JP2014104614A - Cover member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cover member which prevents adhesion of a foreign matter on a paper sheet during printing and enables downsizing of a printer.SOLUTION: A cover member is detachably attached to a printer to/from which a paper cassette for storing paper sheets is attachable/detachable and which comprises printing means for performing printing on a paper sheet from the paper cassette, an opening for feeding and discharging a paper sheet from the paper cassette, and transportation means for transporting a paper sheet during printing by the printing means from the opening to an upper part of the cassette. The cover member has a side wall part which is brought into contact with a side wall of the paper cassette from outside when the cover member is attached to the printer, and a top plate part for covering a paper sheet transported above the paper cassette. The side wall part and the top plate part are brought into contact with the lateral side and the upper side of the opening respectively when the cover member is attached to the printer.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover member that can be attached to and detached from a printer apparatus.

  In recent years, with the advancement of imaging equipment, the use of printing photographs taken with digital still cameras has increased in general households. With the increase in the number of pixels in the image sensor, the quality and quality of printed photographs has increased. There is also an increasing demand for downsizing printer apparatuses that perform printing.

  Among them, the thermal transfer printer device is a printer device suitable for printing out electronic image information captured by a digital still camera, a video camera, or the like directly or via a computer or a recording medium.

  In such a printer device, a paper feed cassette is configured to be detachable, and the size of the printer device body is reduced.

  In a printing process in a thermal transfer type printer device, it is common to obtain a desired print image by sequentially superimposing a plurality of colors on the paper. The thermal transfer of ink onto the paper is performed from the print start position to the print end. This is done while transporting to the position. Therefore, it is necessary to return the sheet conveyed to the print end position to the print start position again and repeat the print process by thermal transfer a plurality of times. In a printer apparatus in which the apparatus is miniaturized with respect to the sheet conveyance direction size, when the printing operation is repeated a plurality of times, the sheet on which the printing process has been performed may be once exposed outside the printer apparatus. At this time, when the stamp screen is exposed to the outside of the device, a small foreign matter such as external dust or sand particles adheres to the print screen, and the print screen with the foreign matter attached is pressed again with the head, and the printing process is performed. When performing the inspection, foreign matter may damage the head or the marking screen.

  In order to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the stamp screen during printing, a printer apparatus having a protective cover member that covers at least the upper surface of a sheet protruding from the printer apparatus casing has been proposed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-133260.

JP 2007-69554 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, the cover device is provided as a part of the housing of the printer device even though the printer device is reduced in size by using a paper feed cassette as an attachment / detachment method. There was a problem that.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cover member that prevents foreign matter from adhering to a sheet during printing and enables the printer apparatus to be miniaturized.

In order to solve the above problems, the cover member of the present invention is
A printer device in which a paper cassette for storing paper is detachable, comprising: a printing means for printing on paper from the paper cassette; an opening for feeding and discharging paper from the paper cassette; and a printing means A cover member that can be attached to and detached from a printer device that includes a transport unit that transports paper being printed from the opening to the upper portion of the cassette, and the cover member is disposed outside the side wall of the paper cassette when mounted on the printer device. And a top plate portion for covering the paper conveyed above the paper cassette, and the side wall portion and the top plate portion are arranged on the side of the opening when mounted on the printer device. It is characterized by touching each upper side.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cover member that prevents foreign matter from adhering to a sheet during printing and enables the printer apparatus to be miniaturized.

The perspective view of the printer apparatus which attached the cover member of this invention Example. Side sectional view of the printer device during printing of the embodiment of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the paper tray of an embodiment of the present invention 6 is a flowchart showing each processing operation at the time of printing in the printer apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Side surface sectional view of a printer device during paper feeding according to an embodiment of the present invention Side surface sectional view of the printer apparatus just before reverse conveyance after printing of the embodiment of the present invention The perspective view of the cover member of this invention Example Installation procedure explanatory diagram of the cover member of the embodiment of the present invention Side surface sectional drawing of the engaging part of the printer apparatus of this invention Example and a main body cover Side surface sectional drawing of the engaging part of a cover member with the printer apparatus of this invention Example Detailed side sectional view of the engagement portion of the cover member with the printer device of the embodiment of the present invention Side surface sectional view showing the mounting method of the embodiment of the present invention Paper cassette front sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention with the cover member attached

Example 1
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

  The paper cassette 4 is attached to the upper loading port where the main body cover 27 is opened with respect to the printer apparatus including the upper outer casing 1 and the lower outer casing 3, the liquid crystal monitor 2, and the main body cover 27.

