阅读说明：本技术 薄片引导机构以及印刷装置 (Sheet guide mechanism and printing apparatus ) 是由 平林健一 平嶋拓 于 2020-02-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种薄片引导机构以及印刷装置。在所述印刷装置中,使薄片介质的安置等所需的操作变得容易。在罩(60)向关闭位置(C0)移动的过程中,通过使第二卡合部(61)与第一卡合部(91)接触以使第一卡合部(91)进行位移,从而使引导部(97)向引导位置(D2)进行移动,并且在罩(60)从关闭位置(C0)朝向第一打开位置(C1)移动的过程中,第二卡合部(61)与第一卡合部(91)之间的接触被解除,从而使引导部(97)从引导位置(D2)向开放位置(D1)进行移动。(The invention provides a sheet guide mechanism and a printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus, operations required for setting of sheet media and the like are facilitated. The guide section (97) is moved to the guide position (D2) by displacing the first engaging section (91) by bringing the second engaging section (61) into contact with the first engaging section (91) while the cover (60) is moved to the closed position (C0), and the guide section (97) is moved from the guide position (D2) to the open position (D1) by releasing the contact between the second engaging section (61) and the first engaging section (91) while the cover (60) is moved from the closed position (C0) to the first open position (C1).)

1. A sheet guide mechanism for guiding a sheet medium by holding the sheet medium between a receiving part and a guide part,

the guide portion is configured to be movable to a guide position facing the receiving portion and clamping the sheet medium and an open position between the guide portion and the receiving portion and enabling insertion and removal of the sheet medium,

the sheet guide mechanism includes:

a cover that covers the sheet medium;

a first engaging portion that engages with the guide portion and moves the guide portion to the guide position,

the cover is movable to a closed position covering the sheet medium and an open position in which an opening operable on the sheet medium is formed, and has a second engaging portion that contacts the first engaging portion at the closed position,

the guide portion is moved to the guide position by the second engaging portion being in contact with the first engaging portion to displace the first engaging portion while the cover is moved to the closed position,

when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the contact between the second engaging portion and the first engaging portion is released, and the guide portion moves from the guide position to the open position.

2. The sheet guide mechanism of claim 1,

a biasing member that biases the guide portion toward the open position,

in the process of moving the cover to the closed position, the guide portion is pressed against the biasing force of the biasing member by the first engaging portion, so that the guide portion moves to the guide position.

3. The sheet guide mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,

the receiving portion and the guide portion are disposed at two locations separated in a width direction of the sheet medium intersecting a conveying direction,

at least one of the receiving portion and the guide portion has a regulating surface that abuts against the sheet medium to regulate movement of the sheet medium in the width direction.

4. The sheet guide mechanism of claim 3,

at least one of the two receiving portions is movable in the width direction of the sheet medium.

5. A printing apparatus includes:

a conveying unit that conveys the sheet medium;

a printing unit configured to print the sheet medium;

the sheet guide mechanism of any one of claims 1 to 4,

the printing apparatus guides the sheet medium conveyed by the conveying unit by the sheet guide mechanism.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sheet guide mechanism and a printing apparatus.

Background

Conventionally, a printing apparatus that performs printing on a sheet-like print medium such as paper is known to include a sheet guide mechanism that presses an edge of the print medium (see, for example, patent document 1).

In the conventional printing apparatus described above, a large number of operations are required to set the printing medium on the sheet guide mechanism. For example, in the printing apparatus described in patent document 1, after an operation of opening a cover of the printing apparatus is performed, an operation of moving a guide portion that presses a printing medium to an open position is required. Further, an operation of disposing the print medium on the sheet guide mechanism, an operation of moving the guide portion to the guide position, and an operation of closing the cover are required. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the operation load in the case of setting a printing medium or the like.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication (JP 2015-20875)

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to facilitate operations required for setting a sheet medium and the like in a configuration in which a printing apparatus for printing on a sheet medium includes a sheet guide mechanism for guiding the sheet medium.

One aspect of the present invention is a sheet guiding mechanism that guides a sheet medium by sandwiching the sheet medium between a receiving portion and a guide portion, wherein the guide portion is configured to be movable to a guide position where the guide portion faces the receiving portion and sandwiches the sheet medium and an open position where the sheet medium can be inserted into and removed from the receiving portion, the sheet guiding mechanism including: a cover that covers the sheet medium; a first engaging portion that engages with the guide portion to move the guide portion to the guide position, the cover has a second engaging portion movable to a closed position covering the sheet medium and an open position in which an opening operable on the sheet medium is formed, and contacts the first engaging portion at the closed position, the guide portion is moved to the guide position by the second engaging portion being in contact with the first engaging portion to displace the first engaging portion while the cover is moved to the closed position, when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the contact between the second engaging portion and the first engaging portion is released, and the guide portion moves from the guide position to the open position.

In the sheet guide mechanism, the sheet guide mechanism may be provided with a biasing member that biases the guide portion toward the open position, and the first engaging portion may press the guide portion against the biasing force of the biasing member so as to move the guide portion toward the guide position while the cover is moving toward the closed position.

In the sheet guide mechanism, the receiving portion and the guide portion may be disposed at two locations separated in a width direction of the sheet medium intersecting a conveying direction, and at least one of the receiving portion and the guide portion may have a regulating surface that comes into contact with the sheet medium to regulate movement of the sheet medium in the width direction.

In the sheet guide mechanism, at least one of the two receiving portions may be movable in the width direction of the sheet medium.

Another aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object is a printing apparatus including: a conveying unit that conveys the sheet medium; a printing unit configured to print the sheet medium; in the sheet guide mechanism according to the above aspect, the sheet medium conveyed by the conveying unit is guided by the sheet guide mechanism.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the internal structure of a printing apparatus filled with folded sheets.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the printing apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a main part showing the engaging mechanism of the front support part and the hood front part.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a main part showing the engagement mechanism of the rear support portion and the cover rear portion.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the cushion mechanism at the rear of the cover.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the internal structure of the printing apparatus after the roll paper is packed.

Fig. 7 is a side view showing the sheet guide mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the sheet guide mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the paper pressing member.

Fig. 10 is a main portion side view of the paper pressing member.

Fig. 11 is a rear view of a main part of the paper pressing member.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawing, the symbol Up indicates the upper side, the symbol Fr indicates the front side, and the symbol Rh indicates the right side.

As shown in fig. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a printing apparatus main body 10. The printing apparatus main body 10 is provided with a printing unit 20 for printing on a recording medium, a storage unit 21 for storing the recording medium, and a cover 60 for covering the storage unit 21. In the printing apparatus main body 10, the housing portion 21 is provided behind the printing portion 20.

