JP2006150870A - Information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device having a superior water-proof property. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing device 1 is quipped with a device case 7 and an operational instrument18 assembled into the device case 7. The case 7 is provided with an upstream side liquid discharge groove 31 which receives fluid intruding from outside to prevent the fluid from intruding into the operational instrument 18, a storage tank 35 which communicates with the upstream side liquid discharge groove 31 to temporarily store the liquid flowing in from the liquid discharge groove 31, and a downstream side liquid discharge groove 38 which communicates with the storage tank 35 to discharge the liquid flowing in from the storage tank 35 to outside of the device case 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having high waterproofness.

  With the spread of personal computers and digital home appliances, information processing apparatuses that handle various types of information and perform predetermined processing have become widespread. An example of such an information processing apparatus is a printer (printing apparatus) connected to a personal computer or the like.

  The printer includes a transport mechanism that feeds recording sheets one by one from the storage unit and transports them along a predetermined transport path in an apparatus case that provides an appearance, and a recording that is mounted and transported in the middle of the transport path. Various operation devices such as a recording unit that records images such as characters and graphics on paper and a recording unit operation mechanism that applies a predetermined moving operation to the recording unit as needed are incorporated.

  By the way, such printers are often installed in dry spaces such as offices and machine rooms, but when installed in places that handle food and beverages, such as restaurants. The printer may be accidentally covered with water or other liquid. Therefore, it is preferable that the printer installed in a place with moisture like this has a structure that does not affect the internal operation equipment even if liquid or the like is applied to the printer. Such printers include those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the printer 100 described in Patent Document 1 prints on the roll paper P while transporting the roll paper P stored in the roll paper storage unit 116 along the roll paper transport path 117. Printing is performed by the head 118, and the roll paper P is discharged from the roll paper discharge port 115. In the printer 100, a drain groove 112a is provided on the outer surface near the roll paper outlet 115 where liquid may enter. When liquid spills in the vicinity of the roll paper discharge port 115, the liquid flows into the drainage groove 112a, and flows into the internal drainage channel (not shown) from the drainage groove 112a through the drainage port 112b. Then, the liquid is discharged onto the side wall surface of the printer through the internal drainage channel, and the liquid is configured not to enter the printer through the roll paper discharge port 115.

Further, in the printer 100, since the opening width of the roll paper discharge port 115 is set small, it is difficult for liquid to enter from the roll paper discharge port 115, but by any chance liquid enters the printer from the roll paper discharge port 115. Even in this case, as shown in FIG. 11, since the internal drain groove 122c is provided below the roll paper discharge port 115, the liquid that has entered through the internal drain groove 122c is discharged to the outside. Can do.
JP 2002-137493 A JP-A-8-300740

  However, in the printer described in Patent Document 1, the internal drain groove 122 c inside the printer is structurally difficult to allow liquid to enter from the roll paper discharge port 115, but in the unlikely event that a large amount of liquid enters from the roll paper discharge port 115. It is also conceivable that the liquid overflows from the internal drain groove 122c and enters the operating device side inside the printer. Actually, there are various types of printers, and some of the printers are difficult to prevent from entering the liquid from the outside of the printer. In the case of a printer having such a structure, even if an internal drainage groove is provided, there is a possibility that liquid may overflow from the internal drainage groove, leaving anxiety about waterproofness.

  Similarly, Patent Document 2 does not disclose a structure that further improves the waterproofness of an information processing apparatus such as a printer.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus such as a highly waterproof printer in view of the above matters.

