JPH0427560A - Printer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable attaching and detaching of a head with a simple method without tiling a pivot and the head by a method wherein a support plate is mounted on right and left side frames and a bearing is supported from a direction opposite to a fitted part of a notch. CONSTITUTION:When removing a thermal head 32, first, a printer apparatus is turned up side down as a whole and a screw is removed to separate a support plate 74 from side frames 71a and 71b. Furthermore, the plate is removed from notches 72a and 72b from below and right and left bearings 63 are passed through notches 73a and 73b simultaneously. Thus, the pivot 33 and the thermal head 32 are removed from the apparatus body without being tilted. When mounting the thermal head, the right and left bearings 63 are passed through the notches 72a and 72b from below the side frames 71a and 71b to be fitted into notches 73a and 73b. The support plate 74 is mounted on the right and left side frames 71a and 71b with a screw lock. Thus, the pivot 33 and the thermal head 32 are mounted on the apparatus body without being tilted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a printer device that prints images from a personal computer, a television receiver, etc. onto recording paper.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a printer device for hard copying a display such as a CRT, a transfer paper (ink sheet) and a recording paper are sandwiched under pressure between a thermal head and a platen roller.
There is one in which images are sequentially transferred and recorded onto the recording paper. In such a printer device, the thermal head is swingably provided with respect to the base substrate in order to press and hold the thermal head and the platen roller and release the pressure between the thermal head and the platen roller.

A conventional printer device will be described below.

In a conventional printer device, the structure for attaching the thermal head to the main body of the printer device is as shown in FIG. In this FIG. 6, 61 is a base board, and this base board 61 has left and right side frames 62a, 6
2b is erected, and the left and right side frames 62a, 62b
A thermal head 32 is provided between the two to be able to swing around a support shaft 33.

The thermal head 32 is a line-type thermal head in which a large number of heating elements 32a are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper.

To explain in more detail, the thermal head 32 is sandwiched from the left and right side surfaces by Radoplets 51a and 51b on the left and right sides. Left and right inner head plates 51a
, a through hole (not shown) is formed at one end of 51b,
A support shaft 33 is inserted into this through hole. Thereby, the inner head plates 51a and 51b are rotatably attached to the support shaft 33. Left and right outer head plates 5 are provided on both sides of the left and right inner head plates 51a and 51b.
1c and 51d are provided.

A through hole is formed at one end of the outer head plates 51c, 51d, and by inserting the support shaft 33 into this through hole, the outer head plates 51c, 51d are rotatably attached to the support shaft 33. A lever 34 is rotatably attached to the other ends of the outer head plates 51c and 51d. This lever 34 is rotatably attached to a drive lever (not shown), and is configured to swing the thermal head 32 by driving the drive lever by a motor (not shown). A back plate 54 is attached to the left and right outer head plates 51c and 51d so as to be disposed behind the thermal head 32.

A spring 55. is provided between the back plate 54 and the thermal head 32.
55 is inserted to reduce the impact when the thermal head 32 comes into contact with a platen roller (also not shown) via an ink sheet and recording paper (not shown), and
The thermal head 32 and the platen roller are surely brought into close contact with each other.

The support shaft 33 has left and right bearings 63°6 at both left and right ends, respectively.
3 through round holes 66a and 66b formed in the left and right side frames 62a and 62b. The left and right bearings 63, 63 are made of an elastic member such as rubber and formed into a ring shape, and the outer peripheries are formed with holes that fit into the round holes 66a66b. In addition, the side frame 62
A spring 64 is inserted between the b-side bearing 63 and the outer head plate 51d. The spring 64 urges the outer head plate 51d toward the side frame 62a. Also, on both ends of the support shaft 33, on the side frame 62a side relative to the head plate 51c, there are respective clasps 65a.
, 65b, 65c are attached, and the support shaft 3
3 left and right side frames 62a.

62b and the position of the head play) 51b and 51d relative to the support shaft 33.

Incidentally, ink sheet color detection elements 48 and 48 are provided on the left and right sides above the thermal head 32, with their light emitting portions and light receiving portions facing upward.

Such a thermal head 32 is attached to the left and right side frames 6.
2a, 62b, the head plates 51a, 51b, 51 are attached to the support shaft 33.
With c51d and stopper 65c attached, open the round hole 66.
a.

Insert one end of the support shaft diagonally into one of 66b,
After that, the other end of the support shaft 33 is inserted into the other of the round holes 66a and 66b, and then the spring 64 is inserted into the support shaft 33 from the round hole 66b.
Attach the bearings 63 and 6 to both ends of the support shaft 33, respectively.
3, and the round holes 66a and 66b are fitted into those grooves. After this, the stopper 65a is attached to the support shaft 33.

Install 65b. As a result, the thermal head 32
is the support shaft 33 relative to the left and right side frames 62a, 62b.
It is attached so that it can swing around the center.

