JP2013249186A - Recording apparatus and detection structure in recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording apparatus capable of detecting recording media conveyed from different directions with a small number of detectors even when an installation space of the detectors for detecting the recording media is limited.SOLUTION: A recording apparatus includes: a detector 30 for detecting a continuous paper S1 and a single paper S2; and a plurality of conveying paths 15, 16 for conveying the continuous paper S1 and the single paper S2 from different directions relative to the detector 30. The detector 30 comprises a detection lever 31 rotated about a predetermined portion as a rotation center by the abutment against leading edges of the continuous paper S1 and the single paper S2 conveyed in the conveying paths 15, 16. The detection lever 31 includes a plurality of contact surfaces 34, 35 which correspond to the plurality of conveying paths 15, 16, respectively, and are located at one end side from the rotation center, and against which the continuous paper S1 and the single paper S2 abut.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a detector for detecting a recording medium, and a detection structure for detecting the recording medium in the recording apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus having two conveyance paths, a rear conveyance path and a bottom conveyance path, as a conveyance path for a recording medium, is known that includes a paper detector that detects a recording medium conveyed through each conveyance path ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
This paper detector has a rotating member having two detection levers, and these two detection levers protrude from the rear conveyance path and the bottom conveyance path, respectively. The sheet transported through the rear transport path contacts the first paper detection lever, and the sheet transported through the bottom transport path contacts the second paper detection lever. The paper detector detects the paper by detecting the rotation of the rotating member when the paper comes into contact with each detection lever. As described above, the paper detector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to detect a recording medium that is transported through each transport path by a single rotating member.

JP 2002-178574 A

  By the way, there are various forms of a recording apparatus having a plurality of conveyance paths like the conventional recording apparatus described above, and there is a case where the configuration like the paper detector of Patent Document 1 cannot be applied. For example, there are cases where the detector installation space is small and a plurality of detection levers cannot be provided. Even in such a configuration, it has been desired to reliably detect a recording medium conveyed along a plurality of conveyance paths.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and a recording apparatus capable of reliably detecting a recording medium conveyed from different directions even when an installation space for a detector for detecting the recording medium is limited. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, the detector for detecting the recording medium, and transporting the recording medium from different directions to the detector A plurality of transport paths, and the detector includes a detection lever that is rotated about a predetermined portion by a contact of a tip of the recording medium transported along the transport path. Corresponding to each of the plurality of transport paths, a plurality of contact surfaces with which the recording medium transported through the transport path contacts, or a plurality of contact portions with which the recording medium transported through the transport path contacts. It has a formed curved surface on one end side from the rotation center.
According to the present invention, a recording medium conveyed from a plurality of conveyance paths comes into contact with one end side from the rotation center of one detection lever, and the recording medium conveyed through the plurality of conveyance paths can be detected. The detection lever is provided with a plurality of contact surfaces or a plurality of contact portions corresponding to each of the plurality of transport routes, so that the recording medium transported through each transport route hits the contact surface or the contact portion at a desired angle. And the recording medium can be detected more reliably. Thereby, even if there is a restriction such as a small installation space for the detector, a small number of detectors can reliably detect the recording medium conveyed from the plurality of conveyance paths. Furthermore, cost reduction can be expected by suppressing the number of detectors.

The present invention is the above-described recording apparatus, and regulates an angle at which the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path contacts the contact surface or the contact portion corresponding to at least one of the conveyance paths. A restriction member is provided.
According to the present invention, the angle of the recording medium with which the recording medium comes into contact with the contact surface or the contact portion is regulated by the restricting member. Therefore, when the recording medium comes into contact, the detection lever is reliably rotated to make the recording medium more reliable. Can be detected.

Further, the present invention is the recording apparatus, wherein the restriction member is arranged at a position that separates the conveyance path from the other conveyance paths.
According to the present invention, since the recording media conveyed along the respective conveying paths are prevented from contacting each other, problems such as paper jams can be prevented more reliably, and the reliability of the apparatus can be improved.

Further, the present invention is the recording apparatus, wherein the plurality of contact surfaces or the plurality of contact portions are positioned at one end side from a center of the detection lever, and a rotation center of the detection lever is a position of the detection lever. It is located in the other end side from the center.
According to the present invention, the distance between the rotation center and the contact surface or the contact portion can be increased, and the amount of movement of the contact surface or contact portion corresponding to the rotation angle of the detection lever can be increased. Thereby, the recording medium can be detected with high accuracy.

