Patent Abstract:
When a margin paper constituting a margin between pictured formed sheets, on which pictures have been formed, is cut by a cutter, it is received in a casing. The number of times, in which cutting means cuts a number of sheets to avoid overflowing of the margin paper received in the casing, is beforehand set as a set value, and the number of times, in which the cutter cuts a roll paper, is counted. When a count value reaches the set value, a control unit turns the casing so that an upper opening of the casing is directed downward, and causes the margin paper in the casing to be ejected. When a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the casing is again turned to be returned to an original state. The number of times as counted is reset and counting is again performed.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a photoprinter provided with margin paper receiving device that receives a margin cut off from a continuous paper. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Photoprinters use a roll paper to be able to continuously print photographs having different sizes such as normal size, panorama size, etc. without replacing sheets. In photoprinters, when a picture is formed on a roll paper, that portion (a trailing end of a portion, on which the picture is formed), on which the picture is not formed, is in some cases exposed to light. Therefore, with conventional photoprinters, such portion (margin paper) exposed to light is cut/ejected and a portion (picture formed paper), on which a picture is formed, is cut/ejected. 
   Conventional photoprinters include a container that recovers therein a margin paper. There has been proposed a photoprinter provided with a weight detector that detects a weight of a container that recovers a margin paper (see, for example, JP-A-2002-86827 (pages 3 to 4, FIGS. 1 and 2), JP-A-2002-86827 describes an apparatus capable of stacking pieces of paper (margin paper) orderly to recover the same in a paper piece recovering device and using a weight detector to detect a weight of the paper piece recovering device to issue an alarm before pieces of paper overflow the paper piece recovering device. 
   With the apparatus described in JP-A-2002-86827, when the weight detector detects a weight of the paper piece recovering device, an alarm is issued as by lighting a LED, but a user overlooks lighting of the LED in some cases. Therefore, the apparatus involves a problem that pieces of paper (margin paper) overflow the paper piece recovering device to cause lodgment of paper and failure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a photoprinter free from generation of lodgment of paper and failure caused by overflowing of recovered margin paper even when a plurality of sheets of picture formed paper are formed. 
   The invention includes the following constitution as measure for solving the above problem. 
   (1) The constitution has a feature in a photoprinter including 
   a picture forming device to form a picture on a roll paper, 
   a cutting device to cut off a picture formed paper, on which a picture has been formed, and a margin paper, which constitutes a margin between the picture formed papers, from a continuous paper, 
   a margin paper receiving device to receive therein a margin paper, the photoprinter being characterized by the counting device to count the number of times, in which the cutting device performs cutting, and 
   an ejection device to eject the margin paper from the margin paper receiving device when the number of times counted by the counting device reaches a set value. 
   With such constitution, the number of times, in which the cutting device cuts a number of sheets to avoid overflowing of the margin paper received in the margin paper receiving device, is beforehand set as a set value, whereby the margin paper received in the margin paper receiving device can be ejected periodically without causing the margin paper to overflow the margin paper receiving device to cause lodgment of paper and failure. Accordingly, a user of the photoprinter can use the photoprinter without caring about that timing, at which the margin paper should be discarded. 
   (2) The constitution has a feature in that the margin paper receiving device is in the form of a box having an opening at an upper portion thereof and pivotally born by a rotating shaft arranged substantially horizontal, and the ejection device includes turning device to turn the margin paper receiving device. 
   With such constitution, when the margin paper is cut by the cutting device, it is received from the opening at the upper portion of the box-shaped margin paper receiving device to accumulate successively. Also, by setting the turning device to turn the margin paper receiving device to a position, in which the opening of the margin paper receiving device is directed obliquely downward, or downward, the margin paper received in the margin paper receiving device can be ejected when the number of times counted by the counting device reaches a set value. Accordingly, a user can easily discard the margin paper. Also, with the photoprinter, the margin paper receiving device is not removed but turned to eject the margin paper, so that there is no fear that a user erroneously inserts a hand into the vicinity of the cutting device, whereby it is possible to prevent a user from getting hurt by the cutter device. 
   (3) The constitution has a feature in that the margin paper receiving device is in the form of a box having an opening at an upper portion thereof and includes an openable lid at a bottom surface or a side thereof, and the ejection device includes opening and closing device to open and close the lid. 
   With such constitution, when the number of times counted by the counting device reaches a set value, the turning device is actuated to turn the margin paper receiving device whereby the margin paper received in the margin paper receiving device can be easily ejected. Also, with the photoprinter, the margin paper receiving device is not removed but the lid is opened to eject the margin paper, so that there is no fear that a user erroneously inserts a hand into the vicinity of the cutting device, whereby it is possible to prevent a user from getting hurt by the cutter device. 
