Tube printer

Abstract

To provide a tube printer that can receive recorded data transferred from an external instrument such as a host computer using Bluetooth radio communication and perform recording.SOLUTION: A Bluetooth module is arranged closer to a depth side than a keyboard in a view from a user, with the user facing a tube printer. Further, the Bluetooth module is arranged closer to a front side than a warmer unit in the view from the user, with the user facing the tube printer. Further, at least a portion of the Bluetooth module is arranged to overlap with a display, in a longitudinal direction of the keyboard.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tube printer that performs recording on a tubular recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] As shown in Patent Document 1, there is a recording device that can form an image on a flexible tubular recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a tube) such as an electric wire, a hose, a pipe, etc. The recording device conveys the tube with rollers, records an image on the tube with a thermal head, and cuts the tube with a cutter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-313410 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A tube printer records characters, etc., input by a user from a built-in keyboard in a tube, and also receives record data, such as characters, transferred from a host computer and records the data in the tube. Conventionally, in order to transfer record data from a host computer to a tube printer, the host computer and the tube printer were connected via a communication cable. When notebook computers appeared as host computers, notebook computers and recording devices were brought to work sites to print characters, etc. on tubes. In recent years, tablet computers and smartphones, which are smaller than notebook computers, have become widespread, and there is a demand to transfer record data from these external devices to a tube printer. Tablet computers and smartphones have built-in wireless communication devices. Therefore, there has been a demand for easily transferring record data from tablet computers and smartphones to tube printers by wireless communication.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tube printer that is capable of receiving and recording data transferred from an external device such as a host computer using wireless communication via Bluetooth (registered trademark). [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] a first motor for rotating the conveying roller; a recording head capable of recording at a recording position on the tubular recording medium conveyed by the conveying roller; a cutter for cutting at a cutting position the tubular recording medium conveyed by the conveying roller that has been recorded by the recording head; a second motor for operating the cutter; and a Bluetooth module for performing wireless communication according to the Bluetooth standard. The device is capable of accepting information input via a Bluetooth module, and is capable of controlling the first motor and the recording head, and in a front-to-rear direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to the horizontal direction, from the front to the rear of the tube printer, the display is located further back than the keyboard, and in the front-to-rear direction, the first motor, the second motor, the recording position and the cutting position are located further back than the keyboard and the substrate, the display is on one side of the recording position in the longitudinal direction, and the cutting position is on the other side of the recording position in the longitudinal direction, the Bluetooth module is on the one side of the first motor, the second motor and the recording position in the longitudinal direction, and in the front-to-rear direction, is on the rear side of the substrate and on the front side of the heating means, and at least a portion of the Bluetooth module is arranged to overlap the display in the longitudinal direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tube printer capable of receiving and printing print data transferred from an external device such as a host computer using wireless communication via Bluetooth.

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components throughout the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a recording device; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a recording device with the opening and closing cover removed. [Diagram 3] Diagram explaining the warmer unit [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a heating unit and a pressing unit in a warmer unit. [Diagram 5] A diagram explaining the display contents of the display unit [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conveying unit and a recording unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper and lower main body units; [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the main body upper unit; [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the lower unit of the main body; [Figure 10] A perspective view of a drive unit [Figure 11] Diagram explaining the location of the Bluetooth module [Figure 12] Diagram explaining the location of the battery box and Bluetooth module [Figure 13] Diagram explaining the location of the Bluetooth module [Figure 14] Block diagram showing the controller [Figure 15] Flowchart showing the recording method [Figure 16] A diagram explaining the positional relationship between each surface of a recording device and a user. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating another example of a Bluetooth module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features among the multiple features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the recording device 1 is a thermal transfer tube printer that forms an image on a tube-shaped recording medium. In FIG. 1, the recording device 1 is placed on a horizontal plane such as a desk. The x and y directions are parallel to the horizontal plane, and the z direction is parallel to the vertical direction. The transport direction of the tube T crosses the vertical direction. The openable cover 2 can be opened and closed relative to the main body of the recording device 1, and is opened and closed when attaching and detaching an ink ribbon cassette 30 (FIG. 2) or a warmer unit 400 (FIG. 2) described later, or when setting the tube T in the warmer unit 400. The handle portion 3 is held by a user when carrying the recording device 1 with one hand. In this embodiment, the handle portion 3 is formed by a through hole, but the handle portion 3 may be a recess that does not penetrate.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the housing of the recording device 1 includes an upper body unit 500, a lower body unit 600, and an opening / closing cover 2. The housing also has a top surface 4a, a bottom surface 4b, and four side surfaces 4c to 4f. Of the four side surfaces, the front surface 4c is the side closest to the user in the y direction as viewed from the user facing the recording device 1 to use the recording device 1 as shown in FIG. 16. The y direction is the direction from the front of the recording device 1 to the back (front-back direction). The back surface 4d is the side farthest from the user in the y direction as viewed from the user facing the recording device 1 to use the recording device 1. Returning to FIG. 1, the left surface 4e is a side surface that connects to the top surface 4a, the bottom surface 4b, the front surface 4c, and the back surface 4d. The right surface 4f is also a side surface that connects to the top surface 4a, the bottom surface 4b, the front surface 4c, and the back surface 4d. The right surface 4f is located on the +x side of the left surface 4e. The top surface 4a is located on the +z side of the bottom surface 4b.

[0013] The tube T is inserted from an insertion portion (insertion port 5) provided on the right side 4f of the housing, transported toward an outlet 6 (Figure 2) provided on the left side 4e of the housing, and discharged from the outlet 6.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows the recording device 1 with the opening / closing cover 2 removed for convenience of explanation. The operation unit 10 as an input unit is a keyboard operated by a user to input print instructions and print characters. The operation surface (instruction input surface) of the keyboard is provided on the top surface 4a side. The display unit 20 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a display control unit. The display surface of the display unit 20 is provided on the top surface 4a side. When a user sets a tube T in the recording device 1, the user passes the tube T through the warmer unit 400. The transport unit 100 includes a first roller that supplies the set tube T to the recording unit 200, and a second roller that transports the tube T from the recording unit 200 to the cutting unit 300. The recording unit 200 includes a recording head (thermal head) that records (prints) images such as characters on the tube T, an ink ribbon cassette 30, and the like. The cutting unit 300 cuts the tube T on which an image has been recorded by the recording unit 200.

