Dual purpose printing apparatus

According to one embodiment, a dual purpose printer has a housing, a printing medium supporting section, a first printing section, and a second printing section. The housing has a discharge port and an entrance port. The printing medium supporting section is arranged inside the housing, and rotatably supports a rolled printing medium. The first printing section is configured to print on a top surface of a first continuous sheet printing medium drawn from the rolled printing medium supported on the printing medium supporting section, and to print on a second printing medium carried in through the entrance port. The second printing section is arranged inside the housing, and is configured to print on the bottom surface of the first continuous sheet printing medium.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a dual purpose printer, i.e., a printing apparatus which is capable of printing on both sides of a print medium pulled from a roll of print media and on a different print media.

BACKGROUND

In one known type of printer that prints on both sides of a print medium, for example, on paper withdrawn from a roll of paper, the cover of the printer housing must be opened to replace the paper roll. With the cover of the printer arranged in an open position, a roll of paper may be loaded into the hopper inside the housing for printing thereon.

For the two sided printer in the prior art, printing can be carried out only on paper drawn from the paper roll loaded inside the housing. There is, however a demand for a printer which can also be used for carrying out single-side printing on paper sheets, other than on paper supplied from the paper roll and then cut into sheets, such as printing on precut paper sheets, transparencies, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide a dual function printer that can print on printing media other than rolled printing media.

In general, according to one embodiment, the dual purpose printer according to the present embodiment will be explained.FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a dual purpose printer according to the present embodiment. A dual purpose printer10shown inFIG. 1can print on a roll-shaped printing medium as a first printing medium and on a planar printing medium as a second printing medium. In the following, a printing medium formed as a continuous sheet wound as a roll will be referred to as the paper roll, or, paper received from the paper roll as a supply, while a precut or sized planar-shaped second printing medium will be referred to as cut paper sheet.

As an overview ofFIG. 2, the dual purpose printer of the embodiment has a housing, a printing medium supporting section, a first printing section, and a second printing section. The housing has a discharge port and an entrance port. The printing medium supporting section is arranged inside the housing, and it supports the first, rolled printing medium, to be rotatable to enable the feeding or pulling a continuous sheet of printing media therefrom, which after printing thereon, is singulated, or cut, into individual sheets. The first printing section can print on an upper or first side of the continuous sheets of first printing medium drawn from the first roll-shaped printing medium supported on the printing medium supporting section, and it can also print on a pre-cut planar-shaped printing medium carried in through the entrance port thereof. The second printing section is also arranged inside the housing, and it can carry out printing on the back or second side of the continuous sheet printing medium.

Referring toFIG. 1, in the dual purpose printer10, a paper roll is loaded housing11. On portions of the housing11, an entrance port12where the pre-cut paper sheets can be loaded and a discharge port13for discharging the roll paper and the cut paper sheet are also provided.

The housing11has an opening portion11bon a portion of a top surface11athereof. The housing11has a cover member14arranged on the opening portion11b. The cover member14has an inwardly declining surface14ainclined with respect to a bottom surface11cof the housing11, the end thereof which abuts the top surface11a. The cover member14is arranged in the opening portion11bof the housing11so that the entirety of the declining surface14ais physically separated from the top surface11aof the housing11. The portion where the declining surface14aof the cover member14is separated from the top surface11aof the housing11becomes an entrance port12where the pre-cut paper sheets can be loaded. The declining surface14aof the cover member14is inclined appropriately so that the pre-cut paper sheet can be held thereon, and slide towards the entrance port12as individual pre-cut sheets enter the housing of the dual purpose printer10.

FIG. 2is a sectional sideview illustrating a configuration of the dual purpose printer10according to the embodiment. As shown inFIG. 2, the cover member14is arranged at one end thereof on a hinge15, such that it can be opened/closed with respect to the opening portion11bof the housing11. That is, the cover member14has its rear end connected, through hinge15, to the upper end of the opening portion11bof the housing11, and it is arranged in the opening portion11bof the housing11so that it can move in the direction indicated by the arrow a in the drawing around the hinge15.

The housing11, including the cover member14has the following internal sub-systems or parts: a hopper17bounding or forming printing medium supporting section that supports a paper roll16therein to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow b, a first printing section18that prints on the outer side (top side thereof inFIG. 2) of the continuous sheet of paper16′ drawn from the roll paper16, and a second printing section19that prints on the back side (lower side thereof inFIG. 2) of the continuous sheet of paper16′.

The hopper17has an approximately U-shaped vertical cross-section. It is arranged below the cover member14and at a position spaced above the bottom11cof the housing11.

