JP4670519B2 - Label printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer having an open / close unit for opening a mount discharge path that guides a mount after a label is peeled off by a peeler to a mount discharge port. The present invention relates to a label printer that can be opened.

  In general, a label printer transports a label forming paper having a structure in which a label is affixed to a long mount on a regular interval through a printing position and prints the label. The label is peeled off and a label created from the label issuing port is issued. The peeler is configured to convey the label forming paper while curving it at an angle of 90 degrees or more, and peel off the label attached to the mount surface from the mount using its own waist strength. Yes. Further, the mount after the label is peeled is discharged to the outside from the mount discharge port via the mount discharge path. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a printer including a peeler having this configuration.

Such a label printer generally has a mode in which the created label is peeled off from the mount and issued one by one from the label issuing port, and the created label is issued from the label issuing port continuously with the mount without being peeled off from the mount. It is possible to selectively switch between modes. In the former mode, the mount is bent at an angle of 90 degrees or more via a peeler, set along the mount discharge path and pulled out from the mount discharge port. In the latter mode, the label producing sheet is set as it is pulled out from the label issuing port without being bent through the peeler, and the label peeling operation by the peeler is invalidated.
Japanese Patent No. 2992363

  Here, in order to easily perform operations such as setting the mount on the mount discharge path, the mount discharge path is formed between a part on the printer body side and an opening / closing unit attached to the printer body so as to be openable and closable. The structure that can open the open / close unit to open the mount discharge path is employed.

  In this case, due to a manufacturing error or the like, there is a possibility that the open / close unit in the closed state may rattle or that the open / close unit cannot be accurately fixed at the closed position.

  In order to avoid such an adverse effect, the rotating shaft of the opening / closing unit is supported in a playable state, and the opening / closing unit is moved slightly in a direction perpendicular to the rotating axis (with a backlash), It is desirable to precisely define the closing position of the opening / closing unit by engaging the positioning surface formed on the printer main body side with the positioning surface formed on the front end side of the opening / closing unit.

  However, when such a positioning mechanism is employed, the force acting in the direction of pressing the positioning surface on the opening / closing unit side against the surface on the printer body side by the operating force applied to the opening / closing unit when opening the opening / closing unit. May occur. When such a force is generated, a large frictional force is generated between these surfaces, an operation load necessary for opening the opening / closing unit is increased, and in some cases, the surfaces are galling.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to propose a label printer that can easily open an opening / closing unit attached to a printer main body with a small operating force so that a mount discharge path can be opened. There is.

In order to solve the above problems, the label printer of the present invention is
A peeler for peeling off the printed label from the mount,
A mount outlet for discharging the mount after the label is peeled off,
A mount discharge path for transporting the mount after the label is peeled off by the peeler toward the mount discharge port;
It can be opened and closed around a rotation fulcrum supported in a playable state by the printer main body, and in the closed position, the mount discharge path is formed between the printer main body side and the mount is opened. An opening / closing unit capable of opening the discharge path;
In order to position the open / close unit at the closed position, a main body side positioning surface formed on the printer main body side;
A unit-side positioning surface that is formed on the side of the opening / closing unit and contacts the body-side positioning surface when the opening / closing unit is closed;
In conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing unit, the unit-side positioning surface has a push-up mechanism that pushes up the opening / closing unit in a direction away from the body-side positioning surface.

  In the label printer of the present invention, when the opening / closing unit is opened, the opening / closing unit is pushed up in a direction in which the unit side positioning surface is separated from the main body side positioning surface. Therefore, even if the operating force for opening the opening / closing unit is applied from any direction, a state in which these surfaces are pressed against each other is not formed. Therefore, since the positioning surfaces do not interfere with each other to obstruct the opening operation of the opening / closing unit, the opening / closing unit can be easily opened with a small operating force.

