JPH0420057Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to a small printer.

[Prior Art] Recently, a small handy type printer has been developed in which the main body of the printer is held in the hand and printed while being moved by the hand.

This small printer is called a “copy jack”.
It is known by the product name (manufactured by Plus Co., Ltd.).
There is a paper built-in type that prints on special print paper stored inside the printer body, and an external paper print type that is being developed by the applicant and that prints on external print paper without having any print paper built into the printer body. There is one.

The small printer with built-in paper is equipped with an image sensor, a platen, and a thermal head inside the printer body, and a roll of thermal recording paper is housed inside the printer body. An image of scanning the document surface by moving the printer body along the document surface with the other hand while holding and fixing the leading edge of the recording paper led out to the bottom of the printer body with the other hand. Information to be read on the surface of the document is read by a sensor, and the read information is printed by a thermal head on recording paper that is pulled out from within the printer body as the printer body moves.

In addition, a small external paper printing type printer that the applicant is currently developing has a thermal head exposed on the bottom surface of the printer body, and a tape that is fed out from a tape reel and wound under the thermal head. This is a device that stores thermal transfer ink tape that is wound onto a take-up reel.The printer body is manually moved with the thermal head exposed on the underside of the printer body in contact with the external print paper via the ink tape. As the printer body moves, print information (information read by an image sensor inside the printer body) is printed on external print paper.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, the above-mentioned small printers with built-in paper print on special printing paper stored inside the printer body, so although they are convenient for printing simple memos, they are useful for printing notebooks, notebooks, etc. Since it cannot print on arbitrary paper, it has the disadvantage that its uses are very narrow. In addition, small printers that print on external paper can print on any paper such as notebooks and notebooks, but on the other hand, if you want to print out something like a simple memo, you can easily change the printing paper each time. It was a hassle to have to do it.

This idea was created in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the purpose is to create a printer that can be used both as a printer that prints on built-in print paper and as a printer that prints on any external print paper. To provide a small-sized printer that can make use of the features of both conventional small-sized printers of built-in paper type and external paper printing type depending on the purpose.

[Means to solve problems]

This invention includes a thermal head provided in a printer main body with at least a heat generating part protruding from the lower end of the printer main body, a roller provided with a part protruding from the lower end of the printer main body, and a an ink ribbon accommodating section for accommodating an ink ribbon disposed in contact with the heat generating section of the thermal head; and an ink ribbon accommodating section to which the rotation of the roller is transmitted and winding up the ink ribbon stored in the ink ribbon accommodating section. A ribbon winding means, a print paper storage section provided in the printer main body, and an opening for discharging the print paper stored in the print paper storage section out of the printer main body and passing it under the thermal head. and a means for driving the thermal head according to the rotation of the roller, and the built-in print paper stored in the print paper storage section is driven by the thermal head depending on whether or not it is passed under the thermal head. It is characterized by printing on built-in printing paper or external printing paper.

[Effect]

In other words, when printing on the built-in print paper stored in the printer body, the compact printer of this invention can be used by threading the built-in print paper into the thermal head exposed on the bottom of the printer body. If you want to print on external print paper in the same manner as with a small built-in printer, do not pass the built-in print paper under the thermal head; instead, touch the thermal head to the external print paper and use the external print paper described above. It is designed to perform printing similar to a small paper printer, and this small printer can be used both for printing on built-in printing paper and as a printer for printing on any external printing paper. The features of both conventional compact printers, including built-in paper type and external paper printing type, can be utilized depending on the application.
Note that the built-in printing paper and external printing paper may be thermal recording paper or ordinary paper; in the case of thermal recording paper, printing is performed without using ink tape, and in the case of plain paper, printing is performed using ink tape. do it.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a small printer called a handy copy machine equipped with a reading function and a printing function.

Figures 1 to 5 show cross sections of a small printer, with Figure 1 showing the state without ink tape and printing paper installed, and Figures 2 to 5 showing the state during printing. FIG. 6 shows the external appearance of the small printer. The small printer of this embodiment has an effective reading width and printing width of 40 mm, a reading memory length of 200 mm, and a reading dot density and a printing dot density of 8 dots/mm.

