JP2006142519A - Portable printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable printer whereby guide display to a user and state display of the apparatus can be exactly and fully carried out, the operability is improved, and also miniaturization and weight reduction of the apparatus can be realized. <P>SOLUTION: An organic EL display 12 where an organic EL element is formed on a flexible transparent substrate is stored in a space between a cover 11 set at a body 10 and a storage cover 15 formed on an outer face of the cover 11. The organic EL display 12 is made movable between a storage state in which the display 12 is stored in the space between the cover 11 and the storage cover 15, and a drawn-out state in which the display 12 is drawn out of the space between the cover 11 and the storage cover 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable printer that is used while being held in a hand of a user or worn on a body such as a waist, and more particularly, a portable printer having a display unit for displaying guidance to a user, displaying the status of an apparatus, and the like Type printer.

  Portable printers that are used while being held in the user's hand or worn on the body, such as the waist, have been reduced in size and weight to improve portability. In general, it is not possible to secure a sufficient space for disposing a display unit for performing status display or the like, and a display unit that can be disposed in a small space such as an LED (light emitting diode) is generally provided (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

  However, in the prior art, LEDs (light emitting diodes) can transmit only limited information to the user, and guidance display to the user and device status display cannot be performed accurately and sufficiently. There was a problem that would be damaged.

There are portable printers equipped with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) as a display unit for displaying guidance to the user, displaying the status of the device, and the like. However, the LCD requires a backlight, making the device smaller and lighter. There was a problem that the conversion was hindered.
JP-A-11-268376

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to accurately and sufficiently perform guidance display to the user and display of the status of the apparatus, and the operability is improved. Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable printer that can realize a reduction in size and weight of the apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configurations.
The gist of the invention described in claim 1 is a portable printer in which printing means for printing on roll paper is incorporated in the main body, the organic EL display having an organic EL element formed on a flexible transparent substrate, A storage means for storing the organic EL display, wherein the organic EL display is movable between a storage state stored in the storage means and a pulled-out state pulled out from the storage means. Exist in portable printers.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover provided on the main body and a storage cover formed on an outer surface of the cover as the storage means, and the space between the cover and the storage cover. 2. The portable printer according to claim 1, wherein the organic EL display is accommodated in a space.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a winding shaft for winding the organic EL display is disposed in the storage means, and the organic EL display is wound on the winding shaft. The portable printer according to claim 1, wherein the portable printer is housed.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the storage means is a display door pivotally supported at the lower side, and the organic EL display is attached to the inner surface of the display door. It exists in the portable printer of description.

  The portable printer of the present invention is configured so that an organic EL display in which an organic EL element is formed on a flexible transparent substrate is movable between a storage state stored in a storage unit and a pulled-out state pulled out from the storage unit. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure a wide space for disposing the display unit, so a large screen display unit can be provided, guidance display to the user and device status display can be performed accurately and sufficiently, and operation As well as improving the performance, the apparatus can be reduced in size and weight.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a portable printer according to the present invention, (a) is a view showing a storage state, and (b) is a view showing a pulled-out state. It is. 2A and 2B are schematic side views showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the portable printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a storage state, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a drawer state. (C) is a diagram showing the drawer open state and the cover open state.

  The first embodiment is a portable printer that is used while being held by a user's hand or worn on the body such as the waist. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the label is spaced from the belt-like mount. A main body 10 having a printing means for printing on a continuous roll of label and a roll paper wound with a strip of paper, a cover 11 provided on the main body 10, and a user An organic EL (electroluminescence) display 12 is provided for performing guidance display, device status display, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 11 is provided so as to be rotatable around a hinge 13 provided at the end of the main body 10. By opening the cover 11 as shown in FIG. The roll paper can be stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the main body 10. The roll paper stored in the storage unit is supplied to the printing unit, and the roll paper printed by the printing unit is discharged out of the main body 10 from the discharge port 14.

  A storage cover 15 is formed on the outer surface of the cover 11 on the hinge 13 side to form a double structure, and the organic EL display 12 is stored in a space between the cover 11 and the storage cover 15.

  The organic EL display 12 is a flexible display unit in which an organic EL element is formed on a transparent substrate made of a transparent flexible material such as a polymer film. A grip 16 is attached to one end and the other end A flat cable 17 is connected to the unit, and an electric signal for driving the organic EL display 12 (hereinafter referred to as a drive signal) is supplied via the flat cable 17.

