JP2972100B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer unit, an operation unit,
The present invention relates to a printing device in which a display unit and the like are separately provided in a main body case and an opening / closing cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a housing of a printing apparatus is formed by assembling a main body case and an opening / closing cover in a rotatable manner so as to open the inside for loading and replacing paper. is there. Further, for example, as a label printer, a stand-alone type printing apparatus provided with an operation unit and a display unit for setting printing conditions and printing contents in the printing apparatus itself has been widely used.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional example of a printing apparatus having such a structure. That is, the operation unit 10 is provided in one area of the upper surface.
A main body case 103 having a display unit 1 and a display unit 102 is provided, and an open / close cover 104 is attached to another area of the upper surface of the main body case 103 so as to be freely opened and closed. A roll paper holding section 106 for detachably storing roll paper 105 is formed in the main body case 103, and the roll paper holding section 106 can be opened and closed by an openable cover 104. With such a structure, the opening / closing cover 104 is opened when the roll paper 105 is mounted, and the roll paper holding unit 10 is opened.
By attaching and detaching the roll paper 105 to and from the roll 6, the roll paper 105 can be easily mounted. However, since the operation unit 101 and the display unit 102 and the roll paper holding unit 106 are arranged adjacent to each other, there is a disadvantage that the occupied space is large.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, an operation display unit 1 having an operation section 111 and a display section 112 is provided.
13 is formed separately from the apparatus main body 114 and the cable 11
There is also a conventional printing device having a structure as connected by 5.
However, with such a structure, the apparatus main body 114 itself can be reduced in size, but the operation display unit 11
The occupied space at the time of operation including up to 3 does not always decrease. Therefore, it is not suitable for a stand-alone type printing apparatus.

In order to reduce the occupied space, there is a printer which employs a structure in which a keyboard, a display unit, and the like are mounted on an opening / closing cover closest to the visual field of an operator. Hereinafter, an example considered by the present inventors among the printing apparatuses having such a structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. 1 is a housing. The housing 1 includes a main body case 2 and an opening / closing cover 3.
Are rotatably connected by a hinge 4 provided at the rear end. The main body case 2 has a switch cover 5 on one side, and an opening 6 that is opened and closed by the opening and closing cover 3 is formed inside the switch cover 5. A roll paper holding unit 8 for holding roll paper 7 in the opening 6 of the main body case 2 and a printer unit 9 are provided. This printer unit 9 itself is a known one,
A paper transport mechanism (not shown) including a platen roller that transports the roll paper 7 pulled out from the roll paper holding unit 8,
A printing mechanism (not shown) including a thermal head for printing data on the roll paper 7. Further, the switch cover 5 is provided with a drive unit of a paper transport mechanism and the like. Here, the roll paper 7 uses a label sheet in which a number of labels are continuously attached to a long backing paper.
When the roll paper 7 is set, the front end of the printer section 9 is lifted so that the roll paper 7 passes through.

As shown in FIG. 11, the printer unit 9 is connected to a main CPU 11 which is a main control unit provided on the board 10, and a sub CPU 13 which is a sub control unit provided on the board 12. Keyboard 14 as operation unit
And a display unit 15 such as a liquid crystal.

In the structure of the housing 1 shown in FIG. 10, the opening / closing cover 3 is used for replenishing the roll paper 7, setting the roll paper 7 in the printer unit 9, and inspecting the printer unit 9. A keyboard 14 and a display unit 15 which are formed to be large and operated by an operator, and a sub CPU 13 which controls these operations are arranged on the opening / closing cover 3. The printer unit 9 and a main CPU 11 that controls the operation of the printer unit 9 are provided in the main body case 2. And the body case 9
Is provided with a power supply unit (not shown), and power is supplied to the substrates 10 and 12 by the power supply unit. In FIG.
Reference numeral 16 denotes a power supply cable that is not easily affected by static electricity or noise. In addition, the main CPU 11 and the sub CPU
13 is connected by a transmission / reception cable 17.

[0008]

In the printing apparatus shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a main CPU 11 and a sub CPU 13 are provided.
Are connected by the transmission / reception cable 17, the number of cables 16 and 17 increases, the cables 16 and 17 must be bundled, and the main body case 2 and the rotatable opening / closing cover 3 are connected. Since the cable 17 must be routed between the two, the wiring work is troublesome.
Further, the length of the transmission / reception cable 17 for transmitting / receiving a signal becomes longer, so that the transmission / reception cable 17 is easily charged with static electricity and noise is easily picked up.
As a result, there is a problem that the S / N ratio decreases. further,
From the viewpoint of safety, it is desirable that the structure be such that the printing operation is interrupted when the cover 3 is opened. However, a special structure is required for that purpose, which raises the cost.

