Paper feed mechanism and printer

Abstract

To guide two kinds of paper sheets having different sizes without enlarging the size in the paper sheet width direction of a paper feeding mechanism.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding mechanism having a sheet tray capable of selectively accommodating two types of sheets having different sizes, the sheet feeding mechanism comprising an auxiliary guide provided on a placement surface of the sheet tray and capable of switching between an upright state and a stored state, and a lid body provided to be openable and closable so as to cover the sheet tray and configured to press the sheets accommodated in the sheet tray against the placement surface in a closed state, when the paper of a second size smaller than the first size is stored in the paper tray, the paper of the second size is guided by the auxiliary guide in the erected state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper feed mechanism and a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a paper feeder provided in a copier is provided with a pair of paper guide members that are configured to slide to match the paper width so as to be able to guide multiple types of paper of different sizes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-182471 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technique of Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the pair of paper guide members are slidable in the paper width direction, which may increase the size of the paper feeder in the paper width direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In one embodiment, the paper feed mechanism has a paper tray that can selectively store two different sizes of paper, and is equipped with an auxiliary guide that is provided on the loading surface of the paper tray and can be switched between an upright state and a stored state, and a lid that can be opened and closed to cover the paper tray and, when closed, presses the paper stored in the paper tray against the loading surface.When paper of a first size is stored in the paper tray, the side wall surface of the paper tray guides the paper of the first size, and when paper of a second size smaller than the first size is stored in the paper tray, the auxiliary guide in the upright state guides the paper of the second size. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the paper feed mechanism of one embodiment, it is possible to guide two types of paper of different sizes without increasing the size of the paper feed mechanism in the paper width direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a printer according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 is a bottom view of a printer according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a paper feed mechanism according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a paper feed mechanism according to an embodiment in which an auxiliary guide is in a retracted state; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a paper feed mechanism according to an embodiment in which an auxiliary guide is in an upright position; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a first paper package is stored in a paper feed mechanism according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a second paper package is stored in the paper feed mechanism according to the embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rotation restriction structure provided in the paper feed mechanism according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience, in the following description, the Z-axis direction is defined as the up-down direction, the Y-axis direction as the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction as the front-rear direction. However, the positive Z-axis direction is defined as the up direction, the positive X-axis direction as the front, and the positive Y-axis direction as the right.

[0009] (Configuration of printer 100) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a printer 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the printer 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the internal configuration of the printer 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printer 100 according to an embodiment is a small, portable printer, and includes a housing 110, a paper feed mechanism 120, and a printing mechanism 140.

[0010] The housing 110 is a resin box-shaped (approximately rectangular parallelepiped) member that constitutes the exterior of the printer 100. The housing 110 has a cover 111 that can be opened and closed on the bottom. When the cover 111 is opened with the printer 100 upside down, it exposes a paper tray 121 provided inside the housing 110, making it possible to store a paper package 10 in the paper tray 121. When the cover 111 is closed, it can cover the paper tray 121 and the paper package 10.

[0011] The cover 111 also has a pressing member 111A on the surface facing the paper package 10, and the pressing member 111A can press the paper package 10 against the paper feed roller 130 when the cover 111 is closed.

[0012] The paper feed mechanism 120 is provided inside the housing 110 and feeds paper P to the printing mechanism 140 .

[0013] The paper feed mechanism 120 has a paper tray 121. The paper tray 121 is a recessed space provided inside the bottom side (negative side of the Z axis) of the housing 110. A paper package 10 made up of a plurality of stacked sheets of paper P is stored inside the paper tray 121. Note that the printer 100 of this embodiment uses thermal paper as the paper P because it prints on the paper P using a thermal head 141 provided in the printing mechanism 140. The paper tray 121 has a loading surface 121A on which the paper package 10 is placed when the paper package 10 is stored in the printer 100 with the printer 100 turned upside down.

