JP4824367B2 - Printing unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing unit that detachably holds a thermal head, and more particularly to a printing unit that is used in a printer that performs printing on a belt-like print medium such as a label continuum in which a label is temporarily attached to a belt-like mount.

  In a printer that prints on a belt-like printing medium such as a continuous label that has a label temporarily attached to the belt using a conventional thermal head, the thermal head is attached to the printing unit for maintenance and inspection or replacement. Is configured to be removable. The thermal head needs to be attached / detached in a narrow operation space in the printer, and the applicant of the present application is in a direction orthogonal to the direction of transport of the print medium so that the attachment / detachment operation can be easily performed in the narrow operation space in the printer. A technique has been proposed in which a thermal head can be attached to and detached from a printing unit by operating a slide lever that protrudes in the direction (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, the conventional technique is effective for a desktop label printer or the like in which the label discharge direction after printing is only one direction with respect to the printer main body. There was a problem that it was not possible to achieve commonality.

  That is, in the case of a printer that performs printing on a label that is attached to an adherend conveyed on a conveyor by a label attaching device, a cantilever printer is often used in view of maintainability. Therefore, a printer having a different label discharge direction after printing depending on the transport direction is required, and costs cannot be increased when parts cannot be shared as in the prior art.

JP 2004-262016 A

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing unit that can be used in common for printers having different label discharge directions after printing.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
The gist of the invention described in claim 1 is a printing unit that detachably holds a thermal head that performs printing by sandwiching a transported belt-shaped printing medium between a platen roller and the thermal head is fixed. A head mounting bracket, a head frame that holds the head mounting bracket, and a lock mechanism that is attached to the head frame and locks the head mounting bracket from the downstream side in the transfer direction of the print medium, The head mounting bracket, the head frame, and the lock mechanism are configured to be bilaterally symmetric with respect to the transfer direction, and the lock mechanism is disposed in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, A head lock shaft engaged from the downstream side in the transfer direction; Guiding the movement of the shaft in the transfer direction, and guiding the rotation of the head lock shaft when the head lock shaft is moved upstream in the transfer direction and engaged with the head mounting bracket. A printing unit comprising: guide means for prohibiting movement of the head lock shaft in the transfer direction .
The gist of the invention of claim 2 is that when the head lock shaft is moved upstream in the transfer direction and engaged with the head mounting bracket, the head lock shaft is rotated by its own weight. It consists in the printing unit of claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in movement to the transport direction of the head lock shaft to be prohibited by the guide means.

  The printing unit of the present invention includes a head mounting bracket to which a thermal head is fixed, a head frame that holds the head mounting bracket, and a head frame that is mounted on the head frame and locks the head mounting bracket from the downstream side in the direction of transfer of the print medium. By configuring the lock mechanism symmetrically with respect to the transfer direction of the print medium, it can be used in common for printers with different label discharge directions after printing, and the cost can be reduced. Play.

  Further, in the printing unit of the present invention, the lock mechanism is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, and engages with the head mounting bracket from the downstream side of the transfer direction, and the head lock shaft in the transfer direction of the head lock shaft. When the head lock shaft is moved upstream in the transfer direction and engaged with the head mounting bracket, the rotation of the head lock shaft is guided to prevent the head lock shaft from moving in the transfer direction. By constituting with the guide means, there is an effect that the head mounting bracket held on the head frame can be surely locked by a simple operation.

  Further, in the printing unit of the present invention, when the head lock shaft is moved upstream in the transfer direction and engaged with the head mounting bracket, the head lock shaft is rotated by the weight of the lock mechanism, and the guide means rotates the head lock shaft. By configuring so that movement in the transfer direction is prohibited, the head mounting bracket held on the head frame can be locked without the user being aware of it.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a printer in which an embodiment of a printing unit according to the present invention is used, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the printing unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the head frame shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the head lock plate shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a printing unit 100 according to the present embodiment is used in a printer 5 that performs printing on a label 4 that is stuck on an adherend 3 that is conveyed on a conveyor 2 by a label sticking device 1. The printer 5 includes a platen roller 6 and a printing unit 100 to which a thermal head having a heating element formed on a surface facing the platen roller 6 is attached. A plurality of labels 4 are temporarily attached to the belt-like mount 7. The label continuous body 8 and the ink ribbon 9 are overlapped and sandwiched between the platen roller 6 and the printing unit 100, and the heat generating line of the thermal head is selectively heated to thereby generate heat on the printing surface of the label 4. Ink is transferred from the ink ribbon 9 to print desired characters, barcodes, and the like. The ink ribbon 9 is stretched between the ribbon supply unit 10 and the ribbon take-up unit 11, and the ink ribbon 9 supported in a state of being wound around the ribbon supply unit 10 in a roll shape is printed with the platen roller 6. The ink ribbon 9 supplied between the units 100 and transferred is wound up by the ribbon winding unit 11. Reference numeral 12 shown in FIG. 1 denotes a head mounting shaft that rotatably supports the printing unit 100, and the printing unit 100 is pressed against the platen roller 6 with a predetermined pressing force by a positioning mechanism (not shown).

