JP2007223262A - Tape printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printing device of which the workability for the movement on a table has been increased. <P>SOLUTION: When a user has completed the specification for the service of this tape printing device 10, and the tape printing device 10 needs to be moved on a table, the user switches a sliding button 49 on the front surface of a lower case 22 from an OFF state to an ON state by, e.g., moving the sliding button from the left side to the right side. Thus, a caster device 69 is displaced from a housed state shown in Fig.4(b) to a projected state shown in Fig.4(a), and a caster ball 28 protrudes from the lower surface 22a of the lower case 22. As a result, the lower surface 22a is lifted from the table, and the slide preventing effect by the friction of an anti-slipping sheet 25 which is bonded on the lower surface 22a is eliminated, and the tape printing device 10 becomes movable in an arbitrary direction on the table. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a tape printer that performs various types of printing on a tape based on input data.

A conventional tape printer has a structure in which a printing mechanism and a cutting mechanism are built in a housing. In this tape printer, after the user has loaded a tape cartridge, the user inputs print information using a keyboard or the like and instructs printing. In response to this instruction, desired printing is performed on the tape by the print head while feeding out the tape T from the tape cartridge. When printing is completed, the tape is cut out at an appropriate position after the tape is appropriately fed (see Patent Document 1).

The tape printing apparatus as described above has a relatively heavy weight because it incorporates a relatively complicated and heavy printing mechanism and cutting mechanism. If the tape printing apparatus falls from the table on which it is placed, Not only can the printing device itself be damaged, it can also damage objects under the table. For this reason, an anti-slip rubber sheet is attached to the back of the tape printer to prevent it from slipping and falling when the tape printer is placed on a smooth and inclined table. It has a structure.
JP 2003-122740 A

However, when the conventional tape printer is moved on the table, the rubber-based sheet is in the way, and the user moves the tape printer while being lifted to some extent on the table. . For this reason, the movement of the tape printing apparatus has been a burdensome task for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printer having improved workability for movement on a table.

In order to solve the above problems, a tape printer according to the present invention includes (a) a printing unit that performs printing on a tape-shaped member pulled out from a cartridge, and (b) a cutting unit that cuts the tape-shaped member, (C) a device case that houses the printing unit and the cutting unit, (d) a rolling element that enables movement of the device case on the mounting table, and (e) a device case that uses the rolling element in accordance with a user operation. And locking means for stopping the movement.

In the tape printer, since the rolling element enables the device case to move on the mounting table, the user can move the tape printing device on the table without lifting it, and the moving work can be performed. Can increase the sex. Further, in the above tape printer, the locking means stops the movement of the device case by the rolling element according to the user's operation, so that when the tape printer is placed on a smooth table, it is pushed by something. It is possible to prevent in advance a situation in which the user moves and falls from the tabletop or slips by its own weight and falls from the tabletop.

According to a specific aspect of the present invention, the tape printer further includes a non-slip portion provided at the bottom of the device case, and the rolling element supports the device case so as to lift the device case together with the non-slip portion. Enables movement of the device case. In this case, it is possible to prevent the tape printing apparatus from moving on the table by the anti-slip part normally, and by releasing the locking means at a necessary timing to make the rolling element movable, the user can The printing device can be moved freely on the table.

In another aspect of the present invention, the locking means includes an advance / retreat mechanism that displaces between a protruding state in which at least a part of the rolling element protrudes from the bottom and a storage state in which the rolling element is stored in the device case. Including. In this case, the rolling element can be easily advanced and retracted inside and outside the device case by the advance / retreat mechanism.

In another aspect of the present invention, the advancing / retreating mechanism includes an operation unit operated by a user, a switching unit that changes a rolling element between a protruding state and a storage state by transmitting an operation of the operation unit, and the switching And a locking portion for stopping the operation of the mechanism. In this case, not only can the rolling element be moved in and out of the device case by the user's operation, but the rolling element can be either in a protruding state corresponding to the locked state or in a stored state corresponding to the released state by the locking portion. It is possible to prevent switching from one to the other easily.

