US20050230448A1 - Continuous paper feeding device and printer incorporating the same - Google Patents

Continuous paper feeding device and printer incorporating the same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050230448A1
US20050230448A1 US09/940,190 US94019001A US2005230448A1 US 20050230448 A1 US20050230448 A1 US 20050230448A1 US 94019001 A US94019001 A US 94019001A US 2005230448 A1 US2005230448 A1 US 2005230448A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
paper sheet
braking force
continuous paper
braking
printing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US09/940,190
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kuniyuki Miura
Masahiro Toda
Takayuki Ito
Hironao Honaga
Noboru Oomoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Minolta Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Minolta Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minolta Co Ltd filed Critical Minolta Co Ltd
Assigned to MINOLTA CO., LTD. reassignment MINOLTA CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TODA, MASAHIRO, HONAGA, HIRONAO, ITO, TAKAYUKI, OOMOTO, NOBORU, MIURA, KUNIYUKI
Publication of US20050230448A1 publication Critical patent/US20050230448A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H20/00—Advancing webs
    • B65H20/20—Advancing webs by web-penetrating means, e.g. pins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
    • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
    • B65H23/24—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by fluid action, e.g. to retard the running web
    • B65H23/245—Suction retarders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2220/00—Function indicators
    • B65H2220/02—Function indicators indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2220/00—Function indicators
    • B65H2220/04—Function indicators for distinguishing adjusting from controlling, i.e. manual adjustments
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/10—Rollers
    • B65H2404/14—Roller pairs
    • B65H2404/143—Roller pairs driving roller and idler roller arrangement
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/30—Suction means
    • B65H2406/31—Suction box; Suction chambers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
    • B65H2511/12—Width
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2515/00—Physical entities not provided for in groups B65H2511/00 or B65H2513/00
    • B65H2515/30—Forces; Stresses
    • B65H2515/31—Tensile forces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/11—Dimensional aspect of article or web
    • B65H2701/112—Section geometry
    • B65H2701/1123—Folded article or web
    • B65H2701/11231—Fan-folded material or zig-zag or leporello

Definitions

  • This invention relates to continuous paper feeding devices for feeding continuous paper sheets, and in particular, to printers for printing images on perforated printing paper sheets.
  • Conventional printers adapted for printing on continuous paper sheets employ a tractor feeder which is capable of horizontally feeding printing paper sheets as a feeding device for feeding continuous paper sheets in order to realize their downsizing.
  • the tractor feeder is configured to feed a printing paper sheet by causing feed pins of a rotary-driven endless tractor to sequentially engage perforations arranged with a predetermined pitch longitudinally of the printing paper sheet.
  • the feeding device is located upstream of the printing device (the printing device including, for example, a photosensitive drum and the like), while another feeding device (such as fusing rollers) is located downstream of the printing device.
  • the feeding speed of the downstream feeding device it is common practice to set the feeding speed of the downstream feeding device to be slightly higher than that of the tractor. This allows a printing paper sheet under feeding to be brought into close contact with the printing device. For this reason, the tension on the peripheral edge of each perforation is excessive when compared to the rest of the printing paper sheet under feeding.
  • “hole breakage”, which is a perforation enlarging phenomenon is likely to occur. The occurrence of heavy hole breakage results in feeding the printing paper sheet, thereby causing a deviation from the predetermined printing position.
  • Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. HEI 7-215551 discloses a continuous paper feeding device incorporating a load imposing mechanism located upstream of the tractor for exerting a constant braking force on the printing paper sheet to prevent an excessive tensile stress from working on the peripheral edge of each perforation.
  • the continuous paper feeding device disclosed in this Gazette applies a constant braking force to the printing paper sheet, as described above. For this reason, if the balance between the feeding forces respectively working on the upstream and downstream sides of the feeding device, such as the tractor, is lost even slightly, a deviation in the positioning of the paper sheet relative to the photosensitive drum occurs due to such an imbalance, thus resulting in a lowered precision in positioning for printing.
  • the present invention provides a continuous paper feeding device having a higher feeding precision.
  • the present invention also provides a continuous paper feeding device which is free from the hole breakage problem.
  • the present invention also provides a printer which is capable of printing on a continuous paper sheet with a higher positioning precision.
  • a continuous paper feeding device for feeding a perforated continuous paper sheet.
