JP2001260468A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems wherein the size of a conventional printer is determined based on a recording paper cassette, a battery, a recording paper cassette, a signal processing circuit, an ink ribbon, a thermal head and a feeding drive section and then a depth dimension of the printer includes a depth dimension of the recording paper cassette and a space for reciprocally feeding the recording paper during the printing even when the height of the body is lowered so that the depth dimension of the whole housing is enlarged and the miniaturization allowing the portability is inhibited and the lightweight is inhibited when the battery is built in the housing. SOLUTION: This printer comprises an insertion hole for inserting a recording paper sheet provided to the front face of the body, a coupling means for detaching and attaching the battery provided to the rear face of the body, an insertion hole for inserting an ink ribbon provided to the side face of the body and a connecting means for the recording medium provide to the side face opposite to the side face having the ink ribbon insertion hole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small and portable thermal transfer printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an analog or digital moving image or still image signal captured and generated by an electronic camera, or image data (hereinafter simply referred to as an image signal) created by a computer device is displayed on a monitor such as a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal element. In addition, an image is printed on a recording sheet.

[0003] A printer apparatus for printing the image of the image signal on a recording sheet is configured such that an ink ribbon obtained by applying a heat transfer ink having a heat melting property or a heat sublimation property on a thin film film and a recording sheet are superimposed on a platen roller; The thermal transfer ink is transferred while being pressed and sandwiched between a platen roller and a thermal head, and during the transfer, a heating current corresponding to the image signal is applied to the thermal head to melt or sublimate the thermal transfer ink on the ink ribbon to transfer printing on a recording sheet. Have been.

On the other hand, as the size and weight of a video camera mainly for capturing moving images and a digital camera mainly for capturing still images have been reduced, a small-sized portable printer which prints a captured image signal on a recording sheet at a location where the video was captured has been developed. Apparatus has become desired.

[0005] An example of this small portable printer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-157113. In the printer device disclosed in this publication, when miniaturized, the quality of a printed image is affected by the temperature control of the thermal head that thermally transfers ink from the ink ribbon. Proposed.

[0006] The printer device proposed in the above publication mainly includes a winding and supply reel of an ink ribbon, a thermal head, a platen roller, a cabstan roller, a pinch roller, and the like in a housing. A transport driving unit that drives the ink ribbon and the recording paper, a cassette that stores the recording paper, a signal processing circuit that controls a printing operation of the transport driving unit and the thermal head, and a battery that is a power supply for driving the printer device; And a power supply conversion circuit for converting a potential from the battery into a predetermined voltage for driving each part of the printer device. With this printer device, in particular, by arranging the battery inside the housing, it is small and portable, and when making it small and portable, the thermistor provided on the thermal head generates heat. Printing is controlled by detecting the status.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-15 / 1999
The printer device proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7113 is a transport driving unit storing unit that stores a transport driving unit for an ink ribbon and recording paper, a cassette storing unit that stores a recording paper cassette, and a battery that stores a battery. Storage section,
In addition, it is necessary to arrange a circuit accommodating section for accommodating the signal processing circuit and the power conversion circuit. In particular, when the ink of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred to the recording paper, yellow (Y), magenta (M ), Cyan (C), transparent overcoat ink (OP), etc., in order to repeatedly apply a plurality of colors in order, after pulling out the recording paper from the recording paper cassette, use the platen roller and the thermal head. It is necessary to press the ink ribbon together with the ink ribbon for reciprocating conveyance, and it is necessary to ensure the conveyance distance of the recording paper during printing as the length of the housing.

Accordingly, the width dimension of the printer is determined by the width dimension of the recording paper cassette, and the height dimension is determined by the battery, the recording paper cassette and the signal processing circuit, or the ink ribbon, the thermal head and the transport drive unit.
Although it is thought that it can be made relatively thin, the depth dimension must be at least the depth dimension of the recording paper cassette and the dimension in which the recording paper is reciprocated and conveyed during printing. This is a factor that hinders miniaturization that can be carried around. In addition, since the battery is built in the housing, it becomes a factor that hinders miniaturization when carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a more compact and lightweight printer device and a portable printer device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer apparatus comprising: an insertion port provided at a front face of the apparatus for inserting a recording sheet; a connection means provided at a rear face of the apparatus for attaching and detaching a battery; And a recording medium connection means provided on a side of the apparatus opposite to the side on which the ink ribbon insertion port is provided.