Hereinafter, a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire tape printer according to the present embodiment. Also, FIG.
(A) is a perspective view when the opening / closing lid of the tape printer of FIG. 1 is opened, and FIG. 2 (b) is a perspective view showing a tape cartridge loaded in the tape printer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape printer 10 is divided into an upper and lower divided device case 20.
The outer shell is formed by the upper case 21 and serves as an opening / closing lid, and the lower case 22 is provided with a mechanism such as a pocket 41 in which the tape cartridge C is loaded.

On the upper surface of the upper case 21, a keyboard 33 is disposed on the front side thereof, and a display 34 is disposed on the right side of the rear portion. The keyboard is used with the lid closed except when the tape cartridge C is detached.

The keyboard 33 is for inputting information such as data and commands to a microcomputer chip or the like which is a control system built in the lower case 22. The keyboard 33 has a function for designating various operation modes in addition to a character key group 31 for inputting text information including characters, symbols, numbers, and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as “characters”). Key group 3
2 etc. are arranged. The function key group 32 includes a [Power] key (not shown), a [Print] key for instructing a printing operation, data confirmation at the time of text information input, line feed, and selection instructions for various modes on the selection screen. [Select] key and [Cursor] for cursor movement
In addition to the keys, there are [external characters] keys for creating characters or symbols not previously stored in the apparatus as “external characters”.

The display 34 has a display screen 36 that can display an arbitrary character or image in an appropriate arrangement on the screen, and displays processing results, commands, and the like by a microcomputer chip or the like that is a control system built in the lower case 22. It can be displayed. That is, the display 34 selects a character string to be processed, or when the user inputs data or various commands / instructions from the keyboard 33 to edit the character string, or visually recognizes the result. Used for.

The lower case 22 is provided with a pocket 41 for mounting the tape cartridge C. The tape cartridge C is attached to and detached from the pocket 41 with the upper case (opening / closing lid) 21 opened. In the tape cartridge C, a tape T and an ink ribbon R having a certain width are accommodated in the cartridge case 51, and a through hole 53 for inserting the head unit 42 disposed in the pocket 41 is formed. ing.

The tape T corresponds to a tape-like member to be printed, and has a structure in which an adhesive surface is formed on the back surface of the base material and is covered with release paper. The tape T and the ink ribbon R run in a state where they overlap each other at the position of the through hole 53, and only the tape T is discharged to the outside, and the ink ribbon R is wound inside.

The head unit 42 provided at an appropriate position of the pocket 41 incorporates a print head 42a composed of a thermal head, and in a state where the tape cartridge C is loaded in the pocket 41, the print head 42a is inserted into the through hole of the tape cartridge C. 53 abuts on the back surface of the ink ribbon R that is exposed from 53. A desired character or the like is printed on the surface of the tape T by driving the print head 42a to generate heat. In the above, the head unit 42 and the drive shafts 47 and 48 function as a printing unit for printing on the tape T.

A tape discharge port 44 that communicates the pocket 41 with the outside of the apparatus is formed on the left side of the lower case 22. Yes. Further, the pocket 41 is provided with drive shafts 47, 48, etc., with which the driven portion of the mounted tape cartridge C is engaged. The shafts 47 and 48 feed the tape T and the ink ribbon R in the tape cartridge C, and the print head 42a is driven in synchronization with these to perform printing. Further, after the printing is completed, the feeding of the tape T is continued and the tape T
Is set to the position of the tape cutter 45. In the above, the tape cutter 45 and the drive shafts 47 and 48 function as a cutting part for cutting the tape T.

On the front side of the lower case 22, four caster balls (not shown) as rolling elements are projected on the bottom of the lower case 22 or stored in the bottom of the lower case 22, so that the user can operate A slide button 49 which is an operable operation unit is provided. Slide button 49
Is moved to the right position (state shown), so that caster balls, which will be described later, can be projected at the bottom of the lower case 22, and the slide button 49 is operated to move to the left position (not shown). The caster balls can be stored in the lower case 22 in a lump.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the lower case 22 shown in FIG. As is clear from the figure, four anti-slip sheets 25 are attached to the lower surface 22a of the lower case 22 as anti-slip portions at portions close to the four corners. Each anti-slip sheet 25 is formed of, for example, a rubber-based material and has a large surface friction coefficient. Therefore, even if the tape printer 10 is usually placed on a slightly inclined table, the tape printer 10 Can be prevented from sliding on the table and falling from the table. Note that the shape, arrangement, number, and the like of the anti-slip sheet 25 can be changed as appropriate according to the weight of the tape printer 10 and the like.

