JP2006088449A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printer in which a character input key, or the like, can be prevented surely from being depressed when the tape printer is set upside down in order to replace a tape cassette, or the like. <P>SOLUTION: On the back of a body frame 2, a first wall 22 is provided to extend by a predetermined height above the upper surface being arranged with a key board 4 over the entire width in the right and left direction. On each side face of the body frame 2, each second wall 26 is provided such that the upper end extends upward by a predetermined height which decreases in the front side direction over the entire width in the front and rear direction from the right and left side edges of the first wall 22. On the front surface of the body frame 2, a third wall 30 is provided to extend above the upper surface being arranged with the key board 4 up to the same height as the front edge of each second wall 26 over the entire width in the right and left direction. Upper ends of the first wall 22, each second wall 26 and the third wall 30 are formed to be continuous on the same plane. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus in which display means and character input keys are disposed on an upper surface portion of an apparatus main body, and a detachable lid member for closing a cassette housing portion is provided on a bottom surface portion of the apparatus main body.

Conventionally, various types of tape printers in which display means and character input keys are arranged on the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body have been proposed.
For example, a keyboard is provided at the front part of the main body frame of the tape printer, and a small liquid crystal display capable of displaying characters and symbols for six characters is provided on the curved frame part curved upward on the rear side of the keyboard. Is provided. This keyboard 3 also includes character keys for entering alphabets, hiragana, numbers, symbols, etc., a space key, a cursor key for scrolling the character string displayed on the display to the right or left, A power key or the like for turning off is provided. In addition, on the front end of the keyboard and on the upper surface of the main body frame at both the left and right ends, there are provided protrusions that are substantially semicircular and thin-walled when viewed from the side. In addition, there is a configuration in which the height of the pair of protrusions is higher than the height of the key in a side view (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
With such a configuration, when the tape printer is turned upside down and placed on a desk in order to remove the back cover of the tape printer and replace the tape cassette, Is supported by the pair of protrusions and the curved frame portion, each key of the keyboard does not directly touch the top surface of the desk, and it is possible to reliably prevent the keys from being erroneously input. Also, when the keyboard is placed on the top of the desk with the keyboard facing down, the power key is accidentally pressed and the power is turned on to ensure that the battery is consumed unnecessarily. Can be prevented.
JP-A-5-324604 (paragraphs (0014) to (0017), FIGS. 3 to 5)

  However, in the tape printer using the above-described conventional configuration, when the tape printer is thinned and miniaturized, it is necessary to lift it by holding the upper and lower surfaces of the tape printer. There is a problem that there is a possibility that an unnecessary character input or a power key may be pressed by pressing a key or the like. In addition, if the front edge of the keyboard and the main body frame on both the left and right ends are provided with a semi-circular and thin projection on the side, the tape printer can be made thinner and smaller in terms of operability and design. As a result, the height of the protrusions must be reduced, and when a thin rubber mat is laid on the desk, the protrusions will be placed on the desk upside down for replacement of the tape cassette. There is a problem that a character input key, a power key, or the like may be pressed down by sinking into a rubber mat or the like.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can be easily lifted without pressing a character input key or the like even when the tape printer is thinned or downsized. Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape printer that can reliably prevent a character input key or the like from being pressed when the tape cassette or the like is replaced upside down.

  In order to achieve the above object, a tape printer according to claim 1 is provided with display means arranged above the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body in a horizontal view, and arranged below the display means on the upper surface portion in a horizontal view. A print data input means having a plurality of character input keys, a cassette storage portion that opens to the bottom surface of the apparatus main body facing the print data input means and stores a tape cassette, and an opening portion of the cassette storage portion A detachable lid member for closing the first wall portion extending upward by a predetermined height over the entire width of the upper side edge portion in the horizontal view of the upper surface portion, A pair of second walls extending upward from the left and right edge portions of the first wall portion so that the upper end portion becomes lower as it goes in the horizontal lower side direction over the entire length of the left and right edge portions of the upper surface portion. A portion of the first wall portion. The end portion and the upper end portion of each second wall portion are formed so as to be continuous in the same plane, and the height of the lower end portion in horizontal view of each second wall portion is the height of the character input key in horizontal view. It is formed so that it may become higher than this.

  The tape printer according to claim 2 is the tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the first inner wall surface portion on the character input key side of the first wall portion faces toward the character input key side. It is formed so as to incline downward, and the display means is disposed on the first inner wall surface.

  The tape printer according to claim 3 is the tape printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second inner wall surface portion on the character input key side of each second wall portion is the character input. It is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the key side.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the tape printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein each of the upper and lower surface portions has a width across the entire width of the lower side edge in the horizontal view. A third wall portion extending upward is provided so as to have a height equal to the height of the lower end portion of the second wall portion in the horizontal view.

