Recording medium winding device and printer
The recording medium winding device with a variable diameter and elastically deformable shaft facilitates easy removal of tightly wound media, addressing both slack and tight winding issues while keeping the printer size manageable.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOTALIZATOR ENG CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Printers with recording medium winding devices face issues where the recording medium either winds loosely, leading to slack and increased outer diameter, or winds too tightly, making it difficult to pull out.
A recording medium winding device with a winding shaft having variable diameters and an elastically deformable section allows for easy removal by creating gaps and reducing contact pressure during unwinding.
Enables easy removal of tightly wound recording media without loosening or increasing the printer's size, maintaining compactness.
Smart Images
Figure 2026099019000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a recording medium winding device and a printer.
Background Art
[0002] In a winding device for a recording paper printed by a printing device, a technique for changing the shaft diameter of the winding shaft, for example, a technique for making the shaft diameter of the base portion on the shaft-supported side of the winding shaft smaller than the shaft diameter of the tip portion is known (Patent Document 1).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] Printers equipped with a recording medium winding device for winding a printed recording medium around a winding shaft are known. In such a recording medium winding device, when winding the recording medium around the winding shaft, if the winding force of the recording medium is too weak, the recording medium will not be firmly wound around the winding shaft, resulting in slack in the wound recording medium or an increase in the outer diameter of the wound recording medium. On the other hand, if the winding force of the recording medium is increased, while the recording medium will be firmly wound around the winding shaft, the wound recording medium may adhere tightly to the winding shaft, making it impossible to slide and pull out the wound recording medium in the axial direction of the winding shaft.
[0005] On one side, an object of the present invention is to realize a recording medium winding device capable of easily pulling out a recording medium firmly wound around a winding shaft.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] In one embodiment, a recording medium winding device is provided, comprising a winding shaft on which a recording medium is wound, a first flange fixed to one end of the winding shaft, and a second flange detachably provided to the other end of the winding shaft, wherein the shaft diameter on the end side to which the first flange is fixed is smaller than the shaft diameter on the other end side to which the second flange is attached, and the other end side from which the second flange is removed is elastically deformable in the direction of reduction in diameter.
[0007] In another embodiment, a printer equipped with the recording medium winding device described above is provided. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] In one respect, it becomes possible to realize a recording medium winding device that can easily pull out the recording medium that is tightly wound on the winding shaft. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates an example of a printing and winding mechanism for a recording medium in a printer. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording medium winding device. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates one example of a method for removing a recording medium from a recording medium winding device. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the first example of the winding state of a recording medium. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates a second example of the winding state of a recording medium. [Figure 7] This is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a recording medium winding device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a recording medium winding device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9]This is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a recording medium winding device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a recording medium winding device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] This figure illustrates an example of the state when a recording medium is pulled out from the winding shaft of a recording medium winding device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] This figure illustrates an example of the state when a recording medium is pulled out from the winding shaft of a recording medium winding device relating to a comparative example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] First, we will describe a printer equipped with a recording medium winding device for winding up the recording medium. Figure 1 illustrates an example of a printer. Figure 1(A) shows a perspective view of the main parts of the printer before a recording medium is inserted. Figure 1(B) shows a perspective view of the main parts of the printer with a recording medium inserted.
[0011] The printer 1 shown in Figures 1(A) and 1(B) is an example of a thermal printer. As shown in Figure 1(A), the printer 1 is equipped with a recording medium supply device 20, a platen roller 31, and a recording medium winding device 40, all located on its main body 1a.
[0012] As shown in Figure 1(A), the recording medium supply device 20 has a supply shaft 21. As shown in Figure 1(B), a recording medium 10, which is a long printable medium wound in a roll, is set on the supply shaft 21 of the recording medium supply device 20. Thermal paper, plain paper, labels, etc., can be used for the recording medium 10. The recording medium supply device 20 feeds the recording medium 10 set on the supply shaft 21 to the platen roller 31 and the recording medium winding device 40 by rotational movement.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 1(A), the recording medium winding device 40 has a winding shaft 41. As shown in FIG. 1(B), the recording medium 10 sent out from the recording medium supply device 20 is wound around the winding shaft 41 of the recording medium winding device 40. The recording medium winding device 40 winds the recording medium 10 sent out from the recording medium supply device 20 around the winding shaft 41 by the rotational operation of the winding shaft 41.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 1(A), the platen roller 31 is provided in the middle of the path of the recording medium 10 sent from the recording medium supply device 20 to the recording medium winding device 40. The platen roller 31 sends the recording medium 10 set in the recording medium supply device 20 to the recording medium winding device 40 side by the rotational operation.
