Printing device

Abstract

A printing device includes a main body including a housing configured to house a printing medium; a cover displaceable between an open position in which the housing is open and a closed position in which the housing is closed; a platen roller attached to the cover and rotatably supported by the cover; a peel roller attached to the cover and supported so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the platen roller; and a switching mechanism attached to the cover and configured to switch the peel roller between a contact position in which the peel roller is in contact with the platen roller and a non-contact position in which the peel roller is away from the platen roller in association with displacement of the cover.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-101830, filed on June 11, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to a printing apparatus. Background Technology

[0004] The printing apparatus of the related technology includes a body, a cover, an impression roller, and a peeling mechanism. The body can contain printing media having a label attached to a mounting piece. The cover can be opened and closed relative to the body. The impression roller conveys the printing media. The peeling mechanism includes a peeling roller. The peeling mechanism clamps the mounting piece between the peeling roller and the impression roller and conveys the mounting piece to bend it so that the surfaces of the mounting piece without the attached label face each other. Therefore, the peeling mechanism peels the printed label off the mounting piece. By switching the position of the peeling mechanism relative to the impression roller, the printing apparatus can be used between a normal mode and a peeling mode. In normal mode, the printed label is ejected while attached to the mounting piece. In peeling mode, the printed label is ejected while detached from the mounting piece.

[0005] When the printing device is used in peel mode, the user needs to manually move the peel mechanism each time the cover is opened and closed relative to the main body, which is cumbersome. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One object of this disclosure is to provide a printing apparatus that, compared with related technologies, simplifies the operation of opening and closing the cover relative to the body when used in peel mode, without requiring manual switching of the peel mechanism position.

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a body including a receiving portion configured to receive a printing medium; a cover displaceable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the receiving portion is open and in the closed position the receiving portion is closed; an impression roller attached to the cover and rotatably supported by the cover; a peeling roller attached to the cover and supported to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the impression roller; and a switching mechanism attached to the cover and configured to switch the peeling roller between a contact position and a non-contact position in association with the displacement of the cover, wherein in the contact position the peeling roller contacts the impression roller and in the non-contact position the peeling roller disengages from the impression roller.

[0008] According to the printing device of this aspect, since the printing device includes the switching mechanism, the user does not need to manually switch the position of the peeling roller when opening and closing the cover. Therefore, when the printing device is used in the peeling mode, the operation of opening and closing the cover with respect to the main body is simpler than that in the related art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the printing device 1 in which the first impression unit 4 and the peeling unit 5 are mounted on the cover 3, and in which the cover 3 is in the closed position;

[0010] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the printing device 1 in which the first impression unit 4 and the peeling unit 5 are mounted on the cover 3, and in which the cover 3 is in the open position;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cover 3, the first impression unit 4, the peeling unit 5, and the switching mechanism 6;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guide member 34, the first impression unit 4, the peeling unit 5, and the switching mechanism 6;

[0013] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5A , which shows the first impression unit 4, the peeling unit 5, and the switching mechanism 6 when the cover 3 is in the closed position;

[0014] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5A , which shows the first impression unit 4, the peeling unit 5, and the switching mechanism 6 when the cover 3 is in the open position;

[0015] FIG. 5A is a front view of the cover 3 to which the first impression unit 4 and the peeling unit 5 are attached;

[0016] FIG. 5B is a front view of the cover 3 from which the first impression unit 4 and the peeling unit 5 are detached;

[0017] FIG. 5C is a front view of the cover 3 to which the limiting unit 7 and the second impression unit 8 are attached, instead of the first impression unit 4 and the peeling unit 5 being attached to the cover 3;

[0018] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the printing device 1 in which the second impression unit 8 and the limiting unit 7 are mounted on the cover 3, and in which the cover 3 is in the closed position;

[0019] FIG. 6Bis a perspective view of the printing device 1, in which the second impression unit 8 and the limiting unit 7 are mounted on the cover 3, and in which the cover 3 is in the open position;

[0020] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cover 3, the second impression unit 8, the limiting unit 7, and the switching mechanism 6;

[0021] FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 5C , which shows the second impression unit 8, the limiting unit 7, and the switching mechanism 6 when the cover 3 is in the closed position; and

[0022] FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 5C , which shows the second impression unit 8, the limiting unit 7, and the switching mechanism 6 when the cover 3 is in the open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing device 1 can be connected to an external terminal (not shown) through wireless communication. The printing device 1 can print characters such as characters and numbers on a printing medium M based on print data received from the external terminal. The printing medium M is, for example, a thermal label attached to a mounting member, and is wound around a tubular core. The external terminal is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer (PC). The printing device 1 can be battery-powered. The printing device 1 is carried and used by a user who is working, for example, mounted on a waist belt via a belt clip (not shown). FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B The right side, the left side, the rear side, the front side, the upper side, and the lower side of the printing device 1 are defined as the right side, the left side, the rear side, the front side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively, of the right lower side, the left upper side, the right upper side, the left lower side, the upper side, and the lower side in

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B , the printing device 1 includes a main body 2, a cover 3, a first impression unit 4, a peeling unit 5, and a switching mechanism 6. The main body 2 has a substantially cuboid box shape with an open rear portion. The main body 2 includes an opening 20 and a housing portion 21. The opening 20 is a portion that is open upward at the rear portion of the main body 2. The housing portion 21 is a recess portion that can accommodate a printing medium M.

[0025] In the printing device 1, the main body 2 includes a cutting blade 22, a thermal head 23, a lever 24, a pair of locking portions 25, a pair of support portions 26, an input portion 27, and a display portion 28. The cutting blade 22 is provided at a front end portion of the opening 20 of the main body 2. The cutting blade 22 can separate a printed portion of the printing medium M. The thermal head 23 is provided below the cutting blade 22. The thermal head 23 prints characters on a thermal label by heating. The cutting blade 22 and the thermal head 23 extend in the left-right direction.