The first printing section18is arranged below the top surface11aof the housing11and near the discharge port13of the housing and thus adjacent to a side surface of the housing11opposite to the position of the hinge15thereon. The first printing section18is a printing section that carries out printing on the outer or top side of the belt-shaped paper16′ using an the inkjet printing apparatus.

The first printing section18includes a paper guide18aand an inkjet head18b. The inkjet head18bis located at a position spaced slightly above the upper surface of the paper guide18a.

The first printing section18carries out printing with, e.g., the inkjet system, on the outer side of the continuous sheet of paper16′ when it is positioned between the inkjet head18band the paper guide18a. In addition, the first printing section18may carry out printing with, e.g., the inkjet system, on a pre-cut paper sheet20fed thereto from the entrance port12of the housing11.

The second printing section19is arranged below the cover member14, and thus is positioned between the hopper17and the first printing section18. The second printing section19is a printing section that carries out printing with, e.g., a thermal printing system which causes color change (typically clear or opaque to black), on the back side of the continuous sheet of paper16′ as a result of selective heating of regions of the heat sensitive paper of the paper roll.

The second printing section19has a platen roller19aand a thermal head19b. The platen roller19ais anchored at a prescribed position in the housing11, and it is configured to rotate.

The thermal head19bis supported, from below, by a spring or other elastic member19carranged inside the housing11. The thermal head19bis arranged to press or push the paper from the roll extending therepast against the platen roller19aby the elastic force of the elastic member19c. The second printing section19carries out printing with, e.g., the thermal system, on the back side of the continuous sheet of paper16′ arranged between the thermal head19band the platen roller19a.

Within housing11are transporting passages for the continuous sheet of paper16′ and the pre-cut paper sheet20, and a transporting unit for transporting the continuous sheet of paper16′ or the pre-cut paper sheet20through the housing11to affect printed thereon.

The transporting passage has a first transporting passage21arranged between the hopper17and the second printing section19, a first conveyor roller22arranged upstream, in the path of the continuous sheet of paper, of the first transporting passage21, and a second transporting passage23arranged between the second printing section19and the first printing section18and adjacent to the entrance port12of the housing11where pre-cut sheets may be fed in the housing11.

The continuous sheets paper16′ drawn from the paper roll16loaded in the hopper17is transported via the first conveyor roller22and the first transporting passage21to the second printing section19. After passing through the second printing section19, the continuous sheet of paper16′ is transported via the second transporting passage23to the first printing section18. In addition, pre-cut paper sheets20, fed into the entrance port12of the housing11, are also transported via the second transporting passage23to the first printing section18.

The transporting unit has a conveyor roller pair24arranged between the first printing section18and the second transporting passage23, and a discharge roller pair25arranged between the first printing section18and the discharge port13of the housing11.

The conveyor roller pair24includes a conveyor roller24arotating in the direction indicated by the arrow c as shown in the drawing due to rotation of the shaft of a motor coupled to the axis thereof, and a pinch roller24bthat is a slave roller, and thus driven in rotation by the rotation of the conveyor roller24a. As the conveyor roller pair24rotate, the continuous sheet of paper16′ or the pre-cut paper sheet20on the second transporting passage23is transported to the first printing section18. As the pre-cut paper sheet20is fed thereto, the inner edge thereof will slide a/on the upper surface of the plate forming first transporting passage23, and thus be pinched between rotating rollers24a, band fed in the direction of the first printing section18.

The discharge roller pair25includes a discharge roller25athat rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow d shown in the drawing due to rotation of the motor, and a pinch roller25bthat is slaved there to and thus rotate as a result of rotation of discharge roller25a. Due to rotation of the discharge roller pair25, the continuous sheet of paper16′ or the pre-cut paper sheet20present in the first printing section18is transported to the discharge port13.

In addition, the platen roller19aof the second printing section19also forms a portion of the transporting unit . As the motor connect to the platen roller19arotates to rotate the platen roller19ain the direction indicated by the arrow e as shown in the drawing, the continuous sheet of paper16′ drawn from the paper roll16is transported in the direction of the discharge port13of housing11. In addition, this motor may be rotated, and thus the platen roller19a, may be rotated in a reverse direction indicated by the arrow f as shown in the drawing, so that the continuous sheet of paper16′ is transported rearwardly in the direction of the hopper17and thus paper roll16.

