JPH0664900U - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a printing device such as a typewriter or a word processor which has a compact structure and is excellent in the visibility of printed characters even if a prism lens having poor optical performance is used. Is. In a printing device in which a carriage 7 having a printing mechanism mounted thereon reciprocates along a platen 3, a prism lens 21 is mounted between a pair of arms 23 provided on both sides of the carriage 7 just above a printing position. Has been
The printed characters 33 can be sequentially viewed through the prism lens 21.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a printing device such as a typewriter or a word processor, and more particularly to a printing device in which a printing mechanism and printing paper are close to each other.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, in a printing device such as a typewriter or a portable word processor, a horizontally movable printer is integrally incorporated. That is, the horizontally movable printer has a printing mechanism mounted on a carriage that reciprocates parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen. As shown in FIG. Do not align the type 44a to be printed on the daisy wheel 44 with the ink ribbon 43 fed from the ribbon cassette 42 placed on the carriage, and use the hammer 45 from the back of the type 44a so as to face the platen 41. It is common to make an impact and print on the paper 41.

However, in this structure, since the printing mechanism and the paper 41 are close to each other, the printing position 46 is hidden by the ribbon cassette 42, the ink ribbon 43, the daisy wheel 44, the hammer 45, etc. I can't see the printed characters for only minutes.

In particular, in the printing apparatus of the type in which the type 44a of the daisy wheel 44 is hammered by the hammer 45, the height dimension of the machine is limited by the diameter of the daisy wheel 44, so the daisy wheel 44 is arranged in an inclined manner. The height dimension is reduced. However, as a result, the printing position 46 also tilts, making it more difficult to see from the typing posture.

In order to solve these problems, a printer as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-137560 has been devised as shown in FIG. A prism 50 is arranged so as to cover the entire upper surface of the printing position 46 of the printing device up to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the platen 40. The prism 50 is rotatably supported by both side covers of the printing device at both ends thereof. The print position 46 can be adjusted through the prism 50 so as to be surely visible.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in this printing apparatus, since various printing mechanisms are arranged on the carriage, it is necessary to arrange the prism 50 at a height that does not hit them at least. For this reason, the prism 50 is largely separated from the printing position 46, and as a result, the printing position 46 can be clearly seen through the prism 50 unless the prism 50 has excellent surface flatness and optical performance. It will not be possible.

Further, if a prism lens having excellent optical performance is used over the entire traveling range of the carriage, the printing position 46 can be clearly seen through, but it becomes very expensive, and as a result, it can be commercialized. could not.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a printing apparatus having a compact structure and excellent visibility even if a prism lens having poor optical performance is used. It is a thing.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve this object, the printing apparatus of the present invention is such that a carriage on which a printing mechanism is mounted reciprocates along a platen, and a prism lens and the prism lens are provided directly above a printing position on the platen. And a supporting member provided on the carriage for supporting the carriage.

The prism lens may be rotatably supported on an axis parallel to the platen as a fulcrum.

Further, the prism lens covers from the fulcrum of the support member to a part of the upper surface of the ink cartridge mounted on the carriage, and has a proximity position close to a printing position on the platen, The ink cartridge may be rotatable with respect to an open position that opens above the ink cartridge.

[0012]

[Action]

 In the printing apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, the prism lens is provided on the carriage so as to be located immediately above the printing position. As a result, the prism lens moves with the carriage along with the printing operation, so that only the printing position, that is, the portion to be checked can be reliably viewed.

[0013]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are a perspective view of the typewriter main body of the present embodiment, a sectional view and a top view of the printing mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 1, the typewriter is provided with a keyboard unit 1 as an input unit on the front side of the operator, and a printing mechanism unit behind it.

In the printing mechanism section, a rectangular platen 3 is fixed to a frame, and a pair of guide bars 5 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen 3 are arranged. Further, guided by the guide bar 5, the carriage 7 reciprocates in parallel with the platen 3. A ribbon cassette 9 is removably arranged on the upper surface of the carriage 7, and a daisy wheel 11 is tilted on the carriage 7 facing the platen 3 so as to become higher toward the rear (left in FIG. 2). Installed. Further, a hammer unit 12 is arranged in front of the daisy wheel 11. Further, the paper passage 13 is also provided so as to be inclined in parallel with the above-mentioned inclination, and is pulled out to the lower surface portion 15 of the main body cover as it is. The printing paper 17 is set along the paper path 13 and a pair of paper feed rollers 18 is provided above the paper path 13.

A prism lens 21 is arranged above the carriage 7. The prism lens 21 has a length equal to the lateral width of the carriage 7, and the prism lens 21 has a prism lens cut surface 21a having a prism effect cut in a part thereof in the longitudinal direction. The prism lens 21 is held between a pair of arms 23 extending from the left and right side surfaces of the carriage 7 so that the prism lens cut surface 21a is located immediately above the printing position. Further, between the arms 23, the prism lens 21 is supported at the upper end of the side surface thereof by a shaft 21b which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen 3, and the prism lens 21 is disposed at a close position substantially parallel to the upper surface 25 of the main body cover and the shaft 21b. It can rotate to an open position where it is pulled up to a fulcrum. This arm 23 corresponds to the support member of the present invention.

