JP2002036665A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer having no fear of erroneous operation of an operating key when the printer is not used in which the space can be used effectively and the printer body can be made compact. SOLUTION: The printer comprises a printer body 2 arranged to print record information, e.g. an image and the like (image, character, and the like), recorded on a recording medium, e.g. a memory card 1, a printed sheet discharging section 5b provided in the printer body 2, a monitor containing section 6 formed in the upper region of the printed sheet discharging section 5b, operating keys 8 arranged on the inner side face of the monitor containing section 6, and a monitor 3 being contained while tilting in the monitor containing section 6 such that the surface of the operating keys 8 is hidden from the outside when the printer is not used and being set in a state rising from the monitor containing section 6 such that the surface of the operating keys 8 is exposed to the outside when the printer is used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing recorded information such as images (images, characters, etc.) taken by an electronic camera or the like and recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. In particular, the present invention relates to a printer including a monitor capable of confirming recording information such as an image recorded on the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional printer with a monitor of this kind, there is one having a configuration as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-11-164184. In the above publication, operation buttons such as a print button, a print size setting button, and a print number setting button are arranged on a case of the main body. In another area on the main body, a liquid crystal display panel for image display is provided rotatably about a rotation center axis. When the liquid crystal display panel is rotated to be in the upright state, the lid member is moved by the force of the spring, thereby closing the empty space after the liquid crystal display panel is erected.

[0003]

As shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, generally, in this type of printer, a group of operation buttons such as a print button is arranged so as to be exposed on a main body case. In the printer having such a configuration, if external pressure is applied to the operation buttons for some reason, for example, when the printer is carried, an erroneous operation may be performed without your knowledge. In order to prevent such inconvenience, it is necessary to provide a protective cover for the operation buttons, etc., but if such measures are taken, the configuration becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a printer having the following advantages.

(A) There is no possibility that the operation keys are erroneously operated at the time of carrying or the like.

(B) The space is effectively used, and the printer body can be made compact.

(C) Function setting by operating keys is easy,
It becomes extremely convenient.

(D) Printing is not performed in a state where the printed paper discharge section and the operation keys are covered by the monitor, and there is no possibility that the printing operation will be disturbed.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the printer of the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) A printer according to the present invention includes a printer main body provided so as to be capable of printing recorded information such as images (images, characters, etc.), a printed paper discharge section provided in the printer main body, A monitor storage section formed in an area above the printed paper discharge section , operation keys provided on an inner surface of the monitor storage section, and a surface of the operation keys to be hidden from the outside when the printer is not used. A monitor that is stored in an upright state with respect to the monitor storage unit and that is set upright from the monitor storage unit so that the surface of the operation key is exposed to the outside when using a printer. Features.

(2) The printer according to the present invention is characterized in that (1)
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the function of the operation key is displayed on a display screen of the monitor so as to correspond to the operation key that is exposed when the monitor is set in an upright state when the printer is used. Key function display means.

(3) The printer according to the present invention is characterized in that (1)
Or, the printer according to (2), further comprising means for permitting printing by the printer main body only when the monitor is set in an upright state.

(4) The printer according to the present invention is characterized in that (1)
Alternatively, in the printer according to (2) or (3), the monitor is a liquid crystal monitor.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which a monitor is folded down on a printer body and stored. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a state in which the monitor is set up from the printer main body, and FIG. 2C is a front view showing the monitor in an upright state.

1 (a), 1 (b) and 1 (c), 1 is a memory card, 2 is a printer main body, 3 is a liquid crystal monitor, 4 is a power switch, 5 is a printing paper supply / discharge unit, and 6 is a monitor storage unit. , 7 are operation keyboards, and 8 is operation keys.

The memory card 1 uses, for example, a storage medium such as the SSFDC standard as a recording medium. The memory card 1 stores recorded information such as images (images, characters, etc.) taken by an electronic camera or the like. Has been recorded.

The printer body 2 is configured to be able to print out images and the like recorded on the memory card 1 by, for example, a sublimation type thermal transfer system. The printer body 2 is provided with a liquid crystal monitor 3, a power switch 4, a printing paper supply / discharge unit 5, and the like.

The liquid crystal monitor 3 is provided so that recorded information such as images recorded on the memory card 1 can be checked at the time of printing or the like. It is stored freely.

The printing paper supply / discharge unit 5 includes an unprinted paper storage unit 5
a and a printed paper discharge section 5b for discharging the printed paper P, and one end thereof is partitioned by a partition plate 5c rotatably supported at one end.

The monitor storage section 6 is a space formed in an area above the printing paper supply / discharge section 5 (more specifically, above a printed paper discharge section 5b). An operation keyboard 7 is provided on the inner surface of the monitor storage unit 6, for example, the innermost surface when viewed from the front of the printer body 2 as shown in the figure. On the operation keyboard 7, a plurality of operation keys 8 are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction.

When the printer is not in use, the liquid crystal monitor 3 is placed on the monitor storage unit 6 so as to conceal the surface of the operation keys 8 from the outside as shown in FIG. Is stored. When the printer is used, the liquid crystal monitor 3 is set up from the monitor storage unit 6 so as to expose the surface of the operation key 8 to the outside as shown in FIG. 1B. You.

On the display screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 set in the upright state as described above, the function display figure 9 of the operation key 8 is displayed so as to correspond to the operation key 8 in the exposed state. It is gaining. That is, the printer of the present embodiment includes the key function display unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printer according to this embodiment. The control system shown in FIG. 2 includes a key function display unit 11 and a print permission unit 12.

