Patent Publication Number: US-7717633-B2

Title: Sheet bundle printing system and sheet bundle printer

Description:
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-207145, filed Jul. 28, 2006, is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
   BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to a sheet bundle printing system for printing on a piece of sheet (hereinafter simply referred to as “a sheet”) to be peeled off out of a sheet bundle such as a sticky note bundle (i.e., a bundle of sticky notes temporarily held together by partially and removably adhering them together for use by peeling off one by one) and the like, and also relates to a sheet bundle printer. 
   2. Related Art 
   As a sticky note printer (sheet bundle printer) to which this kind of sheet bundle printing system is applied, there is known one in which the uppermost sticky note is turned over or flipped from the bundle of sticky notes set in position and in which the flipped sticky note is then held between a thermal head and a platen roller together with an ink ribbon for performing printing thereon. JP-A-2003-212367 is an example of related art. 
   In using a sticky note, there is a case where a sticky note is used as it is without printing thereon so that the user manually writes a memo thereon or adheres it on a particular page of a magazine and the like for the purpose of marking the page. The sticky note printer will thus have to eject the sticky note intact without printing thereon. 
   However, in case the sticky note is fed without printing thereon (i.e., empty feeding), the above-described conventional sticky note printer is so arranged that the sticky note and the ink ribbon are fed without driving the thermal head. Since a sticky note free from printing thereon is ejected in this manner, there is a problem in that the ink ribbon is wasted even in case of empty feeding. 
   SUMMARY 
   It is an advantage of the invention to provide a sheet bundle printing system and a sheet bundle printer which are capable of empty-feeding a sheet toward a sheet ejecting slot without wasting an ink ribbon. 
   A sheet bundle printing system according to a first aspect of the invention comprises: a sheet transfer device for transferring a sheet toward a sheet ejecting slot by peeling an uppermost sheet out of a sheet bundle made up of a multiplicity of sheets releasably adhered together at one end respectively; a printing device having a printing head and a platen roller, the printing device being for printing on a sheet fed by the sheet transfer device through space between the printing head and the platen roller; a ribbon feed device for feeding an ink ribbon through space between the printing head and the platen roller, the feeding being made in parallel with the sheet at the time of printing thereon; a back-and-forth moving device for manually moving the platen roller relative to the printing head between a printing position in which the platen roller is urged into contact with the printing head and a contact-free position in which the platen roller is out of contact with the printing head; and a ribbon-feed suspension device for suspending the ink-ribbon feeding by the ribbon feed device in a manner interlocked with a relative movement, by the back-and-forth moving device, of the printing head and the platen roller between the printing position and the contact-free position. 
   A sheet bundle printing system according to a second aspect of the invention comprises: a sheet transfer device for transferring a sheet toward a sheet ejecting slot by peeling an uppermost sheet out of a sheet bundle made up of a multiplicity of sheets releasably adhered together at one end respectively; a printing device having a printing head and a platen roller, the printing device being for printing on a sheet fed by the sheet transfer device through space between the printing head and the platen roller; a ribbon feed device for feeding an ink ribbon through space between the printing head and the platen roller, the feeding being made in parallel with the sheet at the time of printing thereon; a back-and-forth moving device for moving the platen roller relative to the printing head between a printing position in which the platen roller is urged into contact with the printing head and a contact-free position in which the platen roller is out of contact with the printing head; and a ribbon-feed suspension device for suspending the ink-ribbon feeding by the ribbon feed device in a manner interlocked with a relative movement, by the back-and-forth moving device, of the printing head and the platen roller between the printing position and the contact-free position. 
   According to the above arrangements, when the platen roller is relatively moved to the print-free position of the printing head by the back-and-forth moving device, the feeding of the ink ribbon is suspended (stopped) by the ribbon-feed suspension device in a manner interlocked with the above-described relative movement (The term “back-and-forth moving device” represents, in a generic sense, that the device is capable of moving an object between predetermined two positions. The direction of movement shall therefore be understood not limiting to “back” and “forth”; it may instead be between, e.g., a “first” position and a “second” position). In this state, when the sheet transfer device transfers the sheet, the sheet passes through the space between the printing head and the platen roller. The sheet is thus fed toward the sheet ejecting slot, but the ink ribbon will not be fed. In addition, since the printing head and the platen roller become out of contact with (or away from) each other, the sheet and the ink ribbon will not be held therebetween. As a result, the ink ribbon will neither be fed together with the feeding of the sheet. It is thus possible to empty-feed the sheet. As a sheet bundle, there may be used a sticky note bundle, a memo pad, and the like. 