[0026] A lever 24 is provided at the center of the right side surface of the main body 2. The pair of locking portions 25 are provided at the left and right end portions of the opening 20 of the main body 2. The lower end portion of each of the locking portions 25 is swingably supported. When the user presses the lever 24, the upper end portion of each of the locking portions 25 swings rearward.

[0027] The pair of support portions 26 are provided at the left and right end portions of the housing portion 21, and face each other in the left and right directions. The pair of support portions 26 support both sides of the print medium M in the left and right directions. The front end portions of the pair of support portions 26 are contact portions 29, each of which can contact with the end portion 613 of the first member 61 described later. The input portion 27 and the display portion 28 are provided on the upper surface of the front portion of the main body 2. The input portion 27 includes a plurality of switches, and various instructions can be input. The display portion 28 is a liquid crystal display that is long in the left and right directions, and various types of information can be displayed.

[0028] The cover 3 is swingably supported by a support shaft 31 extending in the left and right directions at the rear upper end portion of the main body 2. The cover 3 is displaceable between a closed position shown in FIG. 5, in which the housing portion 21 is closed, and an open position shown in FIG. 6, in which the housing portion 21 is opened. In the following, the configuration of the cover 3 will be described with reference to the state in which the cover 3 is in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 5, the cover 3 is closed by the locking portions 25. FIG. 1A FIG. 1B The cover 3 is swingably supported by a support shaft 31 extending in the left and right directions at the rear upper end portion of the main body 2. The cover 3 is displaceable between a closed position shown in FIG. 5, in which the housing portion 21 is closed, and an open position shown in FIG. 6, in which the housing portion 21 is opened. In the following, the configuration of the cover 3 will be described with reference to the state in which the cover 3 is in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 5, the cover 3 is closed by the locking portions 25. FIG. 2 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the guide member 34 includes an inclined surface 37, a pair of left and right tubular portions 36, a pair of left and right side wall portions 35, and a pair of left and right mounting portions 38. The inclined surface 37 is a flat surface inclined toward the rear direction, and guides the printed print medium M when the printed print medium M is discharged to the outside of the printing device 1. Each of the pair of left and right tubular portions 36 has a bottomed tubular shape, and has a hole penetrating in the up and down directions on the bottom. The pair of left and right tubular portions 36 are provided at the rear sides of the left and right end portions of the inclined surface 37, respectively. Each of the pair of left and right tubular portions 36 is fitted to the corresponding protruding portion 33. The guide member 34 is fixed to the lower surface of the cover main body 30 by screws 39 inserted into the holes of the tubular portions 36 and the screw holes of the recessed portions 33.

[0029]

[0030] ​​Each of the pair of left and right side wall portions 35 extends forward from the left and right ends of the inclined surface 37. In a state where the guide member 34 is fixed to the lid 3, the upper ends of the pair of left and right side wall portions 35 and the rear end of the inclined surface 37 are in contact with the periphery of the recess 32 in the lower surface of the lid body 30. The pair of left and right side wall portions 35 are configured to be bilaterally symmetrical to each other. Hereinafter, the configuration of the right side wall portion 35 will be described, and the description of the left side wall portion 35 will be omitted. The right side wall portion 35 includes protruding portions 351, 354, a hole 352, and a tubular rib 353. The protruding portion 351 protrudes rightward in a tubular shape at a front end portion on the right surface of the right side wall portion 35. The protruding portion 354 protrudes rightward in a tubular shape at a rear lower end portion on the right surface of the right side wall portion 35. Each of the protruding portions 351, 354 has a screw hole extending leftward from the right end thereof. The hole 352 is an elongated hole extending in the up-down direction behind the protruding portion 351 and penetrating in the left-right direction. The tubular rib 353 has an annular shape and protrudes rightward from the right side wall portion 35, and a through hole penetrating in the left-right direction is provided in the center thereof. The shaft 65 described later is inserted into the through hole of the tubular rib 353. In a state where the shaft 65 is inserted into the through hole of the tubular rib 353, the right end of the shaft 65 protrudes rightward from the right end of the tubular rib 353, and the left end of the shaft 65 protrudes leftward from the left side surface of the right side wall portion 35. The pair of left and right mounting portions 38 are tubular portions provided at the ends of the front end portions of the inclined surface 37 in the left-right direction and extending downward. Each of the pair of left and right mounting portions 38 has a screw hole extending from the lower side to the upper side.

[0031] The first impressing unit 4 and the peeling unit 5 are detachably mounted on the lid 3. The first impressing unit 4 is detachably mounted on the lower surface of the lid 3 near the front end portion of the lid 3. The first impressing unit 4 includes an impressing roller 41, a peeling plate 42, and a support member 43. The impressing roller 41 is formed in a tubular shape on the outer periphery of a rotation shaft 48 extending in the left-right direction. The impressing roller 41 is made of resin, for example, and the rotation shaft 48 is made of metal, for example. The length of the impressing roller 41 in the left-right direction is longer than half the length of the rotation shaft 48 in the left-right direction. A cylindrical bearing 44 is fitted to the left and right end portions of the rotation shaft 48. When the lid 3 is provided in the closed position, each of the bearings 44 is locked by the corresponding locking portion 25. In this case, the lid 3 is maintained in the closed position. When the lid 3 is in the closed position, the lever 24 is pushed downward, and the corresponding locking portion 25 is disengaged from each of the bearings 44. At this time, the lid 3 is swung about the support shaft 31 from the closed position to the open position by the biasing force of a spring (not shown) inserted into the support shaft 31 from the outside.