  The flat cable 17 is attached to a take-up shaft 18, and the take-up shaft 18 is always urged in the direction in which the flat cable 17 is taken up. Accordingly, the organic EL display 12 to which the flat cable 17 is connected is urged in a direction in which the organic EL display 12 is accommodated in the space between the cover 11 and the accommodation cover 15, and when no force is applied from the outside, FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2A, the organic EL display 12 is stored in the space between the cover 11 and the storage cover 15, leaving the grip 16.

  In the housed state, the organic EL display 12 is placed on the cover 11 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B by gripping the gripping portion 16 and pulling it against the urging force of the winding shaft 18. Is pulled out to a visible region, and the organic EL display 12 is pulled out.

  The drive signal is supplied to the organic EL display 12 in the housed state, that is, the state in which the organic EL display 12 is housed in the space between the cover 11 and the housing cover 15, and the drawer state, that is, in the organic EL display 12 It is detected whether it is in a state of being pulled out to a visible region on the cover 11 (for example, a sensor for detecting the organic EL display 12 is provided in a space between the cover 11 and the storage cover 15 to provide an organic EL display) It is preferable that the driving signal supply is stopped in the housed state according to the detection result, and the driving signal is supplied to the organic EL display 12 only in the pulled out state.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the organic EL display 12 in which the organic EL element is formed on the flexible transparent substrate is formed on the cover 11 provided on the main body 10 and the outer surface of the cover 11. The organic EL display 12 is stored in a space between the cover 11 and the storage cover 15, and the organic EL display 12 is stored in the space between the cover 11 and the storage cover 15. Since it is not necessary to secure a wide space for arranging the organic EL display 12 on the outer surface of the main body 10 by being configured to be movable to the pulled-out state drawn out from the space between, the large-screen organic EL display 12 It is possible to provide guidance display to the user and device status display accurately and sufficiently, improving operability, There is an effect that it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the location.

(Second Embodiment)
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the portable printer according to the present invention, FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a storage state, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a drawer state. It is. 4A and 4B are schematic side views showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the portable printer according to the present invention. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a storage state, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a drawer state. (C) is a diagram showing the drawer open state and the cover open state.

  3 and 4, the second embodiment is a portable printer that is used while being held in the hand of the user or worn on the body such as the waist, and the label is spaced from the strip mount. A main body 20 having a printing means for printing on a continuous roll of label or a roll of paper that has been wound around, a cover 21 provided on the main body 20, and a user And an organic EL display 22 for displaying guidance, displaying the status of the apparatus, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 21 is provided so as to be rotatable around a hinge provided at the end of the main body 20, and as shown in FIG. 4C, by opening the cover 21, The roll paper can be stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the main body 20. The roll paper stored in the storage unit is supplied to the printing unit, and the roll paper printed by the printing unit is discharged out of the main body 20 from the discharge port 23.

  On the hinge side of the cover 21, a display storage section 24 that stores the organic EL display 22 is formed, and a winding shaft 25 is disposed on the same axis as the hinge in the display storage section 24.

  The organic EL display 22 is a flexible display unit in which an organic EL element is formed on a transparent substrate made of a transparent flexible material such as a polymer film. A grip portion 26 is attached to one end of the organic EL display 22, and the other end is attached to a take-up shaft 25 disposed in the display storage portion 24. Is biased in the direction of winding up the organic EL display 22.

  Accordingly, the organic EL display 22 is urged in the direction in which it is stored in the display storage unit 24, and when no force is applied from the outside, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 4 (a), the organic EL display 22 22 is wound around the take-up shaft 25 leaving the gripping portion 26 and is stored in the display storage portion 24.

  In the housed state, the organic EL display 22 is placed on the cover 21 as shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B by gripping the gripping portion 26 and pulling it against the urging force of the take-up shaft 25. Is pulled out to a visible region, and the organic EL display 22 is pulled out.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the organic EL display 22 in which the organic EL element is formed on the flexible transparent substrate is wound and stored on the winding shaft 25 disposed in the display storage unit 24. The organic EL is formed on the outer surface of the main body 20 by being configured to be movable between a storage state wound around the winding shaft 25 and stored in the display storage portion 24 and a pulled-out state pulled out from the display storage portion 24. Since it is not necessary to secure a wide space for disposing the display 22, a large-screen organic EL display 22 can be provided, and guidance display to the user and status display of the apparatus can be performed accurately and sufficiently, and operability is improved. Is improved, and the apparatus can be reduced in size and weight.

