JP2003170611A - Printer and electronic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer wherein the thickness can be restrained together with a medium pack to be inserted and the external shape of a built-in camera body can be miniaturized. <P>SOLUTION: In the case a medium pack 101 with a main ink tank unit 103 disposed on the front side with respect to recording papers 102, is inserted into a video camera body 902, the main ink tank unit 103 is stored at a storage position in a space of reciprocative motion in a carrier 104. At the time of printing by opening a large scale LCD monitor unit 904, the main ink tank unit 103 is elevated from the storage position in the space of reciprocative motion in the carrier 104 so as to be moved to a withdrawal position. The main ink tank unit 103 is locked by a lock arm 1008 at the elevated withdrawal position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer and an electronic device built in an electronic device such as a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic still camera and a video camera having a built-in ink jet printer have been known. This inkjet printer employs a removable media pack, and the media pack contains a plurality of recording media and a main ink tank. Adopting such a media pack is advantageous for downsizing the printer and has an advantage that ink suitable for the recording medium is surely used.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic still camera with a built-in printer in which a conventional media pack is adopted. In the figure, 1501 is a media pack. Reference numeral 1502 is a main ink tank unit built in the media pack 1501. Reference numeral 1503 is a plurality of recording papers incorporated in the media pack.

Reference numeral 1504 is a camera body. 15
Reference numeral 05 denotes a printer unit built in the camera body 1504. Reference numeral 1506 is a lens. Reference numeral 1507 is a printing paper discharge port. Reference numeral 1508 is a media pack insertion port. Reference numeral 1509 denotes a printed recording sheet ejected from the printing sheet ejection port 1507.

In the electronic still camera having the above structure,
When the media pack 1501 is inserted into the camera body 1504, the main ink tank unit 1502 built in the media pack 1501 is replaced by the printer unit 1505.
Ink is timely supplied to a carrier having a recording head portion therein. The recording head supplied with the ink prints out the photographed image on the recording paper. Then, the recording paper 150
When 3 is lost, the user is in the media pack 1501.
To replace. The main ink tank unit 1502 in the media pack 1501 is filled with an amount of ink corresponding to the number of built-in recording sheets.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional printer has the following problems, and improvement thereof has been demanded. That is, since the bundle of recording papers is arranged on the upper surface of the main ink tank unit built in the media pack, the thickness dimension of the media pack is large. Further, there is a problem in that the outer shape of the printer and the camera body also becomes large due to the thick media pack.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer and an electronic device which can suppress the thickness together with the media pack to be inserted and which can further reduce the outer shape of the built-in camera body.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a printer for ejecting ink from a reciprocating recording head to print on a recording medium, which is separate from the recording head. An ink tank is provided which stores ink to be replenished in the recording head and is movable between a predetermined storage position in a space where the recording head reciprocates and a retracted position away from the space where the recording head reciprocates. The printer is characterized by that.

Further, the present invention comprises a printer main body on which the recording head is mounted, a recording medium accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium and the ink tank, which is insertable into and removable from the printer main body. A rotating member that rotatably supports the ink tank, a spring member that urges the ink tank toward the retracted position, and the ink tank that opposes the biasing of the spring member toward the retracted position. A locking member that locks the recording medium storage portion is provided on the insertion / removal side of the recording medium housing portion, a releasing member that unlocks the locking by the locking member, and a fixing member that fixes the ink tank moved to the retracted position. Is provided in the printer body, and in a state in which the recording medium accommodation section is inserted into the printer body,
The release member releases the lock of the lock member, the ink tank is rotatable from the storage position to the retreat position, and when the recording medium container is removed from the printer body, The printer is characterized in that the ink tank is locked by a stop member at a position on the insertion / removal direction side, which corresponds to the storage position at the time of insertion.