[0032] The peeling plate 42 has a plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the impressing roller 41. The peeling plate 42 is separate from the impressing roller 41 and the peeling roller 51 and is provided above the impressing roller 41. A pair of left and right end portions 47 of the peeling plate 42 are bent rearward. AsFIG. 4A As shown in FIG. 3, when the cover 3 is in the closed position, the position of the peeling plate 42 in the front-rear direction is between the front end of the impression roller 41 and the center of the impression roller 41 in the front-rear direction. The position of the lower end of the peeling plate 42 in the up-down direction is substantially the same as the position of the upper end of the impression roller 41 in the up-down direction.

[0033] As FIG. 2 As shown in FIG. 4, the support member 43 rotatably supports the impression roller 41, supports the peeling plate 42, and is detachably supported by the cover 3. The support member 43 includes a coupling portion 45, a pair of left and right side wall portions 46, and a pair of left and right fixing plates 49. The coupling portion 45 has a plate shape extending in the left-right direction and curved along the outer periphery of the impression roller 41. The left end of the coupling portion 45 is coupled to the front lower portion of the left side wall portion 46, and the right end of the coupling portion 45 is coupled to the front lower portion of the right side wall portion 46.

[0034] The pair of left and right side wall portions 46 each have a plate shape extending perpendicularly to the left-right direction. The pair of left and right side wall portions 46 are configured to be bilaterally symmetrical to each other. Hereinafter, the configuration of the right side wall portion 46 will be described, and the description of the configuration of the left side wall portion 46 will be omitted. The right side wall portion 46 includes recesses 461, 462, holes 463, 464, protrusions 465, 468, and a mounting portion 466 (see FIG. 4). FIG. 1B The recess 461 is recessed rearward from the front upper end of the right side wall portion 46. The recess 462 is recessed rearward from the front end of the right side wall portion 46 below the recess 461. The amount of recess of the recess 461 is smaller than the amount of recess of the recess 462. Each of these holes 463, 464 is a screw hole extending in the left-right direction. The holes 463, 464 are arranged in the central portion of the right side wall portion 46 in the front-rear direction in the up-down direction. Each of the protrusions 465, 468 protrudes to the right in a cylindrical shape from the right surface of the right side wall portion 46. The protrusion 465 is provided at the rear upper portion of the right surface of the right side wall portion 46, and the protrusion 468 is provided at the front lower portion of the right surface of the right side wall portion 46. The mounting portion 466 extends to the left from the lower portion of the left surface of the right side wall portion 46. The mounting portion 466 has a hole extending upward from the lower end. The first impression unit 4 is inserted into the hole of the mounting portion 466 and is detachably fixed to the inside of the pair of left and right side wall portions 35 of the guide member 34 by the screws 467 (see FIG. 3) fastened to the screw holes of the right mounting portion 38. When the first impression unit 4 is detached from the cover 3, the user releases the fastening of the screws 467. FIG. 1B

[0035] ​The pair of right and left fixing plates 49 have the same configuration. Hereinafter, the configuration of the right fixing plate 49 will be described, and the description of the left fixing plate 49 will be omitted. The right fixing plate 49 has a plate shape extending perpendicularly to the left and right direction. The right fixing plate 49 includes holes 491 to 496 penetrating in the left and right direction. The hole 491 is provided at a front upper portion of the right fixing plate 49, and has a rectangular shape in a side view. The hole 492 is provided below the hole 491, and has an elliptical shape long in the left and right direction in a side view. The hole 493 is provided below the hole 492, and has a circular shape in a side view. The holes 494, 495 are provided in a central portion of the right fixing plate 49 in the front and rear direction, and are arranged in the up and down direction. The holes 494, 495 are circular in a side view. The hole 496 is provided at a rear upper portion of the right fixing plate 49, and has an elliptical shape long in the left and right direction in a side view.

[0036] The first impression unit 4 is formed by assembling the impression roller 41, the peeling plate 42, and the support member 43 as follows. The rotation shaft 48 of the impression roller 41 is provided in the two end portions in the left and right direction in the recessed portion 462 of the corresponding side wall portion 46, respectively. The pair of right and left end portions 47 of the peeling plate 42 are provided in the recessed portion 461 of the corresponding side wall portion 46, respectively. The right fixing plate 49 is provided at the right side of the right side wall portion 46. The bearing 44 fitted to the right end of the rotation shaft 48 is inserted into and held by the hole 492 of the right fixing plate 49. The right end portion 47 of the peeling plate 42 is inserted into the hole 491 of the right fixing plate 49. The protruding portion 465 of the right side wall portion 46 is inserted into the hole 496. The protruding portion 468 is inserted into the hole 493. The right fixing plate 49 is fixed to the right side wall portion 46 by the screw 471 and the screw 472 (see FIG. 6). The screw 471 is inserted into the hole 494, and is fastened to the hole 464. The screw 472 is inserted into the hole 495, and is fastened to the hole 463. Similarly, the left fixing plate 49 is provided at the left side of the left side wall portion 46, and is fixed to the left side wall portion 46. FIG. 1B ) The first impression unit 4 is formed by assembling the impression roller 41, the peeling plate 42, and the support member 43 as follows. The rotation shaft 48 of the impression roller 41 is provided in the two end portions in the left and right direction in the recessed portion 462 of the corresponding side wall portion 46, respectively. The pair of right and left end portions 47 of the peeling plate 42 are provided in the recessed portion 461 of the corresponding side wall portion 46, respectively. The right fixing plate 49 is provided at the right side of the right side wall portion 46. The bearing 44 fitted to the right end of the rotation shaft 48 is inserted into and held by the hole 492 of the right fixing plate 49. The right end portion 47 of the peeling plate 42 is inserted into the hole 491 of the right fixing plate 49. The protruding portion 465 of the right side wall portion 46 is inserted into the hole 496. The protruding portion 468 is inserted into the hole 493. The right fixing plate 49 is fixed to the right side wall portion 46 by the screw 471 and the screw 472 (see FIG. 6). The screw 471 is inserted into the hole 494, and is fastened to the hole 464. The screw 472 is inserted into the hole 495, and is fastened to the hole 463. Similarly, the left fixing plate 49 is provided at the left side of the left side wall portion 46, and is fixed to the left side wall portion 46.

