JPH11157757A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small printer of simple constitution. SOLUTION: A printer has a storage part 20 storing a stack of recording paper, a rotating member 22 making contact with and feeding the top recording paper in the storage part 20, a printing part 16 that prints a predetermined side of the recording paper, and an inversion conveying mechanism 28 by which the recording paper printed on the predetermined side is inverted and conveyed again to the printing part 16. The printer has a contact position where the rotating member 22 is brought into contact with the recording paper and a retreat position where the rotating member 22 is retreated. The rotating member 22 has a half-moon-shaped cross section. The inversion conveying mechanism 28 includes a guide part having an opening through which the rotating member 22 projects when rotating. Thus, the conveying path of the inversion conveying mechanism 28 does not need to greatly bypass the storage part 20 and the rotating member 22, resulting in miniaturization of the inversion conveying mechanism 28 and therefore of the printer.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

【０００１】[0001]

【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は、プリンタに関し、
更に詳細には、構成の簡素な小型プリンタに関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a small printer having a simple configuration.

【０００２】[0002]

【従来の技術】近年、両面印刷機能を有するプリンタ
（電子写真画像形成装置）が多用されている。図５は、
両面印刷機能を有する従来のプリンタの一例を示す側面
断面図である。従来のプリンタ１０は、用紙を収容し、
収容した用紙を１枚ずつ送出する給紙部１２と、給紙部
１２から送出された用紙を搬送する主搬送機構１４と、
用紙の所定面に印刷する印刷部１６と、前記所定面に印
刷された用紙の表裏を反転させて印刷部１６に再搬送す
る反転搬送機構１８とを備える。2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printers (electrophotographic image forming apparatuses) having a double-sided printing function have been frequently used. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing an example of a conventional printer having a double-sided printing function. The conventional printer 10 stores paper,
A paper feed unit 12 that feeds the stored sheets one by one, a main transport mechanism 14 that transports the paper sent from the paper feed unit 12,
The printing unit 16 includes a printing unit 16 that prints on a predetermined surface of a sheet, and a reversal conveyance mechanism 18 that reverses the front and back of the sheet printed on the predetermined surface and reconveys the sheet to the printing unit 16.

【０００３】図６は、回転部材及びその近傍の側面部分
拡大断面図である。給紙部１２は、用紙を積み重ねて収
容する収容部（リフトプレート）２０と、収容部２０内
の用紙に平行な回転軸の周りに回転して、収容部２０内
の最上の用紙に接触して１枚ずつ用紙を送出する回転部
材（ピックローラ）２２とを備える。収容部２０は、例
えば手差し等のトレイである。回転部材２２は、半円筒
面２３を有する断面半月状の形状を有し、或いは、断面
円状の形状を有する。回転部材２２は、回転、停止が切
換自在に行われ、回転する信号を受けて半時計方向に一
定速度で回転して停止するローラとして構成されてい
る。FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a side surface of a rotary member and its vicinity. The paper feeding unit 12 rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the paper in the storage unit 20 and a paper storage unit (lift plate) 20 that stores the papers in a stacked manner. And a rotating member (pick roller) 22 for sending out sheets one by one. The storage section 20 is, for example, a tray for manual feeding or the like. The rotating member 22 has a semi-cylindrical shape having a semi-cylindrical surface 23 or a circular shape in cross section. The rotation member 22 is configured as a roller that can be switched between rotation and stop, receives a rotation signal, rotates at a constant speed in a counterclockwise direction, and stops.

【０００４】図７及び図８は、従来の反転搬送機構の２
つの態様を示す側面図である。反転搬送機構１８は、給
紙部１２の上方を経由して印刷部１６に再搬送する反転
搬送機構１８Ａ（図７）、又は、給紙部１２の下方を経
由して印刷部１６に再搬送する反転搬送機構１８Ｂ（図
８）の２つの態様が知られている。反転搬送機構１８
Ａ、Ｂは、用紙導入端が印刷部１６に、用紙導出端が主
搬送機構１４の収容部２０に近い位置の搬送路にそれぞ
れ接続され、用紙を反転させる反転機構２４を備える。FIGS. 7 and 8 show a conventional reverse transport mechanism 2.
It is a side view which shows one aspect. The reversing and conveying mechanism 18 is a reversing and conveying mechanism 18A (FIG. 7) for re-conveying to the printing unit 16 via the upper side of the paper feeding unit 12, or re-conveying to the printing unit 16 via a lower side of the paper feeding unit 12. There are known two modes of the reverse transport mechanism 18B (FIG. 8). Reverse transport mechanism 18
Each of A and B includes a reversing mechanism 24 that is connected to the printing section 16 at the paper introduction end and connected to a conveyance path at a position near the storage section 20 of the main conveyance mechanism 14, and inverts the paper.

