JPH08300773A - Optical data communication device and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a printer and a data communication device high in the degree of freedom of the arrangement of a printing data transmission means. CONSTITUTION: The optical communication adaptor 51 of a printer performing printing on the basis of the printing data transmitted from a printing data transmission means by optical communication is directly attached to a printer main body 11 in a detachable manner through a connector and a transmission and reception part 55 receiving printing data is provided to the optical communication adaptor 51 through a shaft 57 in a directionally adjustable manner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical data communication device and a printer having an optical data communication function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printers for personal computers have been developed with an emphasis on space saving and portability. Such a printer does not have a specific installation location,
Used by placing it on a desk, etc. when necessary. in this case,
Since the print data is supplied from a personal computer, a portable data communication device, etc., an interface and a communication means for connecting the personal computer etc. and the printer are required.

In recent years, as a communication means which does not use a cable, an infrared light communication means has attracted attention. In this type of optical communication means, each of a transmitter and a receiver includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and these light emitting element and light receiving element transmit and receive print data by a predetermined protocol. Here, the conventional receiving unit is fixed to the printer body. However, since infrared rays have directivity, the transmitting section must be positioned within a certain light receiving angle range with respect to the light receiving section. Therefore, the printer and the personal computer cannot be oriented in arbitrary directions, which is inconvenient.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a data communication device and a printer having a high degree of freedom in installing a printer and print data transmitting means in communication means for communicating print data by optical communication.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 which achieves this object is an optical data communication apparatus for a printer for printing based on print data transmitted by optical communication from a print data transmitting means, wherein the optical data The communication device is characterized in that it is directly attachable to and detachable from the printer.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer that prints based on print data transmitted by optical communication from print data transmitting means, wherein the receiving unit of the optical data communication device that receives the print data is directed to the printer. The feature is that it is attached so that it can be adjusted. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical data communication device of a printer that prints based on print data transmitted by optical communication from a print data transmission means, wherein the optical data communication device can be directly attached to and detached from the printer. The optical data communication device for receiving the print data is attached to the adapter so as to be adjustable in direction.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a printer and a communication adapter to which the printer communication means of the present invention is applied.

The printer 10 is a thermal line printer, and has a paper feed port 13 on the upper surface of the printer body 11.
Is provided, and a paper discharge port 15 is provided on the front surface of the printer body 11. Then, on the right side surface of the printer body 11,
A connector (port) 17 for receiving print data is provided. On the top surface of the printer body 11, a power button 19 and an LED 21 for displaying the function of the printer are provided.
Is provided. Although not shown, the printer main body 11 is provided with components and circuits necessary for printing, such as a printing mechanism having a thermal head, a battery, a print control circuit, and a print data communication circuit, as is well known.

The printer body 11 is equipped with an optical communication adapter 51 for performing print data communication with a personal computer 31 (see FIG. 2) as print data transmitting means. The printer 10 is the optical communication adapter 5
Printing is performed based on the print data received via 1. This optical communication adapter 51 includes an adapter body 53.
And an upper cover 55 attached to the adapter body 53. A transmitting / receiving unit (light emitting / receiving unit) 57 as a receiving unit is rotatably mounted via a rotary shaft 59 in a storage space formed by the adapter body 53 and the upper cover 55.

The transmitter / receiver 57 has a tip surface (free end surface)
Infrared light emitting element (infrared light emitting diode, infrared LED)
61 and an infrared light receiving element (photodiode) 63, and an infrared light emitting diode 61 and a photodiode 63.
An infrared filter 65 is attached in front of the. The photodiode 63 receives the optical data output from the personal computer 31 as an infrared pulse signal and converts it into an electrical signal, and the infrared light emitting diode 61 emits predetermined response data as an infrared pulse signal. There are various optical communication protocols, and the present embodiment is configured according to these protocols.

On the side surface of the adapter body 53, the connector 1
A connector 67 that is attached to and detached from the connector 7 is provided. By fitting these connectors 17 and 67, the optical communication adapter 5
1 is directly attached to the printer body 11. A cable 69 drawn from the transmitting / receiving unit 57 is attached to the connector 67.
Is connected. The cable 69 is drawn out of the transmitting / receiving unit 57 from the lower end surface of the rotating shaft 59 and is connected to the connector 67. Further, on the outer surface of the upper cover 55, a display LED 71 for displaying the communication status is provided.

