CN115848025A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a printing device capable of stably conveying a printing medium. A printing device (100) is provided with: a thermal head (121) that prints on a Printing Tape (PT); a platen roller (122) that rotates to convey the Printing Tape (PT) while holding the Printing Tape (PT) between the platen roller and the thermal head (121); and a tape guide unit (1211 b) for guiding the Printing Tape (PT) discharged from between the thermal head (121) and the platen roller (122) in the same direction as the discharge direction, wherein the thermal head (121) is fixedly arranged, and the platen roller (122) is arranged so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction of the Printing Tape (PT).

Description

Printing device

Reference to related applications

Priority is claimed in this application to Japanese patent application No. 2021-155076, filed on 9/24/2021, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if set forth in the specification, claims and drawings of Japanese patent application No. 2021-155076.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Background

Conventionally, a printing apparatus for printing characters, graphics, and the like on a belt-shaped print medium to produce a label is known.

For example, in a printing apparatus described in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2008-239259, printing is performed by pressing a platen roller against a thermal head. The printed portion of the tape-shaped label sheet is fed out of the printing apparatus by the label sheet.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The print medium used in the printing apparatus as in patent document 1 includes various print media having different materials, thicknesses, and the like. However, depending on the shape of the conveyance path of the print medium in the printing apparatus, it may be difficult to stably convey the print medium.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus capable of stably conveying a printing medium.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes:

a print head for printing on the tape;

a platen roller that conveys the tape by rotating while holding the tape between the platen roller and the print head; and

a tape guide section that guides the tape discharged from between the print head and the platen roller in the same direction as a discharge direction,

the print head is arranged to be fixed,

the platen roller is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction of the tape.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a printing apparatus capable of stably conveying a printing medium can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the label producing portion.

Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the label producing section viewed from a different point of view from fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a label forming portion in which a tape cassette is housed.

Fig. 3B is a partially enlarged view of the X portion of fig. 3A.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the arm to which the platen roller is attached.

Fig. 4B is an exploded perspective view of fig. 4A.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the head holder.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the head holder.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of the head holder.

Fig. 8A is a partially enlarged view showing a state of conveyance of a conventional printing belt.

Fig. 8B is a partially enlarged view showing a conveyance state of the printing belt according to the present embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus for carrying out an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the X-axis is a direction in which the printing tape is discharged, the Y-axis is a rotational axis direction of a cam described later, and the Z-axis is a rotational axis direction of the platen roller, which are along arrows in the drawings.

The printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a tape printer (label printer) that prints characters, numerals, symbols, graphic characters, graphics, and the like (hereinafter referred to as "print pattern") on a printing tape, for example, the appearance shown in fig. 1.

The printing apparatus 100 prints on the printing tape PT using the tape cassette 200 shown in fig. 3B, which accommodates the printing tape PT and the ink ribbon IR (tape-shaped recording medium TM) as printing targets.

(Structure of printing apparatus)

As shown in fig. 1, the printing apparatus 100 includes a keyboard 101 for inputting a print pattern, a display 102 for displaying the input print pattern, and an opening/closing cover 103 for housing the tape cassette 200 in the printing apparatus 100. Although not shown, the printing apparatus 100 further includes an input/output terminal for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer, a battery housing portion for housing a power supply terminal or a battery connected to a power supply line, an insertion port for inserting a storage medium such as a memory card, and the like.

The keyboard 101 receives a key input from a user. The keyboard 101 is configured with a pattern input key for inputting pattern data, a print key for instructing a start of printing, a cursor key for moving a cursor on a display screen of the display 102, and various function keys for performing setting of a print mode and various setting processes.

The display 102 functions as a main display screen in the printing apparatus 100, and displays an image related to input data, a selection menu for various settings, a message related to various processes, and the like. The display 102 is constituted by a liquid crystal display panel, for example. The keyboard 101 and the display 102 may be configured by a member having a combination of an input function and a display function, such as a touch panel having a touch switch function.

The opening/closing cover 103 is a cover that covers a label producing portion 110, and the label producing portion 110 is formed inside the printing apparatus 100, and is used for filling the tape cassette 200 and producing a label on which a print pattern is printed.