Further, the present invention is the recording apparatus, wherein the detector detects a rotation of the detection lever when the recording medium comes into contact with any of the contact surfaces or the contact portions. It has the part.
According to the present invention, it is possible to detect the contact of the recording medium conveyed along each conveyance path by one detector, so that the number of parts of the detector can be reduced, and the cost and size can be reduced.

Further, the present invention is the recording apparatus, wherein the detection unit detects rotation of the detection lever by electrically detecting a mechanical contact of the contact accompanying rotation of the detection lever. It is characterized by.
According to the present invention, a recording medium can be reliably and accurately detected using an inexpensive detector.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a detection structure for a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium, comprising a detector for detecting the recording medium, the detector being transported in the recording apparatus A detection lever that is rotated about a predetermined portion by the contact of the leading end of the recording medium, and the detection lever transports the recording medium from different directions with respect to the detector. Corresponding to each of a plurality of contact surfaces with which the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path abuts, or a curved surface formed with a plurality of contact portions with which the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path abuts, It has the one end side from the said rotation center, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to the present invention, a recording medium conveyed from a plurality of conveyance paths comes into contact with one end side from the rotation center of one detection lever, and the recording medium conveyed through the plurality of conveyance paths can be detected. The detection lever is provided with a plurality of contact surfaces or a plurality of contact portions corresponding to each of the plurality of transport routes, so that the recording medium transported through each transport route hits the contact surface or the contact portion at a desired angle. And the recording medium can be detected more reliably. Thereby, even if there is a restriction such as a small installation space for the detector, a small number of detectors can reliably detect the recording medium conveyed from the plurality of conveyance paths. Furthermore, cost reduction can be expected by suppressing the number of detectors.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect a recording medium conveyed from a plurality of conveyance paths by a small number of detectors even if there is a restriction such as a small installation space of the detector.

1 is a perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment. It is a sectional side view of a printer. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing of the operation | movement which detects a sheet | seat with a detector. It is explanatory drawing of the operation | movement which detects a sheet | seat with a detector. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a printer according to a second embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the printer 1 is viewed from the rear side. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the printer 1.

The printer 1 (recording apparatus) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 records dots by striking a large number of recording wires of a recording head (not shown) on a sheet as a recording medium via an ink ribbon (not shown). This is a dot impact printer that prints characters, images, and the like.
The recording medium that can be used in the printer 1 can be plain paper, a synthetic resin sheet or nonwoven fabric, or a surface-treated product thereof, and can be a cut sheet cut to a standard size. Further, it may be a continuous sheet such as roll paper or fanfold paper. It is also possible to print not only on a recording medium composed of one sheet but also on a copy sheet or a booklet in which a plurality of sheets are bound. Further, for example, an OHP (overhead project) sheet, coated paper, film, or the like may be used as the recording medium. In the present embodiment, the printer 1 will be described by taking as an example a case where continuous paper S1 having sprocket holes at both ends and cut sheet S2 as a cut sheet are used as recording media. In the following description, the continuous sheet S1 and the cut sheet S2 are collectively referred to as a sheet S.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes a printer main body 3 as a recording apparatus main body, a discharge unit 4 that is detachably attached to an upper portion of the printer main body 3, and a rear of the printer main body 3. The push tractor unit 5 is detachably mounted on the side and the control unit 6 provided adjacent to the front side of the printer body 3 is housed.

The printer main body 3 has a main body frame (not shown) including a side frame and a base frame erected on the left and right ends, a carriage 8 on which the recording head 7 is mounted, and a recording frame. A platen roller 10 that faces the recording head 7 on the rear side of the head 7 and can transport the sheet S, and a pressing spring 11 that presses the sheet S against the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 10 are provided.
The carriage 8 is inserted through a carriage shaft 12 that spans the left and right side frames. The carriage 8 is reciprocally scanned along the carriage shaft 12 by a driving force of a carriage driving motor (not shown). The traveling direction of the carriage 8 is reversed by switching the rotation direction of the carriage drive motor between forward and reverse. The recording head 7 includes a large number of recording wires as described above, and the ink ribbon is positioned in the protruding direction of these recording wires.