  Referring to FIG. 2, the printing unit 100 includes a head top frame 110, a head frame 120, a thermal head 130, and a head mounting bracket 140, and is attached and fixed to the lower surface side of the head mounting bracket 140 with screws 141. The thermal head 130 can be attached to and detached from the lower surface side of the head frame 120. Reference numerals 111 and 121 shown in FIG. 2 are attachment holes formed in the head top frame 110 and the head frame 120, respectively, into which the head attachment shaft 12 is inserted.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the head frame 120 includes an upper plate disposed on the upper surface side of the transfer path of the label continuous body 8 and side plates extending downward from both side surfaces of the upper plate. It is configured symmetrically with respect to the transfer direction of the body 8 (hereinafter simply referred to as the transfer direction). A head position adjusting shaft 150 is bridged between both side plates of the head frame 120, and a positioning groove 122 for positioning the head mounting bracket 140 is formed on the downstream side of the head position adjusting shaft 150 in the transfer direction. In addition, a guide protrusion 123 to which a lock mechanism 160 for locking the head mounting bracket 140 is movably attached is formed downstream of the positioning groove 122 in the transfer direction.

  The lock mechanism 160 includes a columnar head lock shaft 161 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, a head lock plate 162 attached to both ends of the head lock shaft 161, and a central portion of the head lock shaft 161. The head lever 163 is attached, and is configured symmetrically with respect to the transfer direction.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the head lock plate 162 is formed with a connecting hole 164 into which both ends of the D-cut head lock shaft 161 are inserted with a 45 ° play in the rotation direction of the head lock shaft 161. In addition, a guide projection 123 of the head frame 120 is fitted, and a guide hole 165 for guiding the rotation and movement of the head lock shaft 161 is formed. The guide hole 165 includes a long hole that guides the movement of the head lock shaft 161 in the transfer direction and a long hole that guides the rotation of the head lock shaft 161 when the head lock shaft 161 is moved upstream in the transfer direction. Become.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the upper plate of the head frame 120 has a lock hole 124 into which a hook-shaped tip of the head lever 163 is inserted at the left and right target positions in the center, and is mounted on the lower surface. Two insertion windows 125 connected to the head mounting bracket 140 are formed at the left and right target positions.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the head top frame 110 is provided with a pressing force adjusting mechanism 112 that adjusts the head pressure, that is, the pressing force of the thermal head 130 to the platen roller 6, and operates the pressing force adjusting knob 113. Thus, it is possible to adjust the strength of the head pressure and the left-right balance of the head pressure. The pressing force adjusted by the pressing force adjusting mechanism 112 is transmitted to the head mounting bracket 140 via the insertion window 125 formed on the upper plate of the head frame 120.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the head mounting bracket 140 is configured to be bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the transfer direction, and includes a pair of U-shaped engaging grooves 142 that are engaged with the head position adjusting shaft 150, and positioning grooves 122. A pair of positioning protrusions 143 that are engaged with each other and a hook 144 that has an arcuate engagement portion that engages with the peripheral surface of the head lock shaft 161 are formed.

Next, the mounting operation of the head mounting bracket 140 to the head frame 120 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the mounting operation of the head mounting bracket 140 to the head frame 120 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 shows that the head lock shaft 161 of the printing unit 100 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the head lock shaft 161 of the head mounting bracket 140 shown in FIG. 2 is moved to the upstream side in the transfer direction, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the head lock shaft 161 of the printing unit 100 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated and locked.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the thermal head 130 in a state where the head lock shaft 161 is moved and fixed to the lower surface side of the head mounting bracket 140 with the screw 141 while the head lock shaft 161 is moved to the upstream side in the transfer direction. The engaging groove 142 of the mounting bracket 140 is engaged with the head position adjusting shaft 150 spanned between the both side plates of the head frame 120, and the positioning projections 143 of the head mounting bracket 140 are formed on the both side plates of the head frame 120. The head lock shaft 161 is attached to the head lock plate 162 as shown in FIG. 5A by being attached to the lower surface side of the head frame 120 so as to be engaged with the positioning groove 122 and operating the head lever 163. Move along the formed guide hole 165 upstream in the transfer direction. That.