As shown in fig. 1 and 3A, the printing apparatus 100 is provided with a label producing portion 110 for loading a tape cassette 200. The label producing portion 110 includes: a tape printing mechanism 120 that prints a printing tape stored in the tape cartridge 200; and a cassette receiving portion 130 for disposing the tape cassette 200 at a predetermined position.

As shown in fig. 1, 2A, and 2B, the tape printing mechanism 120 and the cartridge receiving portion 130 are attached to the printing apparatus 100 via an attachment portion 111 of a plate material shaped like コ, a cam shaft attachment portion 112, and an arm attachment portion 113, wherein the cam shaft attachment portion 112 and the arm attachment portion 113, which will be described later, are disposed on the + Z-side principal surface of the attachment portion 111, the cam shaft attachment portion 112 is provided upright along the + Y-direction side end of the attachment portion 111, and the arm attachment portion 113 is provided upright near the center of the attachment portion 111, and supports an arm 123, which will be described later, so as to be able to swing (rotate).

The mounting portion 111 is provided with a cam shaft mounting portion 112, an arm mounting portion 113, a cassette receiving portion 130, a motor (not shown) for rotating a cam 124 described later, a gear (not shown) for rotating a platen roller 122 described later, and the like. As shown in fig. 2 and 3A, a gear 114, a worm wheel 115, and the like for transmitting power of a motor to a cam 124 are rotatably attached to the cam shaft attachment portion 112 about the Y axis, which contributes to space saving of the label producing portion 110. The motor also supplies power to a half cutter mechanism and a full cutter mechanism described later for cutting the printing tape PT shown in fig. 3B. The arm 123 is attached to the arm attachment portion 113 so as to be swingable around the Z axis via an arm rotation shaft 1234.

The tape printing mechanism 120 includes: a thermal head (print head) 121 in which a plurality of heating elements for heating the ink ribbon IR and the thermal recording medium are arranged in a linear shape; a platen roller (transport unit) 122 disposed at a position facing the thermal head 121, and transporting the tape-shaped recording medium TM (printing tape PT (shown by a thick line in fig. 3B) and ink ribbon IR (shown by a broken line in fig. 3B)) in the direction of a tape ejection port 140 described later while sandwiching the tape-shaped recording medium TM and the thermal head 121 therebetween; an arm 123 rotatably supporting the platen roller 122; a cam 124 that separates the arm 123 from the thermal head 121 and presses the arm 123 toward the thermal head 121; a spring (elastic member) 125 that presses the platen roller 122 toward the thermal head 121; and a tape winding shaft 126 for winding an ink ribbon IR used for printing around a tape winding core 204, which will be described later, in the tape cassette 200.

The thermal head 121 has a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in a direction (Z-axis direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the tape-shaped recording medium TM. When the tape cassette 200 is loaded in the label producing section 110, as will be described in detail later, the platen roller 122 is pressed against the thermal head 121 with a predetermined pressing force by a control section, not shown, of the printing apparatus 100, whereby the thermal head 121 is brought into contact with the surface (printing surface) of the printing tape PT via the ink ribbon IR, as shown in fig. 3B. The thermal head 121 selectively causes the plurality of heat generating elements to generate heat based on print data generated based on data input from the user via the keyboard 101 or the like, and thermally transfers ink of the ink ribbon IR to the printing tape PT. The thermal head 121 is provided upright in the + Z direction on the main surface of the mounting portion 111 by a thermal head fixing portion (print head fixing portion) 1211 made of aluminum die casting, and is arranged such that the main surface of the thermal head 121 is parallel to the main surface of the camshaft mounting portion 112.