  Here, in the label printer of the present invention, the opening / closing unit includes an operation lever operated to open the opening / closing unit, and the push-up mechanism includes a cam that rotates in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever, The cam is attached to the opening / closing unit, the contact surface is formed on the printer main body side, and the contact surface is connected to the opening / closing unit. The opening / closing unit is pushed up by the reaction force acting.

  According to this configuration, when a force is applied to the operation lever to open the opening / closing unit, the cam rotates in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever, the cam hits the contact surface on the printer body side, and opens and closes from the printer body side. A reaction force is applied to the unit to push it up. As a result, the open / close unit is pushed up as a whole, and the unit side positioning surface moves away from the main body side positioning surface of the printer main body. Thereafter, the opening / closing unit starts to rotate around its rotation fulcrum. Therefore, the opening / closing unit can be opened with good operability.

  As described above, in the label printer of the present invention, when the opening / closing unit is opened, the opening / closing unit is slightly pushed up. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a state in which the opening / closing unit is pressed against the printer main body by the operating force applied to the opening / closing unit, so that the opening / closing unit can be easily opened with a small operating force.

  Embodiments of a label printer to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a label printer, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal structure of the label printer. As shown in these drawings, the label printer 1 includes a printer case 2 having a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. In the front portion of the printer case 2, a label issuing port 3 is formed on the upper side, and a mount discharge port 4 is formed on the lower side. Further, on the front portion, a paper feed button 2a, LEDs 2b to 2d for informing operation states, and the like are arranged.

  Inside the printer case 2, a roll paper loading unit 5 is formed in the lower half portion thereof. The roll paper loading unit 5 is loaded with a roll paper 6A having a configuration in which the label producing paper 6 is wound in a roll shape. The label producing paper 6 has a configuration including a long mount 7 having a constant width and rectangular labels 8 attached to the surface at regular intervals (see FIG. 3 described later).

  The label producing paper 6 fed out from the roll paper 6A loaded in the roll paper loading unit 5 is guided between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 13 through the conveyance path 11. The platen roller 13 is pressed against the printing surface of the thermal head 12 and defines the position where the thermal head 12 prints on the label 8 on the label producing paper 6. The label producing sheet 6 sent out from the printing position of the thermal head 12 is conveyed to the peeler 20.

  The peeler 20 includes a mount bending guide 21 that is bent at an acute angle as a whole, a mount pressing roller 22 disposed in the vicinity of the mount folding position of the guide 21, and a platen roller at a position opposite to the thermal head 12. 13 is provided with a peeler roller 23 that rotates in contact with the roller 13. The mount 7 of the label forming sheet 6 passes along the mount discharge path B that passes between the mount bending guide 21 and the mount pressing roller 22, passes between the platen roller 13 and the peeler roller 23, and reaches the mount discharge port 4. When transported, the label 8 is peeled off from the mount 7 without being bent together with the mount 7 due to the strength of the waist at the mount bending position of the mount bending guide 21, is sent out along the discharge path A, and is sent to the label issuing port 3. Issued by. The discharge path A is defined by a label feed roller 24 and a label guide roller 25.

  In the normal label issuance mode, the mount 7 of the label producing paper 6 drawn from the printing position of the thermal head 12 is set so as to be drawn along the mount discharge path B and pulled out from the mount discharge path 4. When set in this way, the label 8 is peeled from the mount 7 by the peeler 20, the labels 8 are issued one by one from the label issuing port 3, and the mount 7 is discharged from the mount discharge port 4. On the other hand, in the continuous label issuing mode, the label producing paper 6 is set in a state of being pulled out from the label issuing port 3 along the discharge path A. Since the peeler 20 does not function when set in this way, the label 8 is continuously issued from the label issuing port 3 while being stuck to the mount 7.