[0015] [Operation section] The operation unit 10 where the user performs input operations is, for example, a keyboard. The keyboard has a plurality of hard keys and a board on which a switch for detecting that each key is pressed is provided. The plurality of hard keys include function keys, letter, number, and symbol keys, a space key, a conversion key, a cross directional key, and a return key. The physical keys such as the letter, number, and symbol keys are arranged in a QWERTY layout. By operating these keys, the user inputs data such as letters and numbers constituting the recording information (recording contents), as well as the type, size, and recording conditions of the recording medium, and sets them in the recording device 1. When the user uses the recording device 1, the user faces the front 4c of the recording device 1. In other words, from the user's perspective, the front 4c side of the recording device 1 is the near side and the rear 4d side is the far side. As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard is disposed on the front 4c side of the recording device 1.

[0016] The keyboard is placed so that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the x-direction. The front-rear direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the keyboard, parallel to the horizontal direction, and parallel to the y-direction.

[0017] The keyboard has a number of keys arranged along the longitudinal direction (parallel to the x-direction). The keys of the keyboard are arranged so that the space key is at the front side. The keyboard is also arranged at an incline so that the front side 4c is lower than the rear side 4d. By arranging the keyboard in this way, the keyboard is arranged at an incline so as to descend toward the user, making it easier for the user to input information. Also, as shown in FIG. 16, when viewed from a user facing the recording device 1 to use it, the above-mentioned handle portion 3 is provided on the front side of the keyboard.

[0018] [Display] The display 24 of the display unit 20 is disposed closer to the insertion part of the tube T than the recording head. The display unit 20 is capable of displaying information on various settings of the tube printer in addition to displaying the contents to be recorded on the tube T. As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 20 has a liquid crystal display 24 (LCD) including display areas 21, 22, and 23. The longitudinal direction of the display 24 is parallel to the x-direction. The setting items of the tube printer are printed on the upper part of the display area 21 and the lower part of the display area 23. The display area 21 displays the current input mode (Hiragana / Katakana / English numbers), overwrite, insert, print speed (H / M / L), half cut (ON / cut line print), remaining ribbon, and connected power source (AC power source / battery). The display area 21 further displays the tube warmer mode (Auto / Manual), the tube cut length, and character arrangement (C (center) / R (right justified) / L (left justified) / E (even)). The display area 22 displays letters, numbers and symbols (hereinafter abbreviated as characters) entered from the keyboard.

[0019] Data such as letters and numbers as information corresponding to input from the keyboard of the operation unit 10 are displayed in the display area 22. For this reason, the keyboard and display 24 are electrically connected to a control board, which will be described later. The letters and contents input from the keyboard are sent to the display 24 via the control board, which will be described later, and are displayed on the display 24. The letters displayed in the display area 22 as the recorded contents are recorded on the tube T. The display area 23 displays recording parameters such as character size. As the recording parameters, the number of pages printed to date, printing direction (vertical / horizontal), framing (yes / no), character size, number of lines, character spacing (large / small), and number of continuously recorded pages are displayed.

[0020] In this embodiment, the display unit 20 includes a liquid crystal display 24 and setting items printed around the display 24, but the display unit 20 may include only the display 24. The panel of the display 24 does not have to be a liquid crystal panel, and may be, for example, another type of panel such as an organic EL (electroluminescence) panel or a plasma display panel.

[0021] [Warmer unit] When setting the tube T in the recording device, the user passes the tube T through the warmer unit 400 and causes the tube T to reach the conveying section 100. The warmer unit 400 forms a conveying path through which the tube T passes, and heats the tube T as it passes. As shown in FIG. 2, the warmer unit 400 is disposed upstream of the recording section 200 in the conveying direction (direction toward -x) of the tube T. When viewed parallel to the z direction (as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2), the warmer unit 400 is disposed so as not to overlap with the display 24. In other words, the warmer unit 400 is disposed so as not to overlap with the display 24 in the y direction. This reduces the thickness of the recording device 1, i.e., the size in the z direction, and facilitates the work of mounting the warmer unit 400 on the recording device 1.

[0022] 3 is a diagram showing the inside of the warmer unit 400. The warmer unit 400 includes therein a heating unit 700 that heats the tube T, and a pressing unit 43 that presses the tube T towards the heating unit 700.

[0023] The recording device 1 of this embodiment is capable of transporting tubes T with diameters ranging from Φ1.5 mm to Φ10 mm. However, when a thin tube T is transported while being pushed out of the warmer unit 400, the tube T may bend or buckle due to frictional resistance between the tube T and the transport path. For this reason, the transport section 100 arranged downstream of the warmer unit 400 transports the tube T while pulling it. Therefore, no motor for transporting the tube T is arranged inside the warmer unit 400 or in the area overlapping with the warmer unit 400 when viewed parallel to the Z direction, i.e., in the area behind the display 24.

[0024] A cleaner 44 is disposed on the transport path of the tube T in the warmer unit 400. The cleaner 44 is composed of an elastic member such as a sponge, a rubbing member such as a nonwoven fabric, and a frame. When the tube T is transported through the inside of the warmer unit 400, the tube T moves while the surface of the tube T comes into contact with the rubbing member of the cleaner 44. This allows any attached matter to be removed from the surface of the tube T before recording is performed by the recording section 200.

[0025] 4(a) and 4(b) are views showing a heating unit 700 and a pressing unit 43 provided inside the warmer unit 400. An arrow V indicates the direction in which the tube T is inserted.

[0026] The heating unit 700 includes a heater 701 as a heating means for heating the tube T, and a metal member 702 for transmitting the heat generated by the heater 701. The heating unit 700 also includes a heater wiring section 703 for supplying power to the heater 701.

[0027] The pressing unit 43 includes a holding member 505 that holds a pressing member 507, and an elastic member 506 as a biasing means that biases the holding member 505 toward the metal member 702. The pressing member 507 is a member that presses the tube T toward the metal member 702, and by forming the pressing member 507 from a material with good sliding properties such as POM (polyacetal) or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), it is possible to reduce resistance when the tube T is transported. Furthermore, by making the pressing member 507 a rotatable roller, it is possible to further reduce resistance when the tube T is transported. The elastic member 506 is made of an elastically deformable material such as a spring or rubber.