The opening and closing cover 3 has a sub-CP
The U13, the keyboard 14, and the display unit 15 are separately and independently attached. For this reason, there is a problem that the assembly work of the apparatus is complicated.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A housing is formed by a main body case and an opening / closing cover that opens and closes an opening of the main body case, and a printer unit, an operation unit, a display unit, and the like are separately provided in the main body case and the opening / closing cover, and the printer A control unit for controlling the operation of the unit, the operation unit, the display unit, and the like, separately provided in the main body case and the open / close cover, wherein the main body case is connected to the control unit on the main body case side. The optical communication element provided is disposed, and the optical communication element disposed at a position facing the optical communication element when the opening / closing cover is closed is connected to the control unit on the opening / closing cover side to open and close the opening / closing cover. It is a printing device provided in.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main body case having a main control unit built therein, a printer unit controlled by the main control unit, and a roll paper holding unit for holding roll paper exposed at the upper surface. An opening / closing cover which is attached to the main body case so as to be openable and closable to cover the printer unit and the roll paper holding unit; an operation unit and a display unit which are attached to a position on the upper surface of the opening / closing cover facing the printer unit; A display operation unit in which a sub-control unit for controlling the display unit and the display unit are integrally incorporated; and a display operation unit attached to the main body case.
An optical communication element connected to the main control unit,
Position facing the optical communication element with the bar closed
And attached to the display operation unit,
Data formed by the optical communication element connected to the sub-control unit.
Data transmission / reception mediation means .

[0012]

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the display operation unit is detachably attached to the opening / closing cover.

[0014]

According to the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, in a use state in which the open / close cover is closed, the control section on the main body case side and the control section on the open / close cover side are connected via the optical communication element. It becomes possible to communicate. This makes it difficult for noise to be mixed in data transmission between the main control unit and the sub control unit, and improves the S / N ratio. In addition, when the opening / closing cover is opened, the data transmission between the main control unit and the sub control unit is interrupted, so that the printing operation is interrupted.

[0015] In the invention of claim 2 or 3, wherein the sub
Since the control unit, the operation unit, the display unit, and the optical communication element are integrated into one unit as an operation display unit, assembly of the device is easy.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Although the printer unit 9 in this embodiment uses a thermal head, the printing device of the present invention is not limited to a thermal printer, but is also applicable to impact dot printers, ink jet printers, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing cover 3 is provided with a transparent monitoring window 18 for visually confirming the presence or absence of the roll paper 7. As shown in FIG. 2, two light-transmitting windows 19 and a power supply cable 16 are pulled out on the inner surface of the switch cover 5 which forms a part of the main body case 2, and the switch cover 5 is attached to the substrate 12 on the opening / closing cover 3 side. Cable passage hole 2 for connection
0 is formed. Further, on the side surface of the opening / closing cover 3 on the switch cover 5 side, two translucent windows 21 facing the translucent window 19 when the opening / closing cover 3 is closed, and a cutout 20a for passing the cable 16 are formed. I have.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body case 2 is provided with a light emitting element 22 and a light receiving element 23, which are optical communication elements. These light emitting elements 22
The light receiving element 23 is connected to the main CPU 11 via a transmission / reception cable 17 and is arranged to face the light transmitting window 19. A light receiving element 24 and a light emitting element 25, which are optical communication elements, are held on the substrate 12 on the opening / closing cover 3 side. The light receiving element 24 and the light emitting element 25 are connected to the sub CPU 13 via the transmission / reception cable 17 and are arranged to face the light transmitting window 21. Here, the light emitting element 22 and the light receiving element 23 and the light emitting element 25 and the light receiving element 24 constitute a data transmission / reception mediating means.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, when the roll paper 7 is supplied, the roll paper 7 is set in the printer unit 9, and the printer unit 9 is inspected, the opening / closing cover 3 is used.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the use state in which the opening / closing cover 3 is closed, the light-transmitting windows 19 and 21 face each other, and the light-receiving element 24 is positioned on the emission optical path of the light-emitting element 22. The light receiving element 23 is located on the emission optical path of the element 25. Thereby, communication between the main CPU 11 on the main body case 2 side and the sub CPU 13 on the opening / closing cover 3 side becomes possible. In this case, communication is performed between the light-emitting elements 19 and 25 and the light-receiving element 23,
24 is provided as serial communication so that it is sufficient to provide them one by one. In this embodiment, the input information and the information used for display may be transmitted, and a sufficient transmission speed can be obtained by serial communication.