[0015] The recording medium winding device 40 rolls up the recording medium 10 sent from the recording medium supply device 20 to the recording medium winding device 40 side via the platen roller 31 in a roll shape around the winding shaft 41.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a mechanism for printing and winding a recording medium in a printer. FIG. 2 schematically shows a side perspective view of the main part of the printer. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes, in addition to the recording medium supply device 20, the platen roller 31, and the recording medium winding device 40 as described above, a thermal head 32, a drive motor 51, a drive motor 52, and a control unit 60.
[0017] The recording medium supply device 20 and the recording medium winding device 40 are detachable from the main body 1a of the printer 1. The thermal head 32 is positioned opposite the platen roller 31. The platen roller 31 is rotationally driven by a drive motor 51. The roll-shaped recording medium 10 set in the recording medium supply device 20 is fed towards the recording medium winding device 40 by the platen roller 31, which is rotationally driven by the drive motor 51 (shown by a thick arrow in Figure 2). As the recording medium 10 passes between the platen roller 31 and the thermal head 32, information indicating the processing performed by the printer 1 is printed on it, and this information is recorded. The platen roller 31 and the thermal head 32 are an example of the printing unit 30 of the printer 1.
[0018] The recording medium winding device 40 is rotationally driven by a drive motor 52. The recording medium 10, which has been printed on by the platen roller 31 and thermal head 32 of the printing unit 30, is wound into a roll on the winding shaft 41 of the recording medium winding device 40, which is rotationally driven by the drive motor 52.
[0019] Various operations in the printer 1, such as the rotational drive of the platen roller 31 by the drive motor 51, printing by the thermal head 32, and the rotational drive of the recording medium winding device 40 by the drive motor 52, are controlled by the control unit 60.
[0020] Here, as an example of a recording medium winding device 40 that can be used in the printer 1 described above (a comparative example to the embodiment below), a recording medium winding device 40A as shown in Figure 3 (and Figures 4 to 6) will be described.
[0021] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a recording medium winding device. Figure 3(A) shows a side view of the main components of an example of a recording medium winding device. Figure 3(B) shows a side view of the main components of an example of a recording medium winding device with a recording medium wound on it. For convenience, in Figure 3(B), the winding shaft on which the recording medium is wound is shown with a solid line.
[0022] The recording medium winding device 40A shown in Figure 3(A) comprises a winding shaft 41A, a first flange 42A, and a second flange 43A. The first flange 42A is fixed to one end of the winding shaft 41A. A gear 44A is connected to the first flange 42A for rotationally driving the winding shaft 41A together with the first flange 42A (rotationally driving using the drive motor 52). The second flange 43A is detachably (or removable) attached to the other end of the winding shaft 41A.
[0023] The winding shaft 41A has a constant shaft diameter Db from one end to which the first flange 42A is fixed to the other end to which the second flange 43A is attached. The winding shaft 41A of the recording medium winding device 40A has a first shaft portion 41Ad and a second shaft portion 41Ae arranged side by side with a gap 41Af between them. The end of the first shaft portion 41Ad and the second shaft portion 41Ae to which the first flange 42A is fixed does not move toward the gap 41Af side (the direction of diameter reduction of the winding shaft 41A), but the other end when the second flange 43A is removed can move toward the gap 41Af side (the direction of diameter reduction of the winding shaft 41A). The starting end of the recording medium 10 (the end to which winding begins onto the winding shaft 41A) is sandwiched in the gap 41Af of the winding shaft 41A, and the recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41A from there.
