JP5267620B2 - Roll paper printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a roll paper printer that facilitates a user to take out roll paper. <P>SOLUTION: The roll paper printer 1 is equipped with an opening and closing cover unit 3 openable and closable forward in the front part of a body unit 2. Opening and closing cover unit 3 allows the front side of a roll paper storage 9 inside the printer body to be released, and thereby allows a user to change roll paper 10. The opening and closing cover unit 3 also allows the bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage 9 to be switched from a nearly horizontal posture to a forward tilting posture 12B by a roll paper feeding mechanism consisting of a link levers 71 and 72, and pulling coil springs 66 and 67, so that the roll paper 10A placed thereon rolls under its own weight to be sent forward. Compared with the case where small diameter roll paper 10B drawing to an end is taken out from the rear side end of the roll paper storage 9, the roll paper 10B is easily taken out. Closing the opening and closing cover unit 3 allows the bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage 9 to return to the nearly horizontal posture again. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a roll paper printer including a roll paper storage unit that is improved so that the roll paper can be easily taken out.

A roll paper printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a roll paper printer that performs printing on a roll paper having a configuration in which a tape-like recording paper is wound around a core tube. In the printer disclosed in this document, a lid is attached to the upper surface of the printer main body so that it can be opened and closed, a platen roller is attached to the printer main body, and a print head is attached to the lid. . When the lid is opened, the upper side of the paper storage unit is opened, and the roll paper can be easily replaced from the upper side. Also, since the print head and the platen roller are separated,
The operation of setting a sheet between them can be easily performed.

JP 2000-289272 A

In such a roll paper printer, when the roll paper needs to be replaced, the roll paper which is almost only the core tube remains on the back side at the bottom of the roll paper storage unit. If the open / close lid unit that seals the roll paper storage unit can be opened widely, the operator can easily put the hand into the roll paper storage unit and take it out. However, when the open / close lid unit cannot be opened widely, it is not easy to take out the small-diameter roll paper remaining on the bottom.
For example, when the height of the installation location cannot be sufficiently secured, the open / close lid unit cannot be opened widely, and the roll paper remaining on the bottom of the roll paper storage unit cannot be easily taken out.

Here, in order to reduce the height dimension of the roll paper printer, it is conceivable to attach an opening / closing lid unit to the front surface of the printer main body and open the front cover unit so as to replace the roll paper from the front. In this case, the roll paper remaining at the bottom of the roll paper storage unit is taken out from the front. In such a printer, in order to reduce the height dimension, the opening height of the roll paper storage unit is inevitably small. Therefore, it is necessary to take out the small-diameter roll paper that has remained small through the narrow opening.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to propose a roll paper printer that can easily perform roll paper replacement work.

In order to solve the above problems, the roll paper printer of the present invention is
The printer itself,
A roll paper storage portion formed in the printer body;
An open / close lid unit attached to the printer body so as to be openable and closable, and sealing the roll paper storage unit;
In conjunction with the opening operation of the open / close lid unit, a roll paper feed mechanism for feeding the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit toward the open / close lid unit;
With
The roll paper storage section extends in the printer width direction and the roll paper can roll.
A bottom plate resting, in the roll paper resting on the bottom plate with extending the printer width direction
A front plate that can come into contact with the front side ,
The front plate is attached to the opening / closing lid unit,
The roll paper feed mechanism is a mechanism for the pre-Symbol bottom plate is inclined in association with the opening operation of the lid unit,
The opening / closing lid unit is attached to the front surface of the printer main body so as to open forward around the lower end portion of the printer,
The bottom plate of the roll paper storage unit is capable of turning in the front-rear direction of the printer around the front end portion of the printer,
The roll paper feed mechanism includes a link lever connected to the opening / closing lid unit for converting the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing lid unit into a turning motion of the bottom plate, and the link lever moves forward by a predetermined amount. Until the bottom plate does not turn forward,
When the open / close lid unit is fully opened, the bottom plate is inclined forward with the front portion of the printer facing downward, and the roll paper placed on the bottom plate in the forward inclined posture rolls the bottom plate by its own weight.
Can be moved to the front plate in front,
When the open / close lid unit is closed, the bottom plate returns to its original posture.