   It is preferable that the back-and-forth moving device comprise: a manual operation lever for moving the platen roller back and forth; and a back-and-forth moving link for moving the platen roller back and forth in a manner interlocked with operation of the manual operation lever. 
   According to this arrangement, by operating the manual operation lever, the platen roller can freely be moved between the printing position and the contact-free position. 
   It is preferable that the system further comprise a lock-and-unlock mechanism which maintains the platen roller in the contact-free position in a manner interlocked with the operation of the manual operation lever and which, in a manner interlocked with termination of transfer movement by the transfer device, releases the state of maintaining the platen roller at the contact-free position, thereby moving the platen roller to the printing position. 
   According to this arrangement, by operating the manual operation lever, the platen roller is locked to the contact-free position by means of the lock-and-unlock mechanism. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to keep operating the manual operation lever during the transfer of the sticky note. On the other hand, once the sheet transfer by the sheet transfer device has been finished, the lock-and-unlock mechanism is unlocked with the termination of the transfer operation. As a result, the platen roller is moved to the printing position. It is thus neither necessary for the user to operate the manual operation lever to return the platen roller. In this manner, operability of the manual operation lever can be improved. 
   In the above-described second aspect of the sheet bundle printing system, it is preferable that the back-and-forth moving device comprise: a solenoid for moving the platen roller back and forth; and a back-and-forth moving link for moving the platen roller back and forth in a manner interlocked with driving of the solenoid. 
   According to this arrangement, by exciting or degaussing the solenoid, the platen roller can be moved to the printing position and the contact-free position. 
   It is preferable that the back-and-forth moving device comprise: an actuator for moving the platen roller back and forth; a plate cam rotated by driving of the actuator; and a back-and-forth moving link for moving the platen roller into the contact-free position by bringing the plate cam into contact therewith. 
   According to this arrangement, by rotating the plate cam by means of the actuator, the platen roller can be moved between the printing position and the contact-free position. 
   It is preferable that the system further comprise: a detecting device for detecting that the platen roller has moved to the contact-free position relative to the printing head; and a control device for controlling the sheet transfer device and the printing device, wherein the control device feeds the sheet to the sheet ejecting slot without printing thereon depending on the result of detection by the detecting device. 
   According to this arrangement, the empty feeding of the sheet can be started with the detection by the detecting device serving as a trigger. In addition, the feeding of the sheet will not be performed in a state in which the printing head is in contact with the platen roller due to a mechanical trouble. 
   It is preferable that the platen roller be made up of a driving roller and drive in a manner synchronized with the driving of the sheet transfer device. 
   According to this arrangement, in performing printing work on the sheet, the printing can be made while giving transferring force to the sheet, thereby stabilizing the printing. In addition, in empty-feeding the sheet, the platen roller can give the transferring force to the sheet being fed, thereby smoothly introducing the sheet to the sheet ejecting slot. 
   It is preferable that the sheet transfer device, the platen roller and the ribbon feed device have a common driving source and a common power transmission gear train, wherein the power transmission gear train comprises: a main sun gear which is rotated by the driving source; a first planet gear which is engaged with the main sun gear; a first intermediate gear with which the first planet gear comes into or out of engagement; a second planet gear which is engaged with the first intermediate gear serving as a sun gear; a second intermediate gear with which the second planet gear comes into or out of engagement; wherein the sheet transfer device has a transfer-drive roller which transfers the sheet and which receives an input of power from the first planet gear, wherein the platen roller receives an input of power from the second planet gear, wherein the ribbon feed device has a ribbon take-up shaft which takes up the ink ribbon and which receives an input of power from the second intermediate gear, wherein the back-and-forth moving device has a planet carrier which supports the second planet gear and which causes the second planet gear to come into engagement or out of engagement with the second intermediate gear, and wherein the ribbon feed suspension device is the second planet gear which causes the power to the second intermediate gear to be shut off as a result a movement, by the planet carrier, of the second planet gear out of engagement with the second intermediate gear. 
   According to this arrangement, the power to the ribbon feed device is shut off as a result of the fact that the second planet gear is brought, by means of the planet carrier, out of engagement with the second intermediate gear. In other words, it is possible to make the back-and-forth moving device and the ribbon-feed suspension device simpler in structure. In addition, by increasing the common part which shares the functions for a plurality of devices, the structure can be simplified. 
   It is preferable that the system further comprise: a sheet bundle printer which performs printing on an uppermost sheet peeled out of the bundle of sheet; and a computer which is connected to the sheet bundle printer and which controls the same, wherein the sheet bundle printer has the sheet transfer device, the printing device, the ribbon feed device, the back-and-forth moving device, the ribbon-feed suspension device, and the detecting device, and wherein the computer has the control device. 
