JP2007168080A - Printer device, printer with print server mounting portion, and print server unit - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printer device that can selectively use a print server and can cover the wiring when the print server is used to prevent deterioration in appearance quality.
In a printer apparatus, a print server mounting surface is provided on a rear surface of a printer, and when the print server is used, a print server unit is attached to the printer server, and a wiring connection is made between the print server and the printer. After these, they are obscured by the print server cover 80. Since the wiring between the print server 60 and the printer 10 is not exposed to the outside, the appearance quality can be maintained even when the print server 60 is used. Further, there is no adverse effect such as the work being disturbed by the scattered wiring.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus improved so that the wiring between them is not exposed to the outside and the appearance quality is not deteriorated when the printer is connected to the print server, and the print server used in the printer apparatus is attached. The present invention relates to a printer having a printing unit and a print server unit.

  A small-sized printer such as a roll paper printer is disposed on a cash register counter or the like and used to issue a receipt, a ticket, or the like. In recent years, a computer network such as a LAN has been constructed, and a printer may be connected to a computer network via a print server so that a single printer can be shared by a plurality of computers on the computer network.

  Generally, a print server is externally attached to a printer, and these are connected by a communication cable (USB cable) and a power cable. Therefore, when the print server is connected, the wiring between the printer and the print server is exposed to the outside, and the appearance quality of the printer is degraded. In particular, when it is installed on a cashier counter or the like, the appearance of the printer is not preferable because it is always in contact with the customer. In addition, small printers such as roll paper printers are often installed in narrow spaces. If the wiring is scattered around the printer, the wiring becomes a hindrance to the work, and the wiring is caught in the surrounding area. The risk of disconnection due to excessive force increases.

JP 2001-134402 A

  In view of these points, an object of the present invention is to propose a printer device that can selectively use a print server and that can cover the wiring when the print server is used to prevent deterioration in appearance quality. It is in.

  Another object of the present invention is to propose a printer having a print server mounting portion for use in such a printer apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to propose a print server unit for use in such a printer apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a printer apparatus according to the present invention includes a printer, a print server mounting portion provided on the back surface portion of the outer case of the printer, and a print attached to the print server mounting portion in a detachable state. A print server cover that is detachably attached to the printer or the print server to cover the wiring between the server, the print server attached to the print server attachment portion, and the printer and the print server It is characterized by having.

  In the printer device of the present invention, the print server mounting portion is provided on the back portion of the printer. When the print server is used, the print server is mounted here, and the print server and the printer are connected by wiring. The print server and wiring are obscured by the print server cover. Accordingly, since the wiring between the print server and the printer is not exposed to the outside, the appearance quality can be maintained even when the print server is used. Further, there is no adverse effect such as the work being disturbed by the scattered wiring.

  Here, in the present invention, the print server includes a print server main body and a holding plate on which the print server main body is mounted, and the holding plate can be screwed to the print server mounting portion. It is characterized by being. Since the print server is securely fixed to the back surface of the printer by screwing, it is possible to avoid the adverse effects such as the print server coming off and being damaged when an impact is applied, and to ensure the workability of the attaching / detaching work.

  In the present invention, the print server cover can be attached to the print server by a snap-fit engagement structure. Since the print server cover will not cause problems such as disconnection even if it is removed carelessly, it is desirable to give priority to the workability of attachment and detachment so that it can be attached and detached with one touch for confirmation of the connection state, etc. It is suitable to adopt a snap-fit structure.

  Further, generally, power is supplied to the print server and a power cable outlet for receiving power supply from the outside to a portion of the back portion of the printer that is removed from the print server mounting portion. A power cable insertion port and a USB cable insertion port, and a power cable, a USB cable insertion port, and a LAN cable insertion port are arranged on the print server cover. Is formed with a wiring opening for passing the power cable and the LAN cable.

  In this case, it is desirable that a cable hook for fixing the cable so as not to move is provided on the holding plate of the print server.

  Next, a printer according to the present invention includes the print server mounting portion having the above-described configuration. According to another aspect of the present invention, a print server unit includes the print server and the print server cover configured as described above.

  The printer according to the present invention is provided with a print server mounting portion and a plurality of insertion ports on the back surface portion of the outer case, and the print server mounting portion is simple except for a screw hole for mounting the print server. The wall shape is maintained. Therefore, even when the print server is not attached, it is possible to maintain the same appearance quality as the back of a general printer. Even when the print server unit according to the present invention is attached to the back side, the appearance quality of the portion on the back side of the printer is maintained by the print server cover. Therefore, by using a printer and a print server unit having a print server mounting portion according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a printer apparatus suitable for selectively using a print server.