[0014] The paper feed mechanism 120 has a paper feed roller 130. The paper feed roller 130 is provided above the paper tray 121 (in the positive direction of the Z axis). The paper feed roller 130 is a cylindrical member extending in the left-right direction (in the direction of the Y axis). A portion of the outer circumferential surface of the paper feed roller 130 protrudes downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) from an opening 121Aa formed in the loading surface 121A, and is pressed against the surface of the topmost sheet of paper P in the paper package 10 contained in the paper tray 121. The paper feed roller 130 is rotated by the drive of a motor (not shown), thereby transporting the sheet of paper P pressed against the paper feed roller 130 to the printing mechanism 140 (between a thermal head 141 and a platen roller 142) provided in front of the paper feed mechanism 120 (in the positive direction of the X axis).

[0015] In this embodiment, the paper feed mechanism 120 is configured so that the paper tray 121 can accommodate two types of paper P having different sizes (paper P1 of a first size and paper P2 of a second size).

[0016] The printing mechanism 140 is provided inside the housing 110, in front of the paper feed mechanism 120 (in the positive direction of the X axis). The printing mechanism 140 has a thermal head 141 and a platen roller 142 that are provided facing each other above and below. The printing mechanism 140 uses the thermal head 141 to print on paper P that has been transported between the thermal head 141 and the platen roller 142 by the paper feed mechanism 120. The paper P that has been printed on by the thermal head 141 is then transported further forward (in the positive direction of the X axis) and is discharged from a paper discharge port 112 provided on the front surface of the housing 110.

[0017] (Configuration of paper feed mechanism 120) Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment when auxiliary guide 122 is in a stored state. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment when auxiliary guide 122 is in an upright state. Figs. 4 to 6 show the printer 100 in a state where it is turned upside down and the cover 111 is open.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the paper tray 121 provided in the paper feed mechanism 120 has a placement surface 121A. The placement surface 121A is a horizontal plane provided at the bottom of the paper tray 121. The paper package 10 contained in the paper tray 121 is placed on the placement surface 121A. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the printer 100 is placed upside down and the lid 111 is opened to place the paper package 10 in the paper tray 121. Therefore, in the printer 100, the ceiling surface (the surface on the positive side of the Z axis) of the paper tray 121 in the normal state (when not upside down) becomes the placement surface 121A (i.e., the bottom), and the paper package 10 is placed on the placement surface 121A.

[0019] A pentagonal opening 121Aa is formed at the front end (the end on the positive side of the X-axis) and the center in the left-right direction (the Y-axis direction) of the loading surface 121A, and a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 130 protrudes from this opening 121Aa.

[0020] Further, the paper tray 121 has a back wall surface 121B and a pair of left and right side wall surfaces 121C.

[0021] The rear wall surface 121B is a vertical wall surface provided at the end of the front side (X-axis positive side) of the paper tray 121. The front end (end on the X-axis positive side) of the paper package 10 stored in the paper tray 121 abuts against the rear wall surface 121B, thereby positioning the paper package 10 in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction).

[0022] The pair of side wall surfaces 121C are vertical wall surfaces provided at the left end (negative side of the Y axis) and the right end (positive side of the Y axis) of the paper tray 121.

[0023] Here, the distance between the pair of side wall surfaces 121C is approximately the same size (slightly larger) as the width of the first-size paper P1 having the first size. As a result, when the first paper package 10-1, which is made up of stacked first-size paper P1, is accommodated between the pair of side wall surfaces 121C, the paper tray 121 can guide both left and right ends of the first paper package 10-1 by abutting both ends in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the first paper package 10-1, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first leaf spring member 125 made of a metal plate is provided on one side wall surface 121C (positive side of the Y axis) and protrudes inward (negative side of the Y axis). The first leaf spring member 125 presses the side end portion of one side (positive side of the Y axis) of the first paper package 10-1, thereby pressing (biasing) the first paper package 10-1 against the other side wall surface 121C (negative side of the Y axis). The other side wall surface 121C (negative side of the Y axis) serves as a reference surface in the left-right direction (Y axis direction) for the first paper package 10-1. Therefore, the paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment can align the first paper package 10-1 (i.e., multiple sheets of paper P1 of the first size) contained between the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 with the reference surface in the left-right direction (Y axis direction) by the first leaf spring member 125.