  Furthermore, the tape printer according to claim 5 is the tape printer according to claim 4, wherein the third inner wall surface portion on the character input key side of the third wall portion faces toward the character input key side. It is formed so as to be inclined downward.

In the tape printer according to claim 1, a first wall portion extending upward by a predetermined height over the entire width of the upper side edge portion in the horizontal view of the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body, and the left and right sides of the first wall portion A pair of second wall portions are provided that extend upward from the both edge portions so that the upper end portion thereof becomes lower as it goes in the lower side direction in the horizontal view over the entire length of the left and right edge portions of the upper surface portion. Yes. Further, the upper end portion of the first wall portion and the upper end portion of each second wall portion are formed to be continuous in the same plane, and the height of the lower end portion in the horizontal view of each second wall portion is horizontal. It is formed so as to be higher than the height of the character input key in view.
Thereby, when lifting the tape printer, it can be lifted by holding the upper part of the first wall part or the second wall part and the bottom part of the main body of the apparatus, and can be easily lifted without pressing a character input key or the like. Can do. Further, when the apparatus main body is placed on the installation surface upside down so that the upper surface portion on which the character input keys and the like are arranged faces downward, the upper end portions of the first wall portion and each second wall portion Is uniformly abutted against the installation surface, so that the lid member of the cassette housing portion provided on the bottom surface side of the apparatus main body can be stably removed, and the character input key or the like can be reliably pressed down by the installation surface. Can be prevented. In addition, each second wall portion extends upward so that the upper end portion becomes lower as it goes in the lower side direction in the horizontal view, and the height of the lower end portion in the horizontal view is higher than the height of the character input key in the horizontal view. Since it is formed so as to be high, the height of the second wall portion on the hand side becomes low, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in workability when inputting print data or the like.

  Further, in the tape printer according to claim 2, since the display means is arranged on the first inner wall surface portion formed so as to be inclined downward toward the character input key side of the first wall portion, printing is performed. When inputting data or the like, characters, symbols and the like displayed on the display means can be easily recognized, and workability can be improved. Furthermore, when the device body is placed on the installation surface upside down so that the upper surface where the display means, character input keys, etc. are arranged faces downward, the display means does not contact the installation surface. Further, it is possible to prevent the display means from coming into contact with the installation surface and being damaged.

  In the tape printer according to claim 3, since the second inner wall surface portion on the character input key side of each second wall portion is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the character input key side, The second inner wall surface portion and the apparatus main body bottom surface portion can be easily lifted by placing a finger thereon, and further operability can be improved.

  In the tape printer according to claim 4, the upper surface portion has a height equal to the height of the horizontal view lower end portion of each second wall portion across the entire width of the horizontal view lower side end edge portion. Since the third wall portion is provided so that the hand can be put on the third wall portion when the character input key or the like is operated, the operability can be improved. Further, by providing the third wall portion, even if the character input key or the like is arranged up to the vicinity of the base end portion of the third wall portion, the upper surface portion on which the character input key or the like is arranged is located on the lower side of the apparatus main body. This character input key can be surely prevented from being pressed when it is placed upside down so as to face up, and the tape printer can be further reduced in thickness and size.

  Furthermore, in the tape printer according to claim 5, the third inner wall surface portion on the character input key side of the third wall portion is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the character input key side. The third inner wall surface portion and the apparatus main body bottom surface portion can be easily lifted by placing a finger, and further operability can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a tape printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on a specific embodiment.

First, a schematic configuration of the tape printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the tape printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a character input key 5 for creating text composed of document data on the upper surface of a synthetic resin body frame 2, printing of text and the like. Print key for commanding, return key for executing line feed command and various processes, return key for commanding selection, and moving the cursor up, down, left and right on a liquid crystal display (LCD) 3 that displays characters such as characters across multiple lines It has a keyboard 4 provided with cursor keys and the like.
Further, a cassette housing portion 8 for detachably storing the tape cassette 7 and a battery housing portion 12 for detachably storing the battery 11 are disposed on the bottom surface portion 2A of the main body frame 2, and each of the cassette housing covers 9 is provided. The battery storage cover 13 is covered. Further, an adapter insertion port 15 to which a power adapter is attached is provided on the left side surface portion (left side surface portion in FIG. 3) of the main body frame 2. Further, inside the tape printer 1, a tape drive printing mechanism (not shown) and a cutter for cutting the tape are provided, and a thermal tape 17 drawn and printed from the tape cassette 7 is provided on the back side. It is discharged from the discharge port 18 to be cut and can be cut by a cutter.

