JP5317234B2 - Printer and handy terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that is mounted on a handy terminal as a printer unit and performs printing on roll paper.

  In the meter reading work such as electricity and gas, a portable electronic device called a handy terminal is used to input information of the meter reading result into the handy terminal. The handy terminal is equipped with a printer unit, and at the time of meter reading, a meter reading slip is printed on the spot and provided to a user such as electricity or gas. In general, the printer unit of the handy terminal does not require an ink tank or an ink ribbon in consideration of the portability and convenience of the handy terminal, and a small thermal printer with a simple structure is often applied.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a handy terminal 60 as an example of this type of handy terminal includes a keypad 66 for inputting information such as a meter reading result, a display 67 for displaying input information and the like, and a printer unit for printing a meter reading slip. 90.

  Further, referring also to FIG. 2, the printer unit 90 is a kind of thermal printer, and is attached to the main body of the handy terminal 60 or integrally formed with a roll paper case 71 and a hinge mechanism on the roll paper case 71. A roll paper cover 72 that is rotatably attached via 73, a feed roller 81 that is attached to the rotary end of the roll paper cover 72 and also functions as a platen, and a drive motor and feed roller 81 (not shown). And a thermal head provided in the main body of the handy terminal 60 so as to face the feed roller 81, and a gear mechanism 82 comprising a combination of a plurality of gears for transmitting the power from the drive motor to the feed roller 81. 61. In FIG. 2, as the gear mechanism 82, only one gear attached to the end portion of the feed roller 81 in the axial direction is shown.

  When the roll paper cover 72 is closed with respect to the roll paper case 71, a substantially cylindrical roll paper accommodation portion (space) is defined. In this roll paper storage unit, roll paper RS, which is thermal paper wound in a roll shape, is stored in a rollable state. The cylindrical roll paper RS accommodated in the roll paper accommodation portion is pulled out by a feed roller 81 driven by a drive motor via a gear mechanism 82 and is opposed to the feed roller 81 via the roll paper RS. Printing is performed by 61. The meter reading slip printed on the roll paper RS is cut using a hand cutting cutter (not shown) formed at the end of the roll paper cover 72. Note that perforations may be formed in advance on the roll paper RS for each length corresponding to a single metering slip so that the metering slip can be easily cut by hand.

  Incidentally, in the printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, during printing, the roll paper rolls while its outer peripheral surface rubs against the inner surface of the roll paper case. Friction resistance increases due to dirt on the inner surface of the roll paper case, and if it cannot be pulled by the feed roller, printing may be lost or doubled, or the roll paper may not be fed straight, and normal printing cannot be performed. There is a fear.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose measures that can solve the problem caused by the friction on the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a portable printer. This printer includes a fixed wheel and a sliding wheel that sandwich the roll paper from both sides. The fixed wheel is fixed in the axial direction of the roll paper, is rotatable about the roll paper axis, and has a pivot protruding so as to engage with the center of the roll paper. The sliding wheel is slidable in the axial direction of the roll paper, is biased by a coil spring toward the fixed wheel, is rotatable about the roll paper shaft, and engages with the center of the roll paper. It has a protruding pivot. The pivot is urged in a direction protruding from the wheel surface, and can be retracted so that the protruding height is lowered. A taper portion is provided at the pivot tip.

  4 and 6 of Patent Document 2 disclose a roll paper holder attached to a printer. The roll paper holder shown in FIG. 4 is formed through a notch portion on a pair of sides of the holder body which are made of elastic plastic and have a U-shape and which are opposed to the axial direction of the roll paper of the holder body. A pair of spring pieces that are reversibly opened outward in the axial direction of the roll paper, and a pair of roll papers that are formed on the inner side of the roll paper in the axial direction of the pair of spring pieces and project inward in the axial direction of the roll paper And a holding projection. When the roll paper is loaded, the user presses the roll paper between the pair of pieces from the side, so that the pair of spring pieces are pushed open, and the pair of roll paper holding projections is the central axis hole portion of the roll paper. Get in. On the other hand, when the roll core is used up and the shaft core is removed, the pair of roll paper holding projections are disengaged from the central shaft hole portion of the roll paper by the user bending the pair of pieces in the opening direction at the same time. On the other hand, the roll paper holder shown in FIG. 6 is formed through a notch portion on a pair of side walls of the holder body facing the axial direction of the roll paper of the holder body, which is made of elastic plastic and has a semicylindrical shape. A pair of spring pieces that are reversibly opened outward in the axial direction of the roll paper, and a pair of rolls that are formed on the inner side of the roll paper in the axial direction of the pair of spring pieces and project inward in the axial direction of the roll paper And a paper holding projection. When the roll paper is loaded, the user presses the roll paper between the pair of side walls from the side, so that the pair of spring pieces are pushed open, and the pair of roll paper holding projections is the central shaft hole portion of the roll paper. Get in. On the other hand, when the roll paper is used up and the shaft core is removed, the user bends both spring pieces of the pair of pieces simultaneously to open the pair of roll paper so that the pair of roll paper holding projections are removed from the central shaft hole of the roll paper. Come off.

