Patent Grant
10967658
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a sheet storage device that stores sheets such as discharged printed media.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 discloses a large-size inkjet printing apparatus which performs printing on sheets reeled out of a roll. In this printing apparatus, a roll of sheets is set at a position on the uppermost stage and at the back of the apparatus. In addition, the printing apparatus is provided with first reception members and second reception members located at positions lower than the roll in order to receive discharged sheets, and is capable of receiving sheets in different sizes by setting the reception members in any of drooping or horizontal states, respectively. Multiple second reception members are provided in a sheet width direction, all of which are fixed to a common shaft so as to be turned in an interlocking manner, and the shaft is turned by an operation of a handle by a user.
Due to recent diversification in printing modes, there is a growing demand for enabling sheet supply from a desired roll while providing multiple roll holders. However, the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 allows setting of only one roll and therefore cannot fully meet the needs for diversification in printing modes. If the apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 is modified so as to be able to set a second roll thereon, then another roll holder is supposed to be provided in the vicinity of the existing roll holder. When this configuration is adopted, the user has to lift up two rolls to a high position and to set the rolls from a back side of the apparatus. A typical roll for a large-size printer may exceed 10 kg and a setup operation of such heavy items puts a great strain on the user. Furthermore, when the heavy rolls are set at a high position, the position of the center of gravity of the apparatus gets higher, thereby decreasing stability of the apparatus.
According to the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522, in order to turn the multiple second reception members, the user is supposed to turn the handle so as to turn the shaft. This configuration requires a large force for a handle operation and thus imposes a load on the user. Moreover, since all the multiple second reception members are turned in the interlocking manner, reception modes of sheets discharged after being printed are limited. Thus, this printing apparatus cannot fully meet the needs for diversification in printing modes.
Furthermore, when the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 adopts a reception mode of storing all of the sheets in a space defined inside a storage unit, the sheets are stored in the storage unit by using curl of the sheets. As a consequence, the sheets are in the curling condition when stored in the storage unit. However, the storage unit may not be able to store many sheets because the sheets in the curling condition get bulky. On the other hand, if the curls of the sheets are weak or if the sheets are long, for example, the space inside the storage unit may not be able to store the sheets completely because the sheets are not sufficiently curling.
In addition, when the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 adopts a reception mode of storing sheets that are short in length, for example, the sheets are received by raising a bottom of the space defined in the storage unit in order to adjust a front end position of each sheet to be stored. However, a storage mechanism including a bottom raising member for raising the bottom of the space defined in the storage unit is relatively large in size. Accordingly, it is difficult to install such a storage mechanism unless the printing apparatus can secure the space large enough for installing the storage mechanism. What is more, even if the storage mechanism is successfully installed, a sheet storage space will be reduced instead.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a sheet storage device which meet the needs for diversification in printing modes while reducing a load on a user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet storage device which can reliably store sheets in a storage unit irrespective of conditions of the sheets, and to provide a printing apparatus including the sheet storage device.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet storage device which can adjust a position of a front end of each sheet to be stored by using a smaller storage mechanism, and to provide a printing apparatus including the sheet storage device.
In the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a first holder configured to rotatably hold a roll sheet formed by winding a continuous sheet into a roll shape; a second holder provided below the first holder in a direction of a gravity and configured to rotatably hold a roll sheet formed by winding a continuous sheet into a roll shape; a printing unit configured to perform printing on a sheet supplied from any of the first holder and the second holder; a discharge port provided above the first holder in the direction of gravity and configured to discharge the sheet printed by the printing unit; and a receiving unit provided between the first holder and the second holder in the direction of gravity and capable of establishing a first state of receiving a front end portion of the sheet discharged from the discharge port and a second state of not receiving the front end portion.
In the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet storage device configured to store a sheet discharged from a printing apparatus including a holder configured to rotatably hold a roll sheet formed by winding a continuous sheet into a roll shape, a printing unit configured to perform printing on a sheet supplied from the holder, and a discharge port configured to discharge the sheet printed by the printing unit, the sheet storage device comprising: a storage unit configured to store the sheet discharged from the discharge port; and a receiving unit configured to be capable of establishing a first state of receiving a front end portion of the sheet and a second state of not receiving the front end portion of the sheet at a place between the discharge port and the storage unit, and in the first state, to receive the front end portion of the sheet such that a following portion of the sheet being discharged droops into a storage space of the storage unit when discharge of the sheet proceeds.
