JP2016064549A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which is reduced in size.SOLUTION: A thermal head 25, a circuit board 26, a head bracket 27, a support shaft 28, a coil spring 29, a drive motor M and a gear unit part are installed so as to be planarly overlapped on the upper side of a battery storage part 5 and almost within a range of the occupied area of the battery storage part 5 in a case where the battery storage part 5 storing a battery is arranged on the bottom surface of a body case 2a in an external case of a printer for label printing. The head bracket 27 is formed of metal and has a function as a heat radiation member for radiating heat generated in the thermal head 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer and, for example, to a printer that prints desired information such as characters, symbols, figures, or barcodes on a label continuum.

  For example, when a label continuous body is transported by rotating the platen roller in a state where one end of the roll of the label continuous body is sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller, the printer can supply a desired label to the label. It is a printer for label printing that prints information.

  This printer is described in, for example, Patent Document 1, and a platen roller is provided in a rotatable state at an open end portion of an open / close cover portion that opens and closes a housing portion of a label continuum, and an open / close cover portion is provided inside the label printer. A label printer provided with a thermal head at a position facing the platen roller at the time of closing is disclosed.

JP 2008-62632 A

  By the way, label printers, for example, do not take up space, are easy to hold in the palm of your hand, are easy to carry, and can be issued while being carried. The problem is whether to downsize the printer.

  Another problem is how to improve the mechanical strength of the printer so that the printer is not distorted or broken due to an external impact or the like even if the printer is downsized.

  The present invention has been made from the above-described technical background, and an object thereof is to provide a technique capable of downsizing a printer.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can improve the mechanical strength of a printer.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a printer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a housing and an opening / closing cover portion pivotally supported by the housing, and is rotatable at an open end portion of the opening / closing cover portion. A conveying roller that conveys the printing medium, a printing head unit that is disposed at a position facing the conveying roller, and that prints on the printing medium, and a head support member that supports the printing head unit A first support shaft that pivotally supports the head support member in a swingable manner in a direction in which the head support member approaches and separates from the transport roller, and a drive unit that is installed on the back surface of the head support member and drives the transport roller And a battery storage unit that is disposed along a predetermined surface in the casing and stores a battery, and the print head unit, the head support member, the first support shaft, and the drive unit are Battery compartment Characterized in that disposed on the opposite side of the predetermined surface in the region.
A printer according to a second aspect of the present invention is the printer according to the first aspect, wherein the driving means and the conveying roller are engaged with each other on the opposite side of the predetermined surface in the arrangement region of the battery accommodating portion. 1 gear member is provided.
A printer according to a third aspect of the present invention is the printer according to the first or second aspect, wherein the head support member also functions as a heat radiating member of the print head portion.
A printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the print medium is disposed between the battery accommodating portion and the print medium accommodating portion for accommodating the print medium. A pair of guide members are provided in the print medium accommodating portion so as to be movable in the width direction of the print medium and guide the position in the width direction of the print medium. When one of the guide members is moved, the second gear member that transmits the movement to the other guide member is pivotally supported in a state in which the second gear member can rotate to the upstream end in the print transport direction of the transport member. It is characterized by that.
A printer according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the printer according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first support shaft extends in the longitudinal direction of the transport roller. It is installed and the both ends of the extending direction of the support shaft are fixed to the case.
A printer according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the printer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the print medium is disposed between the print medium accommodating portion for accommodating the print medium and the battery accommodating portion. A conveyance member that forms a medium conveyance path is provided, and the downstream end of the conveyance member in the print conveyance direction is engaged with the first support shaft.
A printer according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the printer according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the conveyance is performed between a print medium accommodating portion for accommodating the print medium and the battery accommodating portion. A second support shaft extending along the longitudinal direction of the roller is provided, and both end portions in the extending direction of the second support shaft are fixed to the casing.
A printer according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the printer according to the seventh aspect, wherein the printer is provided in the print medium accommodating portion so as to be movable in the width direction of the print medium and guides the position of the print medium in the width direction. The guide member is provided, and the second support shaft is also used as a function of guiding the movement of the guide member.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the printer can be miniaturized.
According to the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to reduce the size of the printer.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the printer as compared with the case where the heat dissipating member of the print head portion is provided separately.
According to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to reduce the size of the printer as compared with the case where the second gear member is provided on the bottom surface of the housing.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the mechanical strength of the printer can be improved by the first support shaft.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the position setting accuracy of the conveying member can be improved, the printer can be miniaturized.
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the mechanical strength of the printer can be improved by the second support shaft.
According to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to reduce the size of the printer as compared with the case where the guide for moving the guide member is provided separately.