   According to this arrangement, by controlling the sheet printer with the computer, the feeding of the ink ribbon can be suspended at the time of empty-feeding of the sheet. 
   A sheet bundle printer according to another aspect of the invention has all the devices of the above-described sheet bundle printing system. 
   According to this arrangement, the sheet bundle printer as singly used can suspend the ink-ribbon feeding at the time of empty feeding of the sheet. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a sticky note printing system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an outside perspective view of a sticky note printer according to the embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an inside arrangement of the sticky note printer according to the embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic diagrams of reduction gear trains. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view showing a lock-and-unlock mechanism. 
       FIGS. 6A to 6G  are a series of explanation diagrams relating to the empty feeding of a sticky note. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of an inside arrangement of the sticky note printer according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an inside arrangement of the sticky note printer according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to the accompanying drawings, a description will be made about a sheet bundle printing system relating to an embodiment of the invention as a sticky note printing system. The sticky note printing system operates in the following manner. In other words, based on printing data edited by a personal computer, the sticky note printer turns over or flips an uppermost piece of sticky note (hereinafter simply referred to as “a sticky note”) out of a sticky note bundle (a sheet bundle). The flipped sticky note is subjected to printing while being peeled off. The printed sticky note is then ejected out of the printer. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sticky note printing system  1  is made up of: a sticky note printer  2  which has set in position a sticky note bundle H (see  FIG. 3 ); and a personal computer  3  (control device) which is connected to the sticky note printer  2  through a USB  4  and the like for generating and editing printing data to be printed on the sticky note H 1  and controlling the various drives of the sticky note printer  2 . 
   The personal computer  3  is made up of: a personal computer main body  5 ; a keyboard  6  and a mouse  7  connected to the personal computer main body  5  and used for inputting data; and a display  8  for displaying the result of inputting and the like. The personal computer main body  5  has removably set therein a CD-ROM  9  which has stored therein data of application software (program), device driver and the like about the sticky note printer  2 . When various detected signals, various commands, various data and the like are inputted from the keyboard  6  and the like, the personal computer  3  processes various data according to the program stored in the CD-ROM  9 , thereby controlling the sticky note printer  2 . 
   The sticky note printer  2  may be provided with a function of preparing and editing printing data as well as a control function for each part so that the sticky note printer  2  can be used as a stand-alone, thereby effecting printing on a sticky note H 1 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sticky note printer  2  has an outer shell constituted by an apparatus case  15 . The apparatus case  15  is arranged so that a sticky note bundle H can be set in position inside the apparatus case  15 . The sticky note printer  2  performs printing of desired characters, prepared by the personal computer  3 , on the sticky note H 1  that has been peeled off out of the sticky note bundle H set in position. The printed sticky note is then ejected out of the sheet ejecting slot  16  formed in the apparatus case  15 . 
   The apparatus case  15  is formed small in size as a whole and has formed therein a sticky note introducing opening  17  for setting in position the sticky note bundle H inside the apparatus case  15 . In a front central portion of the apparatus case  15 , there is formed an ejecting slot  16  in the shape of a horizontal slit for ejecting the printed sticky note H 1  out of the apparatus case. On the upper surface of the apparatus case  15 , there is provided an open-close lid  18  for receiving a ribbon cartridge C containing an ink ribbon R and for performing maintenance inside the sticky note printer. Moreover, on the left front side of the apparatus case  15 , there is provided an operation opening  19  which a manual operation lever  85  (described hereinafter) faces so as to allow the up-and-down movement of the manual operation lever  85 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the sticky note bundle H is constituted by a plurality of sticky notes H 1  which are respectively partly and removably glued at a rear base portion thereof. In other words, the sticky note bundle H is made up by laminating a plurality of sticky notes H 1  of the same shape (rectangular) and the same size by partly gluing the base portion on the rear surface respectively. The sticky note bundle H is arranged to be capable of being peeled off one by one from the sticky note bundle H. It is also so arranged that the sticky note can be adhered again on an object of adhesion (i.e., an object to which the sticky note is adhered) such as a notebook and the like by means of the glued portion (adhesive agent) at the base portion. 
