Tractor, tractor unit, and recording device

Abstract

Plural tractors that convey recording media in a recording device can be disposed in close proximity to each other. A tractor module 101 that conveys continuous paper 2 has a gear 117 that receives drive power from the printer unit 10 side of the printer 1, tractors 120, 130 that convey the continuous paper 2 in a specific direction by rotation of the gear 117, and a frame 111 that guides the continuous paper 2 supplied from an external source to the tractors 120, 130.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tractor that conveys a recording medium, and comprises:
 a gear that receives drive power from the recording device side;   a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium in a specific direction by rotation of the gear; and   a frame that guides the recording medium supplied from an external source to the conveyance unit.   
     
     
         2 . The tractor described in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame has a supply-side guide that passes the recording medium.   
     
     
         3 . The tractor described in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein:
 the frame has a discharge-side guide that passes the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. 
 
     
     
         4 . The tractor described in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the discharge-side guide has an opening on the discharge side from which the recording medium is discharged, and an opening on the conveyance unit side, and the width of the opening on the conveyance unit side is narrower than the width of the opening on the discharge side.   
     
     
         5 . A tractor unit comprising:
 a plurality of tractors, each of which conveys a recording medium, and has a gear that receives drive power from the recording device side,
 a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium in a specific direction by rotation of the gear, and 
 a frame that guides the recording medium supplied from an external source to the conveyance unit; and 
   a base that removably holds the plural tractors, and has at least one transfer gear that receives and transfers drive power from a power transfer unit disposed on the recording device side to the gears of the plural tractors.   
     
     
         6 . The tractor unit described in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the plural tractors are disposed in plural stages vertically, and configured so that the recording medium conveyed by the tractor located above another tractor does not contact the recording medium conveyed by the lower tractor; and   the tractor unit has a selection mechanism that changes the tractor that receives drive power from the transfer gear.   
     
     
         7 . The tractor unit described in  claim 6 , wherein:
 the selection mechanism has a moving mechanism that moves the tractors held in plural stages vertically; and   the transfer gear transfers drive power to the tractor at a specific height in the group of plural tractors.   
     
     
         8 . The tractor unit described in  claim 6 , wherein:
 each tractor lifts and conveys the recording medium from below; and   the lifting position at which a tractor located above another tractor lifts the recording medium is on the side separated more from the recording device than the lifting position of the tractor located therebelow.   
     
     
         9 . The tractor unit described in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the frame is disposed to the tractor extending to the side away from the recording device, and guides the recording medium lifted from below so that the recording medium does not contact the recording medium conveyed by another tractor.   
     
     
         10 . The tractor unit described in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the frame of the tractor located higher in the group of plural tractors extends to a position separated farther from the recording device than the frame of the tractors located therebelow.   
     
     
         11 . The tractor unit described in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the plural tractors are positioned along a slope to the vertical so that the distance from the recording device increases as the height of the position increases.   
     
     
         12 . A recording device comprising:
 a tractor unit having a plurality of tractors that convey recording media, and a base that removably holds the plural tractors,
 each tractor of the tractor unit having a gear that receives drive power from the recording device side,
 a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium in a specific direction by rotation of the gear, and 
 a frame that guides the recording medium supplied from an external source to the conveyance unit, and 
 
 the base of the tractor unit having at least one transfer gear that receives and transfers drive power from a power transfer unit disposed on the recording device side to the gears of the plural tractors. 
   
     
     
         13 . The recording device described in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the plural tractors are disposed in plural stages vertically, and configured so that the recording medium conveyed by the tractor located above another tractor does not contact the recording medium conveyed by the lower tractor; and   the tractor unit has a selection mechanism that changes the tractor that receives drive power from the transfer gear.