JPH0872418A - Recording medium and recording apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the erroneous insertion of recording paper in a paper supply tray by simple constitution without providing a mark by setting a recording medium to an axially assymeteric shape and forming the paper supply tray to the recording medium of a recording apparatus into the shape fitted to the recording medium. CONSTITUTION: Recording paper 1 being a recording medium is equipped with a front edge part 1a and a rear edge part 1b in a paper feed direction. A chamfered part 3 is provided to the corner part of the rear edge part 1b. A paper supply tray 11 receiving the recording paper 1 has a front edge part 11a and a rear edge part 11b in a paper feed direction and are equipped with the paper feed roller 14 of the recording paper l and feed rollers 15, 16. In this case, the inner wall of the paper supply tray 11 has a chamfered part 22 at the corner part of the rear edge part 11b so as to be matched with the shape of the recording paper 1. By this constitution, the corner part 3 of the recording paper 1 and the chamfered part 22 of the paper supply tray 11 are allowed to interfere with each other to prevent the erroneous insertion of the recording paper 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium used in a printer device for recording information such as characters, bar codes and images on a sheet-shaped medium, and more particularly to a system for preventing erroneous insertion between the recording medium and the recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a heat-sensitive recording medium or a thermal transfer recording medium, a special recording such as a base material such as paper or a plastic film which has been subjected to a special surface treatment such as coating with a coloring material or a dye-dyeing resin Paper is used. In order to discriminate between the front and back of the recording paper, a mark is provided on the back surface of the recording paper, and the mark is detected by the detection means provided in the recording device to discriminate between the front and back of the recording paper.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional recording paper. This figure shows the back surface of the recording paper, where 1 is a recording paper and 2 is a mark provided on the recording paper. 3 is a block diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus using the recording paper of FIG. In the figure, 11
Is a paper feed tray for receiving recording paper, 12 is an upper and lower plate, 13 is a lever for moving the upper and lower plates 12 up and down, 14 is a paper feed roller, 15 and 16 are conveying rollers, and 17 is a mark for detecting a mark on the recording paper. A sensor, 18 is a drum for recording by winding a recording paper, 19 is a thermal head, 20 is an ink paper cartridge, and 21 is a thermal transfer ink paper. The length of the recording paper 1 is substantially equal to or less than the circumference of the drum 18, and is a length that can be wound around the drum 18 and recorded at one time. Further, the paper feed tray can accommodate a plurality of recording papers 1 inside.

Now, the recording operation and the discrimination of the recording paper in the above conventional example will be described. First, paper feeding is performed prior to recording. When the lever 13 rotates and the upper and lower plates 12 move upward, the bundle of the recording papers 1 placed on the upper and lower plates 12 contacts the paper feed roller 14. Next, the paper feed roller 14 is rotated to convey the recording paper 1 in the direction of arrow A, and further convey the recording paper 1
The recording paper 1 is conveyed to the drum 18 by the rollers 5 and 16 and is wound around the drum 18 with the recording surface facing the ink paper. The wound recording paper 1 is heated by the thermal head 19 via the ink paper 21 to perform transfer recording.

To determine the recording paper, the recording paper 1 is the paper feed roller 1.
4 is conveyed to the feed roller 15 while the sensor 1
This is performed by detecting the mark 2 provided on the back surface of the recording paper by 7. If you cannot detect mark 2,
The recording paper 1 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and the paper tray 11
To complete the operation.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-330245 can be cited as one related to this type of recording paper.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned prior art, a mark is placed on a recording medium, and the detecting means provided in the recording device detects the mark to reversely insert the recording medium into the front and back. I was making a distinction. In the case of the above configuration,
Print the mark on the recording paper to detect the mark,
It was necessary to install the mark detection means in the recording device and control the possibility of recording based on the mark detection result.

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium which prevents erroneous insertion of recording paper with a simpler structure without providing the marks and the like described in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording medium with a non-axisymmetric shape. Further, the shape of the supply tray of the recording medium of the recording apparatus is made to fit into the recording medium.