   (4) The constitution has a feature in that the ejection device includes a fan to blow the wind inside the margin paper receiving device. 
   With such constitution, the fan is set to blow the wind inside the margin paper receiving device when the margin paper should be ejected from the margin paper receiving device, so that the wind from the fan can be made use of in order to eject the margin paper and the margin paper can be ejected from the margin paper receiving device in a short period of time. Accordingly, a user can form a picture in the photoprinter without caring about that timing, at which the margin paper accumulated in the photoprinter should be discarded. 
   (5) The constitution has a feature in that the margin paper receiving device is provided on at least one of the bottom surface and the side thereof with a plurality of gaps sized not to allow the margin paper to pass therethrough. 
   With such constitution, the plurality of gaps are provided at least on the bottom surface of the margin paper receiving device, so that the fan can blow the wind inside the margin paper receiving device from the bottom surface thereof. Accordingly, freedom in a position, in which the fan is arranged, is increased, so that it is possible to install the fan in a position, in which assembly is easy, and to reduce manhour in assembling. Also, by arranging the fan in a position suited for ventilation in the photoprinter, the fan can serve for ejection of the margin paper and for ventilation in the photoprinter, which makes it possible to prevent an increase in cost. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view schematically showing a constitution of a photoprinter according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view schematically showing a constitution of a turning mechanism for a margin paper receiving section; 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a margin-paper ejecting operation of the photoprinter; 
       FIG. 4  is a view schematically showing a constitution of a partial modification of the margin paper receiving section shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a view schematically showing a constitution of a turning mechanism of a margin paper receiving section that is configured differently from those in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a view schematically showing a constitution of a turning mechanism of a margin paper receiving section that is configured differently from those in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view schematically showing a constitution of a photoprinter according to an embodiment of the invention. In the following descriptions, a printer of the TA system (also called a thermo-autochrome system or a light fixing type direct thermal recording system) will be explained by way of example. Here, the TA system is one that forms a full color picture by repeating heating by a thermal head and fixing by irradiation of ultraviolet rays on a special purpose paper, which is called TA paper, and on which three thermal color development layers for color development of three primary colors of Y (yellow)•M (magenta)•C (cyanogen) are laminated. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a photoprinter  1  includes a paper feeding section  2 , a picture forming section  3 , a fixing unit  4 , a cutting section  5 , a margin paper receiving section  6 , and a control unit  7 . The paper feeding section  2  includes a roll-paper holding member  12  that supports a roll paper  11  formed by winding a continuous TA paper on a columnar core, a paper guide  13  that guides the roll paper  11 , and synchronous gears  16   a  to  16   d  for synchronism of rotations of a pair of conveyance rollers  14  ( 14   a ,  14   b )•a conveyance roller  15 , the pair of conveyance rollers  14 , the conveyance roller  15 , and the roll-paper holding member  12  to control feed of the roll paper  11 . In addition, the roll-paper holding member  12  is driven by a motor (not shown). 
   The picture forming section  3  includes a thermal head  21  that heats the roll paper to form a picture, and a temperature controller  22  (not shown) that adjusts temperature of the thermal head  21 . 
   The fixing unit  4  includes fluorescent tubes  31   a ,  31   b  for fixation of magenta, a reflector  32  that covers surroundings of the fluorescent tubes  31   a ,  31   b , fluorescent tubes  33   a ,  33   b  for fixation of yellow, a reflector  34  that covers surroundings of the fluorescent tubes  33   a ,  33   b , a shutter  35  that moves above the fluorescent tubes  31   a ,  31   b  and the fluorescent tubes  33   a ,  33   b  to intercept light so that a portion of the roll paper  11  formed with no picture is not exposed to light, a guide member  36  that assists the shutter  35 , gears  37   a  to  37   c  that move the shutter  35 , a clutch  38  that interlocks movements of the shutter  35  with feeding of the roll paper  11 , a pair of ejection rollers  39  that eject the roll paper  11 , and a fluorescent-tube lighting circuit  40  (not shown) that lights the fluorescent tubes  31   a ,  31   b  and the fluorescent tubes  33   a ,  33   b . In addition, the fluorescent tubes  31   a ,  31   b  and the fluorescent tubes  33   a ,  33   b  irradiate ultraviolet rays having different wavelengths. 
   The cutting section  5  includes a cutter  41  that cuts the roll paper  11 , and a cutter moving mechanism  42  that moves the cutter  41  in a direction perpendicular to a direction, in which the roll paper  11  is fed. 