In FIGS. 1 and 6, 10 is a printer main body, and this printer main body 10 includes a vertically thin box-shaped main body case 11 and a print paper storage section 12 provided on the upper front surface of this main body case 11. A rotatable paper storage section cover 13 that covers the ink tape storage section 14 in the main body case 11 and a rotatable lid that covers the ink tape exchange port that is opened on the lower front side of the main body case 11 and faces the ink tape storage section 14 inside the main body case 11. Board 1
It consists of 5. In addition, this printer body 1
The external dimensions of 0 are approximately 70 mm in width, approximately 160 mm in height, and approximately 30 mm in thickness, and the maximum thickness of the upper side forming print paper storage section 12 is approximately 45 mm.

The lower end surface of the printer main body 10 has a shape in which the front side and the rear side are inclined diagonally upward at a gentle angle from the center in the thickness direction toward the front side and the rear side of the printer main body 10, respectively. Ori,
A printing opening 16 along the width direction of the printer main body 10 is formed on the front inclined surface, and a slit-shaped reading opening 17 along the width direction of the printer main body 10 is formed on the rear inclined surface. ing. Further, reference numeral 18 denotes wheels provided at the bottom of both sides within the printer main body 10. This wheel 18 is provided so that its lower end slightly protrudes from the lower end of the printer main body 10, and when the printer main body 10 is manually moved to perform reading or printing, the wheel 18 is placed on the printer moving surface (desktop, original document to be read, etc.). The printer main body 10 is supported by contacting the printer main body 10 (surface or external printing paper surface), and rotates due to frictional resistance with the printer moving surface as the printer main body 10 moves.

20 is an encoder that detects the amount of movement of the printer main body 10. The encoder 20 includes a rotary plate 21 having a large number of slits 22, 22 arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery, and a light emitting element (not shown) fixedly arranged inside the printer main body 10 across the rotary plate 21.
and a light receiving element 23, and the rotating plate 21 is provided so as to rotate integrally with a roller 19 with a pulley that is in frictional contact with one wheel 18 of the printer main body 10 and rotated by the rotation of this wheel 18. ing. That is, this encoder 20
is the wheel 18 as the printer body 10 moves.
The light receiving element 23 receives light from the light emitting element each time the slits 22, 22 of the rotating plate 21 pass in front of it. It is designed to output a pulse signal.

Further, 24 and 25 constitute a reading device.
They are an LED (light emitting diode) array and a one-dimensional image sensor, and the LED array 24 is arranged at the lower end of the printer body 10 facing the reading opening 17, and the image sensor 25 is arranged at the upper side of the printer body 10. , are arranged to face the reading aperture 17 via the imaging lens 26. The image sensor 25 is a one-dimensional image sensor made of a CCD, and is configured to read the original to be read illuminated by the LED array 24 via an imaging lens 26. In order to read the document, the printer body 10 is tilted to the rear side, that is, to the left side in FIG. 10 is moved in the direction of arrow A.