  In the printer device of the present invention, a print server mounting portion is formed on the back surface portion of the outer case of the printer, and the print server and the wiring that are detachably attached thereto are covered with the detachably attached print server cover. ing. Therefore, when the print server is attached, the wiring is not exposed to the outside and the appearance quality of the printer is not deteriorated. In addition, it is possible to avoid adverse effects such as the wiring being scattered around and obstructing work.

  Embodiments of a printer apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view when the printer device according to the present embodiment is viewed from the front side, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view when the printer device is viewed from the back side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view when viewed from the back side with the print server unit attached to the back side of the printer device removed.

  The printer apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a printer 10 and a print server unit 50 that is detachably attached to the back side of the printer 10. The printer 10 includes an outer case 11 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and the back surface 12 of the outer case 11 is a flat print server mounting surface 13 (print server mounting portion) except for one lower corner portion thereof. ing. The print server unit 50 is attached to the print server attachment unit 13 in a detachable state.

  The printer 10 is a roll paper printer that prints on roll paper using an inkjet head. A recording paper discharge port 14 having a predetermined width is formed on the front surface of the printer 10, and a paper discharge is provided below the recording paper discharge port 14. A guide 15 projects forward, and a lid opening / closing lever 16 is disposed on the side of the paper discharge guide 15. In addition, a rectangular opening 17 is formed below the paper discharge guide 15 and the lid opening / closing lever 16 in the exterior case 11, and this opening 17 is sealed with an opening / closing lid 18 that can be opened forward. . When the lid locking mechanism (not shown) is released by operating the lid opening / closing lever 16 and the paper discharge guide 15 is pulled forward, the opening / closing lid 18 opens until it is almost horizontal with the lower end as the center, and enters the printer. The formed roll paper storage unit (see FIG. 6) is opened, and the roll paper can be replaced from the front of the printer.

  The back surface 12 of the printer 10 is a rectangular flat surface as a whole, and a vertically long rectangular concave portion 21 is formed at one lower corner of the printer 10, and the bottom of the concave portion 21 is used to extract power from the upper side. The insertion port 22, the USB cable insertion port 23, and the power insertion port 24 are exposed. On the upper side of the recess 21, a ventilation portion 25 for heat dissipation is formed. The back surface portion other than the concave portion 21 and the ventilation portion 25 is a print server mounting surface 13, and the print server mounting surface 13 has a plurality of, for example, four, screw holes 26 a to 26 d for mounting the print server unit. Is formed.

  Next, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the print server unit 50 removed from the printer 10. As shown in this figure, the print server unit 50 includes a print server 60 having a configuration in which a print server main body 62 is mounted on a holding plate 61, and a print server cover 80 that is detachably attached to the print server 60. Yes. The holding plate 62 has a rectangular shape as a whole, and a lower corner portion of one of the holding plates 62 is a cutout portion 62a cut into a vertically long rectangular shape, and has a slightly smaller outline than the print server mounting surface 13 on the back surface 12 of the printer 10. It is a board.

  In the holding plate 62, screw insertion holes 63a to 63d are formed at portions corresponding to the four screw holes 26a to 26d formed on the print server mounting surface 13, and face the print server mounting surface 13. The facing surface 64 is a flat surface. The holding plate 62 can be fixed in close contact with the print server mounting surface 13 by four set screws 65a to 65d (only three screws are shown in the figure). In the attached state, the concave portion 21 and the ventilation portion 25 on the printer 10 side are exposed on the back side through the notch 62a.

  The print server main body 61 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a holding portion 66 for holding the print server main body 61 is formed on the rear surface of the holding plate 60. The insertion port 67 of the LAN cable 91 and the insertion port 68 of the power cable 92 are exposed on the side surface portion of the print server main body 61. Power is supplied to the print server main body 61 from the printer 10 via the power cable 92. A cable duct 69 extends laterally from the upper side surface portion. The front end of the cable duct 69 is bent downward and opened, and the USB cable 93 is drawn out through the inside. By inserting the plug 94 at the end of the USB cable 93 into the insertion port 22 of the printer 10, both can communicate. Furthermore, a wiring hook 70 for fixing the wiring so as not to move is formed on the lower portion of the holding plate 62.

