Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20100272491?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-02-02 02:05:08
Document Index: 122032267

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 3', 'art 35', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 35']

Patent US20100272491 - Printing Apparatus And Printing Method - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA printer has transportation paths for conveying media in two directions, including a first transportation path P1 and a second transportation path P2 (or third transportation path P3) perpendicular to the first transportation path P1. The printer is constructed and configured to provide a single compact...http://www.google.com/patents/US20100272491?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20100272491 - Printing Apparatus And Printing MethodAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20100272491 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 12/832,502Publication dateOct 28, 2010Filing dateJul 8, 2010Priority dateJan 24, 2003Also published asUS7056047, US7435023, US7770793, US8061914, US20040190970, US20060198683, US20080317359Publication number12832502, 832502, US 2010/0272491 A1, US 2010/272491 A1, US 20100272491 A1, US 20100272491A1, US 2010272491 A1, US 2010272491A1, US-A1-20100272491, US-A1-2010272491, US2010/0272491A1, US2010/272491A1, US20100272491 A1, US20100272491A1, US2010272491 A1, US2010272491A1InventorsToshiyuki Sasaki, Masashi Fujikawa, Kunio OmuraOriginal AssigneeSeiko Epson CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (1), Classifications (36) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPrinting Apparatus And Printing MethodUS 20100272491 A1Abstract A printer has transportation paths for conveying media in two directions, including a first transportation path P1 and a second transportation path P2 (or third transportation path P3) perpendicular to the first transportation path P1. The printer is constructed and configured to provide a single compact unit that can be used for media processing by reading and printing the media, as well as for printing receipts and validation printing.
a paper feed unit constructed to house sheet paper; a first conveyance path; a first conveyance mechanism configured to convey sheet paper from the paper feed unit using the first conveyance path; a roll paper compartment constructed to hold roll paper; a second conveyance path; a second conveyance mechanism configured to convey roll paper from the roll paper compartment using the second conveyance path; a printer head configured to print on sheet paper and roll paper; and a carriage configured to move the printer head in the direction in which sheet paper is conveyed and along a direction vertical to the direction in which roll paper is conveyed. 2. A printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the second conveyance path and the first conveyance path are substantially orthogonal to one another, such that sheet paper can pass between roll paper and the printer head.
3. A printer as recited in claim 1, wherein the printer has a plurality of operating modes including:
a first mode for printing on sheet paper while sheet paper is conveyed by the first conveyance mechanism on the first conveyance path; and a second mode for printing on sheet paper while sheet paper is not being conveyed and the printer head is moved by the carriage. 4. A printer as recited in claim 3, wherein the printer's plurality of operating modes includes a third mode for printing while moving the carriage when printing is performed on roll paper with the printer head.
5. A printer as recited in claim 4, wherein the third mode further includes using a part of the second conveyance path and printing with the printer head, as the carriage is being moved, on second sheet paper inserted into an upper opening on the first conveyance path.
6. A printer as recited in claim 5, further comprising:
a third conveyance path configured to convey second sheet paper, the third conveyance path including at least a part of the second conveyance path; and a third conveyance mechanism configured to convey second sheet paper using the third conveyance path. Description
First Transportation Path Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the first transportation path P1 has a transportation path section 2 c between an outside guide 2 a and an inside guide 2 b, which is generally U-shaped and has straight section parts 35 a, 35 b connected to opposite ends of the bottom portion 34 of the U-shaped section 2 c. This first transportation path P1 conveys a slip S in the direction of arrow A first along straight part 35 a, then changes the direction of the slip S 180 degrees from the direction of insertion by way of the U-shaped bottom portion 34 of the path P1, and then discharges the slip S in the direction of arrow B by way of straight part 35 b. A paper supply part 3 is aligned with the straight part 35 a. This paper supply part 3 is where slips S are loaded before being conveyed through the first transportation path P1. The paper supply part 3 could also be configured to include an auto-feeder for automatically supplying a plurality of slips S one by one into the first transportation path P1. If the slips S are checks, they are in principle loaded with the back facing the inside guide 2 b in this printer 1.
After the back is printed by the print head 14, the slip S is discharged in the direction of arrow B by discharge rollers 8, and is ejected from the printer 1 by rotation of the drive roller 8 a with the slip S held between the drive roller 8 a and pressure roller 8 b. Second Transportation Path The second transportation path P2 is hereinafter described in detail with reference to FIG. 2( a), FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
Third Transportation Path The third transportation path P3 is hereafter described next with reference to FIG. 2( b) and FIG. 6.
Slip Form Printing Modes A print head 14 according to this embodiment of the invention is mounted on a carriage 15 and is movable horizontally through the printing range 18 along the straight part 35 b of the first transportation path P1. There are, therefore, two basic ways of printing to a slip S travelling on the first transportation path P1: a stationary slip printing mode in which the slip S is held stationary and the print head 14 is moved horizontally while printing, and a stationary print head printing mode in which the print head 14 is held stationary and prints to a slip S travelling horizontally.