However, in the structure, such an installation requires that the support shaft 33
When inserting the thermal head 32 into one of the round holes 66a and 66b, the thermal head 32 must be tilted together with the support shaft 33, so the distance between the side frames 62a and 62b is set to be much larger than the width of the thermal head 32. There must be. Furthermore, when replacing the thermal head 32, the support shaft 33 and the thermal head 32 must be tilted when the thermal head 32 is removed, making it difficult to arrange components in high density to avoid interference with surrounding components. This results in an increase in the size of the device.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional printer device described above, when installing and removing the thermal head, the spindle and head must be tilted with respect to the side frame, and the gap between the left and right side frames is The distance must be set much larger than the width of the thermal head, which increases the size of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer device which eliminates the above-mentioned problems and allows a head to be attached and detached by a simple method without tilting the spindle and the head with respect to both side frames.

[Overview of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides left and right bearings that are attached to both left and right sides of a support shaft of a thermal head and have grooves formed along the circumferential direction of the support shaft. , left and right side frames having notches that fit into the grooves of the bearings, and support plates that are attached to the left and right side frames and support the bearings from a direction opposite to the fitting portion of the notches. It is characterized by having the following.

(Function) According to this configuration, by removing the support plate from the left and right side frames, the left and right bearings can be removed from the notches of the left and right side frames at the same time, without tilting the support shaft and thermal head. Can be attached to the side frame.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention. The configuration other than that shown in FIG. 1 is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, and the same components as in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals.

1, the difference from the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 is that the left and right side frames 71a, 7th have first notches 72a,
72b is provided, and the arm 63a of the bearing 63 is fitted into the notch 72a, 72b. Further, the lower portions of the left and right side frames 71a, 71b are provided with second notches 73a, 73b communicating with the first notches 72a, 72b, and are bent outward to attach the support plate 74. It looks like this. The support plate 74 is provided with conical cut-and-raised portions 74a and 74b that support the left and right bearings 63 and 63 in the assembled state.

2 to 4 are a perspective view, a rear view, and a side view of the printer device shown in FIG. 1 in an assembled state.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support plate 74 is screwed to the left and right side frames 71a, 71b with screws 81.

As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right bearings 63, 63 are made of an elastic member such as rubber and formed into a ring shape, and the support shaft 33 is passed through an opening in the center of the ring. The groove 63a is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the bearing 63, and the left and right bearings 63.63 fit into the upper portions of the notches 72a and 72b along the circumferential direction using this groove 63a. There is.

As shown in FIG. 4, the notch 72a has a groove 63 at the top.
It is formed in a semicircular shape so as to fit into the area a, and is formed in a band shape a predetermined distance downward from this semicircle. Further, the lower part thereof is formed into a band shape that widens downward at a predetermined angle and is wider than the diameter of the bearing 63 in order to facilitate fitting of the arm 63a into the notch 72a. Notch 72a
The notch 73a communicating with the notch 73a is formed in a band shape having the same width as the lower part of the notch 72a. The bearing 63 is
It can fit into the notch 72a by passing through the notch 73a. In addition, the other side frame 71b
The cutouts 72b and 73b are also cutouts 72a, respectively.

It is similar to 73a.

The cut and raised portion 74a of the support plate 74 has a structure that is elastically deformed. The cut-and-raised portion 74a is inserted into the notch 73a at the lower part of the side frame 71a, and the bearing 63 is fixed by being supported from below at a position where the groove 63a fits into the upper part of the notch 72a.

According to this configuration, when removing the thermal head 32, first turn the entire printer upside down, remove the screws 81 to separate the support plate 74 from the side frames 71a and 71b, and then remove the notch 72.
a, 72b downwards and simultaneously passing the left and right bearings 63, 63 through the notches 73a, 73b, the support shaft 33 and thermal head 32 can be removed from the apparatus main body without tilting. In addition, when installing the thermal head 32, the left and right bearings 63
．． 63 are cut out 72a from the bottom of the side plates 71a and 71b, respectively.

72b, and the left and right bearings 63, 63 are fitted to the upper portions of the notches 73a, 73b, respectively, and then the support plate 74 is fitted to the left and right side frames 71a.

71b by screwing, the support shaft 3
3 and the thermal head 32 can be attached to the main body of the apparatus without tilting them.

In this way, in the printer device of this embodiment, it is possible to install and remove the support shaft 33 and the thermal head 32 without tilting them, so that the left and right side frames 71a, 71b
The distance between the two can be shortened, and the device can be made smaller. Furthermore, since interference with surrounding parts is reduced when replacing the head, work efficiency can be improved. moreover,
The bearings 63.63 are the side frames 71a, 71
Since the structure is such that the notches 73a and 73b are passed through from the lower part of b and fitted into the notches 73a and 73b,
The depth of the grooves 63a, 63a can be set sufficiently large, and the accuracy of the position of the thermal head 32 can be improved.