In the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet storage device configured to store a sheet discharged from a printing apparatus including a holder configured to rotatably hold a roll sheet formed by winding a continuous sheet into a roll shape, a printing unit configured to perform printing on a sheet supplied from the holder, and a discharge port configured to discharge the sheet printed by the printing unit, the sheet storage device comprising: a storage unit configured to store a sheet discharged from the discharged port by using a receiver and to be capable of changing a reception mode of the sheet with the receiver; and a guide unit provided between the discharge port and the receiver and configured to guide a front end of the sheet and to form a butting portion to receive the front end of the sheet by coming into contact with the receiver in one of reception modes of the sheet.
The present invention realizes a printing apparatus and a storage device which meet the needs for diversification in printing modes while reducing a load on a user.
Meanwhile, according to the present invention, a sheet is caused to fall while forming droop of the sheet in a loop shape by using a flapper, and is thus stored in a storage unit in a loosely folded state. Thus, it is possible to reliably store the sheet in the storage unit.
In the meantime, according to the present invention, it is possible to adjust a position of a front end of a sheet by using a smaller storage mechanism.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The printing apparatus 10 includes a body 1, legs 2 that support the body 1, and a sheet basket 3 (a sheet storage device) fitted on the legs 2. The body 1 includes roll holders 160 and 161, each of which rotatably holds a roll (a roll sheet) formed by winding an elongated sheet (a continuous sheet) around a paper tube. The rolls held by the roll holders 160 and 161 are reeled out and fed as sheets to a printing unit 5 through a feeding mechanism (not shown) and the like. Meanwhile, the roll holder 161 (a second holder) is located below the roll holder 160 (a first holder). In other words, the roll holders 160 and 161 are arranged in a vertical direction. Here, the roll holder 161 located below may be provided with a function that enables the roll holder 161 to reel in the sheet which is supplied from the roll holder 160 and printed.
Moreover, the body 1 includes the printing unit 5 configured to perform printing on a conveyed sheet W, which is a printing medium reeled out of the roll housed in each of the roll holders 160 and 161 and is conveyed by a conveyance mechanism. Here, a cutter 6 is provided on the route from a point of printing by the printing unit 5 to a point of discharge from a discharge port 1a. The printed sheet is cut out by the cutter 6 at a predetermined position. Furthermore, the body 1 includes the discharge port 1a that discharges the printed sheet W, and a discharge port guide 1b that guides the discharged sheet to the sheet basket 3. The sheet being discharged by inches along with a printing operation passes through the discharge port guide 1b, then changes its traveling direction downward owing to its own weight, and starts drooping down. Here, the roll holders 160 and 161 are located below the discharge port 1a and the discharge port guide 1b. In this way, the two roll holders 160 and 161 are provided substantially at a central position in a height direction of the printing apparatus 10.
The roll holders 160 and 161 are provided on a front side of the printing apparatus 10 where the discharge port 1a is open. This makes it possible to set a roll on the roll holder 160 provided inside from the front side of the printing apparatus by opening a housing of the body 1 after moving the sheet basket 3, for example. In the meantime, it is possible to set a roll on the roll holder 161 from the front side of the printing apparatus. Thus, the user can conduct replacement of the rolls from the front side without having to move the printing apparatus, and a load on the user associated with this operation is reduced accordingly.
Moreover, the body 1 includes an operating unit 4. The user can input various commands such as sheet size specification and switching between online and offline statuses by operating various switches provided on the operating unit 4. Although this embodiment is described on the assumption of a two-stage roll configuration provided with the two roll holders, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration but is also applicable to a printing apparatus including three or more roll holders. Here, if such a printing apparatus includes three or more roll holders, then the printing apparatus is at least provided with the two roll holders 160 and 161.
