CN216761233U

CN216761233U - Printing unit and portable terminal

Info

Publication number: CN216761233U
Application number: CN202122968115.8U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 宫胁浩平
Original assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Current assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date: 2020-11-30
Filing date: 2021-11-30
Publication date: 2022-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-30
Also published as: CN114571870A; EP4005809A1; KR20220076373A; JP2022086129A; EP4005809B1; TW202237419A

Abstract

The utility model provides a printing unit and a portable terminal. The printing unit includes: a platen roller that conveys a recording sheet; a thermal head which is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller and prints on the recording paper; a sensor which is disposed facing the platen roller and detects the recording paper; a flexible printed substrate having a sensor packaging portion in which a sensor is packaged; and a frame which rotatably supports the platen roller and has a locking protrusion which locks the sensor package.

Description

Printing unit and portable terminal

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a printing unit and a portable terminal.

Background

A conventionally known printing unit performs printing by rotating a platen roller with a recording sheet sandwiched between the platen roller and a thermal head, and heating a printing surface of the recording sheet by a heating element of the thermal head while feeding the recording sheet, thereby developing the color of the printing surface.

In the preceding printing unit described above, a paper guide portion that guides the recording paper to the thermal head is provided on the front side of the thermal head. Further, a sensor for detecting the recording paper along the paper guide is attached to the paper guide.

However, in the conventional printing unit, in order to attach the sensor to the paper guide, a configuration may be adopted in which the sensor is sandwiched between the paper guide and a holder that is a separate member from the paper guide. However, in the configuration in which the sensor is sandwiched between the paper guide and the holder, an increase in the number of parts due to the provision of additional components occurs. Further, since the paper guide portion is disposed so as to surround the holder in order to fix the holder to the paper guide portion, the printing unit may be increased in size due to an increase in the outer shape of the paper guide portion. Therefore, in the conventional printing unit, there is room for improvement in that the fixing structure of the sensor for detecting the recording paper is simplified and the printing unit is downsized.

Accordingly, in the art, it is desirable to provide a miniaturized printing unit and a portable terminal provided with the printing unit.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

A printing unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a platen roller that conveys a recording sheet; a thermal head that is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller and prints on the recording paper; a sensor which is disposed facing the platen roller and detects the recording paper; a flexible printed board having a sensor package portion in which the sensor is packaged; and a frame which rotatably supports the platen roller and has a locking protrusion which locks the sensor package.

In the printing unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the locking protrusion includes a spanning protrusion having a side surface facing a direction inclined with respect to a surface direction of the sensor package, and the sensor package includes a first engaged portion penetrating through the sensor package in a thickness direction and inserted through by the spanning protrusion.

In the printing unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the locking projection includes a boss extending in a thickness direction of the sensor package, and the sensor package includes a second portion to be locked, which is cut at an end edge and through which the boss is inserted.

In the printing unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the frame has a base portion that supports the sensor package portion from a back side of the sensor.

In the print unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the sensor package portion has a package surface on which the sensor is packaged and a back surface on the opposite side of the package surface, and the flexible printed board includes a tab portion extending from the sensor package portion along the back surface.

In the printing unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the frame includes a paper guide portion extending in an axial direction of the platen roller, the paper guide portion includes a guide surface for guiding the recording paper toward the thermal head, the paper guide portion includes a housing portion for housing the sensor package portion, and the housing portion is larger on both sides in the axial direction than the sensor package portion on the guide surface and opens on a side away from the thermal head.

In the printing unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the flexible printed board includes a tab portion extending from the sensor package portion, a pair of slits are formed in parallel at an end edge of the sensor package portion, and the tab portion is connected between the pair of slits.

In the printing unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the sensor faces a direction inclined at an acute angle with respect to a thickness direction of the thermal head.

In the print unit according to one aspect of the present invention, the flexible printed board includes a tab portion extending from the sensor package portion, the tab portion is connected to the sensor package portion via a bent portion, and the sensor package portion is biased in a direction of being held and locked to the locking protrusion by a restoring force of the bent portion.

A portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the printing unit.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable terminal according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printing unit according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the printing unit according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the printing unit according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the flexible printed substrate of the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing a part of the printing unit of the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the printing unit according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front lower side.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view at line IX-IX of fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a printing unit according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the printing unit of the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a printing unit according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a front view showing a part of the printing unit of the second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a part of the printing unit according to the second embodiment as viewed from the front lower side.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in fig. 14.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar components. Moreover, a repeated description of those configurations may be omitted.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable terminal according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the portable terminal 1 is configured to be able to print recording paper P. The recording paper P is a heat-sensitive paper that develops color when heated, and is suitably used for printing various labels, receipts, tickets, and the like. The recording paper P is set in the portable terminal 1 in a state of the roll paper R wound so as to have a hollow hole, and printing is performed on a portion pulled out from the roll paper R.

