Sheet package
This disclosure provides a sheet package which prevents sheets taken out from the sheet package from being inserted into the sheet package again and which also prevents sheets from dropping out of the sheet package. The sheet package is made up of a package material folded into a rectangular parallelepiped thin box. Ear portions which serve as a sheet intrusion blocking member are located in a space sandwiched by a bottom face and a first sheath portion and side ends of the ear portions make contact with end portions of sheets in an insertion direction so that the end portions of the sheets cannot reach a side wall portion. Thus, the sheets cannot be restored to their original storage positions in the sheet package completely and part of the sheets project from the sheet package. Thus, dropped sheets cannot be restored to the sheet package through an opening portion, and sheets to which either dust or dirt has adhered are thus prevented from being reused.
This application claims priority from JP2006-338833, filed on Dec. 15, 2006 and JP 2007-309189 filed on Nov. 29, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference there.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates to a sheet package. More particularly to a sheet package that protects the outside of a stack of sheets with its package member and that can be set in a printer unit together with a package material.
Conventionally, there has been known a sheet package which accommodates a stack of sheets in its box-like package member and which, when the sheets are used for printing can be set in a printer unit by opening the lid portion of the package member and by folding it back to the opposite side (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-285939). Because this sheet package can handle a plurality of sheets in units of a package, convenience of usage thereof is improved. And because the package member can protect sheets inside by covering, this sheet package is effective in adopting heat sensitive sheets that are susceptible to light or heat as paper sheets for the printer unit.
SUMMARYHowever, in the case of a conventional sheet package, when at a time of usage a part of the sheets is exposed, as a result of the opening of the lid portion, sometimes sheets stored inside the sheet package can drop out of the sheet package. In such circumstances, if printing is executed by setting a sheet package in which the dropped sheets are inserted because the dropped sheets can be brought back into the sheet package easily through an opening portion, impurities such as dust and dirt which adhere to the sheet have tended to damage a printing head of the printer unit.
Further, because the conventional sheet package has no pressing means for supporting sheets contained in the interior, when the opening portion of a sheet package is directed in a downward direction during the handling of a sheet package, sheets can drop out.
The present disclosure has been accomplished to solve the above-described problems and a first object of the disclosure is to prevent sheets taken out from the sheet package temporarily from being inserted back into their original storage position within the sheet package. Further, a second object of the disclosure is to achieve a sheet package out of which sheets never drop.
In order to achieve the above-described objects, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a sheet package comprising: sheets that are accommodated in the sheet package, as printing object mediums for a printer unit and a package material that covers the outer sides of the stacked sheets and having; a first portion that is rectangular and covers a surface on one side in a stacking direction of the stacked sheets; a second portion that covers a surface on another side in a stacking direction of the stacked sheets opposite to the first portion; a third portion that is connected to both the first portion and to the second portion for covering a side face of the stacked sheets in parallel to a conveyance direction of the sheets; a fourth portion that covers the side face of the stacked sheets in parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheets and that is opposite to the third portion across the stacked sheets; a fifth portion that is connected to the first portion or the second portion and that covers the side face of the stacked sheets on an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheets; an opening portion that exposes part of the sheets from the package material; and sheet intrusion blocking members that prevent the sheets discharged through the opening portion from being inserted once again through the opening portion and pressed against their original storage positions, the sheet intrusion blocking members being provided in the interior after assembly of the sheet package, wherein the sheet package being structured so as to be capable of being set in the printer unit together with the package material with part of the sheets exposed.
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Hereinafter, the structure of a printer unit on which a sheet package 9 is to be loaded according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The sheet storage portion 6 can accommodate a sheet package 9 in which a plurality of sheets 7, for example A6 or A7 sized cut-sheet type heat sensitive papers, can be stored inside a package material 8, as shown in
A pickup roller 12, a separation block 13 and the like are disposed as a sheet-separating portion 11 at an end portion on the printing mechanism portion 14 side of the sheet storage portion 6. A thermal head 15, a platen roller 16 and a paper guide 17 are disposed as a printing mechanism portion 14 below the top cover 5.
The paper separation portion 11 will next be described with reference to
The sheet package 9 is loaded on to the sheet storage portion 6 with a bottom face of a sheet located on the bottommost position of sheets 7 stored in the sheet package 9 in a stacked condition with the printing object faces of the sheets 7 directed in a downward direction, and in a state in which they are exposed partly from the package material 8. Then, when the lid body 10 is closed and locked, the pressing plate 18 urged by an urging spring 19 in a downward direction presses the exposed portion of the sheet 7 against the pickup roller 12 through the package material 8 so that the bottom face of the sheet 7 is brought into contact with the pickup roller 12.