The present invention is achieved by the following configurations.
(1)
A device case,
An information processing device comprising an operating device incorporated in the device case,
The device case is
An upstream drainage groove that receives liquid entering from the outside and prevents the liquid from entering the operating device;
A reservoir that communicates with the upstream drainage groove and temporarily stores the liquid flowing from the upstream drainage groove;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a downstream drainage groove that communicates with the storage tank and discharges the liquid flowing from the storage tank to the outside of the apparatus case.
(2) (1) characterized in that a flow restrictor for reducing the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the downstream drainage groove is provided between the reservoir and the downstream drainage groove. The information processing apparatus described.
(3) The information processing apparatus according to (2), wherein the flow restrictor is a slit formed in a storage wall that defines the storage.
(4) The device case has an opening covered by an opening cover,
The upstream drainage groove is provided around an opening formed in the device case, and receives liquid entering from a gap between the device case and the opening cover (1) to (3). The information processing apparatus according to any one of the above.
(5) The information processing apparatus according to (4), wherein a water seal is formed between the opening sidewall defining the upstream drainage groove and the opening cover when liquid enters.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the liquid that has entered from the outside of the device case can be discharged from the upstream drainage groove to the outside of the device case via the storage tank and the downstream drainage groove. Therefore, even if the liquid enters the case internal space, the liquid can be discharged to the outside without adversely affecting the operating device. Moreover, since the information processing apparatus of the present invention includes the storage tank, even when a large amount of liquid flows into the upstream drainage groove, the liquid can be temporarily stored in the storage tank. Therefore, even when a large amount of liquid enters the inside, the liquid can be sequentially sent to the downstream drainage groove and discharged without overflowing the liquid drainage channel and adversely affecting the operation device. .

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, a flow restrictor (specifically, for example, a slit) that restricts the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the downstream drainage groove between the storage tank and the downstream drainage groove. Therefore, the flow rate flowing from the storage tank into the downstream drainage groove can be limited and reduced. Therefore, even when a large amount of liquid is stored in the storage tank, the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the downstream drainage groove can be reduced, and the liquid overflows from the downstream drainage groove, so that the operation equipment and the substrate It can prevent the unit from being adversely affected.

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the device case is formed with the opening covered by the opening cover. The upstream drainage groove is provided around the opening, and the device case and the opening are provided. Since the liquid entering from the gap with the cover is received, even if the upper surface opening which is a large opening is formed, further intrusion of the liquid into the inside can be prevented.

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, a water seal is formed between the opening side wall portion that defines the upstream drainage groove and the opening cover so as to form a water seal when liquid enters, Even when the liquid intrudes, the liquid does not enter the interior space of the printer from the opening cover beyond the opening side wall, and it is possible to prevent adverse effects on the operating equipment.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 9 show an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention as seen obliquely from the front side, and FIG. It is the perspective view seen from the rear surface side diagonal upper direction shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the information processing apparatus 1 in a state where the opening / closing cover is opened, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the case in an exploded manner. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the state where the top cover is removed. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the upper surface opening, FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a state in which the open / close cover on the rear side is opened, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views showing the attached state of the upper surface cover. .

The information processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a printer mainly used for business use, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper part having a lower case 3 and an upper surface 5a that is substantially parallel to a horizontal plane when installed. A substantially box-shaped paper cassette 9 loaded with recording paper is detachably mounted in the center of the front surface of a substantially box-shaped device case 7 composed of the case 5. Further, a paper discharge tray 11 for receiving the recording paper on which printing has been completed is provided so as to cover the open top surface of the paper cassette 9.
In addition, on both sides of the front surface of the device case 7, a display unit 13 for displaying an operation state and an operation unit 14 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the case internal space 7 a of the apparatus case 7, there is a conveyance mechanism that feeds the recording paper one by one from the paper cassette 9 and conveys it along a predetermined conveyance path, or in the middle of the conveyance path. Various operation devices 18 such as a recording unit that records images such as characters and figures on a recording sheet that is transported and conveyed, and a recording unit operation mechanism that applies a predetermined moving operation to the recording unit as necessary. Is incorporated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a substantially rectangular upper surface opening 19 is formed on the upper surface of the upper case 5. The upper surface opening 19 is opened so that the user can visually recognize the operation device 18 such as an opening conveyance mechanism, a recording unit, and a recording unit operation mechanism from the outside, and the operation device 18 is easily accessible during a paper jam or maintenance. It is configured as follows. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper surface opening 19 is covered with an upper surface cover 30 that is detachably provided during normal operation.

