Printing apparatus having a retractable curl removal member and reversible roller

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a recording paper holding portion for holding a roll of recording paper;
• a transfer roller for transferring the recording paper;
• a print head;
• a curl removal member for flexing the recording paper, drawn from said recording paper holding portion, to thereby remove a curl from the drawn recording paper, said curl removal member being retractable into a position where said curl removal member does not flex the recording paper;
• a cutter having a closable blade for cutting the recording paper, said cutter being located at a distance from said transfer roller closer to a paper outlet port;
• first control means for rotating said transfer roller when starting printing, so as to move the recording paper back, and for stopping rotation of said transfer roller in said reverse direction when a leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head, and subsequently starting rotation of said transfer roller in a normal direction for printing;
• second control means for driving said cutter so as to cut the recording paper when subsequently printing a next page, and thereafter promptly rotating said transfer roller in the reverse direction to move the recording paper back, and for stopping rotation of said transfer roller in said reverse direction when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head, so as to stop the leading edge of the recording paper at the position of said print head;
• and
• third control means for driving said cutter so as to cut the recording paper when stopping printing, and subsequently retracting said curl removal member while rotating said transfer roller in the normal direction to feed the recording paper more or less by such an amount that the leading edge of the recording paper is projected outwardly from a cutting position of said cutter.

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a recording paper holding portion for holding a roll of recording paper;
• a transfer roller for transferring the recording paper;
• a print head;
• a curl removal member for flexing the recording paper, drawn from said recording paper holding portion, to thereby remove a curl from the drawn recording paper, said curl removal member being retractable into a position where said curl removal member does not flex the recording paper;
• a cutter having a closable blade for cutting the recording paper, said cutter being located at a distance from said transfer roller closer to a paper outlet port;
• a paper sensor provided between said print head and said cutter for detecting a leading edge of the recording paper;
• first control means for rotating said transfer roller in a reverse direction when starting printing, so as to move the recording paper back, stopping rotation of said transfer roller in said reverse direction when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head, and subsequently starting rotation of said transfer roller in a normal direction, thereby effecting the printing operation;
• second control means for driving said cutter when subsequently printing a next page, so as to cut the recording paper, then promptly rotating said transfer roller in the reverse direction, and stopping rotation of said transfer roller in the reverse direction when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head, so as to stop the leading edge of the recording paper at the position of said print head;
• and
• third control means for driving said cutter so as to cut the recording paper when stopping printing, and when said blade of said cutter is opened, rotating said transfer roller in the reverse direction to move the leading edge of the recording paper back, and then retracting said curl removal member when said paper sensor properly detects the leading edge of the recording paper, while said transfer roller is rotated in the normal direction to feed the recording paper more or less by such an amount that the leading edge of the recording paper is projected outwardly from a cutting position of said cutter.

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a recording paper holding portion for holding a roll of recording paper;
• a transfer roller for transferring the recording paper;
• a print head;
• a curl removal member for flexing the recording paper drawn from said recording paper holding portion, to thereby remove a curl from the drawn recording paper, said curl removal member being retractable into a position where said curl removal member does not flex the recording paper;
• a cutter having a closable blade for cutting the recording paper, said cutter being located at a distance from said transfer roller closer to a paper outlet port;
• a motor serving as drive means for rotating said transfer roller, and also serving as drive means for driving said cutter;
• switch means for establishing and cutting off a power transmission line between said cutter and said motor;
• a paper sensor provided between said print head and said cutter for detecting a leading edge of the recording paper;
• first control means for rotating said transfer roller when starting printing in a reverse direction, so as to move the recording paper back, and stopping rotation of said transfer roller in the reverse direction when said paper sensor delivers a detection signal indicating that the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head while causing said switch means to establish said power transmission line, and starting rotation of said transfer roller in a normal direction, thereby effecting printing;
• second control means for rotating said motor when subsequently printing a next page, so as to drive said cutter to cut the recording paper, then promptly rotating said transfer roller in the reverse direction to move the recording paper back, and stopping said transfer roller in the reverse direction when said paper sensor delivers a signal indicating that the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head, so as to stop the leading edge of the recording paper at the position of said print head;
• third control means for rotating said motor when stopping printing so as to drive said cutter to cut the recording paper, and then rotating said transfer roller in the normal direction to feed the recording paper more or less to remove a slack from the recording paper, and causing said switch means to cut off said power transmission line between said cutter and said motor;
• and
• fourth control means for rotating said transfer roller in the reverse direction when starting printing, so as to move the recording paper back, determining paper jamming if said paper sensor does not detect the leading edge of the recording paper even though said transfer roller is rotated by a predetermined amount in the reverse direction, soon stopping rotation of said transfer roller, and causing said switch means to cut off said power transmission line between said cutter and said motor.

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a recording paper holding portion for holding a roll of recording paper;
• a transfer roller for transferring the recording paper;
• a print head;
• a curl removal member for flexing the recording paper, drawn from said recording paper holding portion in an operative position, to thereby remove a curl from the drawn recording paper, said curl removal member being retractable into an inoperative position where said curl removal member does not flex the recording paper, said transfer roller being located at a distance from said curl removal member closer to a paper outlet port, and said print head being located at a distance from said curl removal member closer to said paper outlet port;
• first drive means for moving said curl removal member;
• a cutter for cutting the recording paper;
• second drive means for driving said cutter;
• first control means for rotating said transfer roller in a reverse direction when starting a printing operation, said transfer roller being rotated in a reverse direction to move the recording paper back, stopping said transfer roller in the reverse direction when a leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head, while causing said first drive means to move said curl removal member into said operative position where said curl removal member removes a curl from the recording paper, and starting rotation of said transfer roller in a normal direction, thereby effecting printing;
• second control means for driving said cutter when subsequently printing a next page, so as to cut the recording paper, then promptly rotating said transfer roller in the reverse direction, and stopping rotation of the transfer roller in the reverse direction when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of said print head, so as to stop the leading edge of said recording paper at the position of said print head;
• and
• third control means for driving said cutter when stopping the printing operation, so as to cut the recording paper, then causing said first drive means to retract said curl removal member into said inoperative position, and rotating said transfer roller in the normal direction to feed the recording paper more or less.