  • the device includes, for example, a paper supply device configured to supply the continuous paper sheet; a tractor configured to feed the continuous paper sheet supplied from the paper supply device while engaging perforations of the continuous paper sheet; a braking device located between the paper supply device and the tractor and configured to apply a braking force to the continuous paper sheet; a braking force setting device for setting the braking force; and a controller for controlling the braking force applied by the braking device according to the setting made by the braking force setting device.
  • the controller controls the braking force applied by the braking device according to the braking force set by the braking force setting device. Accordingly, a high feeding precision can be ensured because the continuous paper sheet is applied with an optimized braking force, even under such situations as to cause the paper feeding force to become unstable. Further, it is possible to inhibit the occurrence of hole breakage.
  • a printer for printing an image onto a perforated continuous paper sheet.
  • the printer includes, for example, a paper supply device configured to supply the continuous paper sheet; a tractor configured to feed the continuous paper sheet supplied from the paper supply device while engaging perforations of the continuous paper sheet; a printing device configured to print the image onto the continuous paper sheet at a location downstream of the tractor; a braking device located between the paper supply device and the tractor and configured to apply a braking force to the continuous paper sheet; a braking force setting device for setting the braking force; and a controller for controlling the braking force applied by the braking device according to the setting made by the braking force setting device.
  • the printer of the above construction is capable of printing images onto a continuous paper sheet with a high positioning precision.
  • the feeding speed on the downstream side of the printing device is desirably made higher than that of the tractor to prevent the continuous paper sheet from slackening at a location adjacent the printing device. Even in this case, the balance between the feeding forces respectively working on the upstream and downstream sides of the tractor can be maintained by the braking force applied by the braking device, thereby ensuring a high print position precision.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a principal portion of a continuous paper feeding device as a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tractor of the continuous paper feeding device.
  • FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a braking device of the continuous paper feeding device.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 5 is a front elevational view showing a brake value setting picture presented by a setting panel.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between a braking force and a set brake value.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an operational sequence of the continuous paper feeding device.
  • FIG. 8 a is a table showing a set brake value corresponding to a braking force for each paper sheet thickness.
  • FIG. 8 b is a table showing a set brake value corresponding to a braking force for each paper sheet width.
  • FIG. 8 c is a table showing a set brake value corresponding to a braking force for each humidity degree of a printer-installed environment.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a principal portion of a continuous paper feeding device as a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a principal portion of a continuous paper feeding device as a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a principal portion of a continuous paper feeding device as a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 a illustrates a perforation free of hole breakage.
  • FIG. 12 b illustrates a perforation with hole breakage at its peripheral edge on the upstream side.
  • FIG. 12 c illustrates a perforation with hole breakage at its peripheral edge on the downstream side.
  • FIG. 13 a illustrates a perforation free of hole breakage.
  • FIG. 13 b illustrates a perforation with hole breakage at its peripheral edge on the upstream side.
  • FIG. 13 c illustrates a perforation with hole breakage at its peripheral edge on the downstream side.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a continuous paper feeding device as a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • continuous paper feeding device A is incorporated in a laser printer.
  • the continuous paper feeding device A comprises a paper supply section 20 as a paper supply device, a feeding section 2 adapted to feed a continuous printing paper sheet 1 supplied from the paper supply section 20 , a printing device 3 disposed downstream of the feeding section 2 , a fusing section 4 located downstream of the printing device 3 , a braking device 19 disposed upstream of the feeding section 2 , a motor control section 7 for controlling a fan motor of the braking device 19 , and a CPU 10 for controlling each section.
  • the paper supply section 20 accommodates the printing paper sheet 1 in a folded state, the paper sheet 1 having perforated lines P along which the paper sheet 1 can be cut at predetermined longitudinal intervals.
  • the printing paper sheet 1 When the printing paper sheet 1 (set on the feeding section 2 ) receives a feeding force, the printing paper sheet 1 is delivered our of the paper supply section 20 in a direction indicated by arrow a. As better shown in FIG. 2 , the printing paper sheet 1 has one widthwise side portion defining multiple perforations 11 arranged in a row, with a predetermined pitch longitudinally of the paper sheet 1 . These perforations 11 are sequentially engageable and disengageable with feed pins (described below).
  • the printing device 3 has a photosensitive drum 22 , a transfer roller 13 in rotary contact with the photosensitive drum 22 , and the like.
  • a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 22 according to image data by an exposure system (not shown) and a developing device 22 a and then transferred to a surface of the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the fusing section 4 has a pair of fusing rollers 4 a and 4 b pinching and rotary-contacting the printing paper sheet 1 thicknesswise thereof, and functions to fuse the toner image onto the printing paper sheet 1 by heating and pressurizing the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the fusing rollers 4 a and 4 b apply a feeding force to the printing paper sheet 1 because of their rotary contact with the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the feeding speed at this point is therefore slightly higher than that at the feeding section 2 .