As shown in
Next, the printing mechanism portion 14 will be described. As shown in
In a printer unit 1 having such a structure, a sheet 7 separated by the sheet-separating portion 11 is conveyed by the pickup roller 12 and passes between the bottom end of the separation block 13 and a guide plate 21 that guides the sheet in the direction of the platen roller 16. The sheet 7 is guided by the guide plate 21 and guided from the bottom side of the platen roller 16 to a portion between the platen roller 16 and the paper guide 17. The sheet 7 is held between the outer peripheral face of the platen roller 16 and the sliding contact face 17a of the paper guide 17 and conveyed in a state in which it is inverted into a U shape as seen in a lateral direction by a rotation of the platen roller 16. The sheet accordingly reaches the top side of the platen roller 16 with its printing object face facing an upward direction.
As shown in
As shown in
The thermal head 15 is of a line head type and can accordingly print any character or image on each individual line extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet 7 on the conveyed heat sensitive type sheet 7. A printing width at the time that printing is performed on a single line is set so as to substantially equal to the width of the paper 7 which is a printing object. Because the thermal head 15 is used as a printing head, a heat sensitive paper is used as a printing object medium and thus, consumables such as ink and ink ribbon are reduced unnecessary. Further, a mechanism for supplying ink can be curtailed, thereby resulting in a compact structure of the printer unit 1. As the heat sensitive paper, heat sensitive coloring type having a coloring layer which generates color when heated by the thermal head 15, and a heat sensitive boring type in which a boring layer is overlaid on a base material layer and in which, the boring layer being bored when heated and other types are available.
A sheet discharge guide face 13b, which is inclined with respect to a sheet-feeding direction of the platen roller 16, is formed on the separation block 13. With this structure, a sheet 7 after printed by the heat-generating body portion 15a of the thermal head 15 is guided by the sheet discharge guide face 13b and discharged to the top of the lid body 10 through a slit defined by the upper cover 5 of the main body case 2 and the lid body 10 as shown in
Next, a sheet package 9 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure to be set in the printer unit 1 will be described with reference to
As shown in
Next, the structure of the package material 8 will be described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Next, a manufacturing process of the sheet package 9 will be described with reference to
Finally, as shown in
Next, a method of using the sheet package 9 will be described with reference to
At this time, the reflection type optical sensor 80 that is provided on the printer unit 1 opposes the cutout portion 53 provided in the first sheath portion 50 of the sheet package 9 (see
Next, an action of a sheet intrusion blocking member (ear portions 71 and 72) of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
When the lid portion 44 of the sheet package 9 is folded back as shown in
In circumstances such as when all sheets 7 have been pulled out from the sheet package 9 by a user, or when a user swings the sheet package 9 with the opening portion 49 facing downwards with folding back the lid portion 44, all the sheets 7 might drop out from the sheet package 9. In such circumstances, the ear portions 71 and 72 are elastically restored by means of the elasticity of the package 8 along the fold line as shown in
Next, a second embodiment of the sheet package 9 will be described with reference to
Because substantially every configuration of the package material 8 of the sheet package 9 of the second embodiment is identical to the package material of the first embodiment as shown in
A third embodiment of the sheet package 9 will now be described with reference to
Because substantially every configuration of the package material 8 of the sheet package 9 of the third embodiment is identical to the package material of the first embodiment as shown in
Next, a fourth embodiment of the sheet package 9 will be described with reference to
Because substantially every configuration of the package material 8 of the sheet package 9 of the fourth embodiment is identical to the package material of the third embodiment as shown in
Next, a fifth embodiment of the sheet package 9 will be described with reference to
Ordinarily, the fold line processing with half-round shape embossing is processed on the boundary line in the package material 8. The fold line processing with half-round shape embossing is performed from the outer side to the inner side in assembling the package material 8. The boundary line is facilitated to fold by the fold line processing. When the boundary line processed with the fold line processing by embossing is fold, the embossment portion 410 is formed on the inner side of the fold line along the fold line (See
However, the sheet package 9 provides the lid base portion 44a which is folded back to the rear side when the sheet package 9 is loaded to the sheet storage portion 6. The length of the lid base portion 44a in conveyance direction is approximately one-third of the length of the sheet package 9 in conveyance direction. Sine the bottom portion 40 is formed shortly for the length of the lid base portion 44a, and the side walls are formed in some part of the bottom portion 40, there is no fold line parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheet and is no the embossment portion in the one-third length portion from the end of the downstream to the upstream side in conveyance direction on the bottom face in the sheet package 9. The urging spring 19 is structured so as to urge the sheet 7 strongly in a downward direction at the end of the downstream of conveyance direction in the sheet package 9 and urge the sheet 7 weakly as toward to the upstream. Therefore, the potential that the sheet 7 can be wedged due to urging the sheet 7 in a downward direction by the urging spring 19 at the downstream of conveyance direction of the sheet is smaller than the potential that the sheet 7 can be wedged due to urging the sheet 7 in a downward direction by the ear portions 71 and 72 at the upstream of conveyance direction of the sheet.