The paper P shown in fig. 1 is a folded paper 101. The paper P is guided to the paper guide 33 and the paper presser 34, and is conveyed to the printing portion 20 in front. The paper P printed in the printing portion 20 is discharged through a paper discharge port 22 formed in the front surface of the printing apparatus 1. The paper guide 33 is a table that supports the paper P from below, and the paper presser 34 is positioned above the paper P so as to face the paper guide 33, and presses the paper P against the paper P.

The printing unit 20 is disposed in front of the paper guide 33 and the paper presser 34. The printing unit 20 includes a platen 35, a print head 40, and carriage guide shafts 41 and 42. The print head 40 of the present embodiment can eject inks of a plurality of colors. As the ink that can be ejected, for example, four colors of ink, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, can be ejected onto the paper P. The ink is stored in the ink cartridge 24.

The ink cartridge 24 is disposed at a front lower portion of the printing apparatus main body 10. The ink supply unit 23 is provided at a front upper portion of the printing apparatus main body 10. The ink in the ink cartridge 24 is supplied to the print head 40 via the ink supply unit 23. The print head 40 performs printing on the paper P by scanning along the carriage guide shafts 41 and 42 arranged in the left-right width direction of the printing apparatus 1. Further, a board 25 for controlling the operation of the printing apparatus 1 is disposed in front of the ink cartridge 24.

The platen 35 of the printing unit 20 has a flat surface arranged along the conveyance direction F. The plane is located below the paper P conveyance path 110 and faces the print head 40. The platen 35 is fixed to the printing apparatus main body 10 of the printing apparatus 1, and supports the sheet P from below. The plane of the platen 35 is substantially horizontal in the installation state and the use state of the printing apparatus 1. A conveyor belt 52 passes through the plane of the platen 35, and the conveyor belt 52 is an endless belt having a wide width and is disposed so as to extend from the plane of the platen 35 to below the platen 35 via a roller 52 a.

At least the upward surface of the conveyor belt 52 on the plane of the platen 35 is a rough surface having a high friction coefficient. The conveyor belt 52 is preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber or synthetic resin. A drive mechanism, not shown, for moving the conveyor belt 52 is disposed below the platen 35.

Between the print head 40 and the paper pressing member 34, a driven roller, not shown, is disposed so as to face the platen 35.

The driven roller is rotatably supported by the printing apparatus main body 10 of the printing apparatus 1. The driven roller is urged toward the plane of the platen 35. The paper P is nipped between a driven roller, not shown, and the conveying belt 52 on the conveying path 110, and is reliably conveyed in the conveying direction F in accordance with the movement of the conveying belt 52.

Further, a pressing roller, not shown, that presses the paper P so as not to lift from the transport belt 52 is disposed in the print head 40. The paper guide 33, the paper presser 34, the conveying belt 52, the roller 52a, and a mechanism for driving the conveying belt 52 constitute a conveying unit 30 for conveying the paper P to the printing unit 20.

A cutter unit for cutting the paper P can be attached to the front surface of the printing apparatus main body 10. The cutter unit may be a member that partially cuts the paper P in the width direction thereof, or may be a member that completely cuts the paper P. The printing apparatus 1 can cut the paper P printed by the print head 40 to a predetermined length by the cutter unit and discharge the paper P from the paper discharge port 22.

A take-up unit, not shown, is detachably provided on the front surface of the printing apparatus main body 10 below the sheet discharge port 22. The winding unit includes a winding drum that winds the paper P discharged from the paper discharge port 22, and a driving unit, not shown, that rotates the winding drum, and can wind the paper P. A stripper may be mounted on the front surface of the printing apparatus body 10. The peeler can take up the release paper while taking off the label from the release paper.

A storage portion 21 having an opened upper portion is provided at the rear portion of the printing apparatus main body 10. The housing portion 21 is disposed behind the printing portion 20. A paper guide 33 and a paper presser 34 are disposed in the storage section 21. The housing 21 is covered with a cover 60.

According to the present embodiment, the cover 60 is supported by the front support 11 and the rear support 12 so as to be openable and closable in two directions R1 and R2. The cover 60 is rotated to the first open position C1 by rotating the rear portion 60R in the first direction R1 with reference to the front support portion 11. The cover 60 is rotated to the second open position C2 by rotating the front portion 60f in the second direction R2 with the rear support portion 12 as a reference.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the printing apparatus.

As shown in fig. 2, an insertion opening 71 is formed in the rear surface of the printing apparatus 1 in a state where the cover 60 is closed. The insertion opening 71 is formed between a notch 60n provided in a lower portion of the rear portion 60r and the rear upper edge 6a of the exterior cover 6 of the printing apparatus 1. The insertion opening 71 is formed at an upper portion of the rear end of the housing 21.

As shown in fig. 1, the folded sheet 101 is fed into the printing apparatus 1 through the insertion port 71 communicating with the storage section 21.

The notch 60n is opened to a position higher than the height of the second support shaft 12a described below at a closed position C0 where the cover 60 is closed as shown in fig. 1. Thus, in a state where the cover 60 is opened to the second open position C2, the insertion opening 71 is formed between the notch portion 60n and the exterior 6. Therefore, even if the cover 60 is positioned at the second open position C2, the insertion opening 71 is exposed rearward, and therefore the folded sheets 101 can be loaded into the printing apparatus 1 by inserting the sheets P through the insertion opening 71.

The cover 60 is rotated to the first open position C1 by rotating the rear portion 60R in the first direction R1 with reference to the front support portion 11. When the cover 60 is rotated to the first open position C1, the opening surrounded by the container 21 and the cover 60 in the first open position C1 is largely opened toward the rear of the printing apparatus 1. Thus, even if the cover 60 is located at the first open position C1, the folded sheets 101 arranged at the rear of the printing apparatus 1 can be easily loaded from the rear of the printing apparatus 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a main part of the engagement mechanism a showing the front support portion 11 and the front portion 60f of the cover 60. The front portion 60f of the cover 60 is disposed between the front support portions 11 provided on the left and right side portions of the printing apparatus main body 10. The left and right front support portions 11 are provided with first support shafts 11a extending toward the cover 60, respectively. The left and right first support shafts 11a constitute a support shaft portion 60a that rotatably supports the cover 60 together with a second support shaft 12a described below.

When the front portion 60f of the cover 60 is opened, the engagement between the engagement mechanism a and the first support shaft 11a is released, and the front portion 60f is separated from the front support portion 11.

The first support shaft 11a is a short pin projecting toward the cover 60. The extending direction of the first spindle 11a coincides with the left-right direction of the printing apparatus 1.

The engagement mechanism a is constituted by a first hook member 65 engaged with the first support shaft 11a, a front lever 64f serving as a rotation shaft of the first hook member 65, and a front handle 66f for releasing the engagement. The left and right first hook members 65 provided on the front portion 60f of the cover 60 are fixed to the left and right end portions of the front rod 64f so as not to be relatively rotatable.

A front handle 66f is fixed to the center of the front rod 64f, and the front handle 66f is rotatably supported by the cover 60 with the front rod 64f as a rotation shaft.