[0011] The recording medium connecting means of the printer device according to the present invention has an insertion port into which the recording medium is inserted.

[0012] The printer device of the present invention is characterized in that a PC interface means and / or a DC inlet are provided on a side surface on which the connection means for the recording medium is provided.

In the printer apparatus of the present invention, at least two of the connection means for the recording medium, the PC interface means, and the DC inlet are provided on the same side surface, and one openable and closable cover covering these is provided. Is provided.

In the printer apparatus of the present invention, when an image is formed on a recording sheet inserted from the front of the apparatus, the conveying path in which the recording sheet is conveyed has a substantially arc shape in the sheet feeding direction. A guide member formed in a substantially circular arc shape, a chassis to which the guide member is fixed, and an ink ribbon and recording paper that are concentratedly arranged on the side of the chassis opposite to the ink ribbon insertion opening. A drive mechanism, a first circuit board provided on the bottom surface side of the recording paper transport path, and the first circuit board provided parallel to a back surface on which the battery is mounted and near the inside of the back exterior member. And a second circuit board mounted in a substantially L-shape.

The printer device of the present invention is characterized in that a DC inlet is mounted in a space formed between the substantially arc-shaped portion of the guide member and the first and second circuit boards.

The printer of the present invention is characterized in that an openable and closable cover for covering the ink ribbon insertion opening is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the battery is connected to the outside of the back of the printer.

According to the present invention, a recording paper insertion slot is provided at the front of the apparatus, and a connection means for attaching and detaching a battery is provided at the back of the apparatus. Insert the ink ribbon from one of the
The recording medium is inserted from the other side and the DC interface of the power supply terminal instead of the PC interface means and the battery is provided so that the width dimension is slightly larger than the recording paper width dimension. Further, the recording paper at the time of printing is guided and conveyed by a substantially arc-shaped guide member, and a thermal head holding member is arranged in a substantially arc-shaped inner surface space of the guide member, and one side surface is provided. By arranging the drive mechanism for the ink ribbon and the recording paper, the height and depth dimensions of the entire apparatus have been reduced, and it has become possible to provide a compact printer apparatus.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire configuration of an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a left side configuration of an embodiment of the printer apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a rear side configuration of the embodiment of the printer apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the printer device, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the printer device according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the printer device according to the present invention excluding a part of the internal configuration shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an electrical connection state of a battery provided on the back surface of the printer device according to the present invention. is there.

Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1 denotes a printer, which has a substantially rectangular cubic shape as a whole, and has a printer 1 on its upper surface.
There are provided input operation display means 12 such as an input switch for inputting one of various operations and a display indicating an operation operation state.
At the front of the printer device 11, a recording paper cassette 13 is attached and detached, and a recording paper insertion port 14 for inserting the recording paper stored in the recording paper cassette 13 into the printer device 11 is provided. This recording paper insertion slot 14 is
When the recording paper cassette 13 is not mounted, the recording paper cassette 13 is covered with the recording paper insertion opening cover 15. The recording paper cassette 13 has a storage portion 13a for storing a plurality of recording papers (not shown), and an elastic member (not shown) for pushing up the stored recording papers from the lower surface side to the upper surface side. The storage unit 13
cover member 13b that covers the upper surface side of the recording paper stored in
In addition, there is provided a recording paper outlet 13c formed in such a manner that a lid member 13b on the side where the recording paper cassette 13 is inserted into the recording paper insertion opening 14 of the printer device 11 is partially cut away. The recording paper pull-out port 13c is fitted with the recording paper pull-out roller 31 provided in the recording paper insertion opening 14, and presses the recording paper pressed upward by the elastic member to the recording paper pull-out roller 31. And
The rotation of the recording paper pull-out roller 31 causes the recording paper to be conveyed one by one into the printer device 11.