JP 2007-007926 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-81062

  However, the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a complicated structure having a sliding wheel provided with a fixed wheel, a sliding wheel, and an urging means. In addition, since the roll paper is held on the fixed wheel side by the sliding wheel based on the biasing force of the coil spring, depending on the acceleration and impact applied to the printer when carrying the printer and using it on site, the sliding paper The moving wheel may move and the roll paper may fall off between the wheels.

  Further, regarding the roll paper holder disclosed in Patent Document 2, considering a printer having this holder, the roll paper holder has a complicated structure that requires a roll paper holder. In both of the roll paper holders disclosed in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 of Patent Document 2, when the roll core is used up and the shaft core is removed, the user opens both spring pieces of the pair of pieces simultaneously. It is necessary to bend it so that it is pulled out in the direction, and to take out the shaft core while maintaining the pulled-out state. For this reason, both hands are required only to open the pair of spring pieces, and the shaft core must be dropped on the desk or the like by inverting the printer having the roll paper holder. Yes.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer having a roll paper storage unit that can normally feed roll paper and has a simple structure and excellent usability.

  According to the present invention, a printer for printing on roll paper, which is made of a material having elasticity, has a semi-container shape having an opening, and contains a roll paper case that accommodates the roll paper introduced through the opening; A roll paper cover attached to the roll paper case so that the opening can be opened and closed, and the roll paper case has a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the axial direction of the roll paper accommodated, and the pair of side walls. A pair of cantilevered spring pieces that are formed through the notches and warped outward in the axial direction of the roll paper; and a pair of protrusions formed inside the roll paper in the axial direction of the pair of spring pieces; The pair of spring pieces are closed inward in the axial direction of the roll paper by being pushed inward in the axial direction of the roll paper, and the pair of protrusions close the pair of spring pieces. The roll paper shaft hole. The roll paper is held in a rollable manner, and the roll paper cover holds the pair of spring pieces in a closed state when the opening of the roll paper case is closed. can get.

  According to the present invention, a keypad for inputting information, a display for displaying the input information, a printer unit for printing a form corresponding to the input information, a battery as a power source, and a housing are provided. And a printer having the printer as the printer unit, wherein the roll paper case is attached to the housing or formed integrally.

  In the printer according to the present invention, the roll paper storage unit can normally feed the roll paper, and has a simple structure and excellent usability.

It is a perspective view which shows the handy terminal by the related technique of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the roll paper accommodating part of the printer part in the handy terminal shown by FIG. It is a perspective view showing a handy terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the roll paper accommodating part of the printer part in the handy terminal shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the roll paper accommodating part of the printer part in the handy terminal shown by FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a roll paper storage unit of a printer unit in the handy terminal illustrated in FIG. 3, in which (a) illustrates a state in which roll paper is stored, (b) illustrates roll paper storage, and a roll paper cover. Indicates a closed state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a roll paper accommodation unit of a printer unit in the handy terminal shown in FIG. 3, showing a state in which roll paper is accommodated and a pair of spring pieces are pushed inward.

  The printer according to the present invention includes a roll paper case that is made of an elastic material and accommodates roll paper, and a roll paper cover that is attached to the roll paper case so that its opening can be opened and closed.

  In particular, in this printer, the roll paper case includes a pair of side walls, a pair of cantilevered spring pieces formed on the pair of side walls and warped outward in the axial direction of the roll paper, and a roll paper of the pair of spring pieces. And a pair of protrusions formed on the inner side in the axial direction. The pair of spring pieces are pressed inward in the axial direction of the roll paper, so that the pair of spring pieces are closed inward in the axial direction of the roll paper. The pair of protrusions hold the roll paper in a rollable manner by entering the axial hole portion of the roll paper when the pair of spring pieces are closed. On the other hand, the roll paper cover holds the pair of spring pieces in a closed state when the opening of the roll paper case is closed.

  With the above configuration, the roll paper storage unit of the printer can normally feed the roll paper and has a simple structure and excellent usability.