The sheet basket 3 is configured to store the sheets that are cut by the cutter 6 after the printing. The sheet basket 3 includes a sheet-shaped receiver 40 made of a thin, flat, and flexible material such as a cloth or a plastic. One end portion of this receiver 40 is held on a top rod 20 by using receiver holders 100 to be described later, while another end portion thereof is held on a rear rod 30. In other words, the top rod 20 and the rear rod 30 function as holders to hold the two end portions of the receiver 40. Specifically, the top rod 20 holds the end portion of the receiver 40 on a downstream side (which is away from the body 1) in a sheet discharge direction viewed from the discharge port 1a, while the rear rod 30 holds the end portion of the receiver 40 on an upstream side (which is close to the body 1) in the sheet discharge direction. Two ends of the top rod 20 are connected to two side rods 11, respectively, by using connectors 12. The side rods 11 are held by side rod angle retainers 60 through side rod supports 61. Each side rod angle retainer 60 is fitted on the corresponding leg 2. Meanwhile, an intermediate rod 121 is positioned by intermediate rod positioning members 120 fitted on the side rods 11, and supports the receiver 40. In other words, the intermediate rod 121 is movable and functions as a support member that supports an intermediate part of the receiver 40.
In the meantime, as shown in
As described above, even when a discharged sheet is placed on the receiver 40, the receiver 40 having been reeled in is kept from being reeled out again due to the weight of the sheet. Accordingly, the user can use the receiver 40 for storing the discharged sheet while adjusting the length of the receiver 40 to a desired length. Here, the reel lock on the receiver 40 can be released by moving the rotary clutch 112 in the direction away from the fixed clutch 113 by pressing the release button 115 that releases the receiver 40 wound around the top rod 20.
Here, the rotation in the direction of the arrow Y in
Meanwhile, the sheet basket 3 includes a guide flapper unit 180. Now, details of the guide flapper unit 180 will be described with reference to
Thus, an operation to replace the rolls set on the roll holders 160 and 161 is facilitated. In the meantime, while
The guides 184 on which the flappers 183 are fitted, respectively, are arranged in the sheet width direction. Each of the flappers 183 is independently and individually openable and closable in a direction of an arrow U. The flappers 183 and the guides 184 collectively function as a receiving unit that receives printed sheets. Details of the receiving unit will be described later. In this way, a handle member connected to the multiple reception members as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 is no longer necessary. According to the printing apparatus 10, it is possible to operate the flappers 183 with a smaller force than that required in the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522.
The guide 184 is fitted onto the guide rod 182, and forms a shape of a guide which is concentric with an outer periphery of a roll 162 set on the roll holder 161. Since the handle member as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 is not provided, the guide flapper unit 180 can be located between the roll holder 160 and the roll holder 161 and at a position closer to the roll holders 160 and 161. The above-described configuration makes it possible to achieve space saving. In addition, the guides 184 can be located more on the back side of the body 1. As a consequence, even when using a sheet with a front end curling in a direction to come close to the body 1, which is typical in the roll, it is possible to guide the front end of the sheet straightforward to the sheet basket 3. In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to guide the front end of the sheet more reliably to the sheet basket 3.
In the state where the flapper 183 is open as shown in
Meanwhile, a rotational center 189 of the flapper 183 is located at a lower part of the flapper 183 in the direction of gravity. Then, owing to the rotational center 189, the flapper 183 is designed such that the front end portion 183a of the flapper 183 comes close to (comes into contact with) the body 1 when the flapper 183 is closed and the front end portion 183a recedes from the body 1 when the flapper 183 is open. Meanwhile, the rotational center 189 is located below a rotational center of the roll on the roll holder 160 and above a rotational center of the roll on the roll holder 161 when the guide flapper unit 180 is disposed between the roll holders 160 and 161. Accordingly, in the printing apparatus 10, the discharge port 1a, the rotational center of the roll on the roll holder 160, the rotational center 189 of the flapper 183, and the rotational center of the roll on the roll holder 161 are arranged in this order in the direction of gravity. In other words, the discharge port 1a, the rotational center of the roll on the roll holder 160, the rotational center 189 of the flapper 183, and the rotational center of the roll on the roll holder 161 are arranged such that heights thereof are reduced in this order. Moreover, the rotational center 189 of the flapper 183 is provided in such a position that the front end portion 183a of the flapper 183 comes closer to the body 1 than the rotational center 189 is when the flapper 183 is closed.