The platen roller 10 is provided in parallel to the carriage shaft 12, and the sheet S is supplied to the platen roller 10 from the rear side, and the sheet S is rotated from the lower part of the platen roller 10 to the front side by the rotation of the platen roller 10. It is conveyed so as to wrap around.
The presser spring 11 presses the sheet S on the upstream side of the recording head 7 in the conveyance direction of the sheet S. As a result, the sheet S conveyed while being pressed by the holding spring 11 moves along the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 10, reaches the position facing the recording head 7, and is printed by the recording head 7.

  The sheet S passing through the recording head 7 is conveyed in the sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the carriage 8. While the recording head 7 travels in the main scanning direction together with the carriage 8, the recording wire protrudes and strikes the ink ribbon so that the ink adheres to the sheet S conveyed between the platen roller 10 and the recording head 7. Record characters and images. One line is recorded while the carriage 8 travels leftward or rightward in the scanning direction. Each time the recording for one line is performed, the sheet S is conveyed by a predetermined amount (normal line spacing) by the platen roller 10, the push tractor unit 5 and the discharge unit 4 described later.

  In addition, the control unit 6 determines the presence or absence of the sheet S in the conveyance path based on a detection signal output from a detector 30 described later, and a conveyance motor that drives the platen roller 10, the discharge roller 4b, and the push tractor unit 5 ( (Not shown), the carriage drive motor, and the recording head 7 are controlled.

  In the housing 2, above the platen roller 10, a paper discharge port 2 a through which the sheet S printed by the recording head 7 is discharged is opened. The paper discharge port 2 a is provided with a discharge unit 4 that conveys the sheet S upward from the platen roller 10. The discharge unit 4 includes a guide plate 4a that extends above the platen roller 10 and guides the sheet S to the discharge port 2a, and a discharge roller 4b that sends the sheet S to the discharge port 2a.

The printer 1 also includes a first conveyance path 15 from the push tractor unit 5 provided at the rear of the casing 2 to the lower part of the platen roller 10 as a conveyance path for supplying the sheet S to the recording head 7, and the casing 2. And a second conveyance path 16 extending from the rear upper part to the lower part of the platen roller 10. The first transport path is a transport path for the continuous paper S1, and the second transport path is a transport path for the cut sheet S2.
The printer main body 3 includes a partition plate 13 behind the platen roller 10. The partition plate 13 prevents the sheet paper S2 fed from above the printer main body 3 from contacting the platen roller 10 directly to the upper part or the side part so as to prevent the paper sheet S2 from deviating upward from the transport path 16. S2 is guided to enter under the platen roller 10.

The first transport path 15 includes a push tractor unit 5 located on the rear side of the printer main body 3 and a guide member 14 disposed between the push tractor unit 5 and the platen roller 10. The rear end is a paper feed port of the first transport path.
The push tractor unit 5 includes a tractor support shaft 17 and a tractor drive shaft 18 that are stretched between the left and right side frames in parallel with the platen roller 10, and a pair of left and right tractors supported by the tractor support shaft 17 and the tractor drive shaft 18. 19 and 19. As shown in FIG. 1, the tractors 19 and 19 are disposed near the ends of the tractor support shaft 17 and the tractor drive shaft 18, and a support member 23 that supports the continuous paper S <b> 1 from below is disposed between the tractors 19 and 19. Has been.

As shown in FIG. 2, each tractor 19 includes an endless tractor belt 20 that circulates by rotation of the tractor drive shaft 18, a plurality of pins 21 that are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the tractor belt 20, and the tractor A tractor cover 22 is provided over the belt 20.
The continuous paper S <b> 1 is placed on the tractor belt 20 in a state where the sprocket holes drilled at both ends in the width direction are fitted to the pins 21. By fitting the tractor cover 22 over the continuous paper S1, the fitting between the sprocket hole of the continuous paper S1 and the pin 21 is maintained. When the tractor belt 20 is driven in this state, the continuous paper S1 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow D1.
The continuous paper S <b> 1 conveyed to the front side by the push tractor unit 5 is supported by the guide surface 14 a of the guide member 14 and conveyed below the platen roller 10.
Here, between the push tractor unit 5 and the platen roller 10, a regulating member 41 that partitions the first conveyance path 15 and the second conveyance path 16 is disposed. The regulating member 41 is positioned above the first conveyance path 15 so as to face the guide surface 14a, and the path of the continuous sheet S1 that has exited the push tractor unit 5 does not advance toward the second conveyance path 16, that is, upward. To regulate. The restricting member 41 is a long plate-like member disposed across the side frames of the printer main body 3, for example, and a notch (not shown) for receiving a detection lever 31 described later is formed in a part of the restricting member 41. ing.