【０００５】印刷部１６は、通常、感光体（静電潜像担
持体）と、その周辺に設けられた帯電部、露光部、現像
部、転写部、及び、クリーニング部からなる印刷部を備
え、搬送されてきた用紙にイメージを投影し、続いて、
定着ユニットにて定着を行い、可視画像を印刷するよう
に構成されている。また、プリンタ１０は、別の給紙部
２６をオプションとして装着可能である。The printing unit 16 generally includes a photosensitive member (electrostatic latent image carrier) and a printing unit including a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit provided around the photosensitive member. , Projecting the image on the conveyed paper,
The fixing unit performs fixing and prints a visible image. Further, the printer 10 can be equipped with another paper feed unit 26 as an option.

【０００６】両面印刷の際には、回転部材２２が回転を
開始すると、半円筒面２３が、破線Ｖで示す奇跡を描い
て収容部２０に収容された用紙２５を押圧し始める。続
いて、回転が進むに従い、押圧力によって収容部２０が
下方に後退し、かつ、最上の用紙を半円筒面２３に沿っ
て送出する。送出された用紙は、主搬送機構１４によっ
て印刷部１６に搬送され、表面が印刷される。更に、反
転搬送機構１８により、表裏が反転された用紙が印刷部
１６に再搬送され、更に、裏面が印刷される。In the case of double-sided printing, when the rotating member 22 starts rotating, the semi-cylindrical surface 23 begins to press the paper 25 stored in the storage section 20 in a miracle indicated by a broken line V. Subsequently, as the rotation progresses, the housing section 20 retreats downward by the pressing force, and sends out the uppermost sheet along the semi-cylindrical surface 23. The sent sheet is conveyed to the printing unit 16 by the main conveyance mechanism 14, and the front surface is printed. Further, the sheet whose front and back are reversed is re-conveyed to the printing unit 16 by the reverse conveyance mechanism 18, and further, the back is printed.

【０００７】[0007]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】従来のプリンタでは、
反転搬送機構の搬送路が給紙部を大きく迂回することに
より、反転搬送に時間を要し、或いは、装置が複雑化、
大型化する。特に、給紙部の下方を経由する反転搬送機
構では、搬送路が長く、用紙に対して斜めに印刷され
る、いわゆるスキューが生じ印刷位置精度が悪化した
り、紙づまり（ＪＡＭ）等の支障が生じたりする等の問
題があった。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a conventional printer,
Since the transport path of the reverse transport mechanism largely bypasses the sheet feeding unit, it takes time for the reverse transport, or the apparatus becomes complicated,
Increase in size. In particular, in the case of a reversing transport mechanism that passes below the paper feed unit, the transport path is long, and printing is performed obliquely on the paper. And other problems.

【０００８】上記に鑑み、本発明の目的は、構成の簡素
な小型プリンタを提供することである。[0008] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized printer having a simple configuration.

【０００９】[0009]

【課題を解決するための手段】上記目的を達成するため
に、本発明に係るプリンタは、記録用紙を積み重ねて収
容する収容部と、前記収容部内の記録用紙に平行な回転
軸の周りに回転して、前記収容部内の最上の記録用紙に
接触して送出する回転部材と、記録用紙の所定面に印刷
する印刷部と、前記所定面に印刷された記録用紙の表裏
を反転させて印刷部に再搬送する反転搬送機構とを備え
た、両面印刷機能を有するプリンタにおいて、前記回転
部材が、記録用紙に接触する接触位置と、該接触位置か
ら退避する退避位置とを有し、前記反転搬送機構は、前
記収容部と前記回転部材の回転軸との間に記録用紙を通
過させることを特徴とする。In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a printer according to the present invention comprises a storage section for stacking and storing recording sheets, and a rotating section about a rotation axis parallel to the recording sheets in the storage section. A rotating member that contacts and feeds the uppermost recording sheet in the storage unit, a printing unit that prints on a predetermined surface of the recording sheet, and a printing unit that reverses the recording paper printed on the predetermined surface. A reverse-conveying mechanism for re-transporting the recording medium, the rotating member having a contact position for contacting the recording paper, and a retreat position for retreating from the contact position, The mechanism is characterized in that the recording paper is passed between the housing section and the rotation shaft of the rotating member.