  A cover member 29, which is an important part of the present invention, is mounted on the upper part of the paper cassette 4 in which a plurality of sheets are stored.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main mechanism portion that performs printing of the printer apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a printer apparatus state during printing.

  With reference to FIG. 2, an outline of main component configurations, functions, and printing operations of the printer apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes an upper exterior casing of the printer apparatus, which covers the upper surface of the apparatus and supports an operation unit (not shown) and the liquid crystal monitor 2.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a lower exterior housing that covers the bottom surface of the apparatus, and a printer drive unit is housed in a box formed by the upper exterior housing 1 and the lower exterior housing 3.

  The paper cassette 4 includes a paper tray 5, a cassette inner lid 6, and a cassette upper lid 7, and this paper cassette is configured to be detachable from the printer apparatus main body.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper tray constituting the paper cassette 4, and the supply paper BP is stacked on the lift plate 8 on the paper tray. The uppermost surface of the stacked supply paper BP is covered with a cassette inner lid 6 except for a part of the paper feed port. Reference numeral 7 denotes a cassette upper lid which can be opened and closed with the hinge portion 7a as an axis center. When used, the cassette upper lid is opened and used as shown in FIG. It becomes a nearby saucer.

  Above the inside of the printer apparatus, a substrate 9 is supported and installed on a main body frame 10, and various motor drive circuits, thermal head drive circuits, image processing circuits, power supply circuits, liquid crystal monitor drive circuits, and operation switches. Circuits, input / output circuits, etc. are mounted.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a roller for feeding paper, and when the paper P is lifted by the lift plate 8 and presses against the lower side, the paper is fed as a paper feed roller.

  On the other hand, when the printed paper comes into contact with the upper surface of the paper feed roller 11, the paper feed roller 11 rotates counterclockwise while the paper is sandwiched by the paper discharge roller 12, so that the paper is removed from the printer device. Eject in the cassette direction.

  A paper guide 13 is rotatably supported by the paper feed roller 11 and can switch between a paper transport path during paper feed and a paper transport path during other operations.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a lever member that lifts the lift plate 8 of the paper cassette to the feed / discharge roller 11 side by raising a portion that has entered under the paper cassette during paper feeding.

  The lever member 14 is retracted from the paper cassette as shown in FIG. 2 except when paper is being fed, and the paper is retracted from the paper feed roller 11 when the lift plate 8 is installed on the paper tray 5 substantially in parallel. doing.

  The paper P fed from the paper cassette 4 reaches a position where it is sandwiched between the paper transport roller 15 and the pinch roller 16 by the paper guide 13.

  A fine protrusion-shaped claw is formed on the surface of the paper transport roller 15, and the pinch roller 16 presses the paper P against the paper transport roller 15, so that the protrusion bites into the back surface of the paper, thereby It is possible to carry out repeated conveyance with high accuracy without gripping strongly.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a thermal head, and reference numeral 18 denotes a head lever that holds the thermal head.

  The head lever 18 is pivotally supported by a pivot center hole 18b in the vicinity of the tip end of an arm 18a bent at both ends, and pivots about the position of the thermal head 17 by pivoting about 18b. Displaceable.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a platen roller that receives the paper while elastically deforming it so that the thermal head 17 presses the paper evenly and transfers the ink, rotates smoothly, and conveys the paper.

  A head frame 20 is fixed to the head lever 18.

  Further, a head pressure plate 21 is engaged with the head frame 20 with a screw across a head pressing spring 22 that is a compression coil spring, and the restoring force of the head pressing spring 22 causes the head frame 20 and the head pressure plate 21 to move. The position is locked.

  When the head pressing plate 21 is pushed in the direction of the platen roller 19 by a pressing means (not shown), the head pressing spring 22 is compressed, and the restoring force thereof sandwiches the thermal head 17 with the ink ribbon and the paper, and the platen. The roller 19 can be pressed.

  Further, the thermal head 17 can be retracted from the pressure contact state with respect to the platen roller 19 by being lifted in the retracting direction by a biasing means (not shown).

  Reference numeral 23 denotes an ink ribbon cassette in which the ink ribbon R is included except for a part of the exposed surface.