The second transport path is a path for transporting the cut sheet S2 from above to below the platen roller 10 so as to pass between the partition plate 13 and the regulating member 41 as indicated by an arrow D2 in FIG. 13 and the regulating member 41 is a paper feed port. A paper feed guide (not shown) that supports and guides the cut sheet S2 can be attached to the printer main body 3 at the paper feed port.
By the way, the printer 1 of the present embodiment is configured to detect the presence / absence of the continuous paper S1 in the first transport path 15 and the presence / absence of the cut sheet S2 in the second transport path 16 by a single detector 30. Yes.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2, and illustrates the configuration of the detector 30 and the vicinity thereof. 3 to 5, a part of the guide member 14 is omitted for convenience of understanding, and the regulating member 41 is indicated by a virtual line.
The detector 30 is provided in a space between the platen roller 10 and the push tractor unit 5. The detector 30 includes a detection lever 31 and a single detection unit 32 that detects the rotation of the detection lever 31.
The detection lever 31 is a long rod-shaped member and has a plurality of bent portions. The detection lever 31 has a base end portion rotatably supported by the detection portion 32, and a distal end side has advanced into the first conveyance path 15 and the second conveyance path 16. That is, the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16 are configured to extend from different directions toward the detection lever 31, and the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16 are upstream of the detection lever 31. The angle formed by the two transport paths 16 is an acute angle.

As will be described later, the detection lever 31 is disposed so as to contact both the continuous paper S1 conveyed through the first conveyance path and the cut sheet S2 conveyed through the second conveyance path. When any one of the slip sheets S2 comes into contact with the detection lever 31, the detection lever 31 is rotated in the direction indicated by the symbol R in the figure by the conveying force of the continuous paper S1 or the cut sheet S2. 2 and 3 show a state in which neither the continuous paper S1 nor the cut sheet S2 is in contact with the detection lever 31. FIG. The position of the detection lever 31 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is set as a non-detection position. The detection unit 32 includes a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring that biases the detection lever 31 so as to remain at the non-detection position, and the biasing force stabilizes the detection lever 31 at the non-detection position.
Further, at this non-detection position, the detection lever 31 enters a notch (not shown) of the regulating member 41. Therefore, in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 3, the detection lever 31 overlaps the regulating member 41 in the width direction of the printer body 3.

  The detection unit 32 includes a rotation shaft 33 that rotatably supports the detection lever 31, and the rotation shaft 33 is a rotation center of the detection lever 31. In addition, the detection unit 32 is electrically connected to the movable contact 37 that rotates together with the detection lever 31, the fixed contact 38 fixed to the case 39 of the detection unit 32, and the movable contact 37 and the fixed contact 38 mechanically contact each other. And a detection circuit (not shown) that outputs a predetermined detection signal when it is electrically connected. The movable contact 37 is separated from the fixed contact 38 at the non-detection position of the detection lever 31. When the detection lever 31 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the movable contact 37 moves and contacts the fixed contact 38 and becomes conductive. 6 (FIG. 2) outputs a detection signal. As the detection unit 32, for example, a known microswitch or the like can be used.

One end side of the detection lever 31 from the rotation shaft 33 is bent as described above, and a first contact surface 34 and a second contact surface 35 that are not parallel to each other are formed. The first contact surface 34 is formed on the proximal end side of the detection lever 31, and the second contact surface 35 is formed on the distal end side of the detection lever 31.
At the non-detection position of the detection lever 31, the first contact surface 34 is located on the first conveyance path 15, and the second contact surface 35 is located on the second conveyance path 16. The first contact surface 34 and the second contact surface 35 are both surfaces on the same side of the detection lever 31 (upper surface in FIG. 3). That is, the continuous paper S1 transported through the first transport path 15 and the cut sheet S2 transported through the second transport path 16 pass on the same side (upper side in FIG. 3) with respect to the detection lever 31. .