The portable terminal 1 includes a housing 3, a display unit 4, a control unit 5, and a printing unit 6. The housing 3 is formed in a hollow box shape from a plastic or metal material such as ABS (acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer) or a composite material of ABS and polycarbonate. The case 3 has a roll paper storage portion 8 and a rectangular parallelepiped body portion 7, and the roll paper storage portion 8 is bent toward one side in the thickness direction of the body portion 7 at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the body portion 7. A printing unit 6 is accommodated in one end portion of the body portion 7 in the longitudinal direction. A discharge port 3a is formed in one end surface of the body portion 7 in the longitudinal direction. The discharge port 3a discharges the recording paper P printed by the printing unit 6. The display unit 4 is disposed on the other principal surface of the main body 7 facing the thickness direction. The display section 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel, is connected to the control section 5, and displays various kinds of information. The roll paper R is accommodated in the roll paper accommodating portion 8. The printing unit 6 is a so-called thermal printer.

Fig. 2 and 4 are perspective views of the printing unit according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the printing unit according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the printing unit 6 includes: a platen roller 50 having a driven gear 54; a motor 60 that rotates the platen roller 50 about a rotation axis O (a predetermined axis); a main body frame 10 (frame) to which a motor 60 is rotatably supported and fixed to the platen roller 50; a first reduction gear 31 and a second reduction gear 32 which reduce and transmit the driving force of the motor 60 to the driven gear 54; a thermal head 40 that is pressure-bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 50; a head support 45 supported by the main body frame 10 and fixed with the thermal head 40; and a flexible printed circuit board 70 that electrically connects the control unit 5 of the portable terminal 1 and each part of the printing unit 6.

As shown in fig. 2, the printing unit 6 discharges the recording paper P having passed between the platen roller 50 and the thermal head 40 in the direction indicated by the arrow a. Hereinafter, mainly in the description of the printing unit 6, the direction along the arrow a is defined as the vertical direction L1, and the direction indicated by the arrow a is defined as the upward direction. A direction orthogonal to the vertical direction L1 and aligned with the width direction of the recording paper P is defined as a horizontal direction L2. Further, a direction orthogonal to the up-down direction L1 and the left-right direction L2 is defined as a front-rear direction L3, and a platen roller 50 side with respect to the thermal head 40 in the front-rear direction L3 is defined as a front side.

As shown in fig. 3, the main body frame 10 is formed of a plate material such as a polycarbonate resin containing glass fibers. The main body frame 10 is formed in a U shape that is open to the front as viewed from the vertical direction L1. Specifically, the main body frame 10 includes: a back plate portion 11 extending in the left-right direction L2; a first side wall portion 12 that is erected forward from one (left) end portion of the back plate portion 11 in the left-right direction L2; a second side wall portion 13 that stands upright forward and rearward from an end portion of the other side (right side) in the left-right direction L2 of the back plate portion 11; and a paper guide 18 provided between the first side wall 12 and the second side wall 13.

The back plate portion 11 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the front-rear direction L3. The first side wall portion 12 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the left-right direction L2. A first roller insertion groove 14A cut downward is formed in the upper end edge of the first side wall portion 12. The second side wall portion 13 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the left-right direction L2. A second roller insertion groove 14B cut downward is formed in the upper end edge of the second side wall portion 13. The first roller insertion groove 14A and the second roller insertion groove 14B are formed to coincide with each other when viewed from the left-right direction L2. The platen roller 50 is detachably inserted into the first roller insertion groove 14A and the second roller insertion groove 14B. The paper guide 18 is disposed below the platen roller 50. With regard to the paper guide 18, an end portion of one side (left side) of the left-right direction L2 is connected to the inner side surface of the first side wall portion 12, and an end portion of the other side (right side) of the left-right direction L2 is connected to the inner side surface of the second side wall portion 13. The details of the paper guide 18 will be described later.

A gear box portion 15 is formed outside the second side wall portion 13. The gear box portion 15 has a peripheral wall portion 16 that is erected outward in the left-right direction L2 from the peripheral edge of the second side wall portion 13. That is, the gear box portion 15 is formed by the second side wall portion 13 and the peripheral wall portion 16, and opens outward in the left-right direction L2. The peripheral wall portion 16 is open upward as viewed in the left-right direction L2. The peripheral wall portion 16 is formed with a pair of locking recesses 17 recessed downward. The pair of locking recesses 17 are formed on both front and rear sides of the upper opening portion of the peripheral wall portion 16. The gear cover 30 is engaged with the pair of locking recesses 17. The gear cover 30 covers the inside of the gear case portion 15 from the outside in the left-right direction.