(A) is a whole perspective view of the continuous issue state of the printer concerning one embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a whole perspective view of the peeling issue state of the printer of Drawing 1 (a). It is a whole perspective view which shows the external appearance of the printer of FIG. 1, and a label continuous body in the open state of an opening-and-closing cover part. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the printer of FIG. 1. It is a disassembled perspective view of the functional unit part of the printer of FIG. FIG. 2 is a main part perspective view of a main part of a functional unit of the printer shown in FIG. It is the block diagram seen from the arrow direction of the II line | wire of FIG. It is the block diagram seen from the arrow direction of the II-II line of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of main parts of a main part of a functional unit part of the printer of FIG. 1 viewed from the back side.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment as an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted. The terms in the embodiment will be briefly described as follows. Continuous issuance means that when a continuous label (label with mount) is used as a label continuum, a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to a long strip of mount at a predetermined interval, without removing the label from the mount. A method of issuing from a printer while being attached to a mount, and a peeling issue is a method of releasing a label from the mount and issuing from a printer. In the case of using a label without a mount and a continuous sheet without a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer as a continuous label, a continuous issue is applied. Further, the print conveyance direction refers to a direction in which the continuous label body is conveyed when printing is performed.

  1A is an overall perspective view of a continuous issue state of the printer according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1B is an overall perspective view of the release issue state of the printer of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing the appearance of the printer of FIG. 1 and the label continuum in the open state, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the printer of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the functional unit portion of the printer of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a portable label printer formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and can be switched between continuous issuing and peeling issuing with a single printer. It has the composition of. The printer 1 can be used with the issue port side facing up (sideways), but a belt hook (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the printer 1 can be hooked on the operator's belt. In addition, by attaching a shoulder belt (not shown) and hanging the shoulder belt on the operator's shoulder, it can also be used in a state in which the issue port side faces sideways (vertically or vertically).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing medium of the printer 1 includes, for example, a long mount PM and a plurality of labels PL temporarily attached at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. A label continuum P is used. The label affixing surface of the mount PM is coated with a release agent such as silicone so that the label PL can be easily peeled off. In addition, position detection marks (not shown) that indicate the positions of the labels PL are formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction on the back surface of the label application surface of the mount PM. On the surface (printing surface) of the label PL, there is formed a thermosensitive coloring layer that develops a specific color (black, red, etc.) when reaching a predetermined temperature range.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an external case 2 constituting the printer 1 is an external housing that forms a part of the outer shape of the printer 1, and includes a main body case 2 a and a front cover portion 2 b. . The main body case 2a is formed of, for example, a plastic box-like body having an opening formed on one surface. Further, the battery cover portion Cb is pivotally supported on one side surface of the main body case 2a in a state where the battery cover portion Cb can be opened and closed. On the other hand, the front cover portion 2b is formed of, for example, a plastic lid formed so as to partially cover the opening of the main body case 2a, and is screwed to the main body case 2a. On the surface of the front cover portion 2b, a display portion Dp, an operation button Bc, a power button Bv, a cover open button Bp, a pair of release lever portions Lc and Lc, and a cutter Ct are mounted. The display unit Dp is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays operation commands, messages, and the like. The operation button Bc is a button for operating the operation and setting of the printer 1, and the power button Bv is a button for turning on / off the power of the printer 1. The cutter Ct is a member for cutting the continuous label P after continuous issuance, and is installed at the front end portion of the front cover portion 2b opposite to the opening / closing cover portion 3. Between the front cover portion 2b and the opening / closing cover portion 3, an issuing port for the label continuous body P after printing is formed. In the printer 1, the side on which the display unit Dp or the like is disposed is referred to as the front side of the printer 1, and the side on which the opening / closing cover unit 3 is pivotally supported is referred to as the rear side. The direction toward the front side is referred to as the front-rear direction of the printer 1. Further, in the printer 1, each surface (the installation surface of the battery cover portion Cb and the surface facing the surface) positioned on both end surfaces in the width direction of the label continuous body P is referred to as a side surface of the printer 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the functional unit portion Y is housed in the outer case 2 in a state of being sandwiched and fixed between the main body case 2 a and the front cover portion 2 b. The functional unit portion Y is a printing functional portion for printing on the label continuum P, and includes a frame portion F, an open / close cover portion 3, a peeling unit portion 4, a battery housing portion (battery housing portion) 5, A sheet storage unit (print medium storage unit) 6, a drive motor (drive means) M, a gear unit unit (first gear member) GU, and a control unit unit CU are integrally provided.

