JP6588783B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

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

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

  As a printer, a printer is disclosed in which a cover is unlocked by a cover open button so that the cover is opened (Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in a label printer, in order to carry out printing while transporting the label continuous body, the platen roller is rotated while sandwiching the label continuous body between the thermal head and the platen roller that transports the label continuous body. At this time, the label continuum is strongly pressed against the platen roller by the thermal head in order to securely transmit the heat of the thermal head to the label continuum and to securely hold and convey the label. The thermal head is held by a head bracket, and the head bracket is strongly biased by a spring toward the platen roller. The head bracket has a lock member that engages with the cover, and the cover and the lock member are engaged when the cover is closed, and the cover and the lock member are separated when the cover is opened. .

  The cover open button that is operated when opening the cover presses and swings the head bracket holding the thermal head that prints on the label continuum. The cover opens away from the cover. Also, when the cover is closed, the lock member of the bed bracket biased by the spring is once retracted, and then the lock member is engaged with the cover.

JP 2014-188703 A

  However, since the head bracket is strongly urged by the spring toward the platen roller, when pressing the cover open button in order to open the cover, it should resist the urging force of the spring that urges the head bracket. There is a problem of having to press hard. Also, when the cover is closed, there is a problem that a strong force against the urging force of the spring that urges the head bracket is required to once separate the lock member of the head bracket from the cover.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can easily open and close a cover without applying a strong force to a lock member that locks the opening and closing of the cover.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided rotatably with a print medium storage unit that stores a print medium, a cover that opens and closes the print medium storage unit, and an open end of the cover. A print roller for carrying the print medium; a print head for printing on the print medium; a head holding member for holding the print head; and a cover for locking the cover. A swingable lock member; a first biasing member that biases the head holding member in the direction of the transport roller; and a second biasing member that biases the lock member in the direction of the transport roller. And the second urging member has a urging force weaker than that of the first urging member.

  According to the printer of the embodiment of the present invention, the cover can be easily opened / closed without applying a strong force to the lock member that locks the cover open / close.

1 is an overall perspective view of an issuance state of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing an appearance of a continuous label body when the cover of the printer of FIG. 1 is opened. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the printer of FIG. 1. It is a figure of the state where the cover of the cover opening / closing mechanism of the printer of FIG. 1 was locked. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state where a cover of the cover opening / closing mechanism of the printer in FIG. 1 is unlocked. It is a disassembled perspective view of the cover opening / closing mechanism of the printer of FIG.

  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. In the following description, the upward direction refers to a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the printer and a direction in which a label discharge port is provided in a side view of the printer.

<Overview of printer>
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an issuance state of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing the appearance of the continuous label body when the cover of the printer of FIG. 1 is opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the printer of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is a portable label printer formed in, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The printer 1 is used in a state where a belt hook (not shown) provided on the entire outer surface of the printer 1 is hooked on the operator's belt or a shoulder belt (not shown) is attached to the operator's shoulder. You can also

  As a printing medium of the printer 1, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a continuous label (continuous label) having a long strip-like mount PM and a plurality of labels PL temporarily attached at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction thereof (see FIG. Printing media), so-called labels with mounts are used. The label affixing surface of the mount PM is coated with a release agent such as silicone so that the label PL whose back side is an adhesive layer can be easily peeled off. Further, position detection marks (not shown) indicating the label positions are formed on the back surface of the label affixing surface of the mount PM at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. On the surface (printing surface) of the label, there is formed a heat-sensitive coloring layer that develops a specific color, for example, black or red, when reaching a predetermined temperature range.

  However, the printing medium is not limited to a label with a mount and can be variously changed. For example, a label without a mount that is transported in a state where the mount is not present and the adhesive layer is exposed may be used. In this case, a position detection mark (not shown) indicating the label position is formed on the adhesive side of the label without a mount at every predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction. Further, the above-described thermosensitive coloring layer is formed on the surface of the label without a mount. In addition, for example, the above-described continuous sheet may be used, and not only papers, but also a film (label without mount) that can be printed by a thermal head may be used. In the case of a continuous sheet or film, a position detection mark can be provided.