A first reduction gear 31 and a second reduction gear 32 are rotatably assembled inside the gear box portion 15. The first reduction gear 31 and the second reduction gear 32 are meshed with each other.

The motor 60 generates torque about an output axis Q. The motor 60 is disposed such that the output axis Q is parallel to the rotation axis O (see fig. 2) of the platen roller 50. The motor 60 is disposed on the opposite side of the back plate portion 11 from the platen roller 50. The motor 60 is fixed to a surface of the second side wall portion 13 facing the inside in the left-right direction L2. The output shaft 61 of the motor 60 penetrates the second side wall portion 13. The output shaft 61 meshes with the first reduction gear 31 inside the gear box portion 15. A flexible printed board 70 is connected to the motor 60. The motor 60 is electrically connected to the control section 5 (see fig. 1) via a flexible printed circuit board 70. The motor 60 is driven based on a signal from the control unit 5.

The thermal head 40 prints on a recording sheet P (see fig. 2). The thermal head 40 is formed in a rectangular shape with the left-right direction L2 as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front-rear direction L3. The thermal head 40 is disposed in a state where the thickness direction thereof coincides with the front-rear direction L3. The head surface 40a of the thermal head 40 faces the opposite side (front) to the back plate portion 11. A plurality of heat generating elements 41 are arranged in the left-right direction L2 on the head surface 40a of the thermal head 40.

The head surface 40a faces the printing surface of the recording paper P, and can nip the recording paper P between the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 50 and the head surface. The thermal head 40 is connected to the control unit 5 (see fig. 1) via a flexible printed circuit board 70, and a drive IC (not shown) mounted on the thermal head 40 controls heat generation of the heat generating element 41 based on a signal from the control unit 5. The thermal head 40 controls heat generation of the heating element 41 and prints various characters, graphics, and the like on the printing surface of the recording paper P. The thermal head 40 is fixed by being attached to the head support 45.

The head support 45 is disposed between the first side wall 12 and the second side wall 13 in front of the back plate 11 and behind the paper guide 18. The head support 45 is formed of a metal material. The head support 45 is a plate-like member having a longitudinal direction L2. The head support 45 is disposed in a state where the thickness direction coincides with the front-rear direction. The head support 45 fixes the thermal head 40 on the front surface.

A pair of stoppers 45a for limiting the range of rotation of the head support 45 are formed at the upper end of the head support 45. The pair of stoppers 45a are formed in a substantially quadrangular prism shape and extend outward in the left-right direction L2 of the head support 45. The pair of stoppers 45a are inserted into the rectangular hole 12a formed in the upper portion of the first side wall 12 and the rectangular hole 13a formed in the upper portion of the second side wall 13 of the main body frame 10. The stopper 45a moves in the

holes

12a and 13a in accordance with the rotation of the head support 45, and is configured to be contactable with inner wall surfaces of the

holes

12a and 13 a. The stopper 45a contacts the inner wall surfaces of the

holes

12a and 13a, thereby limiting the amount of rotation of the head support 45.

An elastic member 47 is interposed between the head support 45 and the back plate portion 11. The elastic member 47 biases the head support 45 and the back plate portion 11 toward directions away from each other. That is, the elastic member 47 is configured to always press the head support 45 forward. A plurality of (three in the present embodiment) elastic members 47 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction L2.

As shown in fig. 2, the platen roller 50 is disposed to face the thermal head 40 with the rotation axis O aligned with the left-right direction L2. The platen roller 50 rotates about the rotation axis O with the recording paper P sandwiched between the thermal head 40, and feeds out the recording paper P in the direction indicated by the arrow a.

As shown in fig. 3, the platen roller 50 includes a roller shaft 51, a roller body 52 externally attached to the roller shaft 51, and a pair of bearings 53 attached to both ends of the roller shaft 51. The roller shaft 51 is formed slightly longer than the separation distance between the first side wall portion 12 and the second side wall portion 13 of the main body frame 10. The roller main body 52 is formed of, for example, rubber, and is disposed uniformly throughout the entire body along the left-right direction L2 except for portions corresponding to both ends of the roller shaft 51.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, with respect to the platen roller 50, a pair of bearings 53 fitted at both ends are inserted into the first roller insertion groove 14A and the second roller insertion groove 14B of the main body frame 10. The bearing 53 is held in the first roller insertion groove 14A and the second roller insertion groove 14B by a locking spring 19 supported by the main body frame 10. Thereby, the platen roller 50 is rotatably held with respect to the main body frame 10. The platen roller 50 is attachable to and detachable from the main body frame 10 by elastically deforming the locking spring 19 and advancing and retreating the bearing 53 in the first roller insertion groove 14A and the second roller insertion groove 14B. The platen roller 50 is provided so as to sandwich the recording paper P drawn out from the roll paper R (see fig. 1) while being inserted into the first roller insertion groove 14A and the second roller insertion groove 14B, and the roller main body 52 is in contact with the thermal head 40.

