Printing apparatus and paper holding device

Abstract

Embodiments described herein are to a printing apparatus includes a printing mechanism to print information on a plurality of paper sheets and further to sequentially convey the printed paper sheets along a first conveying path. The apparatus further includes a paper holding mechanism provided downstream from the printing mechanism in a paper feed direction, which includes a pair of conveying members configured to face each other via the first conveying path. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to control the printing mechanism and the paper holding mechanism to convey sequentially the printed paper sheets through a gap between the pair of conveying members so that the printed paper sheets are sequentially accumulated in the paper holding mechanism, and further configured to collectively discharge the printed paper sheets outside of the apparatus by holding the printed paper sheets between the pair of conveying members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A printing apparatus, comprising:
 a printing mechanism configured to print information on a plurality of paper sheets and further configured to sequentially convey the plurality of printed paper sheets along a first conveying path;   a paper holding mechanism provided downstream from the printing mechanism in a paper feed direction, the paper holding mechanism including a pair of conveying members configured to face each other via the first conveying path; and   a control unit configured to control the printing mechanism and the paper holding mechanism to convey sequentially the plurality of printed paper sheets through a gap between the pair of conveying members so that the plurality of printed paper sheets are sequentially accumulated in the paper holding mechanism, and further configured to collectively discharge the plurality of printed paper sheets outside of the apparatus by holding the plurality of printed paper sheets between the pair of conveying members.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the paper holding mechanism further comprises a paper stopper provided between the pair of conveying members and configured to allow each of the plurality of printed paper sheets, which is sequentially conveyed through the gap between the pair of conveying members, to be abutted against the paper stopper. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the paper stopper is slidably mounted in the paper holding mechanism along the paper feeding direction. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the paper holding mechanism further comprises a fixing member configured to fix the stopping device to a position in the paper holding mechanism according to a length of the paper sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the paper holding mechanism further comprises a driving mechanism configured to automatically adjust the position of the stopping device in the paper holding mechanism according to a length of the paper sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: a collecting container provided under the paper holding mechanism, wherein after a lapse of a specified time period from the time when the plurality of printed paper sheets are discharged outside of the apparatus, the control unit is configured to control the pair of the conveying members to convey the plurality of printed paper sheets in the opposite direction of the paper feeding direction so that the plurality of printed paper sheets is collected in the collecting container along a second conveying path disposed upstream of the first conveying path in the paper feeding direction. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the collecting container includes a flapper provided on the second conveying path and configured to guide the plurality of printed paper sheets passing through the second conveying path into the collecting container. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of conveying members comprises one belt stretched between two pulleys. 
     
     
         9 . A paper holding device for use in a printing apparatus, comprising:
 a first assembly comprising a first belt provided to extend between two pulleys;   a second assembly provided to face the first assembly, the second assembly comprising a second belt provided to extend between two pulleys; and   a paper stopper disposed between the two pulleys of the second assembly and configured to temporarily hold a plurality of printed paper sheets provided sequentially from a printing mechanism through a gap between the first and second assemblies, and further configured to collectively discharge the plurality of printed paper sheets to the outside of the printing apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the paper stopper comprises:
 a driving unit;   a turnable arm configured to be turned by the driving unit;   first and second sensors disposed proximate to a free end of the turnable arm, and configured to detect at least two positions of a pair of stoppers; and   a link arm linked to the turnable arm and configured to transfer the turning force of the turnable arm to the pair of stoppers,   wherein the pair of stoppers change position to be in a direction perpendicular or parallel to the paper discharge direction according to the turning of the turnable arm.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the paper stopper is slidably mounted in the second assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the paper stopper further includes a fixing member to fix the paper stopper to a position in the second assembly according to a length of the paper sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the respective two pulleys of the first and second assemblies are driven by different driving units. 
     
     
         14 . A printing apparatus, comprising:
 a printing mechanism configured to print information on a plurality of paper sheets;   a paper holding mechanism provided downstream from the printing mechanism in a paper feed direction and configured to temporarily hold the plurality of printed paper sheets provided sequentially from the printing mechanism along a first conveying path; and   a control unit configured to control the paper holding mechanism to collectively discharge the plurality of printed paper sheets outside of the apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: a display unit connected to the control unit and configured to allow a user to input size information of the paper sheet, wherein the control unit adjusts the position of the paper holding mechanism based on the size information. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: a paper stopper provided in the paper holding mechanism and configured to allow each of the plurality of printed paper sheets to be abutted against the paper stopper. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: a collecting container provided under the paper holding mechanism, wherein after a lapse of a specified time period from the time when the plurality of printed paper sheets are discharged outside of the apparatus, the control unit is configured to control the paper holding mechanism to convey the plurality of printed paper sheets in the opposite direction of the paper feeding direction so that the plurality of printed paper sheets is collected in the collecting container along a second conveying path disposed upstream the first conveying path in the paper feeding direction.