  • the printing paper sheet 1 is thus prevented from slackening at a location adjacent to the printing position of the printing device 3 , thus ensuring favorable transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the feeding section 2 comprises a tractor feeder having an endless tractor 21 and a motor 9 .
  • the tractor 21 is trained between and around a driving wheel 21 a and a driven wheel 21 b , and has one widthwise side portion having feed pins 12 for engagement with the aforementioned perforations 11 .
  • the tractor 21 revolves with rotation of the driving wheel 21 a (driven by the motor 9 ) with the feed pins 12 disengageably engaging the corresponding perforations 11 of the printing paper sheet 1 in sequence. This results in feeding the printing paper sheet 1 toward the downstream side by traction.
  • the tractor 21 is revolved backwards by the motor 9 to return the unprinted portion of the printing paper sheet 1 to the paper supply section 20 .
  • the braking device 19 functions to provide a variable braking force against the feeding force applied to the printing paper sheet 1 by the fusing section 4 .
  • the braking device 19 includes a brake case 5 disposed to face the reverse side of the printing paper sheet 1 , an evacuation fan 19 a for producing a negative pressure in the brake case 5 by evacuating the brake case 5 , and a fan motor 6 for driving the evacuation fan 6 .
  • the brake case 5 has an upper wall surface serving as a guide surface 14 for guiding the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the guide surface 14 comprises a perforated plate defining a multiplicity of air-suction perforations.
  • a guide roller 18 is disposed adjacent to the braking device 19 , on the upstream side thereof.
  • the guide roller 18 guides the printing paper sheet 1 so that the sheet 1 is brought into intimate sliding contact with the upper surface 14 of the brake case 5 .
  • a negative pressure is produced in the brake case 5 by evacuation when the printing paper sheet 1 passes the guide surface 14 of the braking device 19 .
  • a suction force is exerted on the printing paper sheet 1 through the air-suction perforations 15 .
  • the printing paper sheet 1 is applied with a braking force produced by the sliding resistance between the printing paper sheet 1 and the guide surface 14 .
  • a partition plate 19 b is provided within the brake case 5 to adjust the width of the internal space of the brake case 5 , according to the width W of the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • Attached to the partition plate 19 b is a thumbscrew 19 d which protrudes upwardly outwardly from the brake case 5 through a guide slot 19 c defined in the guide surface 14 .
  • the guide slot 19 c extends widthwise of the printing paper sheet 1 (in the direction indicated by arrow b) to allow the thumbscrew to shift along the guide slot 19 c , thereby allowing the partition plate 19 b to shift widthwise of the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the thumbscrew 19 d is moved to position the partition plate 19 b to a location depicted by the chain line in FIG. 4 when the width W of the printing paper sheet 1 is larger.
  • the thumbscrew 19 d is moved to position it to a location depicted by the solid line when the width W of the printing paper sheet 1 is smaller. This arrangement causes a suction force to effectively work on the printing paper sheet 1 within a space having a width adjusted to the width of the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the CPU 10 controls the operation of the motor 9 of the feeding section 2 , sets a braking force according to a set brake value input from a setting panel 8 , and controls the motor control circuit 7 .
  • the motor control circuit 7 controls revolutions of the evacuation fan 6 to provide a braking force according to the setting.
  • FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the setting panel 8 .
  • the setting panel 8 is capable of displaying a “SUCTION BRAKE SETTING” picture 8 a (as shown in the drawing) on an LCD panel that is operable by touch.
  • the picture 8 a has a set brake value display section 8 b for displaying any one of integers from 1 to 8, an up key ( ⁇ key) 8 c for displaying a larger integer in the set brake value display section 8 b , a down key ( ⁇ key) 8 d for displaying a smaller integer in the set brake value display section 8 b , and a return key 8 e for setting the integer displayed in the set brake value display section 8 b as a set brake value.
  • the user In selecting a desired set brake value, the user causes the display panel to display the “SUCTION BRAKE SETTING” picture 8 a , presses either the up key ( ⁇ A key) 8 c to increase the set brake value or the down key ( ⁇ key) 8 d to decrease the set brake value, and presses the return key 8 e when the desired set brake value is determined.
  • FIG. 6 shows the relationship between set brake value x and braking force y.
  • the CPU 10 controls the motor control circuit 7 , based on set brake value x input from the setting panel 8 , so that braking force y plotted by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6 is obtained.