On the other hand, the print paper storage section 12 in the printer main body 10 is provided with roll paper receivers 27 on both sides thereof for supporting rolled print paper (thermal recording paper or plain paper). The rolled print paper 28 is mounted in the print paper storage section 12 with both ends of its roll shaft 29 rotatably held by the roll paper receiver 27, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. Note that the roll-shaped print paper 28 is installed by opening the paper storage section cover 13. Further, the ink tape storage section 14 in the printer main body 10 is provided with a pair of upper and lower reel receivers 30 and 31 at both ends thereof, and a roll-shaped thermal transfer ink tape 32 is set in the upper reel receiver 30. A feed-out reel 33 is removably attached to the lower reel receiver 31, and a take-up reel 34 is detachably attached to the lower reel receiver 31. The take-up reel 34 has gear teeth formed on the outer periphery of one flange portion, and the take-up reel 34 is connected to the lower reel receiver 3.
The reel 1 is rotated in the winding direction by a drive gear 35 that is provided on the side of the reel 1 and meshes with a gear-toothed flange of the winding reel 34. This drive gear 35
Similar to the rotary plate 21 of the encoder 20,
The drive gear 35 is rotated by the rotation of the wheels 18 as the printer main body 10 moves.
is rotationally driven by a drive belt 37 wound around a pulley portion of a pulley-equipped roller 19 that is rotated by the rotation of the wheel 18 and a driven pulley 36 connected to a drive gear 35 . Also,
The driving gear 35 is connected to a driven pulley 36 via a one-way latch (not shown), and the driving gear 35 is connected to a driven pulley 36 through a one-way latch (not shown). Only at times, the passive pulley 36 rotates integrally with the passive pulley 36 to rotate the take-up reel 34 in the winding direction, and when reading is performed by moving the printer main body 10 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, the passive pulley 36 rotates. The drive gear 35 is also configured not to rotate.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a thermal head provided at the bottom of the printer body 10. In this embodiment, the thermal head 38 is, for example, a 1024-bit one-dimensional
A CCD is used, of which 320 bits are used to perform reading with an effective reading width of 40 mm and a reading dot density of 8 dots/mm. This thermal head 3
8 is fixed within the printer main body 10 such that its lower end surface slightly protrudes from the print opening 16 to the lower surface of the printer main body 10. Further, on the front inside the printer main body 10, there is an opening for drawing out tape and paper formed by securing a slit-shaped space between the lower edge of the ink tape exchange port and the lower end of the cover plate 15. 39 are provided.

The rolled thermal transfer ink tape 32 set on the feeding side reel 33 attached to the upper reel receiver 30 of the ink tape storage section 14 is inserted into the tape/paper drawer opening 39 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. It is pulled out from the printer main body 10 and placed under the thermal head 38 exposed on the bottom surface of the printer main body 10, and is inserted into the print opening 1.
6 and is drawn into the printer main body 10 again and wound around the take-up reel 34. Note that 40 is a tape guide shaft. Also, this ink tape 32
The setting and replacement of the ink tape is carried out by opening the cover plate 15 of the ink tape replacement port. Further, the rolled print paper 28 stored in the print paper storage section 12 is passed through a slit section 41 formed at the lower end of the inner wall of the print paper storage section 12 to the main body case 1.
After being introduced into the printer body 10, it is pulled out from the printer main body 10 through the tape/paper drawer opening 39. This built-in printing paper 28 is used by hand-twisting it under the thermal head 38 when printing on it, and the printed paper 28 is removed by a cutter formed at the lower end of the lid 15. be cut off.

Further, a control circuit section for controlling the reading operation and the printing operation is provided inside the printer body 10, and a power/reading/printing switch 41 is provided on the side of the printer body 10, as shown in FIG. A power-on display LED 42 and an operation start key 43 are also provided. This operation start key 43 is turned on by pressing to cause the small printer to perform a reading operation and a printing operation. Accordingly, a reading operation or a printing operation is performed, and when the operation start key 43 is not pressed, reading and printing operations are not performed. Further, on the top surface of the printer main body 10, a print density adjustment volume 44 and a clear key 4 are provided.
5, a memory write display LED 46, and a speed warning LED 47. The clear key 45 is used to erase the previous stored image from the image data memory of the control circuit section when reading, and to cue the read image stored in the image data memory when printing.
7 lights up when the moving speed of the printer main body 10 is too fast.

