Roll paper transportation device and printing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387708-B2
Application number	US-91527310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2010
Priority date	May 10, 2005
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A printing apparatus and a roll paper transportation device which reduces the space needed to accommodate a roll paper buffer mechanism unit and paper detection unit, and to reduce poor electrical contact in the contact part of the paper detection unit. The roll paper transportation device has a paper detection unit for detecting the presence of roll paper. The paper detection unit itself comprises a detection lever that pivots rotationally when in contact with the roll paper, a cam formed integrally with the detection lever and having a curved surface that is concentric to the rotary axis of the detection lever, and a switch lever that contacts the curved surface of the cam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A roll paper transportation device for conveying roll paper, comprising:
a paper detection unit for detecting the presence of the roll paper, the paper detection unit comprising:
a detection lever that pivots rotationally when in contact with the roll paper;
a cam formed integrally with the detection lever and having a curved surface that is concentric to the rotary axis of the detection lever; and
a switch lever that contacts the curved surface of the cam.

2. The roll paper transportation device described in claim 1 , wherein the switch lever contacts the curved surface of the cam when the detection lever pivots in response to being in contact with the roll paper.

3. A printing apparatus, comprising:
a paper detection unit for detecting the presence of roll paper, the paper detection unit comprising:
a detection lever that rotationally pivots when in contact with the roll paper;
a cam formed integrally with the detection lever and having a curved surface that is concentric to the rotary axis of the detection lever; and
a switch lever that contacts the curved surface of the cam.

4. The printing apparatus described in claim 3 , wherein the switch lever contacts the curved surface of the cam when the detection lever pivots in response to being in contact with the roll paper.

Assignees

• Nagata Norio
• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Nagata Norio

Classifications

• B41J11/0095

  Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end · CPC title

• B65H26/00

  Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms (safety devices in general F16P; investigating chemical or physical properties of materials in general G01N; indicating devices in general G08B) · CPC title

• B41J15/165 Primary

  for tensioning continuous copy material by use of redirecting rollers or redirecting nonrevolving guides · CPC title

• B41J15/16 Primary

  Means for tensioning or winding the web · CPC title

• B41J15/042

  for loading rolled-up continuous copy material into printers, e.g. for replacing a used-up paper roll; Point-of-sale printers with openable casings allowing access to the rolled-up continuous copy material · CPC title