JP2000229448A - Portable printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a portable printer and to prevent heat accumulation on a thermal head, thereby preventing lowering of printing quality. SOLUTION: An image recorder body 10 comprises a platen roller 3 for receiving a pressure of a thermal head 1 for thermal recording which is provided at a portion opposite to the thermal head 1, a paper conveying roller 8 for conveying a recording paper 5 provided between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 3 and a battery 4 for supplying an electric energy to the thermal head 1. This printer has the body 10 and a recording paper cassette 13 containing the recording paper 5 therein which is independent of the body 10. A pair of engaging bosses 17 protruding from the cassette 13 and a pair of hooks 14 protruding from the body 10 can be engaged or disengaged with each other so that the body 10 and cassette 13 can be integrated or separated. An opening 20 for radiating the heat generated on the thermal head 1 to the outside of a housing of the image recorder body 10 is provided at a part of the housing facing the thermal head 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable printer, and more particularly, to a portable printer having a thermal head of a thermal recording system.
A platen roller for receiving a pressing force from the thermal head at a position facing the thermal head,
Further, an image recording apparatus main body having a paper transport roller for transporting the recording paper and having a battery for supplying electric energy to the thermal head, and a separate recording paper body for housing the recording paper inside the housing And a recording paper cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-205461, there is a portable printer as shown in FIG. In the portable printer shown in FIG. 4, a thermal head 1 for performing thermal recording is different from a flat heater structure employed in a home thermal recording head in order to reduce the size of an image recording apparatus main body. And an end face type thermal head structure. In this end face type thermal head structure,
An ink sheet 2 for forming an image is attached from the side of the main body so as to surround the thermal head 1.

Further, a platen roller 3 having the same axial direction as the direction coincident with the longitudinal direction of the thermal head 1 is disposed at a position facing the thermal head 1.
The surface of the platen roller 3 is formed of an elastic member. As a surface material, generally, silicon rubber,
Chloroprene rubber is used.

[0004] Next, the battery 4 for causing the image recording apparatus main body 10 to perform an image recording operation is provided by the image recording apparatus main body 10.
The device is inserted from the side of the device. Further, the recording paper 5 for image recording is loaded from a door 6 provided in a part of the image recording apparatus main body 10 and pressed against a paper pickup roller 7.

As described above, by adopting the configuration as shown in FIG. 4, the recording paper 5 is transported between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 3 by the paper transport roller 8 from the recording paper storage (30, 31, 7). And a predetermined recording operation is performed.

The recording operation is performed by reciprocating the recording paper 5 and the ink sheet 2 between the recording head 1 and the platen roller 3. First, recording is performed in a state where one color is recorded. With the sheet 5 protruding from the image recording apparatus main body 10, the sheet 5 enters a standby state in which the sheet 5 waits for a recording operation of the next color. In the figure, reference numeral 32 denotes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a circuit for controlling the operation of each unit is mounted.

[0007]

In the above-described conventional configuration, when printing is performed on a recording sheet loaded in the main body of the image recording apparatus for image recording, the recording operation is performed by the number of colors of the ink sheet. In this case, the recording paper protrudes from the main body, and when the recording paper protrudes from the main body, the recording paper in an unrecorded state may be pulled out of the image recording apparatus main body. Was. In addition, since the thermal recording principle is used, the printed image may be disturbed due to the accumulation of heat in the thermal head, and it is necessary to provide a heat dissipation opening in the housing as a heat dissipation measure. In this case, foreign matter and dust are mixed in from outside when carrying the portable telephone, so that it is necessary to provide a mechanism for closing the heat radiation opening.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a portable printer according to the present invention uses a recording paper as a recording paper cassette instead of a recording paper conventionally loaded in the main body of the image recording apparatus. The recording paper cassette is loaded into the image recording apparatus main body by using a boss or the like to connect the recording paper cassette and the recording paper cassette to each other.

Thus, in the conventional apparatus, there is no opening for heat radiation, and the recording paper is stored in the main body. Therefore, the projection area of the main body of the apparatus is increased. The paper cassette is separated from the main body of the image recording apparatus, and when the main body of the image recording apparatus is stored, the recording paper cassette is folded and brought into close contact with the main body of the image recording apparatus, so that the apparatus can be downsized. it can.

Further, a portable printer according to the present invention comprises:
When the printer main body is carried, the two parts are folded around the connecting portion between the image recording apparatus main body and the recording paper cassette, and at this time, the image recording apparatus main body is provided near the thermal head. In order to prevent foreign matter and dust from entering the inside of the image recording apparatus main body through the opening for releasing heat generated from the thermal head to the outside, the recording paper is used. The cassette is configured to close the opening for heat radiation.