   The margin paper receiving section  6  is in the form of a box having an opening in an upper portion thereof, and includes a casing  51  that receives a margin paper inside through the opening, and a turning mechanism  52  that turns the casing  51  in order to direct the upward directed opening of the casing  51  downward or obliquely downward to eject the margin paper received in the casing  51 . The control unit  7  controls operations of respective parts of the photoprinter  1 , details of which are omitted. 
   Before a picture is formed in the photoprinter  1 , the control unit  7  causes a motor (not shown) to rotate the roll-paper holding member  12  to feed a predetermined length of the roll paper  11 , and thereafter stops rotation of the roll-paper holding member  12 . Then, the control unit  7  causes the cutter moving mechanism  42  to move the cutter  41  to cut a margin paper being a non-picture formed portion that has been exposed to light at the time of picture formation at the last time. The cut margin paper drops to be received in the casing  51 . In addition, it suffices that the margin paper be preset to an appropriate length corresponding to sizes of the photoprinter and the roll paper  11  on the basis of experiments or the like. 
   Subsequently, the control unit  7  causes a motor (not shown) to rotate the roll-paper holding member  12  to move a leading end of the roll paper  11 . Then, the control unit  7  controls the temperature controller  22  (not shown), the fluorescent-tube lighting circuit  40  (not shown), and the motor (not shown) that controls conveyance of the roll paper  11 , to perform the following processings. That is, (1) the thermal head  21  is used to heat the roll paper  11  at a low temperature to form a yellow picture. (2) The fluorescent tubes  33   a ,  33   b  irradiate ultraviolet rays to fix the yellow picture. (3) The thermal head  21  is used to heat the roll paper  11  at a medium temperature to form a magenta picture. (4) The fluorescent tubes  31   a ,  31   b  irradiate ultraviolet rays to fix the magenta picture. (5) The thermal head  21  is used to heat the roll paper  11  at a high temperature to form a cyanogen picture. In addition, no ultraviolet rays are irradiated since there is no need of fixing the cyanogen picture. 
   When formation of a picture on the roll paper  11  is completed, the control unit  7  feeds the roll paper  11  and stops feeding of the roll paper  11  in a position, in which a trailing end of the picture formed on the roll paper  11  is opposed to the cutter  41 . Then, the control unit  7  causes the cutter moving mechanism  42  to move the cutter  41  to cut a picture formed paper being a picture formed portion. The picture formed paper as cut is ejected from an eject port  10  by the pair of ejection rollers  39 . In this manner, whenever a sheet of the picture formed paper is formed, a single sheet of margin paper is received in the casing  51 . 
     FIG. 2  is a view showing an outline of the turning mechanism in the margin paper receiving section. As shown in  FIG. 2(A) , the turning mechanism  52  includes a shaft  61  and a motor  62 . The shaft  61  is mounted substantially horizontally at the bottom of the casing  51 . That is, the shaft  61  is mounted perpendicularly to a direction, in which the roll paper  11  is conveyed, and when the shaft  61  is turned, the casing  51  is turned. Also, the shaft  61  is connected to the motor  62  directly or via gears. 
   As described above, when the margin paper overflows the casing  51 , paper lodgment is generated to be responsible for failure. Hereupon, with the photoprinter  1  according to the invention, when a predetermined number of sheets of margin paper are received in the casing  51 , the margin paper is automatically ejected outside the photoprinter  1 . Concretely, the photoprinter  1  operates in the following manner.  FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a margin-paper ejecting operation of the photoprinter. 
   With the photoprinter  1 , the number of times, in which the cutter moving mechanism  42  for operating the cutter  41  acts, is in proportion to the number of sheets of margin paper received in the casing  51 , and thus the control unit  7  counts the number of times, in which the cutter moving mechanism  42  acts. Also, a predetermined set value is preset in the control unit  7  so that the margin paper received in the casing  51  does not overflow. Set as the set value is the number of times, in which the cutter moving mechanism  42  is caused to act until the number of sheets of margin paper received in the casing  51  overflows since the casing  51  is vacant. For example, in the case where an upper limit of the number of sheets of margin paper received in the casing  51  is 100, the control unit  7  must actuate the cutter moving mechanism  42  two hundred times (precisely, 199 times) in order to cut one hundred sheets of margin paper. Accordingly, in this case, k=200 is appropriate as a set value set in the control unit  7 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the cutter  41  in the cutting section  5  first cuts the margin paper, or when a count value is reset, the count value is set in the control unit  7  to be 0 (s 1 ). When actuating the cutter moving mechanism  42  in order to cut the roll paper  11  with the use of the cutter  41  (s 2 ), the control unit  7  counts a count value k of the number of times, in which the cutter moving mechanism  42  acts, and adds 1 to the count value (s 3 ). The control unit  7  judges whether the count value k corresponds to a set value n (s 4 ), and repeatedly implements the processings of the steps s 2  to s 4  until the count value k reaches the set value n. 