  The first contact surface 34 is opposed to the first conveyance path 15 (conveying direction D1) at an angle that is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular. Further, the second contact surface 35 is oriented so as to be perpendicular or at an angle close to perpendicular to the second conveyance path 16 (conveyance direction D2). In other words, the first contact surface 34 that is substantially perpendicular to the first transport path 15 and the second contact surface 35 that is substantially perpendicular to the second transport path 16 are formed on one detection lever 31. .

4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of detecting the sheet S by the detector 30. FIG.
When the continuous paper S1 or the cut sheet S2 is conveyed from the paper feed port to the detector 30 at the non-detection position described above and contacts the detection lever 31, the detection lever 31 is moved to the continuous paper S1 or the cut sheet S2. To rotate in the direction indicated by the symbol R in the figure.
4 and 5 show an example in which the continuous paper S1 is conveyed. In the non-detection state shown in FIG. 3, the first contact surface 34 provided corresponding to the first transport path 15 of the continuous paper S <b> 1 faces the first transport path 15 almost perpendicularly. For this reason, when the continuous paper S1 is conveyed and comes into contact with the first contact surface 34, the leading edge of the continuous paper S1 does not slide on the first contact surface 34 and ride on the detection lever 31. The conveying force is substantially transmitted to the first contact surface 34, and the detection lever 31 is rotated. The detection lever 31 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 4, and further, when the detection lever 31 rotates to below the first transport path 15 as shown in FIG. 5, the continuous paper S <b> 1 rides on the detection lever 31. .
Since the restricting member 41 is positioned on the first transport path 15, when the continuous paper S <b> 1 deviates upward from the first transport path 15, it strikes the restricting member 41 and is guided to the front side. For this reason, the conveying force of the continuous paper S1 is reliably transmitted to the first contact surface 34, and the detection lever 31 further rotates. When the rotation position of the detection lever 31 reaches the position shown in FIG. 5, the movable contact 37 in the detection unit 32 comes into contact with the fixed contact 38, and the detector 30 outputs a detection signal. Note that the rotation position of the detection lever 31 when the movable contact 37 contacts the fixed contact 38 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. For example, the movable contact 37 may be in contact with the fixed contact 38 when the detection lever 31 is rotated to the position shown in FIG.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, the detection lever 31 is at a position deviating downward from the first transport path 15, and the second contact surface 35 is substantially flush with the guide surface 14a. For this reason, the detection lever 31 does not hinder the conveyance, and the continuous paper S1 is stably conveyed through the second contact surface 35. Further, as described above, the detection lever 31 is biased toward the non-detection position (upward in the drawing), but the upward movement of the continuous paper S1 is restricted by the restriction member 41. Therefore, while the continuous paper S1 is being conveyed, the detection lever 31 maintains the position of FIG. 5 without returning to the non-detection position due to the tension of the continuous paper S1.
Further, when the cut sheet S2 is conveyed, the detection lever 31 is rotated by the second contact surface 35 being pressed by the leading end of the cut sheet S2, and the detection lever 31 is moved to the position shown in FIG. The position shown in FIG. In the non-detection state shown in FIG. 3, the second contact surface 35 provided corresponding to the second transport path 16 of the cut sheet S <b> 2 faces the second transport path 16 almost perpendicularly. For this reason, when the cut sheet S2 is transported and abuts against the second contact surface 35, the transport force of the cut sheet S2 is substantially transmitted to the second contact surface 35, and the detection lever 31 is rotated. Thereby, the detection lever 31 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 5, and the detector 30 outputs a detection signal.

  As described above, according to the printer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first and second transport paths 15 and 16 are transported to one end side from the rotation center of the detection lever 31 provided in the detector 30. The first and second contact surfaces 34 and 35 that contact the sheet S to be conveyed are provided, and the sheet S conveyed from the first and second conveyance paths 15 and 16 is detected on one end side of one detection lever 31. Since the detection lever 31 is provided with the first contact surface 34 and the second contact surface 35 corresponding to the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16, for example, the first contact surface 34 is placed on the first transport path 15. The contact surface having a suitable angle with respect to each of the transport paths 15 and 16 is configured such that the second contact surface 35 is at an angle substantially perpendicular to the second transport path 16. Thus, the sheet S can be reliably detected. Thereby, even if there is a restriction such as a small installation space of the detector 30, the sheet S conveyed on the first contact surface 34 and the second contact surface 35 is reliably detected by the detector 30, and the detection signal is output. The sheet S can be accurately detected by the control unit 6. Furthermore, cost reduction can be expected by suppressing the number of detectors 30.

