripheral surface 411.

[0019] Fig. 5 is a side view of the paper width guide 5. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the installation state of the paper width guide 5. The paper width guide 5 includes a shaft portion 51, a pressing portion 52, a gripping portion 53, and a positioning portion.

[0020] A hole 525 is formed in the center of the presser section 52 so that the operator can place their finger there and easily attach or detach the presser section 52 when changing the position of the presser section 52. The presser section 52 also has a secondary presser section 526 located between the paper printing position and the paper storage section 41. The secondary presser section 526 holds down the side edges of the paper pulled out from the roll paper, and regulates the widthwise position of the paper before it reaches the print head 6 and platen roller 7.

[0021] The positioning portion is one or more uneven shapes 521-524 provided on the edge of the pressing portion 52. The positioning portion (uneven shapes 521-524) determines the position of the pressing portion 52 in the paper width direction, that is, restricts movement in the paper width direction, by fitting into uneven shapes 42 (such as holes 424 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) formed on the peripheral surface 411. The uneven shapes 42 are provided in positions according to the type of paper width used in the printer 1. When the holding portion 4 is to hold the widest roll paper used in the printer 1, the pressing portion 52 is placed in a position that contacts the side wall 412.

[0022] A plurality of holes 424 are provided lined up along the width direction of peripheral surface portion 411. A concave-convex shape 524 serving as a positioning portion is inserted into one of the plurality of holes 424. Similarly, a plurality of concave-convex shapes 42 other than holes 424 are also provided lined up along the width direction of peripheral surface portion 411, and a corresponding concave-convex shape 521 to 523 serving as a positioning portion is inserted into one of the concave-convex shapes.

[0023] The paper width guide 5 of this embodiment has at least four positioning portions (concave and recessed shapes 521 to 524). The concave and recessed shapes 521 to 524 are protrusions that are inserted into holes that are the concave and recessed shapes 42 formed in the peripheral surface portion 411. The concave and recessed shape 524 is inserted into the hole 424. The concave and recessed shape 521 also has a hook shape at its tip. When the concave and recessed shape 521 is inserted into one of the holes in the concave and recessed shapes 42, the hook shape at the tip of the concave and recessed shape 521 catches on the edge of the hole.

[0024] 7 is an enlarged, partially cross-sectional perspective view of shaft 51 and gripping portion 53. Shaft 51 is a cylindrical member that spans between a pair of side walls 412. Shaft 51 is positioned on the opposite side of the direction in which paper is transported after being pulled from the roll paper. In other words, shaft 51 is located across the roll paper stored in storage portion 41 from the paper printing position (the position where print head 6 and platen roller 7 are located).

[0025] The pressing portion 52 is a plate-shaped member that presses down on the side edge of the roll paper. The gripping portion 53 and the positioning portion (concave and convex shapes 521 to 524) are provided on the edge of the pressing portion 52 and are continuous with the pressing portion 52.

[0026] Grip portion 53 grips shaft portion 51 so as to be rotatable along the outer peripheral surface of shaft portion 51 and movable in the longitudinal direction. Grip portion 53 has a cylindrical shape with a notch 531 formed therein. Notch 531 is formed by partially cutting out the tube along the axial direction of the tube, and interrupts the circumferential continuity of cylindrical grip portion 53. The width of notch 531 is usually narrower than the thickness of shaft portion 51.

[0027] The grip portion 53 and the pressing portion 52 and positioning portion 54 connected thereto are made of resin. The grip portion 53, being made of resin and having a shape including the notch 531, has elasticity that allows for changes in the width of the notch 531. The degree of elasticity of the grip portion 53 is sufficient to allow the notch 531 to open to approximately the thickness of the shaft 51 when a force in a twisting direction relative to the shaft 51 is applied to the grip portion 53. As a result, even if a force in a twisting direction relative to the shaft 51 is applied to the grip portion 53 when the pressing portion 52 is moved along the shaft 51, the shaft 51 passes through the opened notch 531 and comes off the grip portion 53. This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of the grip portion 53 being damaged by applying excessive force to it.

[0028] 4 above, "a state in which the paper width guide 5 is raised" refers to a state in which the pressing portion 52 is removed from the storage portion 41, more specifically, a state in which the gripping portion 53 is rotated with respect to the shaft portion 51 to separate the pressing portion 52 from the peripheral portion 411. The positioning portions (concave and recessed shapes 521 to 524) are attached to and detached from the convex and recessed shapes 42 of the peripheral portion 411 as the pressing portion 52 rotates around the shaft portion 51.

[0029] In the printer 1 configured as described above, the paper width guide 5 regulates the movement of the roll paper stored in the storage section 41 in the width direction.

[0030] The retainer 52 holds down the side edges of the roll paper and the paper pulled out from the roll, determining the widthwise position of the paper. When the width of the roll paper used in the printer 1 is changed, an operation is performed to change the position of the retainer 52 to a position corresponding to the width dimension of the roll paper. The operation for this change is performed as follows.

