JP2010076167A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus to which a cartridge can be simply attached and detached by a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes a cartridge attachment part 14 to which the cartridge 30 is attached freely detachably, and an eject mechanism 20 prepared in the cartridge attachment part 14. The ejection mechanism 20 has a pusher 25 which contacts the cartridge 30 and is configured to be reciprocable between a projection position corresponding to a push end position and a sink position corresponding to a take-out position, a spring 56 which urges the pusher 25 in a direction to push up the cartridge 30, and a lock/unlock mechanism which locks the pusher 25 against the spring 56 to a lock position corresponding to a set position when receiving the setting motion and releases locking of the pusher when receiving the pushing motion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus to which a cartridge such as a tape printer is mounted, and particularly to an attachment / detachment mechanism (eject mechanism) for the cartridge.

An ejection mechanism in a conventional tape printing apparatus includes a base plate on which a mounted cartridge is placed, an X link that flips up the cartridge via the base plate, and a torsion coil spring that is locked to the X link. (See Patent Document 1).
In this eject mechanism, when the lid release button is pressed, the opening / closing lid of the cartridge mounting part is flipped up, and when the lid release button is pressed further deeply, the X link is unlocked and the torsion coil spring causes the X link to close. The cartridge can be flipped up.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-277678

  In such a conventional ejection mechanism, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated and the cost increases. Moreover, since the number of parts increases, it becomes an obstacle of size reduction.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device having a simple structure and allowing a cartridge to be easily attached and detached.

  An electronic device according to the present invention is provided in a cartridge mounting portion in which a cartridge is detachably mounted, and is set in the cartridge mounting portion, and permits a set operation to a set position accompanying mounting of the cartridge, and also to a cartridge in the set position. And an eject mechanism that pushes the cartridge from the push-in end position to the take-out position in response to the push-in operation.

  In this case, the eject mechanism abuts the cartridge, and attaches a pusher configured to advance and retract between a protruding position corresponding to the push-in end position and a retracted position corresponding to the take-out position, and the pusher in the direction in which the cartridge is pushed up. And a lock / unlock mechanism that receives the set operation, locks the pusher against the spring at the lock position corresponding to the set position, and receives the push-in operation to unlock the pusher. Preferably it is.

  According to this configuration, by pushing the cartridge inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. When the cartridge is pressed again from this mounting state, the cartridge is ejected from the cartridge mounting portion, and the cartridge can be easily removed. Detachable. Further, since the eject mechanism is composed of a pusher that contacts the cartridge, a spring that biases the pusher, and a lock / unlock mechanism, the eject mechanism can have a simple structure.

  On the other hand, it is preferable to further include a hook mechanism that is provided in the cartridge mounting portion and that locks the mounted cartridge and restricts the cartridge to the set position.

  According to this configuration, the cartridge can be reliably held by the hook mechanism at the set position.

  In this case, the spring force of the spring is preferably stronger than the restriction force by the hook mechanism.

  According to this configuration, when the cartridge is flipped up by the ejection mechanism, the hook mechanism does not restrict the position of the flipped-up cartridge, and the cartridge can be ejected smoothly.

  Further, it is preferable that the pusher abuts at a substantially central position of the cartridge.

  Similarly, it is preferable that the ejection mechanism further has a push-up plate at the tip of the pusher.

  According to this configuration, the cartridge can be pushed up stably and reliably during ejection.

  In these cases, it is preferable that the cartridge further includes a printing unit in which the printing tape is accommodated and the printing tape is fed out from the cartridge to perform printing.

  According to this configuration, a simple ejection mechanism can be mounted on an apparatus that performs printing on a printing tape, and a user-friendly printing apparatus can be configured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an overall configuration of a tape printing apparatus as an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This tape printing apparatus feeds a printing tape from a cartridge and performs printing on the printing tape. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, various circuit boards, a tape feeding mechanism, and the like are accommodated in the case main body 11 of the tape printer 1, although not shown. A key input unit 12 is provided on the upper surface of the case body 11. In the key input unit 12, a plurality of character keys and control keys are arranged. A conveyance handle 13 is formed on the front side of the case body 11. Further, a cartridge mounting portion 14 and a liquid crystal display 15 are provided on the rear side of the upper surface of the case main body 11. A lid 16 is attached to the cartridge mounting portion 14 so as to be freely opened and closed. A lock claw 17, a cartridge pressing piece 18, and a protruding piece 19 protrude from the lid 16.

  On the other hand, a pocket 21 corresponding to the shape of the cartridge 30 is formed in the cartridge mounting portion 14. In the pocket 21, a print head 22, a positioning protrusion 23, a reel driving shaft, a roller driving shaft (not shown), and the like are disposed. A pusher 25 that constitutes a part of the ejection mechanism 20 is disposed on the bottom surface of the pocket 21. The pusher 25 is disposed at such a position as to push the approximate center of the bottom surface of the cartridge 30. A pair of hooks (hook mechanisms) 26 and 26 are provided on both sides in the pocket 21 of the cartridge mounting portion 14.

