Patent Grant
11981521
The present invention relates to a feeding technique of a roll sheet.
In order to reduce the user's labor upon pulling out a sheet from a roll sheet and introducing it into the apparatus, there has been proposed a technique that automates part of the feeding operation. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-60017 discloses an apparatus that rotates a roll sheet in a sheet feeding direction when it is detected that the leading edge of the roll sheet is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet by its own weight.
The method by the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-60017 cannot be applied to a case in which the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed into a conveyance path from a direction in which the leading edge is difficult to be separated from the roll sheet by its own weight.
The present invention provides a technique that can more reliably introduce the leading edge of a roll sheet into a conveyance path.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a feeding apparatus comprising a roll support unit configured to rotatably support a roll sheet which is a sheet wound into a roll form, a drive unit configured to rotate the roll sheet supported by the roll support unit in a first rotation direction for feeding the sheet from the roll sheet into a conveyance path and a second rotation direction reverse to the first rotation direction, an abutment portion provided so as to be capable of abutting against an outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet at a first position, and a rotation member configured to abut against the outer peripheral surface at a second position different from the first position, wherein the drive unit rotates the roll sheet in the first rotation direction to introduce, into the conveyance path, a leading edge of the sheet having passed between the first position and the second position, the rotation member at the second position does not rotate with the roll sheet when the roll sheet is rotated in the first rotation direction, and rotates with the roll sheet when the roll sheet is rotated in the second rotation direction.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings).
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made to an invention that requires all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted.
<Outline of Printing Apparatus>
Note that “printing” includes not only forming significant information such as characters and graphics but also forming images, figures, patterns, and the like on print media in a broad sense, or processing print media, regardless of whether the information formed is significant or insignificant or whether the information formed is visualized so that a human can visually perceive it. In addition, although in this embodiment, sheet-like paper is assumed as a “print medium” serving as a print target, sheet-like cloth, plastic film, and the like may be used as print media.
The printing apparatus 1 is supported by a pair of leg portions 5. A feeding apparatus 2 is provided on the far side (rear side) of the printing apparatus 1, and a discharge tray 3 is provided on the near side (front side). An operation panel 6, which is used by the user to input various settings and commands and check information, is provided on the upper surface of the printing apparatus 1.
The printing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that can pull out a sheet S from a roll sheet 100 and print an image thereon. The sheet S is one continuous sheet, and the roll sheet 100 is obtained by winding the sheet S into a roll form around a cylindrical core. The roll sheet 100 particularly indicates a roll portion of the sheet S.
The feeding apparatus 2 includes a roll support unit 20 that rotatably supports the roll sheet 100. Holders 7, which define the rotational center axis (X-direction axis) of the roll sheet 100, are detachably attached to both end portions of the roll sheet 100. By setting, in holding portions 20a, the roll sheet 100 with the holders 7 attached thereto, the user can perform printing on the roll sheet 100. The roll support unit 20 includes the left and right holding portions 20a each of which rotatably supports the spool shaft of the holder 7. Each holding portion 20a is a valley-shaped groove, and rotatably supports the shaft portion of the holder 7 in its bottom portion.
The feeding apparatus 2 includes a cover member 4 that covers the roll sheet 100 supported by the roll support unit 20. The cover member 4 is a member having an arc-shaped cross section, and provided so as to be openable/closable between a cover position (for example, the position shown in
The feeding apparatus 2 includes a feeding drive unit 25 that rotates the roll sheet 100 supported by the roll support unit 20 to feed it into a conveyance path RT. The drive unit 25 includes a feeding motor 25a as a driving source, and a transmission mechanism such as a gear mechanism that transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 25a to the spool gear of the holder 7. By rotating the feeding motor 25a, the sheet S of the roll sheet 100 can be fed into the conveyance path RT.
When the roll sheet 100 is set in the roll support unit 20, it is required to introduce the leading edge of the sheet S into the conveyance path RT. The feeding apparatus 2 includes a separation unit SU for separating the leading edge of the sheet S from the peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100 to automatically introduce it into the conveyance path RT. The details of the separation unit SU will be described later.