As shown in fig. 3, a driven gear 54 is fixed to the other (right) end of the platen roller 50 in the left-right direction L2. When the platen roller 50 is held by the first side wall portion 12 and the second side wall portion 13, the driven gear 54 is assembled to the upper portion of the gear box portion 15. The driven gear 54 meshes with the second reduction gear 32. Thereby, the rotational driving force from the motor 60 is transmitted to the driven gear 54 via the first reduction gear 31 and the second reduction gear 32. The platen roller 50 is rotatable while being held by the first side wall portion 12 and the second side wall portion 13, and feeds out the recording paper P (see fig. 2).

As shown in fig. 4, the flexible printed board 70 electrically connects the thermal head 40, the motor 60, and a sensor 80 described later to the control unit 5 of the portable terminal 1 via a wiring pattern formed on the flexible printed board 70. The flexible printed board 70 supplies power to the thermal head 40, the motor 60, and the sensor 80, and inputs and outputs signals to and from the control unit 5. The flexible printed board 70 includes a base portion 71 disposed along the lower surface of the back plate portion 11, an extension portion 72 branched from the base portion 71, a motor connection portion 73, a head connection portion 74, and a sensor connection portion 75.

The base portion 71 is disposed such that the front surface and the back surface face the vertical direction L1. The base portion 71 extends in the left-right direction L2 along the lower surface of the back plate portion 11. The protruding portion 72 extends from the rear end edge of the base portion 71. The protruding portion 72 has a terminal at the tip end thereof connected to the control portion 5. All the wirings extending toward the terminals are arranged in the protruding portion 72. The motor connecting part 73 is electrically connected to the motor 60. The motor connecting portion 73 is connected to the motor 60 after extending from the front end edge of the base portion 71 through below the protruding portion 72 and downward to the rear of the motor 60.

The head connecting portion 74 is electrically connected to the thermal head 40. The head connecting portion 74 extends upward from the front end edge of the base portion 71 through the space between the back plate portion 11 and the paper guide portion 18, and then is connected to the thermal head 40. The sensor connecting portion 75 is electrically connected to the sensor 80 (refer to fig. 3). The sensor connecting portion 75 extends forward from the rear end edge of the base portion 71 below the base portion 71, extends upward in front of the head connecting portion 74 between the back plate portion 11 and the paper guide portion 18, and is supported by the paper guide portion 18.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the flexible printed substrate of the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 5, the sensor connection portion 75 includes a sensor package portion 76 in which the sensor 80 is packaged, and a tab portion 77 extending from the sensor package portion 76 toward the base portion 71 (see fig. 4).

The sensor 80 detects the recording paper P guided by the guide surface 20 described later and directed toward the thermal head 40. The sensor 80 is, for example, a reflection type PI sensor. The sensor 80 is configured such that light emitted from the light-emitting portion is reflected by the recording paper P and the reflected light can be detected by the light-receiving portion. For example, when the light-receiving portion of the sensor 80 detects reflected light of a predetermined intensity, the control unit 5 of the portable terminal 1 determines that the recording paper P is present within the detection range of the sensor 80.

The sensor package portion 76 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The sensor package portion 76 includes a package surface 76a on which the sensor 80 is packaged and a back surface 76b (see fig. 7) on the opposite side of the package surface 76 a. The sensor package portion 76 is more difficult to flex than the tab portion 77. For example, the sensor package portion 76 is formed thicker than the tab portion 77. The sensor package portion 76 has an engaged portion 81. The locked portion 81 is formed so as to penetrate the sensor package portion 76 in the thickness direction and be lockable to the protrusion structure. The engaged portions 81 are cut at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sensor package portion 76. The engaged portions 81 each extend with a certain width in the longitudinal direction of the sensor package portion 76.

A pair of notches 82 are formed in parallel at the end edges of the sensor package portion 76 along the longitudinal direction. A pair of cutouts 82 is formed only on one side with respect to the sensor 80 in the longitudinal direction of the sensor package portion 76. A tab portion 77 is connected between the pair of slits 82.

The tab portion 77 is not arranged further forward than the sensor package portion 76. The tab portion 77 is connected to the sensor package portion via a bent portion 78 between a pair of cutouts 82. The tab portion 77 is connected to the base portion 71 of the flexible printed substrate 70 after extending along the back face 76b of the sensor package portion 76 from between the pair of cutouts 82.