FIG. 7 shows the control circuit section, and the movement amount detection signal output from the encoder 20 as the printer main body 10 moves is transmitted to the control section 51,
Timing signal generator 52 and speed detector 53
sent to. This speed detection section 53 detects the moving speed of the printer main body 10 from the output signal of the encoder 20, and lights up the speed warning LED 47 in the LED section 50 when the moving speed exceeds a set value. Further, the control unit 51 is given operation signals from a group of keys and switches 54 such as a power/read/print switch 41, an operation start key 43, a clear key 45, and a density adjustment volume 44.
A temperature detection signal is provided from a temperature sensor 55 that detects the temperature of the thermal head 38. Further, the control unit 51 includes an internal power supply voltage detector (not shown). Then, the control unit 51 controls the power-on display LED 42 and the memory write display LED 46 in the LED unit 50 according to the input signal.
In addition to controlling the lighting of , and controlling other parts, it also issues operation commands to the timing signal generator 52 according to the reading mode or print mode specified by the power/reading/printing switch 41.
Give S ₁ and S ₂ . In this case, the control unit 51 provides the timing signal generating unit 52 with an operation command S ₁ in the reading mode and an operation command S ₂ in the print mode.

The timing signal generation section 52 includes a control section 51
When a motion command S ₁ is given from
It generates a CCD exposure timing signal, and also generates various timing signals such as a predetermined number of read timing signals a, a serial/parallel conversion signal b, and a clock pulse c in synchronization with the movement amount detection signal from the encoder 20. Further, the timing signal generation section 52 generates a print timing signal when the operation command _S2 is given from the control section 51. The CCD exposure timing signal outputted from the timing signal generation section 52 is sent to the one-dimensional image sensor 25, the reading timing signal a is sent to the A/D conversion section 57, and the serial/parallel conversion signal b is sent to the serial/parallel conversion section 58. Then, the clock pulse c is sent to the address counter 61, respectively. The one-dimensional image sensor 25 is
The document 70 is read in synchronization with the CCD exposure timing signal and output to the A/D converter 57 via the amplifier 56. The A/D converter 57 converts the input signal into a black and white binary signal according to the reading timing signal a, and outputs the signal to the serial/parallel converter 58. The serial/parallel converter 58 converts the input signal into a parallel signal, for example every 8 bits, using the serial/parallel conversion signal b, and outputs it to the image data memory 60 via the data selector 59. Further, the data selector 59 has a data line connected to the control section 51, and either the serial/parallel conversion section 58 or the control section 51 is selected by the select signal d from the control section 51. The write address (row and digit address) of the image data memory 60 is determined by the address counter 61.
and is specified via the address selector 62. Further, the read address of the image data memory 60 is determined by the control unit 51 by the address selector 6.
2. This address selector 6
2 is selected by the select signal e from the control section 51.
In the read mode, the address counter 61 side is selected, and in the print mode, the control unit 51 is selected to specify the address of the image data memory 60.

When the reading of the document is completed and the mode is switched to the print mode, the control section 51 outputs the operation command _S2 to the timing signal generation section 52 as described above, and also outputs the movement amount detection signal from the encoder 20. image data memory 60 according to
The stored data of the thermal head is sequentially read out via the data selector 59, the energization time is set based on the head temperature from the temperature sensor 55, the detection data of the power supply voltage detector, and the value of the density adjustment volume 7, and the thermal head is read out as print data. Output to the drive circuit 64. The thermal head driving circuit 64 drives the thermal head 38 in synchronization with a timing signal from the timing signal generating section 52 when print data is sent from the control section 51 .