As described above, the main CP of the main body case 2 is
Since U11 and the sub CPU 13 on the opening / closing cover 3 side can communicate with each other by optical signals, it is not necessary to bind the cable 16 and the trouble of wiring work is reduced. Further, between the main CPU 11 and the light emitting element 22 and the light receiving element 23,
Since only the sub CPU 13 and the light receiving element 24 and the light emitting element 25 need to be connected by the transmission / reception cable 17,
The length of the transmission / reception cable 17 can be significantly reduced. For this reason, the static electricity carried by the transmission / reception cable 17 can be reduced, and the noise picked up by the transmission / reception cable 17 can be reduced. Thereby, the S / N ratio of the transmission / reception signal can be increased.

Next, how to use the printing apparatus will be described. The opening 6 is opened by opening the opening / closing cover 3, and the front end of the printer unit 9 is lifted to mount the roll paper 7. Then, after returning the printer unit 9 to a printable state by tilting the printer unit 9, the opening / closing cover 3 is closed.

When the setting of the roll paper 7 is completed, the operator operates the keyboard 14 to select one of a plurality of print formats stored in a memory (not shown) in advance. When bar code data and other print information are input from the keyboard 14, the information is displayed on the display unit 1.
5 is displayed, check the displayed information,
When the operator instructs to start printing, the printing device starts printing on the roll paper 7. At this time, since the open / close cover 3 is closed, the key input information is
3 is transmitted to the main CPU 11 so that printing is possible, but printing is not started unless the open / close cover 3 is completely closed. Accordingly, there is no danger that printing is performed even when the cover 3 is open, and the safety is improved.

It should be noted that a filter that cuts light of noise components according to the wavelength of light used for transmission and reception is provided with a light transmitting window 1.
By providing at least one of 9 and 21, the influence of optical noise can be eliminated. Of course, when light having no optical noise component is used as the light for transmission / reception, the light transmitting windows 19 and 21 may be simple through holes.

In the above embodiment, both the keyboard 14 and the display unit 15 as the operation units are opened and closed by the cover 3.
Although description has been made in a state where the keyboard 14 and the display unit 15 are attached to the main body case 2, one of the keyboard 14 and the display unit 15 may be attached to the opening / closing cover 3. In this case, the control unit attached to the opening / closing cover 3 only has to control the operation of one of the keyboard 14 and the display unit 15 attached to the opening / closing cover 3, and the keyboard 14 attached to the main body case 2. Alternatively, the display unit 15 may be controlled by a control unit mounted on the main body case 2.

Further, for example, in the case of a line printer using a thermal head, the structure of the printer unit is simple and lightweight, and in such a case, the printer unit is controlled depending on the design of the housing. It may be arranged on the opening / closing cover side together with the unit, and another operation unit, display unit and the like may be arranged on the main body case side together with the control unit. Further, when the communication between the control units is one-way communication, the communication can be performed by a pair of the light emitting element and the light receiving element.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, a display operation unit 31 in which a sub CPU 13, a keyboard 14 composed of a flat keyboard, a display unit 15, a light receiving element 24 and a light emitting element 25 are integrated is formed on the same substrate 12. A unit 31 is attached to the cover 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the transparent member forming the monitoring window 18 is a light receiving element 24 and a light emitting element 25.
Is extended to cover. The transparent member forming the monitoring window 18 is formed in a shape that functions as a guide section 32 for guiding the outer roll paper 7.

In such a configuration, when the apparatus is assembled, the opening / closing cover 3 is formed by simply attaching the display / operation unit 31 and the monitoring window 18 to the opening / closing cover 3. Therefore, assemblability is improved, and manufacture is facilitated.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as in the second embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals,
Description is also omitted. In the present embodiment, a housing 41 that is separate from the open / close cover 3 and that is detachable from the open / close cover 3.
The operation display unit 31 is provided on the housing 1 and is detachable from the housing 1. That is, the opening / closing cover 3 is formed with a concave portion 43 into which the convex portion 42 formed on the housing 41 is fitted, and two contacts 44 are provided in the concave portion 43. These contacts 44 are connected to the power supply cable 16 so that the power supplied to the operation display unit 31 through these contacts is stored in the operation display unit 31 having a power storage function.