[0028] When the tube T passes through the warmer unit 400, the tube T is conveyed while being pressed toward the metal member 702 by the pressing unit 43. At this time, the tube T is heated by being conveyed while being in contact with the metal member 702 heated by the heater 701. Since the thermal conductivity of the metal member 702 is higher than that of the heater 701 and the surface area of ​​the metal member 702 is larger than the surface area of ​​the heater 701, the heat generated by the heater 701 heats the entire metal member 702 almost uniformly. This allows the tube T to be heated efficiently. Note that in order to efficiently heat the tube T with the heat generated by the heater 701, it is desirable for the material of the metal member 702 to be a material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper.

[0029] [Transportation and recording section] The transport unit 100 includes a first roller pair for carrying out a transport process for transporting the tube T. The recording unit 200 is a unit capable of recording information on the tube T transported by the transport unit 100 using a recording head. The transport unit 100 and the recording unit 200 are sometimes collectively referred to as a print engine. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the transport unit 100 and the recording unit 200. The first rollers 101a and 101b constitute a first roller pair for transporting the tube T to the recording head 201. In the transport direction of the tube T, a recording head 201 and a platen roller 102 (transport roller) are provided downstream of the first roller pair. A second roller 103 is disposed downstream of the recording head 201 and the platen roller 102. The recording head 201 is provided so as to face the platen roller 102 via the tube T. The second roller 103 is provided so as to face the platen roller 102 at a position different from the recording head 201 in the circumferential direction of the platen roller 102. The recording head 201 has a predetermined number of heating elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the tube T. By selectively heating the heating elements, the ink on the ink ribbon R stored in the ink ribbon cassette 30 is transferred to the tube T. In this embodiment, the tube T is transported by first rollers 101a and 101b, a platen roller 102, and a second roller 103. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the first rollers 101a and 101b and the second roller 103 are not included, and the platen roller 102 transports the tube T.

[0030] The ink ribbon cassette 30 stores the ink ribbon R wound in a roll on a ribbon supply reel 31. The ink ribbon R is supplied from the ribbon supply reel 31 to the recording head 201 and taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 32. The ribbon take-up reel 32 rotates using a main motor, which will be described later, as a drive source. If the recording head 201 and the ink ribbon cassette 30 are disposed apart from each other, the ink ribbon R drawn out from the ink ribbon cassette 30 becomes long and is easily broken. For this reason, the ink ribbon cassette 30 is disposed close to the recording head 201.

[0031] The recording head 201 moves from the retracted position to the recording position, thereby pressing the ink ribbon R against the tube T to record an image (recording contents). The recording position is the position of the recording head 201 when the recording head 201 forms a nip between the platen roller 102 and the tube T for recording. One example of the material of the tube T is PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The PVC tube T is crushed (flattened) when passing through the recording head 201 and the platen roller 102 in the recording unit 200, but returns to its original tubular shape after passing through the recording unit 200.

[0032] When the recording device 1 is used in a low-temperature environment, the temperature of the tube T drops and the tube T hardens. When the tube T hardens, the tube T becomes less likely to be crushed when passing through the nip between the recording head 201 and the platen roller 102, and normal recording on the tube T may not be possible.

[0033] Therefore, when the recording device 1 is used in a low temperature environment, the tube T is heated and softened by the warmer unit 400 before being transported. By heating the tube T, the tube T becomes more easily crushed when passing through the nip between the recording head 201 and the platen roller 102, making it possible to perform normal recording on the tube T.

[0034] [Cut section] 2, a cutting unit 300 that cuts the recording medium (e.g., a tube or a label) at a cutting position is disposed downstream of the recording unit 200 in the transport direction. The cutting unit 300 has a cutter blade (cutter) and a cutter receiving member, and performs a half cut, leaving a part of the tube T connected, or a full cut, leaving the tube T separated, at a cutting position downstream of the recording position by the recording head 201 of the recording unit 200. Full cut and half cut may be collectively referred to as a cutting process.

[0035] The half cut is used when a user wants to later separate a printed tube T that is still partially connected. In the tube printer of this embodiment, the amount of cutting into the tube by the half cut is set so that the separation force when separating the tube is 10N to 25N. This makes it difficult for the tube T to break before the user separates it.

[0036] When the tube T is fully cut, the end (tip) of the tube T protrudes from an outlet (not shown) provided on the left side 4e of the housing. The user holds the end of the tube T protruding from the housing and removes the fully cut tube T from the outlet. In order for the user to remove the fully cut tube T, the length from the tip (end on the downstream side in the transport direction) of the tube T to the cutting position must be longer than the distance from the outlet of the housing to the cutter blade. In order to make the minimum cut length, which is the minimum length that can be cut, as short as possible, the cutting unit 300 may be located as far downstream as possible in the transport direction, that is, close to the left side 4e of the housing.

[0037] In addition, there may be a case where the cutting unit 300 is capable of only half cutting or full cutting.

[0038] [Internal configuration] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the recording device 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the recording device 1 is roughly divided into an upper body unit 500 and a lower body unit 600. The height of the front surface 4c is lower than the height of the rear surface 4d. Therefore, inside the housing, there is a larger storage space on the rear surface 4d side than on the front surface 4c side. A power connector 71 to which a DC power source (AC / DC adapter) is connected is provided on the right surface 4f. The recording device 1 operates by receiving power from the power connector 71 or a battery, which will be described later.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the main body upper unit 500. As shown in FIG. 8, the keyboard, the display 24, the control board 502, the transport unit 100, the recording unit 200, and the cutting unit 300 are fixed to the top cover 501, which is a base member. Among them, the transport unit 100, the recording unit 200, and the cutting unit 300 form a unit 503. That is, the unit 503 is fixed to the top cover 501. Since the control unit 70 including a CPU and the like are mounted on the control board 502, the control board 502 can control the motor and the recording head 201 and the like. Since many parts are mounted on the control board 502, a large area is required to place the control board 502 inside the recording device 1. Therefore, the control board 502 is placed on the back side of the keyboard provided on the operation unit 10. The fixing parts 504a to 504d are provided to fix the top cover 501 to the bottom cover 601 (FIG. 9) described later, and screws inserted from the bottom cover 601 side are screwed into the fixing parts 504a to 504d.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 8, the display 24 of the display unit 20 is disposed on the back side of the control board 502 when viewed from the front 4c side. This is because the inside of the housing is wider on the back 4d side than on the front 4c side. The keyboard is inclined downward toward the front side to make it easier for the user to input. Therefore, the inside of the housing is narrower on the back 4d side.

