Seiko Epson Corporation

Mitsuhiko Nebashi

Motoyoshi Shirotori

Keiji Murakoshi

Satoshi Iwaya

Noboru Otsuki

Akihiro Goto

Makoto Ikegami

A holding portion includes at least three pressing members which are operable to press an inner peripheral of a hole formed on the medium. The pressing members are movable between first positions where the pressing members do not come in contact with the inner peripheral and second positions where the pressing members come in contact with and press the inner peripheral. Each of the pressing members is adapted to interlockingly move with each other when moving toward the first positions and to press the inner peripheral independently from the other members when positioning the second positions.

Adjustable medium holding unit and medium processing apparatus

A media transportation mechanism and a media processing device enabling carrying media without transportation errors or picking errors by accurately detecting if media is present. A media transportation mechanismhas a gripping mechanismfor holding media and a media detection mechanismfor detecting media gripped by the gripping mechanismpositioned on a transportation armthat can move up and down. The media detection mechanismhas a detection leverthat is pivotably supported on the arm baseof the transportation armand is displaced from a media-not-detected position in contact with the arm baseto a media-detected position separated from the arm basewhen the detection levercontacts the media, a detectorthat detects displacement of the detection leverto the media-detected position, and an attraction unit including a magnetand steel platethat pull the arm baseand detection levertogether using magnetic force.

Media transportation mechanism and media processing device having the media transportation mechanism

A first frame supports one of a platen and a dot-impact type print head. A second frame supports the other one of the platen and the print head. The second frame is supported by the first frame so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the print head opposes the platen to define a printing position at which printing is performed on a printing medium through an ink ribbon which are placed between the print head and the platen. The second position is a position where the print head and the platen are not opposed to each other. The printing medium which has been passed through the printing position is discharged from a discharge port. A first path for guiding the printing medium is defined by a first member provided on the first frame and a second member provided on the second frame so as to extend through the printing position to the discharge port, in a case where the second frame is placed at the first position. A second path for guiding the ink ribbon to be placed at the printing position is defined by a third member and a fourth member provided on the first frame so as to branch from a downstream portion of the printing position.

Printer

A printer unit comprises a first positioning mechanism and a second positioning mechanism for positioning a platen with respect to a print head when a cover frame is closed. The first positioning mechanism is constituted to restrict a change in the position of the platen to a rotation around a first positioning fulcrum, such as a lock pin. The second positioning mechanism is constituted to restrict the rotation of the platen around a first positioning fulcrum by abutment on a second positioning fulcrum, such as a lock lever spindle.

A first frame supports one of a platen and a dot-impact type print head. A second frame supports the other one of the platen and the print head. The second frame is supported by the first frame so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the print head opposes to the platen to define a printing position at which printing is performed on a printing medium through an ink ribbon which are placed between the print head and the platen. The second position is a position where the print head and the platen are not opposed to each other. The printing medium which has been passed through the printing position is discharged from a discharge port. A first path for guiding the printing medium is defined by a first member provided on the first frame and a second member provided on the second frame so as to extend through the printing position to the discharge port, in a case where the second frame is placed at the first position. A second path for guiding the ink ribbon to be placed at the printing position is defined by a third member and a fourth member provided on the first frame so as to branch from a downstream portion of the printing position.

A printing apparatus mainly comprises a first cover for, provided on a body frame including a print head 5, covering the print head 5; a second cover 39 for, disposed on the body frame opposing to the first cover by means of the transport path for transporting the recording medium 8, mounting an auto cutter 36. The auto cutter 36 comprises; a cutter frame 43 for fixing the auto cutter to the second cover 39; a cutter blade 26 for, movably supported on the cutter frame 43, cutting the recording medium 8 printed by the print head 5; and an auto cutter drive source 37 for, fixed on the cutter frame 43, driving the cutter blade 26 to cut the recording medium 8.

Printing apparatus provided with an auto cutter

A printing apparatus comprises a card transport mechanism for printing on a card-like medium. A slider is provided having a card stop against which one edge of the card stops and a holding mechanism holds the card to the slider. A guide frame is further provided having at least one guide portion engaged with the slider for moving the slider parallel to the guide frame. A motor and transmission mechanism moves the slider, whereon a card-like medium is held by the holding mechanism, along the guide member for printing.

Growing community of inventors

Nagano, Japan

Mitsuhiko Nebashi