   When the number of times, in which the cutter moving mechanism  42  acts, reaches the set value n (n 4 ), the control unit  7  outputs a signal (ejection command signal) to the motor  62  to turn the casing  51  (s 5 ). When the motor  62  is actuated by an ejection command signal from the control unit  7 , power of the motor  62  is transmitted to the casing  51  via the shaft  61 , so that the casing  51  is turned from an initial state, in which the opening of the casing  51  is disposed upward, to direct the opening of the casing  51  obliquely downward, or downward as shown in  FIG. 2(B) . The control unit  7  stops issuance of an ejection command signal and stops the motor  62  in this state (s 6 ). Thereby, the margin paper received in the casing  51  falls due to gravity, and so is ejected from the casing  51 . 
   When a preset predetermined time has elapsed (s 7 ), the control unit  7  outputs a signal (reset command signal) to the motor  62  to turn the casing  51  (s 8 ). Receiving the signal, the motor  62  turns the casing  51  to return the same to the initial state (s 8 ). Also, the control unit  7  resets the count value k (s 9 ). Then, the control unit  7  repeatedly implements the above processings in the order from the step s 1  on. 
   In addition, it suffices that experiments or the like be conducted to beforehand confirm the housing capacity (the number of sheets being possibly received) of the margin paper received in the casing  51 , on the basis of results of which the set value is set. 
     FIG. 4  is a view showing an outline of a partial modification of the margin paper receiving section shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a fan  66  may be provided to blow the wind into the casing  51  when the upper surface of the casing  51  is directed obliquely downward, or downward, thereby forcibly ejecting the margin paper received in the casing  51 . At this time, a plurality of gaps sized to allow an air to easily pass therethrough but not to allow the margin paper to pass therethrough are provided at a bottom surface  51   c  and a part of sides of the casing  51  in, for example, a latticed manner. Further, the fan  66  is preferably arranged in a manner to blow the wind into the casing  51  from a bottom side of the casing  51  when the casing  51  is turned to have the upper surface thereof directed obliquely downward, or downward. 
   Also, by arranging the fan  66  in a position shown in  FIG. 4 , the fan can be used as a fan that serves for ventilation in the photoprinter  1 , that is, discharges heat generated from the thermal head  21 , the fluorescent tubes  31   a ,  31   b , and the fluorescent tubes  33   a ,  33   b , to the outside. Accordingly, the fan  66  can serve as two uses, so that it is possible to prevent an increase in cost. 
   Subsequently, an explanation will be given to another configuration of the margin paper receiving section  6 . The margin paper receiving section  6  in the photoprinter  1  may be configured differently provided that the margin paper received in the margin paper receiving section  6  is ejected when the number of times, in which the cutting section  5  acts, reaches the set value.  FIG. 5  is a view showing an outline of a turning mechanism of a margin paper receiving section that is configured differently from those in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . A turning mechanism  52  that serves to eject the margin paper from a casing  53  may use a solenoid  71  as shown in  FIG. 5 . With this configuration, when the control unit  7  outputs an ejection command signal, the solenoid  71  is actuated to have a moving iron core  71   a  pushing a side  53   d  of the casing  53 , an opening of which is directed upward, so that the casing  53  is turned and the opening of the casing  53  is directed obliquely downward. The casing  53  is provided at a bottom thereof with a shaft  72  that pivotally bears the casing  53 . Also, a weight  53   f  is arranged in the vicinity of a corner  53   e  on the bottom of the casing  53  so that when the solenoid  71  is not actuated, the casing  53  is stationary in a state (normal state) to receive the margin paper therein. Further, the moving iron core  71   a  of the solenoid  71  is arranged in a manner to abut against the side  53   d  of the casing  53 . 
   When the solenoid  71  is actuated by an ejection command signal from the control unit  7 , an upper portion of the side  53   d  of the casing  53  is pushed by the moving iron core  71   a , so that the casing  53  is turned and the upper surface of the casing  53  is directed obliquely downward, or downward. Thereby, the margin paper received in the casing  53  falls due to gravity, and so is ejected from the casing  51 . 