The key function display means 11 issues a key display command 13 by using the operation keys 8 so as to correspond to the operation keys 8 which are exposed when the liquid crystal monitor 3 is set up when the printer is used. By
The function display figure 9 of the operation key 8 is displayed on the display screen of the monitor 3.

The print permitting means 12 operates only when the sensor 14 detects that the monitor 3 has been started up from the monitor storage unit 6 and set in the upright state.
Printing by the printer body 2 is permitted. That is, when the monitor 3 is stored in the monitor storage unit 6 with the monitor 3 lying down,
, The operation signal processing unit 22 does not output a print permission signal to the printer mechanism 40. When the monitor 3 is set in the upright state, an upright signal is obtained from the sensor 14, so that the operation signal processing unit 22 outputs a print permission signal to the printer mechanism 40.

The system controller 20 shown in FIG.
It comprises a PU, has an image processing unit, a decompression processing unit, and the like, and has a function of controlling the entire printer main body 2. The memory card connector 21 is a portion into which the memory card 1 is loaded, and a card detecting means 21a is provided in a part thereof.

The operation signal processing section 22 is a section for processing various operation signals.
2a is provided.

Therefore, the memory card connector 2
When the memory card 1 is loaded in the memory card 1, the card detection means 21a detects the loading of the card 1, and based on the detected information, a power-on command is output from the power-on command output means 22a of the operation signal processing unit 22, This is power supply 10
Given to. For this reason, the power supply 10 is turned on, and power is supplied to each control system unit.

The operation signal processing section 22 displays the frame number and the number of prints selected and instructed by the operation keys 8 on a display (LE).
D) There is also a function of displaying on the display 24 or displaying a warning that the remaining amount of the printing paper or the color ink film has become zero.

The memory card interface 25
Memory card connector 21 and buffer memory 26
To transmit image data.

The buffer memory 26 temporarily stores the recorded image data read from the memory card 1 loaded in the memory card connector 21 and expanded by the expansion processing section in the system controller 20 under the control of the system controller 20. To be stored.

Under the control of the system controller 20, the display image data memory 27 resizes (reduces the number of pixels from 3 million pixels to 150,000 pixels, for example) the recorded image data stored in the buffer memory 26. After performing, it is stored as display image data. The display controller 28 sends the display image data to the liquid crystal monitor 3 to display an image.

The printing image data memory 29 stores the recording image data stored in the buffer memory 26 under the control of the system controller 20 in three colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan). The image data is converted into color image data and stored.

The buffer memory 30 stores the three color image data of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) stored in the print image data memory 29 under the control of the system controller 20. One line is taken for each color, and this is
The operation of sending the data to 0 and printing is repeated.

The print mechanism 40 is a sublimation type thermal transfer type print mechanism 40. The print mechanism 40 is heated by a thermal head 41 in accordance with the recording information recorded on the memory card 1 to sublimate the dye of the ink film. To perform printing on the printing paper. Although not shown, three color ink films of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are used as the ink film. In addition, the printing paper is one in which reciprocating transport is repeated in the longitudinal direction of the paper by a feed roller or the like in correspondence with the application of each color ink film so that the color printing is performed by the three color ink films. It has become.

Specifically, the following printing operation is performed. The first line of the selected first color, for example, Y (yellow) image data, is read out and stored in the buffer memory 30. When this one line is sent to the printing mechanism 10 and printed, the next one line is similarly captured. When this one line is printed in the same manner as described above, the next one line is similarly captured. When such operations are repeated and the printing of the first color is completed, the printing of the second color is performed in the same manner. When the printing of the second color is completed, the printing of the third color is performed in the same manner. That is, printing is performed by the frame sequential printing method.

[0037]

According to the present invention, a printer having the following functions and effects can be provided.

(A) When the printer is not used, the entire operation keys are in a state of being confined in the printer main body by the monitor, so that there is no possibility that the operation keys are erroneously operated when carrying the printer.

(B) Since the monitor is stored in the empty space above the printed paper discharge section, effective use of the space is achieved and the printer body can be made compact.

(C) Since the function of the corresponding operation key is displayed on the screen of the monitor, the function setting by the operation key is easy, and the operation is extremely convenient.

(D) Since printing is permitted only when the monitor is set in the upright state, printing is not performed with the printed paper discharge section and the operation keys covered by the monitor, and the printing operation is performed. There is no risk of causing trouble.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing the appearance of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a state in which a monitor is folded and stored on a printer body, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the monitor is set up from the main body, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Memory card 2 ... Printer body 3 ... LCD monitor 4 ... Power switch 5 ... Print paper supply / discharge part 5a ... Unprinted paper storage part 5b ... Printed paper discharge part 6 ... Monitor storage part 7 ... Operation keyboard 8 ... Operation keys 9: Function display figure 11: Key function display means 12: Print permission means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer main body provided so as to be able to print record information such as an image photographed by an electronic camera, a printed paper discharge section provided in the printer main body, and an upper part of the printed paper discharge section. A monitor storage portion formed in the area; an operation key provided on an inner surface of the monitor storage portion; and a monitor storage portion so as to hide a surface of the operation key from the outside when the printer is not used. A monitor which is stored in a laid state and which is set upright from the monitor storage unit so as to expose the surface of the operation key to the outside when the printer is used. 2. A display screen of the monitor, which corresponds to the operation keys that are exposed when the monitor is set to an upright state when the printer is used.
2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising key function display means for displaying a function of the operation key. 3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising means for permitting printing by the printer main body only when the monitor is set in an upright state. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the monitor is a liquid crystal monitor.