JP6626593B1 - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of hitting a wind generated by a fan to a target position of a thermal head without waste. SOLUTION: One of a fan 41 arranged on a vertical wall of a case 2, a thermal head 7 provided on a cover (upper cover 3) for opening and closing an opening 2a of the case 2, and a cover (upper cover 3) is provided. A duct 20 attached with the first opening 21 facing the thermal head 7. When the cover (upper cover 3) is closed, the other second opening 22 of the duct 20 is connected to the fan 41. Pointed. [Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer.

  Conventionally, it has been known that a printer is provided with a fan for cooling a thermal head (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration including a heat sink that radiates heat from a thermal head and a cooling fan that cools the heat sink.

JP 2018-154011

  However, the configuration described in Patent Literature 1 is a configuration in which wind generated by a cooling fan is directly applied to a heat sink. Therefore, the configuration described in Patent Literature 1 has a problem in that the wind generated by the fan cannot be applied to the target position of the thermal head without waste.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of hitting a wind generated by a fan to a target position of a thermal head without waste.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printer according to the present invention includes a fan disposed on a vertical wall of a case, a thermal head provided on a cover for opening and closing an opening of the case, and a first opening provided on the cover. And a duct attached to the thermal head while facing the thermal head, wherein the other second opening of the duct is directed to the fan when the cover is closed.

  The printer of the present invention having the above-described configuration can direct the wind generated by the fan to the target position of the thermal head without waste.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a cover of the printer according to the first exemplary embodiment is opened. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a cover of the printer according to the first exemplary embodiment is opened. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a duct and a periphery thereof according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a duct according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a fan cover according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the flow of wind of the printer according to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for realizing a printer according to the present invention will be described based on a first embodiment shown in the drawings.

  The printer according to the first embodiment is applied to a sublimation type thermal transfer type printer.

[Configuration of sublimation type thermal transfer printer]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a cover of the printer according to the first embodiment is opened. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the cover of the printer according to the first embodiment is opened. The configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. The front direction of the printer is referred to as a front direction F, and the rear direction is referred to as a rear direction B.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes a box-shaped case 2, an upper cover 3 as a cover provided in an upper opening 2 a as an opening formed in the upper surface of the case 2, And a front cover 4 provided in a front opening 2b formed on the front surface.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the case 2 includes an intake port 2d, an upper exhaust port 2c, and a lower exhaust port 2e.

  The intake port 2 d is formed at an upper portion of a vertical wall (rear surface) in the rear direction B of the case 2. The intake port 2d is composed of a plurality of through holes.

  The upper exhaust port 2 c is formed on the upper part of the vertical wall (side surface) on the side of the case 2. The upper exhaust port 2c is composed of a plurality of through holes. The lower exhaust port 2 e is formed at a lower portion of a vertical wall (rear surface) in the rear direction B of the case 2. The lower exhaust port 2e is composed of a plurality of through holes.

  Inside the case 2, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as main components, a roll paper R for supplying a sheet S as a recording medium, a roll paper holder 10 for holding the roll paper R, and an ink ribbon T, a thermal head 7 as an image forming unit, a platen roller 6, a cutter unit 8 as a cutting unit, a driving roller 11 as a sheet conveying unit, a duct 20, a fan cover 30, a fan 41, A power supply device 42 as a heat generating member.

  The sheet S fed from the roll paper R is wound around a driving roller 11 and a driven roller 12, is conveyed in a feeding direction D1 with the conveying path X1 as a conveying direction, and discharges the sheet S from the discharge port 9. I do.

  As the roll paper R, for example, photographic paper thicker than plain paper is used. The roll paper R is rotatably held by a roll paper holder 10 connected to a motor. A space in which the roll paper R held by the roll paper holder 10 is stored is referred to as a roll paper storage chamber U1.

  The drive roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are attached to the case 2 and arranged along the transport path X1. The drive roller 11 is connected to a motor and is rotatable in either a positive direction or a negative direction opposite to the positive direction. An opposing roller 13 is arranged at a position opposing the driving roller 11.

  The opposing roller 13 is attached to the case 2 and is arranged along the transport path X1. The opposing roller 13 is configured to be movable with respect to the driving roller 11.

