JP3682540B2 - Control panel tilting device for printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an operation panel tilting device for a printer, and more particularly to an operation panel tilting device for a printer that can hold the operation panel of a printer at a predetermined tilt angle as required.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in various printers, an operation panel for the operation is provided at a predetermined portion of the printer body. However, when the operation panel is provided on a side surface portion of the printer body, the placement place or height of the printer is provided. Depending on the situation, there is a problem that the relative posture with the operator changes and it may be difficult to operate various switches on the operation panel.
[0003]
Therefore, if the attitude of the operation panel can be adjusted according to the placement location, height, or usage status of the printer, an apparatus capable of tilting the operation panel will be required for easier operation. However, there is a problem that the configuration needs to be simple and reliable.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been considered in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer operation panel tilting device capable of adjusting the tilt angle of the printer operation panel as necessary.
[0005]
In addition, the present invention can change the tilt angle of the operation panel for the printer as necessary, and when it is not necessary, the tilt state of the operation panel can be returned to the normal state, and the tilt operation can be easily performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation panel tilt device for a printer.
[0006]
Furthermore, the present invention is particularly suitable for printers in which an operation panel is provided on the side surface of the printer body, the inclination angle thereof can be adjusted, and the subsequent operations of various switches can be easily and smoothly performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation panel tilting device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention focuses on the fact that the operation panel can be rotated and inclined about the operation panel rotation axis, and the respective states of the normal state and the inclined state can be maintained. An operation panel tilting device for a printer having an operation panel that can be tilted in a tilt space provided inside a side surface of the printer body, the tilting the operation panel with respect to the printer body An operation panel rotation shaft provided at an end of the operation panel, and an in-plane holding mechanism capable of holding the operation panel around the operation panel rotation axis in the same plane with respect to the side surface; An operation panel tilting device for a printer having an inclined state holding mechanism capable of holding the operation panel in an inclined state with respect to the side surface around the operation panel rotating shaft.
[0008]
The in-plane holding mechanism includes an operation panel urging member such as a coil spring that urges the operation panel to the outside of the printer main body, and a stopper member that is provided on the operation panel and contacts the printer main body. Can have.
[0009]
The inclined state holding mechanism can include an inclination holding lever that holds the operation panel in the inclined state, and a lever urging member that includes a spring that urges the inclined holding lever in the inclined state. .
[0010]
The operation panel can be rotatably provided on a side frame attached to the side surface of the printer body.
[0011]
An engagement mechanism can be provided between the side frame and the printer body.
[0012]
An operation panel urging member for urging the operation panel to the outside of the printer main body is provided, and the engagement mechanism can be urged in the disengagement direction by the operation panel urging member. Can do.
[0013]
[Action]
In the operation panel tilting apparatus for a printer according to the present invention, the operation panel is rotated and inclined around the operation panel rotation axis with respect to the printer main body or the side frame, and the normal surface and the inclined state can be held respectively. Since the internal holding mechanism and the tilted state holding mechanism are provided, the operation panel can be tilted according to the usage environment of the printer, the height of the mounting place, and other needs, and other operations such as operating switches. Can be easily performed.
[0014]
If the operation panel is urged outward by the operation panel urging member such as a coil spring as the same in-plane holding mechanism and the operation panel is stopped by the stopper body by the stopper member, the operation panel is By simply pushing the operation panel inward from the outside against the urging force of the urging member, for example, the tilt holding lever provided on the tilted state holding mechanism will hold the control panel in a tilted state, making the control panel simple Can be tilted.
Further, when returning from the tilted state to the normal state, the tilt holding lever is operated against the biasing force of the lever biasing member by a spring or the like that biases the tilt holding lever in the tilted direction. The engagement between the tilt holding lever and the operation panel is released, and the operation panel returns to the original state (normal state) by the urging force of the operation panel urging member.
[0015]
In addition, an operation panel is rotatably provided on the side frame attached to the side surface of the printer body so that the engagement mechanism provided between the side frame and the printer body can be biased in the disengagement direction. If the operation panel urging member such as the coil spring is provided, the operation panel urging member that urges the operation panel to the outside of the printer body urges the engagement mechanism in the disengagement direction. It becomes shared as a force member, and the configuration can be simplified.
[0016]
【Example】
Next, a printer operation panel tilting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a thermal transfer printer 1 equipped with a printer operation panel tilting device. The thermal transfer printer 1 is provided in a printer main body 2, a cover 3, a side frame 4, and a side frame 4 portion. A printer operation panel tilting device 5 and a personal computer 6 connected to the printer main body 2 for inputting print data and the like.
[0017]
As the printer main body 2, any configuration other than the thermal transfer printing format can be adopted.
The cover 3 can be opened to the printer main body 2 and can operate various mechanisms inside the printer main body 2.
