JPH11245492A - Video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce in size a video printer and to effectively lock it by decreasing in thickness a locking mechanism of a door. SOLUTION: The video printer comprises a vertically moving locking button 18 to be locked by a locking pawl 22, a first arm plate 24 laterally moved and projected from a door to be inserted into a hole of a housing, a second arm plate 25 laterally moved and projected from the door reversely to the late 24 to be inserted into the hole of the housing, and a rotating plate 23 rotated at the shaft as a center to lock the late 24 to one of the arms extended vertically of a shaft, to lock the plate 25 to the other of the arms extended vertically and to engage the button 18 to the arm extended to the right or left of the shaft. When the button 18 is locked, the plate 23 is rotated in response to the movement of the button 18, and hence the plates 24, 25 are cooperatively slid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a video printer suitable for carrying and carrying, and capable of performing a printing process at an arbitrary place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable personal computers and word processors called notebooks and books which can be used at any time and place have become widespread, and printers connected to these for printing have become widespread. ing. On the other hand, a video printer specialized in image printing to output images handled by the personal computer described above, images captured from a video tape recorder, a television receiver, or the like, or images captured by an electronic still camera or the like. However, miniaturization is desired due to its usage form and the like. Such video printers
Due to its use, it often uses postcard size or business card size recording paper, which is smaller than the size of recording paper (A4 size, B5 size, etc.) printed by a normal printer. In some cases, Therefore, it is conceivable to perform printing by incorporating the recording paper to be printed in the housing of the video printer.

[0003]

As described above, when the recording paper to be printed is incorporated in the housing of the video printer, the lid provided on the housing of the video printer is opened, and the recording paper is incorporated therein. After that, close the lid and lock the lid. However, in order to make this lock mechanism strong enough to have no practical problem, there is a problem that the lock mechanism becomes large and it is difficult to reduce the size of the housing of the video printer.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a video camera having a housing and a plate-like door portion rotatably mounted on the housing so as to rotate around one side as an axis. A printer, wherein the door portion slides up and down, and a lock button that is locked by a locking claw, and slides in a left and right direction orthogonal to a sliding direction of the lock button, protruding from the door portion, A first arm plate inserted into a hole provided in the housing; a first arm plate that slides in the left-right direction, protrudes from the door in a direction opposite to the first arm plate, and is inserted into a hole provided in the housing. A second arm plate, an arm that rotates about an axis, and extends in the vertical direction of the axis, and an arm that extends in the right or left direction, one of the arms extending in the vertical direction First
A rotating plate that locks the arm plate of the first arm, the second arm of the arm that extends in the vertical direction, and the lock button engages the arm that extends in the right or left direction. A spring that urges the second and second arm plates in a direction to be inserted into a hole provided in the housing when the lock button is locked; A video printer characterized in that the first and second arm plates are slid in conjunction with each other by rotating a rotation plate about the axis.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a video printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink paper cartridge applied to a video printer according to the present invention.
FIGS. 2A to 2F are diagrams for explaining ink paper housed in the ink paper cartridge shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a description will be given using a thermal transfer type video printer.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, an ink paper cartridge 1 applied to a video printer according to the present invention comprises:
An ink paper 3 using hot-melt ink is wound around a supply reel 4 and a take-up reel 5 and housed in a cartridge 2 serving as an exterior component. This ink paper cartridge 1
Is an end-face type having a plurality of heating elements along a rod-shaped glass member attached to one end of a thin substrate, as described later, in accordance with the business card size of the recording paper 6 (FIGS. 4 to 7). It is formed in a small size in accordance with the thermal head 36 (FIGS. 5 to 7). The ink paper cartridge 1 is mounted so as to be replaceable from an ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening 11b1 formed on a rear surface 11b of an outer housing 11 of a video printer 10 (FIG. 3) described later with the direction of arrow N at the top.

Here, the ink paper 3 housed in the cartridge 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The ink paper 3 is formed by sequentially and repeatedly applying a plurality of heat-meltable inks in a longitudinal direction on a base film surface formed of a polyester thin film material or the like.
Since the heat-meltable ink is used for the ink paper 3, a porous recording paper 6 (FIGS. 4 to 7) having good transfer performance is used in correspondence with the heat-meltable ink.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the ink paper 3 is obtained by sequentially and repeatedly applying three color inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C).
Recording paper 6 (FIGS. 4 to 7) described later as shown in FIG.
In order to undercoat plain paper before printing when plain paper is used, a transparent undercoat ink (UC) is added before the plurality of inks (Y, M, C). As shown in FIG. 2C, in order to overcoat the recording paper 6 after printing as shown in FIG. 2C, a transparent overcoat ink (O) is provided after the plurality of inks (Y, M, C). .C) or black (BK) in the combination of FIGS. 2 (A) to 2 (C).
2 (D) to 2 (F) by adding the above inks.