  The conveyance mechanism of the printer 1 conveys the recording paper fed one by one from the paper cassette 9 at the lower front side along the substantially U-shaped conveyance path in the apparatus case 7 and is in the middle of the conveyance path. After the recording process is completed by the installed recording section, the recording section is discharged onto the discharge tray 11. In the transport mechanism of the printer 1, a part of the guide parts and the transport rollers constituting the substantially U-shaped transport path are assembled on the back side of the opening / closing cover 16 on the rear surface of the apparatus shown in FIG. By opening / closing the opening / closing cover 16, a substantially U-shaped conveyance path can be exposed to the outside as shown in FIG. As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment can easily take out the jammed recording paper in the case of a paper jam or the like by opening and closing the opening / closing cover 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a unit accommodating portion 21 that is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped cavity is opened on the rear side of the lower case 3, and a substrate unit 23 is detachably attached to the unit accommodating portion 21. Attached to. Inside the unit cover 24 of the board unit 23 is housed a circuit board (not shown) for controlling the operation of the operation device 18 such as a transport mechanism and a recording unit assembled in the apparatus case 7. As shown in FIG. 2, a connector placement portion 27 to which a plurality of operating devices are connected is attached so as to be exposed to the outside.

  In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, since the flat upper case 5 has a substantially box shape having the upper surface 5a, the liquid enters the upper surface 5a of the upper case 5 or the upper surface cover 30 attached to the upper case 5. It is also assumed that a cup is placed. Therefore, if liquid spills from a cup or the like, the liquid enters the case internal space 7a from the gap 5b between the top cover 30 and the upper case 5 or the gap 5c between the opening / closing cover 16 and the top cover 30. The operating device 18 may be adversely affected.

  In consideration of this liquid intrusion, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is attached to the meeting surface of the upper case 5 and the lower case 3 so that the lower end portion of the upper case 5 covers the upper end portion of the lower case 3. The upper case 5 is attached so as to overhang from the lower end of the upper case 5 toward the upper end of the lower case 3. Accordingly, the liquid is prevented from entering from the meeting surface of the upper case 5 and the lower case 3. Similarly, since the rotation opening / closing cover 16 and the inner wall surface 6 of the upper case 5 are also attached so as to overhang, liquid does not enter between the opening / closing cover 16 and the upper case 5. It is configured.

  Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment receives a liquid that may enter the case internal space 7a and discharges the liquid to the outside without adversely affecting the operating device 18 or the substrate unit 23. The discharge route is configured.

Hereinafter, the liquid discharge path in the information processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.
The liquid discharge path of the present embodiment is mainly on the upstream drainage groove 31 formed around the upper surface opening 19 formed in the upper case 5 and on the downstream side of the upstream drainage groove 31. Between the inner wall surfaces 6, 6 provided on the back side of the storage tank 35, a downstream drainage groove 38 provided downstream of the storage tank 35 and along the inner wall surface 6 of the upper case 5, It is composed of

  As shown in FIG. 6, the upstream drainage groove 31 includes an inner wall 6 of the upper case 5 as an outer wall 31 c, a bottom wall 31 a that protrudes perpendicularly from the outer wall 31 c toward the upper surface opening 19, and a bottom wall 31 a. The inner wall 31b is erected vertically upward from the end of the upper surface opening 19 side. As shown in FIG. 9, the liquid W that has entered through the gap 5c between the cover 30 and the upper case 5 is received by the upstream drainage groove 31, and the liquid is applied to the operating device 18 disposed in the printer internal space 7a. Prevent intrusion. The bottom wall 31 a of the upstream drain groove 31 is preferably inclined obliquely downward toward the downstream storage tank 35, and the liquid is easily discharged toward the storage tank 35.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the clearance D between the upper end surface 31d of the inner wall 31b and the lower surface 30b of the upper surface cover 30 is such that a water seal WS is formed by the liquid that has entered the inside due to capillary action. Is set to The water seal WS closes a gap between the upper end surface 31d of the inner wall 31b and the lower surface 30b of the upper surface cover 30, and prevents liquid from entering the printer internal space 7a from the upper surface opening 19 beyond the inner wall 31b.