On the right side of the printer device 11 in the figure, an ink ribbon insertion port 17 for inserting the ink ribbon cassette 16 into a predetermined position in the printer device 11 is provided. The ink ribbon insertion opening 17 is covered with an ink ribbon insertion opening lid 18. In the ink ribbon cassette 16, a plurality of colors such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and transparent overcoat ink (OP) for thermal transfer were sequentially and repeatedly applied on a thin film. An ink ribbon 16a, a supply reel storage section 16c storing a supply reel (not shown) around which the ink ribbon 16a is wound,
The take-up reel storage section 16b storing a take-up reel (not shown) that takes up a, and the ink ribbon 16a stretched between the supply reel storage section 16c and the take-up reel storage section 16b are exposed. And an opening 16d to which a thermal head described below is pressed. The ink ribbon insertion opening 17 is a substantially similar opening into which the ink ribbon cassette 16 is inserted, and has a shape that facilitates insertion of the ink ribbon cassette 16 and prevents erroneous insertion at the time of insertion.

The left side of the printer 11 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a recording medium insertion slot 20 into which a recording medium 19 is inserted, a PC interface connector 22 to which a PC interface plug 21 is connected, and a DC inlet connector 2 into which a DC inlet plug 23 is inserted.
4 are provided. The recording medium 19 is a card-type recording medium incorporating a semiconductor memory in which image data captured by a digital still image capturing device or a moving image capturing device (not shown) is stored and recorded. 11, the image data recorded on the recording medium 19 is read out. The PC interface plug 21 is connected to a computer device (not shown), and is an interface for taking in computer graphic image data created by the computer device into the printer device 11 via the PC interface connector 22. The DC
The inlet plug 23 rectifies a commercial AC power supply, converts it into a predetermined DC power supply, and supplies drive power for driving various signal processing circuits and various drive functions of the printer device 11 via the DC inlet connector 24. is there. The recording medium insertion opening 20, the PC interface connector 22, and the DC inlet connector 24 of the printer device 11 are covered with a lid 25. The lid 25 may cover only the recording medium insertion opening and the PC interface plug 22, cover the recording medium 20 and the DC inlet connector 24, or cover the PC interface connector 22 and the DC inlet connector 24. good.

A battery 26 is mounted on the back side of the printer device 11 as shown in FIG. A rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery (not shown) is stored inside the battery 26, and a contact 27 connected to the stored battery and a fixing piece for detachably fixing the battery 27 to the back of the printer device 11. 28a to 28d are provided. On the back surface of the printer device 11, a battery contact piece 29 that contacts the contact 27 of the battery 26, and engagement pieces 30a to 30d with which the fixing pieces 28a to 28d are engaged.
Is provided. The battery 26 supplies various driving powers of the printer device 11 when the driving power is not supplied from the DC inlet connector 24.

One end portion of the recording paper insertion opening cover 15, the ink ribbon insertion opening cover 18, and the cover 25 are formed on the printer device 11 so as to be openable and closable in a hinge or hinge shape, and the other end is formed. It is designed to be locked by a locking piece.

Next, the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 will be described. FIG. 4 shows an internal configuration of the printer device 11 shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows an internal configuration of the printer device 11 of FIG.
FIG. 7 shows an internal configuration in which a part of FIG. 6 is removed. First, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. When the recording paper cassette 13 is inserted into the recording paper insertion port 14, the recording paper is drawn into the recording paper outlet 13 c to pull out the recording paper. A paper pull-out roller 31 is provided. The recording paper pull-out roller 31 includes left and right chassis 32a, 32b.
The recording paper is drawn out of the recording paper cassette 13 and supplied to the inside of the printer device 11 by a third driving source and a driving mechanism, which will be described later. The recording paper 13d (see FIG. 5) pulled out of the recording paper cassette 13 by the recording paper pull-out roller 31 is guided by a paper guide member, is pinched by a pinch roller 33 and a capstan roller 34, and enters the inside of the printer device 11. Is conveyed. The capstan roller 34 is rotationally driven clockwise and counterclockwise in the figure by a second driving source and a driving mechanism described later. The pinch roller 33 is pressed and moved away from the capstan roller 34 by a first driving source and a driving mechanism described later, and is rotated by the rotation of the capstan roller 34. The recording paper 13 d nipped and conveyed by the pinch roller 33 and the capstan roller 34 is conveyed to a platen roller 35. The platen roller 35 is rotatably fixed to the left and right chassis 32a and 32b.

