Continuous paper feeding device and printer incorporating the same

Abstract

A tractor feeds a perforated continuous paper sheet to a printing position. The feeding force of a fusing device located downstream of the printing position is set larger than the feeding force of the tractor in order to apply tension to the continuous paper sheet at the printing position. A braking device located upstream of the tractor applies a braking force balancing with the feeding force of the fusing device to the continuous paper sheet. The braking force of the braking device is varied depending upon the properties of the paper sheet or the environmental conditions. This arrangement makes it possible to stabilize the feeding state even under situations where the sheet feeding force is likely to become unstable, thereby realizing printing without any deviation from the predetermined position. Further, this arrangement can also prevent hole breakage to occur.

1 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus for feeding a perforated continuous paper sheet, comprising: 
 a paper supply device configured to supply the continuous paper sheet;    a tractor configured to feed the continuous paper sheet supplied from said paper supply device while engaging perforations of the continuous paper sheet;    a braking device located between said paper supply device and said tractor and configured to apply a braking force to the continuous paper sheet;    braking force setting device for variably setting the braking force; and    a controller to control the variable braking force applied by the braking device according to the setting made by said braking force setting.    
   
   
       2 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to detect a perforation enlarging.  
   
   
       3 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to a detecting result of said sensor.  
   
   
       4 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to a type of the continuous paper sheet.  
   
   
       5 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to conditions of an installation environment.  
   
   
       6 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said braking device includes an evacuating device to evacuate the continuous paper sheet thicknesswise.  
   
   
       7 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said braking device includes a pressurizing device to pressurize the continuous paper sheet thicknesswise.  
   
   
       8 . A printer for printing an image onto a perforated continuous paper sheet, comprising: 
 a paper supply device configured to supply the continuous paper sheet;    a tractor configured to feed the continuous paper sheet supplied from said 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 said tractor;    a braking device located between said paper supply device and said tractor and configured to apply a braking force to the continuous paper sheet;    a braking force setting device to set the braking force; and    a controller to control the braking force applied by said braking device according to the setting made by said braking force setting device.    
   
   
       9 . A printer according to  claim 8 , further comprising a sensor to detect a perforation enlarging.  
   
   
       10 . A printer according to  claim 9 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to a detecting result of said sensor.  
   
   
       11 . A printer according to  claim 8 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to a type of the continuous paper sheet.  
   
   
       12 . A printer according to  claim 8 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to conditions of an installation environment.  
   
   
       13 . A printer according to  claim 8 , wherein said braking device includes an evacuating device for evacuating the continuous paper sheet thicknesswise.  
   
   
       14 . A printer according to  claim 8 , wherein said braking device includes a pressurizing device to pressurize the continuous paper sheet thicknesswise.  
   
   
       15 . A printer according to  claim 8 , further comprising a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the continuous paper sheet at a location downstream of said printing device.  
   
   
       16 . A printer according to  claim 15 , wherein said fixing device applies tension to the continuous paper sheet.  
   
   
       17 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus, comprising: 
 a sheet supply device configured to supply a continuous printing paper sheet;    a feeding device configured to feed the printing paper sheet supplied from said sheet supply device;    a braking device configured to apply a braking force to the printing paper sheet fed by said feeding device;    a braking force setting device to set the braking force; and    a controller to control the braking force applied by the braking device according to the setting made by said braking force setting device.    
   
   
       18 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said braking device is located upstream of said feeding device.  
   
   
       19 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising a printing device configured to print the image onto the continuous printing paper sheet fed by said feeding device at a location downstream of said feeding device.  
   
   
       20 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 17 , said feeding device includes a tractor having feed pins for engaging perforations of the printing paper sheet.  
   
   
       21 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a perforation enlarging.  
   
   
       22 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to a detecting result of said sensor.  
   
   
       23 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to a type of the printing paper sheet.  
   
   
       24 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said braking force setting device sets the braking force according to conditions of an installation environment.  
   
   
       25 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said braking device includes an evacuating device to evacuate the printing paper sheet thicknesswise.  
   
   
       26 . A continuous paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said braking device includes a pressurizing device to pressurize the printing paper sheet thicknesswise.