Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Medium and processing means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-24
2001-12-04
Gordon, Raquel Yvette (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Medium and processing means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325504
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink-jet printer. Particularly, the present invention relates to technique for preventing paper and a head from being rubbed.
2. Related Art
FIG. 3
(
a
) is a partial plan showing an example of a conventional type ink-jet printer and
FIG. 3
(
b
) is a partial front view.
As shown in
FIG. 3
(
a
) and
FIG. 3
(
b
), S denotes paper and the paper S is intermittently carried by predetermined pitch (for example, space pitch) in a direction shown by an arrow Y by a paper feed roller not shown and others.
A reference number
1
denotes a head and the head
1
jets ink droplets, being moved in a direction shown by an arrow X
1
or X
2
when the carriage of the paper S is stopped and prints on the paper S.
A reference number
2
denotes an interval regulating member and the interval regulating member
2
is arranged on the side (on the lower side in FIG.
3
(
b
)) reverse to the head
1
based upon the paper S. Plural ribs
2
a
for supporting the lower surface (the unprinted face) of the paper S are integrated with the upper surface of the interval regulating member
2
and as these ribs
2
a
support the lower surface of the paper S, an interval between the paper S and the head
1
is regulated.
A reference number
3
denotes a pair of carrier rollers and the pair of carrier rollers
3
carry the paper S printed by the head
1
. The pair of carrier rollers
3
are energized by a driving roller
3
a
and means for suitably energizing the driving roller
3
a
so that the pair of carrier rollers
3
can be rotated and provided with an indented roller (a thin star wheel)
3
b
rotated according to the driving roller
3
a.
The pair of carrier rollers
3
carry paper S, pressing it between the driving roller
3
a
and the indented roller
3
b
and its narrow pressing part
3
c
is set so that the height for the head
1
is lower than the height of the rib
2
a
when they are viewed from a direction in which paper is carried as shown in
FIG. 3
(
b
) so as to press the paper S upon the rib
2
a.
According to such an ink-jet printer, even if paper S is a little extended because of the moisture of an ink droplet jetted on the paper S by the head
1
, the extended quantity is often located between the ribs
2
a
as shown in
FIG. 3
(
b
). Therefore, a situation in which the paper S and the head
1
are rubbed due to the paper S being raised on the side of the head
1
is prevented to some extent.
However, in the above conventional type ink-jet printer, when the end Sa of paper S reaches the pair of carrier rollers
3
and the paper S is carried by the pair of carrier rollers
3
, the side Sb of the paper S is pressed down as shown in
FIG. 3
(
c
) because the narrow pressing part
3
c
of the pair of carrier rollers
3
is set so that the height for the head
1
is lower than the height of the rib
2
a
and as a result, a part Sc adjacent to the side Sb is raised on the side of the head
1
and the lower surface of the head
1
may be rubbed upon the raised part Sc. In such a case, the printed face of the paper S is contaminated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet printer which can solve the above problem and prevent paper and its head from being rubbed.
To achieve the above object, an ink-jet printer is provided with a head for jetting and printing ink droplets upon paper, plural ribs arranged opposite to the head for supporting the unprinted face of paper, a pair of carrier rollers for carrying the paper printed by the head and a supporting part arranged nearer to the head in the vertical direction than the pair of carrier rollers and on the same side as the ribs for supporting the side of the paper toward the head.
The ink-jet printer of the present invention includes a supporting part formed so that it is wider than the above rib.
In the ink-jet of the present invention, a part of the above pair of carrier rollers and the above supporting part are overlapped when they are viewed from a direction in which the paper is carried.
The ink-jet printer of the present invention includes a ringed member for supporting the side of paper toward the above head provided to the shaft of the above pair of carrier rollers in a position in which a part of the pair of carrier rollers is overlapped with the above supporting part when they are viewed from a direction in which paper is carried.
According to the ink-jet printer of the present invention, ink droplets are jetted and printed upon paper by the head and in a state in which the unprinted face of paper is supported by plural ribs and the printed paper is carried by the pair of carrier rollers. Even if paper is a little extended because of the moisture of an ink droplet jetted upon the paper by the head, a situation in which the paper raised on the side of the head and the head are rubbed is prevented to some extent because the extended quantity is often located between the ribs.
Further, according to the ink-jet printer of the present invention, because the supporting part arranged nearer to the head than the pair of carrier rollers and on the same side as the ribs for supporting the side of paper facing toward the head is provided, the side of the paper is supported by the supporting part and is prevented from being pressed down.
Therefore, the quantity raised on the side of the head of a part adjacent to the side is also reduced and as a result, a situation in which the lower surface of the head and the paper are rubbed is prevented.
According to the ink-jet printer of the present invention, because the above supporting part is formed so that it is wider than the above rib, the side of paper is securely supported and as a result, a situation in which the lower surface of the head and the paper are rubbed is securely prevented.
According to the ink-jet printer of the present invention, a part of the pair of carrier rollers and the supporting part are overlapped when they are viewed from a direction in which paper is carried, the displacement of the side of paper (for example, the amount the paper is being pressed down) on the side of the pair of carrier rollers is also inhibited. Therefore, the quantity raised on the side of the head of a part adjacent to the side is also more securely reduced and as a result, a situation in which the lower surface of the head and the paper are rubbed is more securely prevented.
According to the ink-jet of the present invention, the ringed member for supporting the side of paper toward the head is provided to the shaft of the above pair of carrier rollers in a position in which a part of the pair of carrier rollers is overlapped with the above supporting part when they are viewed from a direction in which paper is carried, the displacement of the side of paper (for example, the amount the paper is being pressed down) on the side of the pair of carrier rollers is inhibited by the ringed member and therefore, the quantity raised on the side of the head of a part adjacent to the side is also more securely reduced.
As a result, a situation in which the lower surface of the head and the paper are rubbed is more securely prevented.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5393151 (1995-02-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5815186 (1998-09-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5874979 (1999-02-01), Ohyama
patent: 0 622 227 (1994-11-01), None
Patent Abstracts Of Japan, vol. 097, No. 012, Dec. 25, 1997 & JP 09 220837 A (Canon Inc), Aug. 26, 1997 *Abstract.
Murayama Susumu
Tomii Tsuyoshi
Gordon Raquel Yvette
Seiko Epson Corporation
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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