  When the sheet S is conveyed, the opposing roller 13 contacts the drive roller 11 and rotates following the drive roller 11. When the driving roller 11 rotates in the forward direction, the sheet S is conveyed in the feeding direction D1 with the driving roller 11 and the opposing roller 13 sandwiching the sheet S. When the drive roller 11 rotates in the negative direction opposite to the positive direction, the sheet S is conveyed in the retraction direction D2 as the conveyance direction with the drive roller 11 and the opposing roller 13 sandwiching the sheet S. When the sheet S is not being conveyed, the opposing roller 13 is separated from the drive roller 11.

  The thermal head 7 is attached to the upper cover 3 and is arranged along the transport path X1. The thermal head 7 is arranged downstream of the drive roller 11 in the sheet feeding direction D1. The thermal head 7 is formed in a long shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction D1.

  A plate 19 as a cooling promoting member is attached to the thermal head 7. The plate 19 is made of metal, and is formed in a concave groove shape by the plate body 19a and the sleeve portions 19b and 19c. The plate 19 is attached to the back surface of the thermal head 7 with screws or the like, and improves the cooling efficiency of the thermal head 7.

  The platen roller 6 is attached to the case 2 and is arranged to face the thermal head 7 along the transport path X1. The platen roller 6 is connected to a motor and is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction D1.

  At the time of printing, the platen roller 6 moves in a direction approaching the thermal head 7 and presses the thermal head 7 via the sheet S and the ink ribbon T. The thermal head 7 generates heat while being pressed by the platen roller 6 via the sheet S and the ink ribbon T, so that the sublimable dye ink applied to the ink ribbon T is placed on the same area of the sheet S. By transferring, an image is formed on the sheet S. When printing is not performed, the platen roller 6 is located at the separated position moved in the direction away from the thermal head 7.

  The cutter unit 8 is attached to the case 2 and is disposed in front of the discharge port 9 in the feeding direction D1 along the transport path X1. The cutter unit 8 cuts the sheet S conveyed along the conveyance path X1.

  The ink ribbon T is, for example, a band-shaped sheet in which ink regions of yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C, and a region of the overcoat OP are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction. The ink ribbon T is held by a ribbon supply reel 14 for feeding out the ink ribbon T and a ribbon take-up reel 15 for winding the ink ribbon T. The space in which the ribbon take-up reel 15 is stored is referred to as a ribbon storage chamber U2.

  The ribbon take-up reel 15 is connected to a motor and rotates in the rotation direction E1. When the ribbon take-up reel 15 rotates in the rotation direction E1, the ink ribbon T is paid out from the ribbon supply reel 14. The ink ribbon T fed from the ribbon supply reel 14 is transported in the ribbon transport direction D3, passes between the thermal head 7 and the platen roller 6 via the driven rollers 16 and 17, and is moved to the ribbon take-up reel 15 It is wound up.

  The fan 41 is attached to an upper portion of a vertical wall (rear surface) in the rear direction B of the case 2. The fan 41 is attached to the case 2 such that the back surface of the fan 41 faces the intake port 2d of the case. When the fan 41 is driven, air outside the printer 1 is taken in from the air inlet 2d to generate wind in the forward direction F.

  The power supply device 42 is disposed at a lower rear portion of the case 2. A lower exhaust port 2e is provided on a vertical wall (rear surface) in the rear direction B of the case 2 near the power supply device 42. The power supply unit 42 performs, for example, an input smoothing circuit for removing input voltage noise, a switching circuit for converting DC to AC, a main transformer for performing voltage conversion, a rectifier circuit for converting AC to DC, and a noise removal for the output voltage. It has a board on which an output smoothing circuit and the like are mounted, a control board for controlling a switching circuit, and the like.

[Duct configuration]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the duct 20 according to the first embodiment and the periphery thereof. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the duct 20 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the duct 20 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The duct 20 is formed in a tubular shape having a first opening 21 and a second opening 22 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

  The duct 20 is attached to the upper cover 3 with the first opening 21 facing the thermal head 7. The second opening 22 of the duct 20 faces the fan 41 with the upper cover 3 closed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the second opening 22 has a height H2 and a width W2. The height H2 is, for example, about ／ from the upper portion of the front of the fan 41. The width W2 is, for example, as large as the front width of the fan 41.

  The first opening 21 has a height H1 lower than the height H2 and a width W1 wider than the width W2. The height H1 is about the same as the length of the thermal head 7 in the lateral direction. The width W1 is as large as the length of the thermal head 7 in the longitudinal direction. A cutout 21 a is formed on the side surface of the first opening 21.