In addition, since the regulation member 41 that regulates the angle at which the continuous paper S1 conveyed through the first conveyance path 15 contacts the first contact surface 34 is provided, it is detected when the continuous paper S1 contacts the detection lever 31. The continuous paper S1 can be detected more reliably by rotating the lever 31 with certainty.
In addition, since the regulating member 41 is disposed at a position that divides the first conveyance path 15 and the second conveyance path 16, the continuous sheet S <b> 1 conveyed along the first conveyance path 15 and the second conveyance path 16 are conveyed. Can be prevented from contacting the cut sheet S2. For this reason, for example, when the cut sheet S2 is conveyed in a state where the leading edge of the continuous sheet S1 is in the vicinity of the regulating member 41, or in the state where the leading edge of the cut sheet S2 is in the vicinity of the regulating member 41, Even when the continuous paper S1 and the cut sheet S2 are close to each other, such as when being conveyed, it is possible to more reliably prevent problems such as paper jam.

  The second contact surface 35 is located on one end side from the center of the detection lever 31, and the rotation center of the detection lever 31 is located on the other end side from the center of the detection lever 31. The distance between the second contact surface 35 and the rotation angle of the detection lever 31 can be increased by increasing the distance between the second contact surface 35 and the detection lever 31. Thereby, the cut sheet S2 can be detected with high accuracy. The conveyance force when conveying the cut sheet S2 toward the detection lever 31 may depend on the weight of the cut sheet S2, which is a cut sheet, and a strong conveyance force is not always ensured. On the other hand, since the detection lever 31 is biased to be held at the non-detection position, it is necessary to press the detection lever 31 against this biasing force. In the present embodiment, the second contact surface 35 in contact with the cut sheet S2 is formed closer to the distal end side of the detection lever 31 than the first contact surface 34. Therefore, when the second contact surface 35 is pressed, The detection lever 31 can be rotated with a weaker force than when the first contact surface 34 is pressed. Therefore, even when the cut sheet S2 is conveyed, the detection lever 31 can be reliably rotated and the detection signal can be output.

In addition, when the space for installing the detector 30 can be secured larger, the first contact surface 34 may also be formed on the tip side from the center in the longitudinal direction of the detection lever 31. In this case, when the conveying force of the continuous paper S1 is not strong, the detection lever 31 can be reliably rotated and can be detected more sensitively.
In addition, the detector 30 includes one detection unit 32 that detects the rotation of the detection lever 31 when the sheet abuts against any of the contact surfaces 34 and 35. It can be reduced, and the cost and size can be reduced. Moreover, since the detection part 32 is a simple structure of electrically detecting the mechanical contact of the contact accompanying the rotation of the detection lever 31, it is possible to detect the sheet with high accuracy with low cost.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the configuration of the printer (recording apparatus) according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows the detector 50 and its vicinity.
In this 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component which is common in the said 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Moreover, in FIG. 6, illustration of a part of guide member 14 is abbreviate | omitted for the convenience of an understanding, and the control member 41 is shown with a virtual line.
The printer according to the second embodiment has a configuration including a detector 50 instead of the detector 30 (FIG. 2), and the other configuration is the same as the printer 1 described in the first embodiment. ing.
The detector 50 includes a detection unit 32 and a detection lever 51 that is rotatably attached to the detection unit 32. Similarly to the detection lever 31, the detection lever 51 is supported at the base end thereof by the rotation shaft 33 provided in the detection unit 32, and the continuous paper S <b> 1 and the single sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path 15 and the second conveyance path 16. When the leading edge of the paper S2 comes into contact with the detection lever 51, the paper S2 rotates about the axis of the rotation shaft 33 as a rotation center.

