JPH10258553A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print corresponding to various sheets by providing first, second and third conveying passages for conveying a sheet from side, below and above a platen to a printing head in a mechanical unit for driving to print, and providing first to third sheet insertion ports corresponding to the passages in a case. SOLUTION: A mechanical unit 71 is contained in a case of a printer body 51, and a first sheet conveying passage 78a, second sheet conveying passage 78b and third sheet conveying passage 78c are formed corresponding to a first sheet insertion port 66a, second sheet insertion port 66b and third sheet insertion port 66c provided in the case in the unit 71. For example, a rolled sheet in which a thermosensitive surface is formed inside is wound on a platen 73 via the port 66c and passage 78c. And, in the case of the rolled sheet in which the thermosensitive surface is formed outside, the rolled sheet is wound counterclockwise, raised upward, and then inserted from the port 66c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a configuration of a paper insertion port most suitable for a portable small line thermal printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of portable information terminal devices for inputting and displaying data when conducting business activities on the go, a portable, small and light-weight device driven by printing with a built-in battery. Demand for printers is rapidly increasing. To meet this demand, line thermal printers have become widespread because they are small, lightweight, and easy to handle. Further, with the spread of small printers, demands have arisen to be able to handle a variety of papers such as roll paper having a heat-sensitive surface wrapped around inside or outside, and form paper for printing a plurality of sheets simultaneously.

However, there is no printer that can handle various types of paper as described above, and the degree of freedom in selecting a printer to be used and paper has been limited.

Hereinafter, problems of the conventional example will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 and 12 are schematic sectional views of a printing mechanism in a conventional printer. FIG.
1, the printing paper 15 is inserted from a first paper insertion opening 22 opened on the right side of the case 21 as shown by an arrow A, wound around the platen 5, and pinched by the line thermal type printing head 6. After printing is performed based on an instruction from a print control unit (not shown), the paper discharge port 2 opened on the upper surface of the case 21 in the direction indicated by arrow B.
4 to be discharged. As the printing paper 15 inserted from the first paper insertion slot, generally, roll paper having a heat-sensitive surface on the outside is used.

Next, in FIG. 12, the printing paper 15 is
The paper is inserted from a second paper insertion opening opened in the lower surface of the case 21, wound around the platen 5, printed while being held by the print head 6, and then discharged from the paper discharge opening. When printing is performed by inserting the printing paper 15 from the second paper insertion slot 23, the printing paper
Since the deformation of No. 5 is small, it is possible to print by inserting a printing paper having high rigidity.

[0006]

As described above, in the related art, a first paper insertion slot from the side of the printer and a second insertion slot from the bottom of the printer are conventionally provided as insertion slots for printing paper. It was difficult to print a roll paper having a heat-sensitive surface formed inside.

In the first insertion slot, roll paper is usually used as printing paper, and a roll paper holder for holding the roll paper is attached to the first insertion slot. If the roll paper holder is attached and you want to print a cut sheet or the like, you need to remove the roll paper holder and insert it into the first paper insertion slot, or insert it from the second paper insertion slot on the bottom of the printer. Was. However, for example, when the printer is placed on a desk, paper can be inserted only through the first paper insertion slot, so it is difficult to insert printing paper such as a cut sheet. there were.