[0024] For example, a recording medium winding device 40A, as shown in Figure 3(A), is attached to the printer 1. The recording medium 10 is wound onto a winding shaft 41A, which has a first flange 42A fixed to one end and a second flange 43A attached to the other end, as shown in Figure 3(B). The recording medium winding device 40A (Figure 3(B)), with the recording medium 10 wound onto the winding shaft 41A, is removed from the printer 1. Then, the wound recording medium 10 is removed from the recording medium winding device 40A that has been removed from the printer 1.
[0025] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a method for removing a recording medium from a recording medium winding device. Figure 4(A) schematically shows a perspective view of the main parts of an example of a step for unlocking a removable flange. Figure 4(B) schematically shows a perspective view of the main parts of an example of a step for removing the removable flange. Figure 4(C) schematically shows a perspective view of the main parts of an example of a step for pulling the recording medium from the winding shaft.
[0026] In the recording medium winding device 40A, when removing the wound recording medium 10, first, as shown in Figure 4(A), the removable second flange 43A is rotated. The second flange 43A is designed to lock onto the tip portion 41Ah (Figure 4(B)) of the winding shaft 41A (its first shaft portion 41Ad and second shaft portion 41Ae) by rotating in one direction while the tip portion 41Ah (Figure 4(B)) is inserted into its insertion hole 43Aa. When removing the recording medium 10, the second flange 43A is rotated in the direction S1 shown in Figure 4(A), which is opposite to the direction of the lock. This releases the lock between the second flange 43A and the tip portion 41Ah of the winding shaft 41A.
[0027] The second flange 43A, which is rotated in direction S1 and unlocked, is removed from the tip 41Ah of the winding shaft 41A, as shown in Figure 4(B). Then, the wound-up roll-shaped recording medium 10 slides in the axial direction of the winding shaft 41A (shown by a thick arrow in Figure 4(C)) and is pulled out from the winding shaft 41A, as shown in Figure 4(C).
[0028] Here, we will describe an example of the winding state of the recording medium 10 wound onto the recording medium winding device 40A. Figure 5 illustrates the first example of the recording medium winding state. Figure 5(A) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device in which the recording medium has been wound. For convenience, in Figure 5(A), the winding shaft on which the recording medium is wound is shown with a solid line. Figure 5(B) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of the recording medium winding device of Figure 5(A) as seen from the tip side of the winding shaft.
[0029] For example, if the recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41A of the recording medium winding device 40A with a relatively weak winding force, the situation shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B) may occur. That is, the recording medium 10 may not be wound tightly onto the winding shaft 41A, causing looseness in the wound recording medium 10, or increasing the outer diameter of the wound recording medium 10 (schematically illustrated with thick arrows in Figures 5(A) and 5(B)). If the outer diameter of the recording medium 10 wound onto the winding shaft 41A becomes large in this way, it may be necessary to enlarge the printer 1 to accommodate it.
[0030] Figure 6 illustrates a second example of the recording medium winding state. Figure 6(A) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device in which the recording medium has been wound. For convenience, in Figure 6(A), the winding shaft on which the recording medium is wound is shown with a solid line. Figure 6(B) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of the recording medium winding device of Figure 6(A) as seen from the tip side of the winding shaft.
[0031] For example, if the recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41A of the recording medium winding device 40A with a relatively strong winding force, the state shown in Figures 6(A) and 6(B) may occur. That is, the recording medium 10 is tightly wound onto the winding shaft 41A, and the outer diameter of the wound recording medium 10 becomes smaller, making it more compact (schematically illustrated with thick arrows in Figures 6(A) and 6(B)). As a result, it becomes possible to suppress the increase in size of the printer 1.
[0032] However, on the other hand, if the recording medium 10 is tightly wound with a relatively strong winding force, it may adhere tightly to the winding shaft 41A, making it impossible to slide the wound recording medium 10 in the axial direction of the winding shaft 41A and pull it out from the winding shaft 41A. This point will be explained in Figure 12 below.
[0033] In view of the above points, the following embodiment adopts a configuration that allows for easy removal of the recording medium 10 that is tightly wound onto the winding shaft 41, thereby realizing a recording medium winding device 40. Furthermore, a printer 1 equipped with such a recording medium winding device 40 is realized.
[0034] [First Embodiment] Here, as a first embodiment, a conceptual configuration example of the recording medium winding device 40 will be described.
