JP2001232873A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a printer capable of solving a problem of a drive system of a platen roller. A printer (10) of the present invention includes a platen roller (78), a motor (68) for rotating and driving the platen roller (78), and a driving force of the motor (68).
Gears 72A to 72F for transmitting to the apparatus main body 1
2 is attached to an opening / closing cover 18 that is provided to be freely opened and closed. That is, the platen roller 7 is
Eight drive systems are all provided. On the other hand, the device body 12
Is provided with a motor storage 82,
Is closed, the motor 68 is stored in the motor storage 82.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a thermal printer in which a platen roller is mounted on a rotatable opening / closing cover of an apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a portable thermal printer for printing a bar code or the like on a label has a thermal head provided on an apparatus main body, while a platen roller is supported on a rotatable opening / closing cover on the apparatus main body. . Then, by closing the opening / closing cover, the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller, and printing can be performed on the label paper supplied between the thermal head and the platen roller.

In such a printer, a motor for driving the platen roller to rotate is provided in the apparatus main body, and a gear interlocked with the motor and a gear interlocked with the platen roller are used when the open / close cover is closed. By meshing, the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the platen roller.

[0004]

However, in the conventional printer, each time the cover is opened and closed, the gear on the platen side collides with the gear on the motor side, and both gears may be damaged. Was. Further, there is also a disadvantage that if the opening and closing cover is closed in a state where the engagement of both gears is poor, the opening and closing cover cannot be completely closed. Further, since gears are provided on both the opening and closing cover side and the apparatus main body side, there are disadvantages that the number of parts is large and the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can solve the problem of the driving system of the platen roller and can reduce the cost.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer having a platen roller mounted on an opening / closing cover rotatably provided on an apparatus body.
A drive device for rotating and driving the platen roller is provided on the opening / closing cover.

According to the present invention, the drive system for rotating the platen roller is provided in the open / close cover, so that the entire drive system of the platen roller is housed in the open / close cover. Therefore, the driving system components such as gears do not collide with each other and are not damaged by the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing cover.

Further, since the drive system of the platen roller is concentrated on the opening / closing cover, the drive force transmission mechanism is simplified, the drive force can be stably transmitted, and the number of parts can be reduced. . As a result, the cost can be reduced, and the space for the drive system can be reduced, so that the entire device can be downsized.

Further, by providing a storage for accommodating the drive device in the main body of the apparatus, the size of the apparatus can be reduced without impairing the appearance of the entire apparatus.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In this embodiment, an example of a portable thermal printer will be described.

First, a schematic structure of a printer 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a side view of the printer 10 in a posture mounted on an operator.

As shown in these figures, an opening / closing cover 18 bulging in an arc shape is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 12 at a lower portion of the apparatus main body 12. The opening / closing cover 18
When the opening / closing lever 16 is pushed upward, the engagement between the opening / closing cover 18 and the apparatus main body 12 is released, and the opening is opened to the side. When the opening / closing cover 18 is opened, the loading portion of the label paper 14 is exposed inside, and the rolled label paper 14 (see FIG. 4) can be loaded.

A data transmission / reception unit 20 is provided at an upper portion of the apparatus main body 12, and a reception device (not shown) is provided inside a cover 22. When a signal of print data is transmitted from a transmitting unit (not shown) (for example, a handy terminal) by infrared rays or the like, the receiving device receives the signal and transmits the data to the printing unit 58 (see FIG. 4). The receiving device rotates by operating a direction switching lever 24 arranged on the side surface of the device main body 12, and can change its receiving direction. A connector 26 is provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body 12, and print data can be transmitted and received by directly connecting the transmitting means to the connector 26 via a signal cable or the like.

An operation section 30 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12, and a feed button 32, a print button 34, and a status lamp 36 are arranged side by side on the operation section 30. The status lamp 36 is turned on when the data transmission / reception unit 20 receives data.
It is possible to confirm that the print data has been received. The print button 34 is configured as a push button type, and when the print button 34 is pressed, the label paper 14 is supplied to the printing unit 58, and the label is printed by the printing unit 58. The feed button 32 is also of a push button type. By pressing the feed button 32, one label is sent out without printing the label paper 14.

A label paper outlet 40 is provided on the front of the apparatus body 12, and a printing section 58 (see FIG. 4) is provided inside the label paper outlet 40. The printing unit 58
A thermal head 76 and a platen roller 78,
By supplying the label paper 14 between the thermal head 76 and the platen roller 78, a price, a barcode, and the like are printed (printed). Printed label paper 14
Is discharged from the label paper outlet 40.