【００１０】本発明の好適な実施態様は、前記回転部材
が、断面半月状の形状をなし、前記接触位置において円
形の半部分が記録用紙に接触し、前記退避位置において
略平坦な半部分が記録用紙に対向する。この場合、前記
反転搬送機構は、前記回転部材が前記接触位置において
用紙側に突出する開口を有するガイド部を備えることが
好ましい。また、前記回転部材が前記接触位置にあると
きに、記録用紙は前記回転部材に向けて付勢されていて
もよい。In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member has a semicircular cross section, a circular half portion contacts the recording sheet at the contact position, and a substantially flat half portion at the retracted position. Facing the recording paper. In this case, it is preferable that the reverse transport mechanism includes a guide section having an opening in which the rotating member projects toward the sheet at the contact position. The recording sheet may be urged toward the rotating member when the rotating member is at the contact position.

【００１１】本発明では、反転搬送機構の搬送路は、従
来のように給紙部を大きく迂回しなくてもよく、反転搬
送機構の寸法を小さくできる。According to the present invention, the transport path of the reverse transport mechanism does not have to bypass the sheet feeding section as much as in the prior art, and the size of the reverse transport mechanism can be reduced.

【００１２】[0012]

【発明の実施の形態】以下、図面を参照し、本発明の実
施形態例に基づいて本発明を更に詳しく説明する。実施形態例 図１は、本実施形態例のプリンタ２７の構成を示す側面
断面図である。本実施形態例のプリンタは、従来のプリ
ンタに比べて反転搬送機構の構成が異なり、その他の構
成は同様である。本実施形態例の図では従来のプリンタ
１０と同じ部位、部品には同じ符号を付してその説明を
省略する。図２は、プリンタ２７の反転搬送機構２８を
示す側面図である。反転搬送機構２８は、収容部２０と
回転部材２２との間に用紙を通過させる。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings based on embodiments of the present invention. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a printer 27 according to a first embodiment. The printer according to the present embodiment is different from the conventional printer in the configuration of the reverse transport mechanism, and the other configuration is the same. In the drawings of the present embodiment, the same parts and components as those of the conventional printer 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the reverse transport mechanism 28 of the printer 27. The reverse transport mechanism 28 allows the paper to pass between the storage section 20 and the rotating member 22.

【００１３】図３及び図４は、プリンタ２７の回転部材
及びその近傍の側面部分拡大断面図及び斜視図である。
反転搬送機構２８は、収容部２０と回転部材２２の回転
軸との間に用紙を通過させるガイド部３０を備える。ガ
イド部３０は、一対のガイド板であって、図４に示すよ
うに、下側ガイド板３０Ａ及び上側ガイド板３０Ｂから
構成され、両ガイド板は、何れも回転部材２２の下方位
置に回転部材２２の突出する開口３２を有し、回転部材
２２により収容部２０から用紙を送出可能にしている。
ガイド部３０の用紙導出端は、主搬送機構１４の収容部
２０に近い位置の搬送路に接続している。また、主搬送
機構１４及び反転搬送機構２８は、何れも給紙部１２か
ら送出された用紙を印刷部１６に搬送する複数個の搬送
ローラを備え、各搬送ローラは何れも一対のローラで構
成される。FIGS. 3 and 4 are an enlarged sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, showing a rotating member of the printer 27 and a side surface portion near the rotating member.
The reverse transport mechanism 28 includes a guide unit 30 that allows a sheet to pass between the storage unit 20 and the rotation shaft of the rotating member 22. The guide portion 30 is a pair of guide plates, and as shown in FIG. 4, includes a lower guide plate 30 </ b> A and an upper guide plate 30 </ b> B. 22 has a protruding opening 32 so that the rotating member 22 can send out the sheet from the storage section 20.
The paper lead-out end of the guide section 30 is connected to a transport path at a position close to the storage section 20 of the main transport mechanism 14. Each of the main transport mechanism 14 and the reverse transport mechanism 28 includes a plurality of transport rollers for transporting the sheet sent from the paper feed unit 12 to the print unit 16, and each transport roller is configured by a pair of rollers. Is done.

