Printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12269698-B2
Application number	US-202217983335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2022
Priority date	Mar 25, 2022
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

A printer for printing an image on a sheet stored in a rolled shape, includes a sheet holder by which the sheet in the rolled shape is rotatably held and including at least one side plate movable in a width direction of the sheet and contacting a side surface of the sheet, a printing head by which an image is printed on the sheet that has been conveyed from the sheet holder, a buffer unit between the sheet holder and the printing head and including a plate-shaped member that is connected to an elastic member that generates an elastic force by which the conveyed sheet is pressed, and an adjusting unit by which the movable side plate and the buffer unit is connected such that the elastic force varies depending on a location of the side plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A printer for printing an image on a sheet stored in a rolled shape, comprising:
a sheet holder by which the sheet in the rolled shape is rotatably held and including at least one side plate movable in a width direction of the sheet and contacting a side surface of the sheet;
a printing head by which an image is printed on the sheet that has been conveyed from the sheet holder;
a buffer unit between the sheet holder and the printing head and including a plate-shaped member that is connected to an elastic member that generates an elastic force by which the conveyed sheet is pressed; and
an adjusting unit by which the movable side plate and the buffer unit are connected such that the elastic force varies depending on a location of the side plate, wherein
the adjusting unit includes:
a rotation plate, one end of which is connected to the elastic member, and which rotates when the location of the side plate is changed,
a shaft, one end of which is connected to the other end of the rotation plate,
a first gear connected to the side plate and movable therewith along the width direction,
a second gear that engages with the first gear to rotate therewith, and
an eccentric cam that engages with the second gear and is connected to the other end of the shaft.

2. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic force is greater when the location of the side plate is farther from a center of the sheet in the width direction.

3. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein when the side plate is moved toward a direction away from a center of the sheet, the shaft moves upward according to the rotation of the eccentric cam such that the rotation plate rotates and the elastic force is increased.

4. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet holder has a rack and pinion gear mechanism by which the sheet is held at a center of the sheet holder in the width direction.

5. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet holder includes another side plate on an opposite side of the sheet with respect to said at least one side plate and fixed at a predetermined position.

6. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer unit includes a rotation shaft contacting the conveyed sheet and around which the buffer unit rotates.

7. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic force is between 0.6 N and 5 N.

8. The printer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing in which the sheet holder, the printing head, the buffer unit, and the adjusting unit are housed, and having an issuing port through which the sheet on which the image is printed is issued.

9. The printer according to claim 8 , wherein the issuing port is located on a front side of the printing head, and the sheet holder is located on a rear side of the printing head.

10. The printer according to claim 8 , wherein the housing includes an upper case and a lower case, and the upper case is rotatable around a hinge located on one of side surfaces of the housing facing another side surface along which the issuing port is disposed.

11. The printer according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an operation panel along a top surface of the housing.

12. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet includes a plurality of labels each having a front surface on which an image is printed and a rear surface on which an adhesive is applied.

13. A printer for printing an image on a sheet stored in a rolled shape, comprising:
a sheet holder by which the sheet in the rolled shape is rotatably held and including at least one side plate movable in a width direction of the sheet and contacting a side surface of the sheet;
a printing head by which an image is printed on the sheet that has been conveyed from the sheet holder;
an elastic member between the sheet holder and the printing head;
a pressing shaft that is pressed against the conveyed sheet by the elastic member;
a rotation plate, one end of which is connected to the elastic member, and which rotates when a location of the side plate is changed;
another shaft, one end of which is connected to the other end of the rotation plate;
a first gear connected to the side plate and movable therewith along the width direction;
a second gear that engages with the first gear to rotate therewith; and
an eccentric cam that engages with the second gear and is connected to the other end of said another shaft, wherein
an elastic force that is applied by the elastic member to the pressing shaft varies depending on the location of the side plate.

14. The printer according to claim 13 , wherein the elastic force is greater when the location of the side plate is farther from a center of the sheet in the width direction.

15. The printer according to claim 13 , wherein when the side plate is moved toward a direction away from a center of the sheet, said another shaft moves upward according to the rotation of the eccentric cam such that the rotation plate rotates and the elastic force is increased.

16. The printer according to claim 13 , wherein the sheet holder has a rack and pinion gear mechanism by which the sheet is held at a center of the sheet holder in the width direction.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Hada Takaki

Classifications

• B65H2801/03

  Image reproduction devices · CPC title

• B65H2301/3162

  involving only one plane containing the roll axis · CPC title

• B65H2301/41346

  separate elements engaging each end of the roll (e.g. chuck) · CPC title

• B65H16/06

  both-ends type · CPC title

• B65H23/042

  Sensing the length of a web loop (sensing web tension B65H23/044) · CPC title