(Third embodiment)
5A and 5B are perspective views showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the portable printer according to the present invention. FIG. 5A is a view showing a closed state of the display unit, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the cover open state of a part.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the third embodiment is a portable printer that is used while being held in the hand of a user or worn on the body such as the waist, and the label is spaced from the belt-like mount. A main body 30 having a printing means for printing on a continuously attached label continuous body or a roll paper wound with a belt-like paper, a cover 31 provided on the main body 30, a guidance display to the user, And an organic EL display 32 for displaying the status of the apparatus.

  The roll paper is configured to be stored in the main body 30, and the roll paper is stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the main body 30 by operating the cover open button 33 to open the cover 31 provided on the front surface. can do. The roll paper stored in the storage unit is supplied to the printing unit, and the roll paper printed by the printing unit is discharged out of the main body 30 from the discharge port 34 provided on the front surface. Reference numeral 35 denotes a peeling unit used when a continuous label is loaded as roll paper. By sliding the peeling unit 35 downward, the label is peeled off from the belt-like mount, and the peeled label is removed from the label. The belt-shaped mount from which the label is peeled off from the outlet 36 is discharged from the outlet 34.

  The organic EL display 32 is a flexible display unit in which an organic EL element is formed on a transparent substrate made of a transparent flexible material such as a polymer film, and is attached to a display door 37 provided on the outer surface of the cover 31. . The display door 37 is pivotally supported on the lower side of the main body 30, and the organic EL display 32 is attached to the inner surface of the display door 37, that is, the surface facing the outer surface of the cover 31 in the closed state with the display door 37 closed. Yes. Since the organic EL display 32 is flexible, it can be attached even if the shape of the inner surface of the display door 37 is curved.

  Accordingly, in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the organic EL display 32 is housed, and the organic EL display 32 can be protected. In the opened state, the state shown in FIG. As shown, the organic EL display 32 is pulled out, and the organic EL display 32 can be viewed from above.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the organic EL display 32 in which the organic EL element is formed on the flexible transparent substrate is attached to the inner surface of the display door 37 on which the lower side of the main body 30 is pivotally supported. Even when the organic EL display 32 having a large screen is provided, the display door 37 can be moved between a storage state in which the display door 37 is closed and a drawer state in which the display door 37 is opened and the organic EL display 32 can be viewed from above. When the organic EL display 32 is not used, the organic EL display 32 can be protected by closing the display door 37.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be set to a suitable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention. In each figure, the same numerals are given to the same component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a portable printer according to the present invention, (a) is a view showing a storage state, and (b) is a view showing a pulled-out state. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic side view which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment of the portable printer which concerns on this invention, (a) is a figure which shows an accommodation state, (b) is a figure which shows a drawer | drawing-out state, (c) is a diagram showing the drawer open state and the cover open state. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of 2nd Embodiment of the portable printer which concerns on this invention, (a) is a figure which shows an accommodation state, (b) is a figure which shows a drawer | drawing-out state. It is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the portable printer according to the present invention, (a) is a diagram showing the housed state, (b) is a diagram showing the drawer state, (c) is a diagram showing the drawer open state and the cover open state. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of 3rd Embodiment of the portable printer which concerns on this invention, (a) is a figure which shows a display part closed state, (b) is a display part open state. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 11 Cover 12 Organic EL display 13 Hinge 14 Discharge port 15 Storage cover 16 Grip part 17 Flat cable 18 Winding shaft 20 Main body 21 Cover 22 Organic EL display 23 Discharge port 24 Display storage part 25 Winding shaft 26 Gripping part 30 Main body 31 Cover 32 Organic EL Display 33 Cover Open Button 34 Discharge Port 35 Peeling Unit 36 Label Discharge Port 37 Display Door

Claims (4)

A portable printer having a printing means for printing on roll paper in the main body,
An organic EL display in which an organic EL element is formed on a flexible transparent substrate;
Storing means for storing the organic EL display,
A portable printer, wherein the organic EL display is movable between a storage state stored in the storage means and a pulled-out state pulled out from the storage means. A cover provided on the main body as the storage means;
A storage cover formed on the outer surface of the cover;
The portable printer according to claim 1, wherein the organic EL display is stored in a space between the cover and the storage cover. The storage means is provided with a winding shaft for winding the organic EL display,
2. The portable printer according to claim 1, wherein the organic EL display is stored in a state of being wound around the winding shaft. The storage means is a display door pivotally supported below,
2. The portable printer according to claim 1, wherein the organic EL display is attached to an inner surface of the display door.

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