Four holes 26 are formed in the lower surface 22 a of the lower case 22 adjacent to the anti-slip sheet 25. In each hole 26, a spherical caster ball 28 is disposed so as to be embedded, and each caster ball 28 partially projects from the hole 26. As will be described in detail later, the caster ball 28 can be smoothly rotated in an arbitrary direction with respect to the lower surface 22a, and the lower case 22, that is, the tape printer 10 as a whole (see FIG. 1) is not shown. When it is placed on the stage, it can move freely in the AB direction and the CD direction, that is, freely around the stage.

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of an advance / retreat mechanism for moving the caster ball 28 forward and backward, and explains the role of the slide button 49 provided on the lower case 22. 4A shows the protruding state of the caster ball 28, and FIG. 4B shows the stored state of the caster ball 28.

The advancing / retracting mechanism 60 includes a slide button 49 operated by a user, a sliding member 62 connected to the sliding button 49 and sliding, and a latch device 66 that partially restricts the movement of the sliding member 62.
And a spring biasing device 68 that biases the caster device 69 that supports the caster ball 28 downward.
With. The advance / retreat mechanism 60 has a role as a lock unit that stops the movement of the lower case 22 by the caster device 69 (that is, the movement of the tape printer 10) according to a user operation.

In the advance / retreat mechanism 60, the sliding member 62 constitutes a switching unit together with the spring biasing device 68,
The advance / retreat state of the caster device 69 is changed. The sliding member 62 is guided by a guide (not shown) and smoothly moves in the AB direction along the bottom surface of the lower case 22 together with the slide button 49. At both ends of the sliding member 62 in the AB direction, shielding portions 62 a that move in the AB direction together with the sliding member 62 are provided. The shielding portion 62a is moved to the left end of the page as shown in FIG.
In the protruding state, the caster device 69 is allowed to move to the tip side. That is, the caster ball 28 protrudes from the hole 26 of the lower surface 22a by the movement of the shielding part 62a. Moreover, the shielding part 62a moves the caster device 69 to the root side in the storage state of FIG. That is, the caster ball 28 retreats behind the hole 26 in the lower surface 22a by the movement of the shielding portion 62a.

The latch device 66 is a locking portion that incorporates, for example, a mechanical mechanism including a cam or a ratchet, and prevents the slide button 49 and the sliding member 62 from moving to the right side of the drawing. When the sliding member 62 is once slightly moved to the left side by the operation 49, the locking is released and the sliding member 62 is allowed to move to the right side. This
4B can be prevented from being inadvertently released to the protruding state of FIG. 4A, and the tape printer 10 suddenly starts sliding movement on, for example, an inclined table. It is possible to prevent the printing apparatus 10 from falling from the top. 4A, since the movement of the shielding portion 62a to the left side of the paper is restricted by the tip of the caster device 69, the sliding member 62 is located on the left side of the paper in the latch device 66 itself. It does not have a function to prevent movement. However, the latch device 66 may have a function of preventing the sliding member 62 from moving to the left side of the drawing.

The spring biasing device 68 includes a cylindrical storage portion 68 a that stores the caster device 69, and a storage portion 68.
a spring 68b which is fixed to the upper part of a and urges the caster device 69 downward. That is, the caster device 69 is housed in the housing portion 68a and can be expanded and contracted in the EF direction.
The spring 68b receives a force protruding from the lower end of the storage portion 68a. However, FIG. 4 (a)
In the ON state of the advance / retreat mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 4, the movement is blocked by the hole 26 formed in the lower surface 22a of the lower case 22, and in the OFF state of the advance / retreat mechanism 60 shown in FIG. The movement is prevented by the shielding part 62a provided on the sliding member 62 disposed in the position.

The caster device 69 is a bearing that incorporates a well-known mechanism.
Can be held and rotated smoothly in any direction.