  The frame part F is an internal housing that forms the outer shape of the functional unit part Y, and is formed of plastic, for example. A plurality of components such as the opening / closing cover 3, the peeling unit 4, the drive motor M, the gear unit GU, and the control unit CU are attached to the frame F. Further, the frame portion F forms a battery storage portion 5 and a paper storage portion 6. Note that, in the functional unit Y and the frame part F, the respective surfaces (each surface facing the both side surfaces of the printer 1) located on the both end surfaces in the width direction of the label continuum P That's it.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the plurality of components and the storage section constituting the printing function section are modularized as the function unit section Y, the function unit section Y is placed in the main body case 2a when the printer 1 is assembled. After the housing, it is only necessary to screw the main body case 2a and the front cover portion 2b. Therefore, when the printer is assembled by separately handling a plurality of parts constituting the printing function portion and the housing portion and assembling them in the main body case 2a. Compared to the above, the assembly workability of the printer 1 can be improved. In addition, when a plurality of components and storage units constituting the print function unit are modularized as the function unit unit Y, a plurality of components and storage units constituting the print function unit are handled separately and assembled in the main body case 2a. Compared to the above, it is possible to improve the alignment accuracy between the components. For this reason, the printing quality of the printer 1 can be improved. In addition, since the printer 1 can be operated smoothly, the power consumption during the operation of the printer 1 can be reduced. In addition, since the operation check can be performed in the state of the functional unit portion Y, a malfunction of the operation of the printer 1 can be easily found during the manufacturing process of the printer 1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the outer case 2 and the frame portion F of the functional unit portion Y are separated, and the functional unit portion Y is accommodated in the outer case 2 in a state independent of the outer case 2. (Double casing structure). Moreover, the functional unit portion Y is accommodated in a state of being partially supported in the main body case 2a, and a gap is provided between the opposing surfaces of the functional unit portion Y and the main body case 2a. A shock absorbing buffer member may be provided in the gap. As a result, it is possible to suppress or prevent an impact from the outside of the printer 1 from being transmitted to the functional unit portion Y, so that each constituent portion of the functional unit portion Y is distorted by the impact or the like. It is possible to suppress or prevent the mutual position from shifting. For this reason, it is possible to suppress or prevent the printing disturbance caused by the distortion of the functional unit portion Y or the positional deviation between the components, so that the printing performance of the printer 1 can be maintained. Moreover, when the outer case 2 is damaged by an impact or the like, the outer case 2 can be easily replaced.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the open / close cover portion 3 is an open / close cover for the paper storage portion 6, and one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the open / close cover portion 3 (open end portion: the longitudinal center side of the outer case 2). The other end in the longitudinal direction of the opening / closing cover portion 3 is pivotally supported by the frame portion F by an opening / closing support shaft in a state where the opening / closing cover portion 3 can move in a direction away from and approaching the outer case 2. The opening / closing cover 3 is urged in the opening direction (the direction in which the opening end of the opening / closing cover 3 is separated from the outer case 2) by a torsion spring disposed on the opening / closing support shaft at the other end in the longitudinal direction. Yes.