[0041] The display 24 of the display unit 20 is fixed to the top cover 501. The Bluetooth module 80 is disposed and fixed in a region overlapping the display 24 when viewed parallel to the z direction. The Bluetooth module 80 is also disposed so as not to overlap the control board 502 when viewed parallel to the z direction. In other words, the Bluetooth module 80 is disposed so as not to overlap the control board 502 in the y direction (front-rear direction).

[0042] Furthermore, the Bluetooth module 80 is disposed so as not to overlap with the warmer unit 400 when viewed parallel to the z direction. In other words, it is disposed so as not to overlap with the warmer unit 400 in the y direction (front-rear direction).

[0043] A resin wall 81 is provided next to the Bluetooth module 80. The wall 81 is part of a resin support member 25 for supporting the display 24 of the display unit 20. The wall 81 is arranged so as to increase the rigidity of the support member 25. The outside air temperature sensor 50 is arranged at a position away from the Bluetooth module 80. In this example, the outside air temperature sensor 50 is fixed to an end of the warmer unit 400.

[0044] 9 is a perspective view showing the main body lower unit 600. A battery box 602 that functions as a battery housing section for housing a battery that is part of the power supply section 40 is fixed to a bottom cover 601 that is a base member. The battery box 602 is electrically connected to the control board 502 via a power cable (FIG. 11) described later. When a battery is housed in the battery box 602 and an AC / DC adaptor is not connected to the power connector 71, the recording device 1 operates using power supplied from the battery. The fixing sections 603a to 603d are provided at positions facing the fixing sections 504a to 504d, respectively, and have through holes through which screws are inserted from the rear side of the bottom cover 601.

[0045] The battery box 602 is disposed at a position where it does not overlap the main motor 104 and the sub motor 202 when viewed parallel to the z direction. The battery box 602 is also disposed in an area where it overlaps the transport unit 100 and the warmer unit 400. If the battery box 602 is disposed at a position where it overlaps the main motor 104 and the sub motor 202, which are large components, the thickness of the recording device 1 increases. Therefore, the arrangement of this embodiment is advantageous for making the recording device 1 thinner. The battery box 602 is also disposed at a position where it does not overlap the battery and metal parts with the Bluetooth module 80 when viewed parallel to the z direction. This allows metal parts such as the battery and the power cable 93 (see FIG. 11) to be kept away from the Bluetooth module 80.

[0046] The recording device 1 is constructed by fixing an upper body unit 500 and a lower body unit 600 to each other, and further connecting an opening / closing cover 2 to the upper body unit 500 so as to be freely opened and closed.

[0047] 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the unit 503. The unit 503 has the main motor 104, the drive transmission unit 105, the first rollers 101a and 101b, the platen roller 102, the second roller 103, the printhead 201, and the printhead holder 203.

[0048] The main motor 104 is a common driving source that drives the second roller 103, the platen roller 102, the first rollers 101a and 101b, and the ribbon take-up reel 32. The main motor 104 is, for example, a stepping motor. Switching between forward feed and back feed of the tube T is performed by forward / reverse rotation of the stepping motor. The transport speed of the recording device 1 can be changed in three stages from high speed to low speed. The control unit 70 changes the transport speed by controlling the drive of the main motor 104. The driving force of the main motor 104 is supplied to the take-up spool of the ink ribbon cassette 30, and collects the ink ribbon R after recording on the tube T is completed.

[0049] The first rollers 101a and 101b form a first roller pair. The first roller 101b can move in a direction toward and away from the first roller 101a. The first roller 101b moves in conjunction with the operation of opening and closing the opening-closing cover 2 by the link mechanism. When the opening-closing cover 2 is moved from the closed state to the open state, the first roller 101b moves in a direction away from the first roller 101a. Conversely, when the opening-closing cover 2 is moved from the open state to the closed state, the first roller 101b moves in a direction toward the first roller 101a.

[0050] In this embodiment, the movement of the first roller 101b and the opening and closing of the opening and closing cover 2 are linked by a link mechanism, but this is merely one example. A configuration may be adopted in which the first roller 101b is moved by the user operating a separately provided lever.

[0051] Furthermore, the unit 503 has a sub motor 202, drive transmission units 204, 205, 301, and a cutter 302. The sub motor 202 moves the recording head 201 between a recording position and a retracted position. The recording position is a position where the recording head 201 cooperates with the platen roller 102 to clamp the tube T and record an image. The retracted position is a position where the distance from the platen roller 102 is farther than the recording position, and is a position where an image is not recorded. Furthermore, the sub motor 202 drives a cutting unit 300 that cuts the tube T. The sub motor 202 may also be realized by a stepping motor. The cutting operation of the tube T is performed by forward and reverse rotation of the sub motor 202. The control unit 70 adjusts the cutting depth of the cutting unit 300 by adjusting the number of pulses when driving the sub motor 202.

[0052] It is preferable that the cutting position of the tube T is near the outlet of the housing in order to remove the cut tube T. Therefore, the cutting unit 300 is disposed on the downstream side of the housing in the conveying direction of the tube T, that is, near the left surface 4e.

[0053] In the present embodiment, the control unit 70 of the control board 502 controls the sub motor 202 to perform the cutting process by the cutting unit 300. However, instead of the control unit 70 controlling the sub motor 202, a configuration in which the sub motor 202 drives the cutting unit 300 by pressing a button by the user may be adopted.

