EP0227116A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printer system for enabling user to select various forms-feed modes
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-12-24
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-12-24
Abstract
Abstract In a printer enabling a user to select different forms-feed modes, a cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) and a continuous-forms feed cassette (14) are detachably mounted on a printer main body (10) in its upper surface of a rear portion of the main body (10) and in its rear surface of the rear portion of the same (10), respectively, so that the user can selectively mount at least one of such feed units (12, 14). The printer has forms-feed modes corresponding to the mounted feed units (12, 14) and another forms-feed mode for manually feeding a cut-form to the printer. Each of the feed units (12, 14) can be manually mounted on the printer main body (10) as required. When a forms-feed mode set by the user is different from its preceding mode and a form according to the preceding mode remains in a forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in the printer main body (10), a sensor detects such remaining form. If the preceding mode is a continuous-forms feed mode, such remaining form backs in a direction opposite to its feeding direction. If the preceding mode is not the continuous-forms feed mode, such remaining form is transported in its feeding direction by a predetermined amount so as to be discharged from the printer main body (10), through selective operation of the forms-driving unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Yokoi
- 👤 Shuhei Okamori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:39
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J13/00; B41J13/10; B41J11/00; B41J11/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
A printer for enabling a user to select various forms-feed modes, comprising a printer main body (10) provided with a print unit (56) for conducting a printing operation in a printing position and a forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) for transporting a form or paper (P₁, P₂ or P₃) to said printing position of said print unit (56), said printer main body (10) being provided with a cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) and/or a continuous-forms feed unit (14) both of which units (12, 14) are detachably mounted on said printer main body (10); characterized in that: said printer main body (10) is provided with a first mounting portion (68) for detachably mounting said cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) thereon and a second mounting portion (126) for detachably mounting said continuous-forms feed unit (14) thereon, which second mounting portion (126) resides in a position different from that of said first mounting portion (68); said printer main body (10) is further provided with a first connecting means (28, 114, 150) for operatively connecting said cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) having been mounted on said first mounting portion (68) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), and a second connecting means (82, 146) for operatively connecting said continuous-forms feed unit (14) having been mounted on said second mounting portion (126) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106); a mode-selection switch means (38) for selecting said form to be fed to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is provided in said printer main body (10); and said printer main body (10) is provided with a control apparatus (34, 112, 160) for controlling said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in operation according to one of said forms-feed modes of said cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) and said continuous-forms feed unit (14), which one of said forms-feed modes is selected by switching said mode-selection switch means (38).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
A printer for enabling a user to select various forms-feed modes, comprising a printer main body (10) provided with a print unit (56) for conducting a printing operation in a printing position and a forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) for transporting a form or paper (P₁, P₂ or P₃) to said printing position of said print unit (56), said printer main body (10) being provided with a cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) and/or a continuous-forms feed unit (14) both of which units (12, 14) are detachably mounted on said printer main body (10); characterized in that: said printer main body (10) is provided with a first mounting portion (68) for detachably mounting said cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) thereon and a second mounting portion (126) for detachably mounting said continuous-forms feed unit (14) thereon, which second mounting portion (126) resides in a position different from that of said first mounting portion (68); said printer main body (10) is further provided with a first connecting means (28, 114, 150) for operatively connecting said cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) having been mounted on said first mounting portion (68) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), and a second connecting means (82, 146) for operatively connecting said continuous-forms feed unit (14) having been mounted on said second mounting portion (126) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106); a mode-selection switch means (38) for selecting said form to be fed to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is provided in said printer main body (10); and said printer main body (10) is provided with a control apparatus (34, 112, 160) for controlling said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in operation according to one of said forms-feed modes of said cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) and said continuous-forms feed unit (14), which one of said forms-feed modes is selected by switching said mode-selection switch means (38).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein: there is further provided a guide means (120) for enabling the user to conduct a cut-forms manual-feed operation, which means (120) is connected with said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) and through which guide means (120) said cut-forms (P₃) can be manually inserted into said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106); and said mode-selection switch means (38) can be switched to realize a cut-forms manual-feed mode for conducting said cut-forms manual-feed operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The printer as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said guide means (120) for enabling the user to conduct said cut-forms manual-feed operation is constructed of a guide path defined in said cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The printer as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first mounting portion (68) is provided in an upper surface (84) of a rear portion (10a) of said printer main body (10); and said second mounting portion (126) is provided in a rear surface (72) of said rear portion (10a) of said printer main body (10).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
283 words
A printer for enabling a user to select various forms-feed modes, comprising a printer main body (10) provided with a print unit (56) for conducting a printing operation in a printing position and a forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) for transporting a form (P₁, P₂ of P₃) to said printing position of said print unit (56), said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) being combined with a first forms-feed unit (12) for feeding a first form (P₁) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) and a second forms-feed unit (14) for feeding a second form (P₂) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106); said printer further comprising: a mode-selection switch (38) for selecting forms-feed modes of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms, according to which modes said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is operated; a sensor (112) for detecting existence of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) to issue a detection signal thereof, said sensor (112) being provided in a position opposite to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in said printer main body (10); and a driving means (160) for driving said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) by a predetermined amount so as to dicharge said first (P₁) or second (P₂) form from said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) on the basis of a forms-driving starting signal, provided that said sensor (112) detects the existence of said first (P₁) or second (P₂) form in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) and that a present forms-feed mode having been selected by means of said mode-selection switch (38) is not coincident with its preceding forms-feed mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
283 words