  The duct 20 is formed such that the cross-sectional area of the duct 20 gradually decreases from the second opening 22 to the first opening 21. The duct 20 is formed such that the width (lateral width) of the duct 20 gradually increases from the second opening 22 to the first opening 21. The duct 20 is formed such that the height of the duct 20 gradually decreases from the second opening 22 to the first opening 21.

[Configuration of fan cover]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the fan cover 30 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the fan cover 30 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the fan cover 30 includes a fan cover main body 31, a protrusion 32, and a guide 33, and is attached to the case 2.

  The fan cover main body 31 is formed so as to surround the fan 41. The front surface of the fan cover main body 31 is provided with a cover main body front portion 31a that covers approximately two thirds of the fan 41 from above the fan 41. The cover main body front portion 31a includes a plurality of outlets 31b. The discharge port 31b is formed in the air blowing range of the fan 41, and discharges the air from the fan 41.

  The protrusions 32 are formed on both sides of the fan 41 when the printer 1 is viewed from the front-back direction. That is, the protruding portion 32 is formed around the fan 41 when the printer 1 is viewed from the front-back direction.

  The protruding portion 32 is formed so as to protrude in the front direction F from the cover main body front portion 31a. That is, the protruding portion 32 is formed so as to protrude from the cover main body front portion 31a in the air blowing direction of the fan 41.

  The length L1 between the two protrusions 32 is formed slightly larger than the width W2 of the second opening 22 of the duct 20. When the upper cover 3 is closed, the second opening 22 of the duct 20 fits between the two protrusions 32.

  The guide portion 33 is formed to extend obliquely downward with respect to the front direction F from the lower end of the cover main body front portion 31a. The guide unit 33 guides a part of the wind generated by the fan 41 downward.

[Wind flow]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the flow of the wind of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the flow of the wind of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the fan 41 is driven, as shown in FIG. 8, the outside air is taken in from the intake port 2d to generate wind. A part (about 2/3) of the wind generated by the fan 41 blows out in the forward direction F through the outlet 31b of the cover main body front part 31a, and is sent to the duct 20 from the second opening 22. The wind sent to the duct 20 blows out from the first opening 21.

  The wind blown from the first opening 21 collides with the thermal head 7 via the plate 19 and is exhausted from the upper exhaust port 2c of the case 2. At this time, the notch 21a facilitates exhaust from the upper exhaust port 2c.

  Note that the duct 20 is formed such that wind blows from the first opening 21 in a direction orthogonal to the back surface of the thermal head 7.

  On the other hand, part (about 1/3) of the wind generated by the fan 41 blows out in the forward direction F and is guided downward along the guide portion 33. The wind sent downward hits the power supply device 42 and is exhausted from the lower exhaust port 2e.

[Operation of Printer]
The operation of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. The printer 1 according to the first embodiment includes a fan 41 disposed on a vertical wall of the case 2, a thermal head 7 provided on a cover (upper cover 3) that opens and closes an opening (upper opening 2 a) of the case 2, and a cover ( The upper cover 3) includes a duct 20 that is attached with one of the first openings 21 facing the thermal head 7. When the cover (upper cover 3) is closed, the other of the duct 20 is closed. The two openings 22 are directed to the fan 41 (FIG. 3).

  Thereby, the thermal head 7 and the duct 20 can be attached to the same cover (upper cover 3), and the duct 20 can be attached to a correct position with respect to the thermal head 7. Therefore, the wind generated by the fan 41 can be applied to the target position of the thermal head 7 through the duct 20 without waste. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the thermal head 7 can be improved.

  In the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the duct 20 gradually decreases from the second opening 22 to the first opening 21 (FIG. 6).

  Thereby, the wind generated by the fan 41 can be applied to the thermal head 7 at an increased flow velocity. Therefore, the cooling effect of the thermal head 7 can be improved.

  In the printer 1 of the first embodiment, the width of the duct 20 gradually increases from the second opening 22 to the first opening 21 (FIG. 6).

  Thus, the wind generated by the fan can be applied to the entire long thermal head 7. Therefore, the cooling effect of the thermal head 7 can be improved.

  The printer 1 according to the first embodiment includes a guide portion 33 attached to the case 2 for guiding a part of the wind generated by the fan 41 to a heat-generating component (power supply device 42) attached to the case 2 (FIG. 8).