The right chassis 32a has an ink ribbon insertion slot 17 into which the ink ribbon cassette 16 is inserted.
The guide is inserted so that the opening 16d of the ink ribbon cassette 16 is positioned above the platen roller 35 in the drawing. The ink ribbon cassette 16
Is inserted into the printer apparatus 11 from the ink ribbon insertion port 17 and the opening 16d of the ink ribbon cassette 16 is positioned above the platen roller 35, the supply reel storage section 16c and the take-up reel storage section 16b of the ink ribbon cassette 16 are moved. The supply and take-up reels provided therein include a reel shaft 36a disposed on the left chassis 32b,
36b. The reel shafts 36a and 36b supply the ink ribbon 16a from the supply reel to the take-up reel by a third drive source and a drive mechanism described later. The thermal head 3 is located above the platen roller 35 and the opening 16d of the ink ribbon cassette 16 in the drawing.
The thermal head 37 is driven and controlled by a first driving source and a driving mechanism, which will be described later, in the direction of contact and separation with the platen roller 35. When the thermal head 37 and the platen roller 35 are in close contact, the recording paper 1 is
3d and the ink ribbon 16a of the ink ribbon cassette 16
When the thermal head 37 and the platen roller 35 are separated from each other, the close contact between the recording paper 13d and the ink ribbon 16a is released, and the ink ribbon cassette 16 can be inserted or removed from the ink ribbon insertion opening 17. Becomes

The thermal head 37 is attached and fixed to one end 38a of a substantially arcuate thermal head holding member 38 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the recording paper 13d and the ink ribbon 16a. The other end of the thermal head holding member 38 is connected to the left and right chassis 32 by a rotation shaft 38b.
a and 32b are rotatably fixed to the shaft. The thermal head holding member 38 has an elastic member 3 around a rotating shaft 38b.
At 8c, tension is applied so that the thermal head 37 is separated from the platen roller 35. In the vicinity of the apex of the bow of the thermal head holding member 38, a cam portion 3 is provided.
The cam portion 38d is provided with a first driving source and a driving mechanism to move the thermal head holding member 38 against the tension of the elastic member 38c. An operation of bringing the thermal head 37 into close contact with 35 is performed.

The recording paper 13 d is pinched by a pinch roller 33 and a capstan roller 34 so that the platen roller 3
5 and the thermal head holding member 38
To drive the thermal head 37 and the platen roller 35
When the thermal head 37 is brought into close contact with the ink ribbon 16a, the thermal head 37 generates heat based on the supplied image signal, and the heat of the ink causes the ink of the ink ribbon 16a to be transferred to the recording paper 1.
It is thermally transferred to 3d. The ink ribbon 16a to which the ink has been thermally transferred is taken up on a take-up reel,
The recording paper 13d to which the ink has been thermally transferred is conveyed to the front of the printer device. Before the start of printing, the recording paper 13d is guided by the recording paper guide member 39 and is conveyed to the rear of the printer. That is, the rear side of the printer device has a substantially arc-shaped portion 39a forming a substantially arc-shaped conveyance path, and has a shape for conveying and guiding the recording paper 13d to the upper surface side of the printer device 11 in the drawing.

That is, when printing on the recording paper 13d, the first paint yellow (Y) applied to the ink ribbon 16a by the thermal head 37 from the starting end of the recording paper 13d by rotating the capstan roller 34. Is thermally transferred while being printed and conveyed to the end of the recording paper 13d. When the printing of yellow (Y) is completed, the capstan roller 34 is rotated to convey the recording paper 13d in the discharge direction of the recording paper insertion opening 14, and to convey the recording paper 13d to the rear of the printer device. The recording paper is conveyed while the next paint magenta (M) is thermally transferred to the recording paper 13d. Such a thermal transfer operation is performed by paint cyan (C),
And the transparent overcoat ink (OP) are sequentially and repeatedly performed, and color printing is performed using the three primary colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C).
Thus, the thermal head 37 is provided on the recording paper 13d.
By making the transport path after the thermal transfer of each paint substantially arc-shaped, the depth dimension of the printer device 11 can be reduced.