[0037] The peeling unit 5 is detachably mounted on the lower surface of the cover 3 above the first impression unit 4. The peeling unit 5 includes a peeling roller 51 and a first mounting member 54. The peeling roller 51 is provided in a tubular shape on the outer periphery of a rotation shaft 52 extending in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the impression roller 41. The peeling roller 51 is provided at the center of the rotation shaft 52 in the longitudinal direction. The length of the peeling roller 51 in the left and right direction is shorter than half the length of the rotation shaft 52 in the left and right direction. The peeling roller 51 is narrower in the extension range in the left and right direction than the impression roller 41. The peeling roller 51 is made of resin, for example, and the rotation shaft 52 is made of metal, for example.

[0038] The first mounting member 54 rotatably supports the peeling roller 51 about a rotation axis 52 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the impression roller 41. The first mounting member 54 is swingably and detachably mounted on the cover 3. The first mounting member 54 is made of resin, for example. The first mounting member 54 includes a coupling portion 55 and a pair of left and right side wall portions 56. The coupling portion 55 has a rod-like shape extending in the left-right direction. The left end portion of the coupling portion 55 is coupled to the front upper portion of the left side wall portion 56. The right end portion of the coupling portion 55 is coupled to the front upper portion of the right side wall portion 56. The pair of left and right side wall portions 56 have a structure bilaterally symmetrical to each other. Hereinafter, the structure of the right side wall portion 56 will be described, and the description of the left side wall portion 56 will be omitted. The right side wall portion 56 has a triangular shape extending in the front-rear direction, and has a rounded corner in a side view. The right side wall portion 56 includes recesses 57, 58. The recess 57 is upwardly recessed from the lower rear end portion of the right side wall portion 56. The recess 58 is upwardly recessed from the lower end portion of the right side wall portion 56 in front of the recess 57. The left end of the shaft 65 inserted into the through-hole of the tubular rib 353 engages with the recess 57. The pin 625 described later engages with the recess 58. Thus, the peeling unit 5 is mounted on the lower surface of the cover 3 and above the first impression unit 4, so as to be detachable from the cover 3 and swingable about the shaft 65. When the peeling unit 5 is detached from the cover 3, the user bends inwardly the pair of left and right side wall portions 56 of the first mounting member 54 to disengage the recesses 57, 58 from the shaft 65 and the pin 625.

[0039] A pair of left and right switching mechanisms 6 are attached to the cover 3, and switch the peeling roller 51 between a contact position where the peeling roller 51 contacts the impression roller 41 (see FIG. 4A ), and a non-contact position where the peeling roller 51 is separated from the impression roller 41 (see FIG. 4B ), as the cover 3 is displaced. Specifically, the peeling roller 51 is located in the contact position when the cover 3 is in the closed position, and is located in the non-contact position when the cover 3 is in the open position. Each of the pair of left and right switching mechanisms 6 is mounted on the side wall portion 35 of the guide member 34 in the cover 3. The pair of left and right switching mechanisms 6 are configured to be bilaterally symmetrical to each other. Hereinafter, the configuration of the right switching mechanism 6 will be described, and the description of the left switching mechanism 6 will be omitted. In FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B , for simplicity, the attitude (orientation) when the cover 3 is in the closed position and the attitude (orientation) when the cover 3 is in the open position are shown so as to match each other, and the configuration of each member and the operation of switching the peeling roller 51 between the contact position and the non-contact position will be described. In FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B , the guide member 34 and the attachment base 64 described later are not shown.

[0040] The switching mechanism 6 includes a first member 61, a biasing member 63, an attachment base 64, a second member 62, and a shaft 65. The first member 61 is a member having a P-shaped shape that is long in the up-down direction in a side view. The first member 61 comes into contact with the contact portion 29 of the main body 2 when the cover 3 is displaced from the open position to the closed position to move in a first direction with respect to the cover 3. The first direction according to the present embodiment is a longitudinal direction of the first member 61. The first direction is upward when the cover 3 is in the closed position. The first member 61 includes a body 611 and a protruding portion 612. The body 611 has a box-shaped shape that is long in the up-down direction, and includes a recessed portion 616 (only the left switching mechanism 6 is shown) that is recessed from the left side to the right side. The body 611 includes an elongated hole 614 that is long in the up-down direction and penetrates an upper end portion of a right surface of the body 611 in the left-right direction. The protruding portion 612 protrudes rearward from an upper portion of a rear surface of the body 611. The protruding portion 612 includes a pin 615 that protrudes leftward. The biasing member 63 biases the first member 61 in a second direction opposite to the first direction. For example, the biasing member 63 is a compression coil spring. The biasing member 63 is disposed in the recessed portion 616 of the body 611 in an attitude that is compressed in the up-down direction.

[0041] The attachment base 64 guides movement of the first member 61 in the longitudinal direction. The attachment base 64 includes a wall portion 647, guide walls 641, 642, a plate portion 643, a protruding portion 644, a mounting portion 645, and holes 648, 649. The wall portion 647 has a plate-shaped shape that extends perpendicular to the left-right direction. Each of the guide walls 641, 642 is coupled to a right surface of the wall portion 647, and has a plate-shaped shape that is long in the up-down direction and extends perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The body 611 of the first member 61 is disposed between the guide walls 641, 642 in the front-rear direction. The plate portion 643 is disposed between the guide walls 641, 642, and has a plate-shaped shape that extends rightward from a vicinity of a center of the right surface of the wall portion 647. A lower surface of the plate portion 643 is in contact with an upper end of the biasing member 63 that is disposed on the body 611. The protruding portion 644 protrudes rightward from the right surface of the wall portion 647 above the plate portion 643. The mounting portion 645 extends forward from an upper portion of the front guide wall 641. The mounting portion 645 has a hole 646 that penetrates in the left-right direction. The holes 648, 649 are disposed rearward of the rear guide wall 642 in the wall portion 647. The hole 648 is an elongated hole that is long in the up-down direction in a side view. The hole 649 has a circular shape in a side view, and is disposed below the hole 648. The attachment base 64 is attached to the main body 2 by a screw 650 (see FIG. 6) that is inserted into the hole 646, and a screw 651 (see FIG. 6) that is inserted into the hole 649. FIG. 3 ) and a screw 651 (see FIG. 3) and is fixed to the right side wall portion 35 of the guide member 34. When the main body 611 of the first member 61 is disposed between the guide walls 641, 642, the pin 615 is inserted into the hole 648. The protrusion 644 is inserted from the left into the long hole 614 of the main body 611. The screw 652 (see FIG. 3 ) is fixed to the hole of the protrusion 644, and thus, the first member 61 is supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction without being detached from the attachment base 64.