[0035] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an example of a recording medium winding device according to the first embodiment. Figure 7(A) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device with the removable flange removed. Figure 7(B) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of the recording medium winding device in the state shown in Figure 7(A), viewed from the tip side of the winding shaft. Figure 8(A) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device with the removable flange attached. Figure 8(B) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device with the recording medium wound up. Figure 8(C) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device when the recording medium is being pulled out.
[0036] As shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), the recording medium winding device 40 comprises a winding shaft 41 and a first flange 42. The recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41 as described later. The first flange 42 is fixed to one end of the winding shaft 41.
[0037] As shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), the winding shaft 41 has a first shaft portion 41d and a second shaft portion 41e extending from one end on the first flange 42 side to the other end on the opposite side. The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e extend from one end on the first flange 42 side along the direction of the axis C1 of the winding shaft 41. The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e are arranged side by side with a gap 41f between them. The starting end of the recording medium 10 (the end where winding onto the winding shaft 41 begins) is sandwiched in the gap 41f of the winding shaft 41, and the recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41 from there.
[0038] The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 are each elastically deformable toward the gap 41f, with one end on the first flange 42 side acting as a fulcrum. The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e are made of such an elastically deformable material. Because the first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e are formed using such a material, they are elastically deformable toward the gap 41f, with one end on the first flange 42 side acting as a fulcrum. The winding shaft 41 can be said to be elastically deformable in the diameter reduction direction because the first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e elastically deform toward the gap 41f.
[0039] As shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), the winding shaft 41 has a first portion 41a, a second portion 41b, and a third portion 41c. The first portion 41a is a portion provided on one end side of the winding shaft 41 to which the first flange 42 is fixed, and has a first shaft diameter Da. The second portion 41b is a portion provided on the other end side of the winding shaft 41, and has a second shaft diameter Db that is larger than the first shaft diameter Da. The third portion 41c is a portion provided between the first portion 41a and the second portion 41b of the winding shaft 41, and has a third shaft diameter Dc that transitions from the first shaft diameter Da to the second shaft diameter Db. Thus, the winding shaft 41 has a shape in which the first shaft diameter Da on the end side to which the first flange 42 is fixed is smaller than the second shaft diameter Db on the other end side.
[0040] As shown in Figure 8(A), a second flange 43 is attached to the other end of the winding shaft 41, opposite to the end to which the first flange 42 is fixed. The second flange 43 is provided detachably (or removable) from the other end of the winding shaft 41. The second flange 43 is attached to the winding shaft 41 by rotating it in one direction with the tip portion 41h of the winding shaft 41 (its first shaft portion 41d and second shaft portion 41e) inserted into its insertion hole 43a, thereby locking onto the tip portion 41h of the winding shaft 41. The second flange 43 is released from the tip portion 41h of the winding shaft 41 and can be removed from the winding shaft 41 by rotating it in the opposite direction to the locking direction.
[0041] As shown in Figure 8(A), the first portion 41a, second portion 41b, and third portion 41c of the winding shaft 41 with the second flange 43 attached have a first shaft diameter Da, a second shaft diameter Db, and a third shaft diameter Dc, respectively, similar to the state in Figures 7(A) and 7(B) when the second flange 43 is removed. Even with the second flange 43 attached, the winding shaft 41 has a shape in which the first shaft diameter Da on the end side to which the first flange 42 is fixed is smaller than the second shaft diameter Db on the other end side to which the second flange 43 is attached.
[0042] A recording medium winding device 40 having the configuration shown in Figure 8(A) is attached to the printer 1. The recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41 of the recording medium winding device 40 attached to the printer 1, as shown in Figure 8(B).
[0043] Here, the winding shaft 41 has a shape in which the first axial diameter Da of the first portion 41a on one end side to which the first flange 42 is fixed is smaller than the second axial diameter Db of the second portion 41b on the other end side to which the second flange 43 is attached. Therefore, the inner surface 10a of the center of the recording medium 10 wound onto the winding shaft 41, that is, the inner surface 10a of the fourth axial diameter Dd on the winding shaft 41 side, is in close contact with the second portion 41b of the second axial diameter Db, which is larger than the first axial diameter Da. On the other hand, a gap 70 is created between the inner surface 10a of the center of the recording medium 10 and the first portion 41a of the first axial diameter Da, which is smaller than the second axial diameter Db. In this way, the recording medium 10 is wound onto the recording medium winding device 40 with the recording medium in close contact with the second portion 41b of the second axial diameter Db of the winding shaft 41, and with a gap 70 between it and the first portion 41a of the first axial diameter Da, which is smaller.