Compared with the package material 8 processed with the ordinary fold line processing, the package material 8 in the present embodiment provides the perforated lines on the boundary line 401 between the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 41, the boundary line 402 between the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 42, and the boundary line 403 between the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 43, as described before. For example, as shown in
In the sheet package 9 of the present embodiment, the perforated lines are provided on the boundary line 401 between the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 41, the boundary line 402 between the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 42, and the boundary line 403 between the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 43. The perforated lines may be provided on only the boundary line 403 that is the border with the bottom portion 40 opposing the ear portions 71 and 72 through the sheet 7 and where the sheet 7 is urged strongly by the ear portions 71 and 72 in a downward direction. On that occasion, in addition, the perforated lines may be provided on only the portion where the border with the bottom portion 40 opposing the ear portions 71 and 72 through the sheet 7 and that is adjacent to the ear portions 71 and 72 in the boundary line 403. The perforated lines may be provided on the portion that is the end of the upstream of conveyance direction of the sheet 7 in the boundary line 402 with the bottom portion 40 opposing the ear portion 71 through the sheet 7 and that is adjacent to the ear portion 71 in the boundary line 402, the portion that is the end of the upstream of conveyance direction of the sheet 7 in the boundary line 401 and that is adjacent to the ear portion 72 in the boundary line 401 with the bottom portion 40 opposing the ear portion 72 through the sheet 7, and the boundary line 403.
Next, a sixth embodiment of the sheet package 9 will be described with reference to
Next, a seventh embodiment of the sheet package 9 will be described with reference to
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments but may be modified in various ways. For example, a single ear portion is permitted instead of a pair of ear portions on the right and left sides. The shape of the ear portion is not limited to a rectangular one but may be of any shape such as trapezoid. Although, according to the embodiments, the side wall portion 42 is extended from the bottom portion 40, the side wall portion 42 may also be extended from the first sheath portion 50, while the second sheath portion 60 may be extended from the side wall portion 42. Although according to the embodiments, the side wall portion 43 is extended from the bottom portion 40, the side wall portion 43 may also be extended from the first sheath portion 50, while the tongue portion 70 may be extended from the side wall portion 43. The term “perforated line”, “half-cut processing” and “pit-like indentation” are not necessary to be provided on whole of the boundary line 401 between the 40 and the 41, the boundary line 402 between the 40 and the 42, and the boundary line 403 between the 40 and the 43. For example, they may be provided on only the portion where the sheet 7 is wedged easily and other portions may be processed with the ordinary fold processing with half-round shape embossing. As portions where the sheet 7 is wedged easily are the boundary line between the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 41, the boundary between line the bottom portion 40 and the side wall portion 42 which opposes to front side of the first sheath portion 50 pressed by the pressing plate 18 of the printer unit 1, and the boundary line between some side wall portion and the bottom portion 40 where is adjacent to the portion urged the sheet 7 by ear portion, for example.
The printer unit 1 described in the above embodiment discharges the sheet 7 through the slit between the upper cover 5 of the main body case 2 and the lid body 10. The printer unit 1 is available, even if the side of the printer unit 1 is set down or the upper cover 5 of the printer unit 1 is set down, unless the slit is blocked. Needless to say, the sheet package 9 loaded in the printer unit 1 also stands or is reversed corresponding to each occasion.
Claims
1. A sheet package comprising:
- stacked sheets accommodated in the sheet package, as printing object mediums for a printer unit and
- a package material that covers the outer sides of the stacked sheets and having;
- a first portion that is rectangular and covers a surface on one side in a stacking direction of the stacked sheets;
- a second portion that covers a surface on another side in a stacking direction of the stacked sheets opposite to the first portion;
- a third portion that is connected to both the first portion and to the second portion for covering a side face of the stacked sheets in parallel to a conveyance direction of the sheets;
- a fourth portion that covers the side face of the stacked sheets in parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheets and that is opposite to the third portion across the stacked sheets;
- a fifth portion that is connected to one of the first portion and the second portion and that covers the side face of the stacked sheets on an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheets;
- an opening portion that exposes part of the sheets from the package material; and
- sheet intrusion blocking members that prevent any sheets discharged through the opening portion from being inserted once again through the opening portion and pressed against their original storage positions, the sheet intrusion blocking members being provided in the interior after assembly of the sheet package,
- wherein the sheet package being structured so as to be capable of being set in the printer unit together with the package material with part of the sheets exposed.