Further, in order to detect the cue position of each ink color on the ink paper 3, for example, as shown in FIG.
M3 is provided, similarly to FIGS.
In the case of (F), an ink color detection mark is provided, but illustration is omitted.

Next, the video printer 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the video printer according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the video printer according to the present invention viewed from the bottom side, and FIG. 3A shows a state in which the recording paper door is closed. (B)
FIG. 5A shows a state in which the recording paper door is opened.
6B is a bottom view and a side sectional view showing the video printer according to the present invention viewed from the bottom side, and FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the video printer according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the external appearance of the video printer 10 according to the present invention is a rectangular parallelepiped having a height and width of 13 mm.
It has a small size of 0 × 94 × 36 (mm), and is provided with a power supply battery inside so as to be highly portable.

In the video printer 10, the outer casing 1
1 is formed in a box shape, and an ink paper cartridge 1 (FIG. 1) is provided on the rear surface 11b side facing the front surface 11a in front of the figure.
11b1 for inserting and removing the ink paper cartridge
An openable and closable ink paper door 12 that covers the ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening 11b1;
Battery insertion / removal opening 11b2 for inserting / removing (FIG. 6)
And an openable and closable battery door 13 that covers the battery insertion / removal opening 11b2.

A plurality of operation buttons 1 for operating the video printer 10 are provided on the top surface 11 c of the exterior housing 11.
4 and a liquid crystal panel 15 for displaying a printing state.

A recording paper door 16 is attached via a hinge 17 to a recording paper door 16 through a hinge 17 at a recording paper insertion opening 11d1 opened at a bottom surface 11d facing the top surface 11c of the exterior housing 11.

One side of the housing (left side in FIG. 3)
A recording paper discharge port 11e for discharging the recording paper 6 to 11e
1 is opened, and the battery 3 is placed inside the other side (the right side in FIG. 3) 11f opposite to the one side 11e.
0 (FIG. 6) is provided.

Here, the recording paper 6 is stored in the video printer 10.
4A and 4B, the lock on the recording paper door 16 by the lock button 18 is released with the bottom surface 11d side of the exterior housing 11 facing upward, as shown in FIGS. When the recording paper door 16 is opened, the recording paper storage unit upper plate 11g faces the recording paper insertion opening 11d1 opened on the bottom surface 11d.
A recording paper storage portion 11g1 is formed between the recording paper storage portion upper plate 11g and the closed recording paper door 16 in which a plurality of business card sized recording papers 6 can be stacked and stored. I have. That is, the closed recording paper door 16 is provided to face the recording paper storage portion 11g1 storing the recording paper 6.

A half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 31 is provided on the upper side of the recording paper storage section 11g so as to face the recording paper storage section 11g1 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. Have been. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A, the paper feed roller 31 is provided to be offset to one end of the recording paper 6 in the width direction.

FIG. 4B and FIGS. 5A and 5B
As shown in FIG.
A slit member 32 having a slit for separating the stacked recording papers 6 one by one is provided in front of the sheet feeding direction. Since the slit member 32 is provided in the vicinity of one end of the recording paper 6 from the paper feed roller 31 side, the driving force of the paper supply roller 31 to the recording paper 6 causes the slit close to the paper supply roller 31 to move. Since the recording paper 6 can be transmitted to the member 32, the recording paper 6 can be surely separated one by one at the time of paper feeding.

On the other hand, the openable and closable recording paper door 16 has
A cylindrical pressing member 20 in which a compression spring 19 is fitted is mounted via a pressing plate 21 at a position facing the paper feed roller 31. When the recording paper door 16 is closed,
A cylindrical pressing member 20 attached to the recording paper door 16 via the urging force of a compression spring 19 feeds the recording paper 6 to a paper feed roller 31.
Side, so that when the paper feed roller 31 rotates,
The leading end of the recording paper 6 in the paper feeding direction is separated by the slit member 32 by one sheet and is transported in the paper feeding direction.

When the recording paper door 16 is closed, the protruding piece 28 is inserted into a stopper hole 27 provided in the holding plate 21 inside the recording paper door 16.