[0044] When removing the recording medium 10 wound onto the recording medium winding device 40, first the recording medium winding device 40 is removed from the printer 1. Then, as shown in Figure 8(C), the second flange 43 of the recording medium winding device 40, which has been removed from the printer 1, is removed, and the wound recording medium 10 is slid out (shown by a thick arrow in Figure 8(C)) and pulled off the winding shaft 41.
[0045] The second flange 43 is released from its locking mechanism by being rotated in a direction opposite to the locking direction, and is removed from the winding shaft 41. The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed are elastically deformable in the direction of diameter reduction, with the fixed first flange 42 side as the pivot point, on the gap 41f side between them (as shown by the thick dotted arrow in Figure 8(C)). Therefore, the second portion 41b side (tip portion 41h side) of the first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed can move in the direction of diameter reduction, with the first portion 41a side (base side) fixed to the first flange 42 as the pivot point. Because the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 can move in the direction of diameter reduction, a gap 71 can be created between the second portion 41b and the inner surface 10a of the center of the wound recording medium 10, as shown in Figure 8(C). Alternatively, the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed can be deformed in the diameter reduction direction by being pressed against the inner surface 10a of the recording medium 10 as the recording medium 10 slides.
[0046] On the other hand, the first portion 41a side of the first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed is fixed to the first flange 42 and cannot move, but originally has a first shaft diameter Da that is smaller than the second portion 41b. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8(C), the first portion 41a side of the first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed originally has a gap 70 between it and the inner surface 10a of the center of the wound recording medium 10.
[0047] Therefore, when the recording medium 10 wound on the winding shaft 41 is slid out, as shown in Figure 8(C), the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed undergoes elastic deformation in the direction of diameter reduction, and its outer diameter becomes smaller. Alternatively, the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed is pressed by the inner surface 10a of the recording medium 10 as the recording medium 10 slides, deforming in the direction of diameter reduction, and its outer diameter becomes smaller. On the other hand, the first portion 41a side of the winding shaft 41 fixed to the first flange 42 already has a smaller outer diameter. Therefore, when the wound recording medium 10 is slid out from the winding shaft 41, the outer diameter of the winding shaft 41 becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the center of the wound recording medium 10, the contact between the winding shaft 41 and the recording medium 10 is suppressed, and the recording medium 10 can be easily pulled out from the winding shaft 41.
[0048] According to the recording medium winding device 40 of the first embodiment, even when the recording medium 10 is wound around the winding shaft 41 with a relatively strong winding force, the recording medium 10 can be easily pulled out from the winding shaft 41. Therefore, it is not necessary to weaken the winding force in order to facilitate the removal of the recording medium 10. As a result, it is possible to suppress loosening of the wound recording medium 10 and an increase in the outer diameter of the wound recording medium 10, thereby suppressing the increase in size of the printer 1.
[0049] According to the configuration described in the first embodiment, it becomes possible to realize a recording medium winding device 40 that can easily pull out the recording medium 10 that is tightly wound on the winding shaft 41. Furthermore, it becomes possible to realize a printer 1 that is equipped with such a recording medium winding device 40 while keeping the size down.
[0050] [Second Embodiment] Here, as a second embodiment, the recording medium winding device 40 described above will be further explained along with a specific example.
[0051] Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an example of a recording medium winding device according to the second embodiment. Figure 9 schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device with the removable flange removed. Figure 10(A) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device with the removable flange attached. Figure 10(B) schematically shows a side view of the main parts of an example of a recording medium winding device with the recording medium wound on it. For convenience, in Figure 10(B), the winding shaft on which the recording medium is wound is shown with a solid line.