At a position C0 where the cover 60 is closed as shown in fig. 1, the first support shaft 11a is fitted into the guide grooves 67 provided on the left and right side surfaces of the front portion 60f and engaged by the first hook member 65. The first hook member 65 is configured in a hook shape in which a distal end portion is bent in the rotation direction. The first hook member 65 is movable between an engagement position a1 and a release position a 2.

The first hook member 65 is biased by a biasing member, not shown, to move from the release position a2 to the engagement position a 1.

The guide groove 67 is provided obliquely forward and downward from a middle portion in the thickness direction of the front portion 60f in a state where the cover 60 is closed.

When the front portion 60f of the cover 60 is closed, the first support shaft 11a is guided into the guide groove 67 through the lower end portion 67b of the guide groove 67. Then, the first shaft 11a abuts against the first hook member 65, and the first hook member 65 is rotated toward the release position a 2. When the first support shaft 11a reaches the upper end 67a of the guide groove 67, the first hook member 65 returns to the engagement position a 1. Further, the first pivot 11a is held between the upper end 67a of the guide groove 67 and the first hook member 65. Thereby, the engagement mechanism a is engaged with the first support shaft 11 a.

At the engagement position a1, the first hook member 65 protrudes from the rear surface 67c of the guide groove 67 toward the guide groove 67 side. In the guide groove 67, the first hook member 65 is configured to have a shape in which the amount of protrusion into the guide groove 67 is reduced toward the lower end portion 67b of the guide groove 67.

When the front portion 60f of the cover 60 is closed, the front portion 60f is turned downward about the second support shaft 12a shown in fig. 2. Thereby, the first shaft 11a is guided into the guide groove 67, and the first shaft 11a presses and rotates the first hook member 65. When the first support shaft 11a reaches the upper end 67a of the guide groove 67, the first hook member 65 protrudes into the guide groove 67, and the first support shaft 11a is locked by the first hook member 65 and the guide groove 67.

When the cover 60 is opened from the front portion 60f, the first spindle 11a is unlocked. At this time, the front handle 66f is rotated upward about the front lever 64 f. Thereby, the front handle 66f and the first hook member 65 are moved to the release position a 2.

The first hook member 65 is retracted from the guide groove 67. Thus, the locking of the first support shaft 11a is released, and the front portion 60f of the cover 60 can be rotated in the second direction R2 with the first support shaft 11a fitted into the guide groove 67.

In the present embodiment, a damper mechanism 70 as a gear train is provided around the first support shaft 11a, and the damper mechanism 70 damps the rotation around the front portion 60 f. The damper mechanism 70 is configured by a first internal gear 73 provided at the upper end portion of the front support portion 11 of the printing apparatus 1, a first spur gear 72 provided at the front portion 60f of the cover 60, an intermediate gear 74, a first damper 76, and a damper gear 75 attached to the rotary shaft of the first damper 76.

The first spur gear 72 is rotatably supported by the cover 60. The rotation axis of the first spur gear 72 coincides with the left-right direction of the printing apparatus 1. The intermediate gear 74 meshing with the first spur gear 72 transmits the rotation of the first spur gear 72 to the first damper 76 via the damper gear 75. As the first damper 76, for example, a rotary damper utilizing flow resistance or a rotary damper utilizing frictional resistance can be used. The first internal gear 73 is provided at the peripheral portion of the first spindle 11a, and is provided on the rotational track portion. The first internal gear 73 is formed on an arc centered on the first spindle 11a at the upper end portion of the front support portion 11.

The first spur gear 72 is configured such that a portion of the first spur gear 72 protrudes forward from the front portion 60f when the cover 60 is in the closed position C0.

When the cover 60 is turned by a predetermined angle or more about the first support shaft 11a, the first spur gear 72 meshes with the first internal gear 73, and the first spur gear 72 rotates. The first damper 76 applies a load to the rotation of the first spur gear 72, thereby damping the rotation of the cover 60. The predetermined angle is appropriately set according to the shape of the cover 60.

In the damper mechanism 70 of the front portion 60f, a range is provided in which the first spur gear 72 and the first internal gear 73 do not mesh. The line F1 is a line passing through the center of rotation of the first spur gear 72 and the first support shaft 11a with the cover 60 in the closed position C0. A straight line F2 is a straight line passing through the rotation center of the first spur gear 72 and the first support shaft 11a in a state where the first spur gear 72 and the first internal gear 73 start to contact each other. The line F3 is a line passing through the center of rotation of the first spur gear 72 and the first support shaft 11a at the second open position C2 of the cover 60.

In the rotation range G1 from the line F1 to the line F2, the first spur gear 72 is not in contact with the first internal gear 73, and the first damper 76 does not operate. The angle of the rotational range G1 constitutes a predetermined angle G1 at which the first spur gear 72 does not contact the first internal gear 73. The pivot range G1 may be set to a range from the cover 60 closed position C0 to the pivot position at which the second support shaft 12a contacts the second hook member 68. Accordingly, the contact with the second support shaft 12a makes it difficult for a load to be applied to the first spur gear 72 and the first internal gear 73 when the posture of the cover 60 changes.

In a rotational range G2 from a straight line F2 to a straight line F3, the first spur gear 72 is in contact with the first internal gear 73, and the first damper 76 operates. In this way, the pivot range G1 in which the first damper 76 does not operate and the pivot range G2 in which the first damper 76 operates are provided in this order from the closed position C0 to the second open position C2 of the cover 60.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a main part of the engagement mechanism B showing the rear support portion 12 and the rear portion 60r of the cover 60. The engagement mechanism B is configured by a second hook member 68, a rear lever 64r as a rotation shaft of the second hook member 68, and a rear handle 66r that rotates integrally with the second hook member 68. The second hook member 68 is fixed to the rear lever 64 r. The second hook members 68 are fixed to the left and right end portions of the rear lever 64r so as not to rotate relative to each other. A rear handle 66r is fixed to a central portion of the rear rod 64 r. The rear handle 66r is rotatably supported by the cover 60 with the rear lever 64r as a rotation shaft.

A rear portion 60r of the cover 60 is disposed between the rear support portions 12 provided on the left and right side portions of the printing apparatus 1. Second support shafts 12a extending toward the cover 60 are provided on the rear support portions 12, respectively. The left and right second support shafts 12a constitute a support shaft portion 60a that rotatably supports the cover 60 together with the first support shaft 11 a. The second support shaft 12a is a short pin projecting toward the cover 60. The extending direction of the second support shaft 12a coincides with the lateral direction of the printing apparatus 1.

When the rear portion 60r of the cover 60 is opened, the engagement between the engagement mechanism B and the second support shaft 12a is released, and the rear portion 60r is separated from the rear support portion 12.

In the closed position C0 of the cover 60, the second support shaft 12a is fitted into the guide groove 69 provided in the cover 60 and is locked by the second hook member 68.