According to the configuration described above, it is possible to support the flapper 183 just by providing a butting surface, which serves for positioning when the flapper 183 is open, around a rotational axis in the structure to open and close the flapper 183, and thus to simplify the configuration. On the other hand, a rotational center of each reception member in the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522 is provided above the reception member in the direction of gravity. Accordingly, this printing apparatus requires a complicated structure such as the lock mechanism when keeping the reception member substantially in a horizontal state. As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain an advantage of simplification of the structure to open and close the flapper 183.
By simplifying the structure to open and close each flapper 183 as described above, the component to receive the discharged sheets is reduced in size and the guides 184 are arranged in a small space between the two roll holders 160 and 161. Moreover, the multiple flappers 183 are configured to be openable and closable individually and independently. In this way, it is possible to form the sheet basket 3 into a simpler structure than a medium reception unit of the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522. Meanwhile, the roll holders 160 and 161 are provided substantially at the central position in the height direction on the front side of the printing apparatus 10. As a consequence, it is relatively easier to conduct the operation to replace the rolls in the printing apparatus 10, which can also be installed more stably as a consequence of lowering the position of the center of gravity. In the meantime, it is possible to store sheets in various sizes in a sorted manner by changing layout positions and the numbers of the guides 184 each provided with the flapper 183, the details of which will be described later.
Meanwhile, each guide 184 includes the sliding plate 186 (a sliding member), which is located at a lower end of the guide 184 and made vertically slidable inside the guide 184. The sliding plate 186 is independently operable as with the flapper 183.
In one example, the curling amount of the front end of the sheet is large, and the maximum number of loaded sheets is set to 100 sheets in the case of plain paper wound around a generally used paper tube having a 2-inch (50.8 mm) diameter. Each sheet of the plain paper has a thickness of 0.1 mm, and the thickness when loading 100 sheets thereof is equal to 10 mm (=100×0.1). In the meantime, the maximum value of the curling amount of the front end of the sheet (that is, the distance from the lowermost surface of the sheet in the state of drooping vertically downward to the front end of the sheet at a portion close to the paper tube at the beginning of winding the sheet, which is warped vertically upward) is equal to 10 mm. Accordingly, in this example, a length of the clearance V1 is set equal to or above 20 mm (=100×0.1+10 mm). Meanwhile, the second regulating surface 184b is formed such that its length in the sheet discharge direction (that is, the discharge direction of the sheet or a depth direction of the concave portion) is smaller than the radius (25.4 mm) of the paper tube. A height in a perpendicular direction of the convex portion 184d (that is, an amount of protrusion from the upper surface of the concave portion) is formed greater than the maximum thickness of the sheet expected for use. In this example, this height is defined greater than the thickness 0.1 mm of the plain paper.
The mode of use of the flexible receiver 40 is modifiable by combining the aspects of the receiver reeler 110 and the guide flapper unit 180 described above. In other words, when the sheet basket 3 receives the discharged printed sheet, the user can select various reception modes. Thus, the receiver 40 meets the needs for diversification in printing modes. Details of various reception modes will be described below.
(First Reception Mode)
Next, a description will be given of behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge. A front end of a printed sheet W1 discharged from the discharge port 1a is guided to the sheet butting members 170 (that is, the first sheet butting portion) through the discharge port guide 1b, the flappers 183, the guides 184, and the sliding plates 186. Specifically, the sheet W1 is guided with a state where its curling front end is directed to the body 1, and the front end stops by coming into contact with the sheet butting members 170. As the sheet W1 is continuously conveyed in this state, a loop of the sheet W1 is formed on one side away from the body 1 while using the intermediate rod 121 as an inflection point. Thereafter, the sheet having been conveyed for a predetermined amount and then cut off is reversed by using the intermediate rod 121 as the inflection point, and is placed on the receiver 40 with its printed surface laid face-down like a sheet W2.
The first reception mode is a mode suitable for a sheet which is relatively large in size (such as A0 portrait). In this mode, it is possible to place multiple sheets while laying printed surfaces of the sheets face-down (face-down sheet discharge).