Further, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, on the downstream side of the slit member 32, a printing direction leading end for detecting the printing direction leading end of the recording paper 6 in order to determine the printing start position of the recording paper 6. A detection sensor 33 is provided, and a pulse motor (not shown) is used to reciprocate the recording paper 6 in the left and right direction (arrows X1 and X2 directions) at a constant speed downstream of the printing direction front end detection sensor 33. ), And a capstan roller 34 that is rotatably driven in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, and is constantly pressed against the capstan roller 34 to follow the recording paper 6 while nipping the recording paper 6 between the capstan roller 34 and the capstan roller 34. A pinch roller 35 is provided.

Further, on the downstream side of the capstan roller 34 and the pinch roller 35, a plurality of heating elements are provided on the back side of the ink color side of the ink paper 3 in the width direction of the ink paper 3 and the recording paper 6. A thermal head 36 is fixedly installed substantially vertically downward, and the thermal head 36
A freely rotatable platen roller 37 can freely move between a retracted position shown by a solid line and a contact position shown by a two-dot chain line via an arm 38 rotated by a cam wheel (not shown). Is provided. At this time, a torsion spring 40 for pressing the platen roller 37 toward the thermal head 36 only at the time of printing is provided on the rotating shaft 39 of the arm 38 supporting the platen roller 37. Therefore, during printing, the platen roller 37 has a structure in which the recording paper 6 and the ink paper 3 are superimposed and can be rotated while being pressed against the thermal head 36.

A cartridge guide 41 and a print direction rear end detection sensor 42 are provided downstream of the thermal head 36 and the platen roller 37 and on the supply reel 4 side of the ink paper cartridge 1.

Here, the cartridge guide 41 is
A cartridge guide portion 41a for guiding the ink paper cartridge 1 at the time of insertion and removal is formed. On the other hand, the printing direction rear end detection sensor 42 detects the printing direction rear end of the recording paper 6 in order to determine the printing end position of the recording paper 6, and is opposed to the cartridge guide / ink paper folding guide 41. And is provided below the recording paper 6.

The above-mentioned components are arranged so that the conveyance path of the recording paper 6 from the feeding of the recording paper 6 to the discharge thereof is substantially straight.

Further, above the platen roller 37, an ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening 1 opened to the front of the drawing.
1b1 (FIG. 3), there is formed an ink paper cartridge accommodating portion for exchangeably mounting the ink paper cartridge 1 described above. In this ink paper cartridge accommodating portion, a cartridge serving as an exterior part of the ink paper cartridge 1 is formed. 2, a supply reel 4 and a take-up reel 5
The supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5 are positioned on both sides of the thermal head 36 that is vertically suspended.

Further, between the paper feed roller 31 and the take-up reel 5 of the ink cartridge 1, a paper feed roller 31 is provided.
And a take-up reel 5 for selectively switching and driving the ink reel take-up reel 5 are provided. Although the detailed illustration of the ink-roll take-up driving means 50 also serving as the paper-feeding-roller driving means is omitted, the oscillating gear oscillating according to the rotation direction of the motor is driven by selectively meshing with the gear train on each driving means side. The transmission of force is switched.

Next, the video printer 10 having the above configuration
The normal operation of printing a color image on the recording paper 6 will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 7A to 7E are diagrams for explaining a normal operation of printing a color image on the recording paper 6 in the video printer according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the video printer 10 is in the initial state, the half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 31 does not come into contact with the uppermost recording paper 6, and Stopped above. Further, the capstan roller 34 connected to the pulse motor (not shown) is stopped, and the pinch roller 35 which is always in pressure contact with the capstan roller 34 is also stopped. The ink paper 3 wrapped between the supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5
Has also stopped. Further, the platen roller 37, which is rotatably supported by an arm 38 that rotates about a shaft 39, is retracted from the thermal head 36 fixedly installed between the supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), the ink is supplied by a paper feeding roller driving means / ink paper winding driving means 50 (FIG. 6) which is switched to a paper feeding roller driving means side in accordance with the rotation direction of a motor (not shown). The paper roller 31 is the uppermost recording paper 6
While rotating in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) while pressing against the paper, only the leading end of the uppermost recording paper 6 in the feeding direction is the slit member 3.
2, the uppermost recording paper 6 is separated from the lower recording paper 6. Then, the paper feed roller 3
The recording paper 6 conveyed in the direction of the arrow X1 in FIG. 1 is rotated substantially clockwise by a pulse motor (not shown) at substantially the same time as the operation of the paper feed roller 31, and a pinch roller 35 driven by the capstan roller 34. Sandwiched between. Also here, the platen roller 37 is retracted from the thermal head 36.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Is completely conveyed in the direction of arrow X1 by the capstan roller 34 and the pinch roller 35,
Although 1 is separated from the uppermost recording paper 6 and stopped, the recording paper 6 continues to be conveyed in the direction of the arrow X1 by the capstan roller 34 and the pinch roller 35, and is conveyed to the opposite side from the leading end of the recording paper 6 in the paper feeding direction. When the printing direction leading end of the recording paper 6 is detected by the printing direction leading end detection sensor 33, the rotation of the capstan roller 34 in the clockwise direction is stopped, and the recording paper 6
Stops in a state where it protrudes greatly from the recording paper discharge port 11e1 formed in the exterior housing 11. Also in this case, since the platen roller 37 is retracted from the thermal head 36, printing on the recording paper 6 is not performed.