  • the printing paper sheet 1 delivered out of the paper supply section 20 is set on the feeding section 2 , so that the perforations 11 of the paper sheet 1 engage the corresponding feed pins 12 of the tractor 21 (step 101 ).
  • the fusing rollers 4 a and 4 b are actuated while, on the other hand, the motor 9 of the feeding section 2 is driven to cause the tractor 21 to revolve.
  • the printing paper sheet 1 is fed toward the printing device 3 ( 102 ). Thereafter, the fan motor 6 is caused to rotate ( 201 ).
  • a toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 is transferred onto the printing paper sheet 1 by the transfer roller 13 . Thereafter, the printing paper sheet 1 is fed toward the fusing section 4 ( 103 ) where the toner image is fused to the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the feeding speed of the pair of fusing rollers 4 a and 4 b is established so as to be slightly higher than that of the feeding section 2 .
  • a tensile force toward the downstream side is applied to the printing paper sheet 1 on the tractor 21 after the paper sheet 1 has reached the fusing section 4 .
  • This results in a tensile stress is imposed on the perforations 11 ( 103 ).
  • the brake case 5 of the braking device 19 is evacuated by the fan motor 6 , a negative pressure is produced within the brake case 5 and applied to the printing paper sheet 1 passing the guide surface 14 of the brake case 5 ( 202 ). Accordingly, a suction force is exerted on the reverse side of the printing paper sheet 1 through the air-suction perforations 15 . At the same time, the atmospheric pressure is working on the obverse side of the paper sheet 1 . Thus, the printing paper sheet 1 is fed as pressed against the guide surface 14 of the brake case 5 .
  • the unprinted portion of the printing paper sheet 1 is returned to the paper supply section 20 by causing reverse rotation of the motor 9 of the feeding section 2 ( 105 ).
  • a negative pressure is no longer produced within the brake case 5 due to stoppage of the fan motor 6 .
  • the braking force applied to the printing paper sheet 1 is released ( 204 ). Accordingly, the printing paper sheet 1 is smoothly returned to the paper supply section 20 while sliding on the guide surface 14 without being pressed against the guide surface 14 .
  • the sliding resistance according to the coefficient of friction between the printing paper sheet 1 and the brake case 5 functions as a braking force. Accordingly, the feeding tension exerted on the printing paper sheet 1 , on the downstream side of the feeding section 2 (on the paper ejecting side), and that exerted on the paper sheet 1 (on the upstream side of the feeding section) are balanced. As a result, the tensile stress imposed on the feed pins 12 of the feeding section 2 , and on the perforations 11 of the printing paper sheet 1 , is suppressed. The occurrence of hole breakage acting to enlarge the perforations 11 is prevented in this way.
  • the motor control circuit 7 controls revolutions of the fan motor 6 according to the braking force set by the CPU 10 .
  • This causes the braking device 19 to apply an optimized braking force to the printing paper sheet 1 . Accordingly, even when the paper feeding force is unstable, the braking force is adjusted to accommodate the situation. Hence, the tension applied to the printing paper sheet 1 is made constant to ensure stabilized feeding. In this way, the positional precision of the printing paper sheet 1 relative to the printing device 3 can be maintained favorably.
  • the braking device 19 is constructed of suction means, the printing paper sheet 1 is not damaged when applied with the braking force.
  • the continuous paper feeding device may also be configured to have the user input the properties of a printing paper sheet 1 , such as thickness t or width w, and the environmental conditions, such as the humidity of the atmosphere around the installation site.
  • FIG. 8 a is a table showing an example of a set brake value corresponding to a braking force for each paper sheet thickness t
  • FIG. 8 b is a table showing an example of a set brake value corresponding to a braking force for each paper sheet width w
  • FIG. 8 c is a table showing an example of a set brake value corresponding to a braking force for each humidity degree of a printer-installed environment.
  • set brake values are previously stored in table form in a storage device incorporated in the printer.
  • the CPU references the table stored in the storage device and establishes a set brake value of 7. Once the set brake value of 7 has been established, the CPU sets braking force y calculated according to the aforementioned formula as in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the continuous paper feeding device By configuring the continuous paper feeding device, so as to have the user input the properties of a printing paper sheet or the environmental conditions as described above, feeding forces respectively working on the upstream and downstream sides of the feeding section 2 are balanced without being influenced by any change in the type of paper sheet or in the conditions of the installation environment.