To put it another way, each sliding plate 186 is a moving unit that is movable in the directions to come into contact with and to detach from the receiver 40. Meanwhile, the second sheet butting portion 190 is a support portion formed at the intermediate position in a sheet storage direction of the receiver 40 and configured to support the front end portion of the sheet. Specifically, the support portion is formed in such a way as to adjust the position of the front end of the sheet in the case of storing a sheet that is short in length. On the other hand, when the support portion is not formed, the front end of the sheet travels downward beyond the guides 184 (or the sliding plates 186).
Next, a description will be given of behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge. A front end of a printed sheet W1 discharged from the discharge port 1a is guided to the second sheet butting portion 190 through the discharge port guide 1b, the flappers 183, the guides 184, and the sliding plates 186. Specifically, the sheet W1 is guided with a state where its curling front end is directed to the body 1, and the front end stops by coming into contact with the second sheet butting portion 190. In other words, the front end portion of the sheet W1 gets supported by the second sheet butting portion 190. As the sheet W1 is continuously conveyed in this state, a loop of the sheet is formed on one side away from the body 1 while using the intermediate rod 121 as an inflection point, which is illustrated as a transition from a sheet W2 to a sheet W3. Thereafter, the sheet having been conveyed for a predetermined amount and then cut off is reversed by using the intermediate rod 121 as the inflection point, and is placed on the receiver 40 with its printed surface laid face-down like a sheet W4. In other words, the second sheet butting portion functions as the support unit that supports the front end of the sheet, and the sheet is discharged while being supported by the support unit. Alternatively, the receiver reeler 110 may be provided on the rear rod 30 instead, and the receiver 40 need only be stretched while being rolled around at least one of the top rod 20 and the rear rod 30.
The first example of the second reception mode is a mode suitable for a sheet (such as A1 portrait) which is smaller than the sheet in the above-described first reception mode. In this mode, it is possible to place multiple sheets while laying printed surfaces of the sheets face-down (face-down sheet discharge).
The printing apparatus of this example is configured to be capable of folding the flexible receiver 40 and adjusting the length thereof. As shown in
Behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge are the same as those in the above-described first example. According to this example, it is possible to omit the receiver reeler 110 from the above-described first example, and thus to simplify the configuration of the apparatus.
Alternatively, the receiver 40 may possibly be stretched so as to come into contact with the sliding plates 186 by using the intermediate rod 121, which is movable by using the intermediate rod positioning members 120, as an inflection point.
Behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge are the same as those in the aforementioned first example of the second reception mode. According to this example, it is possible to omit the receiver reeler 110 from the above-described first example of the second reception mode, and thus to simplify the configuration of the apparatus as with the above-described second example of the second reception mode. Meanwhile, the configuration of this example may be combined with the printing apparatus according to the aforementioned first example of the second reception mode.
As described above, according to this reception mode, it is possible to adjust the position of the front end of the sheet by using a smaller storage mechanism, and to achieve a storage mode that can also store a sheet that is short in length.
(Third Reception Mode)
Next, a description will be given of behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge. A front end of a printed sheet W1 discharged from the discharge port 1a is guided by the discharge port guide 1b, the sheet guide 185, and the guides 184, thus butting and stopping at the concave portions of the guides 184. Specifically, the concave portion of each guide 184 receives the front end of the sheet W1 and regulates the position of the front end of the sheet W1. Then, as the sheet W1 is continuously conveyed in the state of the front end of the sheet W1 being regulated by the concave portions, the front end portion of the sheet W1 is discharged while being supported by the flappers 183. Hence, a loop of the sheet is formed on one side away from the body 1 like a sheet W2 while using the intermediate rod 121 as an inflection point. Thereafter, the sheet having been conveyed for a predetermined amount and then cut off is reversed by using the intermediate rod 121 as the inflection point, and is placed with its printed surface laid face-down like a sheet W3. In other words, the receiver 40 stretched from the top rod 20 to the intermediate rod 121 functions as a support unit that supports a rear end side of the sheet W3. This mode is suitable for a sheet (such as A1 landscape and A2 landscape) which is smaller than the sheets in the above-described first reception mode and the second reception mode. In this mode, it is possible to place multiple sheets while laying printed surfaces face-down (face-down sheet discharge).