The conveyance path RT is formed as a space between an upper guide member 25B and a lower guide member 25A. A nip portion between a conveying roller 9 and a driven roller 10 is located in the downstream end of the conveyance path RT. The printing apparatus 1 includes a drive unit 18 that rotates the conveying roller 9. The drive unit 18 includes a conveyance motor 18a as a driving source, and a transmission mechanism such as a gear mechanism that transmits the driving force of the conveyance motor 18a to the conveying roller 9. By driving the conveyance motor 18a, when performing printing, the sheet S is nipped between the conveying roller 9 and the driven roller 10 and, by rotation of these rollers, conveyed onto a platen 11 arranged so as to face a printhead 13.
The platen 11 supports the sheet S from below, and guarantees a gap between the printhead 13 and the sheet S. A plurality of intake holes are formed in the platen 11, and the plurality of intake holes are connected to a suction fan (not shown) (a suction fan 17 shown in
The printhead 13 is mounted on a carriage 12. The carriage 12 is supported such that it can be reciprocated in the X direction (main scanning direction). The carriage 12 is reciprocated by a drive mechanism which uses a carriage motor 12a (
The printhead 13 is provided with discharge ports (nozzles) that discharge ink. The ink is supplied to the printhead 13 from an ink reservoir (not shown). While the carriage 12 is moved, the ink is discharged from the printhead 13 onto the sheet S. With a discharge operation of the printhead 13 and movement of the carriage 12, an image for one line can be printed. By alternately repeating such image printing and intermittent conveyance of the sheet S by the conveying roller 9 in the Y direction (subscanning direction), an image for one page can be printed. A cutter 16 is arranged on the downstream side of the printhead 13 and the platen 11 in the conveyance direction of the sheet S. The cutter 16 cuts the sheet S in the X direction. Thus, a cut sheet with an image printed thereon can be obtained from the roll sheet 100.
The printing apparatus 1 includes an openable/closable top cover 8. When the top cover 8 is open, the mechanisms around the carriage 12 and the cutter 16 are exposed to the outside, and maintenance thereof can be performed.
<Separation Unit>
With reference to
The support member 24 is an arm member that includes a guide portion 24a and the rotation member 23 in one end portion and is supported so as to be rotatable around a pivot shaft 24b in the other end portion. The guide portion 24a is extended in the direction of the conveyance path RT and, when the leading edge of the sheet S is introduced into the conveyance path RT after the roll sheet 100 is set, guides the sheet to the conveyance path RT. Since the rotation member 23 is adjacent to the guide portion 24a, the leading edge of the sheet S wound up by the rotation of the rotation member 23 can be guided by the guide portion 24a and more smoothly introduced into the conveyance path RT.
The drive unit 26 is a unit that displaces the support member 24. The drive unit 26 causes the support member 24 to pivot around the pivot shaft 24b. The drive unit 26 includes an electromagnetic solenoid (pull solenoid) 26a and an elastic member 26b that connects the plunger of the electromagnetic solenoid 26a and the end portion of the support member 24. The elastic member 26b is a tension spring.
In the non-driving state (OFF state) of the electromagnetic solenoid 26a, as shown in
<Control Apparatus>
With reference to
<Setting of Roll Sheet>
With reference to
In the cover member 4 according to this embodiment, both end portions thereof are pivotably supported by the main body of the printing apparatus, and the pivot center is set at almost the same position as the axial center of the spool shaft bearing of the holding portion 20a when viewed in the sectional direction. The cover member 4 can pivot around the pivot center and move between the cover position and the retreat position described above.
When the cover member 4 is located in the retreat position, the user can set the roll sheet 100 in the holding portion 20a. The user sets the roll sheet 100 in the holding portion 20a as shown in
On the inner surface of the cover member 4, an abutment portion 21 is supported via an arm member 22. The abutment portion 21 is provided such that it can abut against the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100. In this embodiment, the abutment portion 21 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100 when the cover member 4 is located in the cover position as shown in
The arm member 22 is supported by the cover member 4 so as to be pivotable around the X-direction axis, and an elastic member 22a such as a torsion coil spring is provided in the root portion of the arm member 22. The elastic member 22a biases the arm member 22 in a direction in which the abutment portion 21 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100. Note that, in order to press the abutment portion 21 against the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100, the arm member 22 may be an elastic member. The arm member 22 is formed such that it pivots by an angle equal to or larger than the angle capable of coping with a change in winding diameter of the roll sheet 100. It is configured such that the tangent line between the abutment portion 21 and the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100 is directed to the conveyance path RT regardless of the winding diameter of the roll sheet 100.