Guide grooves 69 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the rear portion 60r of the cover 60. The guide groove 69 is provided obliquely forward and downward from the lower end of the rear portion 60r in a state where the cover 60 is closed. The lower end 69b of the guide groove 69 opens downward. When the cover 60 is closed, the second support shaft 12a is introduced into the guide groove 69 through the lower end 69b of the guide groove 69. The second support shaft 12a is locked by the upper end 69a of the guide groove 69 and the second hook member 68.

The second hook member 68 is configured in a hook shape with a distal end portion bent in the rotational direction. The second hook member 68 is movable between an engagement position B1 and a release position B2. The second hook member 68 is biased by a spring 68a to rotate from the release position B2 to the engagement position B1.

The second hook member 68 protrudes from the front surface 69c of the guide groove 69 into the guide groove 69. The second hook member 68 of the portion protruding into the guide groove 69 is configured such that the amount of protrusion into the guide groove 69 is reduced toward the lower end 69b of the guide groove 69.

Thus, when the rear portion 60r of the cover 60 is closed, the second support shaft 12a is introduced into the guide groove 69, and the second support shaft 12a presses the second hook member 68, thereby rotating the second hook member 68 from the engagement position B1 to the release position B2.

When the second support shaft 12a reaches the upper end 69a of the guide groove 69, the second hook member 68 protrudes into the guide groove 69, and the second support shaft 12a is locked by the second hook member 68 and the guide groove 69.

When the rear portion 60r of the cover 60 is opened, the locking of the second support shaft 12a is released. When the rear handle 66r is rotated upward, the second hook member 68 is retracted from the guide groove 69, and the second hook member 68 moves from the engagement position B1 to the release position B2. This releases the locking of the second support shaft 12a, and the second support shaft 12a can move in the guide groove 69.

In the present embodiment, a damper mechanism 80 is provided as a gear train, and the damper mechanism 80 damps rotation about the rear portion 60 r.

The damper mechanism 80 is configured by a second internal gear 83, a second spur gear 82, an intermediate gear 84, a second damper 86, and a damper gear 85 that rotates integrally with a rotation shaft of the second damper 86, which are provided on the upper end portion of the rear support portion 12.

A second spur gear 82, an intermediate gear 84, and a second damper 86 are provided on the rear portion 60r of the cover 60. The second internal gear 83 is provided on the peripheral portion of the second support shaft 12a and on the rotation orbit portion. The second internal gear 83 is formed on an arc centered on the second support shaft 12a at the upper end of the rear support portion 12.

The second spur gear 82 is rotatably supported by the rear portion 60r of the cover 60. The rotation axis of the second spur gear 82 coincides with the left-right direction of the printing apparatus 1. The intermediate gear 84 meshed with the second spur gear 82 transmits the rotation of the second spur gear 82 to the second damper 86. Also, the second damper 86 damps the rotational motion of the second spur gear 82.

The second spur gear 82 is configured such that a part thereof protrudes downward from the rear portion 60 r. When the cover 60 is turned by a predetermined angle or more about the second support shaft 12a, the second spur gear 82 meshes with the second internal gear 83, and the second spur gear 82 rotates. The second damper 86 applies a load to the rotation of the second spur gear 82, thereby damping the rotation of the cover 60. Further, the second damper 86 is set so that the cover 60 can be prevented from rotating due to its own weight. The predetermined angle is appropriately set according to the shape of the cover 60.

Next, the operation of the buffer mechanisms 70 and 80 will be described.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the damper mechanism 80 of the rear portion 60r of the cover 60. In fig. 5, state S1 represents a state in which the cover 60 is closed.

In this state S1, the second spur gear 82 and the second ring gear 83 are not meshed with each other, and the second damper 86 of the rear portion 60r is not operated. The angle of the rotational range H1 is a predetermined angle H1 at which the second spur gear 82 does not contact the second internal gear 83.

State S2 shows the front portion 60f of the cover 60 being turned upward and the second spur gear 82 and the second ring gear 83 beginning to mesh with each other. When the second spur gear 82 and the second internal gear 83 start to mesh, the second damper 86 starts to operate.

State S3 represents the maximum rearward rotation of cover 60. The state S3 represents a state in which the cover 60 is opened to the second open position C2. In the state S3, the rotation of the cover 60 in the second direction R2 is restricted by a stopper, not shown. The straight line L1 is a straight line connecting the second support shaft 12a and the rotating shaft 82a of the second spur gear 82 in the state S1. The straight line L2 is a straight line connecting the second support shaft 12a and the rotation shaft 82a in the state S2. The straight line L3 is a straight line connecting the second support shaft 12a and the rotation shaft 82a in the state S3.

The cover 60 is rotated about the second support shaft 12a from the state S1 to the state S3. In the range from the state S1 to the state S3, a range in which the second damper 86 does not function is provided. In the rotation range H1 of the cover 60 from the state S1 to the state S2, the second spur gear 82 is not in contact with the second internal gear 83.

Also, in the rotation range H2 of the cover 60 from the state S2 to the state S3, the second spur gear 82 is in contact with the second internal gear 83.

Within the rotational range H1, the second spur gear 82 is not meshed with the second internal gear 83. Therefore, in the rotation range H1, the second damper 86 does not operate.

When the cover 60 is opened with the second support shaft 12a as the rotation center, the front handle 66f of the front portion 60f is lifted. The front handle 66f is lifted, and the engagement between the first support shaft 11a and the engagement mechanism a is released. The front portion 60f rotates in the second direction R2. Since the second damper 86 does not operate until the engagement with the first support shaft 11a is sufficiently released, the operation within the pivot range H1 for opening the front portion 60f can be smoothly performed.

Within the rotational range H2, the second spur gear 82 meshes with the second internal gear 83. At this time, the second spur gear 82 meshes with the second ring gear 83 while rotating in the rotation direction R3.

Thereby, the second spur gear 82 rotates by the rotation of the cover 60, and the driving force is transmitted to the second damper 86 via the intermediate gear 84 and the damper gear 85. Then, the second damper 86 operates to apply a load to the rotation of the cover 60. Therefore, when the cover 60 is rotated within the rotation range H2, the behavior of the cover 60 during rotation is stabilized by the second damper 86. Further, abrupt opening and closing of the cover 60 is suppressed.

When the cover 60 is closed around the second support shaft 12a as the rotation center, the first support shaft 11a can be easily engaged with the cover 60 from the state in which the second damper 86 operates within the rotation range H2 to the state in which the second damper 86 does not operate within the rotation range H1. This enables the cover 60 to be reliably closed. Further, the front portion 60f of the cover 60 can be closed by the weight of the cover 60. The rotation range H1 may be set to a range from when the cover 60 is at the closed position C0 to a rotation position where the first shaft 11a contacts the first hook member 65. Thus, the contact with the first support shaft 11a makes it difficult for a load to be applied to the second spur gear 82 and the second internal gear 83 when the posture of the cover 60 changes.