A mount release device 42 is provided above the label paper outlet 40. The mount release device 42 slides up and down by reducing the distance between the pair of sandwiching knobs 44. ing. Further, a label take-out port 46 is formed in the backing sheet peeling device 42. When the backing sheet peeling device 42 is slid downward to match the position of the label take-out port 46 and the label paper take-out port 40, the label paper take-out port is formed. The label paper 14 sent out from the label paper 40 is separated from the backing paper by the label paper outlet 40.
The sheet that protrudes from the sheet and is peeled is discharged from the gap between the lower part of the sheet peeling device 42 and the apparatus main body 12.

A holding section 50 for mounting the printer 10 on the body is provided on the back of the apparatus main body 12. The holding plate 52 constituting the holding portion 50 is swingably supported on the back surface of the apparatus main body 12, and the holding portion 52A below the supporting portion is moved toward the apparatus main body 12 by a leaf spring (not shown). Has been energized. Therefore, the pressing portion 52B on the upper side of the supporting portion is pressed against the urging force to make the device body 1
The gap between the holding section 52A and the apparatus main body 12 can be opened by pushing the holding section 52A to the second side. A belt or the like can be sandwiched between them.

The battery cover 54 shown in FIG.
By being slid in the rear direction of the device main body 12, the device becomes rotatable with respect to the device main body 12, and a battery case (not shown) inside the device main body 12 can be exposed.
A battery serving as a power supply of the printer 10 is stored in the battery case. The power of the printer 10 is switched by a power switch 56.

Next, a method of using the printer 10 configured as described above will be described.

First, the open / close cover 18 is opened by sliding the open / close lever 16 upward, and the rolled label paper 14 is set therein, and the open / close cover 18 is closed. Thus, the rolled label paper 14 is stored inside the opening / closing cover 18.

Next, while pressing the pressing portion 52B of the holding portion 50 toward the apparatus main body 12 to widen the gap between the holding portion 52A and the device main body 12, the holding plate 52 is inserted into the inside of the belt of the operator, and the pressing portion 52B is pressed. Release. Thereby, the belt can be held between the holding portion 52A urged by the leaf spring (not shown) and the apparatus main body 12, and the printer 10 can be held by the operator in the posture shown in FIGS. Can be installed.

Next, the power switch 5 on the upper surface of the
After the power is turned on by 6, the direction of the receiving device (not shown) inside the cover 22 is turned to the direction of the transmitting means (not shown) by rotating the direction switching lever 24 on the side surface of the device main body 12. This makes it possible to reliably receive the print data signal from the transmission unit. The status lamp 36 indicates that the print data has been received.
Confirm by turning on, and move on to label printing operation.

The label printing operation is performed by the print button 34.
Is performed by pressing the print button 3
Pressing 4 once prints one label. Label printing is performed based on the received print data,
Unless new print data is received, printing is performed based on the same data. When the printed label is to be automatically peeled from the backing paper, the label peeled off from the backing paper is discharged from the label outlet 46 by sliding the backing paper peeling device 42 downward. Thus, the label printing operation is completed, and the label paper exit 40
Alternatively, the label discharged from the label outlet 46 is taken and attached to a product or the like.

The printer 10 can be used by being installed on a desk or the like. In this case, the apparatus main body 12 is installed with its front face up, and the same operation as described above is performed to print on a label.

Next, the opening / closing cover 1 which is a characteristic part of the present invention.
The peripheral structure of No. 8 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer 10 showing a state in which the opening / closing cover 18 is opened, and FIGS.
1 is a front view and a plan view of the printer 10 of FIG.

As shown in these figures, as shown in FIG.
Is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 12 via an opening / closing shaft 62 which is substantially vertical at the time of mounting, and a column 60 which is substantially horizontal at the time of mounting is vertically suspended on the inner surface of the opening / closing cover 18. . A label guide 66 having a reference surface 70 and a rotatable body 64 rotatably fitted to the column 60 is attached to the column 60. After the label guide 66 slides in the axial direction of the support column 60 and adjusts the position of the reference surface 70,
It is fixed to the support 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the roll-shaped label paper 14 is mounted on a rotating body 64 and supported rotatably, and the end in the width direction abuts the reference surface 70 and is positioned at a predetermined position. Is done.

