JP2005169896A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can be protected from impact due to dropping and is reduced in size and in weight. <P>SOLUTION: A battery cover 72 housing a battery 70 and doubling as a roll paper support shaft is attached to a base 68 at an inner side of an openable cover 14. The battery 70 in the battery cover 72 is electrically connected to a circuit board in the body 12 of the printer 10 with a circuit (not shown in the figure) therebetween, and then the power is supplied to each component from the battery 70. As a result of a roll paper loading section 42 in the above structure, the position of the gravity of the label printer 10 is eccentric to the lower part thereof. When the label printer 10 is dropped by mistake, the lower section thereof is brought into contact with the ground. As a shock-absorbing pad 90 is attached to the grounding part, the impact that the label printer 10 may receive can be absorbed by the shock-absorbing pad 90. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly, to a printer with a built-in power supply that supplies driving power to each device in the printer.

  At stores and sales floors, labels with prices and barcodes are affixed to products. As a printer for printing this label, portability is desired so that it can be easily moved in the store. Therefore, a battery (power source) for supplying driving power to each device in the printer is provided inside the printer. Yes.

  In addition, such a portable printer is also known that can be carried by hanging from a shoulder with a strap like a shoulder bag, but such a portable printer is suspended from the shoulder when carrying it from the shoulder. It may come off and fall on the ground and be damaged.

In order to prevent this, a technique is known in which a shock-absorbing material (impact absorbing pad) for mitigating the impact at the time of collision is attached to the outer case of the printer (see Patent Document 1). The printer described in Patent Document 1 covers the entire outer case with an elastic body such as a soft resin as a buffer material.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-254789

  The above-described portable printer provided with a battery inside the printer has a battery housing portion therein. However, since the printer main body is enlarged and bulky due to the battery housing portion, there is a disadvantage that the portability is inferior.

  Further, the printer described in Patent Document 1 has a drawback that the volume of the printer main body is increased and more bulky due to the buffer material provided in the entire exterior case, and the weight of the entire printer is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can be protected from an impact caused by dropping and that is reduced in size and weight.

  The inventor of the present application has considered the storage of the battery and paper in the printer body, and found that when the printer is accidentally dropped, the orientation of the printer at the time of dropping is determined by the position of the center of gravity of the printer. If the posture at the time of dropping is determined, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the printer by providing the minimum necessary cushioning material only in the falling direction of the outer case. Further, if the battery storage unit can be stored in the paper supply unit, further downsizing can be realized.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a roll paper mounting portion for mounting a roll paper, in which the paper is wound around a paper tube, to a roll paper support shaft, and a paper drawn from the roll paper mounting portion to the printing portion. In a printer provided with a paper transport mechanism for transporting, a battery storage unit is formed inside the roll paper support shaft.

  According to the present invention, since the battery housing for supplying power to each device in the printer is formed inside the roll paper support shaft, the printer can be miniaturized. Further, it is not necessary to newly provide a battery storage unit, and the number of parts can be reduced.

  In addition, the battery storage unit has, for example, a mode in which a battery having a cylindrical shape is used as a roll paper support shaft, or a mode in which a battery case that has a cylindrical shape and can store a battery therein is used as a roll paper support shaft. preferable.

  The present invention described in claim 2 is a preferred example of a structure in which a roll paper mounting portion is provided. The roll paper mounting portion is arranged so that the center of gravity of the printer is deviated, and the roll paper mounting portion is A shock absorbing member that absorbs impact is attached to the surface of the exterior case of the printer on the side where it is disposed.

  According to the present invention, the printer can be prevented from being damaged when the printer is accidentally dropped.

  That is, since only one heavy portion is provided inside the printer so that the center of gravity of the printer is biased, the heavy portion always falls in a posture in which the heavy portion is directed downward. At this time, if a shock absorbing member that absorbs an impact is provided only in the portion to be grounded, the printer can be prevented from being damaged when dropped. Therefore, it is not necessary to cover the entire printer with the cushioning material, and the printer can be prevented from becoming bulky.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the printer is a portable label printer, it is possible to obtain a label printer that can be protected from an impact caused by dropping and that is reduced in size and weight.

  In this specification, “printing” represents the concept of printing not only characters but also a broad meaning image including graphics and photographs.