The feeding apparatus 2 includes the sensor 27 that detects the leading edge of the sheet S on the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100. In this embodiment, the sensor 27 is provided on the support member 24. Since the sensor 27 is supported by the support member 24, the sensor 27 can detect the position of the leading edge of the sheet S regardless of a change in winding diameter of the roll sheet 100. Further, since the sensor 27 is provided on the support member 24, the sensor 27 can detect, at a position near the rotation member 23, reaching of the leading edge of the sheet S. Therefore, a distance L (to be described later) can be shortened.
The sensor 27 is a sensor whose output changes before and after the passage of the edge portion of the sheet S. For example, an optical sensor, a reflection PI sensor, a flag-type PI sensor, or the like can be used as the sensor 27. The optical sensor includes, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The light emitting element emits light to the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100, and the light receiving element receives the reflected light. The light-receiving amount changes in accordance with the distance between the sensor 27 and the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100. Therefore, the sensor 27 can detect the passage of the edge portion of the sheet S.
The arrangement of the abutment portion 21 and the rotation member 23 will be described.
The abutment portion 21 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100 at a position P1. The position P1 changes slightly in accordance with the winding diameter of the roll sheet 100. The rotation member 23 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100 at a position P2. The position P2 also changes slightly in accordance with the winding diameter of the roll sheet 100.
The positions P1 and P2 are set such that the leading edge of the sheet S is introduced into the conveyance path RT by passing between the position P1 and the position P2. In other word, the conveyance path RT is located at a height between the position P1 and the position P2. The positions P1 and P2 are arranged so as to span the entrance of the conveyance path RT. The position P1 is a position (upper position) on one end side of the entrance, and the position P2 is a position (lower position) on the other end side of the entrance. Further, in terms of the rotation direction D1 of the roll sheet 100 for feeding the sheet S, the position P2 is set at a position spaced apart from the position P1 in the D1 direction. With the arrangement relationship as described above, as will be described later, when the roll sheet 100 is set, the edge portion of the sheet S is automatically introduced into the conveyance path RT. Note that in some cases, rotation in the rotation direction D1 is referred to as forward rotation, and rotation in the reverse rotation direction D2 is referred to as reverse rotation.
<Automatic Introducing Operation>
In this embodiment, as shown in
In step S1 of
In step S2 of
By rotating the roll sheet 100 once, the leading edge LE passes the sensor 27. Therefore, if the leading edge LE of the sheet S is not detected by the sensor 27, it is determined in step S12 of
In step S13 of
As shown in
Then, in step S6 of
When the specifications (surface material and shape) of the rotation member 23 are designed such that F1<F2 holds, the sheet S is not moved at the abutment point of the rotation member 23 but fed from the side of the abutment portion 21, so that the slack of the sheet S is formed between the position P1 and the position P2.
The size of the slack can be controlled by the conveyance amount of the sheet S, that is, the rotation amount of the roll sheet 100. The conveyance amount of the sheet S may be determined in advance by experiment or the like. Although the conveyance amount of the sheet S with respect to the rotation amount of the roll sheet 100 changes in accordance with the winding diameter of the roll sheet 100, for example, the average value of the rotation amount in the case of the maximum winding diameter and the rotation amount in the case of the minimum winding diameter may be used. Letting Dmax be the maximum winding diameter, Dmin be the minimum winding diameter, and Tp be the conveyance amount of the sheet S, the rotation amount θp=4Tp/(Dmax+Dmin). At this time, the size of loop in the case of the maximum winding diameter is expressed by Tpmax=2Dmax/(Dmax+Dmin)×Tp, and the size of loop in the case of the minimum winding diameter is expressed by Tpmin=2Dmin/(Dmax+Dmin)×Tp.