[0011] This makes it possible to reduce the projected area when the image recording apparatus main body is carried, and
It is possible to reduce disturbances and changes in images during continuous printing due to heat storage of the thermal head.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable printer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image recording apparatus main body including a battery, a recording sheet transport section, and an image recording section inside a housing, and the image recording apparatus. It has a recording paper cassette that contains recording paper inside, which is separate from the main body, and the image recording apparatus main body and the recording paper cassette can be integrated or separated, An opening for releasing heat generated from the image recording section to the outside of the casing is provided in a part of the casing of the image recording apparatus main body in a region facing the image recording section. It is assumed that.

As a result, in the conventional apparatus, the projection area of the main body of the image recording apparatus is increased because there is no opening for heat radiation and the recording paper has to be accommodated in the main body. The cassette can be made separate from the image recording apparatus main body, and the recording paper cassette can be folded down during storage and brought into close contact with the image recording apparatus main body to reduce the size of the apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable printer, comprising: a thermal head of a thermal recording system; and a platen provided at a position facing the thermal head for receiving a pressing force from the thermal head. An image recording apparatus main body including a roller, a paper transport roller provided between the thermal head and the platen roller for transporting recording paper, and a battery for supplying electric energy to the thermal head. A recording paper cassette which accommodates the recording paper therein, which is separate from the image recording apparatus main body, wherein the image recording apparatus main body and the recording paper cassette are a pair protruding from the recording paper cassette. By engaging the engagement boss with a pair of hooks protruding from the image recording apparatus main body, they can be integrated or separated. And an opening for releasing heat generated from the thermal head to the outside of the housing is provided in a part of the housing of the image recording apparatus body facing the thermal head. It is characterized by the following.

Thus, in the conventional apparatus, the projection area of the image recording apparatus main body is increased because the opening for heat radiation is not provided and the recording paper has to be accommodated in the image recording apparatus main body. However, since the recording paper cassette is separate from the image recording apparatus main body and is configured to be engageable with each other, the recording paper cassette is folded when the image recording apparatus main body itself is stored, and By being in close contact with the recording device body, and
By closing the opening for releasing heat generated from the thermal head during image recording by the recording paper cassette,
This prevents dust and the like from entering the vicinity of the thermal head when being carried, and can reduce the size of the apparatus.

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 corresponding to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, a platen roller 3 whose surface is made of an elastic material such as silicon rubber or chloroprene rubber is opposed to the thermal head 1 so that the platen roller 3 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the thermal head 1. To be installed in A transport roller 8 for transporting a sheet is provided at the center of the image recording apparatus main body 10, and the recording sheet 5 drawn into the image recording apparatus main body 10 from the pickup roller 11 is transferred to the thermal head 1 and the platen roller. 3 is conveyed to an image recording area.

A hook 14 for engaging the image recording apparatus main body 10 with the recording paper cassette 13 is provided in a portion from the pickup roller 11 to the outside of the recording paper insertion slit 12. I have.

The recording paper cassette 13 for storing the recording paper 5 contains the roll-shaped recording paper 34 therein. Further, at one end of the recording paper cassette 13, a paper draw-out slit 15 for pulling out the recording paper 5 is provided as an opening, and the recording paper 5 pulled out from the slit 15 is attached to the image recording apparatus main body. 10 is positioned approximately in the recording paper insertion slit 12 provided in the main body 10, and the engagement groove 1 in a hook 14 provided in the image recording apparatus main body 10.
6, a connection boss 17 provided at one end of the recording paper cassette 13 is connected while being inserted therebetween. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, a stopper 18 near the boss 17 sandwiches one end of a lever 19 for changing a gap between the recording pickup rollers 11 provided on the image recording apparatus main body 10. At the same time, it functions to regulate the vertical movement of the lever 19.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of projecting members of the boss 17 and the stopper 18 are used to mount the recording paper cassette 13 on the main body 10 of the image recording apparatus. Can be opened or closed. In this way, the image recording apparatus main body 10 and the recording paper cassette 13 are configured integrally. In the actual recording operation, the recording paper cassette 13 is placed in a posture substantially linearly arranged with respect to the recording apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and the recording operation is performed. is there.

Further, when the recording paper cassette 13 is folded by being rotated about the boss 17 and is in close contact with the image recording apparatus main body 10, the thermal head 1 of the image recording apparatus main body 10 is closed. Is located so as to close the opening 20 for releasing heat from the thermal head 1 provided in the vicinity of the thermal head 1. In this manner, a shielding plate for preventing entry of foreign matter and dust when carrying the apparatus is provided. It fulfills its work. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 32 denotes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a circuit for controlling the operation of each unit is mounted.

