Regulation device and printer

A regulation device regulates movement in a width direction of a rolled sheet which is a recording medium of a printer. The regulation device includes: a first rack gear connected to one guide support unit supporting the rolled sheet so that movement to one side of the width direction is regulated, and provided to be movable in the width direction; a second rack gear connected to the other guide support unit supporting the rolled sheet so that movement to the other side of the width direction is regulated, and provided to be movable in the width direction; a pinion gear engaging with the first and second rack gears; and a regulation gear that engages with the pinion gear to rotate, includes a locked portion in which a plurality of steps are formed along a curved line forming a part of a spiral wound in a rotation direction of the regulation gear if the first and second rack gears are moved outward in the width direction from a rotation shaft center of the regulation gear toward a diameter outside, and regulates movement of the first and second rack gears by locking the locked portion.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a technology for regulating movement of a recording medium of a printer.

BACKGROUND

In the related art, a rolled sheet in which a long sheet is wound around the outer circumference of a core formed in a substantially cylindrical shape is used as a recording medium of a printer. The printer using the rolled sheet includes two guide support units provided to be movable in a width direction of the rolled sheet. The core of the rolled sheet is supported by the two guide support units so that movement in the width direction is regulated. The two guide support units are configured to move in the width direction in conjunction with each other. Accordingly, the rolled sheet is set in the printer so that a substantially middle portion of the rolled sheet in the width direction is located at a position in a predetermined width of the printer.

If the rolled sheet is set in the printer, a user first moves the two guide support units to be separated from each other, and mounts the rolled sheet between the two guide support units. Thereafter, the user moves the two guide support units to be close to each other in accordance with the width of the rolled sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An aspect of an exemplary embodiment provides a technology capable of setting a rolled sheet in a printer more easily.

In general, according to one embodiment, a regulation device regulates movement in a width direction of a rolled sheet which is a recording medium of a printer. The regulation device includes: a first rack gear connected to one guide support unit supporting the rolled sheet so that movement to one side of the width direction is regulated, and provided to be movable in the width direction; a second rack gear connected to the other guide support unit supporting the rolled sheet so that movement to the other side of the width direction is regulated, and provided to be movable in the width direction; a pinion gear engaging with the first and second rack gears; and a regulation gear that engages with the pinion gear to rotate, includes a locked portion in which a plurality of steps are formed along a curved line forming a part of a spiral wound in a rotation direction of the regulation gear if the first and second rack gears are moved outward in the width direction from a rotation shaft center of the regulation gear toward a diameter outside, and regulates movement of the first and second rack gears by locking the locked portion.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations. Configuration of Printer and Guide Device

Configurations of a printer and a guide device according to a first embodiment will be described.FIG.1is a schematic perspective view illustrating the configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment.FIG.2is a schematic plan view illustrating the configuration of the guide device according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG.1, a printer1is an apparatus that forms an image on a rolled sheet R which is a recording medium. The printer1defines an accommodation space where the rolled sheet R can be accommodated inside and is configured to be openable and closable so that the rolled sheet R can be set in the accommodation space from the outside. The rolled sheet R is a long printing sheet wound around a core Rc formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The printer1forms an image on the rolled sheet R and ejects the image to the outside while unwinding the rolled sheet R.

As illustrated inFIG.2, a guide device2includes a regulation device21and two guide support units30and rotatably supports the rolled sheet R while regulating movement in a width direction of the rolled sheet R. Each of the two guide support units30is a long substantial plate member extending in one direction and a support portion301is provided on one surface side at one end. The support portion301is formed in a substantially discoid shape which can be inserted into the core Rc. In the two guide support units30, the other ends are connected to the regulation device21so that the support portions301face each other.

The regulation device21supports the two guide support units30so that the guide support units30can move only in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to extension directions of the guide support units30and regulates movement of the two guide support units30inward in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a set width set by a user, as will be described in detail below.

Configuration of Regulation Device

A configuration of a regulation device according to the first embodiment will be described.FIGS.3and4are a perspective view and a plan view illustrating the configuration of the regulation device according to the present embodiment.FIG.5is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a regulation gear. InFIGS.3and4, only one guide support unit connected to a first rack gear is illustrated.

As illustrated inFIGS.3and4, the regulation device21includes a first rack gear210, a second rack gear220, a pinion gear230, a regulation gear240, and a rotation regulation portion260.

The first rack gear210is formed in a substantial plate shape on the whole and includes a gear portion211and a connection portion219. The gear portion211is formed on one surface of the first rack gear210and includes a plurality of teeth juxtaposed in an extension direction of the first rack gear210. The connection portion219is formed at one end of the first rack gear210and connected to an end on a side on which the support portion301of one guide support unit30is not provided. The one guide support unit30is connected to the connection portion219so that the extension direction of the one guide support unit30is orthogonal to the extension direction of the first rack gear210and the support portion301faces the other end side of the first rack gear210.