  The printer 1 includes an outer case 2, a cover 3, a paper storage unit (print medium storage unit) 6, and a paper guide mechanism unit 7.

  The outer case 2 is an external housing that forms a part of the outer shape of the printer 1, and includes a main body case 2a and a front cover portion 2b. 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 supported on one side surface of the main body case 2a so as to be openable and closable. 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. A display portion Dp, a setting button Bc, a power button Bv, and a cover open button 5 are mounted on the surface of the front cover portion 2b. The display unit Dp is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays operation commands, messages, and the like. The setting 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. Between the front cover portion 2b and the cover 3, an issuing port for the label continuous body P after printing is formed. In the printer 1, the surface on which the battery cover Cb is installed and the opposite surface are referred to as the side surface of the printer 1, and the surface opposite to the front cover 2 b is referred to as the bottom surface of the printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cover 3 is a cover of the sheet storage unit 6, and is in a state in which an open end that is one end in the longitudinal direction of the cover 3 is movable in a direction away from and approaching the outer case 2. The cover 3 is rotatably supported by an opening / closing support shaft 3a at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The cover 3 is urged in the opening direction (the direction in which the open end of the cover 3 is separated from the external case 2) by a torsion spring 3b disposed on the opening / closing support shaft 3a at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The torsion spring 3b assists the opening of the cover so that the cover can be easily opened.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the platen roller 10 is supported on the open end of the cover 3 so as to be 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 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 roller shaft 10 a of the platen roller 10. The gear 10b is engaged with a gear unit (not shown) when the cover 3 is closed, and is mechanically connected to a drive motor (not shown) via the gear unit. The gear unit portion is configured by engaging a plurality of gears with each other. Moreover, the drive motor is comprised by the stepping motor, for example.

  Sensors 12 (12a, 12b) are installed on the facing surface of the label continuum P on the open end side of the cover 3. The sensor 12a 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. On the other hand, the sensor 12b is, for example, a sensor that detects the position of the label PL (the position detection mark of the mount PM), and includes a reflective optical sensor or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, 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 is a member that 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 faces in the width direction of the roll-shaped label continuous body P. . It is installed in a state that it can move 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.

<Printer cover open / close mechanism>
Next, the cover opening / closing mechanism of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the printer of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the cover of the cover opening / closing mechanism of the printer of FIG. 1 is locked. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where the cover of the cover opening / closing mechanism of the printer of FIG. 1 is unlocked. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cover opening / closing mechanism of the printer of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a thermal head (printing head) 25, a head bracket (head holding member) 28, and a lock member 27 are disposed on the opposite side of the platen roller (conveying roller) 10 in the printer 1. A coil spring (first urging member) 29, a coil spring (second urging member) 30, and a cover open button (operation button) 5 are provided.

  The thermal head 25 is a printing unit that prints information such as characters, symbols, figures, or barcodes on the label continuum P. The thermal head 25 faces the platen roller 10 when the cover 3 is closed. 25 is mounted on the head bracket 28 with the print surface facing the paper route. On the printing surface of the thermal head 25, a plurality of heating elements that generate heat when energized are arranged in parallel along the width direction of the label continuum P.

The head bracket 28 has a holding portion 28a for holding the thermal head 25, a pair of wing portions 28b and 28b, and a contact portion 28c for interlocking with the swinging of the lock member 27, and these are integrally formed. .

The holding portion 28a holds the thermal head 25 in the longitudinal direction on the surface in the direction in which the platen roller 10 is located. In addition, the surface of the platen roller 10 is biased toward the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned by the coil spring 29 on the surface opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned.

The pair of wing portions 28b, 28b are formed so as to bend and extend at right angles to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned at both longitudinal ends of the holding portion 28a. Further, it is supported in a swingable state on a support shaft 51 fixed inside the printer.

The contact portion 28c is formed in a U shape so as to extend in the opposite direction to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned from the upper side of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 28a. An upper side portion of a lock member 27 described later is disposed in the space inside the U-shape. The contact portion 28c is a member that contacts the lock member 27 as will be described later.