   The sticky note printer  2  is made up of: a sticky note holder  20  which sets in position the sticky note bundle H; a sticky note transfer device (sheet transfer device)  21  which, after having flipped the uppermost sticky note H 1  from the sticky note bundle H that has been set in position and subsequently peeled it off, transfers it toward the sheet ejecting slot  16 ; a printing device  22  which performs printing, by means of a thermal head (printing head)  70  and a platen roller  71 , on the sticky note H 1  to be transferred by the sticky note transfer device  21 ; a ribbon feed device  23  which feeds an ink ribbon R to be used for printing; a back-and-forth moving device  24  which moves the platen roller  71  to the thermal head  70  by a manual operation lever  85  back and forth (i.e., between a position in which the platen roller  71  is in contact with the printing head  70  and a contact-free position in which the platen roller  71  is out of contact with the thermal head  70  (As noted earlier, the term “back-and-forth” generically denotes the capability of movement between predetermined two positions. The direction of movement shall therefore be interpreted not limiting to “back” and “forth”; it is intended to denote a “first” position and a “second” position)). The sticky note printer  2  also has a ribbon feed suspension device  25  which suspends (or stops) the feeding of the ink ribbon R in a manner interlocked with the operation of the back-and-forth moving device  24 . The above-described devices are housed inside the apparatus case  15 . The sticky note printer  2  is further provided with: a detection sensor (detecting device)  26  which detects the fact that the platen roller  71  has been brought out of contact with the thermal head  70 ; and a lock-and-unlock mechanism  27  which maintains the platen roller  71  in the state in which the platen roller  71  is out of contact with the thermal head  70  by means of the back-and-forth moving device  24  and which also releases this maintained state. 
   The sticky note holder  20  is made up of: a mounting stage  35  on which the sticky note bundle H is horizontally mounted, and which is arranged to hold the sticky note bundle H of a given size and is formed into a box shape with an upper surface left open; an introducing guide  36  of an enclosed frame shape, which slidably guides the mounting stage  35  up and down; and a lid  38  which supports the mounting stage  35  from the bottom side through a plurality of coil springs  37  and which closes the sticky note introducing opening  17 . On upper front and rear end portions of the introducing guide  36 , there are provided, in an inwardly projecting manner, a pair of front and rear position-restricting portions  39  which hold the free end (i.e., the end not glued together) and the fixed end (i.e., the portion in the end which is partially glued together) of the sticky note bundle H. The mounting stage  35  is urged upward by means of the plurality of coiled springs  37 . As a result, even if the sticky notes are fed out one by one and decreased in number, the sticky note bundle H set in position in the mounting stage  35  is arranged to keep the level of the uppermost sticky note H 1  to a predetermined height by means of the pair of position-restricting portions  39 . The position at which the sticky note bundle H is set becomes a pickup position  44  at which the uppermost sticky note H 1  is flipped by the sticky note transfer device  21 . 
   The sticky note holder  20  is detachably mounted inside of the apparatus case  15  such that the lid  38  is latched in a snap-in style relative to the apparatus case  15 . In other words, in order to set the sticky note bundle H in position into the sticky note holder  20 , the sticky note holder  20  is taken out of the apparatus case  15 . After having set in position the sticky note bundle H into the mounting stage  35 , the sticky note holder  20  is mounted into the apparatus case  15 . 
   The sticky note transfer device  21  is arranged to flip the uppermost sticky note H 1  of the sticky note bundle H lying in the pickup position  44 , and is made up of: a feed roller  50  which comes into rotating contact with the uppermost sticky note H 1  to thereby flip it and also peels the flipped sticky note off from the sticky note bundle H; a driven roller  51  which holds the flipped sticky note H 1  between the driven roller  51  and the feed roller  50 ; a pair of rotary arms  52  which move (or swing) the feed roller  50  between a pickup position  44  in which the sticky note H 1  is flipped and a holding position (sandwiching position)  45  in which the sticky note H 1  is held (or sandwiched) between the driven roller  51  and the feed roller  50 ; a drive motor  53  which serves as the driving source (power source) for the feed roller  50  and the pair of rotary arms  52 ; and a reduction gear train (power transmission gear train)  54  which transmits the driving power of the drive motor  53  to the feed roller  50  and the pair of rotary arms  52   
   The feed roller  50  comes into rotating contact with the rear surface on the free end of the flipped sticky note H 1  and, at the holding position  45 , feeds the sticky note by rotation while peeling it off from the sticky note bundle H. The feed roller  50  is made up of: a roller main body  60  which comes into direct rotating contact with the sticky note H 1 ; and a roller drive shaft  61  which serves as a rotary shaft of the roller main body  60 . The roller drive shaft  61  is rotatably (or swingably) supported at both end portions by means of a pair of rotary (or swing) arms  52  so as to rotate by the power to be transmitted through the reduction gear train  54  (details will be described hereinafter). 