Further, the present invention is an electronic device incorporating the above printer.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a printer and electronic equipment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The electronic device of this embodiment is applied to a video camera. This video camera has a built-in printer unit,
A media pack inserted from the outside of the housing can be freely attached to the printer unit.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a printer unit in which a media pack according to the first embodiment is inserted. In the figure, 100 is a printer unit. 101 is a media pack.
Reference numeral 102 denotes a plurality of recording sheets contained in the media pack 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a main ink tank unit, which is rotatably attached to the upper front portion of the media pack 101 inserted into the printer unit 100.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a carrier (recording head) which has a recording head nozzle portion and a sub ink tank, and ejects ink while performing reciprocating movement in the direction of arrow a in the drawing to print.
Is. Reference numeral 105 denotes a supply needle for supplying ink from the main ink tank unit 103 to the sub ink tank in the carrier 104.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a lead screw which is screwed into the carrier 104 and reciprocates the carrier 104. 1
Reference numeral 07 is a guide wire for guiding the reciprocating motion of the carrier 104, and is made of an elastic member in this embodiment. 108,
Reference numerals 109, 111, and 110 denote the recording paper 1 from the media pack 101 inserted in the printer unit 100, respectively.
02 is a sheet feeding conveyance roller shaft A, a conveyance roller shaft B, a conveyance roller A, and a conveyance roller B.

Reference numeral 112 is a carrier motor that rotates the lead screw 106 to reciprocate the carrier 104. Denoted at 113 is the transport roller shafts A (108) and B (10
9) is a paper feed motor that rotates to feed paper. 114
From the main ink tank unit 103 to the carrier 10
4 is a suction pump that generates a negative pressure for supplying ink to the sub-ink tanks 707 to 710 (see FIG. 7) in the fourth ink tank.

Reference numeral 115 is a gear train for reducing the power of each motor. Reference numeral 116 denotes a sub-ink tank 707 in the carrier 104 that applies the negative pressure generated by the suction pump 114.
Air supply joint for supplying to 710.
Reference numeral 117 is a bearing that rotatably supports the main ink tank unit 103 in order to rotate the main ink tank unit 103 in the direction of the arrow b and retract it. 11
Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer unit chassis.

FIG. 2 shows the media pack 101 viewed from the right side.
3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the media pack 101 as viewed from the left side. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the lock mechanism of the media pack 101. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the main ink tank unit unit 103. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the carrier 104. The figure (A) shows the upper surface of the carrier 104, and the figure (B) shows the lower surface of the carrier 104.

In the figure, 201 is a torsion spring that constantly urges the main ink tank unit 103 in the direction of arrow b. Reference numeral 202 denotes a main ink tank that is installed separately for four types of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. A pinch roller 203 feeds the recording paper 102. Reference numeral 204 denotes a platen that absorbs ink that has run off the recording paper to prevent stains. 205 is a bearing 11
7 is a pivot shaft that is pivotally supported by 7 and that pivots together with the main ink tank unit 103.

Reference numeral 302 is a stopper groove formed in the media pack 101. Reference numeral 301 is a stopper which is slidably inserted in the stopper groove 302 and prevents the main ink tank unit 103 from being biased by the torsion spring 201 to rotate. Reference numeral 303 denotes a stopper groove formed in the main ink tank unit 103, in which the stopper 301 is slidable. Reference numeral 401 is a coil spring that biases the stopper 301 in the direction opposite to the arrow f in the figure.

Reference numeral 501 is an ink supply joint for supplying ink from the main ink tank 202 to the sub ink tanks 707 to 710 in the carrier 104. 6
Reference numeral 01 is an air suction needle for receiving a negative pressure from the air supply joint 116.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of the carrier 104. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the carrier 104. In the figure, 701 is a filter for trapping ink dust. Reference numerals 702, 703, 704, and 705 denote liquid chambers for the respective color inks. Reference numeral 706 denotes a lateral hole formed in the air suction needle 601 for discharging air from the hollow portion inside the air suction needle 601.

Reference numerals 707, 708, 709, and 710 are sub-ink tanks filled with an ink holding member made of a fibrous laminated body or the like. Sub ink tanks 707, 708,
Since the capacities of 709 and 710 are small, when the remaining amount is insufficient, the negative pressure due to the air discharged from the air suction needle 601 is used to suck up the ink from the main ink tank 202 through the ink supply needle 105. Reference numeral 711 denotes a film provided above the sub-ink tanks 707 to 710, which acts as a full tank valve. Reference numeral 712 denotes a lateral hole formed in the ink supply needle 105. As described above, the ink is sucked up through the lateral hole 712 and the hollow portion inside the ink supply needle 105. Reference numeral 713 is a recording head nozzle unit for generating an image.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a video camera with a built-in printer. FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the structure in the vicinity of the openable / closable LCD monitor unit of the video camera body 902 into which the media pack 101 is inserted. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structure in the vicinity of a lock arm for fixing the main ink tank unit 103.