  When the head lock shaft 161 is moved upstream in the transfer direction, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the head lock shaft 161 and the hook 144 of the head mounting bracket 140 are engaged, and the head mounting bracket 140 is connected to the head frame. The head position adjusting shaft 150 and the engaging groove 142 spanned between both side plates of the 120 are engaged to perform vertical positioning, and the head lock shaft 161 and the hook 144 are engaged to move in the transfer direction. Positioning on the downstream side is performed, and further, the positioning groove 122 of the head frame 120 and the positioning projection 143 are engaged to perform positioning on the upstream side in the transfer direction.

  Next, the head lever 163 is operated to rotate the head lock shaft 161 by 45 ° along the guide hole 165 formed in the head lock plate 162 as shown by an arrow in FIG. Movement of the lock shaft 161 in the transfer direction is prohibited. In the state where the head lock shaft 161 shown in FIG. 5A is moved to the upstream side in the transfer direction, the head lock shaft 161 is moved by the dead weight of the head lock plate 162 without operating the head lever 163. It is configured to rotate along a guide hole 165 formed in the lock plate 162. By moving the head lock shaft 161 to a position where it engages with the hook 144 of the head mounting bracket 140, it automatically locks Movement of the shaft 161 in the transfer direction is prohibited.

  Further, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 5 (c), by rotating 45 degrees using play between both ends of the D-cut processed head lock shaft 161 and the connecting hole 164, as shown in FIG. The head mounting bracket 140 is locked by the head lock shaft 161 by inserting the hook-shaped tip of the head lever 163 into the lock hole 124 formed in the upper plate of the head frame 120. Thereby, the head mounting bracket 140 to which the thermal head 130 is fixed can be held on the head frame 120.

  The head mounting bracket 140 to which the thermal head 130 is fixed can be removed from the head frame 120 by performing the above-described mounting operation in the reverse procedure.

Next, the position adjustment operation of the thermal head 130 (head mounting bracket 140) attached to the head frame 120 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the position adjustment operation of the thermal head shown in FIG.

  The head mounting bracket 140 to which the thermal head 130 is fixed is positioned in the vertical direction by engaging the head position adjusting shaft 150 and the engaging groove 142 spanned between the both side plates of the head frame 120. The head lock shaft 161 and the hook 144 are engaged to perform positioning on the downstream side in the transfer direction, and the positioning groove 122 of the head frame 120 and the positioning protrusion 143 are engaged to perform positioning on the upstream side in the transfer direction. .

  The head position adjusting shaft 150 that engages with the engaging groove 142 to position the head mounting bracket 140 in the vertical direction is an eccentric shaft in which the rotation axis is set off the center as shown in FIG. By operating the head position adjustment knob 151 provided at the end of the head position adjustment shaft 150 to rotate the head position adjustment shaft 150, the upstream side in the transport direction of the head mounting bracket 140 in which the engagement groove 142 is formed is moved up and down. As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the head mounting bracket 140 rotates around the head lock shaft 161 engaged with the hook 144 as a fulcrum.

  From the state shown in FIG. 9A, the head position adjusting knob 151 is operated to rotate the head position adjusting shaft 150, and as shown in FIG. As the head mounting bracket 140 is rotated about the head lock shaft 161 as a fulcrum, the heating element line of the thermal head 130 is moved to the downstream side in the transfer direction, resulting in a thin print medium or a low-waist cover. It can be set to a position suitable for the print medium.

  From the state shown in FIG. 9A, the head position adjustment knob 151 is operated to rotate the head position adjustment shaft 150, and as shown in FIG. 9C, the upstream side of the head mounting bracket 140 in the transfer direction is directed downward. When the head is moved, the heating element line of the thermal head 130 is moved to the upstream side in the transfer direction along with the rotation of the head mounting bracket 140 about the head lock shaft 161 as a fulcrum. It can be set to a position suitable for the printing medium.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the head mounting bracket 140 to which the thermal head 130 is fixed, the head frame 120 that holds the head mounting bracket 140, and the head mounting bracket 140 are attached to the head frame 120. The lock mechanism 160 that locks the label continuous body 8 from the downstream side in the transport direction of the label continuous body 8 is configured symmetrically with respect to the transport direction of the label continuous body 8 so that it is common to the printers 5 with different label discharge directions after printing. Can be used, and the cost can be reduced.