   The pair of rotary arms  52  rotatably hold the roller drive shaft  61  at their front end portions and are also constituted to be rotatable (or swingable) about their base end portions. On a side surface of one of the pair of rotary arms  52 , there is provided a release projection  65  (see  FIG. 5 ) which comes into contact with a contact piece  116  (to be described hereinafter). By means of this release projection  65 , the lock-and-unlock mechanism  27  is released from locking (details will be described hereinafter). The rotary arms  52  move between the pickup position  44  and the holding position  45  by that power of the drive motor  53  which is transmitted through the reduction gear train  54 . 
   The printing device  22  is made up of: a thermal head  70  which is disposed near the sheet ejecting slot  16  and which is formed to have a width substantially the same as that of the feed roller  50 ; and a platen roller  71  which is disposed so as to face the thermal head  70 . The platen roller  71  is provided so as to extend in the width direction of the sticky note H 1  and is arranged to be coupled to the reduction gear train  54  when the feed roller  50  moves to the holding position  45 , thereby rotating by the inputting of the power from the drive motor  53 . The platen roller  71  thus performs printing by the thermal head  70  while giving a transferring force to the fed sticky note H 1 . The printing on the sticky note H 1  can thus be performed in a stable manner. Moreover, the platen roller  71  is moved by the back-and-forth moving device  24  (to be described in detail hereinafter) between a printing position  74  (i.e., one of the “back” position and the “forth” position) in which the platen roller  71  is urged against the thermal head  70  and a contact-free position  75  (i.e., the other of the back position and the forth position) in which the platen roller  71  is out of contact with the thermal head  70 . The printing device  22  thus constituted performs printing on the sticky note H 1  while the thermal head  70  and the drive motor  53  are controlled by the control signal from the personal computer  3 . 
   The ribbon feed device  23  is made up of: a ribbon cartridge C; and a ribbon take-up shaft  78  which takes up the ink ribbon R of the mounted ribbon cartridge C. The ribbon take-up shaft  78  is arranged to be coupled to the reduction gear train  54  when the feed roller  50  moves to the holding position  45  and when the platen roller  71  moves to the printing position  74 , thereby rotating by the inputting of the power from the drive motor  53 . The ribbon cartridge C is made up of: a ribbon supply reel  80  having wound thereabout the ink ribbon R in a manner to be freely supplied; a ribbon take-up reel  81  which takes up the ink ribbon R; and a cartridge case (not shown) which houses the above reels in a rotatable manner. 
   When the open/close lid  18  is opened and the ribbon cartridge C is mounted in the apparatus case  15 , the ink ribbon R is sandwiched between the thermal head  70  and the platen roller  71 , and the ribbon take-up reel  81  is rotatably mounted on the ribbon take-up shaft  78 . When drive for printing by the printing device  22  is started, the ribbon take-up shaft  78  runs parallel with the feeding of the sticky note H 1 , thereby starting the take-up (feeding) of the ink ribbon R. 
   The back-and-forth moving device  24  is formed into a figure “L” by: a manual operation lever  85  which operates to move the platen roller  71  between the printing position  74  and the contact-free position  75 ; and a supporting member  86  which supports the platen roller  71 , communicating with the manual operation lever  85 . The base end portion of the supporting member  86  is rotatably supported by the rotary shaft  87  fixed to the apparatus case  15 . In other words, the claimed back-and-forth link is constituted by the supporting member  86  and the rotary shaft  87 . 
   In a print standby state, the supporting member  86  is lifted by a return spring  88  (see  FIG. 5 ) so that the platen roller  71  approaches the printing position  74 . On the side surface of the supporting member  86  there is provided a platen support shaft  89  for rotatably supporting the platen roller  71 , in a manner to project in the widthwise direction of the sticky note H 1 . The manual operation lever  85  is made up of: a lever main body  90  which is provided so as to extend upward from a front end portion of the supporting member  86 ; and an operation button  91  which is provided on the upper surface of the lever main body  90 . When the operation button  91  is depressed by the user, the supporting member  86  rotates downward about the rotary shaft  87  against the return spring  88 , and the platen roller  71  moves from the printing position  74  to the contact-free position  75 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a description will now be made in detail about the reduction gear train  54 . The reduction gear train  54  is to transmit the power of the drive motor  53  to: the feed roller  50  and the pair of rotary arms  52  of the sticky note transfer device  21 ; the platen roller  71  of the printing device  22 ; as well as to the ribbon take-up shaft  78  of the ribbon feed device  23 . The reduction gear train  54  has a construction of having built in planet gears as required and is made up of: a main sun gear  100  which is rotated by the power of the drive motor  53  and is formed to have the largest diameter; a first planet gear  101  which is engaged (or meshed) with the main sun gear  100 ; a first intermediate gear  102  with which the first planet gear  101  comes into or out of engagement; a second planet gear  103  which is engaged with the first intermediate gear  102  serving as a sun gear; a second intermediate gear  104  with which the second planet gear  103  comes into or out of engagement; a third intermediate gear  105  with which the second planet gear  103  comes into or out of engagement; and a fourth intermediate gear  106  which is engaged with the third intermediate gear  105 . 
