JP2000071524A - Portable printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly detect whether or not an open cover is closed. SOLUTION: An open cover for opening, closing a paper storage part is rotatably mounted to a main body case 11 equipped with the paper storage part. A thermal head is set to the open cover and a platen to be pressed in touch with the thermal head is set to the main body case 11. A slider knob 16 is set to the open cover which has an engaging projecting part 20 at one end. The slider knob is freely slidable between a position where the engaging projecting part 20 projects from an edge of the open cover and a position where the engaging projecting part does not project from the edge. The main body case 11 has an engagement hole 21 which is to be engaged with the engaging projecting part 20 projecting from the edge of the open cover in a state where the open cover is closed. The slider knob 16 has a part 23 to be detected which moves in accordance with the slide of the slider knob 16. A sensor 24 is arranged at a position to detect the part 23 from a direction approximately orthogonal to a movement direction of the part 23 in a state while the engagement hole 21 and the engaging projecting part 20 are engaged with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a portable printer that can be carried and used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a portable printer, a main body case having a paper storage portion for storing roll paper and a platen is provided.
An open cover is rotatably mounted, and the open cover opens and closes the sheet storage unit according to the rotation. A thermal head that presses against the platen with the paper storage unit closed is attached to the open cover.

In such a portable printer, if the open cover is not closed tightly, the thermal head and the platen may be separated or come into contact with each other, resulting in a poor printing state.

In order to prevent this, a sensor 3 for detecting whether the open cover 2 is open or closed is provided like the portable printer 1 shown in FIG. A protrusion 4 is formed on the inner surface of the open cover 2 to press the sensor 3 when the open cover 2 is closed.

When the sensor 3 is in the OFF state, it is determined that the open cover 2 is open, and control is performed so that printing is not performed or an error message is output.

[0006]

In the conventional portable printer 1 as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor 3 is pressed only when the open cover 2 is located at a predetermined position so that the sensor 3 is turned on. Is difficult to position.

If the position of the sensor 3 in the pressing direction is deviated from a predetermined position, the sensor 3 is turned on even if the open cover 2 is not firmly closed, or the sensor is turned on even if the sensor 3 is closed. Inconveniences such as 3 not being turned on occur.

An object of the present invention is to accurately detect that an open cover has been closed.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate positioning of a sensor for detecting that an open cover is closed.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable printer, comprising: a main body case having one of a thermal head and a platen; and a paper storage portion; An open cover in which the other of the thermal head and the platen is disposed at a position where the paper storage unit is opened and closed in accordance with movement, and the other of the thermal head and the platen is pressed against one of the thermal head and the platen with the paper storage unit closed; One end has a first fitting portion slidably provided on one of the open cover and the main body case and moving between a position protruding from one edge of the open cover and the main body case and a position not protruding. A slider knob, a biasing member for biasing the slider knob in a direction protruding from the edge, the open cover and the Provided on the other body casing, and the second fitting portion to which the first fitting portion open cover is protruded from the edge in the closed state of the said sheet storing section is fitted,
A detected part that moves in accordance with the sliding of the slider knob, and a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the detected part when the detected part in a state where the first fitting part and the second fitting part are fitted to each other; And a sensor disposed at a position for detecting from the sensor.

Therefore, it is possible to increase the stroke of the detected part, and therefore, even if the open cover is slightly opened, the position of the detected part can be shifted to a position where the sensor does not detect it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable printer according to the first aspect, wherein one or both of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are provided in a direction in which the open cover is closed. And a slope for obtaining a component force for moving the first fitting portion against a biasing force of the biasing member from a force in a direction to close the open cover.

Therefore, when closing the open cover, if a force is applied and pressed in the direction to close the open cover, the first fitting portion moves against the urging force of the urging member, and the open cover closes. .

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a portable printer 10 according to the present embodiment.
FIG.

The portable printer 10 includes a main body case 1
1 is provided with a paper storage unit (not shown) for storing roll paper. The body case 11 has an open cover 12
The open cover 12 opens and closes the paper storage unit according to the rotation.

