JP4293701B2 - Portable printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable printer, and more particularly to a portable printer in which a platen roller is attached to an openable / closable cover that is rotatable on an apparatus body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a portable thermal printer that prints a barcode or the like on a label, a thermal head is generally provided in the apparatus main body, while a platen roller is supported by an openable / closable cover that is rotatable on the apparatus main body. By closing the open / close cover, the thermal head is pressed by the platen roller, and printing can be performed on the label paper supplied between the thermal head and the platen roller.
[0003]
By the way, in such a printer, a motor for rotating the platen roller is provided in the apparatus main body, and the gear interlocked with the motor and the gear interlocked with the platen roller are engaged when the opening / closing cover is closed. The driving force of the motor is transmitted to the platen roller.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, each time the open / close cover is opened / closed, the conventional printer collides with the gear on the platen side and the gear on the motor side, which may damage both gears. Further, when the open / close cover is closed in a state where both the gears are not properly engaged, the open / close cover is not completely closed. Further, since gears are provided on both the opening / closing cover side and the apparatus main body side, there are also disadvantages that the number of parts is large and the cost is high.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable printer capable of eliminating the problem of the drive system of the platen roller and reducing the cost.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an apparatus main body provided with an operation unit and a thermal head, and an opening / closing cover to which a platen roller is attached, and is mounted on an operator with the operation unit positioned on the upper surface. in the portable printer, provided rotatably the cover to the apparatus main body via the opening and closing shaft is substantially perpendicular to the time of mounting, close the driving device for rotationally driving the platen roller to the opening and closing shaft, the opening and closing cover provided, characterized in that a housing box for housing the drive device when closing the front Symbol cover between the thermal head and the operating portion of the apparatus main body.
[0007]
According to the present invention, the drive system for rotationally driving the platen roller is provided in the opening / closing cover, so that the driving system for the platen roller is all housed in the opening / closing cover. Therefore, drive system components such as gears do not collide and are damaged by the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover.
[0008]
Further, by concentrating the driving system of the platen roller on the opening / closing cover, the driving force transmission mechanism is simplified, and the driving force can be stably transmitted and the number of parts can be reduced. As a result, the cost can be reduced and the drive system space can be reduced, and the entire apparatus can be downsized.
[0009]
Furthermore, by providing a storage body for storing the drive device in the apparatus main body, it is possible to reduce the size without impairing the appearance of the entire apparatus.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of a printer according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, an example of a portable thermal printer will be described.
[0011]
First, a schematic structure of the printer 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a side view of the printer 10 in a posture mounted on an operator.
[0012]
As shown in these drawings, an opening / closing cover 18 swelled in an arc shape is rotatably supported by the apparatus body 12 at the lower part of the apparatus body 12. By opening the open / close cover 18 upward, the open / close cover 18 is disengaged from the open / close cover 18 and the apparatus main body 12 and opens sideways. When the opening / closing cover 18 is opened, the loading portion for the label paper 14 is exposed therein, and the wound roll-shaped label paper 14 (see FIG. 4) can be loaded.
[0013]
A data transmission / reception unit 20 is provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 12, and a receiving apparatus (not shown) is provided inside the cover 22. When a print data signal is transmitted by infrared rays or the like from a transmission unit (not shown) such as a handy terminal, the reception device receives this signal and transmits the data to the print unit 58 (see FIG. 4). The receiving device can be rotated by operating the direction switching lever 24 disposed on the side surface of the device main body 12 to change the receiving direction. A connector 26 is provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 12, and print data can be transmitted and received by directly connecting the transmitting means to the connector 26 via a signal cable or the like.
[0014]
An operation unit 30 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12, and a feed button 32, a print button 34, and a status lamp 36 are arranged in parallel on the operation unit 30. The status lamp 36 is turned on when the data transmission / reception unit 20 receives data, so that the operator can confirm that the print data has been received. The print button 34 is configured as a push button type, and when the print button 34 is pressed, the label paper 14 is supplied to the printing unit 58, and the label is printed by the printing unit 58. Further, the feed button 32 is also configured as a push button type, and when the feed button 32 is pressed, the label sheet 14 is not printed and one label is sent out.
[0015]
A label paper outlet 40 is provided in front of the apparatus main body 12, and a printing unit 58 (see FIG. 4) is provided inside the label paper outlet 40. The printing unit 58 includes a thermal head 76 and a platen roller 78. When the label paper 14 is supplied between the thermal head 76 and the platen roller 78, the price, barcode, and the like are printed (printed). The printed label paper 14 is discharged from the label paper outlet 40.
[0016]
A mount stripping device 42 is provided above the label sheet take-out port 40, and the mount stripping device 42 slides in the vertical direction by narrowing the distance between the pair of sandwiching knobs 44, 44. In addition, a label take-out port 46 is formed in the mount sheet peeling device 42. When the mount sheet peeling device 42 is slid downward to match the position of the label take-out port 46 and the label sheet take-out port 40, the label sheet take-out port 42 is formed. The label paper 14 delivered from 40 is peeled off from the mount and protrudes from the label takeout port 40, and the peeled mount is discharged from the space between the lower portion of the mount peeling device 42 and the apparatus main body 12.