  The coil spring 29 is a member that urges the head bracket 28 and the thermal head 25 in the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned when the cover 3 is closed, and holds the thermal head 25 that is the holding portion 28a of the head bracket. It is installed on the opposite side of the surface. The head bracket 28 is pressed toward the platen roller 10 by the urging force of the coil spring 29, so that the thermal head 25 is firmly pressed against the platen roller 10 via the label continuum P.

  When printing the label continuous body P, the label continuous body P is nipped and conveyed by the thermal head 25 and the platen roller 10, and printing is performed by the thermal head 25 pressing the label continuous body P against the platen roller 10. At this time, in order to suppress variations in the print density in the width direction of the label continuum P, it is ideal that the pressing force of the thermal head 25 is as uniform as possible in the width direction of the label continuum P. Therefore, four coil springs 29 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the head bracket 28.

Thus, the head bracket 28 is supported in a swingable state. Further, since the platen roller 10 is biased by the coil spring 29, the thermal head 25 held by the holding unit 28a presses the platen roller. Further, the pressing is uniform in the width direction of the label continuous body P.

The lock member 27 includes a support portion 27a, a pair of wing portions 27b and 27b, and a pressed portion 27e that is pressed by a cover open button described later, and these are integrally formed.

  The support portion 27a has a pair of cutout portions on the upper side, and a coil spring 29 that urges the head bracket 28 is disposed in the cutout space.

  The pair of wing portions 27b, 27b are formed so as to bend and extend at right angles to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned at both longitudinal ends of the support portion 27a. Further, it is supported in a swingable state on a support shaft 51 fixed inside the printer. That is, the head bracket 28 and the lock member 27 are supported so as to be swingable with the support shaft 51 as a common support shaft. The head bracket 28 and the lock member 27 have the same shaft, so that the number of parts of the printer can be reduced and the printer can be downsized.

  The pair of wing portions 27b and 27b form an engagement groove 27c and an inclined portion 27d.

The engagement groove 27c is a groove for engaging the platen roller shaft 10a with the lock member 27, and is formed in a circular arc shape so as to follow the peripheral surface of the platen roller shaft 10a.

  The inclined portion 27d is formed so as to become thinner toward the tip so as to be connected to an arc-shaped edge constituting the engaging groove 27c. Moreover, it inclines below toward the front-end | tip. Here, the downward direction refers to a direction in which the platen roller shaft 10a contacts the inclined portion 27d when the cover 3 is closed. By inclining in this direction, when the platen roller shaft 10a contacts the inclined portion 27d, the platen roller shaft 10a slides on the inclined surface of the inclined portion 27d, so that the lock member 27 causes the support shaft 51 to move. As a fulcrum, it swings in a direction against the urging force of the coil spring 30. Eventually, when the platen roller shaft 10a slides down the inclined surface of the inclined portion 27d, the locking member 27 returns to the original position by the urging force of the coil spring 30, and the platen roller shaft 10a fits into the engaging groove 27c. Thus, the platen roller shaft 10a and the lock member 27 are engaged. Thus, the cover 3 is held by the lock member 27.

  The pressed portion 27e is a member that is pressed by a cover open button 5 described later, and extends so as to bend substantially at right angles in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is located from the approximate center of the upper side of the support portion 27a. Yes.

  The coil spring 30 is a member that biases the lock member 27 in the direction in which the platen roller shaft 10a is positioned when the cover 3 is closed, and is opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned in the support portion 27a of the lock member. Is arranged. The lock member 27 is pressed against the platen roller shaft 10 a by the urging force of the coil spring 30. As a result, the lock member 27 presses the platen roller shaft 10a engaged with the engagement groove 27c, so that the cover 3 can be firmly held by the lock member 27.

  When the cover 3 is closed, the support portion 27a of the lock member is in contact with the inner surface of the head bracket contact portion 28c in the direction of the platen roller 10.

  The coil springs 30 are arranged one by one on the surface in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is located in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 27a of the lock member.

  Thus, the lock member 27 is a member that holds or releases the cover 3, and approaches the platen roller shaft 10a so that the cover 3 can be held or released when the cover 3 is closed. And it is supported in a swingable manner in the separating direction.