In the roll paper printer of the present invention, when the opening / closing lid unit is opened, the roll paper is sent out from the roll paper storage unit by the roll paper feed mechanism. That is, the bottom plate on which the roll paper is placed in the roll paper storage unit is inclined, and the roll paper is sent out to the opening / closing lid unit side.
Since the roll paper is sent out to the vicinity of the opened opening / closing lid unit, it is not necessary to put the hand deep inside the roll paper storage unit and take out the small-diameter roll paper which is almost only the core tube. Therefore, the roll paper can be taken out very easily.

To explain further, when the open / close lid unit is opened, the bottom plate of the roll paper storage unit is inclined forward,
The roll paper on the roll rolls forward by its own weight and is sent out. Therefore, the operator can easily take out the small-diameter roll paper which is substantially only the core tube without putting his hand in the back of the roll paper storage unit.

Here, in this invention, it has the biasing member which has provided the biasing force of the direction which returns the said baseplate to the original attitude | position to the said baseplate. The bottom plate is held without rattling by the urging force. Further, when the opening / closing lid unit is opened, the biasing force acts on the opening / closing lid unit as a force in a direction to close the opening / closing lid unit. Therefore, the open / close lid unit opens vigorously,
It is possible to prevent the adverse effect of colliding with the printer installation surface.

As described above, in the roll paper printer of the present invention, the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit is moved to the side of the open / close lid unit in conjunction with the operation of opening the open / close cover unit that opens and closes the roll paper storage unit. I am trying to send it out. That is, the bottom plate of the roll paper storage unit is tilted so that the roll paper placed thereon is sent out. Therefore, the small-diameter roll paper remaining on the bottom on the back side of the roll paper storage unit can be easily taken out.

1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the roll paper printer with an opening / closing lid opened. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of a roll paper printer. FIG. 3 is a side view of the roll paper printer with a main body case and an open / close lid of the roll paper printer removed. FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a side view of the roll paper printer in a state where one side plate in FIG. 4 is omitted to show the internal structure. It is the perspective view and side view of the state which opened the opening-and-closing lid unit.

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

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the opening / closing lid unit is opened.

A roll paper printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a printer main body 2 and an opening / closing lid unit 3 attached to the front surface thereof, and an operation panel unit 4 is attached to the front end of the printer main body 2. . A recording paper discharge port 5 extending in the printer width direction is formed at the upper end portion of the opening / closing lid unit 3 on the front surface of the printer.

The printer main body 2 has a box-shaped main body case 6 which is long before and after the front and bottom surfaces are opened.
Covered by. On the front surface of the open / close lid unit 3, an open / close lid case 7 that defines the front surface of the printer is attached. When the operating lever 8 disposed on the operation panel unit 4 is operated, the opening / closing lid unit 3 is unlocked by a lid lock (not shown) and opens forward with the lower end as a center. When the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, the front side of the roll paper storage unit 9 formed inside is opened, and the roll paper 10 can be replaced. On the front surface of the operation panel unit 4, a status display lamp group 4a made of LEDs and the like, a feed button 4b, and a power switch 4c are arranged.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the inside of the roll paper printer 1. A roll paper storage unit 9 formed inside the roll paper printer 1 has an arc-shaped bottom plate 12 extending in the printer width direction, an arc-shaped top plate 13 extending in the printer width direction, and also extending in the printer width direction. Surrounded by the front plate 14. The roll paper storage unit 9 has a roll paper 1 in a rollable state.
0 is stored. The tape-like recording paper 10a fed out from here passes through the printing position between the platen roller 15 and the thermal head 16 and is drawn forward, and forward from the recording paper discharge port 5 located in front of it. Discharged. A scissors-type recording paper cutting device 20 is disposed in front of the recording paper discharge port 5.