   The main sun gear  100  is disposed such that the shaft thereof is coaxial with the shaft on the base end of the pair of rotary arms  52 . The first planet gear  101  outputs the power to the feed roller  50  which is disposed coaxially therewith. One of the pair of rotary arms  52  serves as a planet carrier of the first planet gear  101  which is coaxial with the main sun gear  100 . In other words, the position in which the first planet gear  101  engages with the first intermediate gear  102  is the holding position  45  in which the feed roller  50  comes into contact with the driven roller  51 . The position in which the first planet gear  101  is away from (out of engagement with) the first intermediate gear  102  so that the rotary arms  52  are horizontally arranged, is defined as the pickup position  44 . Therefore, it is so arranged that, as a result of rotary movement of the pair of rotary arms  52  between the pickup position  44  and the holding position  45 , the feed roller  50  is designed to move while rotating. The rotary movement of the pair of rotary arms  52  is performed by an end cam (not shown) which moves by the above-described drive motor  53  as the power source. 
   The first intermediate gear  102  is disposed such that the shaft thereof is coaxial with the rotary axis  87  which rotatably supports the supporting member  86 . The second planet gear  103  outputs the power to the coaxially disposed platen roller  71 . Part of the supporting member  86  serves as the planet carrier of the secondary planet gear  103  which is coaxial with the first intermediate gear  102 . In other words, the position in which the second planet gear  103  engages with the second intermediate gear  104  is the printing position  74  in which the platen roller  71  comes into contact with the thermal head  70 . The position in which the second planet gear  103  is away from the second intermediate gear  104  is the contact-free position  75 . Therefore, the platen roller  71  rotates in a state in which it faces the printing position  74  and the contact-free position  75 . 
   The power transmitted to the second intermediate gear  104  is transmitted to the fourth intermediate gear  106  through the third intermediate gear  105 . The fourth intermediate gear  106  outputs the power to the coaxially disposed ribbon take-up shaft  78 . The ribbon take-up shaft  78  indirectly receives the power input from the second intermediate gear  104 . Since the fourth intermediate gear  106  is for adjusting the direction of rotation, the ribbon take-up shaft  78  may be so constructed, instead of the above-described example, that the power is directly inputted from the second intermediate gear  104 , i.e., coaxially mounted on the second intermediate gear  104 . 
   When the drive motor  53  rotates in a state in which the platen roller  71  faces the printing position  74 , the feed roller  50  facing the pick-up position  44  is caused to lie in the holding position  45  while rotating. Once the feed roller  50  approaches the holding position  45 , the first planet gear  101  is coupled to the first intermediate gear  102 , thereby transmitting the power of the drive motor  53  to the platen roller  71  and, also, the power is transmitted to the ribbon take-up shaft  78  through the second and third intermediate gears  104  and  105 . On the other hand, in a state in which the platen roller approaches the contact-free position  75 , the second planet gear  103  is out of engagement with the second intermediate gear  104 , whereby the power to the ribbon take-up shaft  78  is shut off. Therefore, when the platen roller  71  is away from the printing position  74 , the taking up of the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed device  23  is stopped. In other words, the claimed ribbon-feed suspension device  25  corresponds to the second planet gear  103 . According to this arrangement, there can be obtained the following advantages. Namely, the drive motor  53  can be commonly used and, since the commonly served parts increase in number, the construction (or structure) can be simplified. As a consequence, the construction of the back-and-forth moving device  24  and the ribbon-feed suspension device  25  can also be simplified in construction. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lock-and-unlock mechanism  27  is made up of: a first engaging claw  110  which is formed to project downward from the bottom surface of the supporting member  86 ; a second engaging claw  111  which is formed into a figure “L” by an engaging portion  115  to be engaged with the first engaging claw  110  and a contact piece  116  to be engaged with one of the pair of rotary arms  52 ; a pull spring  112  which pulls the second engaging claw  111  toward the supporting member  86 ; and a release projection  65  which is disposed on the side surface of one of the pair of rotary arms  52 . 
   The first engaging claw  110  moves up and down to follow the rotary movement of the supporting member  86 . When the platen roller  71  is in the printing position, the first engaging claw  110  is located at an upper position, thereby being in a state of out of engagement with the second engaging claw  111 . When the platen roller  71  is in the contact-free position  75 , the first engaging claw  110  is located at a lower position, thereby being in engagement with the second engaging claw  111 , i.e., attaining a locked state. 
