JP5605880B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a wireless communication function for data including at least print data which is data such as characters and images to be printed.

  A printing apparatus having a wireless communication function is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example.

  In Patent Document 1, an antenna is attached to a position where the antenna can be rotated as the cover on the upper surface of the apparatus main body is rotated, and when not in use, the antenna is pressed by the cover and stored in a storage space provided in the cover. On the other hand, there is described a printing apparatus in which the antenna is rotated to a standing position with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body when the cover is rotated.

  In Patent Document 2, a plurality of connectors of the same shape respectively connected to input / output circuits of a printing apparatus are provided at different locations of the apparatus housing, and a plurality of slot modules for a card type wireless module incorporating an antenna are provided. A printing apparatus is described that is selectively connected to one of the connectors.

JP 2008-168590 A JP 2011-062861 A

  By the way, a printing apparatus including a printing apparatus having a wireless communication function as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 generally cannot specify a location because the installation location depends on the convenience of the installation destination. Here, in the case of a printing apparatus having a wireless communication function, there may be obstacles that interfere with wireless communication, such as other devices and walls, around an antenna that transmits and receives radio waves provided in the printing apparatus.

  If the surface on which the antenna is mounted in the printing device is blocked by an obstacle, communication retries and communication errors occur frequently, and at least the data reception takes a long time to send and receive the print data and the print start is delayed. It became a problem such as.

  In particular, in the case of a kitchen printing apparatus that outputs customer orders to the kitchen in the order entry system, the kitchen often has no space, and there are obstacles for wireless communication on the top, side, and back of the kitchen printing apparatus. This problem was noticeable because it was often placed. Therefore, it is desired to provide a printing apparatus that can perform good wireless communication regardless of the installation environment of the printing apparatus.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus having a wireless communication function capable of performing good wireless communication regardless of the installation environment.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a printing apparatus having a wireless communication function, in which an antenna is provided on a surface provided with a required space portion requiring a space in front of a housing.

  The space required portion may be a paper replacement unit. Alternatively, the required space portion may be a paper discharge port. Alternatively, the required space portion may be a sheet replacement unit and a sheet discharge port provided on the same surface. Alternatively, the required space portion may be an intake / exhaust port or a heat sink for cooling a portion of the apparatus that generates heat.

  The antenna may be built in the housing. Alternatively, the antenna may be attached to the surface of the housing. The antenna may include a plurality of antenna elements.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention can perform good wireless communication regardless of the installation environment.

It is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus by Example 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus by Example 1 of this invention. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. (A) is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus by Example 1 of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows a modification. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a front view, and FIG. (A) is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus by Example 2 of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows a modification. (A) is a perspective view which shows the other modification of the printing apparatus by Example 2 of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows another modification.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention has a wireless communication function.

  In particular, the printing apparatus includes an antenna on a surface provided with a required space portion requiring a space before the housing.

  With this configuration, the printing apparatus can perform good wireless communication regardless of the installation environment.

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

  The printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a kitchen printing apparatus that outputs customer orders to a kitchen in an order entry system in a family restaurant, a tavern, a fast food restaurant, or the like. This printing apparatus has a wireless communication function for data including at least print data which is data such as characters and images to be printed.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 110 having a front surface 110f, a rear surface 110h, an upper surface 110t, a left side surface 110l, and a right side surface 110r, and a wireless module described later that performs wireless communication. And an antenna.

  A front surface 110f of the housing 110 is provided with a paper housing portion cover 130f that opens and closes in the depth direction D- when the roll paper RS is exchanged in the housing portion in the housing 110. FIG. 1 shows a state where the paper storage unit cover 130f is opened and the roll paper RS is set, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the paper storage unit cover 130f is opened and the roll paper RS is not set. A platen 220 is provided in the paper storage unit cover 130f. In addition, a set shaft 230 that rotatably supports the cylindrical roll paper RS is provided in the accommodating portion of the roll paper RS. The structure for exchanging the roll paper RS may be a structure in which the roll paper RS is pulled out together with the printing unit in the depth direction D−.

  The front surface 110f of the housing 110 is further provided with a paper discharge port 120f that discharges the printed roll paper RS in the depth direction D−.

  Here, it is assumed that the printing apparatus is installed in a kitchen. Referring also to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the casing 110 of the printing apparatus has a left side 110l on the left obstacle Hl, an upper surface 110t on the upper obstacle Ht, and a right side 110r on the right. The back surface 110h is blocked by the obstruction Hh by the obstacle Hr. When antennas are provided on these surfaces, communication retries and communication errors frequently occur, and there is a possibility that a wireless communication failure such as a delay in the start of printing due to the time required to receive print data will occur.

  When the casing 110 of the printing apparatus is installed, the front surface 110f having the paper storage unit cover 130f and the paper discharge port 120f requires the front space Sf in the depth direction D-, which is the front direction. In other words, the sheet replacement part and the sheet discharge port are the necessary space parts that require the front space part Sf in front of the housing 110. That is, the front surface 110f as a surface having a required space portion of the housing 110 is not blocked by an obstacle.

