Large printer

Abstract: A large printer comprises a paper feeding unit in which at least one roll of paper and at least one sheet of paper including a stiff carton to be supplied are loaded, the paper feeding unit being located at a height that enables a user standing in front of the printer to execute the paper feeding process including replacement of the roll paper and setting the sheet of paper. A printing unit is located below the paper feeding unit. A discharged paper stacking unit is located below the printing unit. A paper feeding path extends from the paper feeding unit to the discharged paper stacking unit via the printing unit so as to be substantially straight. The feeding unit includes at least a pair of spindle receptacles into which both ends of an elongated spindle, on which a paper roll is mounted, are inserted. At least one of the spindle receptacles is rotatable, and one end of the spindle can be inserted into the rotatable spindle receptacle in order to insert the other end of the spindle into the other spindle receptacle by rotating the spindle so as to pivot on the rotatable spindle receptacle.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a large printer that employs roll paper, and in particular to a large printer that can print a large sheet of paper having a width of 420 mm or more. Most related large printers that use roll paper are so designed that the paper feeding path runs from the rear to the front see e.g US-A-5 302 037 and EP-A-0 750 994, and paper rolls are located at the rear of the main printer bodies. Therefore, to replace a paper roll for one of these printers a user must be positioned behind it, and as a result the required installation space is increased in the direction of the depth. There are some printer designs that provide for a paper roll to be located in the front of the printer main body, but since sheets are discharged to the front along U-shaped feeding paths, the path structures are complicated, and becomes more complicated when a plurality of paper rolls are set up for use. One printer, though it is not a large printer that uses roll paper, is provided wherein, in order to reduce the installation space of the printer main body in the direction of depth, a paper feeding path in a subscanning direction, including a paper supply portion from which a sheet of paper is supplied and a paper ejection portion from which the sheet is ejected, is arranged so as to be substantially straight in the diagonal direction of a casing that constitutes a dark box. This printer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-59372A. Paper rolls for large printers are correspondingly large, and quite heavy. In the related art, however, no printer that uses such roll paper is considered or taught that permits a user to replace a heavy paper roll from the front of the printer while standing, and without bending at the waist. Further, in the related art, no printer which uses such roll paper is taught that can print also large sheets of stiff carton. In a large printer using roll paper, a spindle on which a paper roll is mounted is held by a pair of spindle receptacles provided in the printer main body. When a paper roll is exhausted, a new one is mounted in its place. For a related large printer, the positions for the spindle receptacle pair are fixed, i.e., the spindle receptacles are located opposite each other, regardless of whether a spindle is mounted or not. However, because a paper roll for a large printer is also large, accordingly, the spindle for the paper roll is quite heavy. And as is described above, since a related large printer has a fixed structure wherein spindle receptacles are located opposite each other, when replacing a spindle mounted paper roll a user must hold the large, heavy spindle with both hands while stretching out both arms and inserting the ends of the spindle into the receptacles. As a result, a large load is imposed on the user's arms, and the changing of a paper roll involves a great deal of labor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a large printer using a large, heavy paper roll, which a user, while standing and without bending at the waist, can replace from the front of the printer, with which a user can print also large sheets of stiff carton. To achieve the above objective, there is provided a large printer as defined in claim 1. According to the configuration, the feeding unit in which roll paper is loaded is located at a height at which a user standing in front of the printer can replace a paper roll. Thus, to replace a heavy paper roll, a user does not have to bend from the waist nor move behind the printer, and the replacement can be easily and quickly performed. Further, without bending at the waist a user can easily set up the sheet of paper, such as the stiff carton, on the printer. In