In addition, a cutting section26for cutting the continuous sheet of paper16′ is arranged between the discharge roller pair25and the discharge port13of the housing11inside the housing11. After printing on the continuous sheet, the sheet may be singulated, or cut into individual sheets, at the cutting section26which includes an upper blade portion26aand a lower blade portion26bwhich may be moved together and slightly past each other to cut an individual piece of printed media from the continuous sheet of paper16′.

In this dual purpose printer10, a first sensor27is arranged near the entrance port12where pre-cut sheets may be fed into the housing11, and a second sensor28is arranged in the downstream portion of the second transporting passage23, upstream, in the direction of paper flow16′ , from entrance part12. In addition, a third sensor29is arranged in the first transporting passage21located upstream of second printing section19, and a fourth sensor30is arranged between the discharge rollers25and the cutting section26. The first sensor27, second sensor28, third sensor29and fourth sensor30are sensors which detect whether there exists the continuous sheet of paper16′ or the cut paper sheet20near the respective sensors.

The first sensor27, second sensor28, third sensor29and fourth sensor30may be made of light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30a, and receivers27b,28b,29b, and30bthat receive the light rays emitted from the light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30a, respectively. As to be explained later, the first sensor27, second sensor28, third sensor29and fourth sensor30detect the local presence of the continuous sheet of paper16′ or of a pre-cut paper sheet20thereby.

That is, when the continuous sheet of paper16′ or a pre-cut paper sheet20is not present between the light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30aand the receivers27b,28b,29b, and30b, the light rays emitted from the light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30areach the receivers27b,28b,29b, and30b, at their original intensity. As the receivers27b,28b,29b, and30breceive the light rays with high intensity, it is recognized that there exists no continuous sheet of paper16′ or pre-cut paper sheet20between the light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30aand the respective receivers27b,28b,29b, and30b.

On the other hand, when the continuous sheet of paper16′ or the pre-cut paper sheet20is present between the light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30aand the receivers27b,28b,29b, and30b, the intensity of the light rays emitted from the light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30ais attenuated, or blocked, by the continuous sheet of paper or the pre-cut paper sheet or located between a light source and related detector, receivers, When the receivers27a,28b,29b, and30breceive such light with a lower intensity, it is recognized that the continuous sheet of paper16′ or a pre-cut paper sheet20exists between the light emitting LEDs27a,28a,29a, and30aand the respective receivers27b,28b,29b, and30b.

FIG. 3is block diagram illustrating the configuration of the electrical connection of the conveyance system of the dual purpose printer10explained above.

As shown inFIG. 3, the first sensor27, second sensor28, third sensor29and fourth sensor30used to detect a print media in a printing path are each connected to a CPU31. Also, the motor32, motor33, and motor34which are connected to the conveyor roller24a, the discharge roller25a, and the platen roller19arespectively are likewise connected to the CPU31. A control section35for controlling the operation of the cutting section26to cut individual sheets from the continuous sheet16′ of rolled paper is also connected to the CPU31, as is an operation instruction section36that issues the desired instructions to the CPU31.

In the following, the operation of the dual purpose printer10explained above will be explained with reference toFIG. 3as well asFIGS. 4 to 8. Here,FIGS. 4 to 8are schematic diagrams illustrating the configuration for of the dual purpose printer used to explain the operation thereof.

The double-sided printing operation on the continuous sheet pulled the roll paper16will be explained With reference toFIGS. 2 and 4, to load a roll of print media, such as a paper roll16into the printer, the cover member14is swung in the direction indicated by arrow ‘a’ as shown inFIG. 2by pivoting at the hinge18, so that the opening portion11bof the housing11is opened. Then, the roll of paper16is set in the hopper17via the opening portion11bof the housing11.

Then, as shown inFIG. 5, the end of the continuous sheet of paper16′ is drawn from the paper roll16, and, as the tip of the continuous sheet of paper16′ is detected by the third sensor29arranged in the first transporting passage21, the CPU31activates the motor34to rotate the platen roller19a, in the direction indicated by the arrow e (forward direction) as shown inFIG. 6.

As the continuous sheet of paper16′ is further transported and the tip of the continuous sheet of paper16′ is detected by the second sensor28arranged in the downstream portion of the second transporting passage23, the CPU31causes the motor34, and thus the platen roller19a, to stop. At this point, the dual purpose printer10is in a standby mode.

During loading of the continuous sheet of paper16′ , if the end of the paper is detected by the second sensor28, an additional step is performed. When the tip of the continuous sheet of paper16′ is detected by the second sensor28, the CPU31activates the motor34to rotate the platen roller19a, so that the platen roller19ais rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow f (backward direction) , so that the continuous sheet of paper16′ is reverse transported by a prescribed distance, without getting exiting the space between platen roller19aa thermal head19a, and, as shown inFIG. 5, the dual purpose printer10is again in a standby state.