Here, the overall configuration of the printer device of this embodiment will be explained using the schematic side view of FIG.

In FIG. 5, a paper feed case 22 that can accommodate a plurality of sheets of recording paper 21 in a stacked state is disposed at the lower part of the housing 20 of the printer device. A paper discharge case 23 is provided above the paper feed case 22, into which the recording paper 21 after printing is sent. Further, a recording section 24 is provided inside the housing 20, and the recording section 24 is connected to the paper feed case 22.
The image is transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 21 sent from the source.

The recording paper 21 is pulled out from the paper feed case 22 by a paper feed roller 25. That is, there is an opening 26 at the top of the paper feed case 22.
is formed, and a paper up plate 15 is provided at the bottom of the paper feed case 22. The recording paper 21 is placed on the lever 1.
6 lifts up the paper up plate 15, the paper up plate 15 is lifted toward the opening 26, and the separating claws 27 separate the paper sheets one by one from above. and paper feed roller 25
Accordingly, the recording paper 21 is fed to the recording section 24 through the opening 26.

The recording paper 21 fed from the paper feeding case 22 is provided between a paper feeding guide 28 and a switching guide 29, and is guided to the platen roller 31 side. The recording paper 21 conveyed substantially horizontally from the paper feed case 22 is turned diagonally upward by the paper feed guide 28 . A guide roller 30 is provided at the tip of the paper feed guide 28 on the platen roller 31 side, and is configured to smoothly guide the recording paper 21 diagonally upward. The platen roller 31 has a cylindrical shape whose outer periphery is made of an elastic material, and the support shaft 19
It can be rotated freely around the center. The platen roller 31 is provided with a bearing such as a ball bearing, so that even if the recording paper 21 comes into sliding contact with the platen roller 31, there is no load on the conveyance of the recording paper 21.

A thermal head 32 is disposed at a position facing the platen roller 31, and the thermal head 32 is attached to the head plate 51. One end of the head plate 51 is rotatable around a support shaft 33 provided below the platen roller 31 of a side frame (not shown), and the other end is connected to a lever 34.
is rotatably attached to. This lever 34 is
The thermal head 32 is rotatably attached to a drive lever 36 that is rotatable about a support shaft 35, and is rotated by a motor (not shown) to swing the thermal head 32. Thermal head 32
An ink sheet 37 is disposed between the platen roller 31 and the ink sheet 37 . The ink sheet 37 is attached to an ink cassette 38
The exposed portion between the two reels is pressed against the platen roller 31 by the movement of the thermal head 32. Further, the thermal head 32 is set to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the traveling direction of the recording paper 21 when the recording paper 21 is supplied. Three colors of ink are sequentially and cyclically applied to the ink sheet 37 in the traveling direction of the ink sheet 37 to form three color bands. Marks for color identification are provided between these color bands.

A capstan 39 is rotatably disposed above the platen roller 31. The capstan 39 is driven by a pulse motor (not shown) or the like and rotates at a constant pitch. Note that the capstan 39 has a relatively rough surface to increase friction with the back surface of the recording surface of the recording paper 21, thereby preventing the recording paper 21 from shifting and color misregistration. .

A pinch roller 4 is placed opposite this capstan 39.
0 is disposed so as to be swingable around a support shaft 41.

The pinch roller 40 has a cylindrical shape whose outer periphery is made of an elastic material, and is rotatable about a shaft 42. The pinch roller 40 is provided with a bearing such as a ball bearing, so that even if the recording paper 21 comes into sliding contact with the pinch roller 40, there will be no load on the conveyance of the recording paper 21. pinch roller 4
When feeding the recording paper 21, the recording paper 21 is swung around the support shaft 41 by a DC motor (not shown), etc., and is sufficiently separated from the capstan 39, and the paper feeding guide 28 and the thermal head 3
The recording paper 21 guided upward by the capstan 39 is passed between the recording paper 21 and the capstan 39. In addition, when conveying the recording paper 21, the pinch roller 40 swings around the support shaft 41 and moves in the direction of the rotation axis of the capstan 39, thereby moving the recording paper 21 between the capstan 39 and the pinch roller 40. It is designed to be crimped.

Paper ejection guides 43 and 44 that guide the recording paper 21 toward the paper ejection case 23 are arranged above the pinch roller 40 and above the capstan 39. The recording paper 21 on which printing has been completed is guided by these paper discharge guides 43 and 44, and is applied between a paper discharge roller 45 and a pinch roller 46. The paper ejection roller 45 is driven by a pulse motor (not shown) or the like, and feeds the recording paper 21 into the paper ejection case 23.