A thermal head (not shown) is attached to the inner surface of the open cover 12, and a platen (not shown) that presses against the thermal head with the open cover 12 closed is provided. Is provided rotatably.

When the open cover 12 is closed, a paper transport path for transporting the roll paper pulled out of the paper storage unit between the thermal head and the platen is formed. The open cover 12 is provided with a paper discharge port 13 through which the paper conveyed through the paper conveyance path and printed by the thermal head is discharged.

The open cover 12 is provided with a pair of lock mechanisms 14 and 15. Lock mechanism 14
The structure of the lock mechanism 15 and the structure of the open cover 1
2 is symmetric about a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. FIG. 2 shows the structure of the lock mechanism 14.

The lock mechanism 14 has a slider knob 16 on which an operator puts a finger. A shaft 17 is attached to the slider knob 16 in parallel with the sliding direction. Axis 17
Penetrates a stopper portion 18 formed on the open cover 12. A spring 19 is mounted between the slider knob 16 and the stopper 18. The spring 19 urges the slider knobs 16 of the lock mechanisms 14 and 15 in directions away from each other.

The slider knob 16 is formed with a locking projection 20 which is a first fitting portion projecting from the edge of the open cover 12 by the bias of a spring 19. And
A locking hole 21 which is a second fitting portion for locking the locking projection 20 is formed on a surface 11 a of the main body case 11 opposite to both side edges of the open cover 12.

On the inner surface side of the slider knob 16, a guide slope 22 is formed which is inclined from the tip of the locking projection 20 so that the slider knob 16 becomes gradually thicker.

The shaft 17 has a detected part 23 formed thereon. A micro switch 24 serving as a sensor is arranged inside the main body case 11 so as to detect the detection target 23 with the open cover 12 closed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the detection target 23. Has been established.

In such a configuration, at the time of paper exchange and replenishment, or paper jam, the operator opens the open cover and performs various operations. To open the open cover 12, the slider knob 16 of each of the lock mechanisms 14 and 15 is opened.
Are moved in the directions approaching each other against the bias of the spring 19, so that the locking projections 20 and the locking holes 21 are formed.
Is released, and the open cover 12 is opened.

In order to close the open cover 12, FIG.
When a force in the direction of closing the open cover 12 is applied from the state shown in FIG.
Is pressed against the edge of the main body case 11 and slides, so that the spring 19 moves while contracting. FIG.
(B) is a state where the slider knob 16 has entered the inside of the main body case 11 to the tip of the locking projection 20. When a force in the closing direction is further applied to the open cover 12,
As shown in FIG. 2C, the locking projections 20 are locked in the locking holes 21, and the open cover 12 is completely closed.

Here, in the state where the open cover 12 shown in FIG. 2A is opened and the state where the open cover 12 shown in FIG. Since it is not located immediately above, the micro switch 24 is OFF. Only when the open cover 12 shown in FIG. 2C is completely closed, the detected part 23 is located immediately above the microswitch 24, the microswitch 24 is turned on, and the open cover 12 is completely closed. Is detected.

According to the present embodiment, since the microswitch 24 detects the detected portion 23 from a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the detected portion 23, the state in which the open cover 12 is closed halfway is provided. And a completely closed state. Therefore, printing is not performed in a state where the thermal cover attached to the open cover 12 is incompletely closed and the platen provided in the main body case 11 is separated from or separated from the thermal head attached to the open cover 12. Is controlled as follows.

Next, a second embodiment of the portable printer of the present invention will be described. The description of the same portions as those described in the previous embodiment will be omitted.

In this embodiment, contrary to the previous embodiment,
A slider knob provided with a locking projection serving as a first fitting portion is provided on the main body case, and a locking hole serving as a second fitting portion is provided on the open cover.

A shaft is attached to the slider knob in parallel with the sliding direction. The shaft passes through a stopper provided in the main body case. A spring is mounted between the slider knob and the stopper. Each slider knob is biased by the spring in a direction approaching each other. The locking projection projects from the edge of the main body case under the urging force of the spring.