In the present embodiment, immediately before the cover 60 is changed from the open state to the closed position C0, the second spur gear 82 is configured to retreat outward of the second internal gear 83 so that the second spur gear 82 does not mesh with the second internal gear 83 as shown in state S1 of fig. 5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second spur gear 82 can be prevented from being locked, as compared with the case where the cover 60 is at the closed position C0 in the state where the second spur gear 82 and the second ring gear 83 are meshed with each other.

The resistance of the second damper 86 can be set arbitrarily, and the rotation of the cover 60 due to its own weight can be restricted by the second damper 86. In this case, the cover 60 can be held at an arbitrary position during the period from the state S2 to the state S3.

Next, the operation of the damper mechanism 70 of the front portion 60f shown in fig. 3 will be described.

The operation of the damper mechanism 70 is almost the same as that of the damper mechanism 80. From the closed state of fig. 3, as shown in fig. 1, the cover 60 is rotated to the first open position C1 by rotating the rear portion 60R in the first direction R1 with reference to the front support portion 11.

In the state shown in fig. 3, the first spur gear 72 and the first internal gear 73 are not meshed with each other, and the damper mechanism 70 is not operated. When the cover 60 starts to rotate in the first direction R1 gradually from the closed state of fig. 3, the first spur gear 72 and the first internal gear 73 start to mesh with each other, and the first damper 76 starts to operate gradually in the same manner as the operation of the damper mechanism 80 described above. When the cover 60 reaches the first open position C1, which is a maximum rotation state to the front, the rotation of the cover 60 in the first direction R1 is restricted by a stopper, not shown.

The rotation range G1 is a range in which the first spur gear 72 does not contact the first internal gear 73 and the first damper 76 does not operate. The rotation range G2 is a range in which the first spur gear 72 contacts the first internal gear 73 and the first damper 76 operates. As described above, in the shock absorbing mechanism 70 of the front portion 60f of the cover 60, the pivot range G1 in which the first damper 76 does not operate and the pivot range G2 in which the first damper 76 operates are provided, similarly to the shock absorbing mechanism 80.

In the present embodiment, immediately before the cover 60 is changed from the open state to the closed position C0, the first spur gear 72 is configured to retreat outward of the first internal gear 73 so that the first spur gear 72 does not mesh with the first internal gear 73, as shown in fig. 3. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first spur gear 72 can be prevented from being locked, as compared with the case where the cover 60 is at the closed position C0 in the state where the first spur gear 72 and the first ring gear 73 are meshed with each other.

The resistance of the first damper 76 can be set arbitrarily, and the rotation of the cover 60 due to its own weight can be restricted by the first damper 76.

FIG. 6 shows the condition after web 102 is primed. The same portions as those in fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals to show them, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, when the roll paper is loaded from the front of the printing apparatus 1, the front portion 60f of the cover 60 is rotated in the second direction R2, and the storage portion 21 is opened. A roll paper 102 is disposed in the opened storage section 21. One end of the arranged roll paper 102 is pulled out and packed between the paper guide 33 and the paper pressing member 34. Then, the paper P is introduced into the printing portion 20, and the cover 60 is closed. When the user operates the printing apparatus 1 from the front, the front portion 60f of the cover 60 is opened and then opened to the second open position C2, so that the operating space for operating the printing apparatus 1 from the front is increased.

In the present embodiment, the rear portion 60r of the cover 60 may be opened to the first open position C1 shown in fig. 1, and the roll paper 102 may be loaded from the rear of the printing apparatus 1.

In the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the cover 60 is opened from the front portion 60F or the rear portion 60r, folded sheets or roll paper can be loaded from the front and rear of the printing apparatus 1 along the conveying direction F of the sheets P. Therefore, it is difficult to restrict the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the printing apparatus 1 for the packing operation with the paper P.

Next, the sheet guide mechanism 90 will be explained.

Fig. 7 is a side view showing the sheet guide mechanism 90. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the sheet guide mechanism 90.

The sheet guide mechanism 90 guides the paper P in the conveying unit 30. The sheet guide mechanism 90 includes a paper pressing member 34 provided on the guide surface 33b of the paper guide 33, and a cover 60. A pair of paper pressing members 34 are disposed on the guide surface 33b so as to be spaced apart from each other in a direction intersecting the conveying direction F. These paper pressing members are a right paper pressing member 34a and a left paper pressing member 34 b.

The paper sheet pressing member 34 conveys the paper sheet P in a state where the right and left end portions of the paper sheet P are supported by the right and left paper sheet pressing members 34a and 34b, respectively. With this configuration, the lifting of the paper P during conveyance is restricted, and the paper P can be stably conveyed.

The left paper pressing piece 34b is fixed at the left end on the guide surface 33 b. The right sheet pressing member 34a is provided so as to be movable along the guide surface 33b in a direction intersecting the conveying direction F.

As described later, the right paper pressing piece 34a sandwiches the paper P between the receiving portion 96 and the guide portion 97, and the left paper pressing piece 34b sandwiches the paper P between the receiving portion 196 and the guide portion 197. The paper P is conveyed in the conveying direction F while being supported at both left and right end portions by the right and left paper pressing pieces 34a and 34b, respectively.

The guide surface 33b is formed with a guide opening 33a extending in a direction intersecting the conveying direction F. The guide opening 33a is a groove formed in the guide surface 33b, and in the example shown in fig. 8, the guide opening 33a is orthogonal to the conveying direction F and extends in the left-right direction of the printing apparatus main body 10.

The left paper pressing piece 34b is fixed at the left end of the guide opening 33 a.

The right paper pressing piece 34a includes a box portion 96 h. The box portion 96h has a lock shaft 96d protruding downward from the right paper presser 34a, and a lock plate 96f attached to the lower end of the lock shaft 96d, and the lock plate 96f is fitted into the guide opening 33 a. A rail 33d is disposed inside the guide opening 33a, and the lock plate 96f is positioned below the rail 33 d.

A friction body 96e is attached to the lock plate 96 f. The lock plate 96f is biased by a biasing member, not shown, in a direction in which the friction body 96e is pressed against the rail 33 d. In this state, the lock plate 96f is fixed to the rail 33d by friction between the friction body 96e and the rail 33 d.

The right paper pressing piece 34a is provided with a release handle 98. The release lever 98 is coupled to the lock plate 96f via a link, not shown, and when the release lever 98 is pushed, the lock plate 96f rotates about the lock shaft 96d in a direction indicated by a reference symbol R4 in the drawing. Thereby, the friction body 96e is separated from the rail 33d, and the fixing of the lock plate 96f is released.