[0052] As shown in Figure 9, the recording medium winding device 40 includes a winding shaft 41 and a first flange 42. The recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41. The first flange 42 is fixed to one end of the winding shaft 41. A gear 44 is connected to the first flange 42 for rotationally driving the winding shaft 41 together with the first flange 42.
[0053] As shown in Figure 9, the winding shaft 41 has a first shaft portion 41d and a second shaft portion 41e extending from one end on the first flange 42 side to the other end on the opposite side. The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e are arranged side by side with a gap 41f between them. When winding the recording medium 10, the starting end of the recording medium 10 to be wound is sandwiched in the gap 41f of the winding shaft 41. The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e are each elastically deformable toward the gap 41f side, i.e., in the direction of the reduction in diameter of the winding shaft 41, with the end on the first flange 42 side as the pivot point. The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 are made of materials such as PC (polycarbonate) resin or ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin and are formed to be elastically deformable.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 9, the take-up shaft 41 has a first portion 41a on one end side where the first flange 42 is fixed, a second portion 41b on the other end side, and a third portion 41c therebetween. The first portion 41a has a first shaft diameter Da. The second portion 41b has a second shaft diameter Db larger than the first shaft diameter Da. The third portion 41c has a third shaft diameter that transitions from the first shaft diameter Da to the second shaft diameter Db. The length (length in the direction of the axis C1) of each of the first portion 41a and the second portion 41b is set as appropriate. For example, the second portion 41b is set to have a length of at least half or more of the total length of the take-up shaft 41. For example, their lengths are set such that the ratio of the length of the first portion 41a to the length of the second portion 41b is 1:2. Also, the first shaft diameter Da and the second shaft diameter Db are set as appropriate as long as they satisfy the relationship Da < Db. For example, the first shaft diameter Da is set to 17.6 mm and the second shaft diameter Db is set to 18.0 mm.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 10(A), a removable second flange 43 is attached to the other end of the take-up shaft 41 opposite to the one end where the first flange 42 is fixed. The second flange 43 is rotated in one direction with the tip portions 41h (FIG. 9) of the first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the take-up shaft 41 inserted into the insertion hole provided in the center portion thereof, and is locked to the tip portions 41h, thereby being attached to the take-up shaft 41.
[0056] A recording medium take-up device 40 having the configuration shown in FIG. 10(A) is attached to the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 10(B), the recording medium 10 is wound around the take-up shaft 41 of the recording medium take-up device 40 attached to the printer 1. The take-up shaft 41 has a shape in which the first shaft diameter Da of the first portion 41a on the first flange 42 side is smaller than the second shaft diameter Db of the second portion 41b on the second flange 43 side. Therefore, the inner surface 10a (fourth shaft diameter Dd) of the center portion of the recording medium 10 wound around the take-up shaft 41 is in close contact with the second portion 41b, while a gap 70 is formed between the inner surface 10a and the first portion 41a.
[0057] Figure 11 illustrates an example of the state when a recording medium is pulled out from the winding shaft of a recording medium winding device according to the second embodiment. Figure 11(A) schematically shows a side view of the main part of an example of a recording medium winding device when the recording medium is pulled out. Figure 11(B) schematically shows an enlarged view of part P1 in Figure 11(A). For convenience, in Figures 11(A) and 11(B), the winding shaft on which the recording medium is wound is shown with a solid line.
[0058] In the recording medium winding device 40, when removing the wound recording medium 10, first the recording medium winding device 40 is removed from the printer 1. Then, as shown in Figure 11(A), the second flange 43 of the recording medium winding device 40, which has been removed from the printer 1, is rotated in the opposite direction to the locking direction to remove it, and the wound recording medium 10 slides out (shown by a thick arrow in Figure 11(A)) and is pulled out from the winding shaft 41.
[0059] The first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed can move by elastic deformation in the direction of diameter reduction of the winding shaft 41, with the fixed first flange 42 side as the pivot point (illustrated by a thick dotted arrow in Figure 11(A)). Because the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 can move in the direction of diameter reduction, a gap 71 can be created between the second portion 41b and the inner surface 10a of the center of the wound recording medium 10, as shown in Figure 11(A). Alternatively, the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed can be pushed by the inner surface 10a of the recording medium 10 as the recording medium 10 slides, causing it to deform in the direction of diameter reduction.