A general method of using the tape printing apparatus 10 configured as described above is that the user uses the keyboard 33 while confirming the input / editing result on the display 34 after loading the tape cartridge C in the pocket 41. Input printing information such as characters and symbols and instruct printing. By this instruction, the tape T is fed out from the tape cartridge C, and the print head 4
After the desired printing is performed on the tape T by 2a, the printed portion is sent out from the tape discharge port 44 to the outside at any time. When printing is completed, the tape is fed to the position of the tape length including the margin, and the label is created by cutting the tape T at a predetermined position.

When the user has finished using the tape printer 10 and wants to move the tape printer 10 on the table, the user moves the slide button 49 on the front of the lower case 22 from, for example, the left side to the right side to turn it off. Switch from ON to ON state. As a result, the caster device 69 is displaced from the housed state shown in FIG. 4B to the protruding state shown in FIG.
The caster ball 28 protrudes from the lower surface 22a of the second member. As a result, the lower case 22 from the table top.
The lower surface 22a is lifted, and the anti-slip effect due to the friction of the non-slip sheet 25 adhered to the lower surface 22a is lost, and the tape printing apparatus 10 can be moved in any direction on the table. When the user completes the movement to the desired position on 10 tape printers, the user moves the slide button 49 from the right side to the left side, for example, to switch from the ON state to the OFF state. As a result, the caster device 69 is displaced from the protruding state to the stored state, and the caster ball 28 is stored in the lower case 22. As a result, the lower surface 22a of the lower case 22 is lowered, and the tape printer 10 does not move on the table due to the friction of the non-slip sheet 25.

[Second Embodiment]
The tape printer of the second embodiment is a modification of the tape printer of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, differences from the apparatus of the first embodiment will be described, and parts that are not particularly described are the same as those of the apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the advance / retreat mechanism 160 incorporated in the tape printer of the second embodiment. The advance / retreat mechanism 160 includes a push button 149 operated by the user, a latch device 166 operated by the push button 149, and a spring 68b supported by the latch device 166 and biasing the caster device 69 downward.

Here, the push button 149 is provided in a stepped recess 22c formed in an edge portion of the upper surface 22b (see FIG. 1) of the lower case 22, and the user presses a finger from the side surface of the lower case 22. It can be operated by inserting and pushing downward.

The latch device 166 incorporates a mechanical mechanism similar to an alternate push button switch. That is, when the user presses the push button 149 as described above, the latch device 166
The displacement member 166a is turned on and moves downward to push the spring 68b downward. As a result, the caster device 69 moves to the front end side, and the caster ball 28 protrudes from the hole 26 in the lower surface 22a of the lower case 22. At this time, even if the user releases the push button 149, the return of the push button 149 is prevented by the ratchet or cam incorporated in the latch device 166 (
The state of the solid line), the caster ball 28 remains protruding from the hole 26 of the lower surface 22a. Then, when the user presses the push button 149 again, the push button 149 returns (a state of a chain line). That is, the latch device 166 is turned off, the displacement member 166a moves upward, and pulls the spring 68b upward. As a result, the caster device 69 moves to the base side and the caster ball 28 is accommodated in the hole 26 of the lower surface 22a of the lower case 22.

In this case, the advancing / retreating mechanism 160 is provided for each caster device 69 to be projected on the lower case 22, but one advancing / retreating mechanism 160 may be provided for a plurality of caster devices 69.

[Third Embodiment]
The tape printer of the third embodiment is a modification of the tape printer of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, differences from the apparatus of the second embodiment will be described, and parts that are not particularly described are the same as those of the apparatus of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control system of the tape printer 210 according to the third embodiment. The tape printer 210 has a keyboard 33 that serves as an interface with the user.
In addition to the display 34 and the display 34, a printing unit drive circuit 71 that drives the print head 42a and the feed motor 55, a cutting unit drive circuit 72 that drives the cutter motor 56 that causes the tape cutter 45 to perform a cutting operation, and data and calculation results Etc., and a caster device 69.
An advancing / retreating mechanism driving circuit 74 for driving the advancing / retreating mechanism 260 for moving the advancing / retreating, and a control processing unit 77 for appropriately operating while controlling the above circuit portions.