  A platen roller (conveyance roller) 10 is pivotally supported at the open end of the opening / closing cover 3 in a state of being rotatable in the forward and reverse directions. The platen roller 10 is a conveying unit that conveys the label continuous body P, and is installed in a state of extending along the width direction (short direction) of the label continuous body P. The platen roller 10 is made of, for example, a resin containing silicone or silicone rubber. A gear 10 b is connected to one end of the platen shaft 10 a of the platen roller 10. The gear 10b is engaged with the gear unit GU shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 when the open / close cover 3 is closed, and is mechanically connected to the drive motor M via the gear unit GU. The gear unit GU is configured by engaging a plurality of gears with each other. Moreover, the drive motor M is comprised by the stepping motor, for example.

  In the vicinity of the platen roller 10 on the open end side of the open / close cover portion 3, a peeling pin 11 is installed in a state extending along the platen roller 10. The peeling pin 11 is a peeling member that peels the label PL from the mount PM when using a label with a mount, and both end portions in the longitudinal direction are pivotally supported by the open / close cover portion 3.

  Sensors 12 (12a, 12b) are installed on the surface of the open / close cover portion 3 on the open end side where the label continuum P faces. The sensor 12a is, for example, a sensor that detects the position of the label PL (the position detection mark of the mount PM, the mount PM portion between adjacent labels PL, etc.), and is configured by a reflective optical sensor or the like. On the other hand, the sensor 12b is, for example, a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the label continuum P, and includes a transmissive optical sensor or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the peeling unit unit 4 is a unit unit that separates the transport path between the base sheet PM and the label PL by peeling the label PL from the base sheet PM of the label continuum P at the time of release. The nip roller 4a supported by the peeling unit 4 is installed in a state where it can be moved between a continuous issuing position inside the printer 1 and a peeling issuing position outside the printer 1. The nip roller 4a is a member that is disposed at a position opposite to the platen roller 10 at the time of release issuance, and conveys the mount PM between the nip roller 4a and the platen roller 10. The nip roller 4 a is driven to rotate following the rotation of the platen roller 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery storage unit 5 is a storage space for storing a battery (not shown) for supplying power to the printer 1, and the paper is passed through the frame F opposite to the paper storage unit 6. It is formed at a position adjacent to the route. The battery accommodating part 5 is arrange | positioned along the bottom face (predetermined surface) in the main body case 2b. Moreover, the battery accommodating part 5 is extended over the both sides | surfaces of the functional unit part Y, and the one end side of the extension direction is opened and closed by above-mentioned battery cover part Cb (refer FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). It is possible. Thus, by forming the battery accommodating portion 5 in the frame portion F of the functional unit portion Y in which the respective constituent portions are integrated, the constituent portions (the drive motor M, the control unit portion CU, the sensor 12, and the thermal unit described later are formed from the battery. The wiring length to the head or the like can be shortened. The battery is a battery for supplying power to the printer 1, and for example, a lithium ion battery is used. When the battery is housed in the battery housing portion 5 and the power terminal Bv of the printer 1 is turned on in a state where the battery power terminal is electrically connected to the electrode in the battery housing portion 5, the display portion Dp, the operation button Power is supplied to each electrical component such as Bc, control unit CU, drive motor M, thermal head, and sensor 12.
The lithium ion battery has a saddle shape in cross section for two cells, and a battery housing 5a described later has a saddle shape as well. Moreover, a lithium ion battery carries a single battery. The printer 1 of the present embodiment will be described using a 2-inch type thermal head 25. However, the 4-inch type thermal head can be applied to a vertical 4-cell lithium ion battery.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the sheet storage unit 6 is a space for storing the roll-shaped label continuous body P, and a pair of guide plates 7 a of the sheet guide mechanism unit 7 is installed therein. . The paper guide mechanism unit 7 is a mechanism unit that supports and guides the label continuous body P according to its width. The guide plate 7a guides the conveyance of the label continuous body P by supporting the roll-shaped label continuous body P in a rotatable state in contact with both end surfaces of the roll-shaped label continuous body P in the width direction (axial direction). It is a member to be installed, and is installed in a movable state along the width direction of the label continuum P so that the position can be changed according to the width of the label continuum P.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit unit CU is an electronic circuit unit that controls the operation of the printer 1. For example, the rotation operation of the drive motor M and the printing operation of the thermal head described later are controlled by the control unit CU in accordance with an input operation to the operation button Bc, a detection signal from the sensor 12, and the like. The control unit CU is attached to the frame unit F of the functional unit unit Y at a position opposite to the mounting position of the opening / closing cover unit 3 and adjacent to the battery housing unit 5.