[0018]
The side frame 4 is erected on the side surface of the printer main body 2 together with the printer operation panel tilting device 5 so as to be detachable. The side frame 4 is disposed within the rectangular tilt space 7 at the substantially central portion thereof. 8 is provided so as to be inclined.
[0019]
On the surface of the operation panel 8, for example, a paper selection switch 9, a discharge cut switch 10, a cutter switch 11, a feed switch 12, a start / stop switch 13, a display unit 14, and the like are provided.
[0020]
2 is a partially omitted rear view showing the operation panel tilting device 5 for the printer as viewed from the back side of the side frame 4 (the printer main body 2 side), and FIG. The panel tilting device 5 includes an operation panel rotation shaft 16 that allows the operation panel 8 to rotate with respect to the rotation support frame 15 of the side frame 4, an in-plane holding mechanism 17, an inclined state holding mechanism 18, Have
A control board 19 and a connector 20 are provided on the back surface of the operation panel 8.
[0021]
The in-plane holding mechanism 17 can hold the operation panel 8 around the operation panel rotation shaft 16 in the same surface state with respect to the side frame 4 (side surface of the printer main body 2). A coil spring 21 (operation panel urging member) provided on the shaft 16 and a pair of stopper members 22 provided on the upper edge of the side frame 4 are provided.
[0022]
The coil spring 21 engages its operation panel side end 21A with the operation panel 8 and engages its printer side end 21B with the bottom frame 23 (FIG. 3) of the printer body 2 to The printer body 2 is biased outward.
[0023]
The stopper member 22 is formed to protrude from the upper edge of the operation panel 8, and the operation panel 8 is the same as the side frame 4 by contacting the printer main body 2 (the back surface of the side frame 4) by the urging force of the coil spring 21. Hold the surface (standing).
[0024]
The inclined state holding mechanism 18 can hold and release the operation panel 8 around the operation panel rotation shaft 16 in an inclined state with respect to the side frame 4 (side surface of the printer main body 2). An inclination holding lever 25 that can rotate around the attached lever rotation shaft 24 and a tension spring 26 (lever urging member) are provided.
[0025]
The tilt holding lever 25 includes a rotation portion 25A attached to the lever rotation shaft 24, an operation portion 25B protruding above the side frame 4 from a long window 27 formed on the upper surface portion of the side frame 4, and a rotation portion 25A. And a tilt holding portion 25C that has a tapered tip and holds the operation panel 8 in a tilted state.
[0026]
The tension spring 26 always urges the tilt holding lever 25 in FIG. 2 in the clockwise direction, and pushes the operation panel 8 from the front surface side to the back surface side to thereby provide a space between the tilt space 7 and the operation panel 8. When there is a space, the tilt holding portion 25C is received between the tilt space portion 7 of the side frame 4 and the operation panel 8 under the urging force of the tension spring 26, so that the tilted state of the operation panel 8 can be maintained. To do.
[0027]
Therefore, the inclination angle of the operation panel 8 can be arbitrarily designed by appropriately selecting the width of the inclination holding portion 25C in the inclination holding lever 25.
[0028]
Next, the engagement mechanism 28 between the printer main body 2 and the side frame 4 will be described.
The engagement mechanism 28 includes a pair of hook-like engagement pieces 29 provided on the left and right sides of the back surface of the side frame 4, and engagement grooves 30 formed at positions corresponding to the engagement pieces 29 in the printer main body 2. A first frame side engagement wall surface 31 on the side surface of the side frame 4, a first printer side engagement wall surface 32 on the printer main body 2 side, a second frame side engagement wall surface 33 on the back surface of the side frame 4, and A second printer-side engagement wall surface 34 on the printer body 2 side.
[0029]
The hand-shaped engagement piece 29 of the heel and the engagement groove 30 are engaged, and the first frame side engagement wall surface 31 and the first printer side engagement wall surface 32 are fixed by the first bolt 35, The second frame side engaging wall surface 33 and the second printer side engaging wall surface 34 are fixed by the second bolt 36.
[0030]
However, as a release urging member that urges the engagement mechanism 28 in the engagement release direction, the printer-side end portion 21B of the coil spring 21 protrudes from the back surface of the side frame 4 by a predetermined length, and the printer body 2 as described above. Is in contact with the bottom frame 23.
[0031]
In the printer operation panel tilting device 5 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel 8 is placed on the surface of the side frame 4 from the normal standing state (in the same plane as the side frame 4). By pushing inward against the urging force of the coil spring 21 from the front side toward the printer main body 2, a slight space is opened between the side frame 4 and the inclination space 7 in the inclination space 7. The operation panel 8 can be inclined with respect to the side frame 4 by the width of the inclination holding portion 25C by the inclination holding portion 25C of the inclination holding lever 25 entering the space by the urging force of the tension spring 26. (See also FIG. 5).