the printer, a plurality of paper rolls may be detachably loaded in the paper feeding unit such that the plural paper rolls are arranged obliquely with each other in the vertical direction. Accordingly, when one roll of paper is exhausted, it can be quickly replaced by a new paper roll. If the upper paper roll is used first, by switching from the upper to the lower paper roll a replacement for the upper paper roll can be loaded while the printing is continued. In the printer, the paper feeding unit may include a cover member for covering the loaded paper roll from thereabove and for covering the paper roll and for supporting the supplied stiff carton from therebelow. When a large sheet of stiff carton is supported at only one end, the free end tends to be bent down by its own weight, and overall deformation of the paper occurs. However, the cover member located upstream of the printing unit also serves as a support and prevents the large sheet of stiff carton from being deformed by its own weight. Thus, when stiff carton is used it can be held horizontal, and deterioration of the print quality of printed matter can be prevented. In the printer, the feeding unit may include at least a pair of spindle receptacles into which both ends of an elongated spindle, on which a paper roll is mounted, are inserted. At least one of the spindle receptacles is rotatable, and one end of the spindle can be inserted into the rotatable spindle receptacle in order to insert the other end of the spindle into the other spindle receptacle by rotating the spindle so as to pivot on the rotatable spindle receptacle. With this arrangement, since at first only one end of a spindle need be inserted into a receptacle, and since a rotatable spindle receptacle can be moved in a direction that enables the spindle to be inserted into another receptacle, a user can easily set up the spindle without having to stretch out both arms, as in the related art. Further, after one end of the spindle has been inserted into the rotatable spindle receptacle, half of the total weight is supported by the receptacle and the imposed load is reduced. And in addition, since only the rotatable spindle receptacle need be pivoted on the support point in order to insert the other end of the spindle into the other spindle receptacle, the replacement of a paper roll is extremely easy. In the printer, the paper feeding path may extend straightly from an upper rear portion of the printer to a lower front portion thereof. Alternatively, the paper feeding path may extend perpendicularly. With this arrangement, a user can replace a heavy paper roll, while standing and without bending at the waist, and without moving to the back of the printer. Further, a user can set up also a large sheet of stiff carton, on the paper feeding unit at the front of the printer, without bending at the waist. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical section view showing a state wherein a user replaces a paper roll for a large printer according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the large printer; Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the state wherein stiff carton is printed by the large printer; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the essential portion when a paper roll for the large printer is being replaced; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a pair of spindle receptacles in the large printer; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the state wherein both ends of a spindle have been inserted into the spindle receptacles; and Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a state wherein one end of the spindle has been inserted into a spindle receptacle and before the spindle receptacle has been pivoted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described while referring to the accompanying drawings. In the present invention, a large printer can print a large sheet of paper having a width of 420 mm or greater. Of course, the large printer includes a print head that can also print paper having a width less than 420 mm. In the large printer specifically described below, a paper feeding unit can accept, as a printing medium, a paper roll having a width of about 210 mm to 1120 mm and a diameter of 10 cm to 15 cm, or a sheet of paper having approximately the same width as the roll paper, and a length of about 420 mm to 1580 mm (for paper having a thickness of less than 0.5 mm) or of about 420 mm to 730 mm (for stiff carton having a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm). As is shown in Fig. 1, a large printer according to the embodiment comprises a paper feeding unit 30, a printing unit 7, and a discharged paper stacking unit 8, which are located at the top, middle and bottom positions, respectively. The external dimensions of the large printer are