[0017]
A holding unit 50 for mounting the printer 10 on the body is provided on the back surface of the apparatus main body 12. The holding plate 52 constituting the holding unit 50 is swingably supported on the back surface of the apparatus main body 12, and the holding part 52 </ b> A below the support part is moved toward the apparatus main body 12 by a leaf spring (not shown). Is being energized. Therefore, by pressing the pressing portion 52B on the upper side of the support portion toward the apparatus main body 12 against the urging force, the gap between the holding portion 52A and the apparatus main body 12 can be opened, and an operator can be inserted into the gap. If the belt or the like is inserted, the belt or the like can be clamped between the biased clamping portion 52A and the apparatus main body 12.
[0018]
Note that the battery cover 54 shown in FIG. 1 can be rotated to the apparatus main body 12 by sliding in the back direction of the apparatus main body 12, and a battery case (not shown) inside the apparatus main body 12 can be exposed. . In this battery case, a battery serving as a power source for the printer 10 is stored. The power supply of the printer 10 is switched by a power switch 56.
[0019]
Next, a method of using the printer 10 configured as described above will be described.
[0020]
First, the open / close lever 16 is slid upward to open the open / close cover 18, and a rolled roll of label paper 14 is set therein, and the open / close cover 18 is closed. As a result, the rolled label paper 14 is accommodated inside the opening / closing cover 18.
[0021]
Next, while pressing the pressing portion 52B of the holding portion 50 toward the apparatus main body 12 to widen the gap between the holding portion 52A and the apparatus main body 12, the holding plate 52 is inserted into the inside of the operator's belt, and the pressing portion 52B is released. As a result, the belt can be clamped between the clamping unit 52A urged by a leaf spring (not shown) and the apparatus main body 12, and the printer 10 can be used by the operator in the posture shown in FIGS. Can be installed.
[0022]
Next, after the power is turned on by the power switch 56 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12, the direction switching lever 24 on the side surface of the apparatus main body 12 is rotated to change the receiving direction of the receiving device (not shown) inside the cover 22. Directed in the direction of the transmission means (not shown). As a result, the print data signal can be reliably received from the transmission means. Then, the fact that the print data has been received is confirmed by the lighting of the status lamp 36, and the operation proceeds to the label printing operation.
[0023]
The label printing operation is performed by pressing the print button 34, and when the print button 34 is pressed once, one label is printed. The label is printed based on the received print data, and is printed based on the same data unless new print data is received. Further, when it is desired to automatically peel off the printed label from the mount, the label peeled off from the mount is discharged from the label outlet 46 by sliding the mount peeling device 42 downward. Thus, the label printing operation is completed, and the label discharged from the label paper outlet 40 or the label outlet 46 is taken and attached to a product or the like.
[0024]
The printer 10 can also be installed and used on a desktop or the like. In this case, the apparatus main body 12 is installed with the front face up, and the same operation as described above is performed to print on the label.
[0025]
Next, the peripheral structure of the opening / closing cover 18 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.
[0026]
3 is a perspective view of the printer 10 in a state where the opening / closing cover 18 is opened, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are a front view and a plan view of the printer 10 in FIG.
[0027]
As shown in these figures, the opening / closing cover 18 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 12 via an opening / closing shaft 62 that is substantially vertical when mounted. A horizontal support 60 is vertically provided. A label guide 66 having a reference surface 70 and having a rotating body 64 rotatably fitted thereto is attached to the column 60. The label guide 66 slides in the axial direction of the column 60 and adjusts the position of the reference surface 70, and then is fixed to the column 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the roll-shaped label sheet 14 is mounted on the rotating body 64 and is rotatably supported, and the end in the width direction is in contact with the reference surface 70 and positioned at a predetermined position. Is done.
[0028]
Above the column 60, a platen roller 78 is rotatably supported by the opening / closing cover 18. The platen roller 78 is disposed so as to contact the thermal head 76 shown in FIG. 4 when the open / close cover 18 is closed. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 18 is closed with the leading end portion of the label paper 14 placed on the platen roller 78, the label paper 14 is sandwiched between the platen roller 78 and the thermal head 76 and pressed. As a result, it is possible to print on the label in the printing unit 58 including the platen roller 78 and the thermal head 76. Although not shown in the drawings, the thermal head 76 is attached to a printing position that contacts the platen roller 78 when the open / close cover 18 is closed, and to a retreat position that is retracted from the platen roller 78 by a predetermined distance when the open / close cover 18 is opened. , And configured to move in conjunction with the opening / closing lever 16. As a result, the platen roller 78 and the thermal head 76 are not rubbed when the open / close cover 18 is closed, so that the label paper 14 is prevented from being displaced from a predetermined position.