[0008] The present invention has a simple structure and can be used for various types of paper such as roll paper wound with the heat-sensitive surface on the outside, roll paper wound with the heat-sensitive surface on the inside, highly rigid label paper, and cut-sheet paper. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of printing on paper.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer comprising: a frame; a platen rotatably supported by the frame; and a platen for conveying a sheet; a print head for printing the sheet while pressing the sheet; A mechanical unit for performing printing drive having a paper discharge path for discharging paper printed on the print head, a print control unit for controlling printing of the mechanical unit, and a case accommodating the mechanical unit and the print control unit A first unit in which the paper is wound around a lower portion of the platen from a side of the platen and is conveyed to the print head.
A paper transport path, a second paper transport path in which the paper is wound around the platen from below the platen and transported to the print head, and a paper transport path from above the platen to the side of the platen And a third paper transport path that is wound around the lower part and transported to the print head. The case includes the first paper transport path, the second paper transport path, and the third paper transport path.
A first paper insertion slot, a second paper insertion slot, and a third paper insertion slot are provided corresponding to the paper transport path. In the printer according to the present invention, the case is provided with a locking portion for enabling connection between the printer and another device. The printer according to the present invention is provided with a strap locking portion for enabling a strap to be attached to the case to prevent the printer from dropping and being damaged. The printer according to the present invention is provided with an accommodating portion for accommodating a driving battery for enabling a printing operation when the printer is carried and used. In the printer according to the present invention, a locking portion of a roll paper holder for storing roll paper is provided on a forming surface of the first paper insertion opening of the case formed by the first paper insertion opening of the case. The roll paper holder forms a paper guide for inserting a printing paper from the third paper insertion slot in a state where the roll paper holder having the corresponding locking portion is mounted on the roll paper holder. In the printer according to the present invention, the print head is a line thermal type print head.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a printer main body in one use mode of one embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the roll paper holder is separated from the roll paper holder. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the roll paper holder is mounted on the pudding main body. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer main body viewed from the lower surface side.

In FIG. 1, a case 61 of the printer main body 51 includes a lower case 62, an upper case 63, and a mechanical unit cover 64, and accommodates a mechanical unit 71 and a print control unit 81, which will be described later. The paper guide 65 is rotatably supported at the end of the mechanical unit cover 64, and is locked so as to cover the rear end surface of the case 61 in FIG. The paper guide 65 is provided with an opening 65a communicating with a first insertion opening 66a to be described later, a first locking hole 65b for mounting the roll paper holder 52, and both ends of a second locking hole 65c. (The right end is not shown). The mechanical unit cover 64 has a third
The paper insertion opening 66c is opened, and the paper discharge opening 67 is opened in parallel with the third paper insertion opening 66c. The left side surface portion 61a of the case 61 is provided with a platen knob 73a for manually operating 73 shown in FIG. 4 and a pressing operation lever 77 for operating pressing of the print head 74 shown in FIG. A cut-out portion 61 a of a case 61 is provided at the left rear corner of the printer body 51, and strap pins 69 are supported at both ends by a lower case 62 and an upper case 63.
Is provided. By attaching a strap (not shown) to the strap pin 69, it is possible to prevent the strap pin 69 from being damaged by dropping when the printer main body 51 is operated by hand.

In FIG. 2, the roll paper holder 52 includes a locking portion 52a and a locking portion 52b shown in FIG.
It is mounted on the printer body 51 by being locked in the locking hole.

In FIG. 3, a second paper insertion slot 66b is formed in the lower surface of the lower case 62 so as to be horizontally long. A concave portion 62a is formed in the lower case 62, and the concave portion 62a is chargeable for driving printing. Batteries are installed. At the substantially central portion of the lower case 62, two locking holes 68, which are locking portions for locking the printer main body 51 to another device (not shown) or the like, are provided side by side. The locking holes 68 connect the printer main body 51 to other devices,
Can be attached to a holder or the like that holds the.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. In FIG. 4, a mechanical unit 71 includes a frame 72 that supports the entire mechanical unit 71, a platen 73 that is rotatably supported by the frame 72 and extends in a cylindrical shape, and a shaft that is also rotatably mounted on the frame 72. A line thermal type print head 74 supported in parallel with the platen 73, a press spring 75 of the print head 74 disposed on the back of the print head 74, and a pressing force by bending the press spring 75. A pressing cam 76 to be generated, and a pressing cam shaft 76a to which the pressing cam 76 is fixed and which is rotatably supported on the frame 72 so as to be integrally rotatable with the pressing cam 76 are provided. The mechanical unit 71 has a first paper insertion opening 66a, a second paper insertion opening 66b, and a third paper insertion opening 66c provided in the case 61.
A paper transport path 78a, a second paper transport path 78b, and a third paper transport path 78c are formed. Also, each paper transport path 7
8a, 78b and 78c have a first paper sensor 79a and a second paper sensor 79b for detecting that a paper has been inserted.
And a third paper sensor 79c.