  The ink ribbon R is wound around the supply-side bobbin 24 in the same manner as the paper, and the opposite end is fixed to the take-up bobbin 25 and is taken up when printing is performed.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a fan motor that cools by releasing the air inside the machine heated by the head and the substrate to the outside of the machine.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a main body cover which functions as an opening cover to close the opening and prevent dust when the paper cassette 4 is not attached to the opening of the printer apparatus.

  On the bottom surface of the paper tray 5, a protrusion 27a provided on the inner side of the main body cover 27 supported by a rotatable hinge portion on the exterior bottom body is in contact, so that the mounting posture of the paper cassette is maintained. It has become.

  Reference numeral 28 denotes a main body cover hook for holding the main body cover 27 in a closed state by engaging with the engagement shape 27 b of the main body cover 27.

  The main body cover hook 28 is fitted and fixed in a hole provided in the printer apparatus lower exterior casing 3.

In the printer apparatus shown in FIG. 2 described above, when comparing the length L1 of the paper P and the total length L2 of the printer main body in the paper transport direction, the length L1 of the paper P is clearly longer.
This is because the printer device is downsized with respect to the output paper size.
Therefore, like the paper P in FIG. 2, the paper being printed is exposed outside the printer apparatus.

  Reference numeral 29 denotes a dust-proof cover member proposed in the present invention.

  The cover member 29 shields the opening on the paper cassette side of the printer apparatus and the periphery of the paper exposed during printing as described above from the outside.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing each state of the paper cassette used in the printer apparatus of the present invention.

The outline of the paper cassette related to the dustproof cover member of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3A shows a state in which the inner lid 6 and the upper lid 7 are opened in order to load paper.
FIG. 3B is a diagram in which after loading paper, the inner lid 6 is closed and the upper lid 7 is opened to function as a paper discharge tray.
FIG. 3C shows a state where the paper is stored in the cassette 4 and protected when not in use.
The paper cassette 4 is rotatably supported near the paper tray 5 on which the paper is stacked and the center of the paper tray. The paper cassette 4 lifts the paper in the direction of pressing the paper upward and against the paper feed roller 11, the paper marking screen. It is comprised by the inner cover 6 and the upper cover 7 for protecting.

  In FIG. 3, the lift plate 8 is not shown.

  The upper lid 7 has a hole 6b formed on the outer side surface near the center of the upper surface shown in FIG. 1 of the inner lid 6 and a projection 7b provided on the side wall portion of the upper lid 7, and the upper lid 7 is The lid 6 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable.

When not in use, as shown in FIG. 3C, the leading end of the paper P that is not covered by the cassette inner lid 6 is covered by the cassette upper lid 7.
When loading paper, unused paper is loaded into the paper tray 5 with the upper lid 7 and the inner lid 6 open as shown in FIG.
Thereafter, when the printer is mounted and used, it is used in a state as shown in FIG. 3B in which only the upper lid 7 is opened until it comes into contact with the top surface of the inner lid 6.

  Next, the outline of the flow of the operation sequence of the printer apparatus of the present invention is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the user performs an operation to start printing with the paper cassette and the ink ribbon cassette mounted on the printer apparatus main body (step S1), the lift plate 8 is raised and the paper pressure contact operation to the paper supply / discharge roller 11 is performed. (Step S2) is performed.
Thereafter, paper feeding and conveyance (step S3) is performed.
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the printer device and the paper cassette according to the present invention when feeding and conveying paper.

When the paper feed roller 11 is rotationally driven in the paper feed direction, the uppermost paper of the paper P stacked in the paper cassette is fed into the printer apparatus.
Thereafter, the paper is transported by a pair of paper transport rollers 15 and a pinch roller 16, transported to a printing start position based on detection information of a paper detection sensor (not shown), and stopped.

  When the conveyance of the paper to the print start position is completed, a marker detection operation (step S4) is performed so that transfer can be started from the specified position of each color of the ink ribbon R.

  In general, in the marker detection operation, in the process of winding up the ink ribbon R, the position of the light shielding marker provided at the leading portion of each color of the ink ribbon R is determined, and the winding is stopped.

  After the marker detection operation, the printing operation is performed.

  The printing operation is performed while the paper is conveyed in the paper cassette direction and the ink ribbon in the winding direction from the printing start position to the printing end position.

