JP3877100B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer provided with a platen in a printer body and a thermal head in a printer head cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the printer body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a thermal printer that is mounted on a merchandise sales registration data processing device such as a POS terminal and prints a receipt has a printer body with a platen and a paper storage section, and the printer body is provided to be openable and closable. Some head covers have a thermal head. In such a thermal printer, a paper conveyance path is formed between the printer main body and the printer head cover. Therefore, a long receipt paper wound in a roll shape is stored in the paper storage portion and the receipt is received. After the paper is pulled out, the thermal head can be brought into contact with the platen through the receipt paper with a predetermined pressure only by closing the printer head cover and locking the printer body.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a cutter mechanism is provided in the paper transport path, and the receipt paper must be set in a slight gap of the cutter mechanism. .
[0004]
In addition, the thermal printer as described above is often designed separately from the POS terminal, and is often built in the POS terminal in consideration of the usage form and shape of the POS terminal. Therefore, a housing printer cover for a built-in thermal printer is provided in the housing of the POS terminal so as to be freely opened and closed.
[0005]
However, when replenishing receipt paper to a thermal printer of a POS terminal equipped with such a housing printer cover, the housing printer cover and the printer head cover must be opened and closed separately, which complicates the operation. As a result, inconvenience is caused to customers in some cases.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to obtain a printer capable of facilitating receipt paper replenishment work.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a paper guide path extending in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the support shaft is provided by attaching a printer head cover having a thermal head to the printer main body having a platen so as to be opened and closed by the support shaft. In a printer that is formed and pressurizes the thermal head with a predetermined pressure on the platen via receipt paper with the printer head cover closed, a first cutter provided on the printer head cover and a second cutter provided on the printer body A cutter mechanism configured to cut the receipt paper in a closed state and disposed on the terminal side of the paper guide path; and a paper guide path centered on a support shaft parallel to the support shaft of the printer head cover, which is different from the printer head cover . Enclosed printer cover that can be opened and closed in the opening and closing direction A locking mechanism for locking the head cover, the positioned at the end of the paper guide path forms a part of the receipt outlet, the support shaft parallel to the axis of the housing the printer cover for the housing printer cover An operation unit provided rotatably around, and a lock release mechanism that unlocks the lock mechanism by a rotation operation of the operation unit in the same direction as the rotation direction of the housing printer cover in the opening direction ; The casing printer cover and the printer head cover are slidably connected, and the printer head cover unlocked by the unlocking mechanism is opened in conjunction with the opening of the casing printer cover by the operation unit, so that the first cutter and the second cutter are opened. And a coupling mechanism for separating the two.
[0008]
Accordingly, when the operation unit is rotated, the lock mechanism is unlocked by the lock release mechanism, and the engagement between the printer main body and the printer head cover is released. When the operation unit is further rotated, the housing printer cover is opened, and the printer head cover is also opened in conjunction with the opening operation of the housing printer cover, so that the first cutter and the second cutter of the cutter mechanism are separated. The Further, when closing the casing printer cover, the operation unit is pushed down to close the casing printer cover, and the printer head cover is also closed in conjunction with the closing operation of the casing printer cover, The lock mechanism is locked, the printer main body and the printer head cover are engaged, and the first cutter and the second cutter of the cutter mechanism are brought into contact with each other. As a result, the housing printer cover and the printer head cover are simultaneously opened and closed by a single operation, and the first cutter and the second cutter of the cutter mechanism are separated.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the first cutter of the cutter mechanism is a fixed blade, and the second cutter of the cutter mechanism is a movable blade.
[0010]
Therefore, the first cutter on the printer head cover side is a fixed blade and the second cutter on the printer body side is a movable blade, so that only the printer body is provided with a drive system.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an example applied to a thermal printer which is a printer mounted on a POS terminal.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the structure of the POS terminal 1, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal structure of the POS terminal 1 in the vicinity of the thermal printer 6. The POS terminal 1 is provided with a keyboard 2, a display 3, a customer display 4 and the like in order from the operator side. The keyboard 2, the display 3, the customer display 4, and the like are each attached by a fitting structure with the housing top cover 5. Further, a housing printer cover 7 containing the thermal printer 6 is provided on the left side when viewed from the operator of the housing top cover 5. The housing printer cover 7 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 8 with respect to the housing top cover 5. It is supposed to be free. Further, a lever 9 as an operation unit is provided at an operator side end portion of the housing printer cover 7 and is pivotally supported by a shaft 10 with respect to the housing printer cover 7 so as to be freely opened and closed. The lever 9 also forms a receipt discharge port 9a for discharging a receipt issued by the thermal printer 6.