   Also, when the control unit  7  outputs a reset command signal, the moving iron core  71   a  is received in the solenoid  71  and the casing  53  is returned to a normal state, in which the opening thereof is directed upward. 
   In addition, with the configuration, in which the solenoid  71  is used to turn the casing  53 , a side  53   b  of the casing  53  is preferably inclined at a predetermined angle because a turning angle of the casing  53  is restricted. Thereby, when the casing  53  is turned, the margin paper slides down the side  53   b  and can be quickly ejected. 
   Also, with this configuration, in order to expedite ejection of the margin paper received in the casing  53 , a plurality of gaps sized to allow an air to easily pass therethrough but not to allow the margin paper to pass therethrough may be provided on the side  53   d  and a part of the bottom of the casing  53  and the fan  66  is preferably arranged in a manner to blow the wind into the casing  53  as shown in  FIG. 5(B) . Thereby, the margin paper can be ejected by gravity and wind, so that ejection can be terminated in a short period of time. 
     FIG. 6  is a view showing an outline of a turning mechanism of a margin paper receiving section that is configured differently from those in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . With the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , a casing  54  is not turned but an opening and closing mechanism  81  is provided to open and close a side or a bottom surface of the casing  54 . More specifically, mounted on a side  54   d  of the casing  54  as shown in  FIG. 6(A)  is a lid  83 , one end of which is pivotally born by a shaft  82  mounted perpendicular to a direction of conveyance of the roll paper  11 . Also, a bottom surface  54   c  in the casing  54  is inclined to become low toward the lid  83 . Further, the shaft  82  is connected to a motor  84 , and when the control unit  7  outputs an ejection command signal, the motor  84  is actuated, so that the lid  83  is opened via the shaft  82  by power of the motor  84 . Thereby, the margin paper received in the casing  54  slides down the bottom surface  54   c  of the casing to be ejected from the side of the casing  54 . 
   Also, when the control unit  7  outputs a reset command signal to the motor  84  after the lapse of a predetermined period of time since the lid  83  is opened, the lid  83  is closed. 
   On the other hand, a lid  92  pivotally born by a shaft  91  to be able to open and close may be provided close to an end of a bottom surface  55   c  of a casing  55  as shown in  FIG. 6(B) . With the configuration, the shaft  91  is connected to a motor  93 , and when the control unit  7  outputs an ejection command signal to actuate the motor  93 , power of the motor  93  is transmitted to the lid  92  via the shaft  91  and the lid  92  is opened. Since the bottom surface  55   c  is inclined in a manner to become low toward the lid  92 . the margin paper received in the casing  55  slides down the bottom surface  55   c  to be ejected from the bottom of the casing  55 . 
   Also, when the control unit  7  outputs a reset command signal to the motor  93  after the lapse of a predetermined period of time since the lid  92  is opened, the lid  92  is closed. 
   In addition, with the configuration shown in  FIG. 6(A) and 6(B) , in order to terminate ejection of the margin paper in a short period of time when the lid  83  or the lid  92  is opened, a fan  67  that blows the wind into the casing  51  may be provided above the casing  54  or the casing  55 . 
   As described above, with the photoprinter  1 , when the number of sheets of margin paper received in the margin paper receiving section  6  reaches a predetermined number, the margin paper is automatically ejected, so that it is possible to prevent the margin paper from overflowing the casing  51  to cause lodgment of paper and failure. Also, since the photoprinter  1  ejects the margin paper by turning the margin paper receiving section or opening and closing the lid instead of removing the margin paper receiving device, there is no fear that a user erroneously inserts a hand into the vicinity of the cutting section  5 , whereby it is possible to prevent a user from getting hurt by the cutter  41 . 
   In addition, a garbage box having a large capacity, or a bag having a large capacity is preferably mounted below the casing  51  of the photoprinter  1 . Thereby, it is possible to prevent the margin paper ejected from the casing  51  from scattering. 
   The invention produces the following effects. 
   Since the margin paper received in the margin paper receiving device can be ejected periodically, a user of the photoprinter can use the photoprinter without caring about that timing, at which the margin paper should be discarded. 
   Since when ejecting the margin paper, the photoprinter  1  turns the margin paper receiving section or opens the lid instead of removing the margin paper receiving device, there is no fear that a user erroneously inserts a hand into the vicinity of the cutting device, whereby it is possible to prevent a user from getting hurt by the cutting device. 
   Further, the wind from the fan can be made use of to eject the margin paper, so that it is possible to eject the margin paper from the margin paper receiving device in a short period of time. Also, the fan can serve for ejection of the margin paper and for ventilation in the photoprinter, so that it is possible to prevent an increase in cost. 
   The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6