  • the continuous paper feeding device is capable of feeding printing paper sheet 1 in a constantly stabilized state, thereby assuredly preventing deviations of the printing position.
  • the continuous paper feeding device may be configured to have the user input a specific value as one of the properties of a printing paper sheet to be used or as one of the environmental conditions. Alternatively, it may be configured to have the user select one of predetermined levels of a sheet property or an environmental condition, such as “HIGH”, “MEDIUM” and “LOW”.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a continuous paper feeding device as a second embodiment of the present invention. Like or corresponding parts are designated by like reference numbers throughout FIGS. 1 and 9 to avoid repetition of description thereof.
  • FIG. 9 is configured to cause the CPU to set a braking force automatically.
  • continuous paper feeding device A (shown in FIG. 9 ) is provided with a sensor 23 for judging whether a paper sheet is passing and detecting sheet width W, a sensor 24 for detecting the distance up to a paper sheet and determining sheet thickness t based on the distance thus detected, and a sensor 25 for detecting the humidity of the atmosphere around the printer-installed site.
  • CPU 10 establishes a braking force by making synthetic judgment from all the results output from the sensors 23 to 25 .
  • an optimized braking force with respect to printing paper sheet 1 is automatically established even when there is any change in the type of a paper sheet, such as sheet width W or sheet thickness t, or in the humidity of the printer-installed environment.
  • the locations of the sheet width detecting sensor 23 , sheet thickness detecting sensor 24 and the humidity detecting sensor 25 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 9 and may be determined as desired.
  • the sheet width detecting sensor 23 and sheet thickness detecting sensor 24 may be disposed adjacent to the paper supply section 20 .
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a continuous paper feeding device incorporating a braking device 39 of a different type as a third embodiment of the present invention. Like or corresponding parts are designated by like reference numbers throughout FIGS. 1 and 10 to avoid repetition of description thereof.
  • the braking device 39 shown in FIG. 10 comprises a pair of braking rollers 31 and 32 located upstream of the feeding section 2 and holding printing paper sheet 1 therebetween from its obverse and reverse sides.
  • the braking roller 31 is freely rotatable as the printing paper sheet 1 moves.
  • the braking roller 32 is connected to an electromagnetic brake 33 for imposing a load on the braking roller 32 rotating.
  • the electromagnetic brake 33 varies the load on the braking roller 32 according to its electromagnetic force varied by a current control circuit 43 controlling the amount of electric current.
  • the continuous paper feeding device has another advantage that the braking device 39 is of a simplified construction because a braking force applied to the printing paper sheet 1 is produced by the pressing force of the braking rollers 31 and 32 .
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a continuous paper feeding device as a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Like or corresponding parts are designated by like reference numbers throughout FIGS. 1 and 11 to avoid repetition of description thereof.
  • Continuous paper feeding device A (shown in FIG. 11 ) is provided with hole breakage detection means 43 comprising a hole breakage detecting sensor 41 and a hole breakage detecting circuit 42 .
  • the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 comprises a reflection type photosensor, the output of which becomes “ON” or “OFF” depending upon whether it receives reflected light of light directed at the perforated region of printing paper sheet 1 .
  • a cylindrical non-reflective member 12 a is fitted over the peripheral portion of each feed pin 12 of the tractor 21 . This prevents the peripheral surface of the feed pin 12 from reflecting light emitted from the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 .
  • a central portion of the top face of each feed pin 21 is provided with a white reflective surface 12 b for reflecting light from the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 .
  • the “OFF” period of the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 is prolonged by a time period corresponding to the clearance g.
  • the amount of hole breakage is found from the length of an “OFF” period in an output waveform of the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 , and the location of the hole breakage is determined from whether upstream or downstream of the perforation 11 a longer “OFF” period is located.
  • the hole breakage detecting circuit 42 forwards an information signal indicative of the amount of hole breakage to the CPU 10 upon receipt of the output from the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 .
  • the CPU 10 selects a braking force suited to the type of a paper sheet used or to the printer-installed environment from a prestored table of brake forces on the basis of the hole breakage information received from the hole breakage detecting circuit 42 .
  • the CPU 10 then forwards a PWM pulse signal corresponding to the braking force thus selected to the motor control circuit 7 .