The platen roller 122 is a roller for feeding the tape-shaped recording medium TM in the direction (+ X direction, discharge direction) toward the tape discharge port 140, and is a roller for pressing the tape-shaped recording medium TM toward the thermal head 121 with an appropriate pressure at the time of printing. The main body 1221 of the platen roller 122 shown in fig. 4A and 4B is formed of, for example, a cylindrical body whose outer peripheral surface is covered with an elastic member such as rubber. Insertion shafts 1222 protruding from both ends of the platen roller 122 in the longitudinal direction (Z-axis direction) are rotatably inserted into roller insertion holes 1232, 1238, etc. of the arm 123, which will be described later. The platen roller 122 is configured to be capable of reciprocating in the vertical direction shown in the figure, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the printing tape PT and perpendicular to the short side direction of the tape-shaped recording medium TM.

As shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the arm 123 includes: a body 1231 having an inverted T-shaped member projecting in the + Y direction from a member having a shape of substantially コ as viewed in the X-axis direction; a roller insertion hole 1232 formed in the vicinity of the end of the main body 1231 on the thermal head 121 side; and an arm rotation shaft insertion hole 1233 formed near an end of the main body 1231 in the-X direction (the side away from the tape discharge port 140). The arm 123 further has: an arm rotation shaft 1234 inserted through the arm rotation shaft insertion hole 1233 and the arm rotation shaft insertion hole 1131 of the arm mounting portion 113 shown in fig. 3A; an engaging portion 1235 engageable with the cam 124; a pressed portion 1236 pressed by the cam 124; and a platen roller pressing member 1237 for pressing the insertion shaft 1222 of the platen roller 122 in the-Y direction (the direction in which the thermal head 121 is disposed) by the pressing force of the spring 125. The roller insertion hole 1232 is formed in a substantially elliptical shape having a major axis in the Y-axis direction. The roller insertion hole 1238 is formed in a circular shape having a diameter slightly larger than that of the arm rotation shaft 1234.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3A and 3B, a tape discharge port 140 communicating with the outside of the printing apparatus 100 is formed near the + X direction side surface of the label producing portion 110. Although not shown, the tape ejecting port 140 includes a full cutting mechanism that cuts the printing tape PT and the peeling tape of the tape-shaped recording medium TM in the width direction, and a half cutting mechanism that cuts only the printing tape PT of the tape-shaped recording medium TM.

As shown in fig. 3A, the tape cassette 200 includes a cassette case 201. The cartridge case 201 includes a tape core 202 around which the printing tape PT shown in fig. 3B is wound, a tape supply core 203 around which an unused ink ribbon IR is wound, and a tape winding core 204 around which a used ink ribbon IR is wound. Further, a head arrangement portion 210 is formed in the cartridge case 201, and when the tape cartridge 200 is loaded in the label producing portion 110, the thermal head 121 is positioned in the head arrangement portion 210.

As shown in fig. 3A, engaged portions 205 are formed at four corner portions of the cartridge case 201, and the engaged portions 205 are engaged with the cartridge receiving portion 130 of the label producing unit 110 and supported by the cartridge receiving portion 130. Although not shown, a predetermined unevenness corresponding to the type of the tape cassette 200 is formed in the engaged portion 205 of the cassette case 201. Further, a predetermined recording width detection switch (not shown) for discriminating the unevenness formed in the engaged portion 205 of the cartridge case 201 when the tape cartridge 200 is loaded is disposed in the cartridge receiving portion 130 of the label producing portion 110.

When the tape cassette 200 is loaded in the label producing portion 110, the engaged portion 205 of the cassette case 201 engages with some or all of the recording width detection switches disposed in the cassette receiving portion 130 of the label producing portion 110. The recording width detection switch engaged with the engaged portion 205 is pressed. The control section of the printing apparatus 100 determines the type of the tape cartridge 200 by a combination of the recording width detection switches in the on state.

The control unit, not shown, is constituted by a processing device such as a processor. The control unit operates in accordance with a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory), not shown, to create print data, execute printing of a print pattern, control the rotation angle of the cam, the full-cut mechanism, the half-cut mechanism, and the like.

Next, the structure of the mounting member 150 such as a thermal head according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 7. In fig. 7, a part of the components of the printing apparatus 100 is not shown.