First, the thermal head 17 is moved from the retracted position to the pressing position (step S5), the paper is sandwiched and pressed against the platen roller 19.
Thereafter, simultaneously with the paper, the take-up bobbin 25 of the ink ribbon R is driven in the ribbon take-up direction, and conveyed while removing slack.
At this time, the ink on the surface of the ink ribbon R is sublimated by the heating element on the head substrate, and the print pattern is transferred to the paper.

  Since the printer of the present invention is a general sublimation type color printer, data patterns for each color corresponding to Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), and C (Cyan) data are overlaid, and finally an overcoat layer. The printed matter is completed by melt-coating (OC).

  Therefore, in order to perform the printing of the next color, the sheet is reversely conveyed from the printing end position to the printing start position (step S9).

The thermal head 17 is retracted before reverse conveyance to the printing start position. (Step S10)
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the printer apparatus to which the dustproof cover member of the present invention is attached at this time.

  In the position where the printing process is completed in FIG. 6, the leading edge of the paper P reaches the position of the distance X1 from the printer main body opening on the inner lid 6 of the paper cassette 4.

  The leading end position of the paper P is determined by the length of the paper P and the position of the paper transport roller 15 that can hold the paper.

  Therefore, the position of the leading edge of the paper that can be exposed to the maximum during printing can be assumed.

  The cover member 29 of the present invention is formed so as to be shielded to a position at a distance X2 longer than X1 at which the leading end of the paper P reaches the maximum.

  As described above, in the printer apparatus of the present invention, the operation of returning to the position of the sheet P in FIG. 6 and returning to the inside of the apparatus is repeated for each color print.

  At this time, the top plate portion 29b of the cover member 29 is present on the marking screen of the paper P that has jumped out of the printer device, and prevents foreign matter from falling.

  For this reason, the foreign matter falls on the printing screen for the paper that pops out three times in the printing operation, and it is caught in the apparatus without damaging the thermal head or the roller.

  Further, it is possible to prevent transfer failure and color loss of the portion due to foreign matters.

  As the operation sequence, from the state shown in FIG. 6, after the sheet is conveyed back to the print start position, the desired print image is thermally transferred by sequentially superimposing ink on the sheet while repeating the print operation (step S6).

When the printing of the OC, which is the protective layer, is finished, and it is determined that the printing operation is finished (step S8), the paper is sandwiched between a pair of rollers including the paper feed roller 11 and the paper discharge roller 12. The paper is further transported in the paper discharge direction and discharged outside the printer apparatus. (Step S11)
In this way, a series of operations ends. (Step S12)
In FIG. 6, AP indicates a printed matter that is a discharged sheet.

  The printed matter AP is discharged before the return prevention protrusion 6a of the inner lid 6.

  A range indicated by X <b> 3 of the printed material AP beyond the opening OC formed by the tip portion of the top surface 29 b and the tip portion of the side surface portion 29 d of the cover member 29 is not covered with the cover member 29.

  If the cover member 29 completely covers the inner lid 6, the user cannot easily take the printed matter after the printing.

  Therefore, by exposing a part of the discharged paper, the user can easily take the printed material after printing.

  Taking into account the size and convenience of the cover member 29, setting the cover area of the cover member 29 to the minimum necessary based on the amount of paper protruding during printing and providing a portion where the paper after printing is exposed is also considered. This is one of the features of this embodiment.

  Next, the feature of the form of the cover member 29 which is the gist of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover member 29.

  7A is a perspective view of the main body mounting surface side as viewed from above the cover member 29, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the cover member 29 as viewed from the opposite lower side. The function of each part will be described.

  The cover member 29 is a member for shielding the opening 3b of the printer main body, and this cover member has the following shape. Further, the opening 3b of the printer main body has a substantially rectangular shape, and the cover member 29 is configured to shield the upper side and the two side sides of the opening 3b.

  29a is a hook shape provided in two pairs on the main body mounting surface side, and engages with the inside of the opening of the printer apparatus lower exterior housing 3 to regulate the position of the cover member 29.

  Reference numeral 29b denotes a top surface portion of the cover member 29, which covers the top surface of the paper that is temporarily exposed during the printing operation and blocks foreign matter from the outside.

  Reference numeral 29 c denotes an engaging portion for engaging with the main body cover hook 28 and fixing the cover member 29. Details will be described later.

  The position of the cover member 29 is fixed with respect to the printer device by the hook shape 29a and the engaging portion 29c.

  A portion 29d is a side surface portion of the cover member 29, and this portion covers the side surface of the paper cassette 4 and shields entry of foreign matter from the side surface.