In FIG. 4, a drive wheel train (not shown) attached to one end of the platen 73, a drive motor (not shown) for driving the platen 73 via the drive wheel train, and the other end of the platen 73 , Platen knob 73a shown in FIG.
Is attached. Further, the paper guide 65 is pivoted rightward in FIG. 4 around a paper guide projection (not shown) as a support shaft, and is tilted upward at a position (not shown) near the third paper insertion port 66 c of the mechanical unit cover 64. And functions as a paper guide when paper is inserted from the third insertion slot.

FIG. 5 shows a roll paper having a heat-sensitive surface inside,
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2 showing a sheet conveyance path when the sheet is inserted from a sheet insertion port 66c;
The two locking portions 52a and 52b are locked in a first locking hole 65b and a second locking hole 65c (shown in FIG. 1) provided in the printer main body 51, and the roll paper holder 52 is mounted on the printer main body 51. It is installed. FIG. 5 shows a case where the third paper insertion slot 66c is used. Roll paper 91a
While being stored in the roll paper holder 52, the third paper insertion port 66 c and the third paper conveyance path 78 c
The print head 74 is wound around the platen 73 through the print head 74 and printed on the heat-sensitive surface inside the roll paper 91a according to the print control of the print control unit.
7 and is discharged in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when the roll paper 91a is changed from the roll paper 91b shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the roll paper 91b is wound counterclockwise, and after being lifted upward from the lower part of the roll paper holder 52 as indicated by the arrow A, the third paper insertion port 66c is formed.
More inserted. In this case, the outer heat-sensitive surface of the roll paper 91b is in contact with the print head 74.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which, when the roll paper holder 52 is mounted on the printer body 51, the roll paper stored in the roll paper holder 52, for example, paper other than the roll paper 91a is printed. It is sectional drawing. The print paper 91c is inserted from the upper part of the roll paper holder 52 through the third paper insertion opening 66c as shown by the arrow A, and then is sent to the print head 74 through the third paper transport path 78c to be printed. .

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when the roll paper 91d having a heat-sensitive surface formed on the outside and wound counterclockwise is stored in the roll paper holder 52, and printing is performed from the first paper insertion slot 66a. In this case, FIG.
It is almost the same as

FIG. 9 shows a printing paper 91e having a heat-sensitive surface facing upward.
Is a cross-sectional view when printing is performed by inserting from the second paper insertion slot 66b. This case is almost the same as FIG. 12 described in the section of the prior art.

FIG. 10 shows a label paper holder 53 for printing a highly rigid label paper or the like, and a roll paper holder 52.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view when attached to the printer main body 51 in place of FIG. Highly rigid label paper can be used as the second
It is desirable to select the second paper transport path 78b from the paper insertion port 66b. 10, the label paper 91f is inserted from the second paper insertion port 66b and sent from the platen 73 to the print head 74 via the second paper conveyance path 78b as shown by the arrow A, and Discharged in the direction.