  Thus, the wind generated by one fan 41 can cool the thermal head 7 and the heat-generating component (power supply device 42). Further, the guide portion 33 and the heat-generating component (power supply device 42) can be attached to the same case 2, and the guide portion 33 can be attached to a correct position with respect to the heat-generating component (power supply device 42). Therefore, the wind generated by the fan 41 can be directed to the target position of the heat-generating component (the power supply device 42) through the guide portion 33. As a result, the heat-generating component (power supply device 42) can be efficiently cooled.

  The printer 1 according to the first embodiment includes the protruding portion 32 protruding from the periphery of the fan 41 in the air blowing direction of the fan 41, and includes the second protruding portion inside the protruding portion 32 when the cover (upper cover 3) is closed. An opening 22 is arranged (FIG. 7).

  Thereby, it is possible to suppress the wind generated by the fan 41 from leaking from the gap between the duct 20 and the fan 41. Therefore, the wind generated by the fan 41 can be sent to the duct 20 without leaking. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the thermal head 7 can be improved.

  By the way, if air is sent to the ribbon accommodating chamber U2 or the roll paper accommodating chamber U1, the ink ribbon T or the sheet S may be turned or wrinkled, which may adversely affect the printing quality. In the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the wind generated by the fan 41 from leaking from the gap between the duct 20 and the fan 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent wind from being sent to the ribbon storage chamber U2 and the roll paper storage chamber U1. As a result, it is possible to prevent the wind from being sent to the ribbon accommodating chamber U2 and the roll paper accommodating chamber U1, thereby preventing the ink ribbon T and the sheet S from being turned up or wrinkled.

  The printer of the present invention has been described based on the first embodiment. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and changes and additions of the design are allowed without departing from the gist of the invention according to each claim of the claims.

  In the first embodiment, the example is described in which the duct 20 is formed so that the wind blows out from the first opening 21 in a direction orthogonal to the back surface of the thermal head 7. However, the duct may be formed such that the wind blows out from the first opening 21 in a direction slightly inclined in the front-rear direction from a direction perpendicular to the back surface of the thermal head 7. Thereby, the air reflected toward the thermal head 7 via the plate 19 generates an airflow toward the upper exhaust port 2c of the case 2, thereby facilitating the exhaust.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the fan 41 is attached to the back of the case 2 has been described. However, the fan may be attached to the side of the case 2.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which the cover is the upper cover 3 has been described. However, the cover is not limited to this mode, and may be a front cover. In this case, the thermal head and the duct are attached to the front cover.

  In the first embodiment, an example is described in which the protrusions 32 are formed on both sides of the fan 41 when the printer 1 is viewed from the front-back direction. However, the protruding portion may be formed in a frame shape so as to surround the discharge port 31b, or may be formed on one side of the fan 41 when the printer 1 is viewed from the front-back direction.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the second opening 22 is arranged inside the protruding portion 32 when the cover is closed has been described. However, when the cover is closed, the edge of the duct 20 forming the second opening 22 may be connected to the protrusion.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which one guide unit 33 is provided has been described. However, a plurality of guide portions may be provided to send the wind of the fan to other heat generating members.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the guide portion 33 is provided on the fan cover 30 attached to the case 2 has been described. However, the guide portion may be formed to extend from the edge of the second opening of the duct.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the heat generating component is the power supply device 42 has been described. However, the heat generating component may be any component that generates heat.

  In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the sheet is used as photographic paper for photography. However, the sheet is not limited to this mode, and may be plain paper, for example.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a sublimation type thermal transfer printer is described. However, the present invention is also applicable to other thermal printers and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Case 2a Opening 3 Upper cover (an example of a cover)
7 Thermal Head 20 Duct 21 First Opening 22 Second Opening 32 Projection 33 Guide 41 Fan 42 Power Supply (Example of Heating Component)

Claims (5)

A fan arranged on the vertical wall of the case,
A thermal head provided on a cover that opens and closes the opening of the case,
A duct attached to the cover with one of the first openings facing the thermal head;
The printer wherein the second opening of the other side of the duct is directed to the fan when the cover is closed. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the duct gradually decreases from the second opening toward the first opening. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a width of the duct is gradually increased from the second opening toward the first opening. A guide portion attached to the case, which guides a part of the wind generated by the fan to a heat-generating component attached to the case. Printer. From the periphery of the fan, comprising a protruding portion that protrudes in the blowing direction of the fan,
The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second opening is arranged inside the protruding portion when the cover is closed.