Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding – With detector – indicator – or control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-11
2003-10-07
Jillions, John M. (Department: 3654)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding
With detector, indicator, or control
C242S591000, C242S595000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06629666
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer and, more particularly, to an apparatus of a label printer for detecting a termination of a web of printing medium that is continuously fed from a supply reel and severed into a label unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a label printer, also called a mini-printer, prints out indicia on a sheet of printing medium such as stickers, receipts, etc., which are severed from a continuous web of printing medium reeled around a cylindrical core. For example, label printers are used in cash registers, or to print out numbers for customers waiting in line at a bank, etc. Such label printers employ detecting devices for detecting a termination of the printing medium.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
show one example of a device for detecting the termination of the printing medium of the conventional printer, which is disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,861.
Referring to
FIGS. 1A and 1B
, the detecting device includes a frame
10
to which a web of printing medium reeled around a cylindrical core
2
is mounted for being fed by a predetermined unit label, and a level member
20
mounted on a side of the frame
10
to be pivoted towards and away from the frame
10
.
The lever member
20
includes a first detecting protrusion
21
and a second detecting protrusion
22
protruding toward the frame
10
, and a switch contacting protrusion
23
protruding oppositely from the first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
. The first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
and the switch contacting protrusion
23
are vertically spaced from each other at a predetermined distance.
The first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
enter or exit to or from the frame
10
through an opening (not shown) formed on the frame
10
. Here, the reference numeral
30
refers to a limit switch for outputting a predetermined signal to a main controller (not shown) by a complementary operation with the switch contacting protrusion
23
during the pivoting movement of the lever member
20
.
Meanwhile, the frame
10
has a guiding portion (not shown) that is stepped on an inner surface of the frame
10
, for guiding the web of printing medium
1
therealong as the printing medium is near its termination.
That is, in an initial state, since the web of printing medium
1
is large in diameter, the first detecting protrusion
21
of the lever member
20
is interrupted by one end of the web of the printing medium
1
(see FIG.
1
A), thereby restricting the pivoting movement of the lever member
20
. As the switch contacting protrusion
23
presses the limit switch
30
, a signal indicating an off-state of the limit switch
30
is output to the main controller (not shown) which thereby recognizes a normal state of the printing medium
1
, and maintains normal operation of the printer.
Then as the printing medium
1
is continuously supplied and thus near its termination, the diameter of the web of the printing medium
1
is decreased to the state shown in FIG.
1
B. In this state, the web of the printing medium
1
descends to a lower portion of the frame
10
, and, accordingly, the first detecting protrusion
21
is released from interruption by the web of printing medium
1
.
Simultaneously, as the second detecting protrusion
22
is inserted in a hollow portion of the cylindrical core
2
, the lever member
20
is freely pivoted closer to the frame
10
. In this position, the switch contacting protrusion
23
of the lever member
20
operates the limit switch
30
and generates an electric signal. Accordingly, a near-termination or termination of the printing medium
1
can be detected.
However, since the detecting device for detecting termination of the printing medium
1
of the conventional printer essentially requires a hollow hole in the core
2
that is reeled with the printing medium
1
, the detecting device can only be used for a limited number of applications.
Also, when using the web of printing medium
1
which has a core
2
of different length, in order to connect the first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
to the side of the printing medium, a user has to unscrew a screw (not shown) that fastens the frame
10
and the lever member
20
, adjust the positions of the first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
, as necessitated by the particular core
2
being used, and refasten the screw to re-secure the frame
10
and the lever member
20
.
Further, when using the web of printing medium
1
of different diameter, the contacting area of the first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
changes. Consequently, the gap between the first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
must be adjusted, or, alternatively, the lever member
20
must be replaced by a new lever member
20
having the necessary gap between the first and the second detecting protrusions
21
and
22
. As a result, the user experiences inconvenience when working with this printer. Further, the accuracy in detecting a near-termination or termination of the printing medium
1
is deteriorated due to frequent adjustments described above.
For the foregoing reasons, when using the conventional detecting device of the printer for detecting termination of the printing medium, it is preferred that printing mediums
1
of different sizes not be used. Rather, it is preferred that limitations be placed on any variation in the size of the printing medium
1
used. Further, the frame
10
of the conventional printer has a shortcoming. It can only be used in a certain fixed posture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and, accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a non-contact detecting device for detecting termination of printing medium in a printer, the device enabling a user to easily adjust an initial set position of a detecting portion to correspond to respective sizes of webs of the printing medium used in the printer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detecting device of a printer for detecting a termination of the printing medium having improved detection accuracy, user convenience, and compatibility, which can be variably used in a desktop posture or wall mount posture without having to adjust an initially set posture.
The above objects are accomplished by an apparatus of a printer for detecting a termination of a printing medium in accordance with the present invention, including a frame housing and supporting a roll of the printing medium for allowing supply of the printing medium by a label unit; printing medium detecting means for non-contact detecting of the termination of the printing medium according to varying diameter of the roll of the printing medium; and position adjusting means for adjusting an initial set position of the printing medium detecting means according to an initial diameter of the roll of the printing medium.
Another object of the present invention is accomplished by an apparatus of a printer for detecting a termination of a printing medium in accordance with the present invention, including a frame housing and supporting a roll of the printing medium for allowing supply of the printing medium by a label unit, the frame capable of being set on a first position and a second position; first printing medium detecting means and second printing medium detecting means for non-contact detecting of the termination of the printing medium according to varying diameter of the roll of the printing medium when the frame is on the first position and the second position; and position adjusting means for adjusting an initial set position of the first and the second printing medium detecting means according to an initial diameter of the roll of the printing medium.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the printing medium detecting means includes a window formed on the frame, capable of permitting a light t
Lee Hong-gil
Lee Jung-yong
Jillions John M.
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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