[0060] On the other hand, the first portion 41a side of the first shaft portion 41d and the second shaft portion 41e of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed originally has a first shaft diameter Da that is smaller than the second portion 41b. Therefore, on the first portion 41a side of the winding shaft 41, there is originally a gap 70 between it and the inner surface 10a of the center of the wound recording medium 10, as shown in portion P1 in Figure 11(A) and portion P1a in Figure 11(B).
[0061] Therefore, as shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(B), when the recording medium 10 wound on the winding shaft 41 is slid out, the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed undergoes elastic deformation in the direction of diameter reduction, and its outer diameter becomes smaller. Alternatively, the second portion 41b side of the winding shaft 41 from which the second flange 43 has been removed deforms in the direction of diameter reduction as the recording medium 10 slides, and its outer diameter becomes smaller. On the other hand, the first portion 41a side of the winding shaft 41 fixed to the first flange 42 already has a smaller outer diameter. Therefore, when the wound recording medium 10 is slid out, the outer diameter of the winding shaft 41 becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the center of the wound recording medium 10, the contact between the winding shaft 41 and the recording medium 10 is suppressed, and the recording medium 10 can be easily pulled out from the winding shaft 41.
[0062] Here, Figure 12 illustrates an example of the state when a recording medium is pulled out from the winding shaft of a recording medium winding device according to a comparative example. Figure 12(A) schematically shows a side view of the main part of an example of a recording medium winding device when the recording medium is pulled out. Figure 12(B) schematically shows an enlarged view of part P2 in Figure 12(A). For convenience, in Figures 12(A) and 12(B), the winding shaft on which the recording medium is wound is shown with a solid line.
[0063] In the comparative example recording medium winding device 40A (Figures 3 to 6), when removing the wound recording medium 10, the second flange 43A is removed, as shown in Figure 12(A), similar to the above recording medium winding device 40 (Figure 11), and the wound recording medium 10 slides (shown by a thick arrow in Figure 12(A)) and is pulled out from the winding shaft 41A.
[0064] In the recording medium winding device 40A according to the comparative example, the recording medium 10 is wound so that its central inner surface 10a is in close contact with the winding shaft 41A. When the second flange 43A is removed from the winding shaft 41A, the first shaft portion 41Ad and the second shaft portion 41Ae move elastically in the direction of diameter reduction, with the end on the tip portion 41Ah side pivoting on the fixed first flange 42A side (shown by a thick dotted arrow in Figure 12(A)). As a result, a gap 71A is created between the end on the tip portion 41Ah side of the first shaft portion 41Ad and the second shaft portion 41Ae of the winding shaft 41A and the inner surface 10a of the center of the wound recording medium 10, as shown in Figure 12(A). On the other hand, when the second flange 43A is removed from the winding shaft 41A, the end on the first flange 42 side of the first shaft portion 41Ad and the second shaft portion 41Ae does not move in the direction of diameter reduction, and therefore maintains a state of close contact with the inner surface 10a of the center of the wound recording medium 10, as shown in part P2 in Figure 12(A) and part P2a in Figure 12(B).
[0065] Therefore, as shown in Figures 12(A) and 12(B), when the recording medium 10 wound on the winding shaft 41A is slid out, the end of the winding shaft 41A on the tip 41Ah side from which the second flange 43A has been removed elastically deforms in the diameter reduction direction, and its outer diameter decreases. On the other hand, the end of the winding shaft 41A on the first flange 42A side, which is fixed to the first flange 42A, does not change its outer diameter and remains in close contact with the inner surface 10a of the center of the recording medium 10. Consequently, when the wound recording medium 10 is slid out, the close contact between its inner surface 10a and the end of the winding shaft 41A on the first flange 42A side (parts P2 and P2a) becomes a load during sliding, and it may become difficult to easily pull the recording medium 10 out of the winding shaft 41. In order to prevent the recording medium 10 from becoming loose or its outer diameter from increasing, and to prevent the printer 1 from becoming larger, if the recording medium 10 is wound onto the winding shaft 41 with a relatively strong winding force, it becomes more likely that the recording medium 10 will not be easily removed from the winding shaft 41.