  That is, this printer can improve the roll paper feeding performance in a clamshell type portable printer without impairing the usability of loading the roll paper and taking out the shaft core.

  This printer can also improve the roll paper feeding performance without adding parts and without increasing costs.

  Furthermore, this printer replaces the frictional resistance during roll paper delivery with rolling resistance, so that even a drive motor with the same torque performance can use large-diameter roll paper with a longer paper length. It is possible to reduce the trouble of replacing the roll paper.

  This printer can also deliver roll paper with a smaller drive motor if the roll paper has the same size, so that it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the printer and the electronic equipment comprising the printer. it can.

  Furthermore, since this printer can send roll paper with a smaller drive motor, current consumption can be reduced, and the operation time of the printer and the electronic device having the printer as a constituent element can be extended. it can.

  This printer also holds the roll paper shaft hole so that the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper does not contact the inner surface of the roll paper holder, so that the roll paper rolls on the inner surface of the holder while carrying the printer. There is no risk of scratching the outer peripheral surface.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a handy terminal 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a portable electronic device used for meter reading work such as electricity and gas, and includes a case and a keypad 16 for inputting information such as a meter reading result. And a display 17 for displaying input information, a printer unit 40 for printing a meter reading slip, an electronic circuit board (not shown), and a battery (not shown) as a power source.

  4 and 5, the printer unit 40 is a kind of thermal printer. The printer unit 40 includes a clamshell-type roll paper storage unit including a roll paper case 21 and a roll paper cover 22, and a roll paper cover 22. A feed roller 31 that is attached to the moving end and also functions as a platen, and a gear that is provided between a drive motor (not shown) and the feed roller 31 and that is a combination of a plurality of gears that transmit power from the drive motor to the feed roller 31. It has a mechanism 32 and a thermal head 41 provided in the main body of the handy terminal 10 so as to face the feed roller 31. In FIG. 5, as the gear mechanism 32, only one gear attached to the end portion of the feed roller 31 in the axial direction is illustrated.

  The roll paper case 21 is attached to the housing of the handy terminal 10 or formed integrally, and is made of an elastic material such as ABS, polycarbonate, or polypropylene, and has a semi-container shape having an opening. The roll paper RS introduced through is accommodated.

  The roll paper cover 22 is attached to the roll paper case 21 via a hinge mechanism 23 so that the opening of the roll paper case 21 can be pivotally opened and closed. In this example, the roll paper cover 22 is made of the same material as the roll paper case 21.

  6A and 6B, the roll paper case 21 includes a pair of side walls facing each other in the axial direction of the accommodated roll paper RS, a pair of spring pieces 213, and a pair of protrusions 214. It has.

  The pair of spring pieces 213 are formed on the side walls of the pair via U-shaped cutouts, and as can be seen from FIG. 6 (a), have a cantilever shape that warps outward in the axial direction of the roll paper RS. Yes. The pair of spring pieces 213 are inclined so that the roll paper cover 22 being closed is not caught.

  The pair of protrusions 214 is formed on the inner side of the pair of spring pieces 213 in the axial direction of the roll paper RS. Each of the pair of protrusions 214 has a conical shape.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the pair of spring pieces 213 are pressed inward in the axial direction of the roll paper RS, so that the pair of spring pieces 213 are reversibly closed inside in the axial direction of the roll paper RS. The pair of protrusions 214 hold the roll paper RS in a rollable manner by entering the shaft hole portion RSa of the roll paper RS when the pair of spring pieces 213 are closed.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the roll paper cover 22 holds the pair of spring pieces 213 in a closed state when the opening of the roll paper case 21 is closed.

  The size of the roll paper container between the roll paper case 21 and the roll paper cover 22 and the position of the pair of protrusions 214 with respect to the inner surface of the roll paper case 21 and the inner surface of the roll paper cover 22 are determined depending on the roll used. The standard dimensions of the paper RS are taken into consideration.

  Now, when a new roll paper RS is introduced from the opening of the roll paper case 21, the roll paper RS is loaded with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper RS in contact with the inner side surface of the roll paper case 21 as shown in FIG. Placed. Here, since the diameter of the roll paper RS is standardized, the height position of the shaft hole portion RSa on the roll paper case 21 is also constant.