  A portion indicated by 29e has a shape for shielding the periphery of the opening from the outside by coming into contact with the side of the opening 3b of the printer main body.

  The portion indicated by 29f is a shape for shielding the upper surface of the opening from the outside by avoiding the shape of the main body casing and approaching or contacting the upper side of the main body opening 3b.

  Reference numerals 29 g and 29 h are restricting portions that abut against the upper surface of the side wall portion of the sheet tray 5 constituting the sheet cassette 4 and restrict the posture of the cover member 29 with respect to the sheet cassette 4.

  Since the posture of the cover member 29 is fixed by the contact of 29g and 29h, the downward movement of the cover member 29 can be restricted, and the sheet passing space secured between the sheet cassette 4 is ensured. Can be held.

  Reference numeral 29i denotes a rib shape provided at several locations inside the top surface portion 29b. The rib surface is set to be a sheet passing surface, and the leading end portion of the sheet discharged out of the printer is slid.

  By providing 29i, the sliding resistance of the paper is reduced, and uneven conveyance is prevented.

  The portion 29j is a rib shape that connects the outer end portion of the top surface portion 29b and the side surface portion 29d, and the cover member 29 has a substantially inverted U shape of a thin plate. This is a reinforcing structure provided to prevent deformation when an external force is applied.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing each state of the assembling procedure until the cover member 29 is attached to the printer apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

The procedure for attaching the cover member 29 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8A shows the storage state of the printer device before use.
FIG. 8B shows a state of the printer apparatus in which the main body cover 27 is opened in order to attach the paper cassette 4.
FIG. 8C shows the printer apparatus to which the paper cassette 4 is attached, and FIG. 8D shows the state of the printer apparatus to which the cover member 29 is further attached.

  First, when the printer apparatus of the present invention is not in use, the loading slot of the paper cassette 4 formed in the lower exterior casing 3 can be closed by the main body cover 27 as shown in FIG. .

  When the main body cover 27 is tilted forward, the main body cover hook 28 and the engagement shape 27a are disengaged, and the main body cover 27 is locked at a position opened approximately 90 ° as shown in FIG. 8B. Is done.

  When the main body cover 27 is opened, when the main body cover 27 is locked in a closed state in the lower main body housing 3, the main body cover 27 is avoided, and the surfaces 3 a and 3 a that enter from the outer shape are provided. The main body cover hook 28 and the opening 3c fitted in the hole are exposed.

  Further, the mechanical components such as the paper feed roller 11, the paper discharge roller 12, and the interlocking lever 14 in the opening 3c are exposed.

  FIG. 8C shows a state where the paper cassette 4 is mounted from the state of FIG. 8B. When the tray portion 5 of the paper cassette 4 enters the opening 3b, the opening area is reduced, but the paper cassette 4 The periphery of the paper feed roller 11 and the paper discharge roller 12 disposed above is exposed.

  When the cover member 29 is attached to the state shown in FIG. 8C in which the printing operation is enabled, the cover member 29 is arranged around the main body opening 3b and the side portion of the paper cassette 4 as shown in FIG. 8D. And most of the upper part is covered so as to be shielded from the outside.

  The upper surface from the opening OC of the cover member 29 of the paper cassette 4 is exposed.

  Next, details of the structure for attaching the cover member 29 to the printer apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11.

  First, FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an engagement structure for fixing the closed state of the main body cover 27 of the printer apparatus of the present invention.

  In the printer apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the main body cover hook 28 is fitted into a hole provided in the lower exterior casing 3.

  A large gap is set in the fitting portion between the lower exterior housing 3 and the main body cover hook 28. When the engaging portion 27b of the main body cover 27 enters the opening portion of the fitting portion of the main body cover hook 28, the engaging claw portion of the main body cover hook 28 is elastically deformed and the opening portion is widened.

  When the widened portion of the engagement portion 27b of the main body cover 27 passes through the engagement claw portion of the main body cover hook 28, the widened opening of the main body cover hook 28 is restored to its original shape. To do. And then. By carrying the engagement portion 27b of the main body cover and the engagement claw portion of the main body cover hook 28, the main body cover 27 is held by the main body cover hook 28, and the main body cover hook 28 functions as a holding portion of the main body cover 27.

  On the contrary, when the main body cover 27 can be opened, the engaging portion 27 b pushes and opens the engaging claw portion of the main body cover hook 28.

  FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an engagement structure for engaging and holding the cover member 29 using the main body cover hook 28 for holding the main body cover 27 in the closed state of the printer apparatus of the present invention.

  The engaging portion 29c of the cover member 29 has a shape similar to that of the engaging portion 27b of the main body cover 27, and the width of the tip portion is wide.

  Similar to the mounting method of the main body cover 27, when the portion of the engagement portion 29c whose width at the front end is widened pushes the engagement claw portion of the main body cover hook 28 and enters, and the passage ends, the expanded main body cover The engaging claw portion of the hook 28 is restored to its original shape.

  Then, the main body cover hook 28 holds the engaging portion 29c of the cover member 29, so that the cover member 29 is engaged and held by the main body.

  However, since the fixing force by the cover hook 28 is used for opening and closing the main body cover, the holding force is not so strong.

  Therefore, the cover member 29 of the present invention is provided with two pairs of hook shapes 29a on the main body mounting surface side as additional holding means for engagement with the main body.

  The hook shape 29 a engages with the inner wall end of the opening 3 b of the printer apparatus lower housing 3, and regulates the position of the cover member 29 together with the engaging portion 29 c that engages with the main body cover hook 28.

  The position regulation effect in the sheet conveyance direction by the engagement of the cover member 29 with the printer main body by the hook shape 29a will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the engaging portion between the cover member 29 and the printer device as seen from the side of the printer device.
FIG. 11A shows a state in which the engagement portion 29c of the cover member 29 described above is completely held on the main body cover hook 28. FIG.
FIG. 11B is a diagram in the case where the cover member 29 receives a strong force in the direction of the arrow Y1 in the figure from the state of FIG. is there.

  When the engaging portion 29c shown in FIG. 11 (a) is held by the main body cover hook 28, there is a gap between the hook shape 29a and the engaged portion inside the opening 3b of the lower exterior housing 3. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, when receiving a strong force in the direction of Y1, the main body cover hook 28 has a weak holding force, so that the cover member 29 is moved in the direction of the arrow Y1 from the state of FIG. Although it moves a little, the hook shape 29 a engages with the inner wall of the opening 3 b of the lower exterior housing 3.

  Therefore, the cover member 29 cannot be detached in the Y1 direction beyond the position where the hook shape 29a is engaged with the inner wall of the opening 3b of the lower exterior casing 3. Therefore, the cover member 29 is not detached from the printer apparatus.

  Therefore, a necessary holding force can be ensured by the two engagement methods of the hook shape 29a and the engagement portion 29c.

  FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the side surface in the wall surface of the side surface portion 29d of the cover member 29, and describes a mechanism in which the hook shape 29a of the cover member 29 can be incorporated without interfering with the main body casing. is there.

  First, when the cover member 29 is placed on the paper cassette 4 from above with the printer device avoided, the printer mounting surface side of the cover member 29 is inclined forward as shown in FIG.

  This is because the contact shape 29g to the paper tray 5 provided in the side surface portion 29d of the cover member 29 is in contact with the upper surface of the side wall portion 5a of the paper tray 5, while the other contact shape 29h is excluded. This is because it is in contact with the upper surface of the side wall 7d of the upper lid 7 forming the paper tray.

  When the cover member 29 is brought closer to the printer device side in this forward tilted posture, the hook shape 29a can easily pass under the opening 3d of the printer lower exterior housing 3.

  When the cover member 29 is further pushed toward the printer device side, the engaging portion 29c is inserted into the main body cover hook 28 when the cover member 29 is moved to the position shown in FIG.

  When the cover member 29 is further pushed into the printer apparatus side from the position of FIG. 12C, the contact shape 29 h to the paper tray slides down from the side wall portion 7 d of the upper lid and rests on the side wall 5 a of the paper tray 5. Then, since the posture of the cover member 29 is changed so that the top surface portion 29b is substantially parallel to the paper tray 5 from the forward inclined posture, the tip hook portion of the hook shape 29a is located inside the opening 3b of the lower exterior casing 3. At the same time, it rises to a height where it can be engaged.

  In this manner, the user can set the hook shape 29a at a position where the cover member 29 can be engaged in the printer housing without being particularly conscious of the cover member 29, and can smoothly put it on.