The recording paper cutting device 20 includes a fixed blade 21 mounted on the printer body 2 side, a movable blade 22 and a movable blade drive mechanism 23 mounted on the opening / closing lid unit 3 side. The fixed blades 21 are arranged in the printer width direction in a substantially horizontal posture with the blade edge 21a facing forward.
The movable blades 22 are arranged in the printer width direction at a position almost directly below the blade edge 21a of the fixed blade 21 with the blade edge 22a facing upward. In a state where the recording paper 10a is discharged between the cutting edges 21a and 22a (recording paper cutting position), the lower movable blade 22 is disposed.
Is pivoted upward, the portion of the recording paper 10a sandwiched between the two blade edges 21a and 22a is cut in the printer width direction.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the mechanism (the printer body 2 and the opening / closing lid unit 3) of the roll paper printer with the main body case 6 and the opening / closing lid case 7 removed. FIGS. 5A and 5B are a perspective view and a side view in a state where one side plate is omitted as shown by an imaginary line in order to show the internal structure. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and a side view showing a case where the opening / closing lid unit is opened in the same state as in FIG.

Referring to these drawings, the printer main body 2 includes a base plate 31, left and right side plates 32 and 33 standing upright from the base plate 30, and rear sides of the left and right side plates 32 and 33. A back plate 30 is provided between the parts in the printer width direction. Side plates 32, 3
3, a head mounting plate 34 is stretched horizontally in the printer width direction. On the lower surface of the head mounting plate 34, the thermal head 1 has a substantially horizontal posture with the head surface 16a facing downward.
6 is attached (see FIG. 3). The top plate 13 of the roll paper storage unit 9 is disposed below the rear portion of the head mounting plate 34. The bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 is disposed on the upper surface of the base plate 31.

A fixed blade mounting plate 35 is disposed horizontally in the printer width direction above the head mounting plate 34, and the fixed blade 21 of the recording paper cutting device 20 faces forward and substantially horizontal below the front end of the fixed blade mounting plate 35. Is attached. The fixed blade mounting plate 35 is bridged between the upper ends of left and right swivel plates 36 and 37 (only the swivel plate 37 is shown in the figure) arranged outside the side plates 32 and 33. The swivel plates 36 and 37 can be slightly swiveled in the front-rear direction of the printer around their lower end portions 36a and 37a (only the lower end portion 37a is shown in the figure). When the recording paper 10a is cut by the recording paper cutting device 20, both the blade edges 21a and 22a intersect in a point contact state while the movable blade 22 pivots upward from the lower side and pushes the fixed blade 21 rearward. 10a is cut. In order to slightly retract the fixed blade 21 during cutting, the fixed blade 21 is supported by the swivel plates 36 and 37.

On the other hand, the open / close lid unit 3 is configured to open by a predetermined angle forward of the printer around the support shafts 41 and 42 attached to the lower ends of the side plates 32 and 33 of the printer body 2.
The opening / closing lid unit 3 includes a front plate portion 43 and narrow side plate portions 44 and 45 bent at right angles from both sides to the rear. The movable blade 22 and the movable blade drive mechanism 23 of the recording paper cutting device 20 are attached to the front surface of the front plate portion 43, and these portions are the protection plate 24.
Covered by. The front side of the protection plate 24 is covered with an open / close lid case 7 (FIG. 3).
reference). Further, the platen roller 15 is spanned between the side plate portions 44 and 45 in a rotatable state. Under the platen roller 15, the front plate 14 of the roll paper storage unit 9 attached to the back surface of the front plate portion 43 is disposed.

As described above, the opening / closing lid unit 3 is mounted with the front plate 14 of the roll paper storage unit 9, the platen roller 15, and the movable blade 22 of the recording paper cutting device 20. When the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the roll paper storage unit 9 is opened, and the recording paper discharge port 5 passes from the roll paper storage unit 9 via the printing position and the cutting position. The recording paper transport path leading to is opened. Therefore, when the opening / closing lid unit 3 is closed in a state where the recording paper 10a is pulled out from the roll paper 10 stored in the roll paper storage unit 9, the recording paper 10 is moved along the recording paper conveyance path.
A state in which a is set can be automatically formed.