  • the motor control circuit 7 controls revolutions of the fan motor 6 so that an appropriate braking force is applied to the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • the CPU 10 judges that the braking force applied by the braking device 19 is smaller than the feeding force of the fusing section 4 and controls the braking device 19 so that a larger braking force is applied. Conversely, when hole breakage such that clearance g is defined upstream of the perforation 11 is detected as shown in FIG. 12 c , the CPU 10 judges that the braking force applied by the braking device 19 is larger than the feeding force of the fusing section 4 and controls the braking device 19 so that a smaller braking force is applied. By so doing, the feeding force of the fusing section 4 and the braking force of the braking device 19 become well-balanced thereby preventing the hole breakage from becoming larger, ensuring a satisfactory printing precision.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates hole breakage detection means of another type.
  • the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 is disposed facing the underside of the tractor 21 .
  • the tractor 21 defines upstream through-hole 51 and downstream through-hole 52 of the same size.
  • the output of the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 becomes “ON” when the upstream through-hole 51 or the downstream through-hole 52 passes the sensor 41 . Since the two through-holes are of the same size, respective periods of the two “ON” outputs obtained when one feed pin 12 has passed the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 are equal to each other.
  • the output of the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 assumes “ON” during a time period for which light penetrating through the upstream though-hole 51 from the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 is being reflected by the reverse side of the printing paper sheet 1 .
  • this “ON” period is shortened because light from the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 is not reflected during a time period for which the light is passing through the clearance g.
  • the “ON” period of the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 is shortened because light penetrating through the through-hole 52 from the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 is not reflected during a time period for which the light is passing through the clearance g. Accordingly, the “ON” period of the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 is shortened by a time period corresponding to the clearance g.
  • the amount of hole breakage is found from the length of an “ON” period in an output waveform of the hole breakage detecting sensor 41 , and the location of the hole breakage is determined from whether upstream or downstream of the perforation 11 a shorter “ON” period is located.
  • the hole breakage detection means may comprise any other type of sensor than the optical sensor 41 described above, image pick-up means or like means.
  • feeding section 2 is constructed of a tractor feeder in each of the foregoing embodiments, the construction of the feeding section 2 is not limited thereto.
  • braking device 19 or 39 may be of any construction other than described above.

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  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Advancing Webs (AREA)
  • Handling Of Continuous Sheets Of Paper (AREA)
  • Registering, Tensioning, Guiding Webs, And Rollers Therefor (AREA)
US09/940,190 2000-08-29 2001-08-28 Continuous paper feeding device and printer incorporating the same Abandoned US20050230448A1 (en)

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JP2000259553A JP2002068548A (ja) 2000-08-29 2000-08-29 連続紙搬送装置
JP2000-259553 2000-08-29

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US9205679B1 (en) * 2014-05-30 2015-12-08 Eastman Kodak Company Method for applying vacuum force on web
US20160096359A1 (en) * 2014-10-01 2016-04-07 Mueller Martini Holding Ag Transverse sheet withdrawal brake
EP3301047A1 (en) 2016-09-28 2018-04-04 OCE Holding B.V. A web transport assembly for transporting a web along a processing unit
US9975721B2 (en) * 2013-06-19 2018-05-22 Seiko Epson Corporation Conveyance device, printer, and conveyance method
DE102012106902B4 (de) 2012-07-30 2018-08-23 Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG Vorrichtung in einem Drucker zum Erzeugen einer vorbestimmten Gegenkraft für einen bahnförmigen Aufzeichnungsträger

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KR100711484B1 (ko) * 2005-12-26 2007-04-24 주식회사 포스코 독립형 가설장치 및 이를 이용한 중층형 스틸하우스시공방법
JP5740970B2 (ja) * 2010-01-20 2015-07-01 株式会社リコー 印刷システム、印刷装置および搬送制御方法

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CN103029453A (zh) * 2011-09-30 2013-04-10 精工爱普生株式会社 拖纸器单元及打印机
DE102012106902B4 (de) 2012-07-30 2018-08-23 Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG Vorrichtung in einem Drucker zum Erzeugen einer vorbestimmten Gegenkraft für einen bahnförmigen Aufzeichnungsträger
US9975721B2 (en) * 2013-06-19 2018-05-22 Seiko Epson Corporation Conveyance device, printer, and conveyance method
US9205679B1 (en) * 2014-05-30 2015-12-08 Eastman Kodak Company Method for applying vacuum force on web
US20160096359A1 (en) * 2014-10-01 2016-04-07 Mueller Martini Holding Ag Transverse sheet withdrawal brake
US9969156B2 (en) * 2014-10-01 2018-05-15 Mueller Martini Holding Ag Transverse sheet withdrawal brake
EP3301047A1 (en) 2016-09-28 2018-04-04 OCE Holding B.V. A web transport assembly for transporting a web along a processing unit

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