[0032]
Therefore, the operation panel 8 can be held in an inclined state with respect to the side frame 4 (printer main body 2), and even if the printer main body 2 is placed at a low position, for example, the start / stop is started from the paper selection switch 9. Various switches up to the switch 13 can be easily operated.
[0033]
Further, when the posture of the operation panel 8 is returned to the normal coplanar state, if the rotating portion 25A of the tilt holding lever 25 is operated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 against the urging force of the tension spring 26, The inclined holding portion 25C is retracted from the space between the side frame 4 and the operation panel 8, the operation panel 8 is rotated back to the original standing state by the urging force of the coil spring 21, and the stopper member 22 is attached to the side frame 4. The side frame 4 and the operation panel 8 are brought into the same surface state by contacting the back surface.
[0034]
Further, when the side frame 4 is removed from the printer main body 2 together with the printer operation panel tilting device 5, if the first bolt 35 and the second bolt 36 are removed, the printer of the coil spring 21 in the same in-plane holding mechanism 17. Since the side end 21B is in contact with the bottom frame 23 of the printer main body 2, the urging force causes the hand-like engagement piece 29 of the heel to slightly lift from the engagement groove 30, and the side frame 4 is removed from the printer main body 2. Can be easily separated and removed.
[0035]
Therefore, various parts such as the control board 19 or the connector 20 in the side frame 4 can be inspected or replaced quickly.
[0036]
The release biasing member (coil spring 21) in the engagement mechanism 28 is an example in which the operation panel 8 is shared with the operation panel biasing member (coil spring 21) that biases the printer body 2 outward. This may be a separate configuration.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the tilted state holding mechanism can hold the tilted state of the operation panel, and the same in-plane holding mechanism can hold the standing state. Can be inclined, and the operation of various switches in the printer body can be facilitated.
[0038]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a thermal transfer printer 1 equipped with a printer operation panel tilting device 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially omitted rear view showing the printer operation panel tilting device 5 when viewed from the back side of the side frame 4 (printer body 2 side).
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the same.
4 is a side sectional view of the operation panel 8 in a tilted state from a normal standing state (in-plane state with the side frame 4). FIG.
FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of the thermal transfer printer 1 in a state where the operation panel 8 is inclined.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Thermal transfer printer (Fig. 1, Fig. 5)
2 Printer body 3 Cover 4 Side frame 5 Operation panel tilting device for printer (FIGS. 2 and 3)
6 PC 7 Inclination space 8 (for printer) operation panel 9 Paper selection switch 10 Eject cut switch 11 Cutter switch 12 Feed switch 13 Start / stop switch 14 Display unit 15 Rotation support frame 16 Operation panel rotation shaft 17 Same surface Inner holding mechanism 18 Inclined state holding mechanism 19 Control base 20 Connector 21 Coil spring (operation panel biasing member)
21A Operation panel side end 21B of coil spring 21 Printer side end 22 of coil spring 21 Stopper member 23 Bottom frame 24 of printer main body 2 Lever rotation shaft 25 Inclination holding lever 25A Inclination holding lever 25 rotation section 25B Inclination holding Operation part 25C of the lever 25 Inclination holding part 26 of the inclination holding lever 25 Tension spring (lever urging member)
27 Long window 28 Engagement mechanism 29 Hand-shaped engagement piece 30 of scissors Engagement groove 31 First frame side engagement wall surface 32 First printer side engagement wall surface 33 Second frame side engagement wall surface 34 Second The printer-side engagement wall surface 35 of the first bolt 36 and the second bolt

Claims (6)

An operation panel tilting device for a printer having a printer main body and an operation panel provided so as to be tiltable in an inclination space provided inside a side surface of the printer main body, wherein the operation panel is connected to the printer main body. An operation panel rotation shaft provided at an end of the operation panel so as to be tiltable, and the operation panel can be held in the same plane with respect to the side surface around the operation panel rotation axis. An operation panel tilting apparatus for a printer, comprising: a holding mechanism; and an inclined state holding mechanism capable of holding the operation panel in an inclined state with respect to the side surface around the operation panel rotation axis.  The in-plane holding mechanism includes an operation panel urging member that urges the operation panel outward of the printer main body, and a stopper member that is provided on the operation panel and contacts the printer main body. The operation panel tilting device for a printer according to claim 1.  The tilt state holding mechanism includes a tilt holding lever that holds the operation panel in the tilted state, and a lever biasing member that biases the tilt holding lever in the direction of the tilted state. Item 1. An operation panel tilting device for a printer according to Item 1.  2. The printer operation panel tilting device according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel is rotatably provided on a side frame attached to the side surface of the printer body.  The printer operation panel tilting device according to claim 4, wherein an engagement mechanism is provided between the side frame and the printer main body.  An operation panel urging member for urging the operation panel to the outside of the printer body is provided, and the engagement mechanism can be urged in the disengagement direction by the operation panel urging member. The operation panel tilting device for a printer according to claim 5.

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