The mounting member 150 such as a thermal head includes a base 151, an arm mounting portion 113, and a thermal head fixing portion 1211. The mounting member 150 such as a thermal head is integrally formed of metal such as aluminum die-cast. The arm mounting portion 113 and the head fixing portion 1211 extend in the same direction from the base portion 151.

The base 151 is formed in a specially shaped plate shape. The base 151 includes an insertion hole 151a and an insertion hole 151b for attachment to the attachment portion 111. The arm rotation shaft 1234 is inserted into the insertion hole 151 a. In addition, holes or the like of any purpose are provided.

The arm mounting portion 113 has a substantially square bar shape, and a plurality of cutouts 113 for reducing weight are provided on the surface. An arm rotation shaft insertion hole 1131 shown in fig. 3A is provided at a position facing the insertion hole 151a at the distal end portion of the arm attachment portion 113. The arm rotation shaft 1234 is pivotally supported by the arm rotation shaft insertion hole 1131.

The head fixing portion 1211 is formed in a substantially elongated plate shape. The width of the connecting portion between the base portion 151 and the head fixing portion 1211 is wide, and triangular ribs 1211d are provided at three positions in the drawing. A shallow groove-shaped recess 1211a slightly longer than the length of the platen roller 122 is provided on the leading end side of the head fixing portion 1211. The thermal head 121 is mounted on the recess 1211a and fixed by a fastener. A belt guide 1211b having substantially the same length as the recess 1211a is provided at an edge of the recess 1211a in the belt discharge direction.

The upper end of the tape guide 1211b is formed flat. The position of the upper end portion is substantially the same as the height when the thermal head 121 is placed on the recess 1211a. An inclined surface 1211c is formed at a boundary portion with the concave portion 1211a of the belt guide portion 1211b. The inclined surface 1211c has an inclined surface that rises in the belt discharging direction. An edge portion of the tape guide 1211b in the tape discharging direction is perpendicular to an upper end portion of the tape guide 1211b.

Fig. 8A and 8B show the transport state of the printing belt PT according to the related art and the present embodiment. In an example of a conventional printing apparatus, as shown in fig. 8A, a thermal head 521 is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction shown in the drawing by a double arrow Ar1, and a platen roller 522 is disposed at a fixed position. The lower end position of the platen roller 522 is higher than the height of the tip end portion of the arrow Ar2 indicating the transport direction of the printing tape PT, that is, the discharge position from the printing apparatus 100. In this structure, since the thermal head 521 is a structure that can move up and down, a corresponding space is required. At the time of printing, the thermal head 521 is moved upward, whereby the printing tape PT printed by the thermal head 521 and the platen roller 522 is bent downward as indicated by an arrow Ar 2. As a result, the printing tape PT is peeled off from the tape at a position just below the platen roller 522 by a distance L1, and the platen roller 522 is then discharged in, for example, an S-shaped transport path as indicated by an arrow Ar 2.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 8B, the thermal head 121 is disposed at a fixed position, and the platen roller 122 is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction shown by the double arrow Ar 3. As shown in the drawing, the lower end position of the platen roller 122 during printing is substantially the same as the height of the tip end portion of the arrow Ar2 indicating the transport direction of the printing tape PT, that is, the height of the discharge position from the printing apparatus 100. In this configuration, the printing tape PT printed while sandwiched between the thermal head 121 and the platen roller 122 is held by the tape guide 1211b of the mounting member 150 such as a thermal head from directly below the platen roller 122. That is, the printing tape PT is guided by the tape guide 1211b and conveyed linearly, peeled from the tape at a position of a distance L2, and then discharged in a linear conveyance path as indicated by an arrow Ar2 of a solid line. In the present specification, the straight line means that the printing tape PT fed out from between the thermal head 121 and the platen roller 122 is maintained in the same direction as the feeding direction.

Even when the printing tape PT is conveyed in the direction opposite to that of fig. 8B, the printing tape PT is guided by the tape guide 1211B and conveyed linearly. For example, the leading end of the printing tape PT is fed in the reverse direction to the vicinity of the platen roller 122. Here, there are the following problems: when the tape guide 1211b is not provided, the tape is fed downward so as to enter the space 160 between the thermal head 121 and the tape cassette 200 when the tape is fed in the forward direction again, and the tape is jammed (jammed). To solve such a problem, the belt guide 1211b is preferably provided.