The paper guide 18 will be described in detail. As shown in fig. 3, the paper guide 18 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the left-right direction L2. The paper guide 18 has a guide surface 20, and the guide surface 20 guides the recording paper P drawn out from the roll paper R (see fig. 1) in front of the printing unit 6 to between the thermal head 40 and the platen roller 50. The guide surface 20 extends downward and forward from the upper end edge of the paper guide 18 on the thermal head 40 side as a whole, and faces the space in front of the printing unit 6. Specifically, the guide surface 20 includes a first guide surface 20A extending forward and downward from an upper end edge of the paper guide 18, and a second guide surface 20B extending downward from a front end edge of the first guide surface 20A. The first guide surface 20A and the second guide surface 20B are formed in flat surfaces along the left-right direction L2. In the present embodiment, the first guide surface 20A is inclined at 37.5 ° with respect to the head surface 40A of the thermal head 40. The rear surface of the paper guide 18 is connected to the rear end edge of the first guide surface 20A. The lower surface of the paper guide 18 is connected to the lower end edge of the second guide surface 20B.

The paper guide 18 is formed with a housing portion 21 for housing the sensor package portion 76 of the flexible printed board 70. The accommodating portion 21 is formed in a concave shape that opens on the guide surface 20. Further, the accommodating portion 21 is open from the guide surface 20 to the rear surface and the lower surface of the paper guide portion 18. The accommodating portion 21 is larger than the sensor packaging portion 76 on both sides in the left-right direction L2 on the second guide surface 20B, and is open on the side away from the thermal head 40.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing a part of the printing unit of the first embodiment. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the printing unit according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front lower side.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, in the accommodating portion 21, a first holding portion 22, a second holding portion 23, and a base portion 24 protrude. The first holding portion 22 protrudes from the left side wall of the accommodating portion 21 toward the right side. The second holding portion 23 protrudes toward the left side from the right side wall of the housing portion 21. The first holding portion 22 and the second holding portion 23 extend along the boundaries of the first guide surface 20A and the second guide surface 20B, respectively. The first holding portion 22 and the second holding portion 23 are formed with the tip ends spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction L2. The first holding portion 22 and the second holding portion 23 are located above the lower end edge of the second guide surface 20B. Thereby, the accommodating portion 21 is opened between the first holding portion 22 and the second holding portion 23 and below the first holding portion 22 and the second holding portion 23. The base portion 24 protrudes from the inner wall of the accommodating portion 21 toward the opening on the guide surface 20. The base portion 24 is formed between the first holding portion 22 and the second holding portion 23 in the left-right direction L2.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of fig. 6. As shown in fig. 8, the first holding portion 22 includes a first supporting surface 22 a. The first support surface 22a is formed in a flat surface shape extending in the left-right direction L2. The first support surface 22a faces in a direction at an acute angle with respect to the downward direction and the rearward direction. The first support surface 22a extends parallel to the first guide surface 20A.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view at line IX-IX of fig. 6. As shown in fig. 9, the second holding portion 23 includes a second support surface 23 a. The second supporting surface 23a is formed in a flat surface shape extending in the left-right direction L2. The second support surface 23a faces in a direction at an acute angle with respect to the downward direction and the rearward direction. The second support surface 23a extends along the same imaginary plane as the first support surface 22 a. The second support surface 23a extends in parallel with the first guide surface 20A.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of fig. 6. As shown in fig. 10, the base portion 24 includes a third support surface 24 a. The third supporting surface 24a is formed in a flat surface shape extending in the left-right direction L2. The third support surface 24a faces in a direction at an acute angle with respect to the upward and forward directions. The third support surface 24a extends in parallel with the first support surface 22a and the second support surface 23 a. The third supporting surface 24a faces the first supporting surface 22a and the second supporting surface 23a at a distance from each other when viewed in the left-right direction L2. The distance between the third support surface 24a and the first and second support surfaces 22a and 23a is substantially the same as the thickness of the sensor package portion 76 when viewed in the left-right direction L2.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, a sensor package 76 is attached to the housing 21. The sensor package portion 76 is disposed in a state where the longitudinal direction coincides with the left-right direction L2. The sensor package portion 76 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the first support surface 22a and the second support surface 23a and the third support surface 24a when viewed from the left-right direction L2 (see fig. 8 to 10). The sensor package portion 76 is disposed such that a first end portion 76c in the longitudinal direction overlaps the first support surface 22a and a second end portion 76d in the longitudinal direction overlaps the second support surface 23 a. The sensor package 76 is supported by the third support surface 24a from the back side of the sensor 80. The sensor package portion 76 is disposed such that the connection portion with the tab portion 77 is positioned on the opening side on the second guide surface 20B. The sensor package portion 76 is biased toward the first support surface 22a and the second support surface 23a by the restoring force of the bent portion 78 provided at the connection portion with the tab portion 77.