[0054] The main motor 104, the sub motor 202, the drive transmission units 204, 205, 301, and the cutter 302 are attached to a metal frame 1000, which is a base member. A bracket for bundling and storing electric cables used for electric components such as the motor is attached to the frame 1000. The bracket is fixed to the frame 1000 with screws. In this manner, the unit 503 is formed by fixing various parts to the frame 1000 and integrating them. The various parts include the conveying unit 100 including the first roller 101 and the second roller 103, the recording unit 200 including the recording head 201 and the recording head holding unit 203, and the cutting unit 300 including the cutter 302. The various parts further include the main motor 104, the sub motor 202, the drive transmission units 105, 204, 205, 301 that transmit the driving forces of these motors, and a bracket for the electric cables. The unit 503 is attached to the top cover 501 with screws. The recording unit 200 and the transport unit 100 are disposed upstream of the cutting unit 300 in the transport direction of the tube T.

[0055] The drive transmission unit 105 includes a plurality of gears that transmit the drive force (rotation force) generated by the main motor 104 to the first rollers 101a and 101b, the platen roller 102, the second roller 103, etc. The drive transmission unit 205 includes a plurality of gears that transmit the drive force (rotation force) generated by the main motor 104 to the ribbon take-up reel 32. The drive transmission unit 204 includes gears, cams, etc. that transmit the drive force (rotation force) generated by the sub motor 202 to the recording head holding unit 203 to move the recording head 201. The drive transmission unit 301 includes gears, cams, etc. that move the cutter 302 of the cutting unit 300 with the drive force (rotation force) generated by the sub motor 202.

[0056] In order to reduce the distance between the drive source and the drive force destination and thereby reduce the drive force transmission loss, the main motor 104 is disposed on the rear side of the conveying section 100. Similarly to the main motor 104, the sub-motor 202 is also disposed on the rear side of the cutting section 300 in order to reduce the distance between the drive source and the drive force destination.

[0057] In this way, all of the driving parts related to transport, recording and cutting are concentrated in unit 503, and main body unit 500 to which unit 503 is fixed is inevitably heavy.

[0058] [Tube setting method] When setting the tube T in the recording device 1, the user inserts the tube T into the insertion portion 45 of the warmer unit 400 with the openable cover 2 open. The inserted tube T is guided by the guide wall 41 and led to between the first rollers 101a, 101b. The tube T is also transported while being pressed toward the reference surface 42 by the pressing unit 43. When the user sets the tube T, the tube T is inserted while being pressed against the reference surface 42 by the pressing unit 43.

[0059] [Bluetooth module placement] Bluetooth (registered trademark), a wireless communication standard, is suitable for relatively low-speed communication in a small range. For example, Bluetooth low energy can communicate at 2 Mbps within a range of about 10 m. On the other hand, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), which is also a wireless communication standard, is suitable for high-speed communication in a wide range. Wi-Fi can communicate at 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps within a range of about 100 m. Wi-Fi is capable of high-speed communication in a wide range, but it also consumes a lot of power, consuming more than 10 times as much power as Bluetooth low energy. In a tube printer, the information transmitted as the contents to be recorded on the tube T is small in data size, such as characters, and consumes little power, making it possible to operate with a battery. Therefore, Bluetooth is suitable as a standard for wireless communication with external devices such as a host computer.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 11, the control board 502 and the Bluetooth module 80 are connected via an electric cable 90. The electric cable 90 is a cable for communication between the control board 502 and the Bluetooth module 80 and for supplying power to the Bluetooth module 80. The electric cable 90 is connected to a connector 88 mounted on the board of the Bluetooth module 80. The control board 502 and the display 24 are connected by a flexible cable 91. The control board 502 and the recording head 201 are connected via a flexible cable 92. The control board 502 and the battery box 602 are connected via a power cable 93. The power cable 93 is disposed farther away from the Bluetooth module 80 than the flexible cable 91 and the electric cable 90.

[0061] Incidentally, the display 24 of the display unit 20 is disposed further back than the keyboard, that is, on the +y side. In order to suppress the generation of noise, it is effective to shorten the flexible cable 91 connecting the display 24 and the control board 502. In order to shorten the flexible cable 91, the display 24 is disposed close to the control board 502. The display 24 may be disposed so that a portion of the display 24 overlaps (overlaps) with the control board 502 in the y direction, and the remaining portion does not overlap with the control board 502 in the y direction.

[0062] In addition, the display 24 is disposed so as not to overlap with the main motor 104 when viewed parallel to the z direction. This makes it possible to avoid an increase in the thickness of the recording device 1. In addition, the display 24 is disposed so as not to overlap with the sub-motor 202 when viewed parallel to the z direction. This makes it possible to avoid an increase in the thickness of the recording device 1, since the sub-motor 202, which is a large component, does not overlap with the display 24. In other words, the recording device 1 can be made thinner.

[0063] For these reasons, the display 24 is disposed at a position behind the keyboard and upstream of the recording position in the transport direction (-x direction) of the tube T.

[0064] Similarly, in order to avoid an increase in the thickness of the recording device 1, the main motor 104 and the sub motor 202 are disposed behind the keyboard so as not to overlap with the keyboard. Since the main motor 104 and the sub motor 202 are disposed behind the keyboard, the recording position where the recording head 201 performs recording and the cutting position where the cutter cuts the tube T are also disposed behind the keyboard. The recording head 201 may be disposed so that a part of the recording head 201 overlaps with the keyboard in the y direction and another part does not overlap with the keyboard in the y direction. The cutter blade may be disposed so that a part of the cutter blade (cutter) overlaps with the keyboard in the y direction and the other part does not overlap with the keyboard in the y direction. The recording head 201 may be disposed so that a part of the recording head 201 overlaps with the control board 502 in the y direction and the other part does not overlap with the control board 502 in the y direction. The cutter blade may be disposed so that a portion of the cutter blade overlaps with the control substrate 502 in the y direction, and the other portion does not overlap with the control substrate 502 in the y direction.

[0065] 12 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the battery box 602 and the Bluetooth module 80. The battery box 602 is disposed at a position where it does not overlap with the Bluetooth module 80 in the x direction. When no battery is inserted in the battery box 602, one end (the battery box 602 side) of the power cable 93 is in an open state where it is not grounded. In this case, the power cable 93 may function as an antenna and cause unwanted radiation of electromagnetic waves. For this reason, the power cable 93 is disposed on the side away from the Bluetooth module 80. This makes the Bluetooth module 80 less susceptible to unwanted radiation from the power cable 93.