The advance / retreat mechanism 260 is an electric drive of the advance / retreat mechanism 160 of FIG. 5, and is used for projecting the caster device 69 from the hole formed in the lower case 22 to the outside or retracting the caster device 69 inside. An advance / retreat motor 57 is provided.

The control processing unit 77 is a control unit configured with a microcomputer chip or the like, and the storage unit 73.
Is composed of an IC including a ROM and a RAM. The control processing unit 77 operates according to the control program in the ROM provided in the storage unit 73 with the above configuration, and the keyboard 33
RAM provided in the storage unit 73 in response to input of various detection signals, various commands, various data, etc.
Are processed, and the control signal is output to the display 34, the printing unit drive circuit 71, the cutting unit drive circuit 72, the advance / retreat mechanism drive circuit 74, etc., thereby causing the display screen 36 to perform necessary display. The entire tape printer 10 is controlled by controlling the print head 42a and printing on the tape T under predetermined printing conditions. Further, when the keyboard 33 of the tape printing apparatus 210 is operated and permission for movement of the tape printing apparatus 210 is requested, the control processing unit 77 operates the advance / retreat mechanism drive circuit 74 as appropriate to lower the lower end of the caster apparatus 69. The tape printing apparatus 210 is projected outside the case 22 so that the caster apparatus 69 can move smoothly on the table. The control processing unit 77 also has a keyboard 33 of the tape printer 210.
Is operated, and prohibition of movement of the tape printer 210 is requested, the advance / retreat mechanism drive circuit 74
The lower end of the caster device 69 is accommodated in the lower case 22 so that the tape printer 210 can be stably placed on the table. Further, when the power switch of the advance / retreat mechanism drive circuit 74 is turned off, the control processing unit 77 forcibly operates the advance / retreat mechanism drive circuit 74 and stores the caster device 69 in the lower case 22.

In addition, this invention is not restricted to said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it can implement in a various aspect, For example, the following deformation | transformation is also possible.

That is, the caster device 69 and the advance / retreat mechanisms 60, 160, 260 described in the above embodiment.
It goes without saying that the structure and operation content of are merely examples and can be replaced by various mechanisms that achieve the same purpose.

1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to a first embodiment. (A) is an external appearance perspective view which shows the open state of the tape printer of FIG. 1, (b) is an external perspective view which shows the tape cartridge with which a tape printer is loaded. It is a partial top view explaining the back surface, ie, bottom face, of the tape printer of FIG. (A), (b) is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the advancing / retreating mechanism for caster balls. It is a partial expanded sectional view explaining the principal part of the tape printer concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the control system of the tape printer concerning a 3rd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Tape printer, 20 ... Apparatus case, 21 ... Upper case, 22 ... Lower case, 22a ... Lower surface, 25 ... Anti-slip sheet, 26 ... Hole, 28 ... Caster ball,
33 ... Keyboard, 34 ... Display, 41 ... Pocket, 42 ... Head unit, 44 ... Tape discharge port, 45 ... Tape cutter, 49 ... Slide button, 51 ...
Cartridge case 60 ... Advance / retract mechanism 62 ... Sliding member 62a ... Shielding part 66
... Latch device, 68 ... Spring biasing device, 69 ... Caster device, C ... Tape cartridge, T ... Tape

Claims (4)

A printing unit that performs printing on the tape-like member drawn from the cartridge;
A cutting portion for cutting the tape-shaped member;
An apparatus case for storing the printing unit and the cutting unit;
A rolling element that enables movement of the device case on a mounting table;
Locking means for stopping movement of the device case by the rolling element in response to a user operation;
A tape printing apparatus comprising: The anti-slip part provided in the bottom part of the said apparatus case is further provided, and the said rolling element enables the movement of the said apparatus case in the state supported so that the said apparatus case might be lifted with the said anti-slip part. The tape printer as described. The said lock | rock means contains the advancing / retreating mechanism which displaces between the protrusion state which protruded at least one part of the said rolling element from the said bottom part, and the accommodation state which accommodated the said rolling element in the said apparatus case. Tape printer. The advance / retreat mechanism stops an operation of the operation unit operated by the user, a switching unit that changes the rolling element between the protruding state and the housed state by transmitting the operation of the operation unit, and the operation of the switching mechanism. The tape printer according to claim 3, further comprising a locking portion.

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