Next, the reading and printing operations of the small printer will be explained. First, to explain the reading of the original 70, the characters stored in the original 70,
When reading information such as images, the power/read/print switch 41 is switched to the "read" position. Power/read/print switch 41
When the switch is switched to the "read" position, the power is turned on and each circuit section becomes operational. Further, at this time, the control section 51 lights up the power-on display LED 42 in the LED section 50 to indicate that the power is turned on, and also provides the operation command S ₁ to the timing signal generation section 52 . In this state, the printer main body 10 is held tilted to the rear side, that is, to the left side in FIG.
When the rear sloped surface with the formed surface is brought into contact with the document surface and the printer main body 10 is moved in the direction of arrow A while pressing the operation start key 43 in this state, the projected light from the LED array 24 enters the reading aperture 17. The reflected light enters the one-dimensional image sensor 25 via the imaging lens 26. Further, as the wheels 18 rotate due to the movement of the printer main body 10, the encoder 2
A pulse signal, that is, a movement amount detection signal output from the light receiving element 23 at 0 is sent to the control section 51, the timing signal generation section 52, and the speed detection section 53.
On the other hand, the timing signal generation section 52 controls the control section 51
When a motion command S ₁ is given from
A CCD exposure timing signal is given to the one-dimensional image sensor 25, and a reading timing signal a is given in accordance with the movement amount detection signal from the encoder 20.
and generate a serial/parallel conversion signal b,
The signals are output to the A/D converter 57 and the serial/parallel converter 58, respectively. Further, the timing signal generating section 52 generates a clock pulse c in synchronization with the serial/parallel conversion signal b, and outputs it to the address counter 61. Thus, the one-dimensional image sensor 25 outputs a signal corresponding to the light reflected from the surface of the original 70, that is, an image signal, in synchronization with the CCD exposure timing signal from the timing signal generating section 52. The output signal of this one-dimensional image sensor 25 is amplified by an amplifier 56 and sent to an A/D converter 57.
converts this image signal into a serial digital signal in synchronization with the read timing signal a from the timing signal generator 52, and outputs it to the serial/parallel converter 58. The serial/parallel converter 58 converts the serial input signal into parallel image data, for example every 8 bits, in synchronization with the serial/parallel conversion signal b sent from the timing signal generator 52, and sends it to the data selector 59. Output. When the reading mode is specified, this data selector 59 is switched to the serial/parallel converter 58 side by the select d from the control unit 51, so that the data is output from the serial/parallel converter 58. The image data is sent to an image data memory 60 via a data selector 59. The address of this image data memory 60 is specified via the address selector 62, but at this time, the address selector 62
The address counter 6 is activated by the select signal e from
Since it is switched to the 1 side, the count output of the address counter 61 causes the image data memory 6 to
0 addressing is done. The address counter 61 sequentially changes the digit address to "+" by the clock pulse c from the timing signal generator 52.
1'' and designates the address of the image data memory 60. Then, the timing signal generation section 52
When one line of image data is written into the image data memory 60, the generation of the timing signal is stopped and a standby state is entered until the next movement amount detection signal is sent from the encoder 39. The same operation is repeated thereafter, and the image data read from the original document 70 is sequentially written into the image data memory 60.

Next, the operation for printing out the image data read from the document 70 as described above will be explained. To print out image data, press power/read/print switch 4.
1 to the print position. This power supply/read/
The print mode is set by switching the print changeover switch 41 (the power is kept on), and the control section 51 switches the timing signal generation section 52 to the print mode.
At the same time, the data selector ₅₉ and address selector 62 are switched to the control unit 51 side by the select signals d and e. In this state, hold the printer main body 10 tilted to the front side, that is, to the right side in FIG. When the printer main body 10 is moved in the direction of arrow B while pressing the operation start key 43 in this state, the printer body 10 is moved in the direction of arrow B in the same way as when reading
As the wheel 18 rotates due to the movement of the printer main body 10, a movement detection signal is output from the light receiving element 23 of the encoder 20, and the wheel 1
8 rotates the drive gear 35, which is connected to the passive pulley 36 which is rotationally driven via the drive belt 37 and a one-way clutch, and moves the take-up reel 34 according to the moving speed of the printer main body 10. The ink tape 32 is rotated at a speed in the winding direction to wind up the ink tape 32. During printing, the timing signal generator 52 outputs a print timing signal to the thermal head drive circuit 64 in response to the movement amount detection signal from the encoder 20. Further, the control unit 51 controls the image data memory 60 according to the movement amount detection signal from the encoder 20.
The image data stored in the image data memory 60 is read out via the data selector 59, and the head temperature from the temperature sensor 55, the voltage detection signal from the power supply voltage detector, and the density adjustment are sequentially specified. The energization time for the thermal head 21 is set based on the adjustment value of the volume 44, etc., and the image data read from the image data memory 60 is output to the thermal head drive circuit 64. The thermal head drive circuit 64 drives the thermal head 38 according to control data from the control section 51 and timing signals from the timing signal generation section 52, and image data is transferred via the ink tape 32 by driving the thermal head 38. thermal transfer printing onto printing paper. The following is a repetition of the above operation, and as the printer main body 10 moves, the image data stored in the image data memory 60 is sequentially read out and printed on print paper, and as the printer main body 10 moves, the image data is fed out. The unused portion of the ink tape 32 is sent out from the side reel 33, and the used portion after being thermally transferred by the thermal head 38 is sequentially wound onto the take-up reel 34. In addition, when the printing paper is thermal recording paper, printing on this printing paper is performed using the ink tape 3 from inside the printer main body 10.
2 is removed. Also, during this printing, the speed detection section 53 detects the moving speed of the printer main body 10 based on the signal from the encoder 20, and if the moving speed is too fast, the speed warning LED 47
lights up.