A printer for enabling a user to select various forms-feed modes, comprising a printer main body (10) provided with a print unit (56) for conducting a printing operation in a printing position and a forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) for transporting a form (P₁, P₂ of P₃) to said printing position of said print unit (56), said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) being combined with a first forms-feed unit (12) for feeding a first form (P₁) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) and a second forms-feed unit (14) for feeding a second form (P₂) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106); said printer further comprising: a mode-selection switch (38) for selecting forms-feed modes of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms, according to which modes said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is operated; a sensor (112) for detecting existence of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) to issue a detection signal thereof, said sensor (112) being provided in a position opposite to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in said printer main body (10); and a driving means (160) for driving said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) by a predetermined amount so as to dicharge said first (P₁) or second (P₂) form from said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) on the basis of a forms-driving starting signal, provided that said sensor (112) detects the existence of said first (P₁) or second (P₂) form in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) and that a present forms-feed mode having been selected by means of said mode-selection switch (38) is not coincident with its preceding forms-feed mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The printer as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said driving means (160) includes a forms-driving starting switch (34) for enabling the user to manually start a driving operation of said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), said forms-driving starting switch (34) issuing said forms-driving starting signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
. The printer as set forth in claim 5, wherein: one of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms is a continuous-form; and said driving means (160) enables said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) to be selectively rotated in its forward and reverse directions, and also enables said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) to be rotated in its reverse direction to discharge said continuous-form from said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in case that said preceding forms-feed mode is said continuous-forms feed mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The printer as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said driving means (160) drives said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in a forms-feeding direction by a predetermined amount in case that said sensor (112) detects the existence of said form in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) and that said selected present forms-feed mode is coincident with said preceding forms-feed mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The printer as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the other of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms is a cut-form; and said driving means (160) rotates said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in its forward direction to transport said cut-form in a forms-feeding direction so as to discharge said cut-form from said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), provided that said preceding forms-feed mode is a cut-forms feed mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The printer as set forth in claim 5, wherein: on the basis of said forms-driving starting signal issued after completion of discharging of said form, said driving means (160) drives said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) so as to transport said form according to said selected present forms-feed mode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of selecting different forms-feed modes in a printer including a printer main body (10), a first forms-feed unit (12) and a second forms-feed unit (14), said different forms-feed modes being applicable to said first (12) and second (14) forms-feed units, said printer main body (10) being provided with a print unit (56) for conducting a printing operation in a printing position and a forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) for transporting a form of paper to said printing position of said print unit (54), said first froms-feed unit (12) feeding a first form (P₁) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), and said second forms-feed unit (14) feeding a second form (P₂) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), comprising the steps of: selecting said forms-feed modes of said forms-drivig unit (54, 102, 104, 106) according to said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms by means of a mode-selection switch (38); comparing the thus selected present mode of said forms-feed modes with its preceding mode to examine whether said present mode coincides with said preceding mode; examining whether said form remaining in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) by means of a sensor (112); and issuing a forms-feed starting signal in case that said sensor (112) detects existence of said remaining form to issue a detection signal thereof and that said present mode coincides with said preceding mode, whereby said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is driven by a predetermined amount to discharge said remaining form from said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of selecting different forms-feed modes in a printer including a printer main body (10), a first forms-feed unit (12) and a second forms-feed unit (14), said different forms-feed modes being applicable to said first (12) and second (14) forms-feed units, said printer main body (10) being provided with a print unit (56) for conducting a printing operation in a printing position and a forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) for transporting a form of paper to said printing position of said print unit (54), said first froms-feed unit (12) feeding a first form (P₁) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), and said second forms-feed unit (14) feeding a second form (P₂) to said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106), comprising the steps of: selecting said forms-feed modes of said forms-drivig unit (54, 102, 104, 106) according to said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms by means of a mode-selection switch (38); comparing the thus selected present mode of said forms-feed modes with its preceding mode to examine whether said present mode coincides with said preceding mode; examining whether said form remaining in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) by means of a sensor (112); and issuing a forms-feed starting signal in case that said sensor (112) detects existence of said remaining form to issue a detection signal thereof and that said present mode coincides with said preceding mode, whereby said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is driven by a predetermined amount to discharge said remaining form from said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of selecting the different forms-feed modes as set forth in claim 11, wherein: one of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms is a continuous-form; said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is selectively rotatable in its forward and reverse directions; in case that said preceding forms-feed mode is a continuous-forms feed mode, said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is rotated in its reverse direction to discharge said continuous-form remaining in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of selecting the different forms-feed modes as set forth in claim 11, wherein: in case that said sensor (112) issues a signal for indicating the existence of said form in said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) and said present mode coincides with said preceding mode, said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is driven in its forward direction by a predetermined amount, whereby said form is transported in its feeding direction by a predetermined distance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of selecting the different forms-feed modes as set forth in claim 12, wherein: the other of said first (P₁) and second (P₂) forms is a cut-form; in case that said preceding mode is a cut-forms feed mode, said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is rotated in its forward direction, whereby said cut-form is transported in its feeding directionso as to be discharged from said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of selecting the different forms-feed modes as set forth in claim 11, wherein: after completion of discharging said form having fed according to said preceding forms-feed mode, said forms-driving stating signal is issued, on the basis of which signal said forms-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) is driven so as to transport said form according to said present mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.