The entire printing mechanism is covered with a cover including a main body cover upper surface 25, a main body cover lower surface portion 15, a cassette replacement cover 27, a side cover and the like. The lower legs 15 of the main body cover are provided with the rest legs 29, whereby the lower face portion 15 of the main body cover is lifted up from the ground surface 31, and the gap sandwiched between the lower face portion 15 of the main body cover and the ground surface 31 is the paper sheet. It constitutes a part of the passage 13. The printed paper flows backward (leftward in FIG. 2) through the paper passage 13. Further, the cassette replacement cover 27 covers the upper part of the movable area of the carriage 7 while omitting the range above the print position. Further, the cassette replacement cover 27 is mounted above the carriage 7 so as to be rotatable on an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen 3 at the upper end of its side surface.

Further, the printing mechanism portion and the keyboard portion 1 are connected to each other at the joint portion so that the keyboard portion 1 can be folded so as to be placed above the printing mechanism portion.

Next, the printing operation of the typewriter thus configured will be described.

When the operator presses a key on the keyboard 1, the daisy wheel 11 is rotated by a character selection motor (not shown) incorporated in the carriage 7, and the type 11a corresponding to the key is moved to the printing position 33. Set in front. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink ribbon is drawn out from the ribbon cassette 9 while being brought close to the printing paper 17, and the hammer 12a in the hammer unit 12 pushes the back surface of the type 11a of the daisy wheel 11, Printing is performed on the printing paper 17 by impacting the ink ribbon. Each time one character is printed, the carriage 7 moves to the right along the guide bar 5 to the right, and every time one line is printed, the carriage 7 returns to the leftmost position and the paper feed roller 18 moves by a predetermined amount. The printing paper 17 is sent upward. Printing is performed by repeating the above operation.

In this typewriter, the printed characters 33 cannot be seen directly because they are blocked by the hammer unit 12 and the ribbon cassette 9 arranged in front of them. In other words, the view of the position of the carriage is blocked. However, when the prism lens 21 is brought to the close position, as shown in FIG. 4, due to the effect of the prism, the printed character 33, which is in the blind spot in the typing posture, becomes visible (see FIG. 5). Originally, since the print characters 33 located on both sides of the carriage without the frame of the prism lens 21 can be directly visually recognized, it is possible to confirm the print characters in one horizontal line.

Further, since the prism lens 21 is installed on the carriage 7, while the carriage 7 reciprocates, the characters sequentially printed by the printing mechanism on the carriage 7 can be sequentially followed and confirmed through the prism lens 21. it can. This allows the print status to be monitored at all times.

In addition, since the prism lens 21 is located directly above the printing mechanism, it can be brought very close to the printing position, and the characters can be clearly seen even if an inexpensive lens with a low refractive index is used. Is possible. Further, since the prism lens 21 is rotatably supported between the arms 23, the visual recognition range can be adjusted by slightly changing the direction of the prism lens 21 back and forth at the close position.

When the ribbon cassette 9 is replaced, the cassette replacement cover 27 is rotated forward and the prism lens 21 is rotated to the open position. Thereby, the upper portion of the ribbon cassette 9 can be opened, so that the ribbon cassette 9 can be easily attached and detached.

Further, in the printing mechanism using the daisy wheel 11 as in the present embodiment, even if the daisy wheel 11 is largely tilted, the refractive index of the prism is increased to ensure the visibility, so that This can further contribute to reducing the height. Moreover, the printing position shifts backward with the inclination of the daisy wheel 11, and the position of the prism lens 21 shifts backward accordingly, so that the prism lens 21 is not mounted above the ribbon cassette 9 and the cassette replacement cover 27 The above operation can be opened with only one operation, which makes it easier to attach and detach.

[0027]

[Effect of device]

 As is clear from the above description, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, printed characters can be seen through a compact prism, and even if a prism lens with poor optical performance is used, it is compact and easy to read. An excellent printing device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of printing in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the printing mechanism when checking printed characters through a prism lens.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a printing mechanism of a typewriter.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional typewriter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Platen 7 Carriage 9 Ribbon cassette 11 Dizzy wheel 12 Hammer unit 21 Prism lens 23 Arm 33 Printed characters

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A printing apparatus in which a carriage having a printing mechanism mounted thereon reciprocates along a platen, wherein a prism lens and a prism lens are provided on the carriage to support the prism lens immediately above a printing position on the platen. And a supporting member provided therein. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the prism lens is rotatably supported about an axis parallel to the platen as a fulcrum. 3. The prism lens covers from the fulcrum of the support member to a part of an upper surface of an ink cartridge mounted on the carriage, and a proximity position close to a printing position on the platen, and the ink. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the printer is rotatable to an open position that opens the upper part of the cartridge.