[0022]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer comprising: a frame; a platen rotatably supported by the frame; and a platen for conveying a sheet; a print head for printing on the sheet while pressing the sheet; A mechanical unit for performing print driving having a paper discharge path for discharging printed paper,
In a printer comprising a print control unit for controlling printing of the mechanical unit, and a case for accommodating the mechanical unit and the print control unit, the paper is wound around a lower portion of the platen from a side of the platen. A first paper conveyance path which is conveyed to the print head and
A second paper transport path in which the paper is wound from below the platen on the side of the platen and transported to the print head; and the paper is wound from above the platen and below the platen from the side. And a third paper transport path that is transported to the print head.
The first paper insertion port, the second paper insertion port, and the third paper insertion port corresponding to the paper conveyance path, the second paper conveyance path, and the third paper conveyance path are provided. Insertion from the optimal insertion slot can be selected accordingly. In the printer according to the present invention, the case is provided with a locking portion for enabling connection of another device to the present printer, so that a portable information terminal can be connected to the present printer to be integrally operated or mounted. It can be attached to the body via the device. The printer according to the present invention is provided with a strap locking portion for attaching a strap for preventing the printer from being damaged when the printer is dropped on the case. By wrapping the strap around the operator's hand or arm when working while holding it in the operator's hand, it is possible to prevent damage when the printer is dropped. Since the printer in the present invention is provided with an accommodating portion for accommodating a driving battery for carrying a printing operation by carrying the printer,
This printer has been made portable. In the printer according to the present invention, a locking portion of a roll paper holder for storing roll paper is provided on a forming surface of the first paper insertion opening of the case formed by the first paper insertion opening of the case. In a state where the roll paper holder having the corresponding locking portion is mounted on the roll paper holder,
As a paper guide for inserting print paper from the paper insertion slot is used.
The printing paper can be easily inserted from the third paper insertion slot. In the printer according to the present invention, since the print head is a line thermal type print head, the printer is small, lightweight and portable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a printer main body and a roll paper holder are not mounted in one use mode of one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a roll paper holder is mounted on the pudding body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer body of FIG. 1 viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the paper conveyance when a roll paper having a heat-sensitive surface on the inside is inserted through a third paper insertion slot, and is BB in FIG. 2;
Sectional view.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the sheet conveyance when a roll sheet having a heat-sensitive surface on the outside is inserted through a third sheet insertion slot, and is BB in FIG. 2;
Sectional view.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2, showing paper conveyance when a print paper is inserted from the outside of the roll paper holder through a third paper insertion slot.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2 showing sheet conveyance when a roll sheet having a heat-sensitive surface on the outside is inserted from a first sheet insertion slot.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating sheet conveyance when a print sheet is inserted from a second sheet insertion slot in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a paper transport path when a label paper holder is mounted in place of the roll paper holder from FIG. 5 and label paper is inserted from a second paper insertion slot.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a sheet conveyance from a first insertion port in the related art.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a sheet conveyance from a second insertion port in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 51 Printer body 52 Roll paper holder 53 Label paper holder 61 Case 62 Lower case 63 Upper case 64 Mechanical unit cover 65 Paper guide 66a First paper insertion port 66b Second paper insertion port 66c Third paper insertion port 67 Paper discharge port 68 Stop hole 69 Strap pin 71 Mechanical unit 72 Frame 73 Platen 74 Print head 75 Press spring 76 Press cam 76a Press cam shaft 77 Press operation lever 78a First paper transport path 78b Second paper transport path 78c Third paper transport path 79a First 1 paper sensor 79b 2nd paper sensor 79c 3rd paper sensor 91a Roll paper 91b Roll paper 91c Print paper 91d Roll paper 91e Print paper 91f Label paper

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A frame, and rotatably supported by the frame,
A mechanical unit for performing a printing drive including a platen for transporting the paper, a print head for printing on the paper while pressing the paper, and a paper discharge path for discharging the paper printed on the print head; A printer comprising: a print control unit that controls printing of a unit; and a case that houses the mechanical unit and the print control unit, wherein the paper is wound around a lower portion of the platen from a side of the platen. A first paper transport path that is transported to the print head and is transported to the print head; a second paper transport path where the paper is wound from below the platen around a side of the platen and transported to the print head; A third paper transport path that is wound from above the platen from the side of the platen to be transported to the print head from above the platen; The first sheet conveying path, a first sheet insertion port corresponding to the second sheet transport path and the third paper transport path, the second
A printer comprising a paper insertion slot and a third paper insertion slot. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said case is provided with a locking portion for enabling connection between said printer and another device. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the case is provided with a strap locking portion for attaching a strap for preventing the printer from dropping. 4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a storage portion for storing a driving battery for enabling a printing operation of the printer when the printer is carried and used. 5. A locking portion of a roll paper holder for storing roll paper is provided on a surface of the case where the first paper insertion opening of the case is formed, the locking portion corresponding to the locking portion. The roll paper holder forms a paper guide for inserting a printing paper from the third paper insertion slot in a state where the roll paper holder having the locking portion is attached to the roll paper holder. The printer according to claim 1, wherein 6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said print head is a line thermal print head.