[0042] The second member 62 is swingably supported by the cover 3. The second member 62 includes a tubular portion 621, a front portion 622, and a rear portion 623. The tubular portion 621 has a tubular shape having a hole 624 penetrating in the left-right direction. The shaft 65 is inserted through the hole 624. The second member 62 is rotatably supported by the guide member 34 through the shaft 65. The front portion 622 has a plate shape extending forward from a front side surface of the tubular portion 621. A left surface of the front portion 622 includes a pin 625 protruding leftward. The pin 625 is inserted into the hole 352 of the right side wall portion 35 of the guide member 34. As shown in FIG. 5B , the left end of the pin 625 protrudes leftward from the left surface of the right side wall portion 35. When the peeling unit 5 is mounted on the cover 3, the left end of the pin 625 is disposed in the recess 58 of the first mounting member 54. The rear portion 623 extends rearward from a rear side surface of the tubular portion 621. The rear portion 623 includes a hole 624 extending in a longitudinal direction of the rear portion 623. The longitudinal direction of the rear portion 623 is one radial direction extending radially about the tubular portion 621. The pin 615 of the first member 61 is inserted into the hole 624 from the right. The second member 62 is coupled to the first member 61 via the pin 615.

[0043] The second member 62 is coupled to the first member 61 and the first mounting member 54 rotatably supporting the peeling roller 51. When the first member 61 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the first member 61 relative to the cover 3 against the biasing force of the biasing member 63, the peeling roller 51 is moved from the non-contact position shown in FIG. 4B to the contact position shown in FIG. 4A . As shown in FIG. 4B , when the peeling roller 51 is in the non-contact position, the center of the peeling roller 51 in the up-down direction is located forward of the tubular portion 621, and the pin 615 is located rearward and downward of the tubular portion 621. The distance between the impression roller 41 and the peeling roller 51 is longer than the diameter of the peeling roller 51. The lower end of the peeling roller 51 is located above the upper end of the peeling plate 42. As shown in FIG. 4A , when the peeling roller 51 is in the contact position, the center of the peeling roller 51 in the up-down direction is located forward and downward of the tubular portion 621, and the pin 615 is located rearward of the tubular portion 621. The lower end of the peeling roller 51 is located below the upper end of the peeling plate 42. The peeling roller 51 is located rearward of the peeling plate 42.

[0044] The operation of opening and closing the cover 3 in the printing device 1, in which the peeling unit 5 and the first pressure unit 4 are installed on the cover 3, will be described. The user pushes down the lever 24 to displace the cover 3 from the closed position to the open position (open the cover 3). The user does not need to change the position of the peeling unit 5 relative to the cover 3 when the user displaces the cover 3 from the closed position to the open position. The position of the pressure roller 41 relative to the cover 3 does not change even when the cover 3 is displaced. The position of the peeling roller 51 relative to the cover 3 changes as the cover 3 is displaced from the closed position to the open position. Specifically, the end portion 613 of the first member 61 is separated from the contact portion 29 of the main body 2, and the first member 61 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the first member 61 (downward or away from the upper surface of the cover 3) relative to the cover 3 by the biasing force of the biasing member 63. The pin 615 of the first member 61 is moved away from the upper surface of the cover 3 (downward) from the position shown in FIG. 4A , and the second member 62 is rotated clockwise in the right side view. As the second member 62 rotates, the pin 625 of the second member 62 is moved toward the upper surface (upward). As the pin 625 of the second member 62 moves, the peeling unit 5 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 65 in the right side view. Thus, the peeling roller 51 is moved from the contact position shown in FIG. 4A to the non-contact position shown in FIG. 4B . The user places the print medium M in the housing portion 21 in a direction in which the print medium M is rolled clockwise in the right side view.

[0045] The printing device 1 can be used in a peeling mode in which a printed label is peeled from a mount by using the peeling roller 51, or in a normal mode in which a printed label remains attached to a mount without using the peeling roller 51. When the printing device 1 is used in the peeling mode, after the print medium M is set in the housing portion 21, the user pulls out one end portion of the print medium M to insert this end portion between the upper end of the peeling plate 42 and the lower end of the peeling roller 51 from the front side to the rear side of the peeling plate 42. When the printing device 1 is used in the normal mode, the user sets this end portion of the print medium M in front of the peeling plate 42 and above the coupling portion 55 of the peeling unit 5. The user does not need to change the position of the peeling unit 5 relative to the cover 3 when the printing device 1 is used in the peeling mode and when the printing device 1 is used in the normal mode.