The relationship of the strength of the urging force between the coil spring 29 and the coil spring 30 will be described. The thermal head 25 must strongly press the platen roller 10 in order to securely sandwich and convey the label continuous body P and to transmit the heat of the heating element of the thermal head 25 firmly to the label continuous body P. Therefore, the coil spring 29 that biases the thermal head 25 needs a strong biasing force. On the other hand, the coil spring 30 urges the lock member 27 in order to lock the cover 3, and it is only necessary to maintain the state in which the engagement groove 27c of the lock member is engaged with the platen roller shaft 10a. The biasing force may be weaker than that of the coil spring 29. Therefore, the biasing force of the coil spring 30 is weaker than the biasing force of the coil spring 29.

The cover open button 5 is a button for opening and opening the cover 3, and is installed so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the surface of the front cover portion 2b. The cover open button 5 is disposed immediately above the pressed portion 27e of the lock member.

When the cover open button 5 is pressed from above, the cover open button 5 moves downward, the lower end of the cover open button comes into contact with the upper surface of the pressed portion 27e of the lock member, and the pressed portion 27e is pressed downward. . As a result, the lock member 27 swings in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned against the urging force of the coil spring 30 with the support shaft 51 as a fulcrum, and the engagement groove 27c is separated from the platen roller shaft 10a. Come off.

This movement will be described in detail. When the cover open button 5 is pushed from above, the lock member 27 starts swinging with the support shaft 51 as a fulcrum, so that it contacts the inner surface of the head bracket contact portion 28c in the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned. The support portion 27a of the lock member is separated from the inner surface and swings toward the opposite inner surface. Subsequently, when the lower end of the cover open button 5 moves downward, the lock member 27 further swings in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is located, and the support portion 27a of the lock member is brought into contact with the head bracket. It abuts against the inner surface of the portion 28c in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller is located.

Further, when the lower end of the cover open button 5 moves downward, the lock member 27 and the head bracket 28 use the support shaft 51 as a common shaft, so that the lock member 27 together with the head bracket 28 is in the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned. Swings in the opposite direction. At this time, when the head bracket 28 starts to swing, the thermal head 25 is separated from the platen roller 10. When the head bracket 28 swings a predetermined distance, the platen roller shaft 10a is completely removed from the engaging groove 27c of the lock member, and the cover 3 is opened by the urging force of the torsion spring 3b disposed on the opening / closing support shaft 3a. Open.

Even when the cover 3 is closed, the lock member 27 and the head bracket 28 move in the same manner. When the cover 3 is closed, the platen roller shaft 10a descends downward so as to slide while contacting the inclined portion 27d of the lock member. Further, when the platen roller shaft 10a slides and abuts in the vicinity of the tip of the inclined portion 27d, the support portion 27a of the lock member is on the inner surface of the abutting portion 28c of the head bracket on the inner surface opposite to the direction in which the platen roller is positioned. The lock member 27 and the head bracket 28 are in contact with each other and swing in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller is located. Thereafter, when the platen roller shaft 10a slides down the inclined surface of the inclined portion 27d, the platen roller shaft 10a is fitted into the engagement groove 27c by the urging force of the coil spring 30, and the platen roller shaft 10a and the lock member 27 are engaged. To do. Thus, the cover 3 is held by the lock member 27. Thus, when the cover 3 is closed, the thermal head 25 is once separated from the platen roller 10, and then the engagement groove 27 c is engaged with the platen roller shaft 10 a and the cover 3 is locked.

After the support portion 27a of the lock member comes into contact with the inner surface of the contact portion 28c in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is positioned, the head bracket 28 is urged when the cover open button 5 is pressed. The coil spring 29 is pressed with a force that resists the biasing force of the coil spring 29. Therefore, when the cover 3 is opened, first, the cover open button 5 is pressed with a force against the urging force of the coil spring 30, and then the support portion 27a of the lock member is moved to the platen of the contact portion 28c of the head bracket. After coming into contact with the inner surface in the direction opposite to the direction in which the roller 10 is located, the pressure is applied with a force against the urging force of the coil spring 30, that is, a stronger force.