[0025] The first leaf spring member 125 elastically deforms in the Y-axis direction according to the dimensional error of the paper width of the first paper package 10-1, thereby reliably pressing against the side edge of the first paper package 10-1. Furthermore, the front end (the end on the positive side of the X-axis) of the first leaf spring member 125 is supported so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) by fitting a protrusion on the side wall surface 121C into a long hole 125A provided in the side wall surface 121C. Therefore, when the first leaf spring member 125 receives stress from the first paper package 10-1, it stretches in the X-axis direction while elastically deforming in the Y-axis direction, thereby releasing the stress and preventing damage to the side wall surface 121C due to the stress.

[0026] Furthermore, the paper tray 121 has a pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 on the loading surface 121A. The auxiliary guides 122 are flat plate-like members extending in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction). The auxiliary guides 122 have a generally rectangular shape with the front-to-rear direction as the longitudinal direction in a plan view. The pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 are provided symmetrically with respect to the center line of the paper tray 121 in the width direction (Y-axis direction).

[0027] The auxiliary guide 122 can be switched between an upright state and a retracted state. Specifically, the auxiliary guide 122 has a rotation shaft at its lower end that extends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction).

[0028] The auxiliary guide 122 can be manually switched from the horizontal storage state shown in Figure 5 to the vertical upright state shown in Figure 6 (with the surface 122A facing outward and the guide surface 122B facing inward) by rotating it approximately 90 degrees around the rotation axis toward the outside in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) by an operator.

[0029] In addition, the auxiliary guide 122 can be manually switched from the vertical upright state shown in Figure 6 to the horizontal storage state shown in Figure 5 (a state in which the surface 122A faces upward and the guide surface 122B faces downward) by rotating it approximately 90 degrees around the rotation axis toward the inside in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) by an operator.

[0030] Here, the distance between the guide surfaces 122B of the pair of auxiliary guides 122, both of which are in an upright state, is approximately the same size (slightly larger) as the width of the second-size paper P2, which has a second size smaller than the first size. This allows the paper tray 121 to guide both the left and right ends of the second paper package 10-2 when the second paper package 10-2, which is made up of stacked second-size paper P2, is accommodated between the pair of paper trays 121, both of which are in an upright state.

[0031] Thus, the paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment can easily switch between a state in which the pair of left and right side wall surfaces 121C can guide a first size of paper P1 and a state in which the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 can guide a second size of paper P2, simply by switching the pair of auxiliary guides 122 between a retracted state and an upright state. In particular, the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 are provided inside the pair of left and right side wall surfaces 121C, and therefore do not increase the size of the paper feed mechanism 120 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). Therefore, the paper feed mechanism according to one embodiment can guide two different sizes of paper without increasing the size of the paper feed mechanism 120 in the paper width direction.

[0032] The loading surface 121A is provided with a pair of left and right recesses 123 having substantially the same shape as the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 in a plan view. As a result, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 is stored horizontally in the recesses 123 when in a stored state, so that the surface 122A of the auxiliary guide 122 is at the same height as the loading surface 121A. Therefore, when the first size paper P1 is stored in the paper tray 121, each of the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 is stored so as not to protrude from the loading surface 121A and does not interfere with the first size paper P1 stored in the paper tray 121.

[0033] Furthermore, in each of the pair of left and right recesses 123, an insertion hole 124 is formed on the inner edge in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) so as to be cut out in a semicircular shape further inward. As a result, in paper feeding mechanism 120 according to one embodiment, when auxiliary guide 122 is in the stored state, an operator can insert a finger into insertion hole 124, hook the finger on the upper edge of auxiliary guide 122, and easily raise auxiliary guide 122.