height: 1259 mm; width: 1688 mm; and width: 699 mm. The paper feeding path extending from the paper feeding unit 30 situated in upper rear portion of the main body to the discharged paper stacking unit 8 situated in lower front portion of the main body via the printing unit 7 is arranged so as to be substantially straight. The paper feeding unit 30 can feed both roll paper 3 and large sheets of stiff carton 21 (see Fig. 3). Specifically, paper rolls can be detachably loaded in the paper feeding unit 30 so that they it can be removed and replaced, and the stiff carton 21 can be mounted along the slope at the front face of the paper feeding unit 30, as is shown in Fig. 3. In the printing unit 7, a flat paper discharge guide 23, which is a part of the paper feeding path, is located below a print head 22, and a suction port 25, which communicates with a suction fan 24, is provided for the paper discharge guide 25. The force produced by suction is employed to draw the paper to the suction port 25 and to thereby control the delivery state, and the discharged paper stacking unit 8 is provided to accept printed paper. When roll paper 3 is printed, a stack cloth 27 is moved to the front of the printer by a discharged paper switch lever 26, and the printed matter is guided to the lower portion of the printer main body in the state depicted in Fig. 1. When the stiff carton 21 is printed, however, as is shown in Fig. 3 the stacking unit 8 is retracted by the lever 26 to a position whereat it does not prevent the discharge of the stiff carton 21. Further, as is shown in Fig. 1, the paper feeding unit 30 is located at a height whereat a user 9 can perform a paper feeding process, including the replacement of paper rolls 3 and the setting up of stiff carton 21. In this embodiment, the height of a user who is 170 mm tall is used to determine the height of the paper feeding unit 30. If the height of the paper feeding unit 30 can be adjusted, it can be set to provide an optimal height for an individual user. Furthermore, a paper feeding process, such as the replacement of a paper roll 3, can be performed from the front of the large printer (the side whereat the user is located in Fig. 1). Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the large printer according to the embodiment, and a paper roll cover 28 (described later) is not shown. A pair of spindle receptacles 1a and 1b and a second another pair of spindle receptacles 2a and 2b underneath are provided for the paper feeding unit 30 of the large printer. Elongated spindles 4 and 5, on which the paper rolls 3 are respectively mounted, horizontally lie between the spindle receptacles 1a and 1b, and 2a and 2b. That is, ends 4a and 4b of the spindle 4 are inserted into the spindle receptacles 1a and 1b, and ends 5a and 5b of the spindle 5 are inserted into the spindle receptacles 2a and 2b. In Fig. 2, the spindle receptacles 1a and 1b, and 2a and 2b are attached to the frame 6 of the printer main body. As is shown in Fig. 1, the two spindles 4 and 5 are positioned vertically at an oblique angle, so that relative to the user 9 the upper spindle 4 is at the rear. The paper roll 3 is so located that paper is delivered along the substantially straight paper feeding path that extends obliquely upward from the printing unit 7, and downward to the port for the discharged paper stacking unit 8. As is shown in Fig. 3, the stiff carton 21 can set up by mounting it on the slope at the front of the paper feeding unit 30. In this embodiment, in the paper feeding unit 30, the paper roll cover 28 is provided in front of the loaded paper roll 3, i.e., in front of the area whereat the paper roll 3 is located, and serves as a supporting portion 29 when a sheet of the stiff carton 21 is set up. The paper roll cover 28 is opened or closed by rotating the free end thereof so as to pivot on the upper end thereof. When the paper roll cover 28 is closed, it can serve as a part of the paper feeding path used for printing a sheet of paper, such as a sheet of the stiff carton 21. The structures of the spindle receptacles 1a and 1b, which are the essential components of the large printer of the present invention, will now be described while referring to Fig. 5. Since the other spindle receptacles 2a and 2b are the same as the spindle receptacles 1a and 1b, explanation for them will be omitted. The spindle receptacle 1a is formed so that it can be rotated along the horizontal plane. And in this embodiment, a rotary portion 11 is provided for a base 10 fixed to the frame 6 so that it can be pivoted on a support point 12. In the rotary portion 11 is a recess 13 into which the end 4a of the spindle 4 is inserted. A pair of rollers 14, which are symmetrically positioned at the bottom of the recess 13 with the support point 12 in between, are provided to reduce the rotation load of