The detection lever 51 is a substantially arc-shaped bar-shaped member, and a surface facing the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16 is a curved surface 51A. Of the curved surface 51 </ b> A, a portion facing the first transport path 15 is referred to as a first contact portion 52, and a portion facing the second transport path 16 is referred to as a second contact portion 53. The first contact portion 52 and the second contact portion 53 are formed at one end side from the rotation center of the detection lever 51. More specifically, the first contact portion 52 is formed at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the detection lever 51, and the second contact portion 53 is formed at the tip side from the center of the detection lever 51.
Further, the detection lever 51 is arranged so as to enter a notch (not shown) provided in the restriction member 41, similarly to the detection lever 31. Therefore, the detection lever 51 overlaps the restriction member 41 in the cross-sectional view of FIG.

The detection lever 51 is in the non-detection position shown in FIG. 6 in a state where neither the continuous paper S1 nor the cut sheet S2 is transported to the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16. In this non-detection position, the first contact portion 52 is at a position that blocks the first transport path 15, and the second contact portion 53 is at a position that blocks the second transport path 16. The detection lever 51 is urged so as to remain at the non-detection position by an urging means such as a spring (not shown) provided in the detection unit 32.
In this non-detection position, the first contact portion 52 is substantially perpendicular to the first transport path 15. In FIG. 6, the tangent line at the first contact portion 52 of the curved surface 51A is indicated by reference numeral P1. This tangent line P <b> 1 is substantially perpendicular to the first transport path 15. For this reason, when the continuous paper S1 conveyed through the first conveyance path 15 contacts the first contact portion 52, the first contact portion 52 is pressed by the conveyance force of the continuous paper S1. Here, the leading edge of the continuous paper S <b> 1 is restricted from moving up and down by the restriction member 41 and the guide member 14. For this reason, since the continuous paper S1 contacts the first contact portion 52 along the first transport path 15 without being bent, the transport force of the continuous paper S1 is transmitted to the first contact portion 52 without loss. . Upon receiving the pressing force, the detection lever 51 rotates in the R direction in the figure, and the movable contact 37 comes into contact with the fixed contact 38 by this rotation, and a detection signal is output. Further, when the detection lever 51 reaches the position where the maximum rotation angle is reached in the rotatable range, the position is substantially disengaged from the first conveyance path 15 and the second conveyance path 16 as in the detection lever 31 shown in FIG. And the conveyance of the continuous paper S1 and the cut paper S2 is not hindered.

Further, the second contact portion 53 is substantially perpendicular to the second transport path 16. In FIG. 6, a tangent line at the second contact portion 53 of the curved surface 51A is indicated by a symbol P2. This tangent line P <b> 2 is substantially perpendicular to the second transport path 16. For this reason, when the cut sheet S2 conveyed through the second conveyance path 16 comes into contact with the second contact portion 53, the cut sheet S2 moves along the curved surface 51A and the force does not escape, so that the second contact portion 53 does not escape. Is pressed by the conveying force of the cut sheet S2. The second contact portion 53 is provided at the distal end portion of the detection lever 51 and is located on the distal end side with respect to the first contact portion 52. That is, the first contact portion 52 is located farther from the rotation shaft 33 that is the rotation center of the detection lever 51. For this reason, the detection lever 51 can be rotated even if the pressing force when the cut sheet S2 presses the second contact portion 53 is weaker than the force with which the continuous paper S1 presses the first contact portion 52. It is. Therefore, even when the cut sheet S2 is conveyed, the detection lever 51 can be reliably rotated and the detection signal can be output.
Further, the second contact portion 53 is located at one end side from the center of the detection lever 51, and the rotation center of the detection lever 51 is at the base end portion of the detection lever 51, so that the rotation center and the second contact portion 53 are located. By increasing the distance between them, the amount of movement of the second contact portion 53 corresponding to the rotation angle of the detection lever 51 can be increased. Thereby, the cut sheet S2 can be detected with high accuracy.
Then, the detection lever 51 rotates in the direction indicated by R in the figure, and a detection signal is output by the detector 30.