  When the cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 14, as shown in FIG. 2, the lid body 16 is opened and the cartridge 30 is mounted in the pocket 21 of the cartridge mounting portion 14. At that time, when the pusher 25 is pushed to the pushing end position through the cartridge 30 inserted into the pocket 21, the tip of the pusher 25 is lowered to a position allowing the setting position of the cartridge 30. When the pusher 25 is pushed again to the pushing end position, the pusher 25 pushes out the cartridge 30 to the removal position.

  Therefore, if the cartridge 30 is placed in the pocket 21 of the cartridge mounting portion 14 and the cartridge 30 is pushed once from above, the cartridge 30 is loaded into the cartridge mounting portion 14 and if the cartridge 30 is pushed once further from above, the cartridge 30 30 is ejected from the cartridge mounting portion 14.

  3 and 4 show the configuration of the cartridge 30. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge 30 has a case 31 including a lower case 31a and an upper case 31b. The lower case 31a is formed with a square through opening 34 into which the print head 22 is inserted. The lower case 31a is formed with an engagement hole 35 that engages with a roller drive shaft that rotates the platen roller 45. An insertion hole 36 is formed at a position corresponding to the ribbon take-up reel 44 of the lower case 31a. Further, the cartridge 30 is formed with a recess 37 that is engaged with the hook 26.

  On the other hand, in the case 31, as shown in FIG. 4, a tape reel 42 around which the tape T is wound, a ribbon unwinding reel 43 around which the ink ribbon R is wound, and a ribbon around which the used ink ribbon R is wound up. A take-up reel 44 is rotatably accommodated. A platen roller 45 is rotatably accommodated in the case 31.

  When the platen roller 45 and the ribbon take-up reel 44 rotate in synchronization, the tape T and the ink ribbon R run simultaneously, overlap each other at the position of the platen roller 45, and printing is performed by the print head 22. After printing, the ink ribbon R is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 44, and the tape T is sent out from the tape discharge port 46, and the printed portion is cut.

  Next, the ejection mechanism 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a cylindrical portion 51 is formed on the bottom surface of the pocket 21 so as to extend downward. A pusher insertion opening 60 is formed at the center of the cylindrical portion 51. On the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 51, stoppers 61 that are convex at intervals of 90 degrees, for example, are arranged along the axial direction. A push-up groove 62 is formed between these stoppers 61. Yes.

  A shaft insertion opening 71 is formed at the center of the pusher 25, and a rib 73 projects from the outer periphery of the pusher 25 along the axial direction. These ribs 73 have a shape corresponding to the push-up groove 62 of the cylindrical portion 51 and are arranged at intervals of 90 degrees, for example, like the push-up groove 62. Further, cam protrusions 74 are provided from the tip of the pusher 25 at intervals of 90 degrees, for example, corresponding to the angular positions of the ribs 73.

  A rotation shaft 81 protrudes from the center of the rotation projecting member 53, and the rotation shaft 81 corresponds to the shaft insertion port 71 of the pusher 25. For example, a triangular cam groove 83 protrudes from the rotary protruding member 53 at intervals of 45 degrees. In addition, ribs 82 project from the outer periphery of the rotation projecting member 53 at intervals of 90 degrees along the axial direction. These ribs 82 are arranged so as to correspond to the push-up grooves 62 of the cylindrical portion 51.

  In this case, the rib 73 of the pusher 25 and the push-up groove 62 of the cylindrical portion 51 are engaged, and the pusher 25 is inserted into the pusher insertion port 60 of the cylindrical portion 51. When the pusher 25 is inserted into the pusher insertion port 60 of the cylindrical part 51, the rib 73 and the push-up groove 62 are engaged, so that the entire pusher 25 moves in the vertical direction within the pusher insertion port 60 of the cylindrical part 51. Arranged so that the movement in the rotation direction is restricted. Further, the rotation shaft 81 of the rotation projecting member 53 is inserted into the shaft insertion port 71 of the pusher 25. When the rotating shaft 81 of the rotating projecting member 53 is inserted into the shaft insertion port 71 of the pusher 25, the cam projection 74 of the pusher 25 and the cam groove 83 of the rotating projecting member 53 come into contact with each other. A spring 56 is interposed between the rotary protruding member 53 and the frame 58.

  Here, when the pusher 25 is moved up and down, the cam projection 74 and the cam groove 83 are engaged, and the rotation projecting member 53 rotates in the direction of the arrow A1. As described above, since the cam groove 83 is formed in the rotation projecting member 53 at intervals of 45 degrees, for example, when the pusher 25 is pushed down once, the rotation projecting member 53 rotates at a pitch of 45 degrees. Go. On the other hand, the rib 82 is projected from the rotation projecting member 53 at intervals of 90 degrees. Further, the cylindrical portion 51 is formed with push-up grooves 62 at intervals of 90 degrees, and a stopper 61 is formed therebetween. Therefore, every time the pusher 25 is pushed down once, as shown in FIG. 6, the position of the rib 82 of the rotary protruding member 53 and the position of the push-up groove 62 of the cylindrical portion 51 coincide with each other as shown in FIG. In addition, a state in which the position of the rib 82 of the rotation projecting member 53 and the position of the stopper 61 of the cylindrical portion 51 coincide with each other occurs alternately.