  Next, the print server cover 80 includes a rectangular back plate portion 81 and an outer peripheral plate portion 82 having a constant width that surrounds the four peripheral edges of the back plate portion 81. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer contour of the rectangular opening edge 83 at the tip of the outer peripheral plate portion 82 is the same as the outer contour of the back surface 12 of the printer 10, and the inner contour of the rectangular opening 83 is formed by the holding plate 62. The size is set to just fit. In addition, a heat radiating ventilation portion 84 is formed in one side plate portion 82 a of the outer peripheral plate portion 82. Further, a rectangular opening 85 for wiring is formed in the side plate portion 82c below the outer peripheral plate portion 82. The opening 85 may be provided in the left and right side plate portions 82a and 82b. However, when the opening 85 is formed in the lower side plate portion 82c, the drawn-out cable is hidden and deterioration in appearance quality can be suppressed.

  Here, the print server cover 80 is detachably attached to the holding plate 62 by a snap-fit engagement structure. That is, elastic engagement portions 72 a and 72 b that protrude from the holding plate 62 at a right angle to the back side are formed at both upper corners of the holding plate 62. The elastic engagement portions 72a and 72b are respectively provided with elastic engagement claws 73a and 73b whose tips protrude laterally outward, and these elastic engagement claws 73a and 73b are slightly elastically displaced laterally inward. It is supported by the engaging claw support portions 74a and 74b in a possible state. On the other hand, the elastic engagement claws 73a and 73b are elastically displaced over the inner side surface portions of the side plate portions 82a and 82b facing the elastic engagement claws 73a and 73b in the print server cover 80. Hooks 86a and 86b that are engaged are formed. When the print server cover 80 is positioned and pushed into the holding plate 62 from the back side, the elastic engagement claws 73a and 73b fit into the corresponding hooks 86a and 86b, and the print server cover 80 is attached to the holding plate 62. A state is formed. When the print server cover 80 is pulled to the back side, the engagement is released and the print server cover 80 can be removed. In this example, such a finger-hanging recess 87 for removal is formed in the central portion of the upper end plate portion 82 c of the outer peripheral plate portion 82 of the print server cover 80.

  In the printer apparatus 1 configured as described above, the print server unit 50 can be selectively used. When the print server unit 50 is not used, the printer 10 is used with the back surface 12 of the printer 10 exposed as shown in FIG. The back surface 12 of the printer 10 is a flat surface as a whole, and includes screw holes 26a to 26d, a recess 21 in which insertion ports 22 to 24 are formed, a ventilation portion 25, and the like. It has the same appearance quality.

  Next, when the print server unit 50 is used, the holding plate 62 of the print server unit 50 is attached to the print server attachment surface 13 on the back surface 12 of the printer 10 using the set screws 65 a to 65 d. Then, the power cable 92 drawn out from the print server main body 61 is inserted into the insertion port 23 on the printer side, and the print server main body 61 and the printer 10 are connected by the USB cable 93. Further, a LAN cable 91 for network connection is connected to the LAN cable insertion port 67 of the print server main body 61. Further, a power cable 96 for supplying power from the outside is inserted into the insertion port 24 of the printer 10. The LAN cable 91 and the power cable 96 are pulled out sideways through the wiring hook 70.

  FIG. 5 shows a state after the print server 60 is attached and wired. Thereafter, the print server cover 80 is attached to the print server 60 to cover the print server main body 61 and the wiring between it and the printer 10. The LAN cable 91 and the power cable 96 are drawn out from the wiring opening 85 formed on the lower side of the print server cover 80. As a result, the printer apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. In this state, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the back side of the printer apparatus 1 is covered by the print server cover 80, and the appearance quality is prevented from being deteriorated by exposing the wiring. In addition, adverse effects such as wiring scattering around the printer apparatus 1 and hindering work can be prevented.

  Further, since the print server cover 80 is attached to the holding plate 61 by the snap-fit type engagement structure, the print cover 80 can be easily attached and detached, and operations such as wiring confirmation can be easily performed. .

  The holding plate 61 and the print server cover 80 of the print server unit 50 can be plastic molded products.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the printer 10 cut along the front-rear direction of the printer. The configuration of the printer 10 of this example will be briefly described with reference to this figure. The printer 10 includes a roll paper storage unit 31 at the center in the width direction, and the roll paper 32 is stored in a horizontally placed state facing the printer width direction. A recording paper guide 33 is disposed horizontally at the rear side of the roll paper storage unit 31 in the front-rear direction of the printer. On the front side of the recording paper guide 33, a platen guide 34 is disposed horizontally in the front-rear direction of the printer at a position one step higher. An ink jet head 36 mounted on the carriage 35 is positioned directly above the platen guide 34. The nozzle surface 36a of the inkjet head 36 is opposed to the upper surface 34a of the platen guide 34 with a certain gap, and the printing position is defined by the upper surface 34a.