The right paper pressing piece 34a is movable along the guide opening 33a, and is fixed by friction between the friction body 96e and the rail 33d in a state where the release handle 98 is not pressed. When the release handle 98 is pressed, the right paper presser 34a can move along the guide opening 33 a. In this way, since the right paper pressing piece 34a can be moved along the guide opening 33a in accordance with the position of the side end portion of the paper P, the printing apparatus 1 can support the paper P of various widths by the paper pressing piece 34.

Next, a structure and an operation for causing the paper pressing member 34 to nip the paper P will be described. The right paper presser 34a and the left paper presser 34b are configured to be bilaterally symmetrical, except for the fixed state to the guide opening 33 a. Therefore, hereinafter, the right paper presser 34a will be explained.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the right paper presser 34 a. Fig. 10 is a main portion side view of the right paper pressing piece 34 a. Fig. 11 is a main part rear view of the right paper pressing piece 34 a.

In fig. 9, 10, and 11, the open position D1, the guide position D2, and the insertion position D3 are shown as positions of respective portions of the right sheet presser 34 a.

The open position D1 shows a state in which the paper P can be attached and detached to and from the right paper presser 34 a. The guide position D2 shows a state in which the paper P is supported by the right paper pressing piece 34a without being detached, and the right paper pressing piece 34a guides the paper P being conveyed in the conveying direction F. For the insertion position D3, it will be described below.

The right paper pressing piece 34a includes the first engaging portion 91 in addition to the receiving portion 96 and the guide portion 97 described above. The first engaging portion 91 is a link connecting the contact arm 92 and the engaging arm 94 by an arm shaft 93, and a spring 95 is disposed on the arm shaft 93.

The contact arm 92 is a rod-shaped member that contacts the cover 60 of the printing apparatus 1, and protrudes from the right paper presser 34 a. The arm shaft 93 is a shaft that is provided upright on the receiving portion 96, and rotatably supports the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94.

As shown in fig. 11, the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 are sequentially overlapped in the width direction of the printing apparatus main body 10, and the contact arm 92 is positioned on the right side.

The spring 95 is a torsion spring, and the coil member 95a is inserted and fitted into the arm shaft 93 and fixed. One end of the spring 95 is engaged with the abutment arm 92, and the other end is engaged with the engagement arm 94. The contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 are biased by the spring 95 so as to maintain a predetermined relative position around the arm shaft 93. Specifically, the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 are biased by the spring 95 so as to maintain the relative positions at the open position D1. When an external force is applied to the contact arm 92, the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 rotate about the arm shaft 93 while maintaining the relative positions at the open position D1. Here, when a predetermined external force or more is applied between the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94, the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 are displaced from each other against the biasing force of the spring 95.

The contact arm 92 projects from the arm shaft 93 toward the upstream side in the conveying direction F. The distal end of the contact arm 92 is bent in a direction away from the guide surface 33b, and the bent distal end is the contact portion 92 a. As described below, the contact portion 92a contacts the second engagement portion 61 provided in the cover 60 of the printing apparatus 1. The tip of the contact portion 92a is formed into a curved surface so as to be easily slid in a state of being in contact with the second engagement portion 61.

On the other hand, the distal end of the engagement arm 94 extends toward the guide surface 33b, and an engagement portion 94a that engages with the guide portion 97 is provided at the distal end of the engagement arm 94.

The receiving portion 96 includes a receiving portion frame 96a, and an arm shaft 93 is provided upright on the receiving portion frame 96 a. Further, the guide portion 97 is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 96i at a lower portion of the receiving portion 96. The rotation shaft 96i is, for example, a shaft parallel to the conveyance direction F.

The receiving portion 96 is provided with an opposing surface 96b that sandwiches the paper P with the guide portion 97, and a regulating surface 96c that regulates movement of the paper P in the left-right direction. The facing surface 96b is a surface substantially parallel to the guide surface 33b, and is disposed within the rotation range of the guide portion 97. The guide 97 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the paper P, and the facing surface 96b is brought into contact with the lower surface of the paper P, thereby supporting the paper P. Since the facing surface 96b is formed in a slope shape extending leftward from the receiving portion frame 96a and having a rising tip, the side end portion of the sheet P can be prevented from being broken or bent.

The regulating surface 96c is a surface in a direction intersecting the guide surface 33b, and extends along the conveying direction F. Since the regulating surface 96c is formed at an acute angle with respect to the facing surface 96b, the movement of the side edge of the paper P such as a die cut label paper can be effectively regulated.

Although not shown, the printing apparatus 1 also has a structure in which the left paper presser 34b is bilaterally symmetrical to the right paper presser 34 a. This prevents the side end of the paper P from being broken or bent, and supports the side end of the paper P, thereby guiding the paper P being conveyed.

Further, the regulating surface 96c may be provided on the guide portion 97. For example, at the guide position D2, the restriction surface of the guide portion 97 may be configured to restrict movement of the paper P in the left-right direction.

The guide 97 is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 96i and is displaced to an open position D1 and a guide position D2 shown in fig. 11. The guide 97 includes a sheet pressing member 97a facing the facing surface 96b at the guide position D2. The sheet pressing member 97a is a surface that comes into contact with the paper P at the guide position D2, and sandwiches the paper P between the facing surface 96b and the sheet pressing member.

The sheet pressing body 97a is inserted into an insertion hole 97b formed on the guide frame 97f of the guide 97. A spring 97c that biases the guide frame 97f and the sheet pressing body 97a is disposed inside the insertion hole 97 b. Further, the projection of the sheet pressing body 97a from the guide frame 97f is restricted by a stopper, not shown, provided on the guide 97. The spring 97c is formed by a compression coil spring, and biases the sheet pressing body 97a toward the paper P at the guide position D2 with a predetermined force. In other words, the sheet P is pressed by the sheet pressing body 97a by the urging force of the spring 97 c. With this configuration, the pressing force applied to the paper P can be stabilized, and thus, for example, the paper P is not pressed excessively to hinder conveyance.

In the left sheet presser 34b, two sheet pressing bodies 197a are provided on the guide portion 197, and press the left end portion of the sheet P.

An urging member 99 is disposed between the guide portion 97 and the receiving portion 96. The biasing member 99 is disposed so as to engage with the rotating shaft 96i, and includes a torsion spring, not shown.

A first locking portion 97d is formed on the receiving portion frame 96a side of the guide portion 97, and a second locking portion 96g is formed on the surface of the receiving portion frame 96a on the guide portion 97 side. The biasing member 99 is positioned between the first locking portion 97d and the second locking portion 96g, and biases the first locking portion 97d and the second locking portion 96g in a direction of approaching each other by the biasing force of the torsion spring. That is, the biasing member 99 biases the guide portion 97 that rotates about the rotation shaft 96i toward the open position D1. Therefore, the guide portion 97 is located at the open position D1 by the biasing force of the biasing member 99 in a state where no external force is applied. The range of rotation of the guide 97 is limited between the open position D1 and the guide position D2 by a stopper, not shown, disposed on the receiver frame 96 a.