  Here, the lower part from the label issuing port 3 in the front part of the printer case 2 is a printer cover 31 that can be opened forward with the lower end as a center. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the printer cover 31 is opened. As shown in this figure, when the printer cover 31 is opened, the transport path for the roll paper loading unit 5 and the label producing paper 6 is opened. That is, on the printer cover 31 side, a platen roller 13, a backing sheet pressing roller 22, a peeler roller 23, a label feed roller 24, and a label guide roller 25 are mounted. When the printer cover 31 is opened, the roll paper loading unit 5 , The conveyance path 11 for conveying the label producing paper 6 via the printing position and the discharge paths A and B for conveying the printed label producing paper 6 are opened. The printer cover 31 can be opened by releasing a lock (not shown) by operating a cover opening / closing lever 31a.

  Next, an opening / closing unit 32 is attached to the upper end portion of the printer cover 31 so that only the opening / closing unit 32 can be opened / closed alone. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where only the opening / closing unit 32 is opened, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the opening / closing unit 32 taken out.

  3, 4, and 5, the opening / closing unit 32 includes a unit housing 33, and the opening / closing unit 32 is opened and closed in a rotatable state on one side surface of the unit housing 33 in the printer width direction. An operation lever 34 is attached for the purpose. When the operation lever 34 is pulled in front of the printer, the operation lever 34 rotates, and the engagement protrusion 35 protruding sideways from the side surface of the unit housing 33 is pulled in, so that the engagement with the main body side of the printer case 2 is performed. The lock of the open / close unit 32 is released. When the opening / closing unit 32 is closed, the engaging protrusion 35 is once pushed in and then protrudes again, and engages with the main body side of the printer case 2 to lock the opening / closing unit 32 in the closed state.

  Rotating shafts 36 projecting laterally are formed at the lower ends of the side walls 33a and 33b of the unit housing 33. These rotating shafts 36 are bearing portions 37 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 to be described later). Further, the mount pressing roller 22, the label feeding roller 24, and the label guide roller 25 are attached to the upper end portion of the unit housing 33 in a rotatable state. Further, the lower ends of the side walls 33a and 33b of the unit housing 33 are supporting arms 38 extending downward, and the peeler roller 23 is supported in a rotatable state between these arms.

  Therefore, when the opening / closing unit 32 is opened, the discharge paths A and B are opened. For example, in the operation of setting the label producing paper 6 in the normal label issuing mode, the label producing paper 6 pulled out from the printing position is formed between the upper end of the printer cover 31 and the lower end of the opening / closing unit 32. When the label producing paper 6 is pulled out from the mount discharge port 4 and the label producing paper 6 is pushed in this state by closing the opening / closing unit 32, the label producing paper 6 (mount 7) is drawn along the paper ejecting path B and discharged. The state pulled out from the outlet 4 can be easily formed.

  On the front surface 33c of the printer housing in the unit housing 33 of the open / close unit 32, narrow label guide vertical ribs 39 projecting forward of the printer are formed at predetermined intervals in the printer width direction. A label guide surface 39a is defined by the upper end surfaces of the label guide vertical ribs 39, and the label 8 delivered from the label issuing port 3 by the label delivery roller 24 and the label guide roller 25 follows the label guide surface. Are guided and held almost horizontally.

  A plurality of narrow vertical ribs 40 are formed on the surface 33c of the unit housing 33, and the area where the adhesive surface of the label 8 issued from the label issuing port 3 contacts the surface 33c is reduced. It is configured to prevent sticking to the surface 33c. The label guide vertical rib 39 has the same effect.

(Opening / closing unit positioning mechanism and push-up mechanism)
Next, in the label printer 1 of this example, a positioning mechanism for positioning the opening / closing unit 32 at its closed position and a push-up mechanism for pushing up the opening / closing unit 32 when the opening / closing unit 32 is opened are incorporated. .

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a positioning mechanism and a push-up mechanism of the opening / closing unit 32. The opening / closing unit 32 is rotatably supported by shaft holes 37 a of bearings 37 formed on the upper end of the printer cover 31 with the rotation shafts 36 on both sides of the lower end thereof. In this example, the shaft hole 37a is a hole having a substantially rectangular cross section, and the cylindrical rotary shaft 36 that is slightly smaller in size has play (rattle) in a direction (vertical and front / rear) perpendicular to the axis. Plugged in state.