【００１４】回転部材２２は、用紙に接触する接触位置
（破線）と、該接触位置から後方に退避する退避位置
（実線）とを有する。接触位置では、回転部材２２の半
部分が、回転によってガイド部３０の開口３２よりも下
方に突出し、用紙に接触して用紙を送出する。退避位置
では、回転部材２２が開口３２よりも上側に位置し、回
転を停止している。プリンタ２７は、更に、収容部２０
を下方からほぼ上方に向けて付勢する付勢手段を備え、
付勢手段は、収容部２０の下側に配設されたバネ３４と
して構成される。この付勢手段３４により、回転部材２
２が退避位置に位置するときは、用紙２５は下側ガイド
板先端近くの下面に当接している（図２参照）。ここ
で、回転部材２２の形状は、用紙を送出可能である限り
ガイド部３０の形状に応じて変更できる。The rotating member 22 has a contact position (broken line) for contacting the sheet and a retracted position (solid line) for retracting backward from the contact position. At the contact position, a half portion of the rotating member 22 projects below the opening 32 of the guide portion 30 by rotation, and comes into contact with the sheet to feed the sheet. At the retracted position, the rotating member 22 is positioned above the opening 32 and stops rotating. The printer 27 further includes a storage unit 20.
A biasing means for biasing the downwardly substantially upward,
The biasing means is configured as a spring 34 disposed below the housing 20. The urging means 34 allows the rotating member 2
When the sheet 2 is located at the retracted position, the sheet 25 is in contact with the lower surface near the tip of the lower guide plate (see FIG. 2). Here, the shape of the rotating member 22 can be changed according to the shape of the guide portion 30 as long as the sheet can be sent out.

【００１５】以下、反転搬送機構２８により用紙が印刷
部１６に再搬送される動作を説明する。表面の印刷を終
え、印刷部１６から反転搬送機構２８に送出された用紙
は、反転機構２４により表裏反転され、ガイド部３０を
通過する。用紙が通過する際に、回転部材２２は退避位
置にあって、ガイド部３０を通過する用紙に接触するこ
とはない。ガイド部３０を通過して導出された用紙は、
主搬送機構１４により印刷部１６に搬送され、印刷部１
６で裏面に印刷される。また、反転搬送機構２８の搬送
ローラのうち、ガイド部３０を通過した用紙が最初に経
由する搬送ローラ３６の位置は、ガイド部３０の導出端
に充分近い位置であり、用紙はガイド部３０の導出端か
ら滞ることなく搬送される。The operation in which the sheet is re-conveyed to the printing unit 16 by the reverse conveying mechanism 28 will be described below. After printing on the front side, the sheet sent from the printing unit 16 to the reversing transport mechanism 28 is turned upside down by the reversing mechanism 24 and passes through the guide unit 30. When the paper passes, the rotating member 22 is at the retracted position and does not come into contact with the paper passing through the guide unit 30. The paper derived through the guide unit 30 is
The print unit 16 is transported by the main transport mechanism 14 to the printing unit 16.
6 is printed on the back side. Further, among the transport rollers of the reversing transport mechanism 28, the position of the transport roller 36 through which the paper that has passed the guide portion 30 first passes is a position sufficiently close to the leading end of the guide portion 30, and the paper is It is conveyed without delay from the leading end.

【００１６】本実施形態例では、反転搬送機構２８がガ
イド部３０を備えるので、反転搬送機構２８が従来に比
べて小型化し、従って、プリンタが小型化されて製造コ
ストが低減する。また、給紙部１２の下方を経由する従
来の反転搬送機構に比べ、反転搬送機構２８の搬送路が
短いので、紙づまり等の支障が生じ難い。In the present embodiment, since the reverse transport mechanism 28 includes the guide portion 30, the reverse transport mechanism 28 is downsized as compared with the prior art, and therefore the printer is downsized and the manufacturing cost is reduced. In addition, since the transport path of the reverse transport mechanism 28 is shorter than that of a conventional reverse transport mechanism that passes below the sheet feeding unit 12, troubles such as a paper jam are less likely to occur.

【００１７】以上、本発明をその好適な実施形態例に基
づいて説明したが、本発明のプリンタは、上記実施形態
例にのみ限定されるものではなく、上記実施形態例から
種々の修正及び変更を施したものも、本発明の範囲に含
まれる。Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, the printer of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made from the above-described embodiment. Is also included in the scope of the present invention.

【００１８】[0018]

【発明の効果】以上説明したように、本発明のプリンタ
によれば、反転搬送機構の寸法を小さくすることがで
き、従って、小型化された構成の簡易なプリンタが実現
される。As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, the size of the reversing transport mechanism can be reduced, and therefore, a simple printer having a compact configuration can be realized.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of the drawings]

【図１】実施形態例のプリンタの構成を示す側面断面
図。FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment.