[0010]

With the non-axisymmetric shape, when the recording medium is turned upside down, the recording medium cannot be loaded in the supply tray, and erroneous insertion of the recording medium can be prevented.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording medium as an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a recording paper as a recording medium, 1a is a front edge portion in the paper feeding direction of the recording paper, 1b is a rear edge portion in the paper feeding direction of the recording paper, 3 is a corner portion of a rear edge portion of the recording paper 1. It is a chamfer provided on one of the.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a paper feed mechanism of a recording apparatus using the recording paper shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a recording paper, 11 is a paper feed tray for recording paper, 11a is a front edge of the paper feed tray in the paper feed direction, 11b is a rear edge of the paper feed tray in the paper feed direction, and 14 is a paper feed. Roller, 15, 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a conveyance roller that conveys the recording paper. Paper tray 1
The inner wall of No. 1 has a shape in which a chamfered portion 22 is provided at one of the corners of the trailing edge 11b according to the shape of the recording paper 1. This figure shows a part of the paper feed mechanism of the thermal transfer recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3, in which the shape of the paper feed tray 11 is according to the present invention.

The recording paper 1 is turned upside down and a paper feed tray 11 is provided.
However, when the recording paper 1 is loaded, the corners of the recording paper 1 interfere with the chamfered portion 22 of the paper feed tray 11, and thus the recording paper 1 cannot be loaded.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is not possible to load the recording paper into the paper feed tray with the front and back reversed.
It is possible to prevent incorrect insertion of recording paper. Further, in the present embodiment, since the shape is also non-rotationally symmetric, the recording paper cannot be rotated 180 degrees and loaded in the reverse direction, so that the insertion direction of the recording paper is also uniquely determined. This is effective even when it is necessary to limit the recording direction, such as when a logo or the like is printed on the recording paper in advance.

Further, when a non-axisymmetric shape is formed by providing the chamfered portion 3 on the trailing edge portion 1b of the recording paper sheet 1 as shown in this embodiment, the shape of the leading edge portion 1a of the recording paper sheet is uniform. Therefore, a laterally non-uniform force does not act during the conveyance of the recording paper. That is, when the chamfered portion is provided on the leading edge 1a of the recording paper, the frictional resistance acting on the leading edge of the recording paper during conveyance becomes uneven, and therefore the recording paper may be conveyed obliquely. When a non-axisymmetric shape is provided at the trailing edge of the recording paper, it is possible to prevent problems such as skewing of the recording paper due to uneven conveyance resistance.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the recording paper is preprinted. As in this embodiment, when it is necessary to limit the recording direction such as when a logo or the like is printed on the recording paper in advance, the recording paper is rotated 180 degrees because it has a non-rotationally symmetric shape. It cannot be loaded in the opposite direction, and the insertion direction of the recording paper is uniquely determined.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an embodiment in which the chamfered portions 3 are provided at the corners of the recording paper 1 and the corners diagonally opposite thereto. In the present embodiment, since the shape is rotationally symmetric, the recording paper loading direction is not limited, and the operator can easily load the recording paper.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an embodiment in which the radius of the corner rounding portion 4 is different from the radii of other corner rounding portions. In this embodiment, since all the corners are rounded, it is difficult to determine that the recording paper has a non-axisymmetric shape when observed by a human, so that the appearance of the recording paper after recording may be spoiled. Few.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an embodiment in which a concave portion 5 is provided on one side of the recording paper 1.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the recording paper 1 is provided with holes 7.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a paper feed mechanism of a recording apparatus using the recording paper shown in FIG. In the figure, 8 is a pin provided on the paper feed tray. Other components that operate in the same manner as in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. The recording paper 1 is provided with a paper feed tray 11 so that the holes 7 fit into the pins 8.
Be loaded into. When paper is fed, the recording paper is once lifted up and then conveyed by the paper feed roller 14. When the recording paper is lifted, the hole 7 is disengaged from the pin 8 so that there is no hindrance to the conveyance.

In the case of this embodiment, since there is no recess or the like on the outer periphery of the recording paper, even when the recording paper is conveyed in the front, rear, left or right, there is no occurrence of catching on the recess, and skewing of the recording paper is prevented. it can.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is an embodiment in which the concave portion 6 is provided on one side of the recording paper 1 and on the opposite side thereof. In the case of this embodiment, as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
It will be transported without any problems.