2. The sheet package according to claim 1, further comprising
- a sixth portion that is connected to the fifth portion and that overlaps with the one of the first and second portions not connected with the fifth portion wherein
- the sheet intrusion blocking members are provided on the sixth portion and block the sheets discharged through the opening portion from making contact once again with the fifth portion through the opening portion.
3. The sheet package according to claim 2, wherein
- the sheet intrusion blocking members are ear portions provided on the sixth portion and extended in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet along fold lines and
- the ear portions are elastically restored along the fold line due to elasticity of the package material so that the front ends of the ear portions are located away from the sixth portion
- in a space sandwiched by the first portion and the second portion
- in a space between the second portion and the stacked sheets when the fifth portion is connected to the first portion, or
- in a space between the first portion and the stacked sheets when the fifth portion is connected to the second portion
- whereby, side ends of the ear portion butting against the sheets inserted to make contact with the fifth portion through the opening portion so as to prevent the sheets from making contact with the fifth portion.
4. The sheet package according to claim 3, wherein
- an indentation portion is provided on
- an inner side of a fold line between the first portion and fifth portion when the fifth portion is connected to the first portion or,
- an inner side of a fold line between the second portion and fifth portion when the fifth portion is connected to the second portion.
5. The sheet package according to claim 4, wherein
- the indentation portion is formed with one of perforations, half-cuts or pit-like indentation
6. The sheet package according to claim 1, wherein
- the sheet intrusion blocking members are provided on the first portion in such a way that the sheets discharged through the opening portion are prevented from making contact once again with the fifth portion through the opening portion.
7. The sheet package according to claim 6, wherein
- the sheet intrusion blocking members are ear portions provided on the first portion and extended in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet along a fold line; and
- the ear portions are elastically restored along the fold line due to elasticity of the package material so that the front ends of the ear portions are located away from the first portion
- in a space sandwiched by the first portion and the second portion or
- in a space between the first portion and the stacked sheets
- whereby, side ends of the ear portion butting against the sheets inserted to make contact with the fifth portion through the opening portion so as to prevent the sheets from making contact with the fifth portion.
8. The sheet package according to claim 7, wherein
- an indentation portion is provided respectively on an inner side of a fold line between the second portion and third portion, an inner side of a fold line between the second portion and fourth portion
- when the fourth portion is connected to the second portion, and an inner side of a fold line between the second portion and fifth portion when the fifth portion is connected to the second portion.
9. The sheet package according to claim 8, wherein
- the indentation portion is formed with one of perforations, half-cuts or pit-like indentation.
10. The sheet package according to claim 1, wherein elasticity of the package material so that the front ends of the ear portions are located away from the first portion
- the sheet intrusion blocking members are ear portions provided on the first portion and extended in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet along a fold line; and
- the ear portions are elastically restored along the fold line due to
- in a space sandwiched by the first portion and the second portion or
- in a space between the first portion and the stacked sheets
- whereby, side ends of the ear portion butting against the sheets inserted to make contact with the fifth portion through the opening portion so as to prevent the sheets from making contact with the fifth portion.
11. The sheet package according to claim 10, wherein
- an indentation portion is provided respectively on
- an inner side of a fold line between the second portion and third portion, an inner side of a fold line between the second portion and fourth portion
- when the fourth portion is connected to the second portion, and
- an inner side of a fold line between the second portion and fifth portion when the fifth portion is connected to the second portion.
12. The sheet package according to claim 11, wherein
- the indentation portion is formed with one of perforations, half-cuts or pit-like indentation.
13. A sheet package comprising:
- a package material that covers the outer sides of stacked sheets and having;
- a first portion that is rectangular and covers a surface on one side in a stacking direction of the stacked sheets;
- a second portion that covers a surface on another side in a stacking direction of the stacked sheets opposite to the first portion;
- a third portion that is connected to both the first portion and to the second portion for covering a side face of the stacked sheets in parallel to a conveyance direction of the sheets;
- a fourth portion that covers the side face of the stacked sheets in parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheets and that is opposite to the third portion;
- a fifth portion that is connected to the first portion or the second portion and that covers the side face of the stacked sheets on an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheets;
- an opening portion that exposes part of the sheets from the package material; and
- sheet intrusion blocking members that prevent the sheets discharged through the opening portion from being inserted once again through the opening portion and pressed against their original storage positions, the sheet intrusion blocking members being provided in the interior after assembly of the sheet package,
- wherein the sheet package being structured so as to be capable of being set in the printer unit together with the package material with part of the sheets exposed.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 14, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 26, 2008
Inventors: Takashi Horiuchi (Kariya-shi), Yasunori Nakamura (Shinshiro-shi), Yoshikatsu Suito (Kitanagoya-shi)
Application Number: 12/002,213
International Classification: B65D 1/00 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);