In the first embodiment as described above, the conventional apparatus does not have the opening for heat radiation and has to store the recording paper in the main body of the image recording apparatus. Although the projection area of the main body of the apparatus was large, the recording paper cassette was separated from the main body of the image recording apparatus and was configured to be able to engage with each other. By folding the recording paper cassette and bringing the recording paper cassette into close contact with the image recording apparatus main body, the apparatus can be reduced in size, and
By closing the opening for releasing heat generated from the thermal head during image recording by the recording paper cassette,
This prevents dust and the like from entering the vicinity of the thermal head during carrying.

[0023]

According to the portable printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image recording apparatus main body including a battery, a recording paper transport section, and an image recording section inside a housing, and the image recording apparatus It has a recording paper cassette that contains recording paper inside, which is separate from the main body, and the image recording apparatus main body and the recording paper cassette can be integrated or separated, In a part of the housing of the image recording apparatus main body, an opening for releasing heat generated from the image recording unit to the outside of the housing is provided in a region facing the image recording unit. In the conventional apparatus, the projection area of the image recording apparatus main body was large because there was no opening for heat radiation and the recording paper had to be accommodated in the main body. The image recording device body and And the body, further folding the recording paper cassette during storage, by so as to close contact with the image recording apparatus main body, in which the apparatus can be downsized.

Further, according to the portable printer according to the second aspect of the present invention, a thermal head using a thermal recording system,
A platen roller provided at a position facing the thermal head for receiving a pressing force from the thermal head; and a platen roller provided between the thermal head and the platen roller for transporting an upper recording sheet. An image recording apparatus main body including a sheet conveying roller, a battery for supplying electric energy to the thermal head, and a recording sheet cassette containing the recording sheet therein, which is separate from the image recording apparatus main body. The image recording apparatus main body and the recording paper cassette are integrally formed by engaging a pair of engagement bosses protruding from the recording paper cassette and a pair of hooks protruding from the image recording apparatus main body. Can be separated or separated, and a part of the housing portion facing the thermal head of the image recording apparatus main body. An opening for releasing heat generated from the thermal head to the outside of the housing is provided. The recording paper cassette is separate from the image recording apparatus main body and can be engaged with each other. When the image recording apparatus main body itself is stored, the recording paper cassette is folded and brought into close contact with the image recording apparatus main body, so that the apparatus can be downsized, and the heat generated from the thermal head during image recording can be reduced. By closing the opening for discharging the recording paper cassette with the recording paper cassette, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the vicinity of the thermal head when being carried.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portable printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the portable printer according to the first embodiment during printing.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portable printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional portable printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal head 2 Ink sheet 3 Platen roller 4 Battery 5 Recording paper 6 Door 7 Paper pickup roller 8 Paper conveyance roller 10 Image recording device main body 11 Pickup roller 12 Recording paper insertion slit 13 Recording paper cassette 14 Hook 15 Paper draw-out slit 16 Engage Groove 17 Boss 18 Stopper 19 Lever 20 Heat release opening 30 Press spring 31 Paper pawl nail 32 PCB (printed wiring board) 33 Paper guide 34 Roll paper 35 Clamper

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Mitsuaki Omichi 8-1, Koshinmachi, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture F-term (reference) in Matsushita Hisashi Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. 2C055 CC00 CC03 2C060 BA01 2C061 AP10 AQ04 BB02 BB06 BB35 CC05 CE01 CF06 3F052 AA01 AB05 BA00

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus main body including a battery, a recording sheet transport section, and an image recording section inside a housing, and a recording sheet containing recording paper inside, separate from the image recording apparatus main body. A paper cassette, wherein the image recording apparatus main body and the recording paper cassette can be integrated or separated, and a part of a housing of the image recording apparatus main body has the image A portable printer, characterized in that an opening for discharging heat generated from the image recording unit to the outside of the housing is provided in a region facing the recording unit. 2. A thermal head based on a thermal recording method, a platen roller provided at a position facing the thermal head for receiving a pressing force from the thermal head, and between the thermal head and the platen roller. An image recording apparatus main body provided with a paper conveying roller for conveying recording paper, and a battery for supplying electric energy to the thermal head; and the image recording apparatus main body separate from the image recording apparatus main body. A recording paper cassette for storing recording paper therein, wherein the image recording apparatus main body and the recording paper cassette are:
A pair of engagement bosses protruding from the recording paper cassette,
By engaging with a pair of hooks protruding from the image recording apparatus main body, the hooks can be integrated or separated. One of the housing portions of the image recording apparatus main body facing the thermal head can be used. An opening for releasing heat generated from the thermal head to the outside of the housing.