[0066] 13 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the Bluetooth module 80. A substrate 86 of the Bluetooth module 80 is fixed by metal screws 83 so as to overlap with the display 24 of the display unit 20. An antenna 82 is mounted on the substrate 86, which transmits or receives radio signals by wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth standard. The Bluetooth standard specifies the use of a frequency of 2.4 GHz (approximately 13 cm in wavelength) known as the unlicensed band or ISM band (Industrial, Scientific and Medical band).

[0067] Although multiple versions are stipulated in the Bluetooth standard, it is desirable to use version 4.0 or later that supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which is a low power consumption mode, from the viewpoint of power saving. In order to properly maintain the directivity and gain of the antenna 82, it is desirable that there is no metal around the antenna 82 that is less than 6 mm away. Generally, the maximum communication distance by Bluetooth is about 10 m. However, if there is metal at a position, for example, 4 mm away from the antenna 82, the signal strength of the wireless signal becomes weaker, and the distance at which normal communication can be performed becomes shorter than this. This is because the radio waves emitted from the antenna 82 are irradiated onto the metal, causing a current to flow in the metal, and the metal acts as an antenna to emit radio waves that become noise. Then, if the distance between the antenna and the metal is increased, the radio waves that the metal receives from the antenna are attenuated, and the influence of the radio waves that become noise emitted by the metal is also reduced. Therefore, the shortest distance d1 between the antenna 82 and the screw 83 is required to be 6 mm or more. Note that the screw 83 is the metal that exists closest to the antenna 82. In this embodiment, d1, which is the shortest distance between the antenna 82 and the screw 83, is set to 12.2 mm. A metal frame is disposed inside the housing, and the shortest distance between the antenna 82 and the metal frame is also ensured to be 6 mm or more. In addition, the shortest distance d3 between the antenna 82 and the connector 88 including the metal cover is also ensured to be 6 mm or more. In this embodiment, d3 is set to 14 mm. Note that, from the viewpoint of ensuring a communication distance that allows normal communication, it is more preferable that the distance between the metal and the antenna is 10 mm or more.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 13, a wall 81 is provided around the Bluetooth module 80. The wall 81 is a part of the support member 25, and is made of synthetic resin. The support member 25 is fixed to the top cover 501 by five screws 26a to 26d. The screws 26a to 26d are sufficiently spaced from the antenna 82, and their influence is minimal. The distance d2 between the antenna 82 and the wall 81 must be set to a degree that does not affect the directivity and gain of the antenna 82. For this reason, the shortest distance d2 between the wall 81 and the antenna 82 is set to be equal to or greater than the thickness d4 of the wall 81. In this embodiment, the wall 81 is made of synthetic resin, the thickness d4 is 1.2 mm, and the thickness d2 is 3.2 mm. If the wall 81 is made of metal, the distance between the antenna 82 and the metal wall must be 6 mm or more.

[0069] It should be noted that another type of Bluetooth module 80 may be adopted. As shown in FIG. 17, a Bluetooth module 800 in which a control chip 802 and an antenna 803 for transmitting and receiving wireless signals are mounted on a substrate 801 may be purchased from a supplier and mounted on a substrate for connection to a control substrate 502. The supplier of the Bluetooth module 800 has obtained a technical standard conformity certificate (Technical Standards Conformity Certificate) in Japan and certifications in various countries, such as the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in the United States. These can be used as technical standards conformity certificates and certifications for the main body of the recording device 1. When the Bluetooth module 800 is installed inside the recording device 1, the shortest distance between the antenna 803 and the metal parts is set to 6 mm or more, preferably 10 mm or more, from the viewpoint of ensuring a communication distance for normal communication. Similarly, the shortest distance between the antenna 803 and the resin parts is set to be greater than or equal to the thickness of the resin parts.

[0070] In order to avoid adverse effects on wireless communication by Bluetooth, it is necessary to keep the antenna 82 of the Bluetooth module 80 away from metal parts. The arrangement of the Bluetooth module 80 in the recording device 1 as a tube printer will be summarized below.

[0071] First, let us summarize the basic structure of the recording device 1, which is a tube printer. The recording device 1 is equipped with an operation unit 10 including a keyboard for inputting the contents to be recorded, and a warmer unit 400 through which the tube T passes. Furthermore, the recording device 1 is equipped with a recording unit 200 including a recording head for recording on the tube T, a cutting unit 300 including a cutter for cutting the tube T after recording, and a display 24 for displaying the contents input from the keyboard.

[0072] The keyboard on which the user operates is located at the front, close to the user.

[0073] A control board 502, which requires a large area, is disposed on the rear side of the keyboard.

[0074] The display 24 is disposed behind the keyboard. The display 24 is disposed close to the control board 502 in order to reduce the length of the flexible cable connecting the display 24 and the control board 502 and to suppress noise generation.

[0075] After passing through the warmer unit 400, the tube T is recorded in the recording section 200, and then a full cut or half cut is made at the cutting position of the cutting section 300 according to the user's setting. Therefore, the warmer unit 400, the recording position, and the cutting position are arranged in this order toward the -x side.

[0076] The warmer unit 400 is disposed on the opposite side of the keyboard across the display 24 in the front-rear direction. In other words, of the three, the warmer unit 400 is at the back, the display 24 of the display section 20 is in the middle, and the keyboard of the operation section 10 is at the front. The warmer unit 400 does not have a drive source. Therefore, the warmer unit 400 is smaller than the recording section 200 and the cutting section 300, which have drive sources. By disposing the warmer unit 400 on the back side of the display 24, the recording device 1 can be made more compact.

[0077] For the above reasons, in the recording device 1, the keyboard of the operation unit 10, the display 24 of the display unit 20, and the warmer unit 400 are arranged in order from the side closest to the user operating in the y direction. Also, the warmer unit 400, the recording unit 200, and the cutting unit 300 are arranged in order toward the -x side.

[0078] [Bluetooth module placement] Next, an outline of suitable locations for installing the Bluetooth modules 80, 800 in the recording device 1, which is a tube printer having the above configuration, will be described.