In the case of this embodiment, since the concave portion is provided on the side surface with respect to the conveying direction of the recording paper, even when the recording paper is reciprocally conveyed, the frictional resistance generated at the leading end of the recording paper becomes uneven. It is possible to prevent problems such as skewing of the recording paper due to the above.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the recording paper 1 is provided with a chamfer 3 and a mark 9 indicating the type of the recording paper.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a paper feed mechanism section of a recording apparatus using the recording paper shown in FIG. 10 in the figure
Is a sensor for reading the mark. Other components that operate in the same manner as in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. By detecting the mark 9 by the sensor 10 at the time of paper feeding, the type of recording paper or the like is discriminated, and recording is performed on the recording paper under optimum conditions.

In the case of the present embodiment, since the recording paper has a non-axisymmetric and non-rotationally symmetrical shape, the front and back of the recording paper and the loading direction of the recording paper are uniquely determined. That is, it is impossible to load the recording paper 1 into the paper feed tray with the front and back reversed or with the loading direction reversed. Therefore, the surface on which the mark is provided is not accidentally turned to the back side, and the mark 9 can be reliably detected. When the recording medium provided with the marks in this way has a non-axisymmetric and non-rotationally symmetric shape,
Since the mark detection sensor can detect the mark with certainty, the type of recording paper is not erroneously determined.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the corners are chamfered, the recesses are provided on the sides and the holes are provided as an example of the non-axisymmetric shape, but the shape is not limited to this. Obviously, any geometrically non-axisymmetric shape will do. Further, the position where the non-axisymmetric shape is provided may be the leading edge, the trailing edge, or even the side edge of the recording paper.

Further, the recording method is not limited to the method of recording by winding the recording paper around the drum, and a method of recording by conveying the recording paper on the platen in one direction or in the reciprocating direction is also possible. good.

[0031]

According to the present invention, since the recording medium has a non-axisymmetric shape, the recording medium cannot be loaded into the apparatus with its front and back reversed, and erroneous insertion can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed mechanism unit of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed mechanism unit of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed mechanism unit of the recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording paper, 2 ... Mark, 3 ... Chamfering part, 4 ... Corner rounding part, 5, 6 ... Recessed part, 7 ... Hole part, 8 ... Pin, 9 ... Mark,
11 ... Paper feed tray.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yasuo Otsuka 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium for recording information on a sheet-shaped medium, wherein the recording medium has a non-axisymmetric shape. 2. A sheet-shaped recording medium, comprising a tray for accumulating the recording medium for supply to the recording apparatus, and a supply means for supplying the recording medium from the tray to the inside of the apparatus.
A recording apparatus for recording information on a sheet-shaped medium, wherein the recording medium has a non-axisymmetric shape, and the non-axisymmetric shape prevents erroneous insertion of the recording medium. 3. A heat-sensitive recording medium having a coloring material layer which develops color by heating or a receiving layer for thermal transfer ink on the surface of the equipment, wherein the recording medium has a non-axisymmetric shape. Recording medium for recording. 4. A tray for accumulating a recording medium for supply to a recording device, which uses a recording medium for thermal recording having a coloring material layer which develops a color by heating or a receiving layer for thermal transfer ink on the surface of the equipment. In a thermal recording apparatus having a supply means for supplying a recording medium from the tray to the inside of the apparatus, the recording medium has a non-axisymmetric shape, and the non-axisymmetric shape prevents erroneous insertion of the recording medium. Thermal recording device. 5. A recording medium having characters, symbols, figures, etc. preliminarily provided on a recording medium for heat-sensitive recording provided with a coloring material layer which develops color by heating on the surface of equipment or a receiving layer for thermal transfer ink. In a thermal recording apparatus having a tray for accumulating a recording medium for supplying the recording medium to the apparatus, and a supply means for supplying the recording medium from the tray into the apparatus, the recording medium has a non-axisymmetric and non-rotationally symmetric shape. A thermal recording apparatus, characterized in that the non-axially symmetric shape and the non-rotationally symmetric shape prevent erroneous insertion of the recording medium. 6. The thermal recording medium according to claim 3, wherein a non-axisymmetric portion is provided at a trailing edge portion with respect to the sheet feeding direction of the recording medium. 7. The thermal recording apparatus according to claim 4,
A thermal recording apparatus, wherein a non-axisymmetric portion of a tray for accumulating a recording medium is provided at a trailing edge portion with respect to a sheet feeding direction of the recording medium.