Roll paper printer

• US 7,553,098 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Momose, Jiro, Maekawa, Hironori, Shirotori, Motoyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Colilla; Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US11/502,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20070036604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 400/613, 242/563, 242/563.2, 242/591, 242/595
• US Class Current: 400/613
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0075 Low-paper indication, i.e. indicating the state when copy material has been used up nearly or completely
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/48 responsive to breakage or exhaustion of paper or approach of bottom of paper

Abstract

A roll paper printer comprising a roll paper storage unit having a bottom surface on which a roll paper is held and rolls, an operable cover unit for opening and closing a roll paper loading opening to the roll paper storage unit, a roll paper size detection mechanism comprising a detection lever that can move in a direction protruding into the roll paper storage unit and a direction retracting from the roll paper storage unit, and an urging member for urging the detection lever in the protruding direction, wherein the detection lever separates from the roll paper and is pushed in the protruding direction when an outside diameter of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit decreases to a predetermined size or less, and a detection lever retraction mechanism for moving the detection lever protruding into the roll paper storage unit in the retracting direction against the urging force of the urging member in conjunction with the operable cover unit opening.

Claims

1. A roll paper printer comprising:

a roll paper storage unit having a bottom surface on which a roll paper is held and rolls;

an operable cover unit for opening and closing a roll paper loading opening to the roll paper storage unit;

a roll paper size detection mechanism comprising a detection lever that can move in a direction protruding into the roll paper storage unit and a direction retracting from the roll paper storage unit, and an urging member for urging the detection lever in the protruding direction,

wherein the detection lever separates from the roll paper and is pushed in the protruding direction when an outside diameter of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit decreases to a predetermined size or less; and

a detection lever retraction mechanism for moving the detection lever protruding into the roll paper storage unit in the retracting direction against the urging force of the urging member in conjunction with the operable cover unit opening.

2. The roll paper printer described in claim 1, wherein:

the detection lever retraction mechanism operates in conjunction with the opening and closing action of the operable cover unit, and comprises a moving plate that moves between a first position separated from the detection lever, and a second position pushing the detection lever in the retraction direction.

3. The roll paper printer described in claim 2, wherein:

the detection lever retraction mechanism comprises an urging member for urging the moving plate toward the first position.

4. The roll paper printer described in claim 2, wherein said detection lever (51) includes a tab (53) that projects to an inside of said roll paper storage unit (9), wherein said tab (53) is held pressed against said roll paper (10) until a diameter of said roll paper (10) decreases to a predetermined size.

5. The roll paper printer described in claim 4, wherein said tab (53) includes tapers (53a and 53b) formed on an outside surface of a distal end thereof that prevent interference with an edge in a side panel (33) and facilitate being pushed by the moving plate (72).

6. The roll paper printer described in claim 1, wherein:

the detection lever is pressed against a round end of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit, and when the outside diameter of the roll paper decreases to a predetermined size or less, the detection lever separates from the round end of the roll paper and is pushed in the protruding direction.

7. The roll paper printer described in claim 6, wherein:

the detection lever is pushed in the protruding direction to separate from an inside circumference edge of the round end of the roll paper and enter a core hole positioned in the center of the round end of the roll paper.

8. The roll paper printer described in claim 7, wherein:

the roll paper storage unit stores the roll paper with the rotational axis of the roll paper aligned widthwise to the printer;

the protruding direction and retraction direction of the detection lever is aligned widthwise to the printer;

the roll paper loading opening is formed to the roll paper storage unit at a front side of the printer; and

the operable cover unit can open to a front of the printer pivoting on a bottom end part of the operable cover unit, and has a platen defining the printing position of the print head attached at a top end portion of the operable cover unit.

9. The roll paper printer described in claim 8, wherein:

the detection lever retraction mechanism operates in conjunction with opening and closing the operable cover unit, and comprises a moving plate that moves in a front-to-back direction of the printer between a retreated position separated from the detection lever and an advanced position pushing the detection lever in a retraction direction.

10. The roll paper printer described in claim 9, wherein:

the detection lever retraction mechanism comprises an urging member for urging the moving plate towards the back of the printer.

11. The roll paper printer described in claim 6, wherein:

the detection lever is pushed in the protruding direction when the detection lever separates from an outside circumference edge of the roll paper.

12. The roll paper printer described in claim 11, wherein:

the roll paper storage unit stores the roll paper with the rotational axis of the roll paper aligned widthwise to the printer;

the detection lever is pushed in the protruding direction when the detection lever separates from the outside circumference edge of the roll paper;

the roll paper loading opening is formed on the roll paper storage unit at the front side of the printer;

the operable cover unit can open to the front side of the printer pivoting on a bottom end part of the operable cover unit, and has a platen defining the printing position of the print head attached at a top end portion of the operable cover unit; and

the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit is pressed to a side of the operable cover unit while being advanced toward the printing position.

13. The roll paper printer described in claim 12, wherein:

an upward-facing tapered surface rising toward the printer top is formed at a front end part of the detection lever facing the operable cover unit; and

the slope of the upward-facing tapered surface is set so that pushing the operable cover unit in the closing direction enables roll paper disposed between the upward-facing tapered surface and the operable cover unit to move over the upward-facing tapered surface to the back side of the detection lever.

14. The roll paper printer described in claim 13, wherein said slope is set so that the following equation is satisfied:

F*cos(a)>

u*F*sin(a),

wherein F is a horizontal force applied to the upward-facing tapered surface (163a) by the roll paper (106), and u is the static friction coefficient of the upward-facing tapered surface (163a).

15. The roll paper printer described in claim 14, further including an inclined guide surface (163e) formed on the detection lever (163).

16. The roll paper printer described in claim 15, wherein inclined said inclined guide surface (163e) is formed on one of:

an extension (163g) of the tapered surface (163a); and

a top part (163f) of the detection lever (163).

17. The roll paper printer described in claim 12, wherein:

a back-facing tapered surface facing the printer back is formed at a side part of the detection lever facing the roll paper storage unit; and

the back-facing tapered surface can contact the outside circumference edge part of the end of roll paper moving from the back of the detection lever to the front.

18. The roll paper printer described in claim 12, wherein:

a tapered guide surface facing the inside widthwise to the printer is formed at a top part of the detection lever; and

this tapered guide surface can contact the outside circumference edge of the end of the roll paper moving down from the top of the detection lever.

19. The roll paper printer described in claim 1, further including a first roller (142) and a second roller (143) disposed below the first roller (142), wherein said first roller (142) contacts said roller paper (106) when a diameter of said roll paper (106) is large, and said second roller (143) contacts said roller paper (106) when a diameter of said roll paper (106) is small.