  In addition, a platen roller 19, a thermal head 20, and the like are disposed in the cassette storage unit 8, and until a position where a part of the thermal tape 17 stored in the tape cassette 7 is pressed against the thermal head 20 by the platen roller 19, The platen roller 19 is rotated and fixed to the thermal head 20 side. Then, the platen roller 19 is rotationally driven by a drive motor and a gear train (not shown), and the printed thermal tape 17 is conveyed via the thermal head 20. The thermal tape 17 housed in the tape cassette 7 is configured to develop color due to the heat generated by the thermal head 20, so that the thermal head 20 has a higher capacity than when printing on the tape via a thermal ink ribbon. The necessary heat generation energy of each heat generating element can be kept low, and the heat generation temperature of the thermal head 20 can be lowered. Further, the heat-sensitive tape 17 may be one in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive is previously applied to the back surface and a release tape is temporarily bonded to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

  In addition, the back surface of the main body frame 2 has a predetermined height (for example, a height of 5 mm to 30 mm) from the upper surface on which the keyboard 4 is disposed across the entire width in the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 4). A first wall portion 22 extending upward is provided. Further, a first upper end surface 23 is provided that extends from the upper end of the first wall portion 22 in a substantially perpendicular inner direction with a predetermined width (for example, a width of 2 mm to 5 mm). Further, the first upper end surface 23 is inclined from the front end edge portion to the upper end surface of the keyboard 4 downward toward the keyboard 4 by a predetermined angle (for example, an inclination angle of 15 to 60 degrees). A first inner wall surface 24 on which the liquid crystal display 3 is disposed is provided. Thereby, since the liquid crystal display 3 is disposed on the first inner wall surface 24 formed so as to be inclined in the direction of the keyboard 4 where the character input keys are disposed, when inputting print data or the like, Characters, symbols, and the like displayed on the liquid crystal display 3 can be easily seen, and workability can be improved.

  Further, each side surface portion of the main body frame 2 has an upper end portion extending in the front side direction across the entire width in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) of each side surface portion from the left and right end edges of the first wall portion 22. In FIG. 2, the height is a predetermined height (for example, 5 mm to 30 mm on the back side and 3 mm to 10 mm on the front end) from the upper surface on which the keyboard 4 is arranged so as to become lower in the lower direction. ) Each second wall portion 26 extending upward is provided. Further, the height of the front end edge portion (the lower end edge portion in FIG. 2) of each second wall portion 26 is formed to be higher than the height of each key arranged on the keyboard 4. Also, each second upper end surface 27 extending from the upper end portion of each second wall portion 26 by a predetermined width (for example, a width of 2 mm to 5 mm) in a substantially perpendicular inner direction is provided. Further, a predetermined angle (for example, an inclination angle of 15 to 70 degrees) is inclined downward from the inner edge of each second upper end face 27 to the upper end face of the keyboard 4 toward the keyboard 4 side. Each 2nd inner wall surface part 28 extended so that it may be provided. Accordingly, each second wall portion 26 and each second upper end surface 27 are extended upward so that the upper end portion becomes lower as it goes in the front direction (the lower direction in FIG. 2). The height on the hand side of the two wall portions 26 is reduced, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in workability when inputting print data or the like.

  Further, on the front surface of the main body frame 2, the front edge portion of each second wall portion 26 (the lower end in FIG. 2) rather than the upper surface on which the keyboard 4 is arranged across the entire width in the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3). A third wall 30 is provided to extend upward to the same height as the edge) (for example, a height of 2 mm to 5 mm). Further, a third upper end surface 31 is provided that extends from the upper end portion of the third wall portion 30 by a predetermined width (for example, a width of 1 mm to 5 mm) in a substantially perpendicular inner direction. Further, a predetermined angle (for example, an inclination angle of 15 to 60 degrees) is inclined downward from the inner side edge of the third upper end surface 31 toward the upper end surface of the keyboard 4 toward the keyboard 4 side. A third inner wall surface 32 extending in this manner is provided. As a result, when the tape printer 1 is placed on an installation surface such as a desk and a character input key of the keyboard 4 is operated, a hand can be placed on the third upper end surface 32 and the third wall portion 32. And operability can be improved.