the spindle 4. In the embodiment, the rotation of the rotary portion 11 to the front of the printer is limited to an angle of from 20 to 50 degrees. Preferably, the rotation is limited to a range of from 30 to 40 degrees, and in this embodiment, the rotation to the front of the printer is halted at an angle of approximately 35 degrees. In this embodiment, the rotary portion 11 is provided with a spring (not shown) that rotates the rotary portion 11 to the front of the printer. When the spindle 4 is removed form the spindle receptacle 1a (the state in Fig. 5), the spring automatically positions the rotary portion 11 at an angle of about 35 degrees, the rotation limit. In this embodiment, as is shown in Fig. 5, an engagement portion 15 is provided at the rear of the recess 13, and as is shown in Fig. 6, a stopper 16 is provided at the end 4a of the spindle 4. The stopper 16 is formed like an annular flange, and the engagement portion 15 is shaped to fit the flanged stopper 16. However, the engagement portion 15 and the stopper 16 are not limited to the above described shapes. The structure of the other spindle receptacle 1b, into which the other end 4b of the spindle 4 is inserted, will now be described while referring to Fig. 5. The spindle receptacle 1b is fixed to the frame 6, and has a recess 17 into which the other end 4b of the spindle 4 is inserted. A pair of rollers 18 are provided at the bottom of the recess 17, which has a simple shape, and the cylindrical end 4b of the spindle 4 is inserted therein. In this embodiment, the shape of the stopper 16 on the spindle 4 differs from the simple cylindrical shape of the other end, so that the difference in the shape can be recognized at a glance. Therefore, the flanged shape provides an identification function which prevents in advance the erroneous setup of the spindle 4. In Fig. 6, flanges 20 are used to hold the paper roll 3. An explanation will now be given for the paper roll replacement process for a large printer according to the embodiment. First, the user 9, who is standing in front of the printer, lifts and removes the spindle 4 from the pair of spindle receptacles 1a and 1b, and the spindle receptacle 1a is automatically rotate and stopped by the spring (not shown) to the position shown in Fig. 5. Following this, as is shown in Fig. 4, the user 9, who is again standing in front of the printer, inserts into the spindle receptacle 1a the right end 4a of an elongated spindle 4 on which a new paper roll is mounted. An enlarged view of the thus acquired state is shown in Fig. 7. The user 9, by checking the flange stopper 16, was able to identify which end of the spindle 4 should be inserted first. Then, as is shown in Fig. 4, with the spindle 4 supported by and pivoting on the spindle receptacle 1a, the user 9 inserts end 4b of the spindle 4 into the spindle receptacle 1b. An enlarged view of the final state is shown in Fig. 6. As is described above, according to the present invention, the paper feeding unit 30, wherein a paper roll 3 is set up, is positioned at a height whereat the user 9, who is standing in front of the printer, can replace the paper roll 3 without having to bend at the waist. According to the present invention the user 9 does not have to move around to the back of the printer, and can easily and quickly perform the replacement process. Also, the user 9, again without bending at the waist, can easily set up a large sheet of stiff carton 21 on the printer. Further, a plurality of paper rolls 3 are removably mounted in the paper feeding unit 30 at positions located obliquely upward and downward. With this arrangement, when one paper roll is exhausted, it can be quickly replaced by a new one. And if the upper paper roll is used first, by switching from the upper paper roll to the lower paper roll, printing can be continued while the upper paper roll is replaced. The paper roll cover 28, which is located upstream of the printing unit 7, serves as the supporting portion 29 used to prevent the stiff carton 21 from bending under its own weight. With this arrangement, as is shown in Fig. 3, when a sheet of the stiff carton 21 is loaded it can be held flat and not permitted to bend, and deterioration of the image quality of the printed matter can be prevented. The end 4a of the spindle 4 is inserted into the rotatable spindle receptacle 1a, and then the spindle 4 is pivoted on the support point 12 of the rotatable spindle receptacle 1 a so that the other end 4b of the spindle 4 can be inserted into the other spindle receptacle 1 b. With this arrangement, since the end 4a of the spindle 4 must be inserted into the rotatable spindle receptacle 1a first, and since the rotatable spindle receptacle 1a can be moved in the direction that enables a user 9 to insert the spindle 4 into the other spindle receptacle 1b, the user 9 