  Next, after the roll paper RS placed on the roll paper case 21 is pulled out so that the leading end of the roll paper RS protrudes from the feed roller 31, the user closes the roll paper cover 22 with one hand, and the pair of spring pieces 213 Due to the inclination, the inner surface of the roll paper cover 22 is smoothly closed without being caught by the pair of spring pieces 213, and the state shown in FIG. 6B is obtained. Although not shown, the roll paper cover 22 is configured to be locked with respect to the roll paper case 21 in a closed state, and does not open carelessly. Here, since the pair of protrusions 214 is formed at a position corresponding to the height position of the shaft hole RSa on the inner side surface of the pair of spring pieces 213, the pair of spring pieces 213 is closed on the roll paper RS. As it goes, it is guided and lifted by the tapered surfaces of the pair of protrusions 214, and the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper RS is separated from the inner surface of the roll paper case 21. The roll paper RS is supported by the pair of protrusions 214, and the outer peripheral surface is on the inner surface of the roll paper case 21 or the inner surface of the roll paper cover 22 regardless of the orientation of the handy terminal 10 by the user. It is sent out by the feed roller 31 without contact.

  On the other hand, when the user opens the roll paper cover 22 with one hand, the shaft core remaining after using up the roll paper is released from the pair of protrusions 214 and falls into the roll paper case 21. The user only has to take out the shaft with the other hand. The roll paper may have no shaft core as long as the shaft hole is formed, and the roll paper does not need to be removed if the roll paper does not have the shaft core.

  In the above description, the loading of a new roll paper has been described. However, the printer can load a roll paper having a reduced outer diameter with good usability.

  When loading roll paper whose outer diameter has been reduced by use, the user holds the handy terminal 10 with one hand, opens the roll paper cover 22 with the other hand, and then uses the used roll paper as roll paper. Place on case 21. At this time, it is placed on the floated position without being placed on the inner surface of the roll paper case 21.

  Next, as shown by an arrow M in FIG. 7, the pair of spring pieces 213 is closed with the thumb of the hand on the side holding the handy terminal 10 and other index fingers or the like. At this point, the user releases the hand that has been assigned the roll paper RS 'that has been used, away from the roll paper RS'. As a result, the used roll paper RS ′ is supported by the pair of protrusions 214.

  Subsequently, the user closes the roll paper cover 22 with the hand separated from the roll paper while the pair of spring pieces 213 is closed. As apparent from FIG. 6B, the roll paper cover 22 has a notch 223 that exposes the pair of spring pieces 213 without blocking even when the opening of the roll paper case 21 is closed. The user does not interfere with the finger holding the pair of spring pieces, so that the user completely closes the roll paper cover 22 with the pair of spring pieces 213 closed as indicated by an arrow M in FIG. Is possible.

  After the roll paper cover 22 is closed, the used roll paper RS ′ is supported by the pair of protrusions 214 even if the user lifts his / her finger from the pair of spring pieces 213. As described above, even if the roll paper has a reduced outer diameter after use, the user can load it with good usability.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention.

10, 60 Handy terminal 16, 66 Keypad 17, 67 Display 21, 71 Roll paper case 213 Spring piece 214 Projection part 22, 72 Roll paper cover 223 Notch part 23, 73 Hinge mechanism 31, 81 Feed roller 32, 82 Gear mechanism 40, 90 Printer unit 41, 61 Thermal head RS, RS 'Roll paper RSa Shaft hole

Claims (7)

A printer for printing on roll paper,
A roll paper case made of an elastic material, having a semi-container shape having an opening, and containing roll paper introduced through the opening, and a roll attached to the roll paper case so that the opening can be opened and closed A paper cover,
The roll paper case is formed of a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the axial direction of the accommodated roll paper, and a pair of cantilever type formed on the side walls of the pair via a notch and warped outward in the axial direction of the roll paper. A spring piece, and a pair of protrusions formed on the inner side in the axial direction of the roll paper of the pair of spring pieces,
The pair of spring pieces are closed inward in the axial direction of the roll paper by being pushed inward in the axial direction of the roll paper,
When the pair of spring pieces are closed, the pair of protrusions hold the roll paper in a rollable manner by entering the shaft hole portion of the roll paper,
The printer, wherein the roll paper cover holds the pair of spring pieces in a closed state when the opening of the roll paper case is closed.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper cover includes a cutout portion that exposes the pair of spring pieces when the opening of the roll paper case is closed.   3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper cover is attached to the roll paper case so as to be pivotably opened and closed via a hinge mechanism.   4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the pair of spring pieces are inclined and warped in a direction in which the roll paper cover being closed is not caught. 5.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of protrusions has a conical shape.   The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the roll paper case is made of ABS, polycarbonate, or polypropylene. A keypad for inputting information, a display for displaying the input information, a printer unit for printing a form corresponding to the input information, a battery as a power source, and a housing,
A handy device comprising the printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6 as the printer unit, wherein the roll paper case is attached to or integrally formed with the casing. Terminal.

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