[0031] The operator hooks a finger or the like in hole 525 and applies force to pressing portion 52 in a direction away from storage portion 41. This causes pressing portion 52 to rotate about shaft portion 51, and concave-convex shapes 521 to 524, which are positioning portions, come out of concave-convex shape 42. In this state, the restriction on movement of pressing portion 52 in the paper width direction is released, and pressing portion 52 becomes free to move in the paper width direction.

[0032] Next, the operator moves the pressing portion 52 in the paper width direction. At this time, the gripping portion 53 moves along the shaft portion 51. Also, at this time, if a torsional force that does not follow the shaft portion 51 is applied to the gripping portion 53, the force elastically deforms the gripping portion 53 and opens the notch 531. If the notch 531 opens to an extent that exceeds the thickness of the shaft portion 51, the shaft portion 51 comes out of the notch 531, and the gripping state of the shaft portion 51 by the gripping portion 53 is released. In other words, the pressing portion 52 is released. This prevents the gripping portion 53 from being accidentally damaged when the pressing portion 52 moves.

[0033] Next, the operator applies force to the holding portion 52, which has reached the desired position along the shaft portion 51, in a direction to fit it into the storage portion 41. The holding portion 52 rotates around the shaft portion 51 and fits into the storage portion 41. When the holding portion 52 fits into the storage portion 41, the concave-convex shapes 521 to 524, which are positioning portions, fit into the corresponding concave-convex shapes 42. This determines the position of the holding portion 52.

[0034] The operator then places roll paper of the desired width into storage section 41, pulls out the paper from the roll, positions it between print head 6 and platen roller 7, and closes lid section 3. This completes preparation of the roll paper for printer 1.

[0035] As described above, according to this embodiment, the pressing portion 52 can move in the paper width direction within the storage portion 41. This eliminates the need to remove the pressing portion 52 from the storage portion 41. This prevents the pressing portion 52 from getting lost. Furthermore, due to the structure of the connection between the pressing portion 52 and the gripping portion 53, there is a concern that the gripping portion 53 may be damaged when the pressing portion 52 moves. However, because the gripping portion 53 has the notch 531 formed therein, the gripping portion 53 disengages from the shaft portion 51 before it is damaged. This prevents the gripping portion 53 from being damaged.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a structure that can prevent loss of components for accommodating a plurality of paper widths in a printer that uses roll paper.

[0037] (Variation) The above-described embodiment can be modified as appropriate by changing part of the configuration or function of each of the above-described devices.

[0038] 8 is a perspective view showing a modified grip portion 55. As shown in FIG. 8, the modified grip portion 55 has a notch 551.

[0039] While notch 531 formed in gripping portion 53 in the embodiment opens further back than shaft portion 51 when viewed from the retaining portion 52 side, notch 551 in the modified example opens toward the retaining portion 52 side. Notch 531 and notch 551 are provided in portions to which force is applied from shaft portion 51 when gripping portions 53, 55 are pulled or pushed via retaining portion 52 in a state in which retaining portion 52 is raised from housing portion 41 as shown in FIG. This makes it possible to effectively prevent damage to gripping portions 53, 55.

[0040] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...printer, 2...housing, 3...lid, 4...holding portion (an example of a roll paper holder), 41...accommodating part, 411...peripheral part, 412...side wall, 42...Uneven shape (424...hole), 5...paper width guide, 51...shaft portion, 52...holding portion, 521 to 524... Concave and convex shapes (examples of positioning portions), 525...hole, 526... Sub-holding part, 53...gripping part, notch 531, 55...gripping part, notch 551, 6...print head, 7...Platen roller, 8...cutter unit, 81...fixed blade, 82...movable blade, 9...Paper output port. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0042] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-238635 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-217862

Claims

1. A roll paper holder that holds a roll paper around which a strip of paper is wound, while determining a position in the width direction, a storage section for storing the roll paper in a space surrounded by a peripheral surface section that contacts the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the roll paper and a pair of opposing surfaces sandwiching the peripheral surface section; a shaft portion spanning the pair of surfaces; a plate-shaped pressing portion that presses down the end of the roll paper; a holding portion that holds the shaft portion rotatably and longitudinally movably along the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion, the holding portion having a cylindrical shape surrounding the shaft portion and a notch that interrupts the circumferential continuity, the holding portion being provided continuously with the pressing portion; one or more positioning portions provided on an edge of the pressing portion, the positioning portions fitting into the concave and convex shapes formed on the peripheral surface portion to determine the position of the pressing portion in the paper width direction; A roll paper holder comprising:

2. The shaft portion is disposed on the opposite side to the direction in which the paper pulled out from the roll paper is transported.

2. The roll paper holder according to claim 1.

3. The pressing unit is positioned between the printing position of the paper and the storage unit, and includes a sub-pressing unit that presses down the edge of the paper pulled out from the roll paper.

2. The roll paper holder according to claim 1.

4. The positioning portion is attached to and detached from the concave and convex shape in accordance with the rotation of the pressing portion around the shaft portion.

2. The roll paper holder according to claim 1.

5. a roll paper holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4; a print head that prints on the paper pulled out from the roll paper holder; a platen roller that conveys the paper sandwiched between the platen roller and the print head; A printer comprising:

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