After the forward rotation of the roll sheet 100 by the predetermined amount set as described above, the rotation is stopped, and the process advances to step S7 of
The rotation amount of the roll sheet 100 is set such that the roll sheet 100 is rotated until the leading edge LE passes the position P2. The rotation amount may be determined in advance by an experiment or the like. Although the conveyance amount of the sheet S with respect to the rotation amount of the roll sheet 100 changes in accordance with the winding diameter of the roll sheet 100, for example, the rotation amount may be determined assuming the case of the minimum winding diameter. More specifically, letting θs be the rotation amount of the roll sheet 100, the rotation amount may be set such that θs=2L/Dmin holds. That is, the rotation amount is determined such that the leading edge LE of the sheet S is moved by a distance equal to or larger than the distance L. Thus, the leading edge LE reliably passes the rotation member 23 and is introduced into the conveyance path RT. Note that if the rotation amount is determined assuming the case of the minimum winding diameter, the conveyance amount of the sheet S in the case of the maximum winding diameter is expressed by conveyance amount=Dmax/Dmin×L. The shorter the distance L, the more advantageous in terms of a reduction in winding amount.
In step S8 of
A sensor that detects the winding diameter of the roll sheet 100 may be provided.
An example of control processing in the automatic introducing operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to
After it is determined in step Si that the roll sheet 100 is set in a roll support unit 20, in step ST in place of step S2, an electromagnetic solenoid 26a is set in the driving state to displace the support member 24 to the working position. A rotation member 23 is located in the abutment position, and the rotation member 23 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the roll sheet 100. Further, the detection result of the sensor 27 is obtained, and a winding diameter D of the roll sheet 100 is calculated. The relationship between the pivot amount of the support member 24 (the detection result of the sensor 27) and the winding diameter D of the roll sheet 100 may be specified in advance. Alternatively, the calculation may be performed each time using the dimensions of the support member 24, the rotation center of the roll sheet 100, and the pivot amount of the support member 24 (the detection result of the sensor 27).
In step S6′, the rotation amount by which the roll sheet 100 is to be rotated in a D1 direction is calculated. Letting Tp be the optimal conveyance amount of a sheet S to form a slack of the sheet S, which is obtained by experiment, the rotation amount can be calculated by rotation amount=2Tp/D. Then, the roll sheet 100 is rotated by the calculated rotation amount.
In step S7′, the rotation amount by which the roll sheet 100 is to be rotated in a D2 direction is calculated. The rotation amount is calculated by rotation amount=2L/D. Then, the roll sheet 100 is rotated by the calculated rotation amount.
As has been described above, by providing the sensor 27 that detects the winding diameter of the roll sheet 100, the slack of the sheet S can be optimized. In the processing in step S7′, the rewinding amount of the sheet S can be accurately adjusted to a distance L, and excessive rewinding of the sheet in a case of the large winding diameter is prevented. This can improve the degree of freedom of arrangement of the sensor 27.
A sensor that detects the size of the slack of the sheet S formed between the position P1 and the position P2 may be provided.
An example of control processing in the automatic introducing operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to
When the reverse rotation of a roll sheet 100 is stopped in step S5, the forward rotation of the roll sheet 100 is started in step S21. When the forward rotation of the roll sheet 100 is started, the detection result of the sensor 29 is monitored, and it is determined in step S22 whether the slack of the sheet S having a predetermined size has been formed between a position P1 and a position P2. The size of the slack, that is, the threshold value of the detection result of the sensor 29 is obtained in advance by an experiment or the like and set.
If it is determined in step S22 that the slack having the predetermined size has been formed, reverse rotation of the roll sheet 100 is started in step S23. When the reverse rotation of the roll sheet 100 is started, the detection result of the sensor 29 is monitored, and it is determined in step S24 whether a leading edge LE of the sheet S has passed the rotation member 23. That is, the sensor 29 is also used as a sensor for determining passage of the leading edge LE. If the leading edge LE passes a position P2, the leading edge LE becomes a free edge as shown in
If it is determined in step S24 that the leading edge LE has passed the rotation member 23, the rotation of the roll sheet 100 is stopped in step S25. The subsequent processing from step S8 to step S11 is similar to that in the example shown in
Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium') to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-043331, filed Mar. 12, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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