The guide portion 97 is disposed on the left side of the engaging arm 94, and the end edge portion 97e on the engaging arm 94 side engages with the engaging portion 94a, which is the tip end of the engaging arm 94, at the open position D1. The end edge portion 97e is located at the lower portion in fig. 11, i.e., at a position close to the guide surface 33b at the open position D1. As described later, the engagement arm 94 rotates, so that the end edge portion 97e is lifted by the engagement portion 94a and is pressed in a direction away from the guide surface 33 b. The guide portion 97 is rotated about the rotation shaft 96i by the pressing force, and is displaced from the open position D1 to the guide position D2.

The left sheet presser 34b has a bilaterally symmetrical structure to the right sheet presser 34a, and includes a first engaging portion 191 corresponding to the first engaging portion 91 of the right sheet presser 34a, a receiving portion 196 corresponding to the receiving portion 96, and a guide portion 197 corresponding to the guide portion 97. The left paper pressing piece 34b includes an abutment arm 192 and an engagement arm 194 corresponding to the abutment arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 of the right paper pressing piece 34 a. Therefore, since the structure and operation of the left paper presser 34b are the same as those of the right paper presser 34a described above, a part of the illustration and description is omitted.

The sheet guide mechanism 90 can be accessed and operated in a state where the cover 60 is opened. When the sheet guide mechanism 90 is loaded with the sheets P and when the sheets P are taken out, the cover 60 is opened to the first open position C1 or the second open position C2, and the sheet presser 34 can be operated.

With the cover 60 in the first open position C1 or the second open position C2, the right and left paper presses 34a and 34b are located at the open position D1.

When the cover 60 is closed from the first open position C1 or the second open position C2 to the closed position C0, a pressing force is applied from the cover 60 to the right paper pressing piece 34a and the left paper pressing piece 34b to displace the right paper pressing piece 34a and the left paper pressing piece 34b to the guide position D2, thereby nipping the paper P.

As shown in fig. 7, a second engaging portion 61 is provided on the back surface 60b of the cover 60, and the second engaging portion 61 protrudes toward the storage portion 21 at the closed position C0. The second engaging portion 61 includes a right engaging body 61a and a left engaging body 61 b.

The left engaging body 61b is provided at a position facing the left paper presser 34b at the left portion of the cover 60 at the closed position C0. The right engaging body 61a is disposed on the right side of the left engaging body 61 b. The right engaging body 61a is provided extending in the left-right direction of the printing apparatus main body 10, and is disposed corresponding to a range in which the right paper presser 34a can move along the guide opening 33 a. Therefore, even if the right paper pressing piece 34a moves along the guide opening 33a, the right engaging body 61a is located at a position corresponding to the right paper pressing piece 34 a.

At a position between the first open position C1 and the closed position C0 or between the second open position C2 and the closed position C0, the right engaging body 61a abuts against the first engaging portion 91 of the right paper presser 34a located at the open position D1. Similarly, the left engaging body 61b abuts against the abutting arm 192 of the first engaging portion 191 located at the open position D1. When the cover 60 further moves to a position close to the closed position C0, the right engaging body 61a presses the contact arm 92, and the left engaging body 61b presses the contact arm 192.

In the right paper pressing piece 34a, the contact portion 92a is pressed by the right engaging body 61a, and the contact arm 92 is rotated in the R6 direction shown in fig. 10. Accordingly, the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 are displaced from the open position D1 to the guide position D2.

As the engaging arm 94 is displaced, the engaging portion 94a pushes up the end edge portion 97e as shown in fig. 11, and the guide portion 97 is rotated in the direction of R5 against the biasing force of the biasing member 99.

The guide portion 97 reaches the guide position D2 before the cover 60 reaches the closed position C0. Further, when the cover 60 is displaced to reach the closed position C0, the contact arm 92 is largely rotated with respect to the guide position D2, and reaches the insertion position D3 in fig. 10.

While the abutment arm 92 is displaced from the guide position D2 to the insertion position D3, the guide portion 97 is located at the guide position D2, and further force is applied to the guide portion 97 by the engagement arm 94. However, in the printing apparatus 1, the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94 are not fixed, and the engagement arm 94 is coupled to the contact arm 92 via the spring 95. Therefore, when a force larger than the biasing force of the spring 95 is applied between the contact arm 92 and the engagement arm 94, the spring 95 deforms to absorb the excessive force. Therefore, an excessive force is not applied from the engaging arm 94 to the guide portion 97.

The range of rotation of the guide portion 97 is restricted by a stopper, not shown, disposed on the receiver frame 96a, so that the guide portion 97 does not approach the guide opening 33a beyond the guide position D2. Therefore, the force applied to the paper P from the right paper pressing piece 34a does not exceed the biasing force of the spring 97 c. Therefore, the right sheet pressing member 34a can press and support the sheet P with an appropriate force, and thus the conveyance of the sheet P is not hindered.

In a state where the cover 60 is located at the closed position C0, the contact arm 92 is located at the insertion position D3 and is supported by the biasing force of the spring 95. In this state, the state in which the right sheet pressing member 34a presses the sheet P is not released, and therefore the sheet P can be stably conveyed. Further, looseness of the components in the right paper pressing piece 34a can be prevented.

The above operation is suitable for both the case where the cover 60 is moved from the first open position C1 to the closed position C0 by closing the cover 60 and the case where the cover 60 is closed from the second open position C2.

When the cover 60 is opened from the closed position C0 to the first open position C1 or the second open position C2, the right engaging body 61a moves in a direction away from the contact arm 92 and the left engaging body 61b moves in a direction away from the contact arm 192 as the cover 60 rotates.

Accordingly, the contact arm 92 moves from the insertion position D3 to the open position D1 through the guide position D2. The engagement arm 94 rotates with the displacement of the contact arm 92, and the engagement portion 94a is separated downward from the end edge portion 97 e. In this process, the guide portion 97 is displaced from the guide position D2 to the open position D1 by the biasing force of the biasing member 99, and the pressing force of the receiving portion 96 and the guide portion 97 that sandwiches the paper P is released.

When the guide portion 97 is moved to the open position D1 by the rotation of the cover 60, the sheet pressing member 97a is separated from the paper P, and the operation of removing the paper P from the paper holder 34 and the operation of loading the paper P into the paper holder 34 can be realized.

The right engaging body 61a and the left engaging body 61b abut against the abutment arms 92 and 192, respectively, and slide with displacement of the cover 60. Therefore, the surfaces of the right engaging body 61a and the left engaging body 61b are preferably smooth curved surfaces or flat surfaces.