A platen roller 78 is provided above the column 60.
Are rotatably supported by the opening / closing cover 18. The platen roller 78 is arranged so as to come into contact with the thermal head 76 shown in FIG. 4 when the cover 18 is closed. Therefore, the leading end of the label paper 14 is
When the open / close cover 18 is closed in a state where the label paper 14 is put on the label paper 8, the label paper 14 is sandwiched between the platen roller 78 and the thermal head 76 and pressed. Thereby, the platen roller 78
And a thermal head 76,
It becomes possible to print on labels. Although the mounting structure of the thermal head 76 is not shown,
When the cover is closed, it moves to a printing position in contact with the platen roller 78, and when the opening / closing cover 18 is opened, the opening / closing cover 18 moves to a retracted position retracted from the platen roller 78 by a predetermined distance in conjunction with the open / close lever 16. As a result, the platen roller 78 and the thermal head 76 do not rub when the cover 18 is closed.
4 is prevented from deviating from a predetermined position.

Above the thermal head 76, the motor 6
8 is attached to the opening / closing cover 18. Motor 68
Is configured to transmit a driving force to the platen roller 78 via a plurality of gears housed inside the opening / closing cover 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a gear 72A attached to an output shaft 67 of a motor 68 is provided with a gear 72B
Gear 72C, which rotates coaxially with the gear 72B, engages with the gear 72D, and a gear 72E, which rotates coaxially with the gear 72D,
And a gear 72F attached to the shaft. Thus, the driving force of the motor 68 is transmitted to the platen roller 78 via the gears 72A to 72F, and the platen roller 7
8 is driven to rotate.

On the other hand, a label paper 14 is
And a motor storage 82 in which the motor 68 can be stored. When the cover 18 is closed, the label paper 14 is stored in the label paper storage 80, and the motor 68 is stored in the motor storage 82.

Reference numeral 84 in FIG. 4 denotes a pitch sensor, which detects the pitch of labels arranged at predetermined intervals. The printing unit 58 can print accurately on each label by printing based on the detection signal of the pitch sensor 84.

According to the printer 10 configured as described above, the platen roller 78, the motor 68, and the gears 72A to 72A.
The drive system for the platen roller 78 composed of 72F is all provided on the opening / closing cover 18. Therefore, the motor 68
Is reliably transmitted to the platen roller 78,
Stable printing can be performed in the printing unit 58.

Further, according to the printer 10, since the entire driving system of the platen roller 78 is disposed on the opening / closing cover 18, the components of the driving system during opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 18 are:
For example, there is no need to connect gears. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 18 can be smoothly opened / closed, and the damage of the gears and the like which occur in the conventional device can be prevented.

Further, according to the printer 10, since the entire driving system of the platen roller 78 is concentrated on the opening / closing cover 18, the driving force transmitting mechanism is simplified, and the number of components of the driving system can be reduced. At the same time, the space for disposing the drive system is reduced, and the size of the entire printer 10 can be reduced.

Further, according to the printer 10, the apparatus body 1
2, a motor storage 82 is provided.
The motor 68 is housed in the printer 10.
The printer 10 can be downsized without impairing the overall appearance.

Further, according to the printer 10, the loading section of the label paper 14 and the motor 68 are arranged in the vertical direction, that is, in the same direction as the opening / closing shaft 62, so that the loaded label paper 14 and the motor 68 are connected to the opening / closing shaft. 62, the open / close operation feeling of the open / close cover 18 is improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the motor 68
Is disposed above the thermal head 76, but is not limited thereto. For example, it may be disposed inside the column 60.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the portable printer 10 has been described, but a printer installed on a desk may be used. In the above-described embodiment, the label paper 14 has been described as an example of the print paper.
Non-adhesive printing paper may be used. Further, although the example in which the opening / closing cover 18 is opened and closed laterally has been described, the opening and closing cover 18 may be opened and closed vertically. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the drive system of the platen roller 78 is described as being disposed on the opening / closing cover 18.
It may be arranged in.

[0039]

As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, since the drive system of the platen roller is entirely disposed on the open / close cover, damage to the drive system components due to the opening / closing operation of the open / close cover is prevented. And a stable transmission of the driving force can be performed.

Further, since the storage of the drive device is provided in the apparatus main body, the entire apparatus can be downsized without impairing the appearance of the printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer in a state where an opening / closing cover shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the printer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the printer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a drive system of a platen roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 printer, 12 device main body, 14 label paper,
18 open / close cover, 20 data transmission / reception unit, 30 operation unit, 50 holding unit, 58 printing unit, 68 motor, 72
A to 72F: gear, 76: thermal head, 78: platen roller, 82: storage for motor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer in which a platen roller is attached to an opening / closing cover rotatably provided on an apparatus main body, wherein a driving device for rotating and driving the platen roller is provided on the opening / closing cover. . 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a storage for storing the driving device when the opening / closing cover is closed is provided in the apparatus main body.