Next, with reference to
Next, with reference to
Meanwhile, the length of the clearance V1 described above is defined to be greater than the sum of the thickness of the maximum number of loaded sheets and the maximum value of the curling amount of the front end of the sheet. The maximum value of the curling amount of the front end of the sheet is equivalent to the distance from the lowermost surface of the sheet in the state of drooping vertically downward to the front end of the sheet that is warped vertically upward to the maximum. In this way, even when placing the maximum number of sheets each having strongly curling front end, it is possible to place and store the sheets without causing any jams of the front ends of the sheets at an entrance of each guide 184 (the clearance V1).
In the meantime, as described previously, each guide 184 is formed such that the length in the sheet discharge direction of the second regulating surface 184b is smaller than the radius of the paper tube. Specifically, the length in the depth direction of the upper surface of the concave portion is made shorter than an inside diameter of the roll where unused sheets are wound around. Meanwhile, the height of the convex portion 184d (that is, the amount of protrusion from the upper surface of the concave portion) is formed greater than the maximum thickness of the sheet expected for use. In this way, even in the case of placing the sheet having the front end that is strongly curling inward, it is possible to prevent the sheet from curling up since the front end of the sheet is reliably caught on the convex portion 184d before the front end exceeds the center line of the curl.
Moreover, the multiple flappers 183 and the multiple guides 184 each including a curl regulation mechanism (the concave portion) are disposed in the sheet width direction as shown in
(Fourth Reception Mode)
The printing apparatus according to the fourth reception mode is configured such that the intermediate rod 121 is moved closer to the top rod 20 as compared to the third reception mode. As a consequence, the flexible receiver 40 gets loose and curved by its own weight, thereby forming a bag shape that can receive the entire sheet. Thus, the storage unit is formed into a bag shape. Specifically, in the sheet basket 3, the receiver 40 with the one end portion fixed to the top rod 20 and the other end portion fixed to the rear rod 30 through the intermediate rod 121 is curved by its own weight, and a lowermost point P2 located lowest is situated below the rear rod 30. In the meantime, since the intermediate rod 121 is moved toward the top rod 20, a space defined by the receiver 40 is formed wide in terms of the depth direction (the front-back direction). Note that in this mode, the flappers 183 are in the state of being open and protruding to a space between the discharge port 1a and the storage unit formed from the flexible receiver 40. In other words, the storage unit is designed to encompass a region located below the flappers 183 in the open state in the direction of gravity. Thus, a sheet storage space in the storage unit is formed below the flappers 183.
Next, a description will be given of behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge. As with the above-described third reception mode, a front end of a printed sheet W1 discharged from the discharge port 1a is guided by the discharge port guide 1b and the sheet guide 185, thus butting and stopping at the first regulating surfaces 184a in the concave portions of the guides 184. Then, as the sheet W1 is continuously conveyed in the state where the front end of the sheet W1 is regulated by the concave portions, the sheet W1 is guided while being supported by the flappers 183. Hence, a loop of the sheet is formed vertically downward like a sheet W2 while using the front end portions 183a of the flappers 183 as an inflection point, and a following portion of the sheet droops down into the storage space while forming a loop. At this time, the loop that droops down from the front end portions 183a does not come into contact with other components such as the receiver 40. Thereafter, the sheet having been conveyed for a predetermined amount while retaining the loop state and then cut off falls in the bag-shaped receiver 40, and is placed in a loosely folded state like a sheet W3.
What is important here is that the front end portion including the front end of the sheet before being cut off is located on the guides 184 and the flappers 183, and the sheet is stored and placed on the receiver 40 after being cut off. A rear end of the sheet before being cut off is held by the body 1. Accordingly, the center of gravity of the sheet is located closer to the body 1 than the front end portions 183a of the flappers 183 are. For this reason, the sheet in the state of drooping vertically downward by use of the front end portions 183a as the inflection point and thus being formed into the loop is kept from falling, and the front end portion of the sheet is located on the guides 184 and the flappers 183. Thereafter, when the sheet is cut off, the rear end of the sheet is no longer held by the body 1 and the center of gravity of the sheet transitions to a position which is more distant from the body 1 than the front end portions 183a of the flappers 183 are. For this reason, the sheet falls onto the receiver 40 from a portion near an intermediate part of the sheet formed into the loop due to its own weight, and is stored in a loosely folded state while retaining the loop shape.