In the conventional label printer, since the label is formed in an S-shape as described above, there is a concern that a tape may be printed by applying an unnecessary load to a plurality of media such as unevenness, thickness, and a mold release bar. In addition, this causes problems such as lifting or jamming of the separator (release paper). Further, since the tape is peeled off in the vicinity of the nip of the platen roller, the tape cannot be peeled off when cooled, which causes deterioration in print quality.

In the present embodiment, the position of the thermal head 121 is fixed so that the position of the platen roller 122 can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction in which the printing tape PT is discharged from between the thermal head 121 and the platen roller 122. The tape guide 1211b is provided on the mounting member 150 such as a thermal head. According to the above configuration, in the present embodiment, the position of the thermal head 121 is fixed so as to be movable up and down instead of the platen roller 122. Therefore, unlike the related art, a space in which the print head can move is not required. As a result, as shown in fig. 8B, the belt conveying path can be easily made straight. This makes it possible to stabilize the conveyance of various printing media such as unevenness, thickness, and a mold release bar. In addition, in the present embodiment, the timing of peeling the tape is delayed, that is, the peeling point at which the print medium (tape) and the ink ribbon are peeled from the printing position becomes long. This ensures a time required for cooling after printing, and enables stable peeling during cooling. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of improving print quality by stably conveying a print medium.

(modification example)

In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 100 includes the keyboard 101 and the display 102, but may be a printing apparatus without a keyboard or a printing apparatus without a keyboard and a display connected to a personal computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or the like by wire or wirelessly.

In the above embodiment, the tape-shaped recording medium TM having the ink ribbon IR and the printing tape PT is used, but a thermal recording medium or the like not using the ink ribbon may be used.

In the above embodiment, the spring 125 of the printing apparatus 100 presses the platen roller 122 against the thermal head 121, but the platen roller 122 may be separated from the thermal head 121 or pressed against the thermal head 121 by a cam without using a spring.

In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 100 uses the two springs 125 for pressing the platen roller 122 against the thermal head 121, but three or more or one spring may be used, or rubber or another elastic member may be used instead of the spring.

As described above, the present embodiment can be applied to various printing media such as unevenness, thickness, and a mold release bar.

In the present embodiment, the head holder 150 is used in which the arm mounting portion 113 and the head fixing portion 1211 are formed as an integral same member. In addition, the arm mounting portion 113 and the head fixing portion 1211 may be separately configured, or may be further integrally configured with other members.

In the present embodiment, the head fixing portion 1211 and the tape guide portion 1211b of the head holder 150 are preferably the same member, but in addition to this, the tape guide portion 1211b may be provided as a different member.

In the present embodiment, the printing belt PT is linearly conveyed in the horizontal direction, but may be used so as to have a certain angle in the horizontal direction.

In the present embodiment, the printing belt PT is conveyed in the reverse direction of the conveying direction in fig. 8B, but may not be conveyed in the reverse direction. In this case, the tape guide 1211b may not be provided.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and the present invention includes the inventions described in the claims and their equivalent ranges.

Claims (5)

1. A printing apparatus includes:

a print head for printing on the tape;

a platen roller that conveys the tape by rotating while the tape is held between the platen roller and the print head; and

a tape guide section that guides the tape discharged from between the print head and the platen roller in the same direction as a discharge direction,

the print head is arranged to be fixed,

the platen roller is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction of the tape.

2. The printing device of claim 1,

further comprises a print head fixing part for fixing the print head,

the tape guide is disposed on the print head fixing portion and has an inclined surface at least on a side close to the print head.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,

the tape guide is made of the same material as the print head fixing portion, and is a portion protruding from the print head fixing portion.

4. The printing device of claim 2 or 3,

the inclined surface is an inclined surface that rises toward the discharge direction of the belt.

5. The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the platen roller is provided to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction of the tape and a direction perpendicular to a width direction of the tape.

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