As described above, the sheet guide mechanism 90 according to the embodiment is a sheet guide mechanism 90 that guides the sheet P by sandwiching the sheet P as a sheet medium between the receiving portion 96 and the guide portion 97. The guide portion 97 is configured to be movable to a guide position D2 where the sheet P is nipped by facing the receiving portion 96 and an open position D1 where the sheet P can be inserted into and pulled out of the receiving portion 96. The sheet guide mechanism 90 includes a cover 60 that covers the paper P, and a first engagement portion 91 that engages with the guide portion 97 to move the guide portion 97 to the guide position D2. The cover 60 is movable to a closed position C0 where the paper P is covered, and a first open position C1 or a second open position C2 which is an open position where an opening through which the paper P can be operated is formed. The cover 60 has a second engaging portion 61 that contacts the first engaging portion 91 at the closed position C0. When the cover 60 moves to the closed position C0, the second engaging portion 61 is brought into contact with the first engaging portion 91 to displace the first engaging portion 91, thereby moving the guide portion 97 to the guide position D2. When the cover 60 moves from the closed position C0 toward the first open position C1 or the second open position C2, the contact between the second engaging portion 61 and the first engaging portion 91 is released, and the guide portion 97 moves from the guide position D2 to the open position D1.

According to the sheet guide mechanism 90 to which the present invention is applied and the printing apparatus 1 including the sheet guide mechanism 90, the sheet P is nipped between the receiving portion 96 and the guide portion 97 in accordance with the operation of the closing cover 60, and the sheet guide mechanism 90 is in a state in which the sheet P can be guided. Thus, the operation in the case of packing the sheets P can be completed by a small number of steps, and the operation load becomes extremely light. Further, since the state in which the sheet guide mechanism 90 pinches the paper P is released by opening the cover 60, the operation in the case of taking out the paper P can be completed in a small number of steps, and the operation load becomes extremely light.

The sheet guide mechanism 90 includes a biasing member 99 that biases the guide portion 97 toward the open position D1. In the sheet guide mechanism 90, while the cover 60 is moving to the closed position C0, the guide portion 97 is pushed against the biasing force of the biasing member 99 by the first engaging portion 91 so that the guide portion 97 moves to the guide position D2. Thus, the sheet P is inserted into or released from the sheet guide mechanism 90 in conjunction with the operation of opening and closing the cover 60. Therefore, the loading and unloading operations of the paper P in the printing apparatus 1 can be completed by a very small number of steps.

The receiving portion 96 and the guide portion 97 are disposed at two locations separated in the width direction of the paper P intersecting the conveyance direction F. At least one of the receiving portion 96 and the guide portion 97 has a regulating surface 96c that abuts against the paper P to regulate movement of the paper P in the width direction. This makes it possible to restrict the movement of the paper P in the width direction during conveyance and the movement of the paper P in the direction intersecting the plane of the paper P, and to stably convey the paper P.

In the sheet guide mechanism 90, at least one of the two receiving portions 96 and 196 is movable in the width direction of the sheet P. In the above embodiment, the right paper pressing piece 34a is movable along the guide opening 33 a. According to this configuration, the position of the guide portion can be adjusted in accordance with the width of the paper P.

The above embodiments merely represent one embodiment of the present invention, and the specific embodiments of the present invention and the application range of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, although the above embodiment illustrates the structure in which the right paper pressing piece 34a is movable along the guide opening 33a and the left paper pressing piece 34b is fixed, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the left paper pressing piece 34b may be movable along the guide opening 33 a.

For example, although the printing apparatus 1 is configured to include the cover 60 openable to the first open position C1 and the second open position C2, the printing apparatus may be configured to be openable only to either one of the first open position C1 and the second open position C2. Even in this case, the sheet guide mechanism 90 can obtain the effects of the above-described embodiments.

Further, the paper P that the printing apparatus 1 can guide by the sheet guide mechanism 90 may be a sheet provided with sprocket holes at both side end portions, in addition to the roll paper or the folded paper having both side end portions cut off. The printing medium may be a printing medium made of a material other than paper, or may be a printing medium with a surface coated.

The sheet guide mechanism 90 is not limited to a configuration for guiding the print medium in the printing apparatus 1, and can be applied to a scanner, a film coating apparatus, or other various apparatuses for conveying a sheet-like medium.

Description of the symbols

1 … printing device; 6 … is externally mounted; 6a … rear upper edge; 10 … printing device body; 11 … front support; 11a … first fulcrum; 12 … rear support part; 12a … second fulcrum; 20 … printing section; 21 … storage part; 22 … paper discharge port; 23 … ink supply unit; 24 … ink cartridges; 25 … a substrate; 30 … conveying part; 33 … paper guide; 33a … guide opening; 33b … guide surface; 33d … orbit; 34 … paper press; 34a … right paper press; 34b … left paper press; 35 … platen; 40 … print heads; 41 … carriage guide shaft; 42 … carriage guide shaft; 52 … conveyor belt; 52a … roller; a 60 … cover; 60a … fulcrum portions; 60f … front; a 60n … cut-out portion; 60r … rear; 64f … front bar; 64r … rear bar; 65 … first hook member; 66f … front handle; 66r … rear handle; 67 … guide groove; 67a … upper end; 67b … lower end; 67c … rear surface; 68 … a second hook component; 68a … spring; 69 … guide groove; 69a … upper end; 69b … lower end; 69c … front surface; 71 … insertion opening; 72 … a first spur gear; 73 … first annulus gear; 74 … intermediate gear; 75 … damper gears; 76 … first damper; 82 … second spur gear; 82a … rotation axis; 83 … second annulus gear; 84 … intermediate gear; 85 … damper gears; 86 … second shock absorber; 90 … a sheet guide mechanism; 91 … a first engaging part; 92 … abutting the arm; 92a … abutment; 93 … arm shafts; 94 … snap arms; 94a … snap-fit portion; 95 … spring; 95a … coil portion; 96 … bolster; 96a … bolster frame; 96b … opposite side; 96c … limiting surface; a 96h … cassette part; 96d … lock the shaft; 96e … friction body; 96f … latch plate; 96g … second latch; 96i … rotating shaft; 97 … guide portion; 97a … sheet pressing body; 97b … insert hole; 97c … spring; 97d … first latch; 97e … end edge portions; 97f … guide frame; 98 … releasing the handle; 99 … force applying component; 101 … folding paper (external recording medium); 102 … web; 110 … conveying path; 191 … a first engaging part; 192 … abutting the arm; 194 … snap arms; 196 … a socket; 196b … opposite side; 197 … guide part; 197a … sheet presser; a … engagement mechanism; a1 … snap position; the a2 … release position; b … engagement mechanism; b1 … snap position; b2 … release position; c0 … closed position; c1 … first open position; c2 … second open position; c3 … contact position; d1 … open position; d2 … guide position; the D3 … insertion position; f … conveying direction; p … paper (sheet media); r1 … first direction; r2 … second direction; r3 … direction of rotation; r4 … direction of rotation; r5 … direction of rotation; r6 … direction of rotation; r7 … direction of rotation; r21 … direction of rotation.