[0046] Next, the user displaces the cover 3 from the open position to the closed position. That is, the user closes the cover 3. The user does not need to change the position of the peeling unit 5 relative to the impression roller 41 when the user displaces the cover 3 from the open position to the closed position. The position of the impression roller 41 relative to the cover 3 does not change even when the cover 3 is displaced. The position of the peeling roller 51 relative to the cover 3 changes as the cover 3 is displaced from the open position to the closed position. Specifically, the end portion 613 of the first member 61 comes into contact with the contact portion 29 of the main body 2, and the first member 61 moves in the longitudinal direction thereof relative to the cover 3 (upward, or toward the upper surface of the cover 3) against the biasing force of the biasing member 63. The pin 615 of the first member 61 moves toward the upper surface of the cover 3 (upward), and the second member 62 rotates counterclockwise in the right side view. As the second member 62 rotates, the pin 625 of the second member 62 moves away from the upper surface of the cover 3 (downward). As the pin 625 of the second member 62 moves, the peeling unit 5 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 65 in the right side view. Thus, the peeling roller 51 moves from the non-contact position shown in FIG. 4B to the contact position shown in FIG. 4A .

[0047] The peeling roller 51 in the contact position is in contact with the print medium M when the printing device 1 is used in the peeling mode. When the printed print medium M is conveyed, the label is peeled from the mount bent by the peeling plate 42 due to the rigidity of the label itself, is conveyed along a path passing above the link portion 55 of the peeling unit 5, and is discharged to the outside of the printing device 1. On the other hand, the mount is bent by the peeling plate 42, passes below the link portion 55 of the peeling unit 5, is conveyed along a path sandwiched between the impression roller 41 and the peeling roller 51, and is discharged to the outside of the printing device 1. The peeling roller 51 in the contact position does not contact the print medium M when the printing device 1 is used in the normal mode. The print medium M is conveyed along a path passing above the link portion 55 of the peeling unit 5, and is discharged to the outside of the printing device 1. The user does not need to change the position of the peeling unit 5 relative to the impression roller 41 after the cover 3 is displaced to the closed position.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C , in the printing device 1, the restriction unit 7 can be detachably installed in place of the peeling unit 5, and the second impression unit 8 can be detachably installed in place of the first impression unit 4. In FIGS. 5 to 8, the same components as in the case where the peeling unit 5 and the first impression unit 4 are installed are denoted by the same reference numerals. When the peeling unit 5 is not installed on the cover 3, the restriction unit 7 is detachably installed on the cover 3. The restriction unit 7 is used, for example, when the print medium M is a linerless label. The linerless label has an adhesive layer on a surface opposite the printed surface, and does not include a mount such as a release paper. The linerless label is wound in a roll shape in a direction in which the adhesive layer is disposed on the center side of the roll.

[0049] The limiting unit 7 includes a limiting member 71 and a pair of left and right second mounting members 72. The limiting member 71 has a plate shape extending along the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the platen roller 81. The length of the limiting member 71 in the front-rear direction is shorter than the diameter of the platen roller 81 but longer than the radius of the platen roller 81. The surface of the limiting member 71 facing the platen roller 81 is curved in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the platen roller 81. The left end of the limiting member 71 is coupled to the front end portion of the left second mounting member 72. The right end of the limiting member 71 is coupled to the front end portion of the right second mounting member 72.

[0050] The second mounting member 72 is detachably coupled to the second member 62. The second mounting member 72 supports the limiting member 71 so that the limiting member 71 is switchable between a close position, in which the limiting member 71 is close to the platen roller 41 with a predetermined gap between the limiting member 71 and the platen roller 41, and a retracted position, in which the limiting member 71 is farther from the platen roller 41 than in the close position, as the cover 3 is displaced. The second mounting member 72 is swingably and detachably mounted on the cover 3. The pair of left and right second mounting members 72 are configured to be bilaterally symmetrical to each other. Hereinafter, the configuration of the right second mounting member 72 will be described, and the description of the left second mounting member 72 will be omitted. The right second mounting member 72 has a plate shape extending in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction. The right second mounting member 72 includes recesses 73, 74. The recess 73 is upwardly recessed from the lower rear end portion of the right second mounting member 72. The recess 74 is upwardly recessed from the lower end portion of the right second mounting member 72 forward of the recess 73. The left end of the shaft 65 is engaged with the recess 73. The pin 625 is engaged with the recess 74. Thereby, the limiting unit 7 is mounted on the lower surface of the cover 3 and above the second platen unit 8, so as to be detachable from the cover 3 and swingable about the shaft 65. When the limiting unit 7 is detached from the cover 3, a user bends the pair of left and right second mounting members 72 inward to disengage the recesses 73, 74 from the shaft 65 and the pin 625.

[0051] Similar to the peeling unit 5, in the limiting unit 7, as the cover 3 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, the limiting member 71 is moved from the close position shown in FIG. 6A to the retracted position shown in FIG. 6B. FIG. 8A FIG. 8B When the limiting member 71 is disposed in the close position, the limiting member 71 prevents the print medium M from being caught between the platen roller 41 and the limiting member 71. The print medium M is moved above the limiting member 71 disposed in the close position and is discharged to the outside of the printing device 1.

[0052] ​When the first impression unit 4 is not mounted on the cover 3, the second impression unit 8 is detachably mounted on the cover 3. The second impression unit 8 includes an impression roller 81 and a support member 43, which is similar to the support member 43 of the first impression unit 4. The impression roller 81 is formed in a tubular shape on the outer circumference of a rotation shaft 48 extending in the left-right direction. Since the impression roller 81 is in contact with the adhesive layer of the linerless label, the impression roller 81 is made of a resin having a higher peelability than, for example, the resin forming the impression roller 41, and the rotation shaft 48 is made of, for example, metal. The shape of the impression roller 81 is the same as that of the impression roller 41. Cylindrical bearings 44 are fitted to the left and right end portions of the rotation shaft 48. Similar to the first impression unit 4, the support member 43 rotatably supports the impression roller 81 and is detachably supported by the cover 3. That is, the second impression unit 8 is inserted into the hole of the mounting portion 466, and is detachably fixed to the inside of the pair of left and right side wall portions 35 of the guide member 34 by the screws 467 fastened to the screw holes of the mounting portion 466. When the second impression unit 8 is detached from the cover 3, the user releases the fastening of the screws 467.