  The storage tank 35 communicates with the upstream drainage groove 31 and temporarily stores the liquid flowing from the upstream drainage groove 31. The storage tank 35 is provided continuously with the bottom wall 31 a of the upstream drainage groove 31, and has a U-shaped cross-sectional view that is bridged between the inner wall surfaces 6 and 6. Further, a slit 35 b is formed in the vicinity of the inner surface 6 of the rear side wall 35 a of the storage tank 35.

  The downstream drainage groove 38 communicates with the storage tank 35 through the slit 35 b, and discharges the liquid flowing from the storage tank 35 to the outside of the device case 7. The downstream end 38 a of the downstream drainage groove 38 is provided in the vicinity of the gap 5 c between the opening / closing cover 16 and the upper case 5, and the liquid flowing through the downstream drainage groove 38 passes through the gap 5 c to the device case 7. It is discharged to the outside from the back side.

  Here, the groove width of the slit 35 b formed in the storage tank 35 is configured to be narrower than the groove width of the downstream drainage groove 38. Thereby, the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the downstream drainage groove 38 from the storage tank 35 is reduced by the slit 35 b, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus case 7 through the downstream drainage groove 38. Therefore, in the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the liquid flows from the storage tank 35 into the downstream drainage groove 38 vigorously, the liquid overflows from the downstream drainage groove 38, and the liquid flows into the operating device 18. There will be no intrusion.

  In other words, the slit 35b constitutes a flow restrictor that restricts the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the downstream drainage groove 38. The storage tank 35 serves as a buffer for compensating for the unbalance between the flow rate of the liquid flowing from the upstream drainage groove 31 into the storage tank 35 by the slit 35b and the flow rate of the liquid flowing from the slit 35b into the downstream drainage groove 38. Is provided. The liquid is stored in the storage tank 35 per unit time by the difference between the flow rate flowing from the upstream drainage groove 31 and the flow rate flowing through the downstream drainage groove 38. Therefore, the storage tank 35 takes into account the amount of liquid entering the upstream drainage groove 31 and the storage tank 35 and the increase amount of the liquid collected in the storage tank 35 per unit time. It is preferable to secure a storage capacity that does not overflow.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a lower drainage groove 41 is formed on the upper surface of the unit cover 24 of the substrate unit 23. The lower drainage groove 41 is liquid that has entered from the gap 5c between the opening / closing cover 16 and the upper case 5 or discharged from the back side of the device case 7 through the downstream drainage groove 38 from the one end gap 5c. However, it is a drainage groove that catches the liquid that has remained in the gap 5c due to the surface tension of the liquid or the like, or has entered the printer internal space 19 from the gap 5c again. The lower drainage groove 41 has a U-shape when viewed from above, and guides the liquid to the front side of the substrate unit 23.

  A bottom drain groove 43 is formed on the bottom wall 3 a of the lower case 3 along the front end 23 a of the substrate unit 23. On the upper surface of the substrate unit 23, the liquid received by the lower drainage groove 41 flows out from the end 41 a of the lower drainage groove 41 and flows into the bottom drainage groove 43.

  A plurality of drain ports 44 are opened in the bottom drain groove 43 at predetermined intervals. These drainage ports 44 penetrate the front and back of the bottom wall 3 a of the lower case 3. The liquid that has flowed into the bottom drainage groove 43 flows into the drainage port 44, flows out below the lower case 3, and is discharged to the outside.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the device case 7 and the operating device 18 incorporated in the device case 7. The device case 7 receives the liquid entering from the outside and communicates with the upstream drainage groove 31 and the upstream drainage groove 31 to prevent the liquid from entering the operating device 18 and flows from the upstream drainage groove 31. A storage tank 35 that temporarily stores liquid, and a downstream drainage groove 38 that communicates with the storage tank 35 and discharges the liquid flowing from the storage tank 35 to the outside of the device case 7 are provided.

  Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the liquid that has entered from the outside of the device case 7 is transferred from the upstream drainage groove 31 to the outside of the device case 7 via the storage tank 35 and the downstream drainage groove 38. Can be discharged. Therefore, even if the liquid enters the case internal space 7a, the liquid can be discharged outside without adversely affecting the operation device 18 and the substrate unit 23. In addition, since the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the storage tank 35, even when a large amount of liquid flows into the upstream drain groove 31, the liquid is temporarily stored in the storage tank 35. can do. Accordingly, even when a large amount of liquid enters the inside, the liquid overflows from the liquid drainage flow path and is sequentially sent to the downstream drainage groove 38 without adversely affecting the operation device 18 and the substrate unit 23. Can be discharged.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, a slit 35b is formed between the reservoir 35 and the downstream drainage groove 38 as a flow restrictor for reducing the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the downstream drainage groove 38. The flow rate flowing from the storage tank 35 into the downstream drainage groove 38 can be limited and reduced. Therefore, even when a large amount of liquid is stored in the storage tank 35, the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the downstream drainage groove 38 is reduced, and the liquid overflows from the downstream drainage groove 38, so that the operating device 18 Or adversely affecting the board unit 23.

  In the present embodiment, the device case 7 is provided with the upper surface opening 19 covered with the upper surface cover 30, and an upstream drainage groove 31 is provided around the upper surface opening 19, and the device case 7 is configured to receive the liquid entering from the gap between the upper surface cover 30 and the upper surface cover 30, so that even if the upper surface opening 19 which is a large opening is formed, further intrusion of the liquid into the inside is prevented. Can do.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, a water seal WS is formed between the upper end surface 31d of the opening side wall portion 31b that defines the upstream drainage groove 31 and the upper surface cover 30 when liquid enters. Therefore, even when a large amount of liquid has entered, the liquid does not enter the printer internal space 7a from the upper surface cover 30 beyond the opening side wall portion 31b, and the operating device 18 and the substrate unit 23 are adversely affected. Can be prevented.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the printer described as the above embodiment. For example, if the device case includes an operating device and a circuit board that controls the operation of the operating device, and the circuit board is assembled as a detachable board unit, a copier, a fax machine, a computer, and other office-related equipment, etc. It may be.

It is the perspective view seen from the front side slanting upper part of one embodiment of the information processor concerning the present invention. It is the perspective view seen from the rear surface side diagonal upper direction shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of an information processor of a state where an opening-and-closing cover was opened. It is a disassembled perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a case. It is a perspective view of the state which removed the upper surface cover. It is an enlarged view of the upper surface opening vicinity. It is an enlarged view of the state which opened the opening / closing cover of the back side. It is a fragmentary sectional perspective view which shows the attachment state of an upper surface cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of an upper surface cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional printer. It is an expanded sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1: Information processing device, 3: Lower case, 5: Upper case, 7: Device case, 9: Paper cassette, 11: Paper discharge tray, 16: Opening / closing cover, 23: Substrate unit, 30: Top cover, 31: Upstream Side drainage groove, 35: storage tank, 38: downstream drainage groove, 41: lower drainage groove, 43: bottom drainage groove, 44: drainage port

Claims (5)

An information processing device comprising a device case and an operating device incorporated in the device case,
The device case is
An upstream drainage groove that receives liquid entering from the outside and prevents the liquid from entering the operating device;
A reservoir that communicates with the upstream drainage groove and temporarily stores the liquid flowing from the upstream drainage groove;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a downstream drainage groove that communicates with the storage tank and discharges the liquid flowing from the storage tank to the outside of the apparatus case.   2. The information according to claim 1, further comprising: a flow restrictor configured to restrict a flow rate of the liquid flowing into the downstream drainage groove between the storage tank and the downstream drainage groove. Processing equipment.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the flow restrictor is a slit formed in a storage wall that defines the storage. The device case is formed with an opening covered by an opening cover,
The upstream drainage groove is provided around an opening formed in the device case, and receives liquid entering from a gap between the device case and the opening cover. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a water seal is formed between the opening side wall portion defining the drainage groove and the opening cover when liquid enters.

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