(Roll paper feed mechanism of roll paper storage unit)
The roll paper storage unit 9 of this example is defined by the bottom plate 12, the top plate 13, and the front plate 14 as described above. The front plate 14 is attached to the opening / closing lid unit 3, and when the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, the front side portion of the roll paper storage unit 9 is opened, and the roll paper 10 is inserted therethrough.
Can be replaced. Further, in the roll paper storage unit 9, the bottom plate 12 is switched to the forward inclined posture in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit 3. When the bottom plate 12 is tilted forward,
The roll paper 10 placed on the bottom plate 12 rolls by its own weight and is fed forward.

Referring mainly to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the bottom plate 12 is placed on the base plate 31 with the front end portion thereof being rotatable about the support shaft 61 in the longitudinal direction of the printer. Side plate portions 62, 63 are integrally formed on both sides of the bottom plate 12, and these side plate portions 5
Slide pins 64 and 65 (only the slide pin 65 is shown in the figure) are attached to rear portions of 62 and 63 so as to protrude sideways.

The tension coil springs 66 and 67 (only the tension coil spring 67 is shown in the figure) are stretched between the slide pins 64 and 65 and the lower end portion of the back plate 30. Has been. When the open / close lid unit 3 is in the closed state, the left and right coil springs 66 and 67 hold the bottom plate 12 in a substantially horizontal posture 12A (see FIG. 5B) with the back surface in contact with the base plate 31. ing.

Between the slide pins 64 and 65 and the support pins 68 and 69 attached to the middle portions in the vertical direction of the left and right side plate portions 44 and 45 of the opening / closing lid unit 3, respectively, Link levers 71 and 72 are bridged. The front end portions 71a and 72a of the link levers 71 and 72 are attached to the support pins 68 and 69 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction of the printer. The rear end portions of the link levers 71 and 72 are formed with linear slide holes 71b and 72b that are long in the front-rear direction of the printer, and the slide pins 64 and 65 are slidably inserted therethrough. These slide pins 6
4 and 65 are inserted into arc-shaped guide holes 73 and 74 (only the guide hole 74 is shown in the figure) formed in the left and right side plates 32 and 33, as shown in FIG. The guide holes 73 and 74 are arcs centered on the support shaft 61, and when the bottom plate 12 rotates about the support shaft 61, the slide pins 64 and 65 move along these guide holes 73 and 74.

A roll paper feeding operation in the roll paper storage unit 9 configured as described above will be described. When the open / close lid unit 3 is closed, the left and right slide pins 64 and 65 of the bottom plate 12 are positioned at the front ends of the slide holes 71b and 72b of the left and right link levers 71 and 72, as shown in FIG. . Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the slide pins 64 and 65 are arcuate guide holes 73,
74 is located at the lower end.

When the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, the left and right link levers 71 and 72 whose front ends are connected to the left and right side plate portions 44 and 45 of the opening / closing lid unit 3 also move forward. The left and right slide pins 64 and 65 attached to the bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 are positioned at the front ends of the slide holes 71b and 72b of the link levers 71 and 72. The bottom plate 12 does not move until the link levers 71, 72 move forward by a predetermined amount and the rear ends of the slide holes 71b, 72b hit the slide pins 64, 65.

After the slide pins 64, 65 hit the rear ends of the slide holes 71b, 72b, the slide pins 6 are moved by the left and right link levers 71, 72 in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit 3.
4, 65 is pulled forward. Since the bottom plate 12 to which these slide pins 64 and 65 are attached can be turned around the support shaft 61 at the front end thereof, in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit 3, the support plate 61 is used as the center. Turn forward.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the fully open state where the opening / closing lid unit 3 reaches the open position 3B, the bottom plate 12 assumes a forward tilting posture 12B inclined by a predetermined angle. Thus, the bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9
Is interlocked with the opening operation of the opening / closing lid unit 3 from the original substantially horizontal posture 12A to the forward inclined posture 12B.
Switch to. When the roll paper 10 is placed on the bottom plate 12, the roll paper 10 rolls on the bottom plate 12 in the forward inclined posture 12B by its own weight, and is fed forward. For example, the remaining roll paper 10A as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 6 is sent forward as shown by the arrow. As a result, the roll paper 10A can be easily taken out from the front side.