Next, as shown in FIG.
When the printing start position is detected, the platen roller 37 pivotally supported by the arm 38 moves to the thermal head 36 side so that the recording paper 6 and the ink paper 3 are overlapped, and the platen roller 37 is rotated by the torsion spring 40. Is pressed toward the thermal head 36 by the urging force. At about the same time,
The capstan roller 34 is rotated counterclockwise by a pulse motor (not shown).
The recording paper sandwiched between the recording paper 4 and the pinch roller 35 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow X2, and is switched to the ink paper take-up driving means according to the rotation direction of a motor (not shown). As the take-up reel 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow Y (counterclockwise) by the means 50 (FIG. 6), the ink paper 3 is taken up. Here, while the ink paper 3 is wound on the take-up reel 5, the first yellow (Y) ink color detection mark M1 (FIG. 2A) is detected by a photo sensor (not shown) and the head of yellow (Y) is detected. Then, the image information corresponding to the first color yellow (Y) is supplied to the thermal head 36.
Printing of the color yellow (Y) starts. During printing of the yellow (Y), the recording paper 6 is moved when the ink paper 3 passes through the thermal head 36 due to the winding tension of the ink paper 3.
Is forcibly peeled off.

The recording paper 6 on which yellow (Y) has been printed is temporarily stored between the next uppermost recording paper 6 and the recording paper storage unit upper plate 11g.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (E), when the printing direction rear end of the first color yellow (Y) recording paper 6 is detected by the printing direction rear end detection sensor 42, the first color yellow (Y) is detected. Since the printing of yellow (Y) is completed, the platen roller 37 immediately moves away from the thermal head 36 and retreats, and the conveyance of the ink paper 3 and the recording paper 6 also stops. Thereafter, the operation returns to the operation described with reference to FIG.
The operations of (C) to (E) of FIG. 7 are repeated to print magenta (M) for the second color and cyan (C) for the third color, and a color image is obtained on the recording paper 6 when printing is completed. .

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism for opening and closing the recording paper door 16 described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a locking mechanism of the recording paper door of the video printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the locking mechanism of the recording paper door of the video printer according to the present invention as viewed from the side.

FIGS. 8A and 9A are views showing a state in which the recording paper door 16 is opened, and FIGS.
(B) is a diagram showing a state in which the recording paper door 16 is closed.

As shown in FIG. 8A, when viewed from the back side of the recording paper door 16 which can be opened and closed on the bottom surface of the outer casing 11, the lock button 18 is positioned above the back surface (the front surface in the figure). Is provided with a stopper claw 22, and a notch 18a is provided at the lower right. The lock button 18 is slidable downward (in the direction of arrow E1) along a rail (not shown). The recording paper door 16 is sandwiched between the lock buttons 18.
A notch 24a is provided on the right side of the arm plate 24 provided on the left side of the rear surface of the vehicle, and can be slid leftward (in the direction of arrow F1) along a rail (not shown). Further, the arm plate 25 provided on the right side of the back surface of the recording paper door 16 is provided with a cutout 25a on the left side, and can be slid rightward (in the direction of arrow F2) along a rail (not shown).
Further, one end of a spring 26 for urging a force to slide in the right direction (the direction of arrow F2) is attached to the arm plate 25, and the other end of the spring 26 is attached to the recording paper door 16.