The second rack gear220is formed in a substantial plate shape on the whole and includes a gear portion221and a connection portion229. The gear portion221is formed on one surface of the second rack gear220and includes a plurality of teeth juxtaposed in an extension direction of the second rack gear220. The connection portion229is formed at one end of the second rack gear220and connected to an end on a side on which the support portion301of the other guide support unit30is not provided. The other guide support unit30is connected to the connection portion229so that the extension direction of the other guide support unit30is orthogonal to the extension direction of the second rack gear220and the support portion301faces the other end side of the second rack gear220.

The pinion gear230is a circular gear rotating about a rotation shaft Aa and engages with the gear portion211of the first rack gear210, the gear portion221of the second rack gear220, and the regulation gear240.

The first rack gear210and the second rack gear220are disposed so that the extension directions of the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220are orthogonal to an axial direction of the rotation shaft Aa. The first rack gear210and the second rack gear220are disposed so that the gear portion211and the gear portion221face each other in a direction orthogonal to the extension directions of the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220and the axial direction of the rotation shaft Aa.

In the following description, the extension directions of the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220are referred to as a horizontal direction, the axial direction of the rotation shaft Aa is referred to as a vertical direction, and a direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction is referred to as an anteroposterior direction. In the present embodiment, two guide support units30are connected to the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220so that the extension directions of the guide support units30are oriented in the anteroposterior direction (a direction oriented vertically inFIG.4).

The first rack gear210and the second rack gear220are disposed so that the connection portions219and229are located outward in the horizontal direction, respectively. In the first rack gear210, an urging member B (seeFIG.4) is connected to an end on the side opposite to the end at which the connection portion219is provided. The urging member B is a member that urges the first rack gear210inward in the horizontal direction and is configured as a tension coil spring in the present embodiment.

As illustrated inFIGS.4and5, the regulation gear240is a variant circular gear that rotates about a rotation shaft Ab of which an axial direction is oriented in the same direction as the rotation shaft Aa, that is, the vertical direction, and is formed in a substantial fan shape that has an arc forming a part of the circumference of a circle centered on the rotation shaft Ab. A plurality of teeth engaging with the pinion gear230are formed in the arc of the regulation gear240. The regulation gear240is provided so that the vicinity of the arc engaging with the pinion gear230overlaps the first rack gear210in the vertical direction. The regulation gear240is located below the first rack gear210in the present embodiment.

In the regulation gear240, a locked portion241in which a plurality of steps are formed is formed. Each of the plurality of steps of the locked portion241has a surface intersecting in a rotation direction of the regulation gear240. The plurality of steps are formed along a curved line forming a part of a spiral centered on the rotation shaft Ab, as will be described in detail below. Some of the steps in the diameter outside of the regulation gear240may be positioned in the diameter outside of a pitch circle of the regulation gear240. In the embodiment, in the locked portion241, only steps positioned to be closest to the diameter outside are formed to be positioned in the diameter outside of the pitch circle.

The rotation regulation portion260has an extension portion extending in one direction and an orthogonal portion extending in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the extension portion from one end of the extension portion and is overall formed in a substantial L shape. In the rotation regulation portion260, a locking portion261and a manipulation portion262are formed. The locking portion261is formed near a tip end of the orthogonal portion of the rotation regulation portion260. The manipulation portion262is formed at the other end of the extension portion of the rotation regulation portion260, that is, an end of the extension portion on a side on which the orthogonal portion is not formed.

The rotation regulation portion260is provided so that the locking portion261can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the regulation gear240and the axial direction of the rotation shaft Ab, preferably, the radial direction of the pitch circle of the regulation gear240. The locking portion261is moved to include a range coming into contact with all the steps of the locked portion241if the regulation gear240is rotated to a side (counterclockwise inFIG.4) on which the locked portion241is formed. Further, the rotation regulation portion260is provided so that the locking portion261is moved to the diameter outside further than a step provided on the diameter outside furthest among the plurality of steps of the locked portion241.

Since the rotation regulation portion260is formed in the substantial L shape, the rotation regulation portion260can be provided so that the rotation regulation portion260does not overlap with the regulation gear240in the vertical direction. The rotation regulation portion260may be formed long to extend in the movement direction to overlap with the regulation gear240in the vertical direction.

The manipulation portion262is provided to be exposed to the outside of the printer1and to be able to be held by the user. In the printer1, an indicator indicating a plurality of widths of the rolled sheet R is provided and the plurality of widths are juxtaposed in the movement direction of the rotation regulation portion260. The indicator is provided in the printer1so that the manipulation portion262indicates the plurality of widths. The user moves the rotation regulation portion260through the manipulation portion262in accordance with the width of the rolled sheet R set in the printer1. In the rotation regulation portion260, a latch mechanism (not illustrated) that regulates movement of the rotation regulation portion260is provided. The user releases regulation by the latch mechanism through the manipulation portion262if the rotation regulation portion260is moved. Display positions of the plurality of widths included in the indicator are set to match a distance between the two guide support units30.

In the first rack gear210and the regulation gear240, markers Ma and Mb are engraved, respectively. A worker who manufactures the regulation device21assembles the regulation gear240to the first rack gear210so that the marker MA of the first rack gear210matches the marker Mb of the regulation gear240. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce variation in regulation positions of the two guide support units30for each regulation device21.