[0034] 6, a second metal plate spring member 126 is provided on the guide surface 122B of one (positive Y-axis side) of the auxiliary guide 122, protruding inward (negative Y-axis side). The second plate spring member 126 presses against one side end (positive Y-axis side) of the second paper package 10-2, thereby pressing (biasing) the second paper package 10-2 against the guide surface 122B of the other (negative Y-axis side) of the auxiliary guide 122. The guide surface 122B of the other (negative Y-axis side) of the auxiliary guide 122 serves as a reference surface in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) for the second paper package 10-2. Therefore, in one embodiment, the paper feeding mechanism 120 can align the second paper package 10-2 (i.e., multiple sheets of paper P2 of a second size) contained between a pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 with a reference plane in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) using the second leaf spring member 126.

[0035] The second leaf spring member 126 elastically deforms in the Y-axis direction according to the dimensional error of the paper width of the second paper package 10-2, thereby enabling it to reliably press the side edge of the second paper package 10-2. The rear end (the end on the negative side of the X-axis) of the second leaf spring member 126 is supported so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) by fitting a protrusion on the auxiliary guide 122 into a long hole 126A provided in the rear end. Therefore, when the second leaf spring member 126 receives stress from the second paper package 10-2, it stretches in the X-axis direction while elastically deforming in the Y-axis direction, thereby dissipating the stress and preventing damage to the auxiliary guide 122 due to the stress.

[0036] The second leaf spring member 126 also has an inclined surface 126B that is gradually inclined inward (toward the negative Y-axis side) from the rear to the front. This makes it easier for the paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment to insert the second paper package 10-2 from the rear (negative Z-axis direction) between the second leaf spring member 126 provided on one auxiliary guide 122 (positive Y-axis side) and the guide surface 122B of the other auxiliary guide 122 (negative Y-axis side).

[0037] (Storage state of the first paper package 10-1) FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the first paper package 10-1 is housed in the paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment.

[0038] 7, when a first paper package 10-1 is accommodated in the paper tray 121, the first paper package 10-1 is placed on the placement surface 121A and guided by a pair of left and right side wall surfaces 121C. The first paper package 10-1 is pressed by a first leaf spring member 125 provided on one side wall surface 121C (positive side of the Y axis), and is thereby biased to the other side wall surface 121C (negative side of the Y axis), which is the reference surface in the left-right direction (Y axis direction).

[0039] 7, when the first paper package 10-1 is stored in the paper tray 121, the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 are switched to a horizontal storage state. At this time, each of the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 is stored in a horizontal state in a recess 123 provided in the loading surface 121A so as not to protrude from the loading surface 121A, and therefore does not interfere with the first paper package 10-1 placed on the loading surface 121A.

[0040] 7, a pair of left and right holding portions 127 are provided on the inner surface (the surface on the positive side of the Z axis) of the cover 111. Each of the pair of left and right holding portions 127 holds the upper end portion of each of the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 when the cover 111 is closed, thereby preventing each of the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 from falling over from its upright state. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the holding portion 127 has a shape in which the upper end portion of the auxiliary guide 122 is sandwiched between a pair of left and right ribs extending in the front-rear direction (X axis direction) from both the left and right sides.

[0041] (Containing state of second paper package 10-2) FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which the second paper package 10-2 is housed in the paper feed mechanism 120 according to one embodiment.

[0042] 8, when the second paper package 10-2 is accommodated in the paper tray 121, the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122 are switched to a vertically standing state. Then, the second paper package 10-2 is placed on the placement surface 121A and guided by the pair of left and right auxiliary guides 122. In addition, the second paper package 10-2 is pressed by a second leaf spring member 126 provided on one auxiliary guide 122 (positive side of the Y axis), and is thereby biased to the other auxiliary guide 122 (negative side of the Y axis), which is the reference surface in the left-right direction (Y axis direction).

[0043] (Rotation restriction structure 128) 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rotation restriction structure 128 included in a paper feed mechanism 120 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the rotation restriction structure 128 has a V-shaped cam lobe 128A that is convex downward and provided at the lower end of the auxiliary guide 122, and a V-shaped cam groove 128B that is concave outward in the Y-axis direction and provided below the mounting surface 121A (the positive side of the X-axis) and on the outer side of the cam lobe 128A in the Y-axis direction. Cam groove 128B is formed by two slopes provided on two protrusions 128Ba and 128Bb that are arranged vertically.