  “Printers” refers to label printers that print on re-stickable labels that are temporarily affixed to mounts at predetermined intervals, as well as various types of printed materials, such as cut paper and sticker paper, regardless of the material or shape. A wide range of printers capable of printing on a medium is included.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to protect from an impact caused by dropping, and to reduce the size and weight.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a portable label printer 10 to which a printer according to the present invention is applied.

  An opening / closing cover 14 swelled in an arc shape is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 12 at the lower part of the apparatus main body 12 of the label printer 10. The apparatus main body 12 and the opening / closing cover 14 constitute an outer case of the label printer 10. The opening / closing cover 14 pushes up the opening / closing lever 16 provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 12 to release the engagement mechanism (not shown) between the opening / closing cover 14 and the apparatus main body 12 and the opening / closing cover 14 opens sideways. It is like that. As will be described later, when the opening / closing cover 14 is opened, a roll paper mounting portion (reference numeral 42 in FIG. 3) of the label paper (roll paper) is exposed inside.

  A data receiving unit 20 is provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 12, and a receiving apparatus (not shown) is disposed therein. For example, a printing data signal is transmitted to the receiving apparatus by infrared rays or the like from a transmitting means (not shown) such as a handy terminal (portable terminal). When the receiving apparatus receives this signal, the receiving apparatus receives a printing unit described later. Send the received print data to. Reference numeral 24 denotes a connector provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 12, and print data can be transmitted from the transmission means to the printing unit by connecting the transmission means directly to the connector 24 via a signal cable or the like. it can. The receiving device and the connector 24 are connected to a circuit board (not shown) provided inside the device main body 12. The circuit board includes various devices such as a CPU for performing a printing operation based on the print data transmitted from the transmission means.

  An operation unit 26 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12, and a status lamp 28, a print button 30, a feed button 32, a power switch 33 of the label printer 10, and the like are arranged in parallel on the operation unit 26. The status lamp 28 is turned on while data is being received by the data receiving unit 20, so that the operator can confirm that print data is being received by the receiving unit. The print button 30 is configured as a push button type. When the print button 30 is pressed, the label paper is supplied to the printing unit, and printing on the label is performed by the printing unit. The feed button 32 is also configured as a push button type, and by pressing the feed button 32, the label sheet is fed by one label without printing in the printing unit.

  In FIG. 2, a belt clip 34 for attaching the label printer 10 to the body is provided on the back surface of the apparatus main body 12. The sandwiching plate 36 of the belt clip 34 is swingably supported by a shaft 38 provided on the back surface of the apparatus main body 12, and the sandwiching portion 36A below the support portion is directed toward the apparatus main body 12 by a plate spring (not shown). Be energized by. Therefore, by pressing the pressing portion 36B on the upper side of the support portion against the urging force toward the apparatus main body 12 side, a gap between the holding portion 36A and the apparatus main body 12 can be opened, and work can be performed in this gap. If the person's waist belt or the like is inserted and the hand is released from the pressing portion 36B, the waist belt can be clamped between the biased clamping portion 36A and the apparatus main body 12.

  In the present embodiment, the label printer 10 is carried on the operator's waist belt, but may be carried by being suspended from the shoulder by a strap or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the label printer 10 showing a state in which the open / close cover 14 of the roll paper mounting portion 42 for label paper is opened, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof. Note that the label paper 44 as roll paper used in the label printer of the present embodiment is obtained by winding a mount 48 temporarily attached with a label 46 around a paper tube 50 in a roll shape.

  In FIG. 3, a label paper outlet 52 is provided in front of the apparatus main body 12, and the printing unit 54 is disposed inside the label paper outlet 52. The printing unit 54 includes a thermal head 56 and a platen roller 58 that are connected to the circuit board in the apparatus main body 12, and a mount 48 with a label 46 temporarily attached between the thermal head 56 and the platen roller 58. By being supplied, the price, bar code, and the like are printed on the label 46 by the thermal head 56. The printed label 46 is discharged from the label sheet outlet 52 together with the mount 48.

  Note that a mount sheet peeling device 60 is provided at the label sheet outlet 52 in the label printer 10 of the present embodiment. The mount peeling device 60 is provided so as to be slidable in the vertical direction by narrowing the interval between the holding knobs 62. In addition, a label take-out port 64 is formed in the mount sheet peeling device 60. When the mount sheet peeling device 60 is slid downward to align the label take-out port 64 with the label sheet take-out port 52, the label sheet take-out port 52 is provided. The label 46 of the mount 48 sent out from is peeled from the mount 48 and discharged from the label outlet 64. The mount 48 from which the label 46 has been peeled is discharged from the gap between the lower portion of the mount peeling device 60 and the apparatus main body 12.