Selecting the Transportation Direction for Slip Discharge A printing apparatus according to the present invention can also be configured to change the transportation direction of the slip S travelling along the first transportation path P1 according to the data read by the scanners 11, 12, MICR 13, or other data reader.
Printer Overview FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a printing apparatus 101 according to this embodiment of the invention. This printing apparatus 101 is a document processing system having an S-shaped transportation path, and is described using a check 103 as the document (slip form) conveyed through this transportation path. The printing apparatus 101 has a loading unit 104 for storing a preloaded stock of checks 103 to be processed and supplied to the transportation path 102, which is S-shaped and a storage unit 105 for storing the processed checks 103 conveyed over the transportation path 102.
Validation Mechanism The validation mechanism is described in detail next with reference to FIG. 12. This validation mechanism uses the space between the outside guide 102 a and inside guide 102 b as the validation transportation path 102 h for validation printing to the check 103 or other slip. This validation transportation path 102 h uses part of the first straight transportation path 102 e, but the transportation direction is perpendicular to that of the first straight transportation path 102 e. The validation mechanism 120 thus comprises this validation transportation path 102 h, fixed validation rollers 121 a, and pressure validation rollers 121 b. The fixed validation rollers 121 a are driven by a vertical paper feed motor not shown. The pressure validation rollers 121 b are disposed to an arm 121 c that pivots on rotational axis 121 d, and can therefore be set to a transportation position where the pressure validation rollers 121 b contact the fixed validation rollers 121 a for paper feeding, and a retracted position where the pressure validation rollers 121 b are separated from the fixed validation rollers 121 a. The process for validation printing to a check 103 is described next. The check 103 is inserted from above to the validation transportation path 102 h between the outside guide 102 a and inside guide 102 b. The pressure validation rollers 121 b have a mechanism for moving to the transportation position or retracted position as a result of the arm 121 c being driven by an actuator not shown. When a check 103 is inserted, the pressure validation rollers 121 b are in the retracted position. The check 103 can therefore be inserted to the bottom of the validation transportation path 102 h without interference with the fixed validation rollers 121 a or pressure validation rollers 121 b. As described in the preceding embodiment, a validation detector 122 is disposed to the bottom of the validation transportation path 102 h. When this validation detector 122 detects that a check 103 has been inserted to the bottom of the validation transportation path 102 h, the pressure validation rollers 121 b move from the retracted position to the transportation position. The fixed validation rollers 121 a and pressure validation rollers 121 b then start turning and transport the check 103 upward.
Paper Feed Mechanism The paper feed mechanism for supplying checks 103 stocked in the loading unit 104 to the transportation path 102 is described in detail next with reference to FIG. 13.
Switching Mechanism The switching mechanism for changing the position of the switching lever 150 to the second curved transportation path side (the curved path position) or to the second straight transportation path side (the straight path position) is shown in FIG. 14( a-c).
When the solenoid 153 is not excited, the arm 108 c is pulled by the tension spring 154, and the movable roller 108 b is set to the paper feed position contacting the drive roller 108 a as shown in FIG. 14( a). The switching lever 150 is linked to the arm 108 c by arm 152 and arm 151, and is thus set to the curved path position. If the drive roller 108 a is then driven to feed a check 103, the check 103 is guided by the switching lever 150 and transported to the second curved transportation path 102 f. When the solenoid 153 is excited, the solenoid arm retracts, turning the arm 108 c in the direction of arrow F. The switching lever 150 linked to the arm 108 c therefore turns in the direction of arrow G to the position shown in FIG. 14( b). As shown in FIG. 14( b), the force of the solenoid 153 moves the movable roller 108 b to the retracted position separated from the drive roller 108 a, and the switching lever 150 linked to the arm 108 c moves to the straight path position conveying the check 103 into the second straight transportation path 102 g, which is parallel to the first straight transportation path. As a result, a check loaded from above for validation printing can be transported vertically without interference from the discharge rollers 108 and second curved transportation path 102 f. Other Versions The arm 151 and switching lever 150 are united in the switching mechanism described above. As shown in FIG. 15( a,b), however, the switching lever 150 could be mounted to the arm 151 by an intervening rotary shaft 150 a, and urged in the direction of arrow J by a torsion spring 156. The strength of this torsion spring 156 is weaker than the rigidity of the check 103.
Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS20110217105 *Mar 4, 2011Sep 8, 2011Seiko Epson CorporationGap control method for a media processing device, and a media processing device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification400/611International ClassificationB41J11/52, H04N1/00, B41J13/02, B41J13/03, B41J3/46, H04N1/12, B41J11/00, B41J15/00Cooperative ClassificationH04N1/00602, H04N2201/0082, B41J11/006, H04N1/00591, B41J13/03, B41J3/44, H04N2201/0081, H04N1/0057, H04N1/12, H04N1/00588, H04N1/00649, B41J11/52, H04N1/00623, B41J13/025, B41J3/46European ClassificationH04N1/00F4B, H04N1/00F2F2, H04N1/00F11, H04N1/00F2D, H04N1/00F2C, B41J3/46, B41J11/00J, B41J13/03, B41J11/52, B41J3/44, B41J13/02H, H04N1/00F2RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services