Printer

Abstract

In a printer, two detectors 33 A and 33 B are provided with respect to the guide grooves for horizontal placement and vertical placement 15 A and 15 B in a paper holder 10. The detectors 33 A and 33 B are connected by a plate 34 that turns on or off a switch 32, and disposed within a range P in the shape of a fan which is delineated by the loci A and B of the center of the roll of paper S as reduced in diameter with respect to the guide grooves 15 A and 15 B and an inner surface of a bottom plate 13 of the paper holder 10 between the guide grooves 15 A and 15 B.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A printer comprising: 
 a paper holder provided with a plurality of guide portions for positioning a roll of paper, the plurality of guide portions being disposed with respect to a plurality of installation states of the printer, respectively; and    paper near end detecting means comprising a detector disposed to be engageable with an end face of the roll of paper to detect that the amount of remaining paper is below a predetermined amount;    wherein the detector is provided in the plural with respect to the plurality of guide portions, respectively; and    wherein the plurality of detectors are disposed within a range that is defined by a locus of the center of the roll of paper as reduced in diameter with respect to one of the plurality of guide portions, a locus of the center of the roll of paper as reduced in diameter with respect to the other of the plurality of guide portions, and an inner surface of the paper holder between the plurality of guide portions.    
     
     
         2 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of detectors are integrally connected by a connecting member.  
     
     
         3 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of detectors are movable to change the predetermined amount of paper.  
     
     
         4 . The printer as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of detectors are movable to change the predetermined amount of paper.  
     
     
         5 . A printer comprising: 
 a paper holder provided with a guide portion for positioning a roll of paper; and    paper near end detecting means comprising a detector disposed to be engageable with an end face of the roller of paper to detect that the amount of remaining paper is below a predetermined amount;    wherein a gap is provided in the paper near end detecting means through which paper drawn from the roll is conveyed after the detector gets disengaged with the end face of the roll of paper.    
     
     
         6 . The printer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the detector is movable to change the predetermined amount of paper.