As described above, with respect to the force for pressing the cover open button 5, it is necessary to press the cover open button 5 more strongly in order to resist the urging force of the coil spring 29 from the middle. However, by adopting the above mechanism, the coil spring 29 is compared with a mechanism that must be pressed with a force that resists the biasing force of the coil spring 29 that biases the head bracket 28 as soon as the cover open button 5 is pressed. Since only a slight contraction is required, the force against the urging force of the coil spring 29 can be small. Further, since it is only necessary to increase the force in the same direction by using the force when the cover open button 5 is started to be pushed, the coil spring 29 that urges the head bracket 28 as soon as the cover open button 5 is pushed. Compared with a mechanism that must be pressed with a force that resists the urging force, the force that resists the urging force of the coil spring 29 is reduced. That is, the force against the urging force of the coil spring 29 is reduced.

As described above, the cover can be easily opened and closed without applying a strong force to the lock member that locks the cover opening and closing as compared with the cover lock structure that is biased only by the coil spring 29 that biases the head bracket 28 and the thermal head 25. it can. Further, since the platen roller 10 does not rub the thermal head 25 when the cover 3 is opened and closed, it is possible to prevent wear due to friction of the print head.

In this embodiment, the support portion 27a of the lock member abuts against the inner surface of the abutting portion 28c of the head bracket in the direction opposite to the direction in which the platen roller 10 is located. By swinging in the direction opposite to the direction in which the cover 3 is positioned, the cover 3 is unlocked and the cover 3 is opened. However, when the support portion 27a of the lock member comes into contact with the inner surface of the head bracket contact portion 28c opposite to the platen roller direction, the platen roller shaft 10a is completely removed from the engagement groove 27c of the lock member. You may make it the structure which remove | deviates.

When the cover 3 is unlocked and the cover 3 is opened, a member that restricts the lock member 27 and the head bracket 28 urged by the coil springs 29 and 30 from swinging is provided. It is provided in the body (not shown).

  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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 External case 2a Main body case 2b Front cover part 3 Cover 3a Opening / closing support shaft 3b Torsion spring 5 Cover open button (operation button)
6 Paper storage unit 10 Platen roller (conveyance roller)
10a Platen roller shaft (conveyance roller shaft)
11 Peeling pin 25 Thermal head (printing head)
27 Lock member 27a Support portion 27b Wing portion 27c Engaging groove 27d Inclined portion 27e Pressed portion 28 Head bracket (head holding member)
28a Holding part 28b Wing part 28c Abutting part 29 Coil spring (first urging member)
30 Coil spring (second biasing member)
51 Support shaft P Label continuum PM Mount PL label

Claims (6)

A print medium containing portion for containing the print medium;
A cover that opens and closes the print medium container;
A conveyance roller that is rotatably provided at an open end of the cover and conveys the print medium;
A print head that is disposed at a position facing the transport roller and that prints on the print medium;
A head holding member for holding the print head;
A rockable lock member for locking the cover;
A first urging member that urges the head holding member in the direction of the conveying roller;
A second urging member that urges the lock member in the direction of the conveying roller,
The shaft that supports the head holding member and the shaft that supports the lock member are the same,
The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the second urging member urges in the same direction as the first urging member and has a urging force weaker than that of the first urging member.   The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an operation button for swinging the lock member to open the cover.   The lock member is a member that locks the cover by engaging with a shaft of the transport roller, and has an inclined portion that comes into contact with the shaft of the transport roller when the cover is closed. The printer according to 1 or 2.   When opening the cover, the lock member moves from the shaft of the transport roller against the urging force of the second urging member, and then the head holding member is moved to the first urging member. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the cover is unlocked after the print head is separated from the transport roller by resisting an urging force. The head holding member is supported so as to be swingable, and contacts the lock member together with the lock member when the lock member swings a predetermined distance in a direction opposite to the direction in which the transport roller is positioned. A contact portion that swings the head holding member in a direction opposite to the direction in which the transport roller is located;
The cover is unlocked or locked after the lock member is further swung a predetermined distance after coming into contact with the contact portion of the head holding member and the print head is separated from the transport roller. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is a printer.   The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed on an opening / closing support shaft of the cover and biased in a direction in which the cover opens.

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