[0079] 8, 11, and 12, the control board 502 is disposed behind the keyboard of the operation unit 10. The keyboard is inclined downwards toward the front for ease of input, and there is little space behind the keyboard. Therefore, if one were to attempt to dispose the Bluetooth modules 80, 800 in an area that overlaps with the keyboard and the control board 502 when viewed parallel to the z direction, it would be difficult to keep a sufficient distance from metal, and there would be no suitable location.

[0080] The main motor 104 is disposed behind the recording unit 200, and the sub-motor 202 is disposed behind the cutting unit 300, and there are large metal parts that should be spaced apart from the Bluetooth modules 80, 800. Therefore, there is no suitable location for disposing the Bluetooth modules 80, 800 in an area that overlaps with the recording unit 200 or the cutting unit 300 when viewed parallel to the z direction.

[0081] 4(B), 8, 11, and 12, a metallic heating unit 700 (heater 701) is disposed in the warmer unit 400. If Bluetooth modules 80, 800 are to be disposed in an area overlapping with the warmer unit 400 when viewed parallel to the z direction, the distance to the metal parts would become too close, making it impossible to find a suitable location.

[0082] On the other hand, in the area that overlaps with the display 24 when viewed parallel to the z direction, there is a space that is largely free of metal parts or has fewer metal parts than the surrounding area. Therefore, it is possible to place the Bluetooth modules 80, 800 at a sufficient distance from metal parts.

[0083] In the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the y direction), the display 24 of the display unit 20 is located further back than the keyboard of the operation unit 10. In the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the y direction), the main motor 104, the sub motor 202, the recording position, and the cutting position are located further back than the keyboard and the control board 502. The display 24 is located on one side of the recording position in the longitudinal direction (direction parallel to the x direction) of the keyboard, and the cutting position is located on the other side of the recording position in the longitudinal direction (direction parallel to the x direction). The Bluetooth modules 80, 800 are located on one side of the main motor 104, the sub motor 202, the recording head 201, and the cutter blade in the longitudinal direction (direction parallel to the x direction). The Bluetooth modules 80, 800 are located on the rear side of the control board 502, the display 24, and the flexible cable 91 in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the y direction).

[0084] That is, the Bluetooth modules 80, 800 are disposed on the +y side of the keyboard and control board 502 of the operation unit 10, and on the +x side of the main motor 104. The Bluetooth modules 80, 800 are disposed so as to overlap with the display 24 of the display unit 20 when viewed parallel to the z direction.

[0085] Alternatively, an arrangement may be adopted in which a portion of the Bluetooth modules 80, 800 overlaps with the display 24 when viewed parallel to the z direction, and the remaining portion does not overlap.

[0086] By adopting this arrangement, it is possible to place the Bluetooth modules 80, 800 in an area where a certain distance can be maintained between the modules and metal parts in a conventional tube printer configuration, making it possible to perform stable recording via wireless communication.

[0087] In this embodiment, the transport direction of the tube T is the -x direction, because the ratio of right-handed users is overwhelmingly higher when comparing right-handed and left-handed users. For right-handed users, it is preferable to be able to set the tube from the right side. However, the transport direction is not limited to the -x direction, and the tube may be transported in the x direction. In this case, too, it is possible to mount the Bluetooth module 80, 800 on the recording device 1 by arranging the Bluetooth module 80, 800 upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction.

[0088] In the present embodiment, the recording data can be transferred from the host computer to the tube printer via a wireless connection or a wired connection, but this is merely an example. A form in which only a wireless connection is available may be used.

[0089] [controller] FIG. 14 shows the controller of the recording device 1 as a block diagram. The power supply unit 40 is a power supply circuit that supplies the power required for the operation of the operation unit 10, the display unit 20, the recording head 201, the main motor 104, the sub motor 202, the outside air temperature sensor 50, the sensor group 60, and the control unit 70 including a CPU, which are provided in the recording device 1. The control unit 70 executes control of the recording operation by the recording unit 200, control of the display on the display unit 20, etc. The outside air temperature sensor 50 is a sensor that detects the temperature of the environment in which the recording device 1 is installed. The outside air temperature sensor 50 is placed in a position that is unlikely to be affected by heat from the heater inside the recording device 1. The sensor group 60 includes a plurality of media sensors that detect recording media such as tubes T. The Bluetooth module 80 is a board equipped with a wireless communication circuit that executes wireless communication with a host computer.

[0090] In addition to the Bluetooth module 80, the controller may be provided with a wired connection circuit for connection via USB (registered trademark). In this case, the recording device 1 can receive and record recording data transferred from the host computer via a USB cable by wired communication. Wired communication allows for more reliable data transfer than wireless communication.

[0091] The control unit 70 sets a drive pulse for driving the heat generating elements of the recording head 201 based on the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 50. When the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 50 is low, the temperature of the tube T is lower than the appropriate temperature. Therefore, the heat applied to the ink ribbon R is increased. For example, by lengthening the drive pulse (power application time) of the heat generating elements of the recording head 201, proper recording can be achieved even in a low temperature environment. The control unit 70 is mounted on the control board 502, and is disposed in an area overlapping the keyboard when viewed parallel to the z direction.

[0092] The control unit 70 controls the drive current supplied to the heater 701 of the warmer unit 400. For example, the control unit 70 may adjust the temperature of the heater 701 according to the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 50. For example, the lower the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 50, the higher the temperature of the heater 701. On the other hand, the higher the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 50, the lower the temperature of the heater 701 or the heater 701 is powered off.

[0093] [flowchart] 15 is a flowchart showing a recording method for recording an image on a tube T. Before recording, a user sets the tube T in the recording device 1. When the user switches the opening / closing cover 2 from a closed state to an open state, the first roller 101b moves in a direction away from the first roller 101a. When the user sets the tube T between the first roller 101a and the first roller 101b and switches the opening / closing cover 2 from an open state to a closed state, the first roller 101b moves in a direction approaching the first roller 101a, and the tube T is sandwiched between the first roller 101a and the first roller 101b.

[0094] In step S601, the control unit 70 accepts the recording contents, etc., input from the keyboard of the operation unit 10. Alternatively, the control unit 70 accepts the recording contents, etc., transmitted from a device such as a smartphone connected via Bluetooth. Alternatively, the control unit 70 accepts the recording data transferred from a host computer connected via a wired connection. The recording data includes the contents to be recorded in the tube T, the number of recording pages, and the character size. When the user has completed inputting the recording contents, he or she inserts the tube T into the warmer unit 400 and causes the media sensor provided in the warmer unit 400 to detect the tube T. The media sensor is one of the sensors included in the sensor group 60.