[0066] In contrast, in the recording medium winding device 40 according to the second embodiment, as shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(B), the first portion 41a side of the winding shaft 41 has a first shaft diameter Da that is smaller than the second portion 41b side, and a gap 70 is provided between it and the inner surface 10a of the center of the wound recording medium 10. Therefore, when the recording medium 10 is wound up and when the wound recording medium 10 is pulled out, close contact between the inner surface 10a and the first portion 41a is suppressed. As a result, when the recording medium 10 wound on the winding shaft 41A is slid out, the load applied during the sliding is suppressed, and the recording medium 10 can be easily pulled out from the winding shaft 41.
[0067] According to the recording medium winding device 40 of the second embodiment, even when the recording medium 10 is wound around the winding shaft 41 with a relatively strong winding force, the recording medium 10 can be easily pulled out from the winding shaft 41. Therefore, it is not necessary to weaken the winding force in order to facilitate the removal of the recording medium 10, and it is possible to suppress loosening of the wound recording medium 10, an increase in the outer diameter, and an increase in the size of the printer 1.
[0068] According to the configuration described in the second embodiment, it becomes possible to realize a recording medium winding device 40 that can easily pull out the recording medium 10 that is tightly wound on the winding shaft 41. Furthermore, it becomes possible to realize a printer 1 that is equipped with such a recording medium winding device 40 while keeping the size down.
[0069] In the above explanation, a thermal printer was used as an example of printer 1, but the recording medium winding device 40 having the above configuration can be applied to various printers that have the function of winding up the recording medium 10. [Explanation of symbols]
[0070] 1 printer 1a Main unit 10 recording media 10a Inner surface 20 Recording medium supply device 21 Supply shaft 30 Printing Department 31 Platen Roller 32 Thermal Heads 40, 40A Recording media winding device 41, 41A winding shaft 41a Part 1 41b Part 2 41c Part 3 41d, 41Ad First shaft section 41e, 41Ae Second shaft section 41f, 41Af, 70, 71, 71A gap 41h, 41Ah tip 42, 42A First flange 43, 43A Second flange 43a, 43Aa Insertion holes 44, 44A gear 51, 52 Drive motor 60 Control Unit C1 axis Da 1st axis diameter Db Second axis diameter Dc Third axis diameter Dd 4th axis diameter S1 direction
Claims
1. A winding shaft from which the recording medium is wound, A first flange is fixed to one end of the winding shaft, A second flange is detachably provided at the other end of the winding shaft, Equipped with, The aforementioned winding shaft is The shaft diameter at the one end to which the first flange is fixed is smaller than the shaft diameter at the other end to which the second flange is attached. A recording medium winding device wherein the other end side from which the second flange is removed is elastically deformable in the diameter reduction direction.
2. The aforementioned winding shaft is A first shaft portion extending from one end to the other end, A second shaft portion is provided alongside the first shaft portion and extends from one end to the other end, The gap provided between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, Includes, The recording medium winding device according to claim 1, wherein when the other end side from which the second flange has been removed undergoes elastic deformation in the diameter reduction direction, the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion undergo elastic deformation toward the gap side with the one end portion as a fulcrum.
3. The aforementioned winding shaft is A first portion provided on one end side and having a first axial diameter, A second portion is provided on the other end side and has a second shaft diameter that is larger than the first shaft diameter, A third portion is provided between the first portion and the second portion and has a third axial diameter that transitions from the first axial diameter to the second axial diameter, A recording medium winding device according to claim 1, having the following features.
4. The recording medium winding device according to claim 3, wherein the length of the first portion is smaller than the length of the second portion.
5. The printing unit that prints onto the recording medium, A recording medium winding device for winding up the recording medium discharged from the printing unit, Equipped with, The recording medium winding device, The winding shaft from which the recording medium is wound, A first flange is fixed to one end of the winding shaft, A second flange is detachably provided at the other end of the winding shaft, Equipped with, The aforementioned winding shaft is The shaft diameter at the one end to which the first flange is fixed is smaller than the shaft diameter at the other end to which the second flange is attached. A printer in which the other end side from which the second flange is removed is elastically deformable in the diameter reduction direction.