As shown in fig. 10, the sensor package portion 76 is disposed such that the package surface 76a faces the opening side on the guide surface 20. In the present embodiment, the first support surface 22a, the second support surface 23a, and the third support surface 24a extend parallel to the first guide surface 20A, and thus the sensor 80 faces the normal direction of the first guide surface 20A. Thereby, the sensor 80 is oriented in a direction inclined at an acute angle with respect to the thickness direction of the thermal head 40. The sensor 80 is oriented in the normal direction of the package surface 76a of the sensor package 76.

As shown in fig. 7, the paper guide 18 includes a locking projection 26 that locks the sensor package 76 accommodated in the accommodating portion 21. The locking projection 26 includes a boss 27 formed on the first support surface 22a and a spanning projection 28 formed on the second support surface 23 a.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the boss 27 protrudes from the first support surface 22a in the normal direction of the first support surface 22 a. The side surface of the boss 27 is orthogonal with respect to the first support surface 22 a. In the present embodiment, the boss 27 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The boss 27 is inserted into the engaged portion 81 penetrating the sensor package portion 76 on the first end portion 76c side.

As shown in fig. 7 and 9, the spanning projection 28 projects from the second support surface 23a in the normal direction of the second support surface 23 a. The engaged portion 81 penetrating the sensor package portion 76 on the second end portion 76d side is inserted over the protrusion 28. The side surface of the spanning projection 28 has a guide surface 28 a. The guide surface 28a is inclined with respect to the surface direction of the sensor package portion 76. The guide surface 28a is inclined so as to be apart from an imaginary plane that extends the second support surface 23a along the surface direction of the second support surface 23a from the opening side on the second guide surface 20B toward the inside of the accommodating portion 21.

In the above configuration, when the sensor sealing portion 76 is attached to the paper guide 18, first, the first end portion 76c of the sensor sealing portion 76 is inserted from the opening of the accommodating portion 21 on the second guide surface 20B, and the boss 27 is inserted into the engaged portion 81 on the first end portion 76c side of the sensor sealing portion 76. At this time, the locked portion 81 is a notch, and therefore the sensor package portion 76 can be locked to the locking protrusion 26 without bending the sensor package portion 76. Next, the sensor package portion 76 is rotated about the locking projection 26, and the second end portion 76d of the sensor package portion 76 is inserted into the accommodating portion 21. In the process of inserting the second end portion 76d of the sensor package 76 into the accommodating portion 21, after the second end portion 76d of the sensor package 76 comes into sliding contact with the guide surface 28a of the spanning protrusion 28 and rides up the spanning protrusion 28, the spanning protrusion 28 is inserted into the engaged portion 81 on the second end portion 76d side. As described above, the sensor sealing portion 76 is attached to a predetermined position of the paper guide 18.

As described above, the printing unit 6 of the present embodiment includes: a flexible printed substrate 70 having a sensor package portion 76 in which a sensor 80 is packaged; and a main body frame 10 having a locking projection 26 for locking the sensor package portion 76. According to this configuration, the sensor package 76 is locked to the locking projection 26 of the main body frame 10, and the sensor package 76 can be attached without combining another member with the main body frame 10. Therefore, the print unit 6 can be provided in a smaller size than a configuration in which the sensor package portion is attached to the main body frame by combining a separate member with the main body frame.

The locking projection 26 includes a spanning projection 28, and the spanning projection 28 has a guide surface 28a on a side surface thereof, the guide surface being inclined with respect to a surface direction of the sensor package portion 76. The sensor package 76 includes a locked portion 81 that penetrates the sensor package 76 in the thickness direction and is inserted through over the protrusion 28. According to this configuration, the sensor packing portion 76 is displaced in the surface direction thereof and is brought into sliding contact with the guide surface 28a of the spanning protrusion 28, whereby the sensor packing portion 76 can be made to ascend the spanning protrusion 28. Then, the sensor package portion 76 that has stepped up the spanning protrusion 28 is further displaced in the surface direction thereof so as to bring the engaged portion 81 closer to the spanning protrusion 28, whereby the spanning protrusion 28 can be inserted through the engaged portion 81. Therefore, the operability can be improved compared with a configuration in which the operator handles the sensor package portion 76 to be lifted in the thickness direction thereof when the sensor package portion 76 is locked to the locking projection. In addition, since it is possible to suppress the sensor package portion 76 from being greatly deflected by application of an excessive force to the sensor package portion 76, it is possible to suppress a trouble such as disconnection from occurring in the sensor package portion 76. Therefore, the reliability of the printing unit 6 can be improved.