  The head position adjustment knob 151 is preferably provided with a mark so that the position of the thermal head 130 adjusted by the user can be recognized. Further, the rotation of the head position adjusting shaft 150, that is, the vertical position adjustment on the upstream side in the transfer direction of the head mounting bracket 140 may be configured steplessly or may be performed stepwise.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 160 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, and engages with the head mounting bracket 140 from the downstream side in the transfer direction, and the head lock shaft. 161 guides the movement of the head lock shaft 161 in the transfer direction, and guides the rotation of the head lock shaft 161 when the head lock shaft 161 is moved upstream in the transfer direction and engaged with the hook 144 of the head mounting bracket 140. By constituting with the guide means (guide hole 165) for prohibiting the movement of the head lock shaft 161 in the transfer direction, the head mounting bracket 140 held by the head frame 120 can be reliably locked by a simple operation. There is an effect.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the head lock shaft 161 is moved to the upstream side in the transfer direction and engaged with the hook 144 of the head mounting bracket 140, the head lock shaft 161 is rotated by the weight of the head lock plate 162. Thus, the head mounting bracket 140 held by the head frame 120 is locked without being conscious of the user by configuring the guide means (guide hole 165) to prohibit the movement of the head lock shaft 161 in the transfer direction. There is an effect that can be made.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be set to a suitable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention. In each figure, the same numerals are given to the same component.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a printer in which an embodiment of a printing unit according to the present invention is used. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the printing unit shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the head frame shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the structure of the head lock plate shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the attachment operation | movement of the head attachment bracket to the head frame shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which moved the head lock shaft of the printing unit shown in FIG. 1 to the upstream of the transfer direction. It is a perspective view which shows the state which moved the head lock shaft of the head attachment bracket shown in FIG. 2 to the upstream of the transfer direction. It is a perspective view which shows the state which rotated and locked the head lock shaft of the printing unit shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the position adjustment operation | movement of the thermal head shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label sticking apparatus 2 Conveyor 3 Adhering body 4 Label 5 Printer 6 Platen roller 7 Band-like mount 8 Label continuous body 9 Ink ribbon 10 Ribbon supply part 11 Ribbon take-up part 12 Head attachment axis 100 Printing unit 110 Head top frame 111, 121 Mounting hole 112 Pressure adjusting mechanism 113 Pressure adjusting knob 120 Head frame 122 Positioning groove 123 Guide protrusion 124 Lock hole 125 Insertion window 130 Thermal head 140 Head mounting bracket 141 Screw 142 Engaging groove 143 Positioning protrusion 144 Hook 150 Head position adjusting shaft 151 Head position adjustment knob 160 Lock mechanism 161 Head lock shaft 162 Head lock plate 163 Head lever 164 Connection hole 165 Guide hole (guide hand) )

Claims (2)

A printing unit that detachably holds a thermal head that performs printing by holding a belt-shaped print medium to be transferred between platen rollers,
A head mounting bracket to which the thermal head is fixed, a head frame that holds the head mounting bracket, and a lock mechanism that is mounted on the head frame and locks the head mounting bracket from the downstream side in the transfer direction of the print medium. The head mounting bracket, the head frame, and the lock mechanism are configured symmetrically with respect to the transfer direction, and the lock mechanism is disposed in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction, A head lock shaft that engages the head mounting bracket from the downstream side in the transfer direction, guides the movement of the head lock shaft in the transfer direction, and moves the head lock shaft to the upstream side in the transfer direction. Engaged with the head mounting bracket The printing unit to guide the rotation of the head lock shaft, characterized in that it comprises a guide means for prohibiting the movement to the transport direction of the head locking shaft. When the head lock shaft is moved upstream in the transfer direction and engaged with the head mounting bracket, the head lock shaft is rotated by the weight of the lock mechanism, and the transfer of the head lock shaft is performed by the guide means. claim 1 Symbol placement of the printing units, characterized in that the movement in the direction is prohibited.

Images