In the figure, reference numeral 901 is a printed recording sheet. Reference numeral 902 is a video camera body. Reference numeral 903 denotes an eyepiece small LCD finder for confirming recorded images and reproduced images. Similarly, a large LCD monitor unit 904 for confirming recorded images and reproduced images has a hinge at the left end as shown in FIG. 9, and has a video camera body 902.
It can be opened and closed freely. When using, the user has a large LC
Open the D monitor unit 904, large LCD inside
It is possible to shoot while checking the screen 905. Reference numeral 906 is a media pack insertion port. Reference numeral 907 is a photographing lens. Reference numeral 908 denotes a square hole for retracting the main ink tank unit 103 to the outside of the housing when the printer is operating.

Reference numeral 1001 denotes a camera / printer changeover switch for switching between a camera operation and a printer operation, which is connected to a camera control circuit described later. 100
Reference numeral 2 denotes a printing paper discharge port formed in the housing of the video camera body 902.

Reference numeral 1008 is pivotally supported by a lock shaft 1003 provided upright inside the housing of the video camera body 902, and does not return to the inside when the main ink tank unit 103 retracted outside the housing is pushed by a finger or the like. The lock arm locks the main ink tank unit 103. 10
Reference numeral 03 denotes a lock shaft that rotatably supports the lock arm 1008, as described above.

Reference numeral 1005 is a torsion spring that biases the lock arm 1008 in the direction of arrow d in the figure, and 1004 is fitted to the lock shaft 1003, and the torsion spring 1005.
It is an E-ring that supports the lock arm 1008 through. Reference numeral 1006 is a lock pin formed on the lower surface of the lock arm 1008 and to which one end of the torsion spring 1005 is locked. A stopper pin 1007 is formed inside the housing of the video camera main body 902, and the other end of the torsion spring 1005 is locked.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the printer built-in video camera. In the figure, reference numeral 114 is the suction pump described above. Reference numeral 113 is the paper feed motor similarly described above. A printer control circuit 1103 controls the operation of the entire printer. 112 is the above-mentioned carrier motor.

Reference numeral 1105 denotes an ink supply needle of the carrier 104 for supplying ink from the main ink tank unit 103 to the sub ink tanks 707 to 710 in the carrier 104 at the home position of the carrier 104 (the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1). 105 to the ink supply joint 501 of the main ink tank unit 103,
Further, it is an actuator for connecting the air suction needle 601 of the carrier 104 to the air supply joint 116, and is composed of a solenoid, an arm mechanism, etc. not shown.

An image pickup element 1106 converts an optical image obtained through the camera lens into an electric signal. 1107
Is a signal processing circuit for converting an electric signal from the image sensor 1106 into an image signal. A camera control circuit 1108 controls the operation of the camera. An image recording medium 1110 is a tape, a disk, a memory, or the like. An image recording circuit 1109 records an image signal on the image recording medium 1110. 904 is a large-sized LCD monitor unit for confirming a captured image and a reproduced image, as described above. 903
Is a small LCD for checking images by bringing eyes close to
It is a finder. Reference numeral 1001 denotes a camera / printer switch that switches between a camera operation and a printer operation.

Next, the ink supply operation of the printer unit built in the video camera having the above-mentioned structure will be described.
When inserting the media pack 101 into the chassis 118 of the printer unit 100, the front end portion 1 of the chassis 118
18a pushes the stopper 301 in the direction of the arrow f in the figure (see FIG. 4), so that the stopper 301 moves the stopper groove 303.
And the lock of the main ink tank unit 103 is released. Then, due to the action of the torsion spring 201, the main ink tank unit 103 is moved to the arrow b
The carrier 104 is rotated in the direction, and jumps up from the storage position in the reciprocating space of the carrier 104 to the position (retracted position) indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the carrier 104 moves toward the arrow a in the figure.
It can be reciprocally moved in the left and right directions indicated by. The main ink tank unit 103 jumps up when the large LCD monitor unit 904 is in the open state. When the large LCD monitor unit 904 is closed, the stopper 30 will be described later.
Even when 1 is disengaged from the stopper groove 303, the ink tank unit 103 is pressed by the inner wall surface of the large-sized LCD monitor unit 904 and remains in the storage position in the reciprocating space of the carrier 104.