  Positioning portions 41 and 42 arranged at regular intervals are formed on the unit housing 33 of the opening / closing unit 32 on the side facing the inside of the printer. The positioning portion 41 is positioned in front of and above the printer with respect to the other positioning portion 42, and an inclined positioning surface 41a (unit side positioning surface) facing the back and bottom of the printer is formed. The other positioning portion 42 is formed with a vertical positioning surface 42a facing the front of the printer.

  On the other hand, a positioning portion 43 protruding upward is formed at the upper end portion of the printer cover 31. The positioning portion 43 is formed with an inclined positioning surface 43a (main body side positioning surface) in which the positioning surface 41a is in contact with the front side obliquely from above and a vertical positioning surface 43b in which the positioning surface 42a is in contact with the rear side. The upper end portions of the positioning surfaces 43a and 43b are continuous by the arc surface 43c.

  In the closed state of the opening / closing unit 32, the positioning portion 43 on the printer cover 31 side is inserted between the positioning portions 41, 42 from below, and the positioning surface 41a on the opening / closing unit side is positioned on the positioning surface 43a of the positioning portion 43. The positioning surface 43a on the opening / closing unit is pressed against the positioning surface 43b on the rear side of the positioning portion 43, and in this state, the peeler roller 22 is pressed into the lower side of the platen roller 13 to be in pressure contact therewith. Accordingly, the closing position of the opening / closing unit 32 is accurately defined by the contact of these positioning surfaces.

  Next, a cam lever 44 is attached to a side surface of the unit housing 33 to which the operation lever 34 is attached in a swingable state. The cam lever 44 includes a pair of arm portions 44b and 44c extending forward and backward from the swing center 44a. The rear arm portion 44 c is located on the rotation locus of the protrusion 34 a formed at the lower end of the operation lever 34. When the operation lever 34 is rotated in the opening direction (in the direction of arrow C), the projection 34a pushes up the arm portion 44c from the lower side, and the cam lever 44 is rotated in the direction of arrow D around the swing center 44a.

  The front end portion of the front arm portion 44 b of the cam lever 44 is positioned obliquely upward on the rear side of the arc surface 43 c in the positioning portion 43 of the printer cover 31. When the cam lever 44 rotates in the direction of the arrow D, the tip portion hits the arcuate surface 43c (contact surface) and cannot be further rotated. When the operation lever 34 is further operated in the direction of arrow C in this state, a reaction force from the arc surface 43 c acts on the opening / closing unit 32. Since the arm portion 44b pushes the arc surface 43c obliquely upward from the rear side, the direction of the reaction force from the arc surface 43c is directed toward the rear obliquely upward direction, and a component force that pushes the opening / closing unit 32 upward is generated.

  Here, the rotation shaft 36 that defines the rotation center of the opening / closing unit 32 is supported by a shaft hole 37a on the printer cover side in a state where there is play in the vertical and front and rear directions. Therefore, when a pushing force is applied to the opening / closing unit 32, the opening / closing unit 32 can be lifted upward by a play amount.

  Thus, in this example, the protrusion 34a, the cam lever 44, and the arc surface 43c of the operation lever 34 constitute a push-up mechanism.

(Opening / closing unit opening operation)
Next, with reference to FIGS. 6-9, the operation | movement at the time of opening the opening / closing unit 32 is demonstrated. First, in the closed state, the opening / closing unit 32 is in the state shown in FIG. In this state, if the operating lever 34 is operated in the direction of arrow C to open the opening / closing unit 32, an operating force is applied to the opening / closing unit 32 in the direction indicated by arrow E in FIG. As described above, the operating force acts in a direction in which the positioning surface 41a on the opening / closing unit side is pressed against the positioning surface 43a on the printer cover side. With this, the opening / closing unit 32 cannot be opened.