In this case, the upper surface (a support surface that supports the front end portion of the sheet) of each flapper 183 is preferably horizontal or inclined upward away from the body 1 and the discharge port 1a because, if each flapper 183 is inclined downward, the center of gravity of the sheet is apt to move in a direction away from the body 1 when the sheet forms the loop, and the sheet may fall onto the receiver 40 before being cut off. In consideration of consistency with other modes, this example adopts the shape of the upper surface of each flapper 183, which is inclined upward to the front end of the flapper 183.
As described above, in the sheet basket 3, the intermediate rod 121 is moved toward the top rod 20, and the storage unit of the receiver 40 formed into the bag shape is located in the region including an area below the flappers 183 in the direction of gravity. Accordingly, it is possible to form the loop drooping down from the front end portions 183a of the flappers 183 without causing interference with other components. On the other hand, according to the printing apparatus of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522, for example, the first reception members and the second reception members are set to a substantially horizontal state, and the storage unit is formed by loosening a sheet member (corresponding to the receiver) between an arm portion located on a front side of the second reception members and front end portions of the first reception members. Therefore, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522, the sheet which is discharged while being supported by the second reception members may occasionally form a loop in the storage unit, but this loop is in contact with the arm portion and the sheet member. Then, the sheet which is cut off rolls down due to a curl or the like and gets stored in the storage unit. In this regard, if the sheet has low rigidity or has a weak curl, for example, the sheet may not curl up. At this time the storage unit cannot store this sheet. On the other hand, in the sheet basket 3, the loop is formed in a drooping manner at the front end portions 183a without interfering with other components. Accordingly, when the sheet is cut off, the sheet falls while keeping its loop shape and is then loosely folded and stored by use of the loop shape. For this reason, if the sheets are stored continuously, the sheets are placed in the loosely folded state. In this way, as compared to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522, the sheet basket 3 is capable of achieving the effective use of a space in the height direction of the storage unit, storing more sheets, and storing the sheets more reliably in the storage unit irrespective of the degrees of curls or lengths of the sheets. Note that the fourth reception mode is assumed to be applied mainly to plain paper and coated paper in standard sizes such as A0 and B0 frequently used in drawings, posters, and the like. However, the application of this mode is not limited only to these standard sizes. In the meantime, this mode is also capable of storing sheets in two or more sizes at the same time.
Here,
When the length Lp is less than ¼L, the center of gravity of the sheet before being cut off is located at a position away from the body 1 than the front end portions 183a of the flappers 183 are, whereby the sheet located on the flappers 183 and the guides 184 falls in the storage unit before being cut off. For this reason, the length Lp is preferably equal to or more than ¼ times as large as the length L. This makes it possible to locate the center of gravity of the sheet before being cut off closer to the body 1 than the front end portions 183a are.
Moreover, the length Lp is preferably less than the length Y. Here, if the length Y is less than an outside diameter of the paper tube of the housed roll (that is, the inside diameter of the roll), the sheet is liable to be discharged to the outside of the storage unit due to the curl of the sheet and the like. Accordingly, the length Y is preferably set larger than the outside diameter of the paper tube of the housed roll. This makes it possible to store the sheet, which is formed into the loop, on the receiver 40 without dropping off the storage unit.
In this fourth reception mode, when the receiver 40 is formed into the bag shape, it is preferable to locate the lowermost point P2 of the receiver 40 closer to the body 1 (on the back side) than the lower end P1 of the loop drooping down from the front end portions 183a is. Alternatively, the lowermost point P2 may be located away from the body 1 (on the front side) than the lower end P1 1 s. In other words, it is preferable to incline the inner surface of the receiver 40, namely, the inner surface of the storage unit at a portion below the lower end P1 in the direction of gravity, based on a positional relation between the lowermost point P2 and the lower end P1. Thus, the sheet that is cut off and falls while retaining the loop shape is loosely folded by use of the inclined surface formed by the receiver 40 while efficiently using the loop shape.