After the main ink tank unit 103 is moved to the retracted position, the carrier 104 is moved to the home position (position A indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1) and stopped. At this position, the air supply joint 116 and the air suction needle 601 of the carrier 104 are connected, and further, the ink supply joint 501 of the main ink tank unit 103 and the ink supply needle 105 of the carrier 104.
Ink is supplied from the main ink tank 202 to the sub ink tanks 707 to 710 in the carrier 104 by connecting the above and the air supply joint 116.

At this time, a negative pressure is generated in the air supply joint 116 by a pipe (not shown) introduced from the suction pump 114. Further, by moving the air supply joint 116 upward by the actuator 1105, the carrier 104 is pushed up, and the air supply joint 116 and the air suction needle 601.
And the ink supply joint 501 and the ink supply needle 105 are respectively connected. In this way, when the carrier 104 is pushed up by a slight stroke, the guide wire 107 made of an elastic member bends and the carrier 104 rotates about the lead screw 106. In addition, ink is supplied from the sub ink tanks 707 to
When the ink level of 710 is low, or 1
It is performed in a predetermined cycle such as every printing of sheets.

Next, the operation of the video camera incorporating the printer unit will be described. Media pack insertion slot 906
When the media pack 101 is inserted into the main body, the main ink tank unit 103 is unlocked and the large-sized LCD monitor unit 904 is opened, as described above, and the square hole 908 formed on the side surface of the video camera body 902. Through main ink tank unit 103
Jumps up to the position indicated by the dotted line (see FIG. 9). Printing can be performed in this state, and after printing, the printed recording paper 901 is ejected from the printing paper ejection port 1002.

In this video camera, as described above,
Printing can be performed with the large LCD monitor unit 904 open, but when the large LCD monitor unit 904 is closed, as shown in FIG.
The protrusion 904a formed on the inner wall surface of 04 pushes down the main ink tank unit 103 to store it in the housing, and the printing paper discharge port 1002 is closed by the side surface 904b.
The entry of dust, water droplets, etc. from the printing paper discharge port 1002 is prevented. Further, the camera / printer changeover switch 1001 is pushed down on the end surface 904c to release the print mode, and the print operation is prohibited. Therefore, the media pack 101
Is taken out with the large LCD unit 904 closed.

Further, the main ink tank unit 103
When the arm jumps up to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 9, the action of the torsion spring 1005 causes the lock arm 1008 to move toward the arrow d.
10, the main ink tank unit 103 is locked so as not to return to the inside when pushed by a finger or the like as shown in FIG. Further, when the large LCD monitor unit 904 is closed, the protrusion of the lock arm 1008 causes the inner surface 904b of the large LCD monitor unit 904 to move.
10 is pushed to the left in FIG. 10, the lock arm 1008 rotates in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 11, and the lock is released.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the media pack 101 in which the main ink tank unit 103 is arranged in front of the recording paper 102 is inserted into the video camera body 902, the main ink tank unit 103 reciprocates with respect to the carrier 104. Since it is stored at the storage position in the moving space, the thickness of the media pack 101 can be suppressed,
The printer and the video camera main body 902 can be downsized. Further, when the large LCD monitor unit 904 is opened for printing, the main ink tank unit 103 jumps up from the storage position in the reciprocating space of the carrier 104 and moves to the retreat position, so the carrier 104 reciprocates without interfering. It can be performed. Further, since the main ink tank unit 103 is locked by the lock arm 1008 at the retracted position where the main ink tank unit 103 has jumped up, it is possible to prevent the operation of the carrier 104 from being obstructed even if the main ink tank unit 103 is pushed by a finger or the like.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a video camera with a built-in printer according to the second embodiment. The same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
Here, different components will be mainly described.