In addition, the opening / closing lid unit 3 is configured so that the left and right link levers 71 are turned on after the bottom plate 12 starts turning.
, 72 through the left and right tension coil springs 66, 67. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the opening / closing lid unit 3 from being vigorously opened due to the tensile force of the tension coil springs 66 and 67, and to cause an adverse effect such as the opening / closing lid unit 3 colliding with the printer installation surface etc. Can be avoided.

Next, when the open / close lid unit 3 is closed, the left and right link levers 71 and 72 are linked to this.
Also move backwards. Accordingly, the forward tensile force acting on the left and right slide pins 64, 65 of the bottom plate 12 is released, and the bottom plate 12 returns to the original substantially horizontal posture 12A by the spring force of the coil springs 66, 67. As a result, the roll paper 10 placed on the bottom plate 12 is stored in a predetermined position.

As described above, in the roll paper printer 1 of this example, the bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 is switched between the substantially horizontal posture 12A and the forward tilted posture 12B in conjunction with opening / closing of the opening / closing lid unit 3. Therefore, when the roll paper 10 is replaced, when the opening / closing lid unit 3 is opened, the bottom plate 12 of the roll paper storage unit 9 is in a forward tilted posture 12B in conjunction with this, and only the core tube placed on the bottom plate 12 is present. The roll paper 10A is fed forward. Therefore, it is not necessary to put a hand in the back of the roll paper storage unit 9 and take out such a small diameter roll paper 10A, so that the roll paper can be easily taken out.

In this example, the link levers 71 and 72 form a roll paper feed mechanism. Another configuration can be adopted as the roll paper feed mechanism.

1 Roll paper printer 2 Printer body 3 Open / close lid unit 3A Closed position 3
B opening position, 5 recording paper discharge port, 6 body case, 7 opening / closing lid case, 9 roll paper storage unit, 10, 10A roll paper, 12 bottom plate, 12A almost horizontal posture, 12B forward tilting posture, 13 top plate, 14 Front plate, 15 Platen roller, 16 Thermal head, 61 Support shaft, 62, 63 Side plate part, 64, 65 Slide pin, 66, 67 Tension coil spring,
68, 69 Support pin, 71, 72 Link lever, 71b, 72b Slide hole, 73
74 Guide holes.

Claims (3)

The printer itself,
A roll paper storage portion formed in the printer body;
An open / close lid unit attached to the printer body so as to be openable and closable, and sealing the roll paper storage unit;
In conjunction with the opening operation of the open / close lid unit, a roll paper feed mechanism for feeding the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit toward the open / close lid unit;
With
The roll paper storage section extends in the printer width direction and the roll paper can roll.
A bottom plate resting, in the roll paper resting on the bottom plate with extending the printer width direction
A front plate that can come into contact with the front side ,
The front plate is attached to the opening / closing lid unit,
The roll paper feed mechanism is a mechanism for the pre-Symbol bottom plate is inclined in association with the opening operation of the lid unit,
The opening / closing lid unit is attached to the front surface of the printer main body so as to open forward around the lower end portion of the printer,
The bottom plate of the roll paper storage unit is capable of turning in the front-rear direction of the printer around the front end portion of the printer,
The roll paper feed mechanism includes a link lever connected to the opening / closing lid unit for converting the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing lid unit into a turning motion of the bottom plate, and the link lever moves forward by a predetermined amount. Until the bottom plate does not turn forward,
When the open / close lid unit is fully opened, the bottom plate is inclined forward with the front portion of the printer facing downward, and the roll paper placed on the bottom plate in the forward inclined posture rolls the bottom plate by its own weight.
Can be moved to the front plate in front,
The roll paper printer, wherein the bottom plate returns to its original posture when the opening / closing lid unit is closed. In claim 1,
The roll paper feed mechanism includes a slide hole formed in the link lever and a slide pin formed in the bottom plate, and the slide pin is inserted into the slide hole in a slidable state, and the link lever A roll paper printer characterized in that the bottom plate does not pivot forward until it moves forward by a predetermined amount and hits the rear end of the slide hole. In claim 1 or 2,
A roll paper printer comprising a biasing member that applies a biasing force in a direction to return the bottom plate to its original posture.

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