[0053] The operation of opening and closing the cover 3 in the printing device 1, in which the limiting unit 7 and the second impression unit 8 are mounted on the cover 3, will be described. In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B , for the sake of simplicity, the posture (orientation) when the cover 3 is in the closed position and the posture (orientation) when the cover 3 is in the open position are shown as matching each other. In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B , the guide member 34 and the attachment base 64, which are described later, are not shown. The user pushes the lever 24 downward to displace the cover 3 from the closed position to the open position (open the cover 3). When the user displaces the cover 3 from the closed position to the open position, the user does not need to change the position of the limiting unit 7 relative to the impression roller 81. Even when the cover 3 is displaced, the position of the impression roller 81 relative to the cover 3 does not change. When the cover 3 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, the position of the limiting member 71 relative to the cover 3 changes. Specifically, when the pin 625 of the second member 62 moves, the limiting unit 7 rotates clockwise about the shaft 65 in the right side view. Thus, the limiting member 71 moves from the close position shown in FIG. 8A to the retracted position shown in FIG. 8B . When the print medium M is caught between the limiting member 71 and the impression roller 81, the user can remove the print medium M in a state in which the limiting member 71 is disposed in the retracted position.

[0054] Next, the user displaces the cover 3 from the open position to the closed position (closes the cover 3). When the user displaces the cover 3 from the open position to the closed position, the user does not need to change the position of the limiting unit 7 relative to the impression roller 81. Even when the cover 3 is displaced, the position of the impression roller 81 relative to the cover 3 does not change. When the cover 3 is displaced from the open position to the closed position, the position of the limiting member 71 relative to the cover 3 changes. Specifically, as the second member 62 rotates, the pin 625 of the second member 62 moves downward. As the pin 625 of the second member 62 moves, the limiting unit 7 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 65 in the right side view. Thus, the limiting member 71 moves from the retracted position shown in FIG. 8B to the close position shown in FIG. 8A After displacing the cover 3 to the closed position, the user does not need to change the position of the limiting unit 7 relative to the cover 3. As described above, when the limiting unit 7 and the second impression unit 8 are installed on the cover 3, as the cover 3 is displaced, the switching mechanism 6 switches the position of the limiting member 71 so that when the cover 3 is in the closed position, the limiting member 71 is in the close position, and when the cover 3 is in the open position, the limiting member 71 is in the retracted position.

[0055] In the printing device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the printing device 1, the main body 2, the housing portion 21, the cover 3, the peeling roller 51, and the switching mechanism 6 are examples of a printing device, a main body, a housing portion, a cover, a peeling roller, and a switching mechanism according to the present disclosure, respectively. The impression rollers 41, 81 are examples of an impression roller according to the present disclosure. The first member 61, the second member 62, and the biasing member 63 are examples of a first member, a second member, and a biasing member, respectively. The first impression unit 4, the peeling plate 42, the peeling unit 5, and the first mounting member 54 are examples of a first impression unit, a peeling plate, a peeling unit, and a first mounting member according to the present disclosure, respectively. The support member 43 is an example of a first support member and a second support member according to the present disclosure. The limiting unit 7, the second impression unit 8, the limiting member 71, and the second mounting member 72 are examples of a limiting unit, a second impression unit, a limiting member, and a second mounting member according to the present disclosure, respectively.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the printing device 1 according to the above-described embodiment includes a main body 2, a cover 3, an impression roller 41, a peeling roller 51, and a switching mechanism 6. The main body 2 includes a housing portion 21 configured to house a print medium M. The cover 3 is displaceable between an open position, in which the housing portion 21 is open (see FIG. 1B ), and a closed position, in which the housing portion 21 is closed (see FIG. 1A). The impression roller 41 is attached to the cover 3 and is rotatably supported by the cover 3. The peel roller 51 is attached to the cover 3 and is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the impression roller 41. The switching mechanism 6 is attached to the cover 3 and switches the peel roller 51 between a contact position in which the peel roller 51 contacts the impression roller 41 (see FIG. 4A ) and a non-contact position in which the peel roller 51 is separated from the impression roller 41 (see FIG. 4B ) as the cover 3 is displaced. Since the printing device 1 includes the switching mechanism 6, the user does not need to manually switch the position of the peel roller 51 when opening and closing the cover 3. Therefore, when the printing device 1 is used in the peel mode, the operation of opening and closing the cover 3 with respect to the main body 2 is easier than the operation according to the related art.

[0057] The switching mechanism 6 includes a first member 61, a biasing member 63, and a second member 62. The first member 61 contacts the main body 2 to move in a first direction with respect to the cover 3 when the cover 3 is displaced from the open position to the closed position. The biasing member 63 biases the first member 61 in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second member 62 is swingably supported by the cover 3, is coupled to the first member 61 and the peel roller 51, and moves the peel roller 51 from the non-contact position to the contact position when the first member 61 is moved in the first direction with respect to the cover 3 against the biasing force of the biasing member 63. In the printing device 1, the peel roller 51 can be switched between the contact position and the non-contact position as the cover 3 is displaced by the relatively simple configuration including the first member 61, the biasing member 63, and the second member 62. Further, the printing device 1 includes the pair of left and right switching mechanisms 6 and moves the left and right end portions of the peel roller 51 as the cover 3 is displaced. Therefore, compared to a case in which the switching mechanism 6 is provided only at one of the left and right end portions of the peel roller 51, the printing device 1 can stably switch the peel roller 51 between the contact position and the non-contact position as the cover 3 is displaced.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, in the printing device 1, the peeling unit 5 and the first impression unit 4 are detachably installed on the cover 3. The peeling unit 5 includes a peeling roller 51 and a first mounting member 54. The first mounting member 54 is detachably coupled to the second member 62, rotatably supports the peeling roller 51, and is swingably and detachably installed on the cover 3. The first impression unit 4 includes an impression roller 41, a peeling plate 42, and a support member 43. The peeling plate 42 is separate from the impression roller 41 and the peeling roller 51, and extends along a longitudinal direction of the impression roller 41. The support member 43 rotatably supports the impression roller 41, supports the peeling plate 42, and is detachably supported by the cover 3. In the printing device 1, each of the peeling unit 5 and the first impression unit 4 can be detached from the cover 3. In the printing device 1, compared to a device in which the peeling unit 5 and the first impression unit 4 are not detachable, the maintainability of the printing device 1 can be improved. In the printing device 1, a path of the print medium M can be bent by the peeling plate 42 in a relatively simple configuration. In the printing device 1, since the peeling plate 42 is included in the first impression unit 4, the peeling plate 42 can be detached by detaching the first impression unit 4 from the printing device 1.