  Referring to FIG. 4A, the printing apparatus includes a wireless module 310 that performs wireless communication, and an antenna 321f that is cable-connected to the wireless module.

  The antenna 321f is mounted inside the front surface 110f that is not blocked by an obstacle. For this reason, good wireless communication can be performed regardless of the installation environment.

  In this printing apparatus, the antenna is not limited to the position shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, any of antennas 322f, 323f, and 324f may be used. Alternatively, diversity switching may be performed between the plurality of antennas 322f, 323f, and 324f.

  Furthermore, in this printing apparatus, the antenna may be rotatably attached to the outside of the housing so that the user can be directed at an arbitrary angle.

  In the present printing apparatus, the required space portion may be an intake / exhaust port or a heat sink for cooling the heat generating portion of the apparatus.

  The second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that one of the required space portions is not on the front surface of the housing but on the side surface.

  The printing apparatus of Example 2 of this invention is a kitchen printing apparatus which outputs a customer's order to a kitchen in an order entry system. The printing apparatus has a wireless communication function.

  Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the printing apparatus performs wireless communication with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 110 having a front surface 110f, a back surface 110h, an upper surface 110t, a left side surface 110l, and a right side surface 110r. It has a wireless module and an antenna which will be described later.

  A front surface 110f of the housing 110 is provided with a paper housing portion cover 130f that opens and closes in the depth direction D- when the roll paper is exchanged in the housing portion in the housing 110. The structure for exchanging the roll paper may be a structure in which the roll paper is pulled out together with the printing unit in the depth direction D−.

  On the other hand, the right side surface 110r of the housing 110 is provided with a paper discharge port 120r for discharging the printed roll paper RS in the width direction W +.

  Here, it is assumed that the printing apparatus is installed in a kitchen. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the casing 110 of the printing apparatus has a left side 110l on the left obstacle Hl, an upper face 110t on the upper obstacle Ht, and a rear face 110h on the back. It will be blocked by the obstacle Hh. When antennas are provided on these surfaces, communication retries and communication errors frequently occur, and there is a possibility that a wireless communication failure such as a delay in the start of printing due to the time required to receive print data will occur. Note that the right side surface 110r of the casing 110 is closed only by the right obstacle Hr '.

  When the casing 110 of the printing apparatus is installed, the front surface 110f having the sheet storage unit cover 130f requires the front space portion Sf in the depth direction D- that is the front direction. In other words, the sheet replacement part is a necessary space part that requires the front space part Sf in front of the housing 110. That is, the front surface 110f as a surface having a required space portion of the housing 110 is not blocked by an obstacle.

  On the other hand, the right side surface 110r having the sheet discharge port 120r requires a right space Sr 'in the width direction W + which is the front side thereof. In other words, the paper discharge port is a necessary space part that requires the right space Sr ′ in front of the housing 110. That is, the right side surface 110r as a surface having a necessary space portion of the housing 110 is not blocked by an obstacle.

  Referring to FIG. 6A, the printing apparatus includes a wireless module 310 that performs wireless communication, and an antenna 321f that is cable-connected to the wireless module.

  The antenna 321f is mounted inside the front surface 110f that is not blocked by an obstacle. For this reason, good wireless communication can be performed regardless of the installation environment.

  In this printing apparatus, the antenna is not limited to the position shown in FIG.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, any of antennas 322f, 323f, and 324f may be used. Alternatively, diversity switching may be performed between the plurality of antennas 322f, 323f, and 324f.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7A, an antenna 321r mounted inside the right side surface 110r that is not blocked by an obstacle may be used.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7B, any one of antennas 322r, 323r, and 324r may be used. Alternatively, the plurality of antennas 322r, 323r, and 324r may be diversity-switched.

  Furthermore, in this printing apparatus, the antenna may be rotatably attached to the outside of the housing so that the user can be directed at an arbitrary angle.

  In the present printing apparatus, the required space portion may be an intake / exhaust port or a heat sink for cooling the heat generating portion of the apparatus.

  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.

110 housing 110f front surface 110h rear surface 110l left side surface 110r right side surface 110t upper surface 120f, 120r paper discharge port 130f paper storage unit cover 220 platen roller 230 set shaft 310 wireless module 321f, 322f, 323f, 324f antenna 321r, 322r, 323r, 324r Antenna Hh Back obstacle Hl Left obstacle Hr, Hr 'Right obstacle Ht Upper obstacle RS Roll paper Sf Front space Sr' Right space

Claims (3)

A printing device with a wireless communication function that is installed and used.
It has a housing that includes a paper storage unit for roll paper and an openable / closable paper storage unit cover that covers the paper storage unit.
The housing has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape,
Of the surface provided with the paper storage unit cover that requires space before the housing, an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves is provided only inside the area excluding the paper storage unit cover ,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a paper discharge port provided on a surface of the housing on which the paper storage unit cover is provided.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of antenna elements.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is installed in a kitchen as a kitchen printing apparatus of an order entry system.

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