   The second engaging claw  111  is rotatably supported at the bent portion and moves between the locked position  120  in which the second engaging claw  111  is engaged with the first engaging claw  110 , and the unlocked position in which the engagement with the first engaging claw  110  is released. The engaging portion  115  is arranged to be engaged with the first engaging claw  110 , whereby the engaging portion  115  is pulled so that the engaging portion  115  approaches the locked position  120 . The contact piece  116  is made up of: a stationary piece  125  which is in communication with the engaging portion  115 ; and a movable piece  126  which is disposed at a front end of the stationary piece  125 . The movable piece  126  is provided so as to come into contact with the release projection  65  by the motion of the rotary arms  52 . When the release projection  65  is moved from the holding position  45  to the pickup position  44 , the movable piece  126  moves integrally with the stationary piece  125  so as to move the engaging portion  115  to a lock release position  121 . On the other hand, when the release projection  65  is moved from the pickup position  44  to the holding position  45 , only the movable piece  126  is moved to allow for the movement of the release projection  65  so as to maintain the state of causing the engaging portion  115  to approach the locked position  120 . 
   When the manual operation lever  85  is pulled down or depressed by the user, the first engaging claw  110  moves downward and also once pushes down the second engaging claw  111  approaching the locked position  120 , thereby engaging therewith into the locked state. When the rotary arms  52  thereafter moves from the pickup position  44  to the holding position  45 , the contact piece  116  allows the release projection  65  to move, thereby maintaining the locked state of the second engaging claw  111 . When the rotary arms  52  return from the holding position  45  to the pickup position  44 , the release projection  65  comes into contact with the contact piece  116 , thereby pulling down the second engaging claw  111  to the lock release position  121 . Then, the first engaging claw  110  is pulled up by means of the return spring  88  through the supporting member  86 , and the platen roller  71  moves to the printing position  74 . 
   According to this arrangement, by operating the manual operation lever  85 , the platen roller  71  is locked at the contact-free position by means of the lock-and-unlock mechanism  27 . Therefore, there is no need for the user to keep on operating the manual operation lever  85  during the transfer of the sticky note H 1 . On the other hand, when the sticky note transfer device  21  has finished transferring, the locking is released as a result of this finishing. Consequently, the platen roller  71  moves to the printing position  74  and, therefore, it is not necessary for the user to return the platen roller  71  by operating the manual operation lever  85 . The manual operation lever  85  thus has an ease with which it is operated. 
   The detection sensor  26  is provided under the supporting member  86  and is constituted by a micro switch. In this arrangement, when the supporting member  86  is moved downward through the manual operation lever  85  so that the platen roller  71  approaches the contact-free position  75 , the lower surface of the supporting member  86  comes into contact with the front end of the detection sensor  26 . The platen roller  71  is thus detected to have been moved to the contact-free position  75 . In addition, when the detection sensor  26  has detected the movement of the platen roller  71  to the contact-free position  75 , the personal computer  3  drives only the sticky note transfer device  21  without driving the printing device  22 . As a result, the sticky note H 1  that has been peeled off by the sticky note transfer device  22  is transferred without performing printing thereon. It follows that the empty feeding of the sticky note H 1  will not be performed in a state in which the thermal head  70  and the platen roller  71  are in contact with each other due to a mechanical trouble. The detection sensor  26  is not limited to the micro switch, but may be of an optical sensor such as a photo-interrupter and the like. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 6A to 6G , a description will now be made about a series of empty-feeding operations of the sticky note H 1 . In the print standby state, the feed roller  50  is in the pickup position  44  and is in rotating contact with the surface of the uppermost sticky note H 1  among the sticky note bundle H set in position in the sticky note holder  20  (see  FIG. 6A ). 
   When the user pushes down the manual operation lever  85 , and the personal computer  3  recognizes the fact that the detection sensor  26  has detected the movement of the platen roller  71  to the contact-free position  75 , the personal computer  3  causes the feed roller  50  to rotate, thereby starting to flip the sticky note H 1 . In other words, as a result of rotating contact of the feed roller  50  with the free end on the top surface of the uppermost sticky note H 1 , the intermediate portion of the flipped sticky note as seen in the longitudinal direction thereof is gradually deformed or bent upward. In addition, in a manner interlocked with pushing down of the manual operation lever  85 , the power to the ribbon take-up shaft  78  is shut off and, also, the manual operation lever  85  is locked by the lock-and-unlock mechanism  27  (see  FIG. 6B ). 