The locking projection 26 includes a boss 27 extending in the thickness direction of the sensor package 76. The sensor package portion 76 includes an engaged portion 81 that is cut at an end edge and is inserted through by the boss 27. According to this configuration, the boss 27 can be disposed inside the engaged portion 81 by displacing the sensor package portion 76 in the surface direction thereof. This allows the sensor package portion 76 to be locked to the boss 27 without displacing the sensor package portion 76 in the thickness direction thereof. Therefore, the operability can be improved compared with a configuration in which the operator lifts up the sensor housing portion 76 in the thickness direction thereof when the sensor housing portion 76 is locked to the locking protrusion. In addition, since it is possible to suppress the sensor package portion 76 from being greatly deflected by application of an excessive force to the sensor package portion 76, it is possible to suppress a trouble such as disconnection from occurring in the sensor package portion 76. Therefore, the reliability of the printing unit 6 can be improved.

The body frame 10 has a base portion 24 that supports the sensor package 76 from the back side of the sensor 80. With this configuration, the position of the sensor 80 can be stabilized. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the recording paper P by the sensor 80 can be stabilized.

The flexible printed board 70 includes a tab portion 77 extending from the sensor package portion 76 along the back surface 76b of the sensor package portion 76. According to this configuration, since the recording paper P is disposed on the package surface 76a side, the interference of the tab portion 77 with the recording paper P can be suppressed by making the tab portion 77 along the back surface 76b of the sensor package portion 76. Therefore, the stain of the recording paper P due to the contact of the projecting portion 77 can be suppressed.

The paper guide 18 has a guide surface 20 that guides the recording paper P toward the thermal head 40. The paper guide 18 is formed with a housing portion 21 for housing the sensor sealing portion 76. The accommodating portion 21 is larger on both sides than the sensor packaging portion 76 in the left-right direction L2 on the guide surface 20 and is open on the side away from the thermal head 40. With this configuration, the sensor package portion 76 can be accommodated in the accommodating portion 21 from the side away from the thermal head 40. Thus, a space through which the sensor sealing portion 76 passes when the sensor sealing portion 76 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 21 is not required to be provided between the paper guide portion 18 and the thermal head 40, and therefore the paper guide portion 18 can be disposed close to the thermal head 40. Therefore, the printing unit 6 can be further miniaturized.

A pair of notches 82 are formed in parallel at the end edge of the sensor package portion 76. The tab portion 77 is connected between the pair of slits 82. According to this configuration, stress applied to the connection portion between the sensor package portion 76 and the tab portion 77 can be concentrated on the notch 82. This can suppress the occurrence of contact failure of the sensor 80 due to stress applied to the mounting portion (welded portion) of the sensor 80. Therefore, the reliability of the printing unit 6 can be improved.

The sensor 80 is oriented in a direction inclined at an acute angle with respect to the thickness direction of the thermal head 40. According to this configuration, since the sensor package portion 76 is disposed obliquely to the thickness direction of the thermal head 40, the area occupied by the sensor package portion 76 in the thickness direction of the thermal head 40 can be reduced. Therefore, the printing unit 6 can be miniaturized in the thickness direction of the thermal head 40, and the roll paper R of the recording paper P can be arranged closer to the printing unit 6.

The tab portion 77 is connected to the sensor package portion 76 via a bent portion 78. The sensor package portion 76 is biased in a direction of being held and locked to the locking protrusion 26 by a restoring force of the bent portion 78. According to this configuration, the sensor package 76 can be held at the predetermined position of the main body frame 10 without providing a structure for restricting the sensor package 76 from coming off the locking protrusion 26 on at least one of the sensor package 76 and the main body frame 10. Therefore, the fixing structure of the sensor 80 can be suppressed from being complicated.

The portable terminal 1 of the present embodiment is provided with the miniaturized printing unit 6, and thus can be made smaller than before.

Fig. 11 and 13 are perspective views of a printing unit according to a second embodiment. Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the printing unit of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the inclination angle of the first guide surface 120A is different from that of the first guide surface 20A of the first embodiment. The configuration other than the following description is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 11 to 13, the main body frame 10 of the printing unit 6A includes a paper guide 118 instead of the paper guide 18 of the first embodiment. The paper guide 118 has a guide surface 120. The guide surface 120 extends downward and forward from the upper end edge of the paper guide 118 on the thermal head 40 side as a whole, and faces the space in front of the printing unit 6A. Specifically, the guide surface 120 includes a first guide surface 120A extending forward and downward from an upper end edge of the paper guide portion 118, and a second guide surface 120B extending downward from a front end edge of the first guide surface 120A. The first guide surface 120A and the second guide surface 120B are each formed in a flat surface shape along the left-right direction L2. In the present embodiment, the first guide surface 120A is inclined at 80 ° with respect to the head surface 40A of the thermal head 40.