[0013]
Next, the structure of the thermal printer 6 will be described. The thermal printer 6 includes a printer main body 11 and a printer head cover 12. The printer head cover 12 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 13 with respect to the printer body 11 and can be opened and closed. The printer main body 11 is provided with a platen 14 and a paper storage portion A, and the printer head cover 12 is provided with a thermal head 15. When the printer head cover 12 is closed, a paper guide path B is formed. The thermal head 15 can be brought into contact with the platen 14 with a predetermined pressure.
[0014]
The paper guide path B of the thermal printer 6 is provided with a cutter mechanism C for cutting the receipt paper. The cutter mechanism C is a first cutter C1 that is a fixed blade provided on the printer head cover 12, and a printer main body 11. And a second cutter C2 which is a movable blade. The second cutter C2 uses a motor (not shown) as a drive source, and the second cutter C2 and the first cutter C1 engage and slide like scissors to cut the receipt paper. In addition, the first cutter C1 is provided with a cutter cover 25 that can be rotated by a shaft 26 so as not to touch, for example, an operator's hand when the printer head cover 12 is opened. (See FIG. 4). The cutter cover 25 is formed with an inclined portion 25a for contacting the second cutter C2 when the printer head cover 12 is closed and releasing the interference by the rotating operation of the cutter cover 25. That is, the first cutter C1 is exposed when the cutter cover 25 comes into contact with the second cutter C2.
[0015]
Further, lock mechanisms 16 are provided on both the left and right sides as viewed from the operator of the thermal printer 6. Here, the structure of the lock mechanism 16 will be described. The lock mechanism 16 includes a lock pin 17 that is an engaging portion provided on the printer head cover 12, and a hook 19 that is provided on the printer main body 11 and that can be engaged with and disengaged from the lock pin 17 and can be rotated by a shaft 18. It is comprised by. That is, the printer head cover 12 is positioned at the closed position when the hook 19 is engaged with the lock pin 17 and can be opened when the engagement is released. In addition, the hook 19 is formed with an inclined portion 19a for contacting the lock pin 17 when the printer head cover 12 is closed and releasing the interference by the rotating action of the hook 19. Thus, when the printer head cover 12 is closed, interference with the lock pin 17 is released by the rotation of the hook 19, and finally the hook 19 is engaged with the lock pin 17, and the printer head cover 12 is attached to the printer main body 11. Will be locked. Further, the hook 19 is provided on the operator side with a protrusion 20 that abuts on an unlocking portion 24 of the lever 9 described later, thereby constituting an unlocking mechanism.
[0016]
Further, a slide shaft 21 to be inserted into a long hole 23 of a guide rail 22 to be described later is provided in the vicinity of the thermal head 15 of the printer head cover 12 to constitute a coupling mechanism.
[0017]
Next, the structure of the housing printer cover 7 will be described. The case printer cover 7 is provided with guide plates 22 on the left and right sides as viewed from the operator. Each guide plate 22 is formed with an arc-shaped long hole 23. When the slide shaft 21 of the printer head cover 12 is inserted into the long hole 23 of the guide plate 22, the slide shaft 21 is slidable in the long hole 23 in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the housing printer cover 7. To do. That is, the printer head cover 12 is configured to open and close in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the housing printer cover 7 according to the trajectory of the long hole 23.
[0018]
Further, a cam-shaped unlocking portion 24 is integrally formed with the lever 9 provided in the printer head cover 12. The unlocking portion 24 is in contact with the protrusion 20 of the hook 19 described above. For example, when the lever 9 rotates in the clockwise direction, the protrusion 20 slides on the lock release portion 24 according to its cam shape. By doing so, the hook 19 is rotated counterclockwise, the engagement between the hook 19 and the lock pin 17 is released, and the lock mechanism 16 can be released.
[0019]
The opening / closing operation of the housing printer cover 7 and the printer head cover 12 in such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when a receipt sheet is replenished to the sheet storage portion A of the thermal printer 6, a finger is inserted into the receipt discharge port 9a and the lever 9 is pulled up. When the lever 9 is pulled up, the lock release portion 24 of the lever 9 pushes the projection 20 of the hook 19, thereby releasing the lock mechanism 16 between the printer main body 11 and the printer head cover 12 constituting the thermal printer 6. When the lock mechanism 16 is released, the housing printer cover 7 is opened clockwise as the lever 9 is pulled up, and the first cutter C1 and the second cutter C2 of the cutter mechanism C are separated. Furthermore, since the slide shaft 21 of the printer head cover 12 moves while sliding in the long hole 23 of the guide rail 22 as the casing printer cover 7 is opened, the casing printer cover 7 is finally opened. In conjunction with the operation, the printer head cover 12 is also opened.