  In the state where the position of the rib 82 of the rotary protruding member 53 and the position of the push-up groove 62 of the cylindrical portion 51 coincide with each other as shown in FIG. 5, the rib 82 of the rotary protruding member 53 and the push-up groove 62 of the cylindrical portion 51 Are engaged, and the rotary protruding member 53 is urged by the spring 56 and moves in the cylindrical portion 51, the rotary protruding member 53 pushes up the pusher 25, and the pusher 25 protrudes from the bottom surface of the pocket 21 to the protruding position.

  In the state where the position of the rib 82 of the rotation projecting member 53 and the position of the stopper 61 of the cylindrical portion 51 coincide with each other as shown in FIG. 6, the rib 82 of the rotation projecting member 53 and the stopper 61 of the cylindrical portion 51 contact each other. Therefore, the position of the rotation projecting member 53 is regulated. For this reason, the pusher 25 is buried in the pusher insertion opening 60 of the cylindrical portion 51, and the pusher 25 is immersed from the bottom surface of the pocket 21.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, with the pusher 25 protruding from the bottom surface of the pocket 21 to the protruding position, the cartridge 30 is placed in the pocket 21 and the cartridge 30 is pushed from above. As a result, the bottom surface of the cartridge 30 and the pusher 25 come into contact with each other, and the pusher 25 is pushed. That is, the pusher 25 is immersed to the pushing end position. In this state, the pusher 25 is depressed until the setting position of the cartridge 30 is allowed, and the hook 26 and the concave portion 37 on the side surface of the cartridge 30 are engaged with each other as shown in FIG. The

  At the time of ejection, the cartridge 30 is pushed again. As a result, the bottom surface of the cartridge 30 and the pusher 25 come into contact with each other, and the pusher 25 is pushed. When the pusher 25 is retracted again to the pushing end position, as described above, the rotary projecting member 53 moves into the cylindrical portion 51 and moves and is urged by the spring 56 to push up the pusher 25 and the pusher 25 projects. The pusher 25 pushes up the bottom surface of the cartridge 30. In this case, since the spring force of the spring 56 is larger than the engaging force between the hook 26 and the concave portion 37 on the side surface of the cartridge 30, the cartridge 30 is pushed up from the bottom by the pusher 25, and as shown in FIG. Ejected from the pocket 21 of the cartridge mounting portion 14.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, if the cartridge 30 is placed in the pocket 21 of the cartridge mounting portion 14 and the cartridge 30 is pressed once, the cartridge 30 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 14 and the cartridge 30 is mounted. If pressed once more, the cartridge 30 can be ejected from the cartridge mounting portion 14. For this reason, the cartridge can be easily attached and detached. In addition, since the eject mechanism 20 is constituted by a so-called knock mechanism, the eject mechanism 20 can have a simple and compact structure.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the eject mechanism may be further provided with a push-up plate at the tip of the pusher 25. Further, the mechanism of the pusher 25 is not limited to the above-described mechanism. The pusher 25 may be of any configuration as long as it is a mechanism that can be depressed when pressed once and project when pressed once more.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the cartridge with which the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention is mounted | worn. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the cartridge with which the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention is mounted | worn. It is an exploded view used for description of the ejection mechanism of the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded view used for description of the ejection mechanism of the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing at the time of cassette mounting of the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing at the time of cassette mounting of the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing at the time of cassette ejection of the label printing apparatus as an electronic device of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Label printer, 11: Case main body, 14: Cartridge mounting part, 16: Cover body, 20: Eject mechanism, 21: Pocket, 22: Print head, 25: Pusher, 26: Hook, 30: Cartridge, 51: Cylindrical part, 53: Rotating projecting member, 56: Spring, 58: Frame, 60: Pusher insertion port, 61: Stopper, 62: Push-up groove, 71: Shaft insertion port, 73: Rib, 74: Cam projection, 81: Rotation Shaft, 82: Rib, 83: Cam groove

Claims (7)

A cartridge mounting portion on which the cartridge is detachably mounted;
Provided in the cartridge mounting portion, allows a set operation to the set position accompanying the mounting of the cartridge, and pushes the cartridge from the push-in end position to the take-out position in response to the push-in operation to the cartridge at the set position. An electronic device comprising an ejection mechanism. The ejector mechanism abuts against the cartridge, and is configured to advance and retract between a protruding position corresponding to the push-in end position and a retracted position corresponding to the take-out position;
A spring that urges the pusher in a direction to push up the cartridge;
A lock / unlock mechanism that receives the set operation, locks the pusher against the spring at a lock position corresponding to the set position, and unlocks the pusher by receiving the push-in operation; The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein   The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a hook mechanism that is provided in the cartridge mounting portion and that is engaged with the mounted cartridge to restrict the position of the cartridge to the set position.   The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein a spring force of the spring is stronger than a restriction force by the hook mechanism.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pusher is in contact with a substantially central position of the cartridge.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the eject mechanism further includes a push-up plate at a tip of the pusher. The cartridge contains a printing tape,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that feeds the printing tape from the cartridge to perform printing.

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