[0044] As shown in Figure 9, when the auxiliary guide 122 is in an upright position, the rotation restriction structure 128 restricts the rotation of the auxiliary guide 122 by pressing the apex of the lower convex portion 128Ba that constitutes the cam groove portion 128B against the slope of the cam crest portion 128A, thereby making it less likely that the auxiliary guide 122 will rattle or fall over.

[0045] Auxiliary guide 122 switches from the upright state shown in Fig. 9 to a horizontal storage state by rotating 90°. At this time, the operator applies force to auxiliary guide 122, causing the top of cam lobe 128A to climb over the apex of lower convex portion 128Ba, thereby allowing auxiliary guide 122 to move out of the upright state shown in Fig. 9.

[0046] When the auxiliary guide 122 is in the stored state, the rotation restriction structure 128 restricts the rotation of the auxiliary guide 122 by fitting the cam peak portion 128A into the cam groove portion 128B, thereby making it less likely that the auxiliary guide 122 will rattle or stand up.

[0047] The paper feed mechanism 120 according to the embodiment includes a rotation restriction structure 128 shown in FIG.

[0048] 3, notches 129 are formed in the front and rear of the peripheral portion of rotation restriction structure 128 on mounting surface 121A. This makes the peripheral portion of rotation restriction structure 128 flexible, and when an excessive force is applied to rotation restriction structure 128, the peripheral portion of rotation restriction structure 128 bends, thereby preventing damage to rotation restriction structure 128.

[0049] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0050] For example, a single auxiliary guide 122 may be provided between a pair of left and right side wall surfaces 121C, and when the second paper package 10-2 is stored in the paper tray 121, the single auxiliary guide 122 may bias the second paper package 10-2 to one of the side wall surfaces 121C, which is the reference surface in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] P paper P1 First size paper P2 Second size paper 10 Paper Packages 10-1 First Paper Package 10-2 Second Paper Package 100 printers 110 Case 111 Lid 112 Paper output slot 120 Paper feed mechanism 121 Paper Tray 121A Mounting surface 121Aa opening 121B back wall 121C side wall 122 Auxiliary Guide 122A surface 122B Guide surface 123 Recess 124 Insertion hole 125 first leaf spring member 125A long hole 126 second leaf spring member 126A long hole 126B Slope 127 Holding part 128 Rotation control structure 128A Cam lobe 128B Cam groove 128Ba,128Bb convex part 129 Notch 130 Paper feed roller 140 Printing mechanism

Claims

1. A paper feed mechanism having a paper tray that can selectively accommodate two types of paper of different sizes, an auxiliary guide provided on the sheet tray loading surface and switchable between an upright state and a retracted state; a cover that is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the paper tray and that, when closed, presses the paper stored in the paper tray against the placement surface; Equipped with When a first size of paper is accommodated in the paper tray, the first size of paper is guided by a side wall surface of the paper tray; When a sheet of a second size smaller than the first size is stored in the sheet tray, the sheet of the second size is guided by the auxiliary guide in the upright state. A paper feed mechanism characterized by:

2. A pair of left and right auxiliary guides is provided.

2. The paper feed mechanism according to claim 1.

3. a recess provided on the placement surface for storing the auxiliary guide in the stored state so that the auxiliary guide does not protrude from the placement surface; 3. The paper feed mechanism according to claim 2.

4. a leaf spring member provided on one of the auxiliary guides and pressing the side edges of the plurality of second-size sheets of paper to align the plurality of second-size sheets of paper with the other auxiliary guide; 3. The paper feed mechanism according to claim 2.

5. The cover has a holding portion that holds the upper end of the auxiliary guide in the upright state when the cover is closed.

3. The paper feed mechanism according to claim 2.

6. The auxiliary guide has a rotation restriction structure that restricts rotation of the auxiliary guide in both the upright state and the stored state.

3. The paper feed mechanism according to claim 2.

7. A paper feed mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided. A printer characterized by:

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