[0059] When the peeling unit 5 is not installed on the cover 3, the limiting unit 7 is detachably installed on the cover 3. The limiting unit 7 includes a limiting member 71 and a second mounting member 72. The limiting member 71 extends along a longitudinal direction of the impression roller 81. The second mounting member 72 is detachably coupled to the second member 62. The second mounting member 72 supports the limiting member 71 so that the limiting member 71 is switchable between a close position in which the limiting member 71 is close to the impression roller 41 with a predetermined gap between the limiting member 71 and the impression roller 41 and a retracted position in which the limiting member 71 is farther from the impression roller 41 than in the close position, and is swingably and detachably installed on the cover 3. When the first impression unit 4 is not installed on the cover 3, the second impression unit 8 is detachably installed on the cover 3. The second impression unit 8 includes an impression roller 81 and a second support member 43. The second support member 43 rotatably supports the impression roller 81 and is detachably supported by the cover 3. As the cover 3 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, the limiting member 71 moves from the close position to the retracted position. When the limiting member 71 is disposed in the close position, the limiting member 71 prevents the print medium M from being caught between the impression roller 41 and the limiting member 71.

[0060] In the printing device 1, the restricting unit 7 and the second impression unit 8 are installed on the cover 3 instead of the peeling unit 5 and the first impression unit 4 installed on the cover 3, so that the printing device 1 can be used in a mode different from the peeling mode. Specifically, in the case of a mode in which printing is performed using a long linerless label having an adhesive layer on a surface opposite to a printing surface without including a mount, instead of using a printing medium M having a label attached to a mount, when the printing medium M is conveyed by the impression roller 81, the restricting member 71 peels the linerless label attached to the impression roller 81, and prevents the printing medium M from being caught in a gap between the restricting member 71 and the impression roller 81. However, for some reason, the linerless label can not be peeled from the impression roller 81, and can enter the gap between the restricting member 71 and the impression roller 81 to cause a jam. In this case, when the user opens the cover 3, the restricting member 71 moves from the close position to the retracted position, so the gap between the restricting member 71 and the impression roller 81 increases compared to the case where the restricting member 71 is in the close position. Therefore, the user can easily remove the jam of the linerless label. In the printing device 1, the pair of switching mechanisms 6 can be shared by the peeling unit 5 and the restricting unit 7.

[0061] The printing device according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the following modifications can be appropriately made.

[0062] The shape, number, arrangement, material, mounting method, and the like of the members constituting the printing device 1 can be appropriately changed. For example, the arrangement, opening degree, and the like of the cover 3 with respect to the main body 2 can be appropriately changed. At least one of the first impression unit 4 and the peeling roller 51 can be non-detachably supported by the cover 3. The peeling plate 42 can be attached to the peeling unit 5 instead of the first impression unit 4, or can be omitted. The configurations of the support members 43 of the first impression unit 4 and the second impression unit 8 can be different from each other. In the printing device 1, the restricting unit 7 and the second impression unit 8 can not be detachably installed. In the printing device 1, the restricting unit 7 and the second impression unit 8 can be detachably installed, and the peeling unit 5 and the first impression unit 4 can not be installed. The configurations of the pair of left and right switching mechanisms 6 can be appropriately changed, and for example, the printing device 1 can include only one switching mechanism of the pair of left and right switching mechanisms 6. The switching mechanism 6 can not include the second member 62, and the pin 615 of the first member 61 can be directly coupled to the support member 43 behind the swing axis of the support member 43. The moving direction of the first member 61 can be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the first member 61, a portion of the main body 2 touched by the first member 61, and the like, and for example, the first direction can be on the support axis 31 side (right side) with respect to the first member 61.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus comprising: a main body including a housing configured to accommodate a print medium; a cover displaceable between an open position in which the housing is opened and a closed position in which the housing is closed; a platen roller attached to the cover and rotatably supported by the cover; a peeling roller attached to the cover and supported so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the platen roller; and a switching mechanism attached to the cover and configured to switch the peeling roller between a contact position in which the peeling roller is in contact with the platen roller and a non-contact position in which the peeling roller is away from the platen roller in association with displacement of the cover, wherein the switching mechanism includes: a first member which comes into contact with the main body when the cover is displaced from the open position to the closed position, whereby the first member moves in a first direction relative to the cover; a biasing member configured to bias the first member in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a second member pivotably supported by the cover and coupled to the first member and the peeling roller, the second member moving the peeling roller from the non-contact position to the contact position when the first member moves in the first direction relative to the cover against a biasing force of the biasing member.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a peeling unit detachably mounted on the cover, the peeling unit including: the peeling roller; and a first mounting member detachably coupled to the second member, the first mounting member rotatably supporting the peeling roller and pivotably and detachably mounted on the cover; and a first platen unit detachably mounted on the cover, the first platen unit including: the platen roller; a peeling plate away from the platen roller and the peeling roller and extending in the longitudinal direction of the platen roller; and a first support member rotatably supporting the platen roller, the first support member supporting the peeling plate, and the first support member detachably supported by the cover. ​

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