  A first paper feed roller 37 is stretched horizontally in the printer width direction between the platen guide 34 that defines the print position and the recording paper guide 33. A first paper pressing roller 38 having a predetermined width is pressed from below on the first paper feeding roller 37 with a predetermined pressing force. A second paper feed roller 40 is disposed at the front end portion of the platen guide 34. A second paper pressing roller 41 is pressed against the second paper feed roller 40 from above.

  In FIG. 6, the recording paper 32 a drawn from the roll paper 32 stored in the roll paper storage unit 31 is guided by the recording paper guide 33, and the first paper feed roller 37 and the first paper feed roller 37 and the first The sheet was pulled out from the recording sheet discharge port 2 from between the sheet pressing rollers 38 via the upper surface 34a (printing position) of the platen guide 34 and between the second sheet feeding roller 40 and the second sheet pressing roller 41. Set to state.

  When the first paper feed roller 38 and the second paper feed roller 40 rotate in this state, the conveyance of the recording paper 32a is started. In synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper 32a, the inkjet head 36 is driven while moving the carriage 35 in the printing width direction, and printing is performed on the surface of the recording paper 32a passing through the printing position (34a).

  A scissors-type recording paper cutting device 42 is disposed at the recording paper discharge port 2. The fixed blade 43 of the recording paper cutting device 42 is arranged vertically in the upward state, and the movable blade 44 is arranged vertically downward. When the movable blade 44 pivots in the vertical direction with one end in the printer width direction as a fulcrum by the movable blade drive mechanism 45, the contact point with the fixed blade 43 moves in the printer width direction, and the recording paper positioned therebetween 32a can be cut in the width direction. After a series of printing on the recording paper 32a is completed, for example, the conveyance of the recording paper 32a after printing is stopped by a predetermined length discharged from the recording paper discharge port 2, and the recording paper cutting device 42 is stopped in this state. When the recording paper 32a is cut by the above, a printed recording paper piece having a predetermined length can be issued.

  Although the printer 10 of this example is an ink jet type roll paper printer, it is needless to say that printers of other types may be adopted. For example, a printer having a print head such as a thermal head instead of an ink jet head may be used. Further, a printer that performs printing on a sheet-shaped recording medium having a predetermined shape instead of roll paper may be used.

1 is an external perspective view of a front side of a printer apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the back side of the printer apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the back side of the printer. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a print server unit of the printer apparatus. It is a perspective view of the state where the holding plate of the print server unit was attached. FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the printer of FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus, 10 Printer, 11 Exterior case, 12 Back surface, 13 Print server mounting surface, 21 Recessed part, 22-24 Insertion, 26a-26d Screw hole, 50 Print server unit, 60 Print server, 61 Print server main body, 62 holding plate, 63a to 63d screw insertion hole, 65a to 65d set screw, 66 holding portion, 67, 68 insertion port, 73a, 73b elastic engagement claw, 80 print server cover, 85 wiring opening, 86a, 86b hook

Claims (7)

A printer,
A print server mounting portion provided on the back portion of the outer case of the printer;
A print server attached in a detachable state to the print server attachment unit;
A printer apparatus comprising: a printer server cover attached in a detachable manner to the printer or the print server to cover the print server attached to the print server attachment unit. In claim 1,
The print server includes a print server body and a holding plate on which the print server body is mounted,
The printer device, wherein the holding plate can be screwed to the print server mounting portion. In claim 2,
The printer apparatus, wherein the print server cover is attachable to the print server by a snap-fit engagement structure. In claim 3,
A power cable insertion port for receiving power supply from the outside and a power cable insertion port for supplying power to the print server at a part removed from the print server mounting portion in the back portion of the printer And the USB cable outlet are exposed,
The print server includes a power cable insertion port, a USB cable insertion port, and a LAN cable insertion port,
The printer apparatus, wherein the print server cover includes a wiring opening for passing a power cable and a LAN cable. In claim 4,
The printer apparatus, wherein the holding plate of the print server includes a cable hook for fixing the cable so that the cable does not move. A printer comprising the print server mounting portion used in the printer device according to claim 4. A print server unit used in the printer device according to claim 4 or 5,
A print server unit comprising the print server and the print server cover.

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