A first driving source 40, which is a motor for driving a cam 38d of the thermal head holding member 38, is provided on the inner peripheral side of the substantially arc-shaped portion 39a of the recording paper guide member 39. A gear group 41a for reducing the rotational drive of the drive source 40, a first cam 41b for transmitting the rotational force reduced by the gear group 41a to the cam 38d of the thermal head holding member 38, and the pinch roller 33 as a capstan A thermal head drive mechanism 41 in which a second cam 41c for swinging levers 42a and 42b (the lever 42b is shown in FIG. 7) for operating in the direction of pressing or separating from the roller 34 is arranged coaxially is arranged.

A first circuit board 43 is disposed between the capstan roller 34, the platen roller 35, and the recording paper guide member 39, and a bottom exterior of the printer device 11. Arc-shaped part 39a
A second circuit board 44 is arranged between the printer and the back exterior of the printer device 11. The first circuit board 43
A circuit for processing image signals mainly supplied to the thermal head 37, a circuit for reading and processing image data from a recording medium 19 described later, a circuit for processing image data from a computer device supplied to the PC interface connector 22, and the like. Is mounted, and the second circuit board 44 mainly includes the DC inlet connector 24.
Alternatively, based on the driving power supplied to the battery contact piece 29,
The driving power of various circuits of the first circuit board 43 and the first
In addition, a power supply circuit for driving power of the third driving source is mounted. The circuits mounted on the first and second circuit boards 43 and 44 are not limited to the circuits described above.
It is also possible to replace the mounted circuit contents as needed.

Next, the internal structure of the printer device 11 on the left side in the drawing will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. A second drive source 45, which is a motor, is provided inside the substantially arc-shaped portion 39a of the recording paper guide member 39 (see FIG. 4), and a drive shaft of the second drive source 45 is connected to the left chassis 32b. And a capstan roller drive mechanism 46 including a plurality of gears including a gear attached to the drive shaft and a belt, and is controlled to a predetermined rotation speed. The rotational driving force decelerated to the predetermined rotational speed is:
The capstan roller 34 is rotationally driven by a gear to which the shaft 34a of the capstan roller 34 is fixed.

Further, a third drive source 47, which is a motor, is disposed on the outer surface of the left chassis 32b, and a gear mounted on the rotation shaft of the third drive source 47 and a plurality of other gears are provided. An ink ribbon for driving the reel shaft 36a and the recording paper pull-out roller 31 in combination with each other and a recording paper pull-out driving mechanism 48 are provided. By the third drive source 47 and the ink ribbon and recording paper pull-out drive mechanism 48, the take-up reel arranged in the take-up reel housing 16b of the ink ribbon cassette 16 fitted to the reel shaft 36a is rotated by a predetermined rotation. Driven at a speed, the ink ribbon 16a was transported from the supply reel to the take-up reel, and the recording paper pull-out roller 31 was driven to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, and was inserted into the recording paper insertion slot 14. The recording paper is pulled out from the recording paper cassette 13 and transported to the pinch roller 33 and the capstan roller 34.

The second cam 41 of the thermal head drive mechanism 41 for transmitting the rotational drive of the first drive source 40
c drives a third cam 50 provided on a rotating shaft 49 rotatably fixed to the left and right chassis 32a and 32b (see FIG. 5). Further, elongated fixing pieces 49a, 49b having one ends fixed to both ends of the rotating shaft 49 are provided. One end of the levers 42a, 42b is connected to the other end of the fixing pieces 49a, 49b by a rotating pin. Has been relocated. The levers 42a and 42b are connected to the capstan roller 3
4, extending substantially parallel to the recording paper guide member 39, and the other ends of the drive arms 51a, 51
One end of b is rotatably fixed to the shaft. This drive arm 51
The central portions of the left and right chassis 32a, 32b
b, and is rotatably fixed to the drive arm 51a.
A shaft 33a of the pinch roller 33 is rotatably fixed to the other end of the pin 51b. The levers 42a, 42b
An elastic force is applied to the shaft stopping points of the drive arms 51a and 51b in a direction in which the pinch roller 33 is pressed against the capstan roller 34 by the elastic body 51c.