[0029]
A motor 68 is attached to the opening / closing cover 18 above the thermal head 76. The motor 68 is configured to transmit driving force to the platen roller 78 via a plurality of gears housed inside the opening / closing cover 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the gear 72A attached to the output shaft 67 of the motor 68 engages with the gear 72B, and the gear 72C that rotates coaxially and synchronously with the gear 72B engages with the gear 72D. Further, a gear 72E that rotates synchronously with the gear 72D is engaged with a gear 72F attached to the shaft of the platen roller 78. Thereby, the driving force of the motor 68 is transmitted to the platen roller 78 via the gears 72A to 72F, and the platen roller 78 is rotationally driven.
[0030]
On the other hand, the apparatus main body 12 is provided with a label paper storage 80 capable of storing the label paper 14 and a motor storage 82 capable of storing the motor 68. When the open / close cover 18 is closed, the label paper 14 is stored in the label paper storage 80 and the motor 68 is stored in the motor storage 82.
[0031]
Reference numeral 84 in FIG. 4 denotes a pitch sensor, which detects the pitch of labels arranged at a predetermined interval. The printing unit 58 can print on each label accurately by printing based on the detection signal of the pitch sensor 84.
[0032]
According to the printer 10 configured as described above, the drive system for the platen roller 78 including the platen roller 78, the motor 68, and the gears 72A to 72F is all provided in the opening / closing cover 18. Accordingly, since the driving force of the motor 68 is reliably transmitted to the platen roller 78, stable printing can be performed in the printing unit 58.
[0033]
Further, according to the printer 10, since the drive system of the platen roller 78 is entirely disposed in the opening / closing cover 18, it is not necessary to connect drive system components, for example, gears, when the opening / closing cover 18 is opened / closed. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 18 can be opened and closed smoothly, and damage to gears and the like that has occurred in the conventional apparatus can be prevented.
[0034]
Further, according to the printer 10, since the drive system of the platen roller 78 is all concentrated on the opening / closing cover 18, the drive force transmission mechanism can be simplified and the number of components of the drive system components can be reduced. The system arrangement space is reduced, and the entire printer 10 can be reduced in size.
[0035]
Further, according to the printer 10, since the motor housing 82 is provided in the apparatus main body 12, and the motor 68 is housed in the motor housing 82, the printer 10 can be installed without impairing the overall appearance of the printer 10. It can be downsized.
[0036]
Further, according to the printer 10, since the loading unit for the label paper 14 and the motor 68 are arranged in the vertical direction, that is, in the same direction as the opening / closing shaft 62, the loaded label paper 14 and the motor 68 are close to the opening / closing shaft 62. Thus, the opening / closing operation feeling of the opening / closing cover 18 is improved.
[0037]
In the above-described embodiment, the motor 68 is disposed above the thermal head 76, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the motor 68 may be disposed inside the column 60.
[0038]
In the above-described embodiment, the portable printer 10 has been described. However, a printer of a type installed on a table may be used. Moreover, although embodiment mentioned above demonstrated the example of the label paper 14 as a printing paper, a non-adhesive printing paper may be sufficient. Moreover, although the example which opens and closes the opening / closing cover 18 was demonstrated, you may open and close in the up-down direction. Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the drive system of the platen roller 78 is arranged in the opening / closing cover 18, but the conveyance driving system of the label paper 14 may be arranged in the opening / closing cover 18.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, since the drive system of the platen roller is all disposed in the opening / closing cover, it is possible to prevent damage to the drive system components due to the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover, Stable transmission of driving force can be performed.
[0040]
In addition, since the housing for the driving device is provided in the apparatus main body, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size without deteriorating the appearance of the printer. Furthermore, the opening / closing operation feeling of the opening / closing cover is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer with an opening / closing cover shown in FIG. 4 is a front view of the printer shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the printer shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a drive system of a platen roller.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer, 12 ... Apparatus main body, 14 ... Label paper, 18 ... Opening / closing cover, 20 ... Data transmission / reception part, 30 ... Operation part, 50 ... Holding part, 58 ... Printing part, 68 ... Motor, 72A-72F ... Gear, 76 ... Thermal head, 78 ... Platen roller, 82 ... Motor storage

Claims (1)

In a portable printer that includes an apparatus main body provided with an operation unit and a thermal head, and an open / close cover to which a platen roller is attached, and is mounted on an operator with the operation unit positioned on the upper surface .
The opening / closing cover is rotatably provided on the apparatus body via an opening / closing shaft that is substantially vertical when mounted ,
A drive device for rotating the platen roller is provided in the open / close cover in proximity to the open / close shaft ,
Portable printer, characterized in that a housing box for housing the drive device when closing the front Symbol cover between the thermal head and the operating portion of the apparatus main body.

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