Typewriting machines – Sheet or web – Including programmed-control-system for record-medium feed
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-01-30
Eickholt, Eugene (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Sheet or web
Including programmed-control-system for record-medium feed
C400S708000, C400S056000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179498
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a printer requiring recording paper replenishment, and relates particularly to a printer comprising a release lever for opening the recording paper path and to a control method for such printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In printers in which the gap between the print head and platen is narrow, the recording paper can easily be caught between the print head and platen when loading the recording paper. A release lever is typically provided to prevent this by increasing the distance between the print head and platen when the recording paper is loaded, thereby making it easier to insert the recording paper.
In line thermal printers, in particular, the print head touches the platen, thus effectively closing the recording paper path in this area and making it difficult to feed the recording paper between the print head and platen. It is therefore necessary to separate the print head from the platen, thereby opening the recording paper path, before inserting the recording paper.
FIG. 6
shows the mechanism of a line thermal printer. In the mechanism shown in
FIG. 6
the release lever
2
operates in conjunction with the print head
6
. During printing, print head
6
is pressed against platen
4
with the recording paper disposed therebetween by means of a coil spring or other energized means. This assures tight contact between the recording paper and print head
6
, and enables the effective transfer of heat from the print elements in print head
6
to the recording paper.
When recording paper must be loaded, release lever
2
is operated to lift print head
6
from platen
4
, thereby forming a gap through which the recording paper can be passed. Note that this operation is referred to below as “opening” the release lever. The recording paper is then inserted through the gap between platen
4
and paper feed roller
5
, which is embedded in paper guide
9
, and paper feed knob
3
linked to platen
4
is manually turned to advance the recording paper caught between platen
4
and paper feed roller
5
. To thus load the recording paper it is necessary for the operator to hold and insert the paper with one hand while turning paper feed knob
3
with the other hand. After advancing the recording paper the required distance, release lever
2
is again operated to close the gap between print head
6
and platen
4
and complete the recording paper loading process. Note that this last operation of release lever
2
to close the gap is also referred to below as “closing” the release lever.
Printers such as described above have become a widely used peripheral device connected to personal computers (PC) and other information processing devices, and people that have never before operated such printers are increasingly exposed to the need and opportunity to use such printers. This widespread use of printers has increased demand for greater ease of use, particularly in the frequently performed, trouble-prone procedure used to load recording paper. Recording paper is one of the most common printer consumables, and the roll paper used in printers that are used in point-of-sale (POS) and electronic cash register (ECR) stations must be replaced right at the checkout counter. Because the recording paper must often be replenished, i.e. installed, while customers are waiting, it is necessary to complete the installation quickly and reliably in order to minimize the customer waiting time.
The conventional method of installing recording paper as described above is, however, both complicated and time-consuming. It is not intuitively understood that paper feed knob
3
, shown in
FIG. 6
, must be turned while inserting the paper. It is therefore necessary to educate and train workers to properly install the recording paper.
It can also be difficult to hold and insert the recording paper with one hand, making sure the paper stays straight, while turning the paper feed knob with the other hand to advance the paper.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to resolve the aforementioned problems by providing a printer and method for easily inserting and loading the recording paper in the printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a printer according to the invention has a printing means, a recording paper path for transporting the recording paper passed the printing means, a path closing means situated in the recording paper path for holding and releasing the recording paper, a recording paper transportation means capable of transporting the recording paper along the recording paper path, and an open path detection means for detecting whether the path closing means is open or closed. When the printing means is driven to print to the recording paper, the path closing means is closed, and when recording paper is to be loaded, the path closing means is opened. Therefore, when the recording paper path is detected to be open by the open path detection means, the recording paper transportation means is activated to advance the recording paper.
More specifically, a printer having at least a printing means, a platen disposed opposite the printing means, a path closing means for opening and closing a recording paper path formed between the printing means and the platen, and a recording paper transportation means capable of transporting the recording paper along the recording paper path, comprises according to the invention an open path detection means for detecting whether the recording paper path that is opened and closed by the path closing means is open or closed, and starts the recording paper transportation means when the open path detection means detects that the path closing means and recording paper path are open.
Each of the preceding configurations may further comprise a recording paper detection means for detecting the presence of recording paper in the recording paper path, and a transport amount detection means for detecting the transportation amount performed by the recording paper transportation means operation. When thus configured, the paper transport control means stops the recording paper transportation means as required based on the output from the recording paper detection means and the transport amount detection means. It is a further advantage of the present invention that the paper transport control means stops operation of the recording paper transportation means based on the detection of a first predetermined recording paper transport amount when there is no recording paper detected and a second predetermined recording paper transport amount when recording paper is detected.
It is a further advantage of the printer of the invention that it includes a stop state indication means for indicating that the recording paper transportation means has stopped when the recording paper transportation means stops due to detection of the first predetermined recording paper transport amount in the no-paper state.
It is yet a further advantage in that the present invention includes a restart command means for commanding the recording paper transportation means to restart when a stop state is indicated by the stop state indication means.
It is also an advantage of the printer of the invention that it includes an automatic paper cutter for cutting off the end of the recording paper when the recording paper transportation means stops based on detection of the second predetermined recording paper transport amount when paper is present and the path closing means is detected to be closed by the open path detection means.
The method and operation of the invention thus comprised is described below.
A release lever is operated when loading the recording paper. Opening or closing of this release lever is detected to automatically execute a recording paper feed operation. More specifically, when a detector detecting the open or closed state of the release lever detects that the release lever is open, a recording paper feed operation is initiated. It is
Eickholt Eugene
Seiko Epson Corporation
Watson Mark P.
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