That is, referring to FIG. 5, the rotation of the first drive source 40 is controlled by the thermal head drive mechanism 4.
The close contact and separation operations of the thermal head holding member 38 with the platen roller 35 and the close contact and separation operations of the pinch roller 33 with the capstan roller 34 via the first drive source 40 will be described. When the thermal head drive mechanism 41 is driven and rotated, the first cam 4 is rotated.
1b is a cam portion 38d of the thermal head holding member 38.
Is pressed in the clockwise direction in the figure, and the thermal head holding member 38 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure around the rotating shaft 38b, thereby bringing the thermal head 36 into close contact with the platen roller 35 and the thermal head driving mechanism. The second cam 41c of 41 also rotates clockwise in the figure, the contact state with the third cam 50 is released, and the lever 42a, the fixing piece 49a, and the driving arm 51a are moved to the left in the figure by the elastic body 51c. The driving arm 51a rotates clockwise about the fixed axis, and the pinch roller 33 is brought into close contact with the capstan roller 34.

Next, when the first drive source 40 is rotated in reverse, the thermal head drive mechanism 41 performs reverse rotation drive, the thermal head holding member 38 is moved from the platen roller 35, and the pinch roller 33 is moved It rotates in a direction away from the stun roller 34.

A first capstan roller driving mechanism 46 and an ink ribbon / recording paper driving mechanism 48 are disposed below the left and right chassis 32a, 32b in the drawing, and are provided on the outer surface of the left chassis 32b. On the circuit board 43, a recording medium connecting means 52 having the recording medium insertion port 20, a PC interface means 53 connected to the PC interface connector 22, and the DC inlet connector 24 are arranged. In particular, the DC inlet connector 24 is disposed in a space between the substantially arc-shaped portion 39 a of the recording paper guide member 39 and the first circuit board 43. The recording medium connection means 52 and the PC interface means 53
The DC inlet connector 24 is connected to a power supply circuit of a second circuit board 44.

That is, by providing a recording paper guide member 39 having a substantially arcuate guide path for printing and transporting the recording paper 13d in the printer device 11, the printer device 1
1, a drive source 40 and a drive mechanism 41 for bringing the thermal head 37 into close contact with and separating from the platen roller 35 are disposed in the arc-shaped portion of the recording paper guide member 39 having a substantially arc shape. The stun roller driving mechanism 46 and the ink ribbon and recording paper driving mechanism 48 are disposed on the side of the ink ribbon cassette 16 opposite to the insertion opening 17.
0, and a PC interface unit 5 having a PC interface connector 22
3 and the DC inlet connector 24 are positioned between the recording paper guide member 39, the capstan roller driving mechanism 46, the ink ribbon and recording paper driving mechanism 48, and the first circuit board 43. The arrangement on the first circuit board 43 makes it possible to reduce the size of the printer device 11 in the height direction. The dimension in the width direction is smaller than that of the recording paper cassette 13 by the capstan, the ink ribbon, and the recording medium. Although it becomes larger by the installation space of the paper driving mechanisms 46 and 48, it can be shortened to a size slightly larger than the width of the recording paper cassette.

Next, the relationship between the battery 26 connected to the back of the printer device 11 and the second circuit board 44 will be described with reference to FIG. Fixing piece 2 of the battery 26
8a to 28d are engaged and fixed to engaging pieces 30a to 30d provided on the back surface of the printer device 11. This battery 2
When the battery 6 is engaged with and fixed to the back of the printer 11, the contact 27 of the battery 26 is provided at a position where it is in contact with the battery contact piece 29 provided on the back of the printer 11 (see FIG. 3). . The battery contact piece 29 is attached and fixed to the second circuit board 44, and is exposed from the back through the battery contact piece 29a on the back of the printer device 11.
The battery contact piece 29 is connected to a circuit pattern 44a disposed on the second circuit board 44 and to a power supply circuit (not shown).

With such a configuration, the battery 26 can be easily attached to and detached from the back surface of the printer device 11 by one-touch operation, and the printer device 11 can be made compact and portable. Alternatively, printing can be performed using any one of the DC power supplies from the DC inlet connector 24.