  Next, the structure of the functional unit portion Y of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the functional unit of the printer shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the side of the paper storage unit, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram viewed from the direction of the arrow I-I in FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a structural view seen from the direction of the arrow II-II in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the essential part of the functional unit part of the printer shown in FIG.

  In the functional unit Y, a head unit HU is installed on the opposite side of the platen roller 10 (see FIG. 7) when the open / close cover 3 is closed. The head unit HU includes a thermal head (print head unit) 25, a circuit board 26, a head bracket (head support member) 27, a support shaft 28, and a coil spring 29. It is installed on the opposite side of the bottom surface (predetermined surface) of the main body case 2a in the region. As a specific example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the head unit HU is located above the battery housing 5 (paper discharge port) when the battery housing 5 is disposed on the bottom surface in the main body case 2 a of the printer 1. In the bottom surface of the main body case 2a so as to overlap in a plane substantially within the range of the area occupied by the battery housing 5. Thus, in the present embodiment, the head unit HU includes the battery housing 5a in the space region between the battery housing 5a covering the battery housing portion 5 of the main body case 2a and the front cover portion 2b facing each other. It is arranged so as to overlap in a plane substantially within the range of the occupied area of the battery housing 5. As a result, the printer 1 can be reduced in size as will be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the thermal head 25 is a printing unit that prints information such as characters, symbols, figures, or barcodes on the label continuum P, and when the opening / closing cover 3 is closed, for example. The thermal head 25 is mounted on the head bracket 27 via the circuit board 26 with the printing surface of the thermal head 25 facing the paper route so as to face the platen roller 10. On the printing surface of the thermal head 25, a plurality of heating resistors (heating elements) that generate heat when energized are arranged side by side along the width direction (short direction) of the label continuum P. The circuit board 26 is a wiring board that transmits a print signal sent from the control unit CU to the thermal head 25.