The operation in which the continuous sheet of paper16′ is drawn out from the paper roll16and is transported forward until the tip of the continuous sheet of paper16′ contacts the platen roller19ais carried out manually by the user while the opening portion11bof the housing11is kept open.

With the dual purpose printer10in this standby state, suppose an instruction to start double-sided printing is issued from the operation section36of the host computer, or the like, to the CPU31, the CPU31activates the motor32, motor33, and motor34that rotate the platen roller19a, the conveyor roller24aand the discharge roller25a, respectively. As shown inFIG. 6, while the platen roller19ais rotated in the forward direction, the conveyor roller24ais rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow c as shown in the drawing (forward direction), and the discharge roller25ais rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow d as shown in the drawing (forward direction). Due to rotation of the platen roller19a, the conveyor roller24a, and the discharge roller25a, the continuous sheet of paper16passes through the second printing section19, that printing section carries out printing on the paper16′ by thermal imaging on the back side of the continuous sheet of paper16′. Then, after printing on the backside thereof in the second printing station19, the continuous sheet of paper16′ is transported to the first printing section18, and the first printing section18carries out printing with inkjet device on the outer (upper in the FIG.) side of the continuous sheet of paper16′.

After printing on both sides of the, the continuous sheet of paper16′ is transported towards the discharge port13by the rotation of the discharge roller25a, and, as the tip of the continuous sheet of paper16′ is detected by the fourth sensor30, the CPU31controls to have the platen roller19a, the conveyor roller24a, and the discharge roller25arotated in the forward direction each by a prescribed quantity, so that the continuous sheet of paper16′ is transported by a prescribed quantity equal to the length of a printed sheet. Then, the CPU31control section35causes the cutting section26to cut the continuous sheet of paper16′ extending past the cutting section into an individual sheet. In this way, the double-sided printing operation of a single sheet comes to an end.

After the end of the double-sided printing operation, the CPU31controls the platen roller19ato rotate in the reverse direction, so that the newly cut end of the continuous sheet of paper16′ left in the apparatus is transported rearwardly to the position shown inFIG. 5. As the tip (newly cut end) of the continuous sheet of paper16′ in the reverse transporting state is detected as it passes or reaches the second sensor28, rotation of the platen roller19ais stopped by the CPU31, and the dual purpose printer becomes the standby state, once the newly cut end is positioned between the platen roller19aand thermal head19b, but is not extending into the entrance port12.

The single-side printing operation for the pre-cut paper sheet will be explained with respect toFIGS. 2 and 7. A pre-cut paper sheet20is set on the slope14aarranged on the cover member14of the dual purpose printer10in the standby state. The presence of a pre-cut paper sheet20on the slope14ais detected by the first sensor27arranged near the entrance port12.

In the state when the first sensor27detects that a pre-cut paper sheet20is set on the slope14aarranged on the cover member14, an instruction to start single-side printing is issued from the operation section36to the CPU31, putting the dual purpose printer in the standby state, and then activates the motors to rotate the conveyor roller24aand the discharge roller25ain the forward direction. Due to rotation of the conveyor roller24aand discharge roller25a, as shown inFIG. 8, the pre-cut paper sheet20is transported from the entrance port12to the first printing section18. Then, the first printing section18carries out an inkjet printing operation on the outer or top (upper in the FIG.) side of the pre-cut paper sheet20.

The printed pre-cut paper sheet20is then discharged from the discharge port13due to rotation of the discharge roller25a. At this point, the single-side printing operation comes to an end.

During the single-side printing operation, the platen roller19aand the cutting section26are not in operation.

As explained above, for the dual purpose printer10according to this embodiment, it is possible to carry out double-sided printing for the continuous sheet of paper16′ drawn from the paper roll16loaded in the housing11. In the same printing apparatus, it is possible to carry out single-side printing on the pre-cut paper sheet20by moving the pre-cut paper sheet20in a slightly different, i.e., partial path from the paper16, patch by inserting the pre-cut paper20through the entrance port12arranged on the housing11.

With the dual purpose printer10according to this embodiment, while the paper roll16is loaded in the printer, printing can be carried out on pre-cut paper sheet20. After printing on the pre-cut paper sheet20, it is possible to immediately carry out the double-sided printing operation the continuous sheet of paper16′ pulled from the paper roll16.