A hook 45 is formed in the recess 43 on the side of the cover 3 to prevent the housing 41 attached to the cover 3 from falling off. 41 are formed.

Further, a light transmitting window 46 is also provided on the upper front edge of the main body case 2 and the housing 41, and an optical communication element (not shown) is provided behind the light transmitting window 46. Is also configured to transmit and receive print data.

In such a configuration, according to the present embodiment, the keyboard 14 and the display unit 15 can be used regardless of whether the operation display unit 31 is attached to the opening / closing cover 3 or the operation display unit 31 is removed from the opening / closing cover 3. And the main CPU 11 provided on the main body case 2 side
Print data can be transmitted and received between the printer and the printer. That is, the exchange of print data between the main CPU 11 and the sub CPU 13 is performed by the optical communication element including the light emitting element 22 and the light receiving element 23 and the light emitting element 25 and the light receiving element 24 when the operation display unit 31 is mounted. When the display unit 31 is detached, the light transmitting windows 46 face each other, and this is performed by an optical communication element (not shown) provided behind these light transmitting windows 46. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the degree of freedom of operation of the keyboard 14 and the like is improved, and the workability of input and the like is improved.

According to the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, data transmission between the control unit on the main body case side and the control unit on the opening / closing cover side is configured to be mediated by the optical communication element. Can be communicated by optical signals, and only the transmission and reception cables need to be connected between the control unit and the optical communication element for each of the main body case and the opening / closing cover, so that the length of the transmission and reception cables is significantly reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce static electricity carried by the transmission / reception cable and reduce noise picked up by the transmission / reception cable, and thus to increase the S / N ratio of the transmission / reception signal. In addition, since signal transmission by the optical communication element is interrupted when the opening / closing cover is opened, it is possible to prevent a danger that printing is continued while the opening / closing cover is opened, thereby improving safety. it can.

According to the second or third aspect of the present invention, the sub control unit
Since the operation unit, the display unit, and the optical communication element are integrated as an operation display unit, assembly of the device can be facilitated. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the operation display unit is detachable from the opening / closing cover, the degree of freedom in operation is increased, and workability such as input can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a block diagram of an electronic circuit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where an opening / closing cover is opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an opening / closing cover is closed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of an opening / closing cover showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where an opening / closing cover is opened.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which an opening / closing cover is closed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which an operation display unit is removed as a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where an opening / closing cover is opened as an example of the related art.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example of the related art.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where an opening / closing cover is opened as another example of the conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 housing 2 body case 3 opening / closing cover 6 opening 7 roll paper 8 roll paper holding section 9 printer section 11 control section, main control section 13 control section, sub-control section 14 operation section 15 display section 16 power supply cable 22 to 25 optical communication element, data transmission / reception mediation means 31 display operation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/00 B41J 29/42 G06F 3/12

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing is formed by a main body case and an opening / closing cover for opening / closing an opening of the main body case, and a printer section, an operation section, a display section, and the like are separately provided in the main body case and the opening / closing cover. In addition, in a printing device in which a control unit for controlling operations of the printer unit, the operation unit, the display unit, and the like is separately provided in the main body case and the opening / closing cover, the main body case has a main body case side. An optical communication element connected to the control unit is provided, and an optical communication element provided at a position facing the optical communication element when the open / close cover is closed is connected to the control unit on the open / close cover side. And a printing device provided on the opening / closing cover. 2. A main body case having a main control section built in and having a printer section controlled by the main control section and a roll paper holding section for holding roll paper exposed from the upper surface, and a main body case which can be opened and closed freely. An opening / closing cover attached to cover the printer unit and the roll paper holding unit; and an operation unit, a display unit, and an operation unit and a display unit, which control the operation unit and the display unit at a position facing the printer unit on the upper surface of the opening / closing cover. A display operation unit in which a sub-control unit is integrally incorporated, and a display control unit attached to the main body case and connected to the main control unit.
Optical communication element, with the open / close cover closed
Positioning the display operation at a position facing the optical communication element.
Light attached to the unit and connected to the sub-control unit
Printing apparatus characterized by comprising: a data transmitting and receiving mediating means formed by a communication device, a. 3. A display operation unit is provided for the opening / closing cover.
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is detachable.
Place.