The paper guide 118 is formed with a housing portion 121 that houses the sensor package portion 76 of the flexible printed board 70. The sensor package portion 76 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 121 in a state where the longitudinal direction coincides with the left-right direction L2. The accommodating portion 121 is formed in a concave shape that opens in the guide surface 120. Further, the accommodating portion 121 is opened from the guide surface 120 to the rear surface and the lower surface of the paper guide portion 118. The accommodating portion 121 is larger than the sensor packaging portion 76 on both sides in the left-right direction L2 on the second guide surface 120B, and is open on the side away from the thermal head 40.

Fig. 14 is a front view showing a part of a printing unit according to the second embodiment. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a part of the printing unit according to the second embodiment as viewed from the front lower side. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in fig. 14. As shown in fig. 14 to 16, in the housing portion 121, the first holding portion 22, the second holding portion 23, and the base portion 24 protrude, similarly to the housing portion 21 of the first embodiment. The sensor package 76 is mounted in the housing 121. In the present embodiment, the sensor 80 faces the normal direction of the first guide surface 120A. Thereby, the sensor 80 is oriented in a direction inclined at an acute angle with respect to the thickness direction of the thermal head 40.

As described above, since the printing unit 6A of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the printing unit 6 of the first embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments described with reference to the drawings, and various modifications are conceivable within the technical scope thereof. For example, in the above embodiment, the

printing units

6 and 6A hold the platen roller 50 in the

roller insertion grooves

14A and 14B of the main body frame 10 by the locking spring 19. However, the printing unit may be configured to hold the platen roller in the roller insertion groove by a lock arm provided rotatably with respect to the main body frame.

In addition, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A printing unit includes:

a platen roller that conveys a recording sheet;

a thermal head that is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the platen roller and prints on the recording paper;

a sensor that is disposed facing the platen roller and detects the recording paper;

a flexible printed substrate having a sensor packaging portion in which the sensor is packaged; and

and a frame which rotatably supports the platen roller and has a locking protrusion which locks the sensor package.

2. The printing unit according to claim 1,

the locking protrusion includes a spanning protrusion having a side surface facing a direction inclined with respect to a surface direction of the sensor package,

the sensor package portion includes a first engaged portion that penetrates the sensor package portion in a thickness direction and is inserted and penetrated by the spanning protrusion.

3. The printing unit according to claim 2,

the locking projection is provided with a boss extending in the thickness direction of the sensor package part,

the sensor package portion includes a second portion to be locked, which is cut at an end edge and is inserted through the boss.

4. The printing unit according to claim 3,

the frame has a base portion that supports the sensor package from a backside of the sensor.

5. The printing unit according to claim 4,

the sensor package portion has a package face in which the sensor is packaged and a back face on a side opposite to the package face,

the flexible printed board includes a tab portion extending from the sensor package portion along the back surface.

6. The printing unit according to claim 5,

the frame has a paper guide extending in an axial direction of the platen roller,

the paper guide has a guide surface for guiding the recording paper to the thermal head,

an accommodating portion for accommodating the sensor packing portion is formed in the paper guide portion,

the accommodating portion is larger than the sensor package portion on both sides in the axial direction on the guide surface, and is open on a side away from the thermal head.

7. The printing unit according to claim 6,

the flexible printed substrate is provided with a tab portion extending from the sensor package portion,

a pair of notches are formed side by side at the end edge of the sensor package portion,

the tab portion is connected between the pair of cutouts.

8. The printing unit according to claim 7,

the sensor faces a direction inclined at an acute angle with respect to a thickness direction of the thermal head.

9. The printing unit according to claim 8,

the tab portion is connected via a bend relative to the sensor package,

the sensor package portion is biased in a direction of keeping the locking protrusion by a restoring force of the bent portion.

10. The printing unit according to claim 1,

11. The printing unit according to claim 1,

12. The printing unit according to claim 1,

13. The printing unit according to claim 1,

the frame has a paper guide portion extending in an axial direction of the platen roller,

a receiving portion for receiving the sensor packing portion is formed in the paper guide portion,

14. The printing unit according to claim 1,

the tab portion is connected between the pair of cutouts.

15. The printing unit according to claim 1,

16. The printing unit according to claim 1,

the tab portion is connected via a bend relative to the sensor package,

17. A portable terminal comprising the printing unit according to claim 1.