can easily set up the spindle 4 without stretching out both arms, as is required by the related art. And after the end 4a of the spindle 4 has been inserted into the spindle receptacle 1a, half of the total weight of the spindle 4 and the paper roll is supported by the spindle receptacle 1a, and the load imposed on the user 9 is reduced. Further, since the other end 4b of the spindle 4 can be inserted into the other spindle receptacle 1b only pivoting on the support point 12 of the rotatable spindle receptacle 1a as the fulcrum, it is extremely easy to replace a paper roll. The paper feeding path in this embodiment is extended obliquely. However, it may be extended perpendicularly, and with this path also, while standing in front of the printer the user 9 can replace the heavy paper roll 3 without bending at the waist or moving around to the back of the printer. Further, the user 9, from the front of the printer, can easily load large sheets of the stiff carton 21 onto the paper feeding unit without bending at the waist. The rotation of the rotatable spindle receptacle 1a to the front of the large printer is limited to an angle ranging from 20 to 50 degrees, preferably one ranging from 30 to 40 degrees. Thus, the end 4a of the spindle 4 can be loaded from the front of the printer at an appropriate angle whereat a large work space depth is not required. Further, when to change a paper roll 3 a spindle 4 is removed from'the spindle receptacles 1a and 1b, the spindle receptacle 1a is automatically rotated to the front by a spring (not shown) and positioned at an appropriate angle. As a result, the direction of the spindle receptacle 1a need not be manually adjusted to facilitate the insertion of the end 4a of a spindle 4 when a new paper roll 3 is being loaded. Since two pairs of the spindle receptacles are provided, and are obliquely aligned vertically, the upper spindle being located to the rear, when the paper in one roll 3 is exhausted, it can immediately be replaced by the other one. And if the paper roll 3 on the upper spindle 4 is used first, by switching from the upper paper roll 4 to the lower paper roll 5, printing can continue while the upper paper roll is being replaced. The stopper 16 engages the engagement portion 15 when the end 4a of a spindle 4 is inserted into the spindle receptacle 1a, so that the spindle 4 will not be removed from the spindle receptacle 1a by mistake during the replacement of a paper roll 3. In addition to this original function, since by glancing at one end of the spindle 4 a user 9 can determine which end is to be inserted into the spindle receptacle 1a, the insertion of the incorrect end can be avoided.

Claims: A large printer comprising: a paper feeding unit including at least one roll of paper and at least one sheet of paper including a stiff carton loaded to said paper feeding unit, the paper feeding unit being located at a height that enables a user standing in front of the printer to execute the paper feeding process including replacement of the roll paper and setting the sheet of paper; a printing unit located below the paper feeding unit; a discharged paper stacking unit located below the printing unit; and a paper feeding path extending in a substantially straight line from the paper feeding unit to the discharged paper stacking unit via the printing unit. The large printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of paper rolls are detachably loaded in the paper feeding unit such that the plural paper rolls are arranged obliquely relative to the vertical direction. The large printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the paper feeding unit includes a cover member for covering the roll of paper from above and for supporting the supplied stiff carton from therebelow. The large printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the paper feeding unit includes at least a pair of spindle receptacles into which both ends of an elongated spindle, on which a paper roll is mounted, are inserted, wherein at least one of the spindle receptacles is rotatable in a horizontal plane, and whereby one end of the spindle can be inserted into said at least one rotatable spindle receptacle and thereafter another end of the spindle is inserted into another spindle receptacle by rotating the spindle so as to pivot on the rotatable spindle receptacle. The large printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the paper feeding path extends straight from an upper rear portion of the printer to a lower front portion thereof. The large printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the paper feeding path extends perpendicularly.

Inventors: MIYAZAKI KENICHI, MIYAZAKI, KENICHI
Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORP, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B41J11
IPC codes: B41J15, B41J11