  As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the head bracket 27 is a member that supports the thermal head 25, and approaches the platen roller 10 toward and away from the platen roller 10 on the opposite side of the platen roller 10 when the opening / closing cover portion 3 is closed. It is pivotally supported by a support shaft (first support shaft) 28 in a swingable state. The head bracket 27 is made of, for example, metal and has a function of radiating heat generated by the thermal head 25. If a heat sink for dissipating the heat generated by the thermal head 25 is separately provided, the dimension of the head unit HU (the length in the front-rear direction of the printer (the horizontal direction in FIGS. 6 and 7)) becomes longer. For this reason, the head unit HU is disposed above the battery housing 5 and the drive motor M cannot be disposed, and the drive motor M is disposed adjacent to the battery housing 5, so the dimensions of the printer (Length in the front-rear direction of the printer) becomes longer. Further, since the heat sink is provided separately, the printer becomes heavy. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the head bracket 27 has a function as a heat radiating plate (heat sink) of the thermal head 25, so that the dimensions of the head unit portion HU (length in the front-rear direction of the printer 1) Can be shortened. For this reason, when the battery accommodating part 5 is arrange | positioned in the bottom face in the main body case 2a of the printer 1, the drive motor M and the gear unit part GU can be installed above the battery accommodating part 5. FIG. Therefore, the printer 1 can be reduced in size. In addition, since the heat sink is not separately provided and the drive motor M can be brought close to the platen roller 10, the number of gears of the gear unit GU can be reduced or the gear diameter can be reduced. Can do. Moreover, since the number of parts can be reduced compared with the case where a heat sink is provided separately, the cost of the printer 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, each component such as a battery (battery housing 5), a head unit HU, a drive motor M, a gear unit GU, and the like can be integrated on the center side in the front-rear direction of the printer 1, so that each component is dispersed. Compared to the case where the printer 1 is used, the handling property (ease of handling) of the printer 1 can be improved.

  The head bracket 27 has a function of opening and closing the opening / closing cover 3. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the head bracket 27, grooves 27 a for holding the platen shaft 10 a are integrally formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the platen roller 10. The opening / closing cover portion 3 is held by the head bracket 27 by fitting the platen shaft 10a into the groove 27a. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in the upper side portion of the head bracket 27, a pressing portion 27 b extending toward the coil spring 29 is integrally formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the platen roller 10. The pressing portion 27b is disposed at a position (directly below) facing the cover open button Bp (see FIG. 2 and the like). When the cover open button Bp is pressed, the pressing portion 27b is also pressed and opened and closed by the head bracket 27 The holding state of the cover part 3 is released. When the holding state of the opening / closing cover part 3 is released, the opening / closing cover part 3 is automatically opened by the urging force of the torsion spring disposed on the opening / closing support shaft on the other end side in the longitudinal direction. .

  The support shaft 28 is made of, for example, metal, extends along the longitudinal direction of the platen roller 10, and is fixed to the frame portions F on both side surfaces of the functional unit portion Y at both ends in the longitudinal direction. As described above, since the support shaft 28 is installed between the both side surfaces of the functional unit Y, the mechanical strength of the functional unit Y (printer 1) can be improved even if the printer 1 is downsized. That is, since it is possible to suppress or prevent the functional unit Y of the printer 1 from being distorted by an external impact or the like, it is possible to suppress or prevent printing disturbance due to the distortion. Therefore, the printing performance of the printer 1 can be maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the coil spring 29 is a member that urges the thermal head 25 and the head bracket 27 toward the platen roller 10 when the open / close cover portion 3 is closed, and the back side of the head bracket 27 (the mounting of the circuit board 26). It is installed on the back side). Since the head bracket 27 is pressed against the platen roller 10 by the biasing force of the coil spring 29, the thermal head 25 is firmly pressed against the platen roller 10 via the label continuum P. Further, since the platen shaft 10 a fitted in the groove 27 a of the head bracket 27 is firmly pressed, the opening / closing cover portion 3 can be firmly held by the head bracket 27.

  Further, in the functional unit Y, a support shaft (second support shaft) 35 is provided on the bottom side of the main body case 2a. The support shaft 35 is made of, for example, metal, extends along the longitudinal direction of the platen roller 10, and is fixed to the frame portions F on both side surfaces of the functional unit portion Y at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Yes. As described above, the support shaft 35 is installed together with the support shaft 28 between both side surfaces of the functional unit portion Y, so that the mechanical strength of the functional unit portion Y (printer 1) is improved even if the printer 1 is downsized. be able to. That is, since it is possible to suppress or prevent the functional unit Y of the printer 1 from being distorted by an external impact or the like, it is possible to suppress or prevent printing disturbance due to the distortion. Therefore, the printing performance of the printer 1 can be maintained.