Further, mounting / replacement and handling of the tape cassette 7 and the battery 11 of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper end portion of the main body frame 2 constituted by the first upper end surface 23, the second upper end surface 27 and the third upper end surface 31 of the main body frame 2 is connected in the same plane. Is formed. Thus, when the main body frame 2 is placed upside down on the installation surface such as a desk or rubber mat so that the surface on which the keyboard 4 is disposed is directed downward, the upper end surfaces 23, 27, 31 are A space is formed between the desk, etc. with the keyboard 4 and the liquid crystal display 3 in contact with the installation surface of the desk, rubber mat, etc., and each of the parts arranged on the liquid crystal display 3 and the keyboard 4 even when the power is turned on. It is possible to reliably prevent the key from being pressed, and since the liquid crystal display 3 does not contact the installation surface, the liquid crystal display 3 can be prevented from coming into contact with the installation surface and being damaged. In addition, since the third wall portion 30, the third upper end surface 31, and the third inner wall surface portion 32 are provided, the third wall portion 30, the third upper end surface 31, and the third inner wall surface portion 32 are operated when the character input key 5 is operated. A hand can be placed on the inner wall surface portion 32, and operability can be improved. Further, by providing the third wall portion 30, the third upper end surface 31, and the third inner wall surface portion 32, even when the character input key 5 or the like is arranged up to the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the third inner wall surface portion 32, When the main body frame 2 is turned upside down and placed on an installation surface such as a desk or rubber mat, it is possible to reliably prevent the character input key 5 or the like from being pressed down, and to reduce the thickness and size of the tape printer 1. be able to.
Further, when the main body frame 2 is turned upside down and placed on an installation surface such as a desk, the bottom surface portion 2A is placed with a predetermined angle inclined with respect to the installation surface such as a desk or rubber mat. In this state, the cassette storage cover 9 can be removed, and the tape cassette mounted in the cassette storage unit 8 can be replaced. In this state, the battery storage cover 13 can be removed to replace each battery 11 mounted in the battery storage unit 12. Accordingly, the cassette storage cover 9 and the battery storage cover 13 can be stably attached and detached, and the tape cassette 7 and each battery 11 can be easily replaced and mounted, thereby improving workability. Can do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, each second inner wall surface 28 is formed so as to incline downward toward the keyboard 4 side on which the character input keys and the like are arranged. In the case of lifting by holding at 35, the second inner wall surface portion 28 and the second upper end surface portion 27 and the bottom surface portion 2A of the main body frame 2 can be easily lifted with a finger to improve operability. Can do. Further, the third inner wall surface 32 is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the keyboard 4 side where the character input keys 5 and the like are arranged. Can be easily lifted by placing a finger on the third inner wall surface portion 32 and the third upper end surface portion 31 and the bottom surface portion 2A of the main body frame 2, and further operability can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a gripping part or the like for easy lifting, the tape printer 1 can be further reduced in thickness and size.

  Here, the liquid crystal display 3 functions as a display means. The keyboard 4 functions as print data input means.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, Of course, various improvement and deformation | transformation are possible within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to an embodiment. It is a top view of the tape printer concerning a present Example. It is a front view of the tape printer which concerns on a present Example. It is a rear view of the tape printer which concerns on a present Example. It is a bottom view of the tape printer which concerns on a present Example. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 2 and illustrates a state where a cassette storage cover is removed. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 2 and illustrates a state where a cassette storage cover and a battery cover are removed. It is principal part sectional drawing explaining the state which lifted the tape printer which concerns on a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 2 Main body frame 2A Bottom face part 3 Liquid crystal display 4 Keyboard 5 Character input key 7 Tape cassette 8 Cassette storage part 9 Cassette storage cover 11 Battery 12 Battery storage part 13 Battery storage cover 17 Thermal tape 22 1st wall part 23 1st 1 upper end surface 24 first inner wall surface portion 26 second wall portion 27 second upper end surface 28 second inner wall surface portion 30 third wall portion 31 third upper end surface 32 third inner wall surface portion

Claims (5)

Display means disposed above the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body in a horizontal view;
Print data input means disposed on the lower side of the upper surface than the display means and having a plurality of character input keys;
A cassette housing portion that opens to the bottom surface of the apparatus main body facing the print data input means and accommodates a tape cassette;
In a tape printer provided with a removable lid member that closes the opening of the cassette housing portion,
A first wall portion extending upward by a predetermined height over the entire width of the upper side edge portion in the horizontal view of the upper surface portion;
A pair of second members extending upward from the left and right edge portions of the first wall portion so that the upper end portion becomes lower in the horizontal view lower direction over the entire length of the left and right edge portions of the upper surface portion. The wall,
With
The upper end portion of the first wall portion and the upper end portion of each second wall portion are formed so as to be continuous in the same plane, and the height of the lower end portion in horizontal view of each second wall portion is in horizontal view A tape printer, characterized in that it is formed to be higher than the height of the character input key. The first inner wall surface portion of the first wall portion on the character input key side is formed to be inclined downward toward the character input key side,
The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is disposed on the first inner wall surface.   3. The second inner wall surface on the character input key side of each of the second wall portions is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the character input key side. The tape printer described in 1.   A third wall portion extending upward so as to have a height equal to the height of the lower end portion in the horizontal view of each of the second wall portions over the entire width of the lower edge portion on the lower side in the horizontal view of the upper surface portion; The tape printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tape printer is provided.   5. The tape printing according to claim 4, wherein a third inner wall surface portion of the third wall portion on the character input key side is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the character input key side. apparatus.

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