Operation of Regulation Device

An operation of the regulation device according to the first embodiment will be described.FIG.6is a plan view illustrating the operation of the regulation device according to the present embodiment.FIGS.7and8are plan views illustrating the regulation device that performs regulation with a maximum width and a minimum width.

As illustrated inFIG.6, if the first rack gear210is urged inward (the right inFIG.6) in the horizontal direction by the urging member B, the pinion gear230engaging with the gear portion211of the first rack gear210is rotated clockwise inFIG.6. At this time, the second rack gear220of which the gear portion221engages with the pinion gear230is moved inward (the left inFIG.6) in the horizontal direction.

If the pinion gear230is rotated clockwise, the regulation gear240engaging with the pinion gear230is rotated counterclockwise inFIG.6. If the regulation gear240is rotated counterclockwise, the locked portion241of the regulation gear240comes into contact with the locking portion261of the rotation regulation portion260, whereby further rotation of the regulation gear240is regulated.

If the counterclockwise rotation of the rotation regulation portion260is regulated, rotation of the pinion gear230engaging with the regulation gear240is regulated. If the rotation of the pinion gear230is regulated, inward movement of the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220engaging with the pinion gear230in the horizontal direction is further regulated.

In this way, if the rotation regulation portion260regulates the rotation of the regulation gear240, inward movement of the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220interlocking each other in the horizontal direction is regulated.

As illustrated inFIG.7, if the locking portion261of the rotation regulation portion260locks the step of the locked portion241closest to the rotation shaft Ab, a rotatable range of the rotation regulation portion260in the counterclockwise direction decreases. Accordingly, as the locking portion261is closer to the rotation shaft Ab, the connection portion219of the first rack gear210is further separated from the connection portion229of the second rack gear220. As the locking portion261is further separated from the rotation shaft Ab, the connection portion219of the first rack gear210is closer to the connection portion229of the second rack gear220.

As illustrated inFIG.8, if the locking portion261of the rotation regulation portion260is located in the diameter outside further than the step of the locked portion241most separated from the rotation shaft Ab, the regulation of the rotation of the regulation gear240in the counterclockwise direction is released. At this time, the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220reach the end of such a movement range and a separation distance between the connection portion219of the first rack gear210and the connection portion229of the second rack gear220is a distance corresponding to a minimum sheet width. Accordingly, the step corresponding to the minimum sheet width of the locked portion241can be omitted, and thus the size of the regulation gear240can be consequently decreased.

According to the regulation device21according to the present embodiment, the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220interlocking the two guide support units30can be regulated so as not to move inward in the horizontal direction beyond a preset position. Accordingly, the user can set the rolled sheet R in the printer1more easily. Detailed Configuration of Locking Portion and Locked Portion

A detailed configuration of the locking portion and the locked portion according to the first embodiment will be described with reference toFIG.5.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the locking portion261is formed so that distances from all contact surfaces coming into contact with the locked portion241to a predetermined single point are uniform. In the present embodiment, the locking portion261extends along a central axis oriented in the axial direction of the rotation shaft Ab and is formed in a cylindrical shape in which a cross-sectional shape when viewed from a central axial direction is a perfect circle.

The plurality of steps of the locked portion241are formed in a curved surface shape along a curved line in which a curved line forming a part of a spiral is offset according to a radius of the locking portion261. Here, the spiral forming the curved line is wound from the rotation shaft Ab to the diameter outside, clockwise inFIG.6, that is, in the rotation direction of the regulation gear240if the first rack gear210and the second rack gear220are moved outward in the width direction. The spiral is an Archimedes' screw in which a radius of the pitch circle of the regulation gear240and displacement of a rotation angle are consistent and is a curved line expressed by a polar equation of r=aθ (where, a>θ and θ≥0).

In this way, the plurality of steps of the locked portion241follow a curved surface along the Archimedes' screw, and thus a relationship between a movement amount of the rotation regulation portion260and regulation positions of the two guide support units30can be met in accordance with a sensation of the user.

In the present embodiment, the locked portion241has eight steps. Each of the eight steps is formed so that a center of the locking portion261deviates from the adjacent steps by 9.6 degrees around the rotation shaft Ab and deviates by 3.0 mm in a radial direction of the regulation gear240if each of the eight steps is locked to the locking portion261. The eight steps correspond to eight sheet widths increasing by a width of 10 mm from a semi-minimum width of 35 mm larger by one stage than a minimum width of 25 mm to a maximum width of 105 mm.

A pitch circle diameter of the regulation gear240can be made smaller than the width of the rolled sheet R. For example, a case in which a maximum width of the rolled sheet R used in the printer1is set to 118 mm and movement of the two guide support units30within a regulation range from a minimum regulation width of 25 mm to a maximum regulation width of 105 mm is regulated by the regulation device21will be assumed. In this case, a movement distance of the rotation regulation portion260is 20 mm by an expression of (105/2−25/2). By providing steps of a part of the locked portion241outside of the pitch circle diameter, it is possible to set the pitch circle diameter of the regulation gear240to about 60 to 100 mm. More preferably, it is possible to set the pitch circle diameter to about 75 mm to suppress a rotation angle of the regulation gear240.