  The support shaft 35 also serves as a guide rail that guides the movement of the pair of guide plates 7a. That is, a hole is formed in each leg portion of the pair of guide plates 7a, and the support shaft 35 is inserted through the hole. Accordingly, the pair of guide plates 7 a can move in the width direction of the roll-shaped label continuous body P along the extending direction of the support shaft 35. For this reason, since the number of parts can be reduced compared with the case where guide rails for guiding the movement of the pair of guide plates 7a are separately provided, the printer 1 can be reduced in size and weight. Further, the cost of the printer 1 can be reduced.

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, in the functional unit Y, a conveyance plate (conveyance member) 36 is screwed to the opposite side of the sheet storage unit 6 in a detachable state. The conveying plate 36 is a member that forms a sheet passing route for conveying the sheet-like label continuous body P (see FIG. 2) sent out from the sheet storage unit 6 toward the platen roller 10. A portion from the lower side of the transport plate 36 toward the bottom surface in the main body case 2a is located substantially at the center in the width direction (longitudinal direction of the platen roller 10) of the lower side (bottom surface side in the main body case 2a) of the transport plate 36. A support piece 36a extending integrally is integrally formed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the transport plate 36, one end portion (upper side) on the support shaft 28 side is bent toward the support shaft 28 side. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of projecting portions 36 b project below the support shaft 28 so as to support the support shaft 28 on the back surface of the transport plate 36. Thus, one end portion of the transport plate 36 on the downstream side in the print transport direction is engaged with the support shaft 28. Thereby, the assembly height when the transport plate 36 is assembled to the functional unit portion Y can be easily set with high accuracy. That is, since the position setting accuracy of the transport plate 36 can be improved, the printer 1 can be reduced in size. Moreover, since the installation of the conveyance plate 36 can be facilitated, the assembly of the printer 1 can be facilitated.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in the support piece 36 a of the transport plate 36, a part of the back surface (on the battery housing 5 side) on the bottom surface side of the main body case 2 a is engaged with the support shaft 35 described above. Yes. That is, the transport plate 36 is installed between both side surfaces of the functional unit Y in a state of being engaged with the support shafts 28 and 35 on the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction of the label continuous body P. Thereby, even if the printer 1 is reduced in size, the mechanical strength of the functional unit Y (printer 1) can be improved. That is, since it is possible to suppress or prevent the functional unit Y of the printer 1 from being distorted by an external impact or the like, it is possible to suppress or prevent printing disturbance due to the distortion. Therefore, the printing performance of the printer 1 can be maintained. Further, by engaging the support piece 36a of the transport plate 36 with the support shaft 35, the support piece 36a can be fixed in a stable state.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a pinion gear (second gear member) 7b is provided on the bottom surface of the front end of the support piece 36a of the transport plate 36 (a surface facing the bottom surface of the main body case 2a). It is pivotally supported in a rotatable state along the bottom surface of 2a. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, a pair of rack portions 7c extending in a strip shape toward each other is integrally formed on each leg portion of the pair of guide plates 7a. The pair of rack portions 7c are arranged so as to sandwich the pinion gear 7b with a plurality of irregularities formed on the long sides of the pair of rack portions 7c engaged with the irregularities on the outer periphery of the pinion gear 7b. Thereby, when one guide plate 7a is moved in one direction in the width direction of the roll-shaped label continuous body P, the other guide plate 7a is moved in the one direction by the action of the pinion gear 7b and the rack portion 7c. Moves in the opposite direction. As described above, by providing the pinion gear 7b on the support piece 36a of the transport plate 36, the printer 1 can be reduced in size as compared with the case where the pinion gear 7b is provided on the bottom surface of the main body case 2a. Further, since the conveying plate 36 is engaged with the support shaft 28 as described above, the height position of the conveying plate 36 can be set with high accuracy, so that the alignment between the pinion gear 7b and the rack portion 7c is achieved. Accuracy can be ensured. Therefore, the pair of guide plates 7a can be moved smoothly.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the embodiment disclosed in this specification is an example in all respects and is limited to the disclosed technology. It is not a thing. That is, the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed restrictively based on the description in the above-described embodiment, but should be construed according to the description of the scope of claims. All modifications are included without departing from the technical scope equivalent to the described technique and the gist of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a combination type printer that can be used for both continuous issue and peeling issue has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a printer that can be used only for continuous issue. It can also be applied to printers that can only be used for printing and peeling.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case of a double housing structure in which the functional unit portion is accommodated in the outer case 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the outer case 2 is directly connected to the outer case 2. It is also possible to have a single housing structure in which components such as the thermal head 25, the circuit board 26, the head bracket 27, the coil spring 29, the drive motor M, the gear unit GU, the control unit CU, and the battery housing 5 are assembled. . In this case, both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the support shafts 28 and 35 are fixed to both side surface portions inside the outer case 2.