That is, when reading, this small printer holds the printer main body 10 tilted to the left in FIG. When writing data into the data memory 60 and printing, read the image data from the image data memory 60 while holding the printer body 10 tilted to the right in FIG. 1 and moving it on the printing paper in the direction of arrow B. is printed on print paper by the thermal head 38, and this print is carried out by the printer body 1.
This can be done with the built-in print paper 28 stored in the print paper storage section 12 in the 0, or with external print paper.

Built-in print paper 28 from the above small printer
2 and 3 show the state of printing on the built-in print paper 28, and Fig. 2 shows that the built-in print paper 28 is thermal transfer recording paper. FIG. 3 shows a case where the built-in printing paper 28 is plain paper.

First, we will explain printing on the built-in print paper 28 when the built-in print paper 28 is thermal transfer recording paper.
Take out the ink tape 32 from inside 0. When printing, first pass the tape/paper through the printer main body 10 from the print paper storage section 12 and enter the printer main body 10 from the tape/paper drawer opening 39.
Grasp the edge of the built-in print paper 28 that has been pulled out with your hand and pull out the print paper 28,
After the printing paper 28 is passed through the lower surface of the printer body 10 and turned to the opposite side of the printer body 10, the printer body 10 is held in the printing position and the wheels 18 at the lower end of the printer body 10 are shown in FIG. In this state, the printer body 10 can be moved manually in the direction of arrow B while pressing and fixing the end of the print paper 28 to the desktop 80 with your fingers. When the printer 10 is moved, the printing paper 28 whose end is pressed and fixed to the desk top 80 is pulled out from inside the printer main body 10 as the printer main body 10 moves, and is exposed on the bottom surface of the printer main body 10. The thermal head 38 located therein performs printing on the print paper 28 that is passed under it. After printing is completed, the printed portion of the print paper 28 may be cut off using a cutter portion formed at the lower end of the cover plate 15.

If the built-in printing paper 28 is plain paper, insert the ink tape 32 inside the printer body 10 under the thermal head 38 as shown in FIG. In this case, the ink tape 32 is fed out and wound up as the print paper 28 is printed.

Next, to explain printing on external print paper, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the state of printing on external print paper 90.
The figure shows the case where the external print paper 90 is thermal transfer recording paper, and FIG. 5 shows the case where the external print paper 90 is plain paper.

First, to explain printing on the external print paper 90 when the external print paper 90 is thermal transfer recording paper, in this case, the printer body 1
4, remove the ink tape 32 from inside the printer body 10, hold the printer body 10 in the printing position, and place the external printing paper 90 on the desk 80 with the wheels 18 at the lower end of the printer body 10 as shown in FIG.
In this state, the printer body 10 can be manually moved in the direction of arrow B while holding the external print paper 90 on the desk 80 so that it does not move. When it is moved, the thermal head 38 scans the external printing paper 90 as the printer main body 10 moves, and prints on this printing paper 90.

If the external printing paper 90 is plain paper (a notebook, a diary, etc., or a single sheet of paper), insert the ink tape 32 inside the printer body 10 under the thermal head 38 as shown in FIG. The ink tape 32 may be rotated and set, and then the same operation as described above may be performed. In this case, the ink tape 32 is fed out and wound up as printing is performed on the print paper 28.