  Next, the roll paper mounting portion 42 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.

  The opening / closing cover 14 is connected to the apparatus main body 12 by a hinge mechanism, and is supported by the apparatus main body 12 through an opening / closing shaft 65 of the hinge mechanism so as to be freely opened and closed. On the inner side surface of the opening / closing cover 14, a battery (power supply) storage portion 67 is provided via a side portion 66 of the opening / closing cover 14.

  In FIG. 4, the battery storage 67 includes a base 68 attached to the approximate center of the side 66 of the opening / closing cover 14, a battery cover 72 that stores the battery 70 and also serves as a roll paper support shaft.

  A male screw portion 74 projects from the base 68, and a negative contact 76 made of a coiled spring for circuit connection with the negative (-) terminal of the battery 70 is attached to the tip of the base 68. The negative contact 76 is connected to the circuit board via a circuit (not shown).

  On the other hand, the battery cover 72 has a cylindrical shape capable of storing two batteries 70, and a female screw portion (not shown) that is screwed with the male screw portion 74 of the base portion 68 is formed therein. . In addition, a positive side contact 78 for circuit connection with a positive (+) side terminal of the battery 70 is provided at a front end portion inside the battery cover 72. The + side contact 78 is connected to the circuit board via a circuit (not shown) by attaching the battery cover 72 to the base 68. Thereby, electric power is supplied from the battery 70 to each device in the apparatus main body 12 via the circuit board. In the figure, a part of the battery cover 72 is notched in order to explain the + side contact 78.

  When the battery cover 72 is attached to the base 68, the battery cover 72 is supported substantially horizontally. The paper cover 50 of the label paper 44 is fitted on the battery cover 72, so that the label paper 44 is rotatably supported by the roll paper mounting unit 42. The label paper 44 is positioned by contacting the side surface 66 with the side portion 66 of the opening / closing cover 14, but a positioning mechanism (not shown) that positions the paper tube 50 in the axial direction of the battery cover 72 is separately provided. It is good also as a structure which is provided and the label paper 44 is positioned by this positioning mechanism.

  In FIG. 3, the platen roller 58 is rotatably supported on the opening / closing cover 14 above the roll paper mounting portion 42. The platen roller 58 is disposed so as to contact the thermal head 56 when the opening / closing cover 14 is closed. Accordingly, when the opening / closing cover 14 is closed in a state where the mount 48 drawn from the label paper 44 is put on the platen roller 58 as shown in the figure, the mount 48 is sandwiched between the platen roller 58 and the thermal head 56, and the platen roller 58. Is pressed against the thermal head 56. Thereby, printing from the thermal head 56 to the label 46 becomes possible. Although the details of the mounting structure of the thermal head 56 are not shown in the drawings, the print position is in contact with the platen roller 58 when the open / close cover 14 is closed, and the retreat position is retracted by a predetermined distance from the platen roller 58 when the open / close cover 14 is opened. In addition, it is configured to move in conjunction with the opening / closing lever 16. Thus, the platen roller 58 and the thermal head 56 are not rubbed when the opening / closing cover 14 is closed, and the mount 48 drawn from the label paper 44 is prevented from being displaced from a predetermined position.

  A motor 80 is attached above the platen roller 58 in the opening / closing cover 14 (above the thermal head 56 when the opening / closing cover 14 is closed). The motor 80 transmits driving force to the platen roller 58 through a plurality of gears (not shown) housed in the opening / closing cover 14. The motor 80 is also connected to the circuit board via a circuit (not shown), and the platen roller 58 is driven and controlled by the circuit board.

  The apparatus main body 12 is provided with a label paper storage 82 for storing the label paper 44 and a motor storage 84 for storing the motor 80. When the open / close cover 14 is closed, the label paper 44 supported by the battery cover 72 is stored in the label paper storage 82 and the motor 80 is stored in the motor storage 84.