Further, the above-mentioned lock button 18, arm plate 24, and arm plate 24 are provided on a rotation plate 23, which is provided between the arm plates 24 and 25 and is rotatably mounted around a central axis. Arm portions 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c are provided so as to overlap with 25. The notch 18a provided on the lock button 18 has an arm 23
A pin 29a provided at the tip of a is inserted. Similarly, a pin 29b provided at the tip of the arm 23b is inserted into a notch 24a provided in the arm plate 24. Further, the notch 25 provided on the arm plate 25
A pin 29c provided at the tip of the arm portion 23c is inserted into a. As described in detail above, the lock button 18 that slides in the vertical direction, the rotation plate 23 that rotates by engaging with the lock button 18, and the rotation The lock button 18 and the arm plates 24, 2 are configured by the arm plates 24, 25 that slide in the left-right direction and in opposite directions.
Numeral 5 slides in conjunction with the rotation plate 23.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9A, the stopper claw 22 provided on the lock button 18 is locked by the stopper hole 27 provided on the holding plate 21 described with reference to FIG. The lock button 18 does not slide downward, and the arm plate 25 does not move rightward due to the spring 26.

Next, when the recording paper door 16 is closed, FIG.
As shown in (B), the stopper claw 22 is pressed down by the protruding piece 28 formed on the bottom surface of the exterior housing 11, so that the stopper claw 22 comes off from the stopper hole 27. by this,
The arm plate 25 is controlled by the force of the regulated spring 26.
Slides rightward, slides the arm plate 24 leftward via the rotating plate 23, and
Is slid downward, and each component moves as shown in FIG. 8 (B). Note that, in the figure, the portions shown by the dotted lines are the positions of the components before the movement.

As shown in FIG. 8B, when the lock button 18 slides in the direction of arrow E1, the rotating plate 23 rotates counterclockwise about the axis by the urging force of the spring 26.
The arm plates 24 and 25 slide in the directions of arrows F1 and F2, respectively. Therefore, the arm plates 24 and 25 projecting to the left and right of the recording paper door 16 are inserted into the holes provided in the exterior housing 11, so that the locking of the recording paper door 16 is completed.

To release the lock, the lock button 1
8 upward (in the direction of arrow E2) and lock button 18
By locking the stopper claw 22 provided on the holding plate 21 to the stopper hole 27 provided on the holding plate 21, the arm plates 24 and 25 projecting left and right are retracted, and the state shown in FIG. 16 can be released.

[0045]

As described above, according to the video printer of the present invention, the lock mechanism of the door used for the portion for storing the recording paper can be made thinner, so that the size of the video printer can be reduced. And secure locking is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink paper cartridge applied to a video printer according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2F are diagrams for explaining the ink paper housed in the ink paper cartridge shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the video printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the video printer according to the present invention as viewed from a side.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a bottom view of the video printer according to the present invention as viewed from the bottom, and a side sectional view as viewed from the side.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a video printer according to the present invention.

FIGS. 7A to 7E are diagrams for explaining a normal operation of printing a color image on recording paper 6 in the video printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a lock mechanism when the recording paper door of the video printer according to the present invention is opened and closed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the lock mechanism when the recording paper door of the video printer according to the present invention is opened and closed as viewed from the side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink paper cartridge 3 Ink paper 4 Reel 5 Take-up reel 6 Recording paper 10 Video printer 11 Exterior housing 16 Recording paper door 18 Lock button 22 Stopper claw 23 Rotating plate 24, 25 Arm plate 26 Spring 27 Stopper hole 28 Projection Piece 29 Pin 34 Capstan Roller 35 Pinch Roller 36 Thermal Head 37 Platen Roller 50 Feeding Roller Drive Means Ink Paper Winding Drive Means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A video printer, comprising: a housing; and a plate-like door portion rotatably mounted on the housing so as to rotate around one side, wherein the door portion slides up and down. A lock button that is locked by a pawl, a first arm plate that slides in a left-right direction orthogonal to a sliding direction of the lock button, protrudes from the door portion, and is inserted into a hole provided in the housing; A second arm plate that slides in the left-right direction, protrudes from the door portion in a direction opposite to the first arm plate, and is inserted into a hole provided in the housing, and rotates about an axis; An arm extending in the vertical direction of the shaft and an arm extending in the right or left direction, a first arm plate being locked to one of the arms extending in the vertical direction, and extending in the vertical direction. A second arm on the other side of the arm And a rotating plate that engages the lock button with the arm extending in the right or left direction. When the lock button is locked, the first and second arm plates are locked. A spring for urging in a direction to be inserted into a hole provided in the housing, and the first and second by rotating the rotating plate about the axis in accordance with sliding of the lock button.
A video printer characterized in that an arm plate is slid in conjunction therewith.