Note that when printing on this external print paper 90, while the built-in print paper 28 is stored inside the printer main body 10, the end of the built-in print paper 28 is removed from the printer main body 10 through the tape/paper drawer opening 39 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This may be done with the built-in printing paper 28 sticking out as shown in FIG. 2, or it may be done with the built-in printing paper 28 removed from the printer main body 10.

In other words, the above-mentioned small printer has a printer main body 1
0 is provided with an ink tape storage section 14 and a print paper storage section 12, and the ink tape 32 stored in the ink tape storage section 14 and the print paper stored in the print paper storage section 12 are provided in the printer main body 10. 28 is exposed on the bottom surface of the printer main body 10.
A tape/paper drawer opening 39 is provided for passing the built-in printing paper 28 stored in the printing paper storage section 12 under the thermal head 38.
Thermal head 3
8 to print on the built-in print paper 28 or external print paper 90, and this small printer can be used as a printer that prints on the built-in print paper or as a printer that prints on any external print paper. This allows you to take advantage of the features of both conventional compact printers, including built-in paper type and external paper printing type, depending on the application.

In the above embodiment, the tape/paper drawer opening 3 is used to pass the ink tape 32 and built-in print paper 28 under the thermal head 38.
9 is provided separately from the print opening 16 on the bottom surface of the printer main body 10, but the print opening 16 may also serve as the tape/paper drawer opening. Further, in the embodiment described above, when printing on the built-in print paper 28, the print paper 28 is pulled out by pressing and fixing the end of the print paper 28 and moving the printer main body 10. This built-in print paper 2
The drawer 8 may be automatically drawn out using a motor that rotates in synchronization with the movement of the printer main body 10, and the ink tape 32 may also be wound up using the motor. Good too. Further, in the embodiment described above, the ink tape storage section 14 in the printer main body 10 is provided with the feeding side reel 33 and the take-up side reel 34, and the ink tape 32
The ink tape and reel are installed in a cassette case, and this ink tape cassette is inserted into the printer main body 1.
It may be installed within 0. Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes a small printer that also has a reading function, this invention does not have a reading function, but is connected to an external device such as a personal computer or word processor by a cable, and is connected to the memory section of this external device. It can also be applied to a small printer that prints out information stored in a computer.

[Effect of idea]

When printing on the built-in print paper stored inside the printer body, this compact printer of this invention can be used by threading the built-in print paper under the thermal head exposed on the underside of the printer body. When printing on external print paper in a manner similar to that of a small printer, do not run the built-in print paper under the thermal head, but instead touch the thermal head to the external print paper and print on external paper as described above. This compact printer can be used to print on built-in paper or any external paper. Therefore, the features of both conventional compact printers, including built-in paper type and external paper printing type, can be utilized depending on the application.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the small printer of this invention. Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view with the ink tape and built-in printing paper removed, and Figures 2 and 3 are views showing printing on the built-in printing paper. 4 and 5 are vertical side views showing the state of printing on external printing paper;
FIG. 6 is an external view, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control circuit. 10... Printer body, 12... Print paper storage section, 14... Ink tape storage section, 28...
Built-in printing paper, 32... Ink tape, 38
...Thermal head, 39...Tape/paper drawer opening.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It is a small printer that prints by manually moving the printer body, and includes a thermal head provided in the printer body with at least a heat generating part protruding from the lower end of the printer body, and a part of the printer body at the lower end of the printer body. a protruding roller; an ink ribbon storage section provided on the printer main body that stores an ink ribbon and disposed in contact with the heat generating part of the thermal head; rotation of the roller is transmitted to the ink ribbon; an ink ribbon winding means for winding the ink ribbon stored in the ribbon storage section; a print paper storage section provided in the printer main body; and an ejection of the print paper stored in the print paper storage section to the outside of the printer main body. and a means for driving the thermal head according to the rotation of the roller, so that the built-in print paper stored in the print paper storage section can be passed under the thermal head. A small printer characterized in that the thermal head prints on the built-in printing paper or external printing paper depending on whether the thermal head is turned on or off.