The rotating shaft 59 of the transmitter / receiver 59 is used for the transmitter / receiver 5
7 protrudes from the upper and lower surfaces, and the respective protruding portions are rotatably fitted in the shaft hole 54 formed in the adapter body 53 and the bearing recessed portion 56 formed in the upper cover 55. The transmitter / receiver 57 has a rotary shaft 59 as an axis.
It is rotatably supported in the range of 180 °. In the initial state, the transmitting / receiving unit 57 is housed in a housing space 58 formed by the adapter body 53 and the cover 55, and forms the appearance of the optical communication adapter 51 integrated with the printer body 11 and the cover 55. . The infrared filter 65 faces the front of the printer 10 when the adapter 51 is attached to the printer body 11.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the usage of this embodiment.
And FIG. 3 will be described. When printing,
First, the optical communication adapter 51 is attached to the printer body 11 (see FIG. 2). Then, the personal computer 31 as the print data transmitting means is connected to the optical communication transmitting / receiving unit (light emitting / receiving unit).
33 is placed toward the optical communication adapter 51. Then, the transmission / reception unit 57 (infrared filter 6 of the printer communication adapter
5) is rotated toward the optical communication transmitting / receiving unit 33. This completes the connection between the printer 10, the optical communication adapter 51, and the personal computer 31. After that, the main switch 19
Is operated to turn on the power, and the personal computer 31 is operated to start printing. Then, the optical communication according to a predetermined protocol starts from the optical communication transmitting / receiving unit 33 of the personal computer 31,
The display LED 71 lights up to indicate that print data communication is in progress.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the printer 1
Even if 0 is placed in any direction, print data communication becomes possible by directing the transmitting / receiving unit 57 of the optical communication adapter 51 to the optical communication transmitting / receiving unit 33 of the personal computer 31, which is very convenient.

Further, in this embodiment, the transmitter / receiver 57 can be completely housed in the space formed by the adapter body 53 and the upper cover 55, and in the housed state, these are the external appearances of the optical communication adapter 51. Since the optical communication adapter 51 is not used, the storage property is improved when the optical communication adapter 51 is not used. Further, in the present embodiment, the appearance of the optical communication adapter 51 is formed so as to match the appearance of the printer body 51 when mounted on the printer body 11.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. The optical communication adapter 151 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 157.
Is provided so that the direction can be adjusted (rotated) while being exposed from the adapter body 153. The optical communication adapter 151 has the same circuit configuration as that of the above-described embodiment, such as having the communication display LED 171.

In the above embodiments, the transmitting / receiving section is configured to rotate in the horizontal plane in the normal use state. However, the transmitting / receiving section may be rotatable in the vertical plane by the horizontal axis, and the transmitting / receiving section is projected from the adapter body or The structure may be such that it can be pulled out, and in a state where it is projected or pulled out, it can be rotated horizontally and vertically by a pivot shaft. Further, in this embodiment, the movable transmitting / receiving unit is provided in the adapter separate from the printer body, but it may be provided in the printer body.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention of claim 1, the optical data communication device for receiving the print data transmitted by the optical communication from the print data transmitting means is attached to and detached from the printer body. The flexible structure improves the storage and portability of the printer. According to the second aspect of the invention, since the printer for printing based on the print data transmitted by the optical communication from the print data transmitting means is provided with the optical data receiving section so that the direction can be adjusted,
The printer body can be received by adjusting the direction of the receiving unit after the printer body is placed in a desired direction and position, and the installation location and the installation direction of the printer body can be selected, and usability is improved. Further, the invention according to claim 3 is such that an optical data communication device for receiving print data transmitted by optical communication from the print data transmitting means is detachably attached to the printer body, and a receiving section of the optical data communication device. Since the printer is formed so that its direction can be adjusted, the storage and portability are improved, and the printer body can be easily installed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exploded configuration of an optical communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a relationship with a printer body.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a usage state in which the same embodiment is mounted on a printer body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state in which the same embodiment is mounted on a printer body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 51 optical communication adapter 53 adapter body 55 upper cover 57 transmitter / receiver 58 storage space 59 rotating shaft

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An optical data communication device for a printer, which prints based on print data transmitted by optical communication from a print data transmission means, wherein the optical data communication device is formed so as to be directly attachable to and detachable from the printer. An optical data communication device characterized by. 2. A printer for printing on the basis of print data transmitted by optical communication from a print data transmitting means, wherein a receiving portion of an optical data communication device for receiving the print data is attached to the printer so that the direction of the printer can be adjusted. A printer characterized by having done. 3. An optical data communication device for receiving print data transmitted by optical communication from a print data transmitting means, wherein the optical data communication device is formed so as to be directly attachable to and detachable from a printer. An optical data communication device, wherein a receiving part of an optical data communication device for receiving is attached to the adapter so that the direction can be adjusted. 4. The optical data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the optical data communication device is provided with a connector that can be directly connected to and detached from a print data input connector of the printer. . 5. The optical data communication device according to claim 3, wherein the receiver is rotatably formed via a shaft. 6. The optical data communication device according to claim 3, wherein the optical data communication device is formed as an optical communication adapter that can be attached to and detached from a printer, and the receiving unit is rotatably supported by an adapter body via a shaft. An optical data communication device characterized by: 7. The optical data communication device according to claim 3, wherein the optical data communication device is formed as an optical communication adapter that can be attached to and detached from a printer, and the receiving unit is rotatably supported by a main body of the optical communication adapter via a rotation shaft. And is formed to be receivable in a storage space formed by the main body and the cover of the optical communication adapter in a storage state and a state of exiting the storage space,
An optical data communication device characterized by.