Next, a description will be given of behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge. Note that a sheet reference end (a reference position) to define a position serving as a reference when a sheet is discharged from the discharge port 1a is set to the right side in the sheet width direction in this embodiment. As described above, the user sets about the operation to move at least one of the sliding plates 186 up and down starting from the right side in the sheet width direction depending on the size of the sheet to be discharged. In
In this state, when a sheet W1 (such as A1 portrait or larger) which is larger than a predetermined width is discharged as shown in
In the meantime, when a sheet W2 (such as A2 portrait or smaller) which is smaller than the predetermined width is discharged as shown in
Although this example has been described above while setting the sheet reference end to the right side in the sheet width direction, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration. For instance, if the sheet reference end is set to the left side in the sheet width direction, then the user may conduct an operation to move at least one of the sliding plates 186 up and down from the left side in the sheet width direction. If the sheet reference end is set to the center in the sheet width direction, then the user may conduct an operation to move at least one of the sliding plates 186 up and down from the center in the sheet width direction. In the meantime, although the second sheet butting portion 190 is formed by bringing the sliding plates 186 into contact with the receiver 40 at the intermediate position on the storage path, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration. For example, a member being attachable to and detachable from the receiver 40 may be provided at the intermediate position, and the member may be fitted on the receiver 40 as needed such that the member regulates and supports the front end of the sheet.
Meanwhile, as described above, this example is configured to sort and store the sheets in different sizes by conducting the operation to move the sliding plates 186 up and down. However, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration. Specifically, the flappers 183 may be opened or closed or the detachably provided guides 184 may be removed depending on the sizes of the sheets to be discharged. To be more precise, when storing the above-mentioned sheets W1 and W2, the flappers 183 of the guides 184 having the sliding plates 186a to 186c are set to an open state, and the flapper 183 of the guide 184 having the sliding plate 186d is set to a closed state. Alternatively, the sliding plates 186a to 186c are moved down to come into contact with the receiver 40, and the guide 184 having the sliding plate 186d is removed.
Behaviors of a sheet at the time of sheet discharge of this example are similar to those of the above-described first example of the fifth reception mode. In this example, the guide 184 is configured to be attachable and detachable. Instead, the guide 184 may be configured to be movable in the sheet width direction so as to allow the user to move the guide 184 depending on the sizes of the sheets.
As described above, in the fifth reception mode, one or more guides 184, in which the flappers 183 and the sliding plates 186 are operable independently of one another, are installed or moved depending on the widths of the sheets. In this way, the printing apparatus 10 can sort and store sheets in a greater variety of sizes as compared to the printing apparatus according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-189522, in which the second reception members having the function equivalent to that of the flappers 183 are configured to interlock with one another.
Note that this example describes the case in which the guides 184e and 184f are configured to be attachable and detachable. When the guides 184e and 184f are configured to be movable instead, the user is allowed to move the guide 184f depending on the sizes of the sheets. Meanwhile, although the two guides 184e and 184f are provided in this example, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration. For instance, one guide 184 or three or more guides 184 may be provided as long as such a configuration can block passage of a large sheet and bring the sheet into contact with the guide and then reverse and store the sheet, while allowing a sheet that is smaller than the predetermined width.
Each of the aforementioned examples has been described by using the printing apparatus integrated with the sheet storage device. However, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration. For instance, as shown in
The sheet basket 3 in the printing apparatus 10 may be configured to store sheets discharged not only from the printing apparatus but also from various sheet processing apparatuses such as an image scanning apparatus. Meanwhile, the printing apparatus 10 may also use sheets other than sheets that are reeled out of the rolls. Moreover, although the flappers 183 are configured to be turnable, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration. Specifically, each flapper 183 only needs to have such a configuration that can be changed to a position where it is possible to support the front end portion of the sheet discharged from the discharge port 1a or to a position where the flapper 183 does not support the front end portion of the sheet. To be more precise, each flapper 183 may be made slidable between the position to support the front end portion of the sheet and the position not to support the front portion. At this time, each flapper 183 is operated independently and is movably provided to the corresponding guide 184.
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet storage device that stores a discharged printed sheet, and to provide a printing apparatus including the sheet storage device.
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 Applications No. 2017-035270, No. 2017-035272, and No. 2017-035275 filed Feb. 27, 2017, respectively, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2017-035270 | Feb 2017 | JP | national |
| JP2017-035272 | Feb 2017 | JP | national |
| JP2017-035275 | Feb 2017 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180244086 A1 | Aug 2018 | US |