[0095] In S602, the control unit 70 determines whether the tube T has been set in the warmer unit 400 based on whether the medium sensor has detected the tube T. If it is detected that the tube T has been set in the warmer unit 400, the control unit 70 proceeds to S603.

[0096] In S603, the control unit 70 starts the main motor 104 to rotate the first rollers 101a and 101b, and starts conveying the tube T.

[0097] In S604, the control unit 70 determines whether the leading end of the tube T has been detected by another medium sensor provided downstream of the first rollers 101a, 101b. If the leading end is not detected within a predetermined time from the start of conveyance, the control unit 70 proceeds to S610 and displays an error message on the display 24. In this case, the user follows the error message to set the tube T back into the warmer unit 400. On the other hand, if the leading end is detected within a predetermined time from the start of conveyance, the control unit 70 proceeds to S605.

[0098] In S605, the control unit 70 reverses the main motor 104 to execute backfeed of the tube T. As a result, the tip of the tube T is accurately positioned with respect to the recording start position of the recording head 201.

[0099] In S606, the control unit 70 drives the sub motor 202 to move the recording head 201 from the retreat position to the recording position. As a result, the tube T and the ink ribbon R are sandwiched between the platen roller 102 and the recording head 201.

[0100] In S607, the control unit 70 energizes the multiple heating elements of the recording head 201 according to the recording content input by the user to record the recording content onto the tube T. If all recording cannot be completed in one recording process, the transport of the tube T and recording by the recording head 201 are repeated. If a half cut is required, the control unit 70 drives the cutting unit 300 to perform the half cut.

[0101] In S608, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the recording of the recording contents onto the tube T has been completed. When the recording has been completed, the recording head 201 is moved to the retracted position, and the control unit 70 proceeds to S609.

[0102] In S609, the control unit 70 conveys the tube T to the cutting unit 300 by the main motor 104, and starts the sub motor 202 to drive the cutting unit 300, thereby executing full cutting of the tube T. After executing the full cut, the recording operation is terminated.

[0103] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a tube printer equipped with a wireless communication circuit using Bluetooth.

[0104] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 80: Bluetooth module, 100: conveying unit, 104: main motor, 200: recording unit, 201: recording head, 202: sub motor, 300: cutting unit, 503: unit, 501: top cover, 502: control board, 601: bottom cover

Claims

1. A tube printer for printing on a tube, a motor for driving a conveying roller for conveying the tube; a print head that performs thermal transfer printing on the tube conveyed by the conveying roller; a metal member that transfers heat generated by a heater to the tube before printing is performed by the print head; a cutter that cuts the tube on which printing has been performed by the print head; a plurality of hard keys arranged in a QWERTY longitudinal direction for inputting information; a control board that receives information input from the plurality of hard keys and controls the motor, the print head, and the heater; a display that displays information based on the information sent from the control board; and the control board is disposed behind the plurality of hard keys, the motor, the print head, the metal member, the cutter, and the display are located further back than the plurality of hard keys and the control board in a front-rear direction of the tube printer, the display is located on one side of the motor, the print head, and the cutter in the longitudinal direction, and the metal member is located further back than the display in the front-rear direction and on the one side of the print head in the longitudinal direction; the tube printer has an antenna for communicating data to be printed by the print head via Bluetooth; The antenna is located further back than the plurality of hard keys and the control board in the front-rear direction and further forward than the metal member, and is located on the one side of the motor, the print head, and the cutter in the longitudinal direction. A tube printer characterized by:

2. A tube printer as described in Claim 1, characterized in that the antenna is positioned so that it at least partially overlaps with the display in the front-to-rear direction and the longitudinal direction.

3. A tube printer for printing on a tube, comprising: a motor for driving a conveying roller for conveying the tube; a print head that performs thermal transfer printing on the tube conveyed by the conveying roller; a metal member that transfers heat generated by a heater to the tube before printing is performed by the print head; a cutter that cuts the tube on which printing has been performed by the print head; Multiple hard keys for entering information; a control board that receives information input from the plurality of hard keys and controls the motor, the print head, and the heater; a display that displays information based on the information sent from the control board; and a tube printer in which the control board is disposed behind the plurality of hard keys, the motor, the print head, the metal member, the cutter, and the display are located further back than the plurality of hard keys and the control board in a front-rear direction of the tube printer, the display is located to the right of the motor, the print head, and the cutter, and the metal member is located further back than the display and to the right of the print head in the front-rear direction; the tube printer has an antenna for communicating data to be printed by the print head via Bluetooth; The antenna is located further back than the plurality of hard keys and the control board and further forward than the metal member in the front-rear direction, and is located to the right of the motor, the print head, and the cutter. A tube printer characterized by:

4. A tube printer for printing on a tube, comprising: A plurality of hard keys arranged in a QWERTY arrangement in the longitudinal direction; a control board provided on the rear side of the plurality of hard keys for controlling the tube printer in response to instructions from an operator via the plurality of hard keys; a display that is provided on the rear side of the plurality of hard keys in a front-rear direction of the tube printer and that displays information in response to operations of the plurality of hard keys by an operator; a tube insertion opening for inserting a tube, the tube insertion opening being provided at one end of the tube printer in the longitudinal direction and further to the rear of the control board; a print head that is provided on the inner side of the tube printer relative to the control board and that prints on the tube inserted through the tube insertion opening; a tube outlet provided at the other end of the tube printer in the longitudinal direction and further to the rear of the control board, through which the tube is discharged; a cutter that cuts the tube printed by the print head at the tube outlet; a metal member that is provided on the rear side of the display in the front-rear direction and on one side of the print head in the longitudinal direction, and that transfers heat generated by a heater to the tube before printing is performed by the print head; an antenna that is provided at a position that is further back than the plurality of hard keys and the control board and further forward than the metal member, and that is spaced apart from the print head on one side in the longitudinal direction, for wirelessly communicating instructions from an operator to the control board via Bluetooth; A tube printer comprising:

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