   When, right after the front end of the sticky note H 1  under flipping movement has passed under the feed roller  50 , the feed roller  50  moves upward, while rotating, away from the sticky note bundle H, the sticky note H 1  is flipped up toward the upper side of the feed roller  50  by the rotary force of the feed roller  50 . The free end portion of the sticky note H 1  lies on top of the feed roller  50  (see  FIG. 6C ). 
   The feed roller  50  having the sticky note H 1  thereon then moves (i.e., revolves about the center of rotation of the rotary arms  52 ), while rotating (on its own axis), to the holding position  45  (see  FIG. 6D ). When the feed roller  50  reaches the holding position  45  to thereby hold the sticky note H 1  between the feed roller  50  and the driven roller  51 , the feed roller  50  peels the flipped sticky note H 1  off from the sticky note bundle H. The peeled-off sticky note H 1  is transferred by the feed roller  50  and the platen roller  71  toward the sheet ejecting slot  16  (see  FIG. 6E ). 
   When the glued portion of the sticky note H 1  has reached the platen roller  71  (see  FIG. 6F ), the feed roller  50  moves from the holding position  45  to the pickup position  44 . Then, the rotary arms  52  release the locking of the lock-and-unlock mechanism  27 . As a result, the platen roller  71  approaches the printing position  74  to thereby hold the glued portion of the sticky note H 1  (see  FIG. 6G ). Thereafter, the user may remove the sticky note H 1  that has been ejected to the sheet ejecting slot  16 . In this manner, the user can obtain the sticky note H 1  that was empty-fed (i.e., fed without performing printing thereon). 
   According to the above arrangement, the feeding of the ink ribbon R can be stopped by moving the platen roller  71  to the contact-free position  75 . Therefore, when the sticky note H 1  is transferred by the sticky note transfer device  21 , the ink ribbon R will not be fed and, thus, it is possible to feed a brand-new sticky note H 1 . In addition, since the thermal head  70  and the platen roller  71  are kept apart from each other, the sticky note H 1  and the ink ribbon R will not be held together (or sandwiched). As a result, there is no possibility of causing the ink ribbon R to be fed together with the sticky note H 1 . It is thus possible to empty-feed the sticky note H 1  without feeding the ink ribbon R. Although a sticky note bundle H is used in this embodiment, there may alternatively be used a memo pad or the like whose one fixed end portion is glued together. In addition, although the platen roller  71  is arranged to be moved, there may alternatively be used an arrangement in which the thermal head  70  is moved. In case the ribbon feed device  23  is driven by another driving source, there may be employed an arrangement in which the power of the ink-ribbon feeding is stopped based on detection with the detection sensor  26 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 7 , a description will now be made about a sticky note printing system  200  according to a second embodiment of the invention. In order to avoid duplicated description, only the portions which are different from those in the above-described first embodiment are described. The sticky note printing system  200  is made up, instead of the manual operation lever  85  of the sticky note printer  2  in the first embodiment, of: a plate cam  201  which presses downward an upper end surface of the supporting member  86 ; and a motor  202  which rotates the plate cam. A motor  202  is controlled by the personal computer  3 . 
   When the motor  202  is driven by the personal computer  3  in order to empty-feed the sticky note H 1 , the plate cam  201  rotates, and the projected portion thereof pushes downward an upper end surface of the supporting member  86  to thereby cause the platen roller  71  to approach the contact-free position  75 . The power to the ribbon feed device  23  is thereby shut off and the driving of the motor  202  is stopped in this state. Then, when the empty feeding of the sticky note H 1  is finished, the motor  202  is driven again to thereby move upward the projected portion of the plate cam  201 . The platen roller  71  is thus returned to the printing position  74  by means of the return spring  88 . In this arrangement, too, the sticky note H 1  can be empty-fed without feeding the ink ribbon R. 
   With reference to  FIG. 8 , a description will now be made about a sticky note printing system  300  according to a third embodiment of the invention. In order to avoid duplicated description, only the portions which are different from each other are described. The sticky note printing system  300  is made up, instead of the manual operation lever  85  of the sticky note printer  2  in the first embodiment, of: a solenoid  301  which pushes downward an upper end surface of the supporting member  86 . The solenoid  301  is controlled by the personal computer  3 . 
   When the solenoid  301  is excited by the personal computer  3  in order to empty-feed the sticky note H 1 , a plunger pushes downward the upper end surface of the supporting member  86 . The platen roller  71  is thus caused to approach the contact-free position  75 , and the power to the ribbon feed device  23  is shut off. When the empty-feeding of the sticky note H 1  has been finished, the solenoid  301  is degaussed and the platen roller  71  is returned to the printing position  74  by the return spring  88 . In this arrangement, too, the sticky note H 1  can be empty-fed without feeding the ink ribbon R.