The switching guide 29 is designed to swing around the shaft 17, and when the recording paper 21 is rewound from the platen roller 31 side, the recording paper 21 is moved between the switching guide 29 and the upper return guide 18. It is designed to be guided by. A lower return guide 55 is provided above the opening 26 of the paper feed case 22, and the recording paper 21 guided between the switching guide 29 and the upper return guide 18 is further guided to the upper side of the lower return guide 55. It also serves to guide the recording paper between the paper feed guide 28 and the switching guide 29 when the recording paper 21 is fed from the paper feed case 22 to the recording side.

Further, a recording paper detection element 47 is provided below the paper feed guide 28 to detect whether the leading edge of the recording paper 21 has been conveyed. The recording paper detection element 47 is composed of a light emitting section and a light receiving section, and detects that the recording paper has reached a predetermined position, and outputs a control signal for winding up the ink sheet 37. The thermal head 32 is provided with an ink sheet color detection element 48 . This ink sheet color detection element 4
Reference numeral 8 is composed of a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and is provided opposite to a reflection plate 49. When the ink sheet 37 is wound up, light is irradiated through the ink sheet 37 and reflected by the reflection plate, and the reflected light is When the light is received through the ink sheet 37 and the color identification mark on the ink sheet 37 is detected, the ink sheet 3
It is designed to output a signal to stop the winding of No. 7. A light emitting section 56a of a recording paper detection element 56 is provided above the paper ejection guide 43 and below the paper ejection guide 44, respectively.

A light receiving section 56b is provided. When the recording paper detection element 56 detects that the leading edge of the recording paper 21 has been conveyed to the paper ejection guide 43, 44, it stops the paper feed roller 25 and pinches the recording paper 21 between the capstan 39 and the pinch roller 40. It is designed to output a signal that increases the length of the signal. At the bottom of the paper ejection guide 44 on the paper ejection case 23 side, there is a recording paper 21
Recording paper detection element 50 that detects that the trailing edge of the paper has been conveyed
is provided. The recording paper detection element 50 is composed of a light emitting section and a light receiving section, and is configured to detect the trailing edge of the recording paper 21 at the time of ejection, and output a signal to start preparation for printing the next recording paper 21.

To explain the operation of such a printer device, the recording paper 2
1 is first pressed against the paper feed roller 25 by the lever 16 in the paper feed case 22, and is sent out from the opening 26 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 25, and is supplied to the recording section 24. The recording paper 21 fed from the paper feed case 22 is fed to the paper feed guide 28.
and the switching guide 29, and are guided toward the platen roller 31 side. At this time, the thermal head 32 swings to a position close to the platen roller 31 as the drive lever 36 is rotationally driven. Then, the recording paper 21 passes between the platen roller 31 and the thermal head 32 and is held under pressure by the capstan 39 and the pinch roller 40.
0 rotation, the paper is conveyed to the paper ejection case 23 side. Thereafter, when the detection element 56 detects the leading edge of the recording paper 21, it provides a detection signal to an external circuit (not shown). As a result, the thermal head 32 connects the ink sheet 37 and the recording paper 2.
1 is held in pressure contact with the platen roller 31. The recording paper 21 is then held between a capstan 39 and a pinch roller 40.
The capstan 39 pinch rollers 40, 46. It moves along with the rotation of the paper discharge roller 45, and the first color ink is sublimated by the heat generated by the heating element according to the signal power, and an image is transferred and recorded.

- When the color recording is completed, the thermal head 32 is separated from the platen roller 31 by the rotation of the drive lever 36, and during this time, the capstan 39. The rotation of the pinch roller 40 moves the recording start position again.

In this case, the switching guide 29 rotates around the shaft 17 and guides the rear end of the recording paper 21 between the upper return guide 18 and the switching guide 29. After this, the second and third colors are recorded. When the recording of the third color is completed, the thermal head 32
are separated from the platen roller 31, and during this time, the capstan 39. The recording paper 21 is rotated by the pinch roller 40.
is discharged to the paper discharge case 23 side.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the support shaft and the thermal head can be attached to and removed from the side frame without tilting, the distance between the left and right frames can be shortened, and the device can be made smaller. can do. Furthermore, work efficiency during head replacement can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing essential parts of an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer device shown in FIG. 1 in an assembled state, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the printer device shown in FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing the overall configuration of the printer device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the thermal head support structure of a conventional printer device. be. 32... Thermal head, 33... Support shaft, 63...
・Bearing, 74...Support plate, 63a...Groove, 7
1a, 71b... side frame, 72a, 72b...
...first notch, 73a, 73b...second notch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Left and right bearings are attached to the left and right sides of the support shaft of the thermal head and have grooves formed along the circumferential direction of the support shaft, and a notch that fits into the groove of the bearing is formed. Attached to the left and right side frames and the left and right side frames,
A printer device comprising: a support plate that supports the bearing from a direction opposite to the fitting portion of the notch.