On the outer surface of the slider knob, there is formed a guide inclined surface against which the edge of the open cover is pressed to slide when the open cover is closed.

A detection part is formed on the shaft. The main body case is provided with a microswitch, which is a sensor, at a position for detecting the detected portion with the open cover closed from a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the detected portion.

In such a configuration, when exchanging and replenishing paper, or when a paper jam occurs, the operator opens the open cover and performs various operations. To open the open cover, the slider knob is moved in a direction approaching each other against the bias of the spring, whereby the locked state by the locking of the locking projection and the locking hole is released, and the open cover is opened. Is released.

In order to close the open cover, when a force in a direction to close the open cover is applied, the edge of the open cover is pressed against the guide slope of the slider knob, so that the slider knob slides and is opposed to the bias of the spring. Moving. Then, when a force in the closing direction is further applied to the open cover, the locking projection is locked in the locking hole, and the open cover is completely closed.

Here, in the state where the open cover is opened and the state where the open cover is almost closed, the micro-switch is OFF because the detected part is not located immediately above the micro-switch. Only when the open cover is completely closed, the detected part is located immediately above the microswitch, the microswitch is turned on, and it is detected that the open cover is completely closed.

According to the present embodiment, similarly to the previous embodiment, the microswitch detects the detected portion from a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the detected portion, so that the open cover is at an odd end. The closed state and the completely closed state can be distinguished. Therefore, printing is not performed when the thermal head attached to the open cover is incompletely closed and the platen provided on the main body case is separated from or separated from the thermal head attached to the open cover. Is done.

In the first and second embodiments, a micro switch is used as a sensor, and the detection is performed by pressing the micro switch at the detected part. Even if other sensors are used, such as by detecting light by blocking light at the detected part, the presence or absence of the detected part is detected from a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the detected part. What is necessary is just to arrange the sensor so that it performs.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first fitting portion formed on the slider knob provided in the open cover or the main body case is fitted with the second fitting portion provided on the main body case or the open cover. Since the sensor is disposed at a position where the detected part in the state is detected from a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the detected part, it is possible to increase the stroke of the detected part. Even in the open state, the position of the detected portion can be shifted to a position not detected by the sensor, and therefore, it can be accurately detected whether the open cover is closed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first fitting portion is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the direction in which the open cover is closed, and moves from the force in the direction in which the open cover is closed in opposition to the biasing force of the biasing member. Since a slope for obtaining a component force is provided, when closing the open cover, the operator does not have to slide the slider knob, but only applies force and presses in the direction to close the open cover. The joint can move against the urging force of the urging member to close the open cover.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a portable printer according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view schematically showing a positional relationship between a position of a sensor that detects an open / closed state of an open cover and a detected portion provided on a slider knob of the open cover.

FIG. 3 is a left side view schematically illustrating an example of a sensor that detects opening and closing of an open cover provided in a conventional portable printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable printer 11 Main body case 12 Open cover 16 Slider knob 20 First fitting part 21 Second fitting part 23 Detected part 24 Sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] A main body case provided with one of a thermal head and a platen and a paper storage portion; a paper storage portion rotatably attached to the main body case and opening and closing the paper storage portion according to the rotation; An open cover in which the other of the thermal head and the platen is disposed at a position where the thermal head and the platen are pressed against one of the thermal head and the platen in a closed state, and slidably provided on one of the open cover and the main body case, A slider knob provided at one end with a first fitting portion that moves between a position protruding from one edge of the open cover and the body case and a position not protruding; and attaching the slider knob in a direction protruding from the edge. A biasing member for biasing, the other of the open cover and the main body case, wherein the open cover is A second fitting portion to which the first fitting portion protruding from the edge is fitted in a state in which the storage portion is closed; a detected portion that moves in accordance with sliding of the slider knob; A sensor disposed at a position for detecting the detected part in a state in which the second fitting part is fitted from a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the detected part. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is formed to be inclined with respect to a direction in which the open cover is closed, and the force is applied in a direction in which the open cover is closed. 2. The portable printer according to claim 1, further comprising a slope for obtaining a component force for moving the first fitting portion against the urging force of the urging member.