  However, in this example, a push-up mechanism for the open / close unit 32 is provided, and when the operation lever 34 is operated, the open / close unit 32 is lifted by the push-up mechanism. That is, when the operation lever 34 is operated, as shown in FIG. 8, the projection 34 a at the lower end of the operation lever 34 hits the arm portion 44 c on the rear side of the cam lever 44 and rotates the cam lever 44. When the cam lever 44 rotates, the front end portion of the arm portion 44b on the front side presses the arc surface 43c at the upper end of the positioning portion 43 on the printer cover side from the upper oblique rear side. As a result, a pushing force acts on the opening / closing unit 32, and the opening / closing unit 32 is lifted in the direction of the arrow G by the amount of play of the rotary shaft 36. As a result, the positioning surface 41a on the opening / closing unit side floats away from the positioning surface 43a on the printer cover side. The other positioning surface 42a slides upward along the positioning surface 43b.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with the operation of the operation lever 34, the opening / closing unit 32 is opened in the arrow H direction around the rotation shaft 36 without the positioning surfaces 41 a and 43 a interfering with each other. Can do.

  As described above, in the label printer 1 of the present example, when the opening / closing unit 32 for opening the mount discharge path B is opened, the opening / closing unit 32 is moved upward in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever 34. After being pushed up, the opening / closing unit 32 starts to open. Therefore, in order to accurately position the opening / closing unit 32 in the closed position, the positioning surfaces formed on the opening / closing unit side and the printer cover side interfere with each other, and a large operating force is required when opening the opening / closing unit 32. Can be prevented.

1 is an external perspective view of a label printer to which the present invention is applied. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the label printer of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the label printer of FIG. 1 with a printer cover opened. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where only the opening / closing unit of the label printer of FIG. 1 is opened. It is a perspective view of an opening / closing unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positioning and push-up mechanism of an opening / closing unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the direction of the force which acts on an opening / closing unit. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the opening / closing unit was pushed up. It is explanatory drawing which shows the opening operation | movement after the opening / closing unit is pushed up.

Explanation of symbols

1 Label printer, 2 Printer case, 3 Label issuing port, 4 Mount discharge port, 5 Roll paper loading section, 6 Label creation paper, 7 Mount, 8 Label, 11 Transport path, 12 Thermal head, 13 Platen roller, 20 Peeler, 21 Mounting guide, 22 Backing roller, 23 Peel roller, 24 Label feed roller, 25 Label guide roller, 31 Printer cover, 32 Opening / closing unit, 33 Housing, 34 Operation lever, 35 Engaging projection, 36 Rotating shaft 37 Bearing Part, 37a shaft hole, 41, 42 positioning part, 41a, 42a positioning surface, 43 positioning part, 43a, 43b positioning surface, 43c arc surface, 44 cam lever, 44b, 44c arm part

Claims (2)

A peeler for peeling off the printed label from the mount,
A mount outlet for discharging the mount after the label is peeled off,
A mount discharge path for transporting the mount after the label is peeled off by the peeler toward the mount discharge port;
It can be opened and closed around a rotation fulcrum supported in a playable state by the printer main body, and in the closed position, the mount discharge path is formed between the printer main body side and the mount is opened. An opening / closing unit capable of opening the discharge path;
In order to position the open / close unit at the closed position, a main body side positioning surface formed on the printer main body side;
A unit-side positioning surface that is formed on the side of the opening / closing unit and contacts the body-side positioning surface when the opening / closing unit is closed;
A label printer comprising a push-up mechanism that pushes up the opening / closing unit in a direction in which the unit-side positioning surface moves away from the main body-side positioning surface in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing unit. In claim 1,
The opening / closing unit includes an operation lever operated to open the opening / closing unit,
The push-up mechanism includes a cam that rotates in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever, and a contact surface that contacts the rotating cam,
The cam is attached to the opening / closing unit, the contact surface is formed on the printer body side, and the opening / closing unit is pushed up by a reaction force acting on the opening / closing unit from the contact surface. Label printer.

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