  Reference numeral 86 denotes a pitch sensor, which detects the pitch of the label 46 temporarily attached to the mount 48 with a predetermined interval. The pitch sensor 86 is circuit-connected to the circuit board, and print data is transmitted from the circuit board to the thermal head 56 so that printing is accurately performed on each label 46 based on the detection signal of the pitch sensor 86. The

  Now, the roll paper mounting portion 42 having such a configuration is arranged in the label printer 10 so that the position of the center of gravity G of the label printer 10 is deviated as shown in FIG. That is, by providing relatively heavy components such as the battery 70 and the label paper 44 at the lower part of the label printer 10 so as to be biased to the lower part of the label printer 10, the position of the center of gravity G of the label printer 10 is determined. 10 is configured so as to be biased toward the lower part.

  Further, the surface of the apparatus main body 12 and the opening / closing cover 14 on the side where the roll paper mounting portion 42 is disposed in the lower part of the label printer 10 is buffered by rubber, urethane, or the like. A buffer pad 90 constituting the member is attached. The buffer pad 90 is attached to a circular arc portion (position corresponding to the four corners of the lower part of the apparatus main body 12) of the apparatus main body 12 and the opening / closing cover 14, and thereby an impact applied to the lower part of the label printer 10 due to the fall of the label printer 10 or the like. Is absorbed.

  Next, the operation of the label printer 10 configured as described above will be described.

  First, the method of using the label printer 10 will be described. In FIG. 3, the opening / closing cover 14 is opened by sliding the opening / closing lever 16 upward, the paper tube 50 of the label paper 44 is set in the battery cover 72 therein, and the opening / closing is performed. Close the cover 14. At this time, the opening / closing cover 14 is closed in a state where the mount 48 pulled out from the label paper 44 is put on the platen roller 58. The mount 48 is sandwiched between the platen roller 58 and the thermal head 56 and is pressed against the thermal head 56 by the platen roller 58.

  After the label paper 44 is stored in the roll paper mounting portion 42, the pressing portion 36 </ b> B of the belt clip 34 shown in FIG. 2 is pushed toward the apparatus main body 12 side to widen the gap between the holding portion 36 </ b> A and the apparatus main body 12. It is inserted inside the operator's waist belt, and then the pressing portion 36B is released. A waist belt is clamped between the clamping portion 36A urged by a leaf spring (not shown) and the apparatus main body 12, and the label printer 10 can be attached to the operator's waist.

  In FIG. 1, the power of the label printer 10 is turned on by operating the power switch 33 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12. A print data signal is transmitted by infrared rays or the like from a transmission means such as a handy terminal, and this signal is received by the reception device of the data reception unit 20. During reception, the status lamp 28 is lit, so that the operator can confirm that the label printer 10 is receiving print data. When this reception is completed, the printing operation is started.

  The label printing operation is performed by pressing the print button 30. When the print button 30 is pressed once, printing on the label 46 is performed for one label. The printing operation is performed based on the received print data, and printing is performed based on the same print data unless new print data is received by the data receiving unit. When the printed label is to be peeled off from the mount and discharged, the label 46 peeled off from the mount 48 is discharged from the label outlet 64 by sliding the mount peeling device 60 downward. As described above, when the label printing operation is completed, the label 46 discharged from the label paper outlet 52 or the label outlet 64 is taken and attached to a product or the like.

  Next, the roll paper mounting portion 42 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.

  First, replacement of the battery 70 for the label printer 10 will be described. The open / close cover 14 is opened by sliding the open / close lever 16 upward, and the label paper 44 attached to the battery cover 72 is removed as shown in FIG. Next, the battery cover 72 is manually turned and removed from the base 68, and a new battery 70 is accommodated in the battery cover 72, and then the battery cover 72 is attached to the base 68. Next, the label paper 44 is set again on the battery cover 72 and the open / close cover 14 is closed. As a result, the rolled roll of label paper is stored in the roll paper mounting unit 42 and the replacement of the battery 70 with the battery storage unit 67 is completed.

  Since the battery is housed in a position corresponding to the paper tube 50 portion in the roll paper mounting portion 42, the printer can be reduced in size as compared with a printer provided with a battery mounting portion separately from the roll paper mounting portion 42, and the battery Since the cover 72 is also used as the roll paper support shaft, the number of parts can be reduced.

  To replace the label paper 44, after opening the opening / closing cover 14, the used label paper 44, that is, the paper tube 50, is removed from the battery cover 72, a new label paper 44 is set, and the opening / closing cover 14 is closed.