【図２】実施形態例のプリンタの反転搬送機構を示す側
面図。FIG. 2 is a side view showing a reverse transport mechanism of the printer of the embodiment.

【図３】実施形態例のプリンタの回転部材及びその近傍
の側面部分拡大断面図。FIG. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view of a rotary member of the printer according to the embodiment and the vicinity thereof.

【図４】実施形態例のプリンタの回転部材及びその近傍
の部分斜視図。FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a rotary member of the printer according to the embodiment and its vicinity.

【図５】両面印刷機能を有する従来のプリンタの一例の
側面断面図。FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of an example of a conventional printer having a double-sided printing function.

【図６】従来のプリンタの回転部材及びその近傍の側面
部分拡大断面図。FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged side sectional view of a rotating member of a conventional printer and the vicinity thereof.

【図７】従来のプリンタの反転搬送機構を示す側面図。FIG. 7 is a side view showing a reverse transport mechanism of a conventional printer.

【図８】従来のプリンタの反転搬送機構を示す側面図。FIG. 8 is a side view showing a reverse transport mechanism of a conventional printer.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

１０ プリンタ １２ 給紙部 １４ 主搬送機構 １６ 印刷部 １８、１８Ａ、１８Ｂ 反転搬送機構 ２０ 収容部 ２２ 回転部材 ２３ 半円筒面 ２４ 反転機構 ２５ 用紙 ２６ 別の給紙部 ２７ プリンタ ２８ 反転搬送機構 ３０ ガイド部 ３０Ａ 下側ガイド板 ３０Ｂ 下側ガイド板 ３２ 開口 ３４ バネ ３６ 搬送ローラ REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 printer 12 paper feed section 14 main transport mechanism 16 printing section 18, 18A, 18B reverse transport mechanism 20 housing section 22 rotating member 23 semi-cylindrical surface 24 reverse mechanism 25 paper 26 separate paper feed section 27 printer 28 reverse transport mechanism 30 guide Part 30A Lower guide plate 30B Lower guide plate 32 Opening 34 Spring 36 Transport roller

Claims (4)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項１】 記録用紙を積み重ねて収容する収容部
と、前記収容部内の記録用紙に平行な回転軸の周りに回
転して、前記収容部内の最上の記録用紙に接触して送出
する回転部材と、記録用紙の所定面に印刷する印刷部
と、前記所定面に印刷された記録用紙の表裏を反転させ
て印刷部に再搬送する反転搬送機構とを備えた、両面印
刷機能を有するプリンタにおいて、 前記回転部材が、記録用紙に接触する接触位置と、該接
触位置から退避する退避位置とを有し、前記反転搬送機
構は、前記収容部と前記回転部材の回転軸との間に記録
用紙を通過させることを特徴とするプリンタ。An accommodating section for accommodating the recording sheets in a stacked manner, and a rotating member which rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the recording sheets in the accommodating section and contacts and sends out the uppermost recording sheet in the accommodating section. A printing unit that prints on a predetermined surface of a recording sheet, and a reversing transport mechanism that reverses the front and back of the recording sheet printed on the predetermined surface and re-transports the recording sheet to a printing unit. Wherein the rotating member has a contact position where the rotating member contacts the recording sheet, and a retreat position where the rotating member retreats from the contact position, wherein the reversing transport mechanism includes a recording sheet between the housing portion and a rotating shaft of the rotating member. Which passes through the printer. 【請求項２】 前記回転部材が、断面半月状の形状をな
し、前記接触位置において円形の半部分が記録用紙に接
触し、前記退避位置において略平坦な半部分が記録用紙
に対向することを特徴とする請求項１に記載のプリン
タ。2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member has a half-moon shape in cross section, a circular half portion contacts the recording sheet at the contact position, and a substantially flat half portion faces the recording sheet at the retracted position. The printer according to claim 1, wherein: 【請求項３】 前記反転搬送機構は、前記回転部材が前
記接触位置において用紙側に突出する開口を有するガイ
ド部を備えることを特徴とする請求項２に記載のプリン
タ。3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the reverse transport mechanism includes a guide portion having an opening in which the rotating member projects toward the sheet at the contact position. 【請求項４】 前記回転部材が前記接触位置にあるとき
に、記録用紙は前記回転部材に向けて付勢されているこ
とを特徴とする請求項１から３のうち何れか１項に記載
のプリンタ。4. The recording sheet according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet is urged toward the rotating member when the rotating member is at the contact position. Printer.