[0020]
Further, after the receipt paper is replenished, the lever 9 of the housing printer cover 7 is pushed down so that the slide shaft 21 of the printer head cover 12 is moved into the long hole of the guide rail 22 along with the closing operation of the housing printer cover 7. 23, the printer head cover 12 is also closed in conjunction with the closing operation of the housing printer cover 7, and finally the hook 19 is engaged with the lock pin 17 to lock the lock mechanism 16. Then, the first cutter C1 and the second cutter C2 of the cutter mechanism C come into contact with each other.
[0021]
Therefore, even if the support shaft 8 of the housing printer cover 7 and the support shaft 13 of the printer head cover 12 are not located on the same axis, the housing printer cover 7 and the printer head cover 12 are interlocked and completely opened simultaneously. By being closed, the platen 14 and the thermal head 15 are opened and closed, and the first cutter C1 and the second cutter C2 of the cutter mechanism C are opened and closed, so that the sheet guide path B is completely opened and closed. Closed. As a result, the housing printer cover 7 is opened by the lever 9 to store the receipt paper in the paper storage section A, the receipt paper is pulled out to the paper guide path B, and the housing printer cover 7 is closed by the lever 9. Receipt paper can be set, so receipt paper can be easily replenished.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operation portion is rotated, the lock between the printer main body and the printer head cover is released by the lock release mechanism, and when the operation portion is further rotated, the operation is interlocked with the opening operation of the housing printer cover. Then, the printer head cover can be opened to separate the first and second cutters of the cutter mechanism, and when closing the casing printer cover, the operation printer can be The printer head cover can be closed in conjunction with the closing operation, and the printer main body and the printer head cover can be engaged to bring the first and second cutters of the cutter mechanism into contact with each other. And the printer head cover can be opened and closed simultaneously in one operation, and the first and second cutters of the cutter mechanism can be separated Contact it can, it is possible to facilitate the paper replenishing operation of the thermal printer.
[0023]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the first cutter on the printer head cover side is a fixed blade and the second cutter on the printer main body side is a movable blade, so that only the printer main body is driven. Since the system is provided, it can be shared with other drive systems.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a structure of a POS terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an internal structure of a POS terminal near a thermal printer.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing an internal structure in the vicinity of the thermal printer in a state where the lever is slightly pulled up.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the internal structure in the vicinity of the thermal printer with the housing printer cover fully opened.
[Explanation of symbols]
7 Housing printer cover 8 Housing printer cover spindle 9 Operation unit 11 Printer body 12 Printer head cover 13 Printer head cover spindle 14 Platen 15 Thermal head 16 Lock mechanism 20, 24 Unlock mechanism 21, 22 Connection mechanism B Paper guide Path C Cutter mechanism C1 First cutter C2 Second cutter

Claims (2)

A printer head cover having a thermal head is attached to a printer body having a platen so as to be freely opened and closed by a support shaft, thereby forming a paper guide path extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support shaft, and the printer head cover is closed. In a printer that pressurizes the thermal head with a predetermined pressure to the platen through receipt paper in a state where
A cutter mechanism configured by a first cutter provided in the printer head cover and a second cutter provided in the printer main body, disposed at a terminal end side of the paper guide path , and cutting the receipt paper in a closed state;
A housing printer cover that is openable and closable in an opening and closing direction of the paper guide path around a support shaft parallel to the support shaft of the printer head cover different from the printer head cover;
A lock mechanism for locking the printer body and the printer head cover;
Wherein positioned at the end of the paper guide path forms a part of the receipt outlet, rotatably mounted on the support shaft parallel to the axis around the casing printer cover for the housing printer cover An operation unit;
A lock release mechanism that releases the lock of the lock mechanism by a rotation operation of the operation unit in the same direction as the rotation direction of the housing printer cover in the opening direction ;
The casing printer cover and the printer head cover are slidably connected, and the printer head cover unlocked by the unlocking mechanism is opened in conjunction with the opening of the casing printer cover by the operation unit. A coupling mechanism for separating the first cutter and the second cutter;
A printer comprising:   2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first cutter of the cutter mechanism is a fixed blade, and the second cutter of the cutter mechanism is a movable blade.

Images