Therefore, according to the printer of the second embodiment, the continuous paper S1 and the cut sheet S2 that are transported through the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16 are disposed on one end side from the rotation center of the detection lever 51. Since the curved surface 51A having the first contact portion 52 and the second contact portion 53 in contact with each other is provided, the single detection lever 51 corresponds to both the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16, and the continuous paper S1 and the single sheet The paper S2 can be detected. Further, the continuous paper S1 and the cut sheet S2 are more reliably detected by setting the first contact portion 52 and the second contact portion 53 to angles corresponding to the first transport path 15 and the second transport path 16, respectively. it can. Thereby, even if there is a restriction such as a small installation space of the detector 50, the continuous paper S1 and the cut sheet S2 can be reliably detected.
Further, since the detector 50 can detect both the continuous paper S1 and the cut sheet S2 by the single detection unit 32, the number of parts of the detector 50 can be reduced, and the cost and size can be reduced.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration for detecting the recording medium transported along the two first transport paths 15 and the second transport path 16 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and 3 The present invention may be applied to a printer having two or more transport paths, and a detection lever corresponding to the plurality of transport paths may be provided. In this case, the detection lever may be configured to have a number of contact surfaces or contact portions corresponding to each of the conveyance paths that are targets for detecting the recording medium.
Moreover, it can also be set as the structure which provided the some detectors 30 and 50 with respect to three or more conveyance paths. In this case, by applying the present invention, each detector can be configured to detect a recording medium in a plurality of conveyance paths, and recording that is reliably conveyed from a plurality of conveyance paths by a small number of detectors. The effect that the medium can be detected remains.
Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, a configuration in which the angle when the continuous paper S1 contacts the first contact surface 34 of the detection lever 31 or the first contact portion 52 of the detection lever 51 is regulated by the regulation member 41 is taken as an example. However, a member similar to the regulating member 41 may be provided corresponding to the second transport path 16 of the cut sheet S2. In this case, the angle at which the cut sheet S2 comes into contact with the second contact surface 35 or the second contact portion 53 can be restricted. Furthermore, in the printer described in each of the above embodiments, a transport mechanism such as a transport roller that transports the cut sheet S2 by applying a driving force upstream of the platen roller 10 in the second transport path 16 may be provided. . Moreover, the thickness, cross-sectional shape, etc. of the detection levers 31 and 51 are arbitrary, and it is needless to say that other detailed configurations can be arbitrarily changed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer (recording apparatus), 7 ... Recording head, 10 ... Platen roller, 15 ... 1st conveyance path, 16 ... 2nd conveyance path, 30, 50 ... Detector, 31, 51 ... Detection lever, 32 ... Detection part , 34, 35 ... contact surface, 37 ... movable contact (contact), 38 ... fixed contact (contact), 41 ... regulating member, 51A ... curved surface, 52, 53 ... contact portion, S ... sheet (recording medium), S1 ... Continuous paper (recording medium), S2 cut sheet paper (recording medium).

Claims (7)

A recording device for recording on a recording medium,
A detector for detecting the recording medium;
A plurality of transport paths for transporting the recording medium from different directions with respect to the detector;
The detector includes a detection lever that is rotated around a predetermined portion by a contact of a tip of the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path,
The detection lever corresponds to each of the plurality of transport paths, and a plurality of contact surfaces on which the recording medium transported along the transport path contacts, or a plurality of the recording media transported on the transport path contact. A recording apparatus having a curved surface on which the contact portion is formed on one end side with respect to the rotation center. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
A recording apparatus comprising: a regulating member that regulates an angle at which the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path contacts the contact surface or the contact portion, corresponding to at least one of the conveyance paths. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The recording apparatus, wherein the restriction member is disposed at a position that separates the conveyance path from the other conveyance paths. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The plurality of contact surfaces or the plurality of contact portions are located on one end side from the center of the detection lever, and the rotation center of the detection lever is located on the other end side from the center of the detection lever. Recording device. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector includes a detection unit that detects rotation of the detection lever when the recording medium comes into contact with any of the contact surfaces or the contact unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 5,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects rotation of the detection lever by electrically detecting a mechanical contact of the contact point accompanying rotation of the detection lever. A detection structure in a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium,
A detector for detecting the recording medium;
The detector is
A detection lever that is rotated about a predetermined portion by a contact of a tip of the recording medium conveyed in the recording apparatus;
The detection lever corresponds to each of a plurality of conveyance paths for conveying the recording medium from different directions with respect to the detector, and a plurality of contact surfaces on which the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path abuts, or Having a curved surface formed with a plurality of contact portions with which the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path abuts on one end side from the rotation center;
The detection structure in the recording apparatus characterized by this.

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