  Next, effects of the buffer pad 90 of the label printer 10 will be described. The label printer 10 is carried while worn on the waist of the operator. At this time, the label printer 10 may come off the waist belt due to an unexpected accident, and the label printer 10 may fall on the ground. In FIG. 2, the label printer 10 according to the present embodiment is grounded to the ground or the like from the deviation direction of the center of gravity G of the label printer 10, that is, from the bottom of the label printer 10, when dropped. Therefore, since the buffer pad 90 is provided at the portion to be grounded, the buffer pad 90 is grounded to the ground or the like before the label printer 10, and the impact received directly by the label printer 10 can be reduced. In particular, as compared with the case where the buffer pad 90 is attached to the entire label printer 10, both the volume and the weight can be greatly reduced, while the function as a buffer member can be effectively exhibited when dropped.

  Next, a label printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same and similar member as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the battery storage portion 102 of the label printer 100 according to the present embodiment, a roll paper support shaft 104 that supports the label paper 44 is provided in the approximate center of the side portion 66 of the opening / closing cover 14. The roll paper support shaft 104 has a cylindrical shape capable of storing two batteries 70, and a battery lid 106 is detachably provided at an end thereof.

  The roll paper support shaft 104 and the battery lid 106 are provided with contacts (not shown) for circuit connection with both the + and-terminals of the battery 70. These two contacts are connected to a circuit board for printing operation provided in the main body 108 of the label printer 100 via a circuit (not shown). By storing the battery 70 on the roll paper support shaft 104 and attaching the battery lid 106 to the roll paper support shaft 104, power is supplied from the battery 70 to each device inside the apparatus main body 108 via the circuit board.

  The label printer 100 having such a configuration is configured such that the position of the center of gravity is biased to the lower part of the label printer 100. Further, buffer pads 110 made of rubber or the like are attached to the surface of the apparatus main body 108 at the lower part of the label printer 100 (positions corresponding to the four corners of the lower part of the apparatus main body 108).

  Also in the label printer 100 having such a configuration, since the battery is housed in a position corresponding to the paper tube 50 portion of the label paper 44, the printer can be miniaturized. In addition, when the label printer 100 is dropped, the label printer 100 is grounded from the direction of deviation of the center of gravity of the label printer 100, that is, from the lower part of the label printer 100 to the ground or the like.

  The configuration of the printer shown in the above-described embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in this embodiment, four buffer pads 90 and 110 are attached to the arc portion of the lower part of the label printer, that is, four corners. However, the positions of the buffer pads are not limited to this, and protection is required. It is preferable to select an appropriate position for attachment. For example, the label printer may be attached over the entire lower surface, or four or more locations may be attached to the lower portion of the label printer.

  In the above embodiment, the battery cover 72 and the battery cover 106 are opened and closed to allow the battery 70 to be taken in and out. For example, the opening and closing (not shown) is provided on the side surface of the opening and closing cover 14, that is, on the back side of the side portion 66 of the opening and closing cover 14. A configuration may be adopted in which the battery 70 can be taken in and out from the side surface of the opening / closing cover 14 by providing a lid.

The perspective view which shows the label printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention The side view which shows the label printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention The front view which shows the state which opened the opening-and-closing cover of the roll paper mounting part in the label printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the state which opened the opening-and-closing cover of the roll paper mounting part in the label printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows another embodiment of the label printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,100 ... Label printer, 12,108 ... Apparatus main body, 14 ... Opening / closing cover, 42 ... Roll paper mounting part, 44 ... Label paper, 50 ... Paper tube, 56 ... Thermal head, 58 ... Platen roller, 67, 102 ... Battery storage unit, 70 ... battery, 72 ... battery cover (roll paper support shaft), 90, 110 ... buffer pad, 104 ... roll paper support shaft, G ... center of gravity

Claims (3)

A printer comprising: a roll paper mounting unit that mounts a roll of paper wound around a paper tube on a roll paper support shaft; and a paper transport mechanism that transports the paper drawn from the roll paper mounting unit to a printing unit In
A printer comprising a battery housing portion formed inside the roll paper support shaft.   The roll paper mounting portion is disposed so that the center of gravity of the printer is deviated, and a shock absorbing member that absorbs impact is provided on the outer case surface portion of the printer on the side where the roll paper mounting portion is disposed. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is attached.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is a portable label printer.