  In the above embodiment, the case where a label with a mount is used as a print medium is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a continuous label having an adhesive layer on one side (no mount) Labels), continuous sheets having no pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (continuous sheets), papers, and other films that can be printed by a thermal head can also be used as printing media. A label with a mount, a continuous sheet or a film can be provided with a position detection mark.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 External case 2a Main body case 2b Front cover part 3 Opening / closing cover part 5 Battery accommodating part 5a Battery housing 6 Paper accommodating part 7 Paper guide mechanism part 7a Guide plate 7b Pinion gear 7c Rack part 10 Platen roller 10a Platen shaft 10b Gear 25 Thermal head 26 Circuit board 27 Head bracket 27a Groove 27b Press part 28 Support shaft 29 Coil spring 35 Support shaft 36 Conveying plate 36a Support piece P Label continuous body Cb Battery cover part Y Functional unit part F Frame part M Drive motor GU Gear unit part CU Control unit section

Claims (8)

A housing, and an opening / closing cover portion pivotally supported by the housing,
A conveying roller provided in a rotatable state at an open end of the opening / closing cover portion, and conveying the print medium;
A print head unit provided at a position facing the transport roller and for printing on the print medium;
A head support member for supporting the print head unit;
A first support shaft that pivotally supports the head support member in a swingable manner in a direction approaching and separating from the transport roller;
A drive means installed on the back surface of the head support member for driving the transport roller;
A battery storage unit that is disposed along a predetermined surface in the housing and stores a battery;
With
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print head unit, the head support member, the first support shaft, and the driving unit are arranged on a side opposite to the predetermined surface in an arrangement region of the battery housing unit.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein a first gear member that engages the driving unit and the transport roller is provided on the opposite side of the predetermined surface in the arrangement region of the battery housing portion.   3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the head support member also functions as a heat radiating member of the print head unit. A conveying member that forms a conveying path for the print medium is provided between the battery accommodating portion and the print medium accommodating portion that accommodates the print medium, and is movable in the width direction of the print medium within the print medium accommodating portion. A pair of guide members provided to guide the position of the print medium in the width direction;
When one of the pair of guide members is moved, the second gear member that transmits the movement to the other guide member can be rotated to the upstream end in the print transport direction of the transport member. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is supported by a shaft.   The first support shaft is installed in a state extending along a longitudinal direction of the transport roller, and both end portions in the extending direction of the support shaft are fixed to the casing. The printer according to any one of 1 to 4.   A conveying member that forms a conveying path for the printing medium is provided between the printing medium accommodating portion that accommodates the printing medium and the battery accommodating portion, and the end on the downstream side in the printing conveying direction of the conveying member is the first member. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is engaged with one support shaft.   A second support shaft extending along the longitudinal direction of the transport roller is provided between the print medium storage portion for storing the print medium and the battery storage portion, and the extending direction of the second support shaft The printer according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the printer are fixed to the housing.   A pair of guide members are provided in the print medium accommodating portion so as to be movable in the width direction of the print medium, and guide the position of the print medium in the width direction, and guide the movement of the guide member to the second support shaft. 8. The printer according to claim 7, wherein the printer is also used as a function.

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