  When the attachment of the cover member 29 is completed, as shown in FIG. 12D, the cover member 29 is held with 29 h and 29 g in contact with the plane of the side wall 5 a of the paper tray 5. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the sheet conveyance space from being narrowed by moving downward. When the cover member 29 is mounted, the cover member restricting portion 29 h is located in a groove formed by the cassette paper tray 5 and the cassette upper lid 7 and abuts against the paper tray 5 and the cassette upper lid 7. It will be in the state. Since the restriction member 29h of the cover member and the cassette upper lid 7 are in contact with each other in the paper discharge direction, the restriction member 29h also serves to prevent the cover member from moving in the paper conveyance direction.

  On the other hand, when removing the cover member 29 from the printer device, if the portion of the upper lid 7 opposite to the printer mounting side is lifted so as to be inclined as shown in FIG. Thus, it becomes impossible to engage with the opening 3 b of the lower exterior casing 3.

  Then, since the cover member 29 is engaged with the printer device only by a slight holding force between the main body cover hook 28 and the engaging portion 29c, it can be easily removed.

  On the other hand, in the normal operation of the printer, the cover member 29 is not detached from the printer device by the engagement of the hook shape 29a and the engagement portion 29c.

  FIG. 13 is a front sectional view of the mounted cover member 29 and the paper cassette 4 taken along the two-dot chain line AA in FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 13, the shielding property and attachment property in the width direction of the sheet will be described with respect to the shape of the cover member 29.

  The side surface portion 29d of the cover member 29 covers the outside of the side wall portion 5a of the paper tray 5 from the outside of the side wall portion 7d of the upper lid 7 functioning as a paper discharge tray.

  By forming a shape close to the usage shape of the paper cassette 4 in this way, entry of foreign matters from the side surface as well as the upper surface of the paper during printing is prevented.

  Furthermore, since the shape of the paper cassette 4 in the usage state in the paper width direction regulates the position from the inside, the engagement shape 29c of the cover member 29 to the main body is set to the engaged member at the time of mounting. It is easy to be guided to the position of the main body cover hook 28.

  As described above, the two engaging means can be used for easy removal and fixing with a necessary holding force to the printer apparatus.

Further, it is not necessary to provide a new member or structure on the engaged side on the printer side for attaching the cover member 29. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a cover member corresponding to the shape of the engaged side of the conventional printer or the shape of the paper cassette.
Furthermore, since it is not necessary to attach with an auxiliary member such as a screw, clip or tape, it is excellent in design and convenience.

  As described above, the cover member proposed in the present invention is formed by the surface that covers the opening of the printer device, the surface that covers the upper side of the paper exposed on the paper cassette, and the surface that covers the side of the paper cassette. With this shape, it is possible to protect the paper being printed and the mechanical components in the opening.

  Further, by combining the engagement means using the cover member holding means and the engagement means to the inner wall of the opening for protecting the opening of the printer device when not in use, a new mounting shape is not provided. A reliable and simple mounting shape can be realized.

  Furthermore, by forming the cover member in a minimum form that covers the printing screen when the paper sheet is exposed to the maximum during printing, a part of the paper discharged after printing is exposed on the paper cassette. Since a portion is formed, it is possible to realize a form in which a user can easily take a printed matter.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment was described in this invention, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

Claims (5)

A printer device in which a paper cassette for storing paper can be attached and detached, a printing means for printing on paper from the paper cassette, an opening for feeding and discharging paper from the paper cassette, A cover member that can be attached to and detached from a printer device including a conveying unit that conveys a sheet being printed by the printing unit from the opening to an upper portion of the cassette,
The cover member has a side wall portion that comes into contact with the side wall of the paper cassette from the outside when mounted on the printer device, and a top plate portion for covering the paper conveyed above the paper cassette. ,
The cover member, wherein the side wall portion and the top plate portion are in contact with a side and an upper side of the opening when mounted on the printer device.   2. The top plate portion is provided so that a part of the paper discharged from the paper cassette after printing by the printing means is exposed from the cover member. And a cover member. The printer device includes an opening cover that closes the opening when the paper cassette is not mounted, and a holding portion that engages with an engaging portion of the opening cover to fix the opening cover.
The cover member according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has an engaging portion that engages with the holding portion when the cover member is attached to the printer apparatus. The holding portion is provided on the upper side of the opening,
The cover member according to claim 3, wherein the engagement portion is provided at an end portion of the top plate portion.   The cover member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side wall is provided with a restricting portion that abuts on the sheet cassette and restricts the downward movement of the cover member. .

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