As described above, the printer apparatus of the present invention is provided with a recording paper insertion slot for inserting only the vicinity of the recording paper outlet of a recording paper cassette containing recording paper on the front of the apparatus, and a battery on the back of the apparatus. Is provided, an ink ribbon cassette insertion port is provided on one side of the apparatus, and a recording medium insertion port, a PC interface connector, and a DC inlet connector are provided on the other side of the apparatus. Since the printing guide is performed by the recording paper guide member having a substantially arc shape and the thermal head driving mechanism is disposed inside the arc shape of the recording paper guide member, the entire apparatus can be made compact and portable.

[0042]

In the printer apparatus, the space for transporting the recording paper at the time of printing and the driving mechanism of the thermal head holding member for bringing the thermal head into and out of contact with the platen roller during printing and non-printing are the most arranging spaces. However, in the printer device of the present invention, the recording paper conveyance path at the time of printing is formed by a substantially arcuate guide member, and the thermal head holding member and the drive mechanism are arranged within the inner surface of the arcuate guide member. This has the effect that the space in the device can be effectively utilized and a small, lightweight portable device can be provided.

Also, a recording cassette from the front of the apparatus, a battery from the back, an ink ribbon cassette from one side,
By laying out the recording medium to be inserted from the other side, it is possible to realize a portable printer device that is easy to use while minimizing the outer circumference length meter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a left side surface of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a relationship with a battery that is attached to and detached from the back of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration excluding a part of the printer device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a relationship between a circuit board and a battery arranged inside the printer device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer apparatus 12 ... Input operation display means 13 ... Recording paper cassette 14 ... Recording paper insertion opening 15 ... Lid for recording paper insertion opening 16 ... Ink ribbon cassette 17 ... Ink ribbon insertion opening 18 ... Ink ribbon insertion opening lid 19 ... Recording medium DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Recording medium insertion opening 21 ... PC interface plug 22 ... PC interface connector 23 ... DC inlet plug 24 ... DC inlet connector 25 ... Lid 26 ... Battery 27 ... Contact 28 ... Fixed piece 29 ... Battery contact piece 30 ... Engagement piece DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Recording paper pull-out roller 32 ... Chassis 33 ... Pinch roller 34 ... Capstan roller 35 ... Platen roller 36 ... Reel shaft 37 ... Thermal head 38 ... Thermal head holding member 39 ... Recording paper guide member 40 ... First drive source 41 … Mechanical drive for thermal head Arm 42 ... lever 43 ... first circuit board 44 ... second circuit board 45 ... second driving source 46 ... capstan roller drive mechanism 47 ... third driving source 48 ... ink ribbon and the recording paper drive mechanism

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An insertion slot provided on the front of the apparatus for inserting recording paper, a connection means provided on the back of the apparatus for attaching and detaching a battery, and an insertion slot for inserting an ink ribbon provided on a side of the apparatus. And a recording medium connection means provided on a side surface of the device opposite to the side surface on which the ink ribbon insertion opening is provided. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium connection means has an insertion slot into which the recording medium is inserted. 3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein a PC interface unit and / or a DC inlet are provided on a side of the recording medium on which the connection unit is provided. 4. At least two of the recording medium connection means, the PC interface means, and the DC inlet are provided on the same side surface, and at least two of them are covered.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of openable and closable lids.
The printer device according to 1. 5. When an image is formed on a recording sheet inserted from the front of the apparatus, a substantially circular arc is formed on the conveying path along which the recording sheet is conveyed so that the conveying path in the sheet feeding direction has a substantially arc shape. A guide member formed in a shape; a chassis to which the guide member is fixed; a driving mechanism for the ink ribbon and the recording paper intensively arranged on a side of the chassis opposite to the ink ribbon insertion opening; A positional relationship between a first circuit board provided on the bottom surface side of the recording paper transport path and the first circuit board provided near the inside of the back exterior member in parallel with the back surface on which the battery is mounted. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second circuit board mounted in a substantially L-shape. 6. The DC inlet according to claim 5, wherein a DC inlet is mounted in a space formed between the substantially arc-shaped portion of the guide member and the first and second circuit boards. Printer device. 7. The printer according to claim 4, further comprising an openable and closable cover for covering the ink ribbon insertion opening. 8. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the battery is connected to the outside of the back of the device.