In the figure, 1201 is a video camera body. Reference numeral 1202 denotes a slidable printer / camera changeover switch knob portion for switching between camera operation and printer operation. Reference numeral 1203 denotes an eyepiece small LCD finder for confirming a recorded image and a reproduced image. 120
Reference numeral 4 is a printing paper discharge port. Reference numeral 1205 is a main ink tank unit. 1206 is a wristband for holding a video camera. Reference numeral 1207 denotes a square hole formed in the video camera body 1201 for retracting the main ink tank unit 103 to the outside of the housing during printing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the structure of the printer unit. FIG. 15 shows the main ink tank unit 1205
It is a figure which shows the structure of the lock arm vicinity which fixes. In the figure, 1301 is the main ink tank unit 12
05 is a rotation pin used to limit the rotation. 1302 is a chassis of the printer unit.

1303 engages with the click hole 1305,
A click leaf spring that holds the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202 at a predetermined position. 1306 is inserted into the long hole 1306a and screwed into the screw hole 1304,
A stopper screw for guiding the sliding operation of the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202, which is an elongated hole 1306.
It is a step screw that can slide along a. That is, the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 120
2 is slidably attached to the chassis 1302 by two stop screws 1306, and a click leaf spring 1303 arranged on the back surface thereof stops at two positions (positions) which are dropped into the click holes 1305. Reference numeral 1307 denotes a camera / printer changeover switch that electrically switches between a camera operation and a printer operation.

Reference numeral 1308 is a lock shaft for rotatably supporting the lock arm 1310. Lock arm 1310
Is for fixing the main ink tank 1205 so that it does not return to the inside when the main ink tank 1205 retracted to the outside of the housing is pushed by a finger or the like. Reference numeral 1311 denotes a torsion spring which is supported by the lock shaft 1308 and biases the lock arm 1310 in the arrow h direction in the figure. 1312
Is a torsion spring 1311 and a lock arm 1310
Is an E-ring for fixing to the lock shaft 1308.

Reference numeral 1313 is a lock pin formed on the lock arm 1310 to lock one end of the torsion spring 1311. A stopper pin 1309 is formed on the chassis 1302 and locks the other end of the torsion spring 1311. 1314 is formed integrally with the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202, and includes a lock arm 131.
It is a lock release pin for moving 0 to release the lock. The lock release pin 1314 is inserted into the lock arm 131 through the long hole 1302a formed in the chassis 1302.
Move 0.

The operation of the printer built-in video camera having the above structure will be described below. When the media pack 101 is inserted into the chassis 1302, the lock of the main ink tank unit 1205 is released as in the first embodiment. At this time, when the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202 is in the OFF position, the turning pin 1301 is in a state of abutting the inclined portion 1202b of the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202 (see FIG. 15), and the main ink tank Unit 1205
Keeps its state in the stored position.

On the other hand, when the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202 is moved to the ON position, the inclined portion 1202b of the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202 moves to the right (the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 15). The locking of the rotation pin 1301 is released, and the torsion spring 201 is used to hold the main ink tank unit 1
205 is flipped up to the outer retracted position. At the same time, the camera / printer switch 1307
The camera / printer changeover switch is pressed by the end surface 1202c of the knob portion 1202 to enter the print mode and printing is enabled.

Further, the main ink tank unit 120
When 5 is jumped up to the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, the lock arm 1310 is rotated in the direction of the arrow h in the figure by the action of the torsion spring 1311, and when the lock arm 1310 is pushed into the lower surface of the main tank unit 1205 by a finger or the like. , The main ink tank unit 1205 is locked so as not to return to the inside.

When the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202 is set to the OFF position, the lock release pin 1314 of the camera / printer changeover switch knob portion 1202 kicks the lower end of the lock arm 1310, and the lock arm 1310 is opened in the figure i. The lock is released by rotating in the direction.

If the camera / printer changeover switch knob 1202 is ON, the media pack 10
When 1 is inserted, the main ink tank unit 12
05 automatically jumps to the outside.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the user operates the camera / printer changeover switch knob 1202.
By sliding, the main ink tank unit 1205 can be moved to the storage position or the retracted position, and the printing operation and the shooting operation can be easily switched.

The above is a description of the embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments, and the functions shown in the claims or the configurations of the embodiments are not limited thereto. Any structure can be applied as long as it can achieve the function it has.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the printer unit is built in the video camera has been shown, but the invention is not limited to this, and the printer unit may be built in electronic equipment such as various measuring instruments, and the thickness thereof is similarly suppressed. And the operability can be improved.

[0052]

According to the present invention, the thickness of the inserted media pack can be suppressed, and the external shape of the built-in camera body can be reduced. Further, the size can be reduced without impairing the operability. Further, it is possible to prevent the operation of the printer carrier from being obstructed when the separate ink tank is pushed with a finger or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printer unit in which a media pack according to a first embodiment is inserted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the media pack 101 when viewed from the right side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the media pack 101 when viewed from the left side.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a lock mechanism of the media pack 101.

5 is a perspective view showing a lower surface of a main ink tank unit unit 103. FIG.

6 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the carrier 104. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of a carrier 104.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the carrier 104.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a video camera with a built-in printer.

10 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure in the vicinity of an openable / closable LCD monitor unit of a video camera body 902 into which a media pack 101 is inserted. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structure in the vicinity of a lock arm for fixing the main ink tank unit 103.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a video camera with a built-in printer.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a video camera with a built-in printer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a structure of a printer unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a structure near a lock arm for fixing a main ink tank unit 1205.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a printer built-in type electronic still camera in which a conventional media pack is adopted.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 printer unit 101 Media Pack 102 recording paper 103 Main ink tank unit 104 carrier 117 bearing 201 torsion spring 301 stopper 904 LCD monitor unit 1008, 1310 Lock Arm 1202 Printer / camera selector switch knob

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C055 CC00 CC01 CC05 EE00                 2C056 EA23 KB37 KC02 KC16 KC22                       KC30                 2C061 AP10 AQ05 AR01 AS02 BB02                       CD07                 5C022 AA11 AC03 AC31 AC78

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printer for printing on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a reciprocating recording head, the printer being provided separately from the recording head, storing ink to be replenished to the recording head, A printer comprising an ink tank that is movable between a predetermined storage position in a space in which a recording head reciprocates and a retracted position away from the space in which the recording head reciprocates. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined storage position is set in a space other than a space occupied by the recording head in a standby state. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank moves from the storage position to the retreat position in response to a state in which the printer is allowed to perform a printing operation. . 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank moves from the storage position to the retracted position in response to a print mode being set. 5. The control means for permitting a printing operation in response to the ink tank moving from the storage position to the retracted position.
The listed printer. 6. A printer main body having the recording head mounted thereon, and a recording medium storage section that stores the recording medium and also has the ink tank mounted therein and is removable from the printer main body. A rotating member that rotatably supports, a spring member that urges the ink tank toward the retracted position, and the ink tank that locks against the bias of the spring member toward the retracted position. A locking member is provided on the insertion / removal direction side of the recording medium accommodating portion, and a releasing member for releasing the locking by the locking member and a fixing member for fixing the ink tank moved to the retracted position are provided in the printer body. When the recording medium storage portion is inserted into the printer main body, the release member releases the lock of the lock member, and the ink tank holds the storage position. When the recording medium accommodation unit is removed from the printer main body, the locking member moves to a position on the insertion / removal direction side corresponding to the storage position at the time of insertion. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank is locked. 7. The printer main body is housed in a housing of an electronic device, the recording medium housing section is inserted into the printer main body, and the locking by the locking member is released by the release member. 7. The printer according to claim 6, wherein the ink tank is rotated and fixed to the retracted position that protrudes from an opening formed in the housing of the electronic device. 8. The printer according to claim 7, wherein an opening / closing member that can be opened / closed is provided in a housing of the electronic device, and the release member and the fixing member are interlocked with opening / closing of the opening / closing member. 9. The housing of the electronic device is provided with a slidable switch member for switching to a printing